An Idlewild and Crazy Adventure: Part 2

Editor's Note: This post is the second in a three-part series covering NPN's recent visit to Idlewild and SoakZone. Be sure to check out Part 1 and Part 3 as well!

Now that we've explored Raccoon Lagoon and Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood, it's time to trek back across the Loyalhanna Creek and rejoin the rest of Idlewild.

It was a hot day, so naturally our thoughts (and our cameras) gravitated toward water. Pictured above is Idlewild's historic pool, which dates all the way back to 1932.

Okay, okay: You got me. Neither Mike nor I took that photo! (What was your first clue?) I actually don't have a date for this postcard. But if I were a betting woman, I'd say this photo was probably taken sometime between 1932 and 2009.

These days, Idlewild's pool is but one of the many water attractions located in an area of the park we've come to know as SoakZone. Since Mike and I had precious little time to spend in Ligonier, we had to forego the swimming and sliding this time around. But that didn't stop us from taking a stroll around SoakZone and vocally lamenting our loss. (Did I mention that it was really hot the day of our visit?)

Idlewild's water attraction complex has an interesting history. During Idlewild's earliest days as an amusement resort, three man-made lakes were dug on park grounds. The last of these was Lake Bouquet, which came into existence in 1896. Patrons were drawn to Lake Bouquet for its fishing and boating as well as the scenic beauty of Flower Island, which was located at its center. It was on this island that Idlewild's swimming pool was added.

My gosh does that look refreshing. Maybe if I just dip my feet...You don't think my sneakers would mind, do you?

The pool enjoyed relative solitude on Flower Island for a good half century before it was joined by Idlewild's first water slides in 1985. The park had just been purchased by Kennywood Park Corporation a couple years before, and the new owners decided to capitalize on the water park craze that was sweeping the nation. The new slide complex was dubbed "H2Ohhhh Zone". As you can see in the photo above, two of the original four slides have since been removed.

Maybe if I just dip my whole body...You don't think my new camera would mind, do you??

The following year, two additional slides were added which emptied directly into the pool. [And by the way, I will take credit for this photo!] From the looks of this crowd, I think it's safe to say that the popularity of Idlewild's original water attraction has not diminished over time.

Rafter's Run was one of the last attractions to be added to the original H2Ohhhh Zone, although it's interesting to note that this slide complex was actually constructed adjacent to the island. The waters of Lake Bouquet separated it from its fellow slides! But it would not remain isolated forever...

Alright, now this is just cruel and unusual punishment. Have I mentioned that it was HOT the day of our visit???

Enter the year 2000. By this point, H2Ohhhh Zone's crowds had expanded well beyond its means. Idlewild's owners responded by unveiling SoakZone, the park's largest expansion to date. The new and improved water complex was double the size of the former H2Ohhhh Zone and opened with a whole host of new slides and attractions. The only "loser" in this expansion was Lake Bouquet, which was partially filled in to accommodate the new area.

The most recent addition to SoakZone was Captain Kidd's Adventure Galley, a large water play structure which was added in 2006. While it's impossible to miss this massive tangle of colorful slides, sprayers, and jets, I must say it's taken the place of Rafter's Run in the isolation department! (Refer to the map in Part 1.) Given the placement of Captain Kidd, I can't help but wonder if SoakZone is poised to overflow its boundaries once more.

Speaking of being off the beaten path, that's the strangest looking water slide I've ever seen! It's also our cue to bid farewell to the refreshing waters of SoakZone (in which, sadly, we did not partake) and move on to Olde Idlewild.

If it's rides that you crave, welcome to the holy land of Ligonier. Olde Idlewild houses the great majority of the park's "big" rides, many of which are quite historic.

Give us a brake, man!

Our first specimen is a classic in every sense of the word, from its age right down to its manual brakes. Built in 1938 by the Philadelphia Toboggan Company, Rollo Coaster is one of the last of a dying breed of coasters which have no seat dividers and no restraints to speak of. And as far as the ride itself is concerned, there's no denying that this coaster is one of a kind...although it has been cited as a source of inspiration! "A lot of coaster enthusiasts come here and swear that it was the inspiration for Boulder Dash," Ed told us.

Though I've never ridden Boulder Dash (for shame!), I can definitely see how one would draw that comparison. Rollo Coaster's 900 feet of track are laid out along a heavily wooded hillside, forming an out-and-back course that whisks riders through Idlewild's signature vegetation.


