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Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom facts for kids
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Entrance to Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom in August 2007
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| Location | Dorneyville, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
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| Coordinates | 40°34′40.59″N 75°31′53.50″W / 40.5779417°N 75.5315278°W |
| Status | Open |
| Opened | 1884; 141 years ago |
| Owner | Six Flags |
| General manager | Jessica Naderman |
| Operating season | May through October |
| Area | 200 acres (0.81 km2) |
| Attractions | |
| Total | 44 |
| Roller coasters | 8 |
| Water rides | 3 |
Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom is a super fun amusement park and water park in Dorneyville, Pennsylvania, near Allentown, USA. It's owned by Six Flags and has 64 rides! You'll find eight exciting roller coasters, lots of thrill rides, and special rides for younger kids. The park also includes Wildwater Kingdom, a huge water park with 26 amazing water slides.
Dorney Park is home to some truly famous roller coasters. One of them is Steel Force, which is one of the longest steel roller coasters in the world! It's also the second-longest on the East Coast of the United States. Dorney Park is special because it's one of only fourteen "trolley parks" still open in the country.
This park has a long history, starting way back in 1884. That makes Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom the fifth-oldest amusement park that's been open continuously in the entire nation!
Contents
The Park's Exciting History
Early Beginnings: The 1800s
The story of Dorney Park began in 1860 with Solomon Dorney. He created a trout farm and a summer getaway on his land near Allentown. By 1870, Mr. Dorney opened his estate to everyone as a public attraction.
At first, the park offered games, simple rides, food stands, and picnic spots. There was even a hotel and a restaurant. In the 1880s, a small zoo and a garden were added. Later, in 1899, a trolley line was built, making it easy for people to visit the park. The company that ran the trolley bought the park in 1901.
Growing Through the 1900s
The trolley company managed the park until 1923. After a few ownership changes, Robert Ott became the owner in 1967. Later, in 1985, Harris Weinstein bought the park. He then sold it to Cedar Fair in 1992.
Many classic rides joined the park over the years. The beautiful Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters Grande Carousel arrived in 1932. The Whip opened even earlier, in 1918, and is still one of the park's oldest rides today!
Dorney Park also had a swimming pool for many years, from the early 1900s until 1963. The park's very first roller coaster opened in 1923. It was known as "The Coaster" and is still thrilling riders today as Thunderhawk!
Some older attractions, like the "Tunnel of Love" (later "Journey to the Center of the Earth"), were removed after 1992. Another ride, "The Iceberg," which was a Cuddle-Up ride with air conditioning and strobe lights, was removed after 1993. The "Flying Dutchman" roller coaster also left the park after 1988.
A big change happened in 1980 when Dorney Park Road, which used to cut through the park, was closed to cars. This road became a fun pathway for park guests. This change also meant the park could be fenced in, and guests started paying one price to enter instead of buying individual ride tickets.
In 1982, the exciting log flume ride, Thunder Creek Mountain, opened. It has a record-breaking drop of 210 feet!
A fire in 1983 unfortunately damaged parts of the park. But Dorney Park rebuilt quickly! For its 100th anniversary in 1984, new rides like Enterprise, Musik Express, and Ranger were added.
In 1985, Harris Weinstein bought the park and also the nearby car racetrack. He turned the racetrack into Wildwater Kingdom, a brand-new water park! At first, you needed a separate ticket for Wildwater Kingdom, but that changed later. It featured a wave pool, water raft rides, and slides.
The park kept growing with more thrilling rides. In 1986, Laser, a looping roller coaster with two loops, was added. It was a very popular ride for many years. In 1989, Hercules, a huge wooden roller coaster, opened. It was the tallest wooden coaster in the world for a short time!
In 1992, Cedar Fair bought Dorney Park. They started building a new pathway in 1993 to connect Wildwater Kingdom directly to Dorney Park. That same year, White Water Landing, a shoot-the-chutes ride with an 80-foot drop, opened.
