Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom
Allentown, Pennsylvania
Way back in 1860, Solomon Dorney built a fish hatchery to provide anglers a supply of fish. This "Fish Weir and Summer Resort" along Cedar Creek featured eight trout ponds.
Ten years later Solomon added games, a playground, a hotel, and even a small zoo and renamed the place "Dorney's Trout Ponds and Summer Resort." The beginning of the 20th century brought
a trolley line and a Dentzel carousel to the park. In 1935, Dorney Park introduced the Zephyr, a classic train that still takes guests on a tour of the park today!
Wildwater Kingdom, the water park, opened in 1985. Cedar Fair, Ltd. purchased the park in 1992. Presently the park is spread over 200 acres of land. One coaster has been built since my last visit:
Iron Menace is a Bolliger and Mabillard Dive Coaster with four inversions that opened in 2024.
At least eight coasters have left Dorney Park:
- Flying Dutchman (1977-1988) was a Pinfari Zyklon Z78 model.
- Great Scenic Railway (1905-1912) was a small wood coaster. Some have reported that it was built by Frederick Ingersoll.
- Hercules (1989-2003) was a wood coaster built by Dinn & Summers. (Details and pictures below.)
- Laser (1986-2008) was a Schwarzkopf Double Looping model with two inversions. (Details and pictures below.)
- Mini Coaster (1950s-1985) was a small children's coaster.
- Steel First (1980s-2010) was a Little Dipper model children's coaster built by the Allan Herschell Company. It was also called Little Laser and Colossus Jr. Before operating here, it was Snowball Express at Santa's Village in Illinois. (Details and pictures below.)
- Stinger (2012-2017) was a Vekoma Invertigo shuttle coaster. Before its time at Dorney Park, it was Invertigo at California's Great America (Details and pictures below.)
- Wild Mouse (1958-1965) was a Wild Mouse from Schiff.
Videos
Hercules
Hydra the Revenge
Laser
(formerly Colossus)
Possessed
(formerly Voodoo)
Steel First
Steel Force
Stinger
Talon
Thunderhawk
Wild Mouse
Woodstock Express
(formerly Woodstock's Express)
