Future of Lakemont Park could be off the tracks as rides sit dormant

Yahoo

21 hours ago

LAKEMONT, Pa. (WTAJ) — Leap the Dips is the world's oldest roller coaster and joined the list of National Historic Landmarks in 1996. But with Lakemont Park not operating its beloved rides for the second summer in a row, it's beginning to show up on a different type of list — one of abandoned places in Pennsylvania.
The old trolley park sits dormant and deteriorating, sparking online discussions that the amusement park may be abandoned. But those claims are unsubstantiated as the recreational side of the park remains open including the mini golf course, basketball courts and batting cages.
'An abandoned amusement park would be they block the gates and keep everybody out,' said Dave Hahner, a historian with American Coaster Enthusiasts (ACE). 'That is possibly one of the shining moments that we can possibly look at, the fact that the park is not closed yet.'
ACE is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the enjoyment, knowledge and preservation of roller coasters. Hahner said the community worries it will lose Leap the Dips, a crucial piece of amusement park history.
'It's the oldest opera— it was the oldest operating roller coaster and it was one of the last side friction roller coasters operating in North America,' Hahner said.
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Skyliner, Lakemont Park's other wooden coaster, is one of the last coasters designed by John Allen, a premiere coaster designer in the mid– to late–1900s. It proudly towers over the outfield of PNG Field. ACE preservation director Josh Brown said it creates a unique experience for both the amusement park and baseball fans.
'We hear a lot of people like it's it was the most fun riding Skyliner when they could heckle somebody from the other team in the outfield, you know while riding it,' Brown said.
While people on social media have suggested the park sell off the old coasters if they won't operate them, Hahner said that's not an option for Leap the Dips due to the coaster's age. As safety standards have changed over the 123 years since Leap the Dips was built, the coaster has been grandfathered in, but if moved, would have to be modernized and would lose what makes it special, according to Hahner. It would be required to have automatic breaks and an electronic monitoring system.
Hahner said even without these features, the ride is still very safe, meets state standards for safety, and since it only uses one car at a time, there's no chance for collisions.
Lakemont Park claims the old wooden coasters are too costly to repair and maintain, but it doesn't explain why the entire amusement park is shut down.
'They do have other rides that are currently dormant,' Hahner said. 'They have the C.P. Huntingdon train ride, the antique car ride and Go–Karts, all of which I'm just kind of puzzled as to why, especially the Go–Karts, as to why they're not operational like any good, family entertainment center.'
The park is ultimately owned by Blair County and it's not the first time they've faced such hardships. According to the Blair County Historical Society, the county commissioners accepted ownership of the park from the Altoona & Logan Valley Electric Railway in 1936 after a flood left most of the park damaged and finances were depleted. At the time, there was concern the park would be abandoned, but it reopened the following year after being restored.
Today, Lakemont Park is leased to a group known as the Lakemont Partnership who is responsible for operations of the entire property. Blair County Commissioner Dave Kessling said in an email he's worried the Lakemont Partnership is simply leaving the park to fall apart.
'They have chosen not to open the park rides for the past two years and in my opinion, they will continue to allow the park to deteriorate as they state it is too costly to maintain. We cannot force them to open the park with the rides.'
Dave Kessling, Blair County Commissioner
Brown said there are funds available to help, through a preservation grant. Lakemont Park has received donations from ACE on 15 separate occasions, totaling around $70,000. But no one from the county or Lakemont Park has applied for funding since 2023.
According to sources, the last time any work was done to repair or upkeep the wooden roller coasters was four years ago and no future work has been scheduled. Hahner said that because Leap the Dips is a national historic landmark, Lakemont Park is obligated to maintain the ride to where it's not going to fall over. While it does not have to be in operating order, there is concern that the lack of continued maintenance will cause the coaster to fall into complete disrepair.
'For every year that you wait, more damage is done by weathering,' Hahner said.
WTAJ has reached out to the park to ask what they plan to do to reopen the rides. They have not responded to emails and sent calls straight to voicemail.
ACE said they'd like to see Lakemont Park be taken over by an operator who will revitalize and get the coasters back on track but no plans are in the works so far.
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