West View Park Remembered

When West View Park opened in 1906, it was advertised as an escape from the smog of downtown Pittsburgh. At the time, it was one of seven amusement parks in the Pittsburgh area, but only two parks--West View and Kennywood--found long-term prosperity. If still open today, it would be a mere 10-minute drive from my house!

West View Historical Society

West View Park closed for good in 1977, but a shopping center built on the site bears the park’s name, and its sign is topped with a carousel horse---serving as a visible reminder of a once-legendary Pittsburgh amusement park.

Attractions during the first few years were modest, but before World War I, people didn’t come to amusement parks for the rides. Although there was an Old Mill ride and a small roller coaster, the most popular attractions were group picnics, boating on the lake, and especially dancing. 

Known as Danceland, the dance hall would ultimately burn to the ground in 1973 after being one of West View’s greatest draws for decades. Recently, while writing a school newspaper story, I was able to hear some memories from locals who visited the park. “My parents met at Danceland right before my dad was drafted, and they were married for 63 years,” said Cheryll Geisler.

Dips coaster -- West View Historical Society

West View Park was the source of countless romances over the decades, but as the park grew, amusement rides--and especially roller coasters--became more important to its success. In 1911, the park opened its most famous attraction, the Dips. This simply-named coaster would be upgraded in 1929, but with its steep drops and thrilling swoop turn just feet off of Perry Highway, it remained West View’s most popular ride until the park’s end.

West View Historical Society

With the popularity of the Dips, West View Park soon opened another major roller coaster, the dual-tracked Racing Whippet. Ingrained into the natural topography at the back of the park, the Whippet is fondly remembered. Local resident Rick O'Leary told me that "One Saturday in 1970, my cousin and I rode the Racing Whippet over and over for the whole day -- many, many hours in a row. We didn't ride another ride all day.” 

West View Historical Society

Some of my own family members even have memories of West View Park, as it was home to my grandfather’s ironworkers' picnic until closing in 1977. My dad remembers seeing the huge bat on the front of the Haunted House and riding the Caterpillar with his mom.

Rock-O-Plane -- West View Historical Society

West View Park is responsible for countless fond memories, but it also served as a memorable first job for many local teenagers:

"When I started working there, I was so thirsty one day that I took a drink of water from the Fish Pond trough. It was only after I swallowed a mouthful that I realized how many hands had been in the water that I had just drank," said Ellen Aschenbrenner.

The park after its closure in 1977 -- West View Historical Society

While it can be hard to believe that Pittsburgh was once home to two major amusement parks, the West View Park Shopping Center leaves no question about the park’s existence. Though I am sad that I never got to experience West View Park, I don't think that its importance will ever be forgotten. 

More Story Book Forest Postcards

Here's the second half of our trip through Story Book Forest with vintage postcards. It's a pretty expansive attraction, taking about a half-hour to fully walk through. I also don't have a postcard from every display.

Once part of the castle that was at the end of the previous post, the Sword in the Stone (Excalibur) was replaced by an updated version in 2016.

I spotted the old sign while snooping around a "backstage" area.

The Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe display didn't use to have any fiberglass figures on it, as the postcard below shows.

Playing the role of the "old woman" seems like a pretty good retirement job to me. Read a book in the shade until some kids come up!

Little Red Riding Hood's house has remained basically unchanged over the years.

Here's the scene today, with the elves of the forest in the foreground.

Just for fun, here's what you'll see inside!

The garden of Mary, Mary Quite Contrary used real flowers for a short time, but they weren't able to survive in the shade.

Still, I think there might be a better option than evenly-spaced cutouts!

The elves of the forest, including this one painting a flower, are some of the oldest figures in Story Book Forest.

The elf's flowers were removed a few years ago, so now he's just gesturing.

Hickory Dickory Dock is one of the best scenes.

The clock hands spin, the pendulum swings back and forth, and the door in the clockface opens to reveal a mouse.

Humpty Dumpty is everyone's favorite! ;-) Note the speaker. One of my favorite things about Story Book Forest is the crackly old sound effects.

 The image on this postcard was taken from the parking lot and shows the building that used to be the exit to Story Book Forest.

Here's the other side of the building. I guess it's just used for storage now. Or maybe it's a private residence.

This Jack-in-the-Box is my favorite (okay, I have a few favorites). I have a poster for the "Great Old Amusement Parks" documentary in my room that features a huge picture of its smiling face. I see it every day... sadly this display was removed in 2015.

