Has anyone been to Idlewild, what do you think, I'm planning a trip to Pennsylvania this summer and I'm going to Kennywood and HerseyPark, and was considering Idlewild, but I thought the price sounded high for what they seem to have at about 26 dollars, but it's an old park with a couple classics like the catipillar and paratrooper, but I was wandering is this park worth the price of admission, any thoughts?

You can buy discount tickets to Idlewild while you are at Kennywood (or at least you could under the old ownership...the parks just were acquired by a Spanish firm).

Idlewild is wonderful...especially so if you have younguns with you. Even if not, it has a grand mousey from Vekoma and a stunning little wooden roller coaster that I will always think was the inspiration for Boulderdash. They have a darling little log flume. If kids parks are not for you, though, you will be bored. Ligonier is not really on the way to anything...allow plenty of time to get there. The place is stunning. The food is very good and the pricing is quite reasonable.

That all being said, if you can swing Knoebel's Amusement Resort instead, I would.

I looked into the possibility of Knoebel's, but I think it probably will be too far, i'm packing it all into a 2 night stay, going to Kennywood the first day then driving 2 hours to a hotel half way between there and Hershey, going to Hershey on the 2nd day and possibly stopping at Idlewild for a half day on the way home, I love old parks, and I'd like to stop there, but it may be a hard sell to the rest of my party (no kids) at that price, I was hoping I could get a discount by going to both parks

I really want to ride the catepillar

Thanks for the input

The Caterpillar is a treasure, and has an operating cover! It will be worth the trip...but it takes longer to get there than most think. I know many people who have underestimated the time and got there an hour or so before closing! And, as I said, the guest relations people at Kennywood can sell you discount tickets to Idlewild, or at least could last year.

I hope I can get the discount, I also considered stopping by Lakemont park but I noticed they seem to be closed on Monday's which is when I would be there, also considered a swing by Delegroso's (or however you spell it), but didn't see anything to exciting there other than a chance to ride Casino which I believe is the wheel of fortune from Kings Island, ah the memories

The route I planned back from Bedford which is the half way point between pitsburgh and hershey that i'll be staying is state route 30 this goes straight through the middle of Ligonier have you ever been on us 30 up there is it a slow road?

I have travelled US 30. It's been a while, but I seem to remember a limited access four lane with occasional intersections, red lights and cross traffic...not unlike US 32 in Southern Ohio.

thanks for the info

Both Lakemont and Idlewild I highly recommend.

Idlewild is a BEAUTIFUL park and Rollo Coaster is a wonderful smaller classic coaster. It's the only one I've been on that still has skid brakes operated by levers...you know...the old fashioned way! It's a phenomenal ride for a smaller coaster, and the park is a treasure. The Loyalhanna Limited (railway) is not to be missed--in either direction.

Lakemont does not have the same charming atmosphere, or much of one at all. However there are three redeeming qualities. It is very inexpensive for admission and free parking. It is home to the world's oldest roller coaster, Leap the Dips, a side friction coaster built in 1902 (only one other of its kind remains). And...the Skyliner is awesome! The best seat is in the back. If you are a fan of airtime, it's for you. Only a lap bar, no seatbelt, and major airtime going over the first three hills--it was my number one coaster for quite some time!

just curious, what kind of lines can you expect at Kennywood, do you have to wait long to get on the rides? how about hershey park?

Check the schedule at Kennywood. Do NOT go on one of the ethnic days....the entire neighborhood seems to come and the lines are horrendous...especially on Italian Day, when they even have fireworks! Weekends can be very busy. Through the week, it's a lot like Kings Island's crowds. Remember, there are no season passholders to contend with.

Hersheypark has been very busy of late. Given the choice, I'd rather not go to either park on a Saturday or Sunday from June on. . .

thanks for the information

Knoebel's does look like quite a gem, I may decide to go there instead of Hershey

If I had not been to either, I don't know which I would choose...they are such different experiences. If I could pick only two out of three from Hersheypark, Knoebels and Idlewild, the first two would be the ones I would pick. . .

well idlewild will just be a couple hour after thought on the way home, but after looking at the ride list I'm quite excited about Knoebel's, A Carousel with a brass ring, hard to find one of those

Interesting about Knoebel's they won second place behind Cedar Point in the Golden Ticket award

Knoebel's is a treasure that simply must be experienced to be believed. So much of that park is composed of things you once found many places, but now find nearly nowhere else...such as ride tickets through the week, the excellent dark ride, the old Lusse bumper cars, the wooden coasters without seatbelts, the flyer ride which goes the opposite direction from most others and has fabric sails, the food--which is both delicious and inexpensive, the friendly employees, the free parking, the free admission, the forested grove atmosphere, the creeks going throughout the park, the many carousels, the museum, the inexpensive gift shops, the fact the park floods and quickly recovers from each flood, .....

yeah! I'm really excited about visiting it this summer