As reported here previously, Idlewild Park along the Lincoln Highway in Ligonier, Pennsylvaia, will be sold as part of Kennywood Entertainment to Parques Reunidos of Spain, the third-largest European operator of amusement parks. The company only entered the U.S. market two months ago by purchasing 33 water parks. A British private equity firm acquired the company in January 2007 for $1.22 billion—such corporate entanglements worry fans of Idlewild and the other old-fashioned parks currently owned by parent park and company Kennywood.
Here are some vintage postcards showing how Idlewild’s entrance changed over time (the first is from Cy Hosmer). The same round building can be seen in the first two views. This area still serves as an exit but the entrance was moved to the east years ago so that waiting cars would not back up onto the LH/US 30.
Tags: amusement park, gas pumps, Idlewild park, Ligonier, PA
Lincoln Highway News 
October 6, 2010 at 7:44 pm |
I would like to ask permission to use the pictures of vintage Idlewild postcards from the December 2007 posting, preferably ones not tilted at an angle if you have them. We have received an article on Idlewild for publication on the Literary and Cultural Heritage Map of Pennsylvania, operated by the non-profit Pennsylvania Center for the Book and think the postcards would make excellent illustrations. Please contact me at your convenience at acj2@psu.edu or 814-865-9246. Thank you for your consideration.
Alan Jalowitz, editor PACFTB