Program Description
Event Details
Presented by author and historian, Jennifer Sopko
A longtime summer fun destination, Idlewild Park has charmed folks across Western Pennsylvania and beyond since the late 19th century. Nestled among the Allegheny Mountains and along the Loyalhanna Creek, this historic amusement park was founded by the Mellon family in 1878 as a scenic picnic grove designed to boost passenger traffic on the Ligonier Valley Rail Road. Now the oldest operating amusement park in Pennsylvania and the third oldest in the United States, today’s Idlewild and SoakZone has delighted generations of families with its classic amusement rides, themed areas and natural beauty. Writer and historian Jennifer Sopko will share the fascinating story of Ligonier’s beloved amusement park, plus vintage images gathered during research for her book, Idlewild: History and Memories of Pennsylvania’s Oldest Amusement Park.