Dutch Wonderland
Encyclopedia
Dutch Wonderland is a 48 acres (19.4 ha) amusement park just east of Lancaster, Pennsylvania
, appealing primarily to families with small children. The park's theme is a "Kingdom for Kids." The entrance to the park has a real stone castle façade, which was built by Earl Clark, a potato farmer, before he opened the park in 1963.
The Clark family sold Dutch Wonderland in 2001 to Hershey Entertainment and Resorts Company
. They also operate Wonderland Mini-Golf, and Old Mill Stream Campground at the same location and the Gift Shop at Kitchen Kettle Village, in nearby Intercourse.
On November 12, 2010, Hershey Entertainment announced that they sold Dutch Wonderland to Palace Entertainment. "Fernando Eiroa, Palace Entertainment
President and CEO, commented, “We are very proud of the integration of a leading park like Dutch Wonderland within our group. We are fully aware of the unique position that Dutch Wonderland holds within its community and we will be doing everything to enhance the Dutch Wonderland brand, while keeping the special family appeal of the park."
Today, the park has 34 rides, plus a tropical-themed interactive water play area called Duke's Lagoon. The park also has an extended season, open for "Happy Hauntings" and "Dutch Winter Wonderland" events for Halloween
and Christmas
.
The park is part of a larger area in Lancaster zoned for entertainment, dining, lodging, and conferences.
Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Lancaster is a city in the south-central part of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It is the county seat of Lancaster County and one of the older inland cities in the United States, . With a population of 59,322, it ranks eighth in population among Pennsylvania's cities...
, appealing primarily to families with small children. The park's theme is a "Kingdom for Kids." The entrance to the park has a real stone castle façade, which was built by Earl Clark, a potato farmer, before he opened the park in 1963.
The Clark family sold Dutch Wonderland in 2001 to Hershey Entertainment and Resorts Company
Hershey Entertainment and Resorts Company
Hershey Entertainment and Resorts , also known as "HERCO", is a privately owned company of the Hershey Trust Company.- History :The company was originally founded by Milton S...
. They also operate Wonderland Mini-Golf, and Old Mill Stream Campground at the same location and the Gift Shop at Kitchen Kettle Village, in nearby Intercourse.
On November 12, 2010, Hershey Entertainment announced that they sold Dutch Wonderland to Palace Entertainment. "Fernando Eiroa, Palace Entertainment
Palace Entertainment
Palace Entertainment is an American amusement and entertainment company owned by Parques Reunidos. The company was established in 1998 after the acquisition of four independently owned family entertainment companies with the five brands Camelot Parks, Palace Park, Boomers!, Grand Prix Race-O-Rama...
President and CEO, commented, “We are very proud of the integration of a leading park like Dutch Wonderland within our group. We are fully aware of the unique position that Dutch Wonderland holds within its community and we will be doing everything to enhance the Dutch Wonderland brand, while keeping the special family appeal of the park."
Today, the park has 34 rides, plus a tropical-themed interactive water play area called Duke's Lagoon. The park also has an extended season, open for "Happy Hauntings" and "Dutch Winter Wonderland" events for Halloween
Halloween
Hallowe'en , also known as Halloween or All Hallows' Eve, is a yearly holiday observed around the world on October 31, the night before All Saints' Day...
and Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
.
The park is part of a larger area in Lancaster zoned for entertainment, dining, lodging, and conferences.
Attractions
Dutch Wonderland features 34 rides, a water park called Duke's Lagoon (named for a purple dragon costumed character), along with shows and games for children. In addition to Duke the dragon, the park also features costumed characters Princess Brooke, and the Knight.Current roller coasters
Dutch Wonderland has two operating rollercoasters.| Ride | Opened | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom Coaster | 1992 | A wooden rollercoaster, the first coaster ever built by Custom Coasters International Custom Coasters International Custom Coasters International was one of the premier wooden roller coaster manufacturers in the world and produced more wooden coasters in recent times than any other company... . Uses a single Philadelphia Toboggan Company Philadelphia Toboggan Company The Philadelphia Toboggan Company is one of the oldest existing roller coaster manufacturing companies in the world.Mack Rides of Germany dates back to 1781, but it did not start building coasters until 1921 Based in Hatfield, Pennsylvania, it was established in 1904 by Henry B... train with buzz bars. The park's monorail Monorail A monorail is a rail-based transportation system based on a single rail, which acts as its sole support and its guideway. The term is also used variously to describe the beam of the system, or the vehicles traveling on such a beam or track... runs through the structure of the ride. The ride was once painted white, and is currently painted blue. It was named the Sky Princess until the 2007 season. |
| Joust Joust (roller coaster) Joust is the name of a steel roller coaster located at Dutch Wonderland near Lancaster, Pennsylvania. It is a "Big Dipper" style roller coaster, manufactured by Chance Rides. It sits where the Flying Carousel once stood, in front of the Kingdom Coaster.... |
1998 | A steel "Big Dipper" style rollercoaster, manufactured by Chance Rides. It sits where the Flying Trapeze once stood, in front of the Kingdom Coaster. Chance's prototype Big Dipper Coaster. |
Other rides
- Astroliner - an older space simulator that was added to the park in 1978, built by Wisdom Manufacturing
- Bumper Cars - a classic Lusse bumper carBumper carBumper car is the generic name for a type of flat ride consisting of several small electric cars which draw power from the floor and/or ceiling, and which are turned on and off remotely by an operator...