I've long since outgrown the "bigger is better" mindset when it comes to coasters, so I was in no way underwhelmed by this feisty little 27-foot tall fellow. Sometimes the most genuine sense of enjoyment is gained by forgetting about stats and just laughing your head off. (Mike and I like to laugh. No arm twisting required there.)

Would Rollo Coaster wow the most ardent of thrillseekers? Probably not. But that's not who it was built for, and it's certainly not what Idlewild is all about. As Ed pointed out, when it comes to parks, it's just as important to know who you're not as it is to know who you are. "It's always been our plan to be a family friendly park," he told us. "We always ask ourselves before we do anything, is this going to be okay for kids and adults? You would never see us add a coaster like the one Kennywood's adding. None of our patrons would want to ride something like that. That's not who we are."


The golden rule here is that one enthusiast's "kiddie" coaster is an actual kiddie's treasure. Rollo Coaster delivers more than enough thrills to satisfy the majority of Idlewild's pint-sized guests--not to mention a couple of not so pint-sized bloggers! And to help us all commemorate our experience, the park has equipped the coaster with on-ride photo capabilities for the 2009 season.


Speaking of knowing who you are, you need look no further than Olde Idlewild to understand that this park's dedication to preservation extends well beyond trees. The Carousel is another classic.ride that has been standing proud at Idlewild since 1931. It still features the original hand-carved wooden horses, and underwent a complete restoration in 1985. "It's always been our goal to maintain that classic amusement feel," Ed told us. "From day one, even before Kennywood took over, this was a classic park. And when Kennywood came in, I think they saw that niche right away."

It truly is remarkable--and quite fortunate--that a classic park such as Idlewild would ultimately end up in the very capable hands of Kennywood Entertainment. As you'll see in our upcoming Kennywood trip report, those folks knew a thing or two about operating a traditional park. Ed noted that Idlewild learned more from Kennywood than they probably could have learned from any other owner. And despite the recent changing of the guard, he is quite confident that the park's newest owners are also on board with their mission. So in Idlewild's case, thankfully, the more things change, the more they stay the same!

This is close to the point where the fan was located...hehehehe

It may not be as old as the Carousel or Rollo Coaster, but the Caterpillar is arguably the most historically notable of all Idlewild's rides. Decades ago, nearly every park had a Caterpillar. But today, only a handful still exist and even fewer have a working canopy. Idlewild's Caterpillar has all that and then some--and that "some" is a fan. Yes, a fan! Though I didn't realize its significance at the time, this installation has a fan beneath its track at one point that blows a jet of air into each car as it passes overhead. For some reason this struck me as hilarious, perhaps because it reminded me of an old funhouse stunt. So naturally, I laughed hysterically every time we hit it! [It doesn't take much. Seriously.] In any event, upon returning home I've come to learn that only the rarest of these rare Caterpillars still have a working fan.

This ride is a gem indeed. And the fact that it was built by Traver Engineering makes it even more special in my book. Idlewild's Caterpillar was the first of many Traver goodies we would experience on our trip, and each one was good to the last cycle!

Ah, yet another serene wooded setting. Right? WRONG! Look closer...



There be a rodent loose among those trees, and he does not mess around! In addition to all of its historic rides, Idlewild has yet another claim to fame: It is the home of the only Wild Mouse coaster ever built by Vekoma. This small but punchy coaster began its life at Wiener Prater in Austria before being moved to Alton Towers and eventually ending up at Idlewild in 1993. After riding countless "canned" Wild Mouse models at other parks, this one was a very nice change of pace. Sure, it has all the standard hairpin turns and sharp drops that you'll find on any mouse. But the layout is a bit more interesting, and once you throw in all those trees, it gets even more interesting!


As you might imagine, the head choppers on this coaster come compliments of Mother Nature. There was one in particular that spurred me to voice some very poignant doubts about our friend the tree consultant. (I'll leave the exact verbiage to your imaginations.)

Confusion Hill or lift hill?

Only one question remains: Why on earth does this ride have a tilted lift hill?? The world may never know...

To conclude Part 2, I'll leave you with another gorgeous yet undated image of the Olde Idlewild of...old? Why, it hasn't changed one bit! And in this case, I mean that as the highest of compliments. When we meet again, we'll wrap up our adventures in Ligonier!