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Lakemont Park
Amusement park in Altoona, Pennsylvania
Amusement park in Altoona, Pennsylvania
| Field | Value | |
|---|---|---|
| name | Lakemont Park | |
| logo | Lakemont Park logo.png | |
| image | [[File:Skyliner01.jpg | 200px]] |
| caption | Skyliner roller coaster | |
| location | Altoona | |
| location2 | Pennsylvania | |
| location3 | U.S. | |
| coordinates | ||
| homepage | https://www.lakemontparkfun.com | |
| owner | Lakemont Park Center, LLC | |
| opening_date | 1894 | |
| previous_names | Boyertown USA | |
| season | May to Labor Day | |
| area | 60 acre | |
| rides | 8 | |
| coasters | 2 | |
| water_rides | 6 – Currently closed | |
| slogan | "Two great parks, twice the fun!" |
Lakemont Park is an amusement park located in Altoona, Pennsylvania. The park opened in 1894 as a trolley park and became an amusement park in 1899. It is one of only thirteen trolley parks still operating, and the 8th oldest amusement park in the United States. The park was closed from 2017 to 2018, but re-opened in summer 2019. The amusement rides have been out of operation since 2024.
Lakemont Park houses the world's oldest surviving roller coaster, Leap-The-Dips. On June 19, 1996, Leap-the-Dips was added to the list of National Historic Landmarks by the National Park Service. Lakemont Park is also known for its 51-acre drive-through holiday light display, Holiday Lights on the Lake, which operates from November to January.
History
Lakemont Park opened in 1894 as a trolley park, and became an amusement park in 1899. It was donated to Blair County in 1937. It was privatized on May 23, 1986, when it was purchased by the Boyer Candy Company, at which point it was called Boyertown USA. Although it was sold on July 1, 1988, it remained in continuous operation through 2016. The park was closed for the 2017 season, as many rides and attractions were undergoing maintenance. In 2018, Lakemont Park announced that it would remain closed for the season, with plans to reopen as a "family entertainment location with some amusements" in the summer of 2019. The park sold a lot of its former rides and attractions. It successfully reopened in the summer of 2019. The park indefinitely ceased operations of their amusement rides in 2024 citing declining attendance and high insurance costs.
Lease dispute with Blair County (2025)
On August 29, 2025, the Lakemont Partnership, the organization leasing and operating Lakemont Park, filed a lawsuit against the Blair County Commissioners, alleging false accusations of lease violations and reputational harm. The lawsuit claims the county has threatened to end the partnership's lease, which runs through 2066. Additionally, the lawsuit reveals an offer of $800,000 from a sports complex to buy the lease from the partnership. The amount is much less than the millions of dollars in capital investments and debt the partnership hopes to recoup. The controversy stems from the park's recent closure of rides. The lease states the partnership must maintain the property as a public park and preserve the Casino, the Leap-The-Dips roller coaster, flower gardens and memorials "as long as it is economically feasible". The partnership claims it "[continues] to meet its obligations under the lease" and needs "the court's guidance". According to the lawsuit, it is no longer financially feasible to operate the rides. In 2019, after partnership spent $2 million in upgrades, the COVID-19 pandemic caused the park to close. These significant expenditures have made it "difficult or impossible" to continue to maintain the rides.
Current rides and attractions
Lakemont Park has numerous outdoor attractions.