I hope you've enjoyed this look back at the history of Story Book Forest!

Vintage Story Book Forest Postcards

I have a collection of postcards from Story Book Forest in Ligonier, Pennsylvania, and I thought it would be fun to compare them with modern photos. A time capsule to the past, this attraction has survived to the present day. Opened in 1956, it originally was a stand-alone walkthrough but was operated by the same family who owned the adjacent Idlewild amusement park. Merged with Idlewild in 1983, Story Book Forest continues today as a classic example of a roadside storybook park.

Story Book Forest remains largely the same as when it opened. Once commonplace, storybook parks which opened in the 1950s and 60s were all built around simple displays in a forested setting.

I love the entrance to Story Book Forest. The original artwork was maintained for years, but it was sadly replaced with an ugly re-skin a few years ago.

You see Mother Goose once you enter the book before entering the peaceful woods. The park tries to keep up with painting the buildings, but you'll see that some displays are showing their age after 65 years.

The Little Red Schoolhouse is the first building you see. Inside are desks, a chalkboard, and a figure with a "dunce" cap.

Here's the exterior of the schoolhouse today!

The Crooked Man's House is one of Story Book Forest's most memorable displays.

The floor inside is level, but the furniture is all crooked.

You can see the Crooked Man standing outside the house in the postcard, but now he's resting in the back.

The Jolly Old Miller's house was a snack bar for years, but now it just serves as decoration.

These little footbridges aren't as detailed as they used to be, but the flowers were recently painted back on. It's the thought that counts!

The Frog Prince is gone now, so RIP giant mushroom.

The focal point of Story Book Forest is a lagoon with a windmill on an island.

There used to be fountains in the lake, and as you can see, they're very missed!

I don't know what happened to the Three Men in a Tub.

The Good Ship Lollipop whistles "Sailing, Sailing..." it'll stick with you forever!

I think the once-picturesque lagoon is becoming a swamp!

The Three Bears' House has been upgraded since this postcard. I didn't even know that this small house existed previously.

This structure was originally a restroom building themed to Hansel and Gretel. Now, it's Gepetto's Workshop.

Lastly is this view of Story Book Forest's long-lost castle. During an expansion of the adjacent highway, it had to be removed.

We're only halfway through. Look for part two next month!

Conneaut Lake Park - Requiem

I did a post almost exactly a year ago about Conneaut Lake Park. I must have jinxed it, as one unsuccessful season later, the park has become a shell of its former self. I saw the park's demise coming for months, but still, the loss hurts immensely. Conneaut had seemingly been on the upswing before 2020, but a year-long closure hurt the park to the point it needed to be sold in whole for it to survive. The person who bought has failed to recognize its potential as a historic amusement park, and with the exception of a few rides, everything that made Conneaut Lake special has been removed. Here are some photos of my family's visits from 2013-2019 in remembrance of the amusement park that has finally run out of its nine lives. 

This is the entrance. Free admission, free parking... ride all day, $10

I did a lights-on tour of the Devil's Den darkride in 2018. This 1968-built ride still stands at the park, its future uncertain.

The beloved Tumble Bug is missed by me more than anything else. At least Kennywood still has its Turtle.

During our first few visits, there were perhaps less than 100 people in the park. That was a very bad thing. The park avoided a sheriff's sale by declaring bankruptcy in 2014 and was finally beginning to turn a profit again (though some inside reports say otherwise). However, important bankruptcy payments and all positive momentum were halted in 2020.

My longtime Blogger avatar was me in the back seat of the Blue Streak.

Sadly, this unique, 1938-built coaster has now been demolished.

After surviving an auction in the 1990s, fires that destroyed major buildings in 2008 and 2013, and complete closures in 2007 and 2008, the park couldn't survive a ruthless Philadelphia developer who said he was going to "save" the park and instead tore most of it down. I wrote this in 2019: 

The quiet of this wooded amusement park feels strangely serene, with the peculiar silence only interrupted by the roar of a roller coaster in the distance and the music of a carousel organ. Just beyond this scene is one of the largest lakes in Pennsylvania. If you look beyond these things, however, you get closer to the story of Conneaut Lake Park. Tree roots are fighting to escape from the aged pavement of the midway, and more than a few of the buildings look desperately in need of a coat of paint. In the end, thoughts of visitors to this scene can range from regret to nostalgia, but with a little time, you will realize that there is still lots of fun to be had – even at such an aged amusement park.                 

 

That's it. Welcome to 2022.

Maybe I'll put up a happier post next Sunday.