Photo TR: Idlewild Park

[N'at Man]

I had a chance to stop by one of my home parks today, Idlewild. I realized shortly into my visit that it was 15 years ago when I started my string of four summers working at the park. Yikes! Time flies.

 

The Flying Aces flying scooters from Premier is the new attraction at the park this year. I was expecting the ride to open today but they still had some work to do. A sign out front cited unavoidable delays and I believe the issues were with the manufacturer. The ride is nearly complete and it was testing while speed rail went up. They were running it very fast and the empty tubs were flying high. They did a nice job placing the ride and making it look nice with the signature Idlewild white fence around the ride. It really seems to fit where the old Trinado ride never seemed quite right (even though I liked that ride).

 

There were several food stand changes and like Kennywood, Idlewild had a few flat screens with information (Idlewild TV). It was pretty blah if you ask me and you couldn't hear the sound. The water park was open but the large swimming pool wasn't open yet as they finished painting it late. The Loyalhanna Limited train had some new western theming which is a nice throwback to the days when the now defunct Lakeview Railway featured some ghost town theming.

 

The park was dead as far as crowds go. It would be pretty light by weekday standards. Anyone who has been to the park knows that if the Wild Mouse is a walk on it's a light day.

The one and only Mister Rogers Neighborhood of Make-Believe.

Caterpillar (with operating canopy and fan).

Rollo Coaster.

The PTC Carousel.

The Mouse in it's woodsy habitat.

The former Alton Mouse.

Here's the new Wild Mouse sign.

Finally the Pretzel Barn has become the Feed Box with an expanded menu included sandwiches.

Want fudge? You can find it in the new interior section of Sweet Treats.

Pacific Traders replaces the fudge stand.

Here's a review of the food stand changes. The Pasta Works is now the Back Porch. It still has pasta but has added Charley Biggs' Chicken.

Idlewild TV is also new. Looks somewhat like what Kennywood is doing but I don't think it's quite as interactive.

The tubs look cool. Note the Flying Aces insignia sewn onto the seat back.

Flying Aces sign waiting to be installed.

Flying Aces were not quite ready to open. If you look very closely you can see water dummys against the back fence.

Fountain with carousel in the background.

The #2 kids park in the world.

Welcome to Idlewild's 130th season.

[shesaidboom]

Oh no! Fanny's Fudgery has been replaced

[Canobie Fan]

Caterpillar (with operating canopy and fan).

Fan?

 

Canobie also has a caterpillar with working cover... But what is this fan?

[Airtime&Gravity]

I don't hear much about this park, and from those photos, it really surprises me. The Flying Aces, while not great, look 1000 times better than the ones at CG. Is Idlewild mainly a kiddie park, or more along the lines of say Lake Compounce, because, I could see a coaster similar to Kentucky Rumbler going there in 5-10 years.?

[coasterdude5]

^ I agree, I believe this is a step above a "kiddie" park. More like a family park, in my opinion. Looks like a great place.

[Guest]

Idewild is really a family park. It is geared more towards families with smaller children.

 

Great park though. That wild mouse is totally crazy too!

[Chris Benvenuto]

That wild mouse can also bust your nuts, be warned....

[All Clear]

I love Idlewild as a "chillout" park. Spend the day at Kennywood, relax during the evening at Idlewild. It's a very relaxing atmosphere.

 

(SpellCheck wanted me to replace "chillout" with "challot." I seriously doubt you'll find any challots at Idlewild.)

[John Peck]

Dang. That Flying Ace's structure looks so Bisch-Rocco it isn't funny. I know it's not, but wow. Premier did a great job at recreating that.

 

When did they repaint the Mouse? In 2000 or so I remember it being a rust color or so.

[N'at Man]

The mouse was repainted gray in 2002 according to my notes. As far as the fan on the caterpillar, there is a fan underneath the one rise in the track. The bottom of each car is grated so it gives a nice burst of air beneath your feet as you ride over the fan. Idlewild has the last Caterpillar ride to use a fan like this.

 

I take back my comment about the Idlewild TV not being as interactive as KennyTV. I found out today that the system at Kennywood is pretty much the same. No cell phone interaction or anything going on.