Roller coasters
| Ride | Opened | Description | Ref(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leap-The-Dips | 1902 | A wooden, figure-eight type coaster with three four-seat trains. Only two figure-eight type roller coasters still survive in the world. Leap-The-Dips features 1452 ft of track and is one of the few surviving roller coasters with side friction. The ride was closed for all but two weeks in 2005, because of maintenance. The ride was also closed from 1986 to 1998. | |
| Skyliner | 1987 | A wooden coaster. Skyliner was relocated from Roseland Park in Canandaigua, New York, where it was built in 1960. It was moved to build up the park for the failed Boyertown USA project. This marks one of the few instances of a wooden roller coaster being moved. |
Other family rides and attractions
- Paddle Boats
- Tin Lizzy Antique Cars
- Motorway Go-Karts
- C.P. Huntington Train
- 4 Batting cages
- 18 Hole Keystone Falls Mini Golf
- 18 Hole Rabbit Hole Mini Golf
- 4 Basketball courts
- 2 Volleyball courts
- Corn hole boards
- Horseshoe pits
- Walking paths
Kiddie rides and attractions
- 4X4 Monster Trucks
- C.P. Huntington Train
- Playground
Water park
The water park closed in 2020 and has not opened since.
| Ride | Opened | Closed | Description | Ref(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pool | 2020 | 3 foot deep pool | ||
| Three water slides | 2020 | |||
| Pirate's Cove | 2017 | Small pirate ship with water cannons and palm trees | ||
| Treehouse Activity Pool | 2019 | 2020 | Treehouse-themed pool with fountains |
Former roller coasters
Like any amusement park that has been open for many years, some of Lakemont Park's roller coasters have been removed over the years for various reasons.
| Ride | Manufacturer | Opened | Closed | Description | Ref(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gravity Road | Amandus Sink | 1894 | 1897 | A switchback railroad-style roller coaster built by Amandus Sink. The ride was torn down in 1897. | |
| Twister | Philadelphia Toboggan Company | 1927 | 1935 | A Herbert Schmeck wooden roller coaster. The ride was destroyed in a flood in March of 1935, and was removed a year later. | |
| Toboggan | Chance Rides | 1991 | 2016 | A portable Toboggan coaster. The ride featured four single cars. | |
| Lil' Leaper/Little Leaper | Allan Herschell Company | 1993 | 2023 | A standard Little Dipper kiddie coaster. | |
| Mad Mouse | Allan Herschell Company | 1993 | 2003 | A steel wild mouse coaster. The ride closed in 2003 due to increasing maintenance needs. |
Incidents at Lakemont Park
- On July 23, 1959, 12-year-old Frank Vestri drowned in the swimming pool area, despite a lifeguard having been on duty at the time.
- On September 2, 1991, a 17-year-old ride operator named Chris Whitfield was injured by the Little Leaper coaster. He lost his right leg after it was caught between the train and the lift chain. The accident was featured in a segment entitled "Roller Coaster Rescue" during the 4th season of the television series Rescue 911, which aired on September 29, 1992, on CBS.
References
References
- "After two summers closed, Lakemont Park reopens with new additions".
- (2025-09-01). "Lakemont Park leaseholder files lawsuit against Blair County, commissioners". WTAJ.
- Stephens, Kay. (March 7, 2018). "Lakemont to remain closed this year". Altoona Mirror.
- "After two summers closed, Lakemont Park reopens with new additions".
- Ozana, Rus. (2024-02-02). "Lakemont Park Eliminates Rides for 2024 Season".
- Herald, Morrisons Cove. "Lakemont Partnership Sues Blair County Commissioners".
- "At an impasse: Lakemont Park management group files suit against commissioners".
- (December 21, 2015). "Leap the Dips Roller Coaster". P. Joseph Lehman, Inc., Consulting Engineers.
- "Lakemont Park and The Island Water Park". Lakemontparkfun.com.
- (July 3, 1918). "Lakemont Park Is 25 Years Old Tomorrow. Popular Resort was Formally Opened on July 4, 1893, by Logan Valley Railway.". Altoona Tribune.
- (April 14, 1961). "Plenty of Work Goes on Now at Lakemont Summer Fun Spot.". Altoona Mirror.
- (June 29, 1953). "July 4 To Mark 60th Birthday Of County's Lakemont Park.". Altoona Tribune.
- "Death Indexes".
- "''Rescue 911'' - Episode list - Season 4". IMDb.
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