By 1995, you could enter both Dorney Park and Wildwater Kingdom with just one ticket! That year also saw the addition of Thunder Canyon, a thrilling river rapids ride where you float in a raft through a canyon.
In 1997, the massive Steel Force hypercoaster opened. It was known as "the tallest and longest roller coaster on the east coast" when it debuted. Wildwater Kingdom also added new water slides and a second lazy river.
More exciting rides arrived in the late 1990s. In 1998, the Top Spin ride called Hang Time was added. In 1999, Dominator, a 200-foot tall tower ride with both a "turbo drop" and a "space shot," opened, blasting riders high into the sky!
The 2000s and Beyond
The new century brought even more fun! In 2000, Camp Snoopy, a children's play area, opened with a junior coaster called Woodstock Express. A Wild Mouse coaster also joined the park that year.
In 2001, Talon, a steel inverted looping coaster, was added near the park's entrance. Wildwater Kingdom got a big update in 2003 with new body slides, tube slides, and a children's water play area.
In 2005, Hydra the Revenge, a $13 million steel floorless coaster, opened. It was the first and only floorless roller coaster in Pennsylvania! This amazing ride replaced the older Hercules wooden coaster.
Another exciting coaster, Possessed, an Intamin Impulse coaster, opened in 2008. It was moved to Dorney Park from another park.
In 2010, the Demon Drop freefall ride moved to Dorney Park from Cedar Point. The park also announced that a new children's area, Planet Snoopy, would open for the 2011 season.
In 2011, Dorney Park completed an $8 million upgrade to the children's area, renaming it Planet Snoopy. It included seven new rides and a stage for shows.
In 2012, Stinger, an inverted shuttle coaster, was added. The park also introduced the Fast Lane system, allowing guests to skip lines for popular rides. A special attraction called Dinosaurs Alive! featured moving, roaring dinosaurs.
In 2014, a new waterslide complex called Snake Pit opened in Wildwater Kingdom, featuring six thrilling water slides.
Dorney Park continued to add new experiences. In 2017, the Dodg'ems ride reopened, and Kaleidoscope, a spinning ride, was added. Stinger was removed after the 2017 season.
In 2019, the park hosted two big events: Grand Carnivale, an international-themed festival, and Monster Jam: Thunder Alley, a truck-themed event.
In 2020, Dorney Park reopened with new safety rules due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Wildwater Kingdom opened a bit later in 2021.
In 2023, the park made general upgrades and improved its live shows and food options. Dorney Park announced on July 21, 2023, that a brand-new dive coaster called Iron Menace would open the next year. This thrilling ride features four inversions and a 152-foot drop. Iron Menace officially opened in May 2024.
On July 1, 2024, Cedar Fair, Dorney Park's owner, merged with Six Flags, creating a new company called Six Flags Entertainment Corporation.
In February 2025, Dorney Park showed its team spirit by flying the Philadelphia Eagles flag and lighting up the park in green when the team played in the Super Bowl!
Awesome Rides and Attractions
Dorney Park has grown a lot since its first Dentzel Carousel in 1901. As of the 2023 season, there are 44 exciting rides to enjoy!