ride - Capital BlueCross Monorail - visible from outside the park
- Dragon's Lair - a one-of-a-kind boat ride, visible from outside the park
- Dukes Dozers- a kiddie ride where children ride in bulldozers, moved from HersheyparkHersheyparkHersheypark is an amusement park located in Hershey, Pennsylvania, near the Hershey Chocolate Factory.Hersheypark was opened on April 24, 1907 as a leisure park for the employees of the Hershey Chocolate Company, an American confectionery company. Later, the company decided to open the park to the...
where it was called Earthmovers - Dutch Wonder House - a rare "haunted swing" ride, where the entire house revolves around the riders, an extremely disorienting effect
- Double Splash Flume - a double drop log flumeLog flumeA log flume is a flume specifically constructed to transport lumber and logs down mountainous terrain to a sawmill by using flowing water. These watertight trough-like channels could be built to span a long distance across chasms and down steep mountain slopes...
(the lower drop at the beginning of the ride, the higher drop at the end) with characters and a mist tunnel - Wiggle Racers - A ride appealing to small children where self-propelled scooters race around a track that includes a maze and a cave. This ride replaced the miniature train display which had replaced the indoor miniature circus display.
- Lady Gay Riverboat - a short cruise around a man-made island
- Sky Ride - the last station-to-station sky ride in the state
- VR Voyager - a newer-style motion simulator
- Wonder Whip - a kiddie whip ride moved from HersheyparkHersheyparkHersheypark is an amusement park located in Hershey, Pennsylvania, near the Hershey Chocolate Factory.Hersheypark was opened on April 24, 1907 as a leisure park for the employees of the Hershey Chocolate Company, an American confectionery company. Later, the company decided to open the park to the...
, formerly called Wells Cargo - Turtle Whirl - classic tilt-a-whirl ride with a turtle theme purchased from Clementon Lake Park.
- The Twister - a family ride moved from HersheyparkHersheyparkHersheypark is an amusement park located in Hershey, Pennsylvania, near the Hershey Chocolate Factory.Hersheypark was opened on April 24, 1907 as a leisure park for the employees of the Hershey Chocolate Company, an American confectionery company. Later, the company decided to open the park to the...
(1978–2008)
Removed rides
- Old 99 - a train ride that went around a track by itself (1974–2002)
- Swan train ride - Only existed for a few years.
- Original Iron Horse Train - replaced in 1970s for CP Huntington #123. CP Huntington #206 was added in 1984.
- Giant Slide - Replaced with two portable slides.
Shows
- Thomas and Friends Live at Dutch Wonderland - a new show based on Thomas the Tank EngineThomas the Tank EngineThomas the Tank Engine is a fictional steam locomotive in The Railway Series books by the Reverend Wilbert Awdry and his son, Christopher. He became the most popular character in the series, and the accompanying television spin-off series, Thomas and Friends.Thomas is a tank engine, painted blue...
- Bubba Bear and the Badlands Band - a SallySally CorporationFounded in 1977, Sally Corporation is known for its dark rides , and its human, animal and cartoon animatronic characters and shows. The company serves amusement parks, attractions, museums and retail clients worldwide...
-produced theater show - The Adventures of the Frog Prince - a high-dive show
- A Dragon's Tale - a high-dive show
- Storytime Corner- Princess of Dutch Wonderland and the Dutch Wonderland Knight read stories to children
- Dukes Dance Party- Duke The Dragon and his friends dance to songs such as the Chicken Dance, Limbo, Hula and more.
- The Wonderers - Strolling horn band that plays and entertains guests while making excellent music.
- Beyond the Castle Walls - based on the children's book of the same name, Beyond the Castle Walls tells the story