One of the last remaining Trolley Parks in the USA, Camden Park hosts a collection of vintage rides and a scattering of more modern attractions, headlined by Big Dipper, a 1958 National Amusement Devices traditional wooden rollercoaster.
One of the last remaining Trolley Parks in the USA, Camden Park hosts a collection of vintage rides and a scattering of more modern attractions, headlined by Big Dipper, a 1958 National Amusement Devices traditional wooden rollercoaster.
| Opened | 1903 |
|---|---|
| Season | March to October |
| Owner | The Boylin family |
| Website | www.camdenpark.com |
| Nearby | Kings Island (114 miles) Kentucky Kingdom (175 miles) Dollywood (188 miles) Kennywood (198 miles) Cedar Point (213 miles) |
The park is past its best ... fancy a ride on the Ig Dipper?
Camden Park is an amusement park on a small piece of land between US-60 and the Ohio River in Huntington, West Virginia. It is one of the few remaining Trolley Parks in the United States - parks which were built at the end of streetcar lines (or at interchanges as in the case of Camden Park) to encourage people to travel at the weekend.
The Camden Interstate Railway Company opened a picnic spot on the site in 1902, but the park sees 1903 as the official founding date as the first ride - a carousel - did not arrive until the following year.
Today, Camden Park's rides include Big Dipper, a National Amusement Devices wooden rollercoaster from 1958; Lil' Dipper, a kiddie woodie also from National Amusement Devices; and Hawnted House, one of only two Pretzel haunted house style dark rides operating in the USA - the other is Devil's Den at Conneaut Lake Park in Pennsylvania.
Many traditional amusement parks have fallen on hard times in recent years, with lots of them being lost and replaced by housing developments, offices or retail stores. Others are still clinging on, lovingly cared for by owners and staff with very small financial resources. Unfortunately, Camden Park doesn't feel very cared for. When I visited in 2016 it felt dirty and rundown, with things that could easily be fixed without any money being spent just left undone. The "B" of the Big Dipper ride sign had fallen off, for example, enticing riders to the much less inviting sounding Ig Dipper rollercoaster. Some might call this classic Americana, but I call it laziness.
Camden Park is a disappointment. With a little time and attention, it could be a lovely park, but at the moment it is a big let down.
Haunted House ride, featuring fast moving cars with tight corners and narrow corridors
Flying spin ride
Swinging spinning ride
Classic American Whip ride
18 hole miniature golf course
Camden Park's towering entrance sign
Main park entrance
Inside Camden Park
Old rundown building
No food or drinks in the Sugar Shop
Camden Park's lake
USA Road Trip 2016: Day 11 at Camden Park