Waldameer

Waldameer is German for woods by the sea, which is an apt name for the amusement park with its woodland setting on the shore of Lake Erie, sitting near the United States border with Canada.

The land was originally a picnic grove known as Hoffman’s Grove that was purchased by the Erie Electric Motor Company in 1896. The company turned it into a trolley park which they named Waldameer, providing a place to come to and a reason for passengers to ride the company’s trolley cars on weekends and holidays.

The park is one of only 11 remaining trolley parks in the US, and features a traditional midway, picnic area and some classic rides amongst more modern attractions. A water park, Water World, was added in 1986 and has grown into one of the largest water parks in Pennsylvania.

Alongside a good collection of standard amusement park rides, Waldameer’s Ravine Flyer II wooden rollercoaster really stands out. The ride, designed by The Gravity Group, flies over a public highway and has been regularly ranked amongst the greatest woodies in the world. It is named after the original Ravine Flyer built in 1922 and designed by the legendary John Miller. It too crossed Peninsula Drive twice, taking full advantage of Waldameer’s terrain. Unfortunately, a fatal accident on the rollercoaster so saddened the park owner’s wife that the original was removed in 1938. Its station was converted into a covered picnic area, which is still at the park today.

The park is free to enter and operates on a pay per ride system, with guests using their Wally Card to pay with Wally Points. A pay-once wristband is also available.

Waldameer has that classic American style amusement park feel: an instant heady mix of nostalgia and small-town America. It is well kept, tidy and its wide variety of rides together with shady picnic areas and water park has enough to keep the whole family amused. While most of the US’ trolley parks have faded away, Waldameer is thriving.

Attractions