For the second year in a row, Lake Compounce, the oldest, continuously operating amusement park in the country, will honor one very special, and deserving family with the ‘Keys to the Park.’ The family will experience a backstage tour, as well as unl... Read More »

A spokeswoman for Kennywood Entertainment says the family-owned amusement park chain has approved its sale to a Spanish firm that manages dozens of amusement, animal and water parks in the United States and Europe. Madrid-based Parques Reunidos hopes to c... Read More »

The sale of Kennywood Park is proving not to be as smooth a ride as management had bargained for. The deal to sell the storied amusement park and four sister venues to Parques Reunidos of Spain awaits approval from the Kennywood founders' dozens of heirs.... Read More »

Kennywood Entertainment of Pittsburgh announced today that it has entered into an agreement to sell its amusement park holdings, including Kennywood in West Mifflin, PA, Idlewild & SoakZone in Ligonier, PA, Sandcastle Waterpark in West Homestead, PA and N... Read More »

In an annual "Best of the Best" poll of experienced and well-traveled amusement park fans worldwide, Amusement Today awarded a prestigious Golden Ticket to Pennsylvania's Idlewild & SoakZone amusement park for taking second place honors as the "best kid's... Read More »

Kennywood Entertainment, which operates Kennywood and Sandcastle amusement parks in the Pittsburgh area, on Tuesday said it purchased Story Land, a New Hampshire amusement park. Financial terms of the deal between Kennywood and the Morrell Corp. were not... Read More »

Idlewild & SoakZone announced today that when it opens its gates in May and welcomes Guests to its 130th season, riders can earn their wings on the new Flying Aces ride.

"Our Flying Aces ride is our fourth new family attraction in four years and complements our wildly successful Captain Kidd's Adventure Galley and Paul Bunyan's Loggin' Toboggan. Idlewild families will love it," said Brandon Leonatti, General Manager. "This timeless ride is a favorite among amusement park enthusiasts because riders generate their own thrills as they pilot and maneuver their own plane. Flying Aces is a great addition to our collection of family-friendly rides, and we're excited to introduce it to new generations of Idlewild visitors."

Based on a classic amusement ride from the early 1900's, Flying Aces is an updated version of the popular Flying Skooters ride found in many amusement parks more than 50 years ago. Manufactured by Premier Rides, Inc., it consists of ten suspended planes, each holding two people. As Flying Aces begins its rotation, centrifugal force swings the cable-suspended planes outward to a diameter of 100 feet while the planes race along at more than 35 miles per hour. In the front of each plane is a vertical wing that can be manipulated from side to side. As the wing is moved the planes swing inward or outward while still traveling around the central axis giving pilots a high- flying rush of excitement. Now that's fun! This is the first 10-car version of the ride manufactured by Premier Rides.

Once again by blending the best of the old and new, award winning Idlewild Park announced today that it has redesigned its Web site to improve its communications and relationships with amusement park enthusiasts -- especially busy moms -- for its 130th season.

For the second consecutive autumn, amusement park fans, families and kids looking for an alternative to the more frightening events of the season will be treated to "Hallowboo!" beginning October 7th at Idlewild Park - one of the "best kid's parks" in the world.

In a "Best of the Best" poll of experienced and well-traveled amusement park fans around the world, Amusement Today Magazine awarded Idlewild & SoakZone amusement park a Golden Ticket for taking 2nd place honors as the "best kid's park" in the world for the third consecutive year. Idlewild & SoakZone placed second behind LEGOLAND California and ahead of Memphis Kiddie Park in Cleveland. Idlewild also took fifth place honors in the "best kid's area" category.

Idlewild & SoakZone amusement park today announced that at 11:00 a.m. tomorrow, Friday, June 16, several Pennsylvania dignitaries will help celebrate the 50th anniversary of Story Book Forest. Several political leaders and officials will be on hand for remarks, a ribbon cutting and dedication of Story Book Forest's "Dreams are Real" Memory Lane during its Ligonier Valley Community Day Picnic. Key individuals attending the celebration include R.Z. Macdonald, former manager of Story Book Forest and family member of former Park owners; Pennsylvania State Senator Donald White - Senate District 41; Westmoreland County Commissioner Phil Light; Ligonier Mayor Butch Bellas; Idlewild Park General Manager Brandon Leonatti; Jeffrey Croushore Author of Idlewild Images of America and Park Historian and Mother Goose and all her Story Book Friends.

Idlewild Park announced today it has launched its first weblog, commonly known as a blog at (www.idlewildpark.blogspot.com). It is a state-of-the-art way to inform the public of the latest news, information and photos concerning the award-winning family fun park. Idlewild's blog will provide frequent weekly updates about Idlewild and SoakZone events, activities and promotional offers as well as behind the scenes commentaries. Photographs from various events and theme park areas will be posted on a regular basis.

In a survey of amusement park enthusiasts, Idlewild & SoakZone theme park took fourth place honors for "best park for families" in the world based on a survey by the National Amusement Park Historical Association (NAPHA -- http://www.napha.org ). Family owned and operated, Idlewild & SoakZone -- the third oldest amusement park in the country and about to kick-off its 129th season -- placed fourth for "best park for families" behind top vote getter Walt Disney World in Lake Buena Vista, FL.

Kennywood Entertainment Co. continues to bank property around the landmark amusement park for future expansion. The West Mifflin amusement park already has bought 15 acres and is acquiring another 28 acres, all in Duquesne. The land, purchased for $2.6 million, is part of its long-range master plan to expand when the Mon Fayette Expressway is built.

Idlewild & Soakzone has announced a campaign to help donate tickets to children's charities. Individuals, families and companies can purchase bricks with the proceeds going towards tickets for disadvantaged children.

First announced last summer, Idlewild recently released more information on an upcoming expansion to SoakZone that will increase the waterpark's size by 20 percent.