Dutch Wonderland

Dutch Wonderland
Slogan "A Kingdom for Kids"
Location Lancaster, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Coordinates 40°01′40″N 76°13′06″W / 40.027697°N 76.218443°W / 40.027697; -76.218443Coordinates: 40°01′40″N 76°13′06″W / 40.027697°N 76.218443°W / 40.027697; -76.218443
Owner Palace Entertainment
Opened 1963
Area 48 acres
Rides
Total 32 (34 if you count the "Dino Dig and "The Prehistoric Path")
Roller coasters 3
Water rides 1 (Plus 4 Boat Based Rides)
Website http://www.dutchwonderland.com/
Dutch Wonderland Entrance

Dutch Wonderland is a 48-acre (19 ha) amusement park just east of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, appealing primarily to families with small children. The park's theme is a "Kingdom for Kids." The entrance to the park has a stone imitation castle façade, which was built by Earl Clark, a potato farmer, before he opened the park in 1963.

The Clark family sold Dutch Wonderland in 2001 to Hershey Entertainment and Resorts Company. They also operate Wonderland Mini-Golf, and Old Mill Stream Campground at the same location and the Gift Shop at Kitchen Kettle Village, in nearby Intercourse, Pennsylvania.

On November 12, 2010, Hershey Entertainment announced that they sold Dutch Wonderland to Palace Entertainment.

Today, the park has 32 rides, plus a tropical-themed interactive water play area called Duke's Lagoon. The park also has an extended season, open for "Happy Hauntings" and "Dutch Winter Wonderland" events for Halloween and Christmas.

The park is part of a larger area in Lancaster zoned for entertainment, dining, lodging, and conferences.

Attractions

Dutch Wonderland features 32 rides, a water park called Duke's Lagoon (named for a purple dragon costumed character), along with shows and games for children. In addition to Duke the dragon, the park also features costumed characters Princess Brooke, and the Knight.

A five-acre island at the back of the park, "Exploration Island", includes a Prehistoric Path featuring more than 15 animatronic dinosaurs. The island is viewable from the riverboat.[1]

Current roller coasters

Dutch Wonderland has three operating rollercoasters.

Ride Opened Description
Merlin's Mayhem
2017
A steel suspended rollercoaster, manufactured by S&S Worldwide. It will pass over the Skyride and stands on the land the Turnpike once stood.
Kingdom Coaster
1992
A wooden rollercoaster, the first coaster ever built by Custom Coasters International. Uses a single Philadelphia Toboggan Company train with buzz bars. The park's monorail runs through the structure of the ride. The ride was once painted white, and is currently painted blue. It was named the Sky Princess until the 2007 season.
Joust
1998
A steel "Big Dipper" style rollercoaster, manufactured by Chance Rides. It sits where the Flying Trapeeze once stood, in front of the Kingdom Coaster. Chance's prototype Big Dipper Coaster.

Other Attractions

Kingdom Coaster and Log Flume

Removed rides

Shows

See also

References

  1. Lauer-Williams, Kathy (17 April 2014). "Lancaster's Dutch Wonderland to add animatronic dinosaurs". The Morning Call. Allentown PA. Retrieved 10 May 2014.
  2. Stammel, Rick (2013-06-21). "Dutch Wonderland's 50th Anniversary". The Morning Call. Retrieved 2015-08-23.
  3. {{cite web |url=http://www.mcall.com/entertainment/mc-pictures-dutch-wonderland-through-the-years-009,0,2242128.photo |title=Dutch Wonderland through the years |website=The Morning Call |date=2012-06-16 |accessdate=2015-07-14}}

External links

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