Dorney Park celebrating 125 years

As I was going through local newspapers today about the PA state trooper that is being laid to rest today, I came across an article about Dorney Park in The Morning Call.

http://www.mcall.com/news/local/dorney/

There are '10 Fun Facts' about Dorney Park, as well as Hercules photos, waterpark photos, and a few 'old school' photos.

Dorney doesn't get a lot of love from enthusiasts for some reason, but getting back there this year (first time since 2001), I really had a good time. It's a nice clean park with a pretty solid ride lineup. I love me some Talon.

I will say that I didn't realize it had been around for as long as it has.

Somehow "Fish Weir" doesn't have the same ring to it as Dorney Park. I don't remember the policeman they mention, but I do remember when the road went through the park. And also some of the former attractions like Journey and Whacky Shack.

Nice find, KGC-- it was an interesting article to read.

Thanks, RGB.

There are also some older articles underneath if you scroll down. The two I found most interesting are the articles from 1985 and 1992.

1985 article is about when WWK opened and I think that investment worked out pretty well for them.
1992 article is about CF buying Dorney Park. CF only owned CP and VF at that time. What I really liked about the article though was the almost 'dig' on CP for building MS the year before to overthrow Hercules as the tallest and fastest wooden coaster. These 2 coasters were the star attractions at the time. Oh what a difference 17 years makes. :)

At least they were smart enough to tear one of them down. Now if they'd just do the other...

God, I was having major flashbacks looking at the old school pictures of Dorney with Journey to the Center of the Earth and that old spinning rocket thingie and everything. I remember chickening out of Flying Dutchmen (now I really wish I hadn't as it was a custom design that no longer exists anywhere) and whacking my head in the mirror maze and...ah, nostalgia! :)

Jeff, don't you think there is SOMETHING they could do to Mean Streak to avoid it being torn down? It's a neat coaster in its own right....I've never been on such a twisted, immense coaster. Sure it's rough and slow and kind of boring, but it has potential...

I remember Dorney was advertising that Hercules was the second largest wooden coaster in the world. Didn't know Cedar Point was shady and built MS to top Dorney. Hrrmmm....

Mean Streak has never been interesting in any way other than to look at it. I wouldn't miss it. And heck, if anything, Hercules was far more interesting, and that's the one they killed first.

Jeff said:
Dorney doesn't get a lot of love from enthusiasts for some reason, but getting back there this year (first time since 2001), I really had a good time. It's a nice clean park with a pretty solid ride lineup. I love me some Talon.

I will say that I didn't realize it had been around for as long as it has.

I think it is the location that hurts Dorney. It's almost right in between Hershey and Great Adventure and I guess it almost gets overlooked because of that.

I still prefer it for visits over the other 2 parks during the busy summer season since it is the only park of the 3 without major lines for the coasters.

i kinda agree with YoshiFan on that one, as far as local attendance goes. I have always had a good time at Dorney when I was living in Philly, I think its a great park. but it does kinda lie in that arena with the other two parks, however, there is a lot of population draw with the Allentown/Bethlehem/Easton area, not to mention Scranton/Wilkes Barre. regardless, Happy Anniversary Dorney Park! :)

and I second Jeff's comments about Mean Streak/Hercules, though I still think Herc gave a MUCH worse ride. that thing was just...wrong.

^^I never rode Hercules because I was a ride chicken at the time that thing was around, but I cannot tell you how many people I knew were injured on that monstrosity. Neck and back injuries were almost EXPECTED. Apparently it was great the first year or two it was around and then it just went to the crapper after that.

Jeff said:
Mean Streak has never been interesting in any way other than to look at it.

I still think Mean Streak is easily one of the best looking coasters I've ever come across.

The reason that dorney does not get too much love from the coaster enthusiasts is because they do not have very interesting/ differant type of coasters.

Don't get me wrong, they have some good coasters that are fun to ride, but nothing that's too interesting.

I was there about a year ago, and had a good time except for the typical bad food and prices. The shows were good , and the employies were friendly.

And I got a voodoo shirt.

I'm still rather chapped about them removing Laser. Swartzkopf loopers, especially ones as powerful as that, are few and far between nowadays, and I really enjoyed that ride, even if it did induce "stars" lol; solely my opinion though...

and yes, Talon is just amazing, always worth the trip :)

Tim...who confesses to having "giddy" rides on Steel Force, despite popular opinion in the enthusiast community...

Lord Gonchar said:

I still think Mean Streak is easily one of the best looking coasters I've ever come across.

I hear that argument all the time. I guess I don't get it. What stops Cedar Point from tearing down an amazingly bad ride and replacing it with a great ride that's just as pleasing to look at?

Argument? I thought it was simply an observation.

Yeah. More observation than anything..and totally in response to Jeff mentioning it first.

Hell, I'm all for tearing stuff down.

I think that american eagle, and collsus are the best looking wooden coasters.

TAER it down!