Thrilling Roller Coasters
| Intensity rating (out of 5) |
|---|
| 1 (low) 2 (mild) 3 (moderate) 4 (high) 5 (aggressive) |
| Name | Picture | Opened | Manufacturer | Description | Thrill level |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hydra the Revenge | .JPG) |
2005 | Bolliger & Mabillard | A steel floorless coaster. It's famous for having an inversion before the lift hill! | 5 |
| Iron Menace | 2024 | Bolliger & Mabillard | A steel Dive Coaster with a 152-foot drop and four inversions. | 5 | |
| Possessed | .jpg) |
2008 | Intamin | A steel launched inverted coaster. It was moved here from another park. | 5 |
| Steel Force | .jpg) |
1997 | D. H. Morgan Manufacturing | A steel hyper coaster. It's over a mile long, making it one of the longest steel roller coasters in the world! | 5 |
| Talon | _08.jpg) |
2001 | Bolliger & Mabillard | A steel inverted coaster with four inversions. | 5 |
| Thunderhawk |  |
1924 | Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters | A classic wooden coaster. It's one of the oldest operating roller coasters in the world! | 4 |
| Wild Mouse | 2000 | Maurer AG | A steel wild mouse coaster with sharp turns and drops. | 4 | |
| Woodstock Express | _1.jpg) |
2000 | Zamperla | A fun steel coaster perfect for children. | 3 |
Exciting Thrill Rides
| Name | Opened | Manufacturer | Description | Thrill level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Demon Drop | 2010 | Intamin | A classic Freefall ride that drops you straight down! It was moved here from another park. | 5 |
| Dominator | 1999 | S&S Worldwide | A tall tower ride that either blasts you up or drops you down from high in the air. | 5 |
| Enterprise | 1984 | HUSS Park Attractions | An Enterprise ride that spins you around in a giant loop. | 4 |
| Revolution | 2004 | Chance Morgan | A Revolution ride that spins and swings you high into the air. | 5 |
Fun Family Rides
| Name | Opened | Manufacturer | Description | Thrill level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Antique Carousel | 1995 | Dentzel Carousel Company | A beautiful 1921 carousel with 66 animal figures and two chariots. It plays music from a Wurlitzer band organ. | 1 |
| Cedar Creek Cannonball | 1993 | Crown Metal Products | A charming replica steam engine train ride that takes you on a scenic trip. | 1 |
| Dodgem | 2017 | Soli | Classic Bumper cars where you can bump and spin with your friends! | 4 |
| Ferris Wheel | 1991 | Chance Rides | A classic Ferris wheel that gives you great views of the park. | 2 |
| Kaleidoscope | 2017 | HUSS Park Attractions | A troika ride with three arms that spin in different directions. | 3 |
| MT Buckets | 2015 | Larson International | A Flying Scooters ride where you can control how your bucket moves with a paddle. | 3 |
| Musik Express | 1984 | Mack Rides | A Music Express ride that spins you around to upbeat music. | 3 |
| Road Rally | 1994 | D. H. Morgan Manufacturing | A car ride where you drive gasoline-powered cars modeled after classic sports cars. | 2 |
| Scrambler | 1970 | Eli Bridge Company | A Twist ride that spins and scrambles you in different directions. | 3 |
| Sea Dragon | 1984 | Chance Rides | A swinging ship ride that swings you high into the air. | 3 |
| Tilt-A-Whirl | 2002 | Sellner Manufacturing | A Tilt-A-Whirl ride that spins and tilts in unpredictable ways. | 3 |
| Wave Swinger | 1985 | Zierer | A classic swing ride that lifts you up and swings you around. | 3 |
| The Whip | 1920 | W.F. Mangels | Riders zoom around an oval track, getting "whipped" around the turns. This is the oldest ride in the park! | 2 |
| Zephyr Railroad | 1935 | Unknown | A train ride that takes you on a relaxing trip around the park. | 1 |
Splashing Water Rides
| Name | Opened | Manufacturer | Description | Thrill level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thunder Canyon | 1994 | Barr Engineering | A river rapids ride where you float in a raft through exciting currents. | 4 |
| Thunder Creek Mountain | 1982 | Barr Engineering | A log flume ride with a big splash at the end! | 4 |
| White Water Landing | 1993 | Arrow Dynamics | A shoot the chutes ride with a huge drop that creates a giant wave! | 5 |
Fun for Younger Kids
| Name | Opened | Manufacturer | Type | Thrill level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Camp Bus | 2000 | Zamperla | A miniature Ali Baba ride that swings you back and forth. | 2 |
| Charlie Brown's Wind-Up | 2000 | Zamperla | A miniature swing ride for little ones. | 2 |
| Flying Ace | 2000 | Zamperla | A miniature swinging ship ride. | 2 |
| Flying Ace Balloon Race | 2011 | Zamperla | A Balloon Race ride that lifts you up and spins you around. | 2 |
| Kite Eating Tree | 2000 | Zamperla | A miniature drop tower that bounces you up and down. | 2 |
| Linus Launcher | 2011 | Zamperla | A Kite Flyer ride where you lie down and "fly" through the air. | 3 |
| Peanuts 500 | 2011 | Zamperla | A Speedway ride where kids can drive their own race cars. | 2 |
| Peanuts Road Rally | 2000 | Zamperla | A miniature car ride for a fun adventure. | 2 |
| Sally's Swing Set | 2011 | Zamperla | A Happy Swing ride that gently swings you back and forth. | 2 |
| Snoopy's Cloud Climbers | 2011 | Zamperla | An Aerial Carousel that takes you for a gentle spin. | 2 |
| Snoopy's Junction | 2011 | Zamperla | A Rio Grande Train ride for a relaxing journey. | 1 |
| Snoopy's Rocket Express | 2011 | Zamperla | An Aerial Ride that lets you soar through the sky. | 2 |
| Woodstock Whirlybirds | 2011 | Zamperla | A Teacups ride that spins you around and around. | 2 |
| Woodstock's Wagon Wheel | 2000 | Zamperla | A miniature Ferris wheel for great views. | 2 |
Past Rides and Attractions
Roller Coasters That Have Retired
| Name | Manufacturer | Type | Year opened | Year closed | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scenic Railway | Frederick Ingersoll | Wooden coaster | 1903 | 1920 | This wooden coaster was removed. |
| Wild Mouse | B.A. Schiff & Associates | Steel spinning coaster | 1964 | 1965 | This wild mouse coaster was removed. |
| Flying Dutchman | Pinfari | Steel coaster | 1972 | 1988 | This steel coaster was removed. |
| Hercules | Dinn Corporation | Wooden coaster | 1989 | 2003 | This large wooden coaster was removed and replaced by Hydra the Revenge. |
| Laser | Schwarzkopf | Steel launched coaster | 1986 | 2008 | This looping coaster was sold and now travels to fairs in Germany. |
| Steel First | Allan Herschell Company | Steel children's coaster | 1990 | 2010 | This children's coaster was removed. |
| Dragon Coaster | Zamperla | Steel children's coaster | 1992 | 2010 | This children's coaster was moved to another park. |
| Stinger | Vekoma | Steel inverted coaster | 2012 | 2017 | This inverted coaster was removed. |
Other Retired Attractions
| Name | Manufacturer | Type | Year opened | Year closed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Berenstain Bear Country | N/A | A themed play area for children | 1995 | 1999 |
| Care Bears: Care-A-Lot Castle | Sally Industries | A show with moving characters | 1988 | 1992 |
| Hangtime | HUSS Park Attractions | A Top Spin ride | 1998 | 2014 |
| Joker | Zamperla | A spinning ride | 1988 | 2004 |
| Meteor | Zamperla | A Ranger ride | 2002 | 2024 |
| Monster | Eyerly Aircraft Company | A Monster ride | 1995 | 2023 |
| Paratrooper | Unknown | A Paratrooper ride | 1960s | 2000 |
| Screamin Swing | S&S – Sansei Technologies | A giant Screamin' Swing | 2005 | 2015 |
| Skyscraper | Gravity Works Inc. | A tall Booster ride | 2000 | 2004 |
| Sky Ride | Von Roll | An elevated gondola ride | Unknown | 1998 |
| Apollo | Moser's Rides | A Swing Around ride | 1984 | 2024 |
Wildwater Kingdom
Wildwater Kingdom opened in 1985 and is a fantastic water park right next to Dorney Park! It has many splashing attractions, and your admission to Dorney Park includes entry to Wildwater Kingdom.
