Ccron10 Visits Rocky Springs Park

[Ccron10]

This morning I headed down to Rocky Springs Bowling Alley in Lancaster Pa. for a tournament and decided to check out what was left of Rocky Springs Park afterwards. I talked to one of the guys behind the counter at the alley about the park and if it was open to the public. He told me that their bar had a collection of photos, tickets, and brochures hanging on the wall to check out and that you can access the park by going down the road a little further and head back towards the bed & breakfast.

The bar had quite a few pictures including a color photo of the Wildcat's station, Jack Rabbit's layout and a park map from 1955.

The park (or what's left of it) still felt like I was walking down a midway to a park, but in a post-apacalyptic sort of way. The midway is now the entrance to the bed & breakfast and creeply has lightposts that have been twisted in all ways. Wildcat's trains are sitting in the first building as you enter the midway and sit next to two old ticket booths and piles of either trolley ties or coaster supports. The next building over was the refreshments building that still looks good for it's age. The Penny Arcade is closed up and the Popcorn stand has a timeline display about the park.

Personally, I found the park interesting and would be a nice stop for any coaster history buff and see what old-style amusement parks used to look like.

I also want to further state that these photos were not taken illegally or by trespassing. The midway and buildings were along a road accessing the bed and breakfast. I did see a sign standing next to the arcade (halfway up the midway) saying B&B guests from this point only so I'm guessing they are okay passers-by taking a look to a certain point.

I'm sorry in advance for the glare in the next few photos. Jack Rabbit looks like it used to be a decent airtime producer back in the day.

Back in the day when every park had to have a Whip.

The carousel building is in the center, the Flying Scooters are on the left and a random building is on the right.

This had to be one of my favorites that they had hanging up. Wildcat's station reminds me of the Rollo Coaster's at Idlewild.

Jack Rabbit's was a little bit more old-school.

This map gives you a very good idea on what the park looked like back in the day. I can't seem to find the Jack Rabbit though.

Brochures, tickets, and postcards.

Some can be found online such as the Wildcat postcard.

On to the park photos. You can see that the Wildcat train is still there and sits under some sort of pavilion. You can see the restrooms in the background.

I wonder if Kat and Kiwi would be interested?

It really looks like it wouldn't take much to fix these cars up. Some of the paint is still there as well as the ductape on the lapbars.

Retro nerd shot.

Trolley ties and Wildcat's ticket booth from the picture back at the bar.

The resfreshment stand looks like it is in good condition after almost 30 years of abandonment.

This ticket booth is in better shape than Wildcat's.

This is the midway. The sign on the Arcade suprised me because it looked almost brand new!

I liked this fancy touch.

According to the map back at the bar, this used to be the restaurant. I hope you enjoyed my first trip report of 2011. I might post my Carsonia Park photos as well.

[HPCrazy]

It's sad to see such a place close down. I never stopped by here but know the immediate vicinity. I'm surprised they had a coaster train sitting there for such a long time and that some of the structures appeared in good condition. I'm surprised that someone doesn't renovate the place and at least open it as a picnic area of some kind. I bet Williams Grove is in worse shape than this place. Good PTR!

[Ccron10]

I know, I was pretty suprised in its condition. It was like it was untouched since it closed. There was not grafitti, vandalism or anything.