Lakemont Park

Lakemont Park, located in Altoona, Pennsylvania, houses the world's oldest-surviving roller coaster, the Leap-The-Dips. On June 19, 1996, the roller coaster was added to the list of National Historic Landmarks by the National Park Service. The park opened in 1894 as a trolley park and became an amusement park in the summer of 1899. It is one of only thirteen trolley parks still operating, and the 8th oldest amusement park in the United States. The park was owned by the Boyer Candy Company from May 23, 1986 until July 1, 1988, when it was called Boyertown USA. The park was closed from 2017-2018, but re-opened in summer 2019.[1] The park is located next to Peoples Natural Gas Field, home of the Altoona Curve Minor League Baseball team.

Lakemont Park
Skyliner rollercoaster
LocationAltoona, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Coordinates40.4717632°N 78.3954871°W / 40.4717632; -78.3954871
SloganTwo Great Parks, Twice the Fun
OwnerCohen family
Opened1894
Previous namesBoyertown USA
Operating seasonSummer Season: May until Labor Day
  • Holiday Lights on the Lake: Friday before Thanksgiving until First Sunday in January (unless the first Sunday is the 1st)
Area60 acres (240,000 m2)
Attractions
Total11
Roller coasters3
Water rides3
Websitehttp://www.lakemontparkfun.com

History

Lakemont Park opened in 1894, was donated to Blair County in 1937, privatized in 1986, and remained in operation through 2016. The park closed at the beginning of the 2017 season, as many rides and attractions were undergoing maintenance. In 2018, Lakemont Park announced that it would remain closed with plans to reopen as a "family entertainment location with some amusements" in the summer of 2019. Lakemont indicated it is planning on selling most of the rides except for Skyliner, Leap the Dips, Antique Cars, Miniature Train, Paddle Boats, Indy Go-Karts, 4x4 Monster Trucks, Lil’ Leaper, and the Waterpark. [2] The park reopened in the summer of 2019.[3]


The Sky Diver in the background, with the German Swings in the front.

Lakemont has numerous rides.

Current roller coasters
Ride Opened Description Ref(s)
Leap-The-Dips 1902 A wooden, figure-eight type ride with three, four-seat trains. Only two figure-eight type roller coasters still survive in the world. Leap-The-Dips features 1,452 feet (443 m) of track and is one of the few surviving roller coasters with side friction. The ride was closed for all but two weeks in 2005, because of maintenance. The ride was also closed from 1986 to 1998.
Skyliner 1987 The Skyliner was relocated from Roseland Park in Canandaigua, New York, where it was built in 1960. The move was to build up the park for the failed Boyertown USA project. This marks one of the few instances of a moved wooden roller coaster in the 80s. Skyliner today borders the outfield of Peoples Natural Gas Field, home of the Altoona Curve, next door.
Little Leaper A standard Allan Herschell Little Dipper kiddie coaster. The park currently does not allow adult riders on this coaster, or anyone over the age of 12.

Thrill/Family rides
  • Paddle Boats[4]
  • Tin Lizzy (Antique Car ride)[4]
  • Monster Motorway Go-Karts[4]
  • Lakemont Park Railroad[4]

Kiddie rides

Water park
Ride Opened Description Ref(s)
Three Water Slides Must be 42 inches to ride. [4]
Pool [4]
Pirate's Cove Small Pirate Ship with Water Cannons and Palm Trees [4]

Other attractions
  • Two mini-golf courses; one for younger children and one for older children
  • Batting cages
  • Basketball courts
  • Volleyball courts
  • Playground
  • Walking paths

Former attractions
This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.

Like any amusement park that has been open for many years, rides are removed for various reasons. Below is a list of some of these rides.

Former roller coasters
Ride Manufacturer Opened Closed Description Ref(s)
Gravity Road Amandus Sink 1894 1897 This was a switchback railroad-style roller coaster, owned and operated by Amandus Sink. The ride was torn down in 1897, likely because Sink went broke after losing a hotel business in a large fire. [5][6][7]
Twister Philadelphia Toboggan Company 1927 1935 Lakemont was once home to a Schmeck wooden roller coaster named "Twister" from 1927-1935. This ride was destroyed in a flood on in March, 1936, before being removed a year later.
Toboggan Chance Rides 1991 2016 A portable Toboggan coaster. The ride features four single cars.
Mad Mouse Allan Herschell Company 1993 2003 Closed in 2003 due to excessive maintenance.

Incidents at Lakemont Park
  • On September 2, 1991, a seventeen-year-old ride operator for the Little Leaper Coaster got dragged away by the roller coaster and lost his right leg after it got mangled between the train and its track/chain. The accident was featured on the television series Rescue 911 on September 29, 1992 on CBS.

References
  1. "After two summers closed, Lakemont Park reopens with new additions". Retrieved July 14, 2019.
  2. Stephens, Kay (March 7, 2018). "Lakemont to remain closed this year". Altoona Mirror. Retrieved March 12, 2018.
  3. "After two summers closed, Lakemont Park reopens with new additions". Retrieved July 14, 2019.
  4. "Lakemont Park and The Island Water Park". Lakemontparkfun.com. Retrieved 2013-03-25.
  5. "Lakemont Park Is 25 Years Old Tomorrow. Popular Resort was Formally Opened on July 4, 1893, by Logan Valley Railway". Altoona Tribune. July 3, 1918. p. 12.
  6. "Plenty of Work Goes on Now at Lakemont Summer Fun Spot". Altoona Mirror. April 14, 1961. p. 16.
  7. "July 4 To Mark 60th Birthday Of County's Lakemont Park". Altoona Tribune. June 29, 1953. p. 12.
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