This water park features 22 water slides, three fun water play areas for children, a water funhouse, two tubing rivers, and two exciting wave pools. In 2006, a second wave pool, Wildwater Cove, was added because the first one was so popular!
Wildwater Kingdom Attractions
| Ride | Opened | Manufacturer | Description | Thrill level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aquablast | 1991 | Fred Langford | A multi-person water slide for a group adventure. | 5 |
| Aqua Racer | 2007 | WhiteWater West | A multi-lane mat racer water slide where you can race your friends! | 4 |
| Boa Blasters | 2014 | WhiteWater West | Two enclosed tube water slides with exciting sharp drops. | 5 |
| Cascade | 1990 | Fred Langford | Double tube water slides for a fun ride with a friend. | 4 |
| Constrictor | 2014 | WhiteWater West | An enclosed water slide with four thrilling 360-degree turns. | 5 |
| Jumpin' Jack Splash | 2003 | WhiteWater West | Three body water slides, some open and some enclosed. | 2 |
| Kids Cove | 1992 | Fred Langford | A fun splash play area designed just for children. | 1 |
| Lightning Falls | 1990 | Fred Langford | Two tube water slides for a fast and fun ride. | 5 |
| Lollipop Lagoon | 1990s | Unknown | Another children's splash play area with lots of water fun. | 1 |
| Patriot's Plunge | 2003 | WhiteWater West | Three exciting water slides for a splashing good time. | 5 |
| Python Plummet | 2014 | WhiteWater West | Three trapdoor water slides that drop you into the fun! | 5 |
| Runaway River | 1987 | Unknown | A relaxing Lazy river where you can float along. | 2 |
| Seaside Splashworks | 2021 | WhiteWater West | A multi-level water play structure with six different water slides. | 1 |
| Splash Landing | 2003 | WhiteWater West | A children's splash play area with interactive water features. | 1 |
| Wave Pool | 1985 | Unknown | A large Wave pool where you can ride the gentle waves. | 4 |
| Wildwater Cove | 2006 | ADG | A second exciting Wave pool for even more wave-riding fun. | 4 |
| Wildwater Rapids | 2003 | WhiteWater West | Four body water slides, some enclosed and some open-air. | 4 |
| Wildwater River | 1990 | Unknown | Another relaxing Lazy river to float and unwind. | 2 |
Fast Lane Pass
Fast Lane is a special system at Six Flags parks, including Dorney Park. For an extra cost, you can buy a Fast Lane wristband. This wristband lets you use a shorter line for many popular rides, so you can get on your favorite attractions faster!
Halloween Fun
Halloween Haunt: For Older Teens
Halloween Haunt at Dorney Park is an annual event held on weekends in September and October. It features haunted mazes, scare zones, live shows, and special food. The park uses spooky lighting and fog to create an eerie atmosphere. Most of the park's rides are open for night rides during this event.
Halloween Haunt started in 1998 as HalloWeekends but was updated and renamed Halloween Haunt in 2008. This event is designed for older teens and adults and is not recommended for guests under 13 years old.
In 2024, Dorney Park's Halloween Haunt ran in the evenings on Fridays and Saturdays from September 13 through October 27, and also on Sundays in October.
Current Haunt Attractions
Halloween Haunt currently features 13 attractions, including seven mazes and six scare zones. Y
Tricks and Treats: Family-Friendly Fun
Dorney Park also has a Halloween event for families and younger kids. It started in 2008 as Boo! Blast.
Over the years, this fun, scare-free event has changed names. It became Snoopy's Halloween Party in 2015, then The Great Pumpkin Fest in 2016. In 2024, it was rebranded as Tricks and Treats, offering new games, experiences, and activities for everyone.
In 2024, Tricks and Treats occurred during the day on Saturdays and Sundays from September 14 through October 27.
See also
- List of historic places in Allentown, Pennsylvania
- List of water parks
- Trolley park