It was an ordinary day. Looking at a photograph that shows the original monorail that carried tourists around Lancaster County's Dutch Wonderland which is located on Lincoln Highway East. It has been since 1963 that Dutch Wonderland has been a mainstay of Lancaster County tourism and a landmark of Lincoln Highway East. The iconic elements that highlight the park are the monorail that travels around the outskirts of the park on an elevated track and the purple dragon that oversees his watery domain. I haven't visited Dutch Wonderland for years, since my three grandkids have outgrown most of the rides that make the park a true wonderland. I often thought about taking a trip to the park, but wondered what the other guests would think of an old guy walking around the park, looking at everyone.
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| Dutch Wonderland |
Dutch Wonderland is celebrating its 60th anniversary the year. It was on October 28, 1962 that the local Sunday News published a photo of a strange sight - a fairytale castle being built in the middle of Lancaster County farm land. Mr. Earl Clark was building a "family fun park" as he often called it, in the middle of farm country since he had heard complaints for years that Lancaster County tourists have very few options that appeal to children. So...he came up with the idea known as Dutch Wonderland. Mr. Clark was at one time a potato farmer who built the Congress Inn Motel along route 30 in 1958. He had purchased a 14-acre tract and began to build a tourist attraction that would appeal to kids. Thus, Dutch Wonderland was born. Just why did he build a castle? Well, Mr. Clark said he saw it in a dream and thought it to be magical. Who wouldn't want to visit a castle in farm country? The 180-foot-long castle housed a gift shop and snack bar. When Dutch Wonderland first opened, only four rides had been built; the Wonderland Special steam Train, The Lady Gay riverboat, the Turnpike with its drivable antique-style cars, and the Whale Boats. There was also a petting zoo, puppet shows and areas focused on subjects such as nursery rhymes and space ships. |
| Giant slide |
During the 1960s Mr. Clark purchased an additional 54 adjoining acres to be used for expansion. In 1966 the monorail debuted. His original monorail had heated and air-conditioned cars as well as a glass bubble top. They traveled along a mile-long circuit around the perimeter of the park. There were three individual trains with one being red, one white and one blue.  |
| Coaster at Dutch Wonderland |
In 1989 two of the three were destroyed in a fire. In 1990 the Sky ride debuted. It carried guests 42 feet above the park. The giant slide and a haunted house were added in the 1960s. In the 1970s Dutch Wonderland added dolphin shows with "Dutchie" arriving in June of 1970 and Wonder arriving the following year. Throughout the '60s and '70s, stars of Philadelphia's children TV shows began to appear. Chief Halftown, cowgirl Sally Star and the Peter Pan-inspired Pixanne all entertained kids at Dutch Wonderland.  |
| Leapin' Frogs |
They also spread word of Dutch Wonderland on TV. In 1977 the "Double Splash" log flume opened with its two drops arranged along a figure-eight waterway. A children's Ferris wheel was added in 1982 and the Flying Trapeze chair swing ride was added in 1986. But, my favorite ride was the rollercoaster that was added in 1992. The "Sky Princess" was a family sized coaster that traveled about 40 mph from a 55-foot drop. Then in 1993 Mr. Clark died of cancer at the age of 63, 30 years and one month after he opened Dutch Wonderland. His sons took over running the place until they sold it to Hershey Entertainment and Resorts. Hershey ran the park until 2010 when Hershey Entertainment bought the property. Dutch Wonderland has continued to add new attractions with several new roller coasters. But, many of the old classics still remain such as the Turnpike and the old Dutch Wonder house. Just like it was back in the 1960s. It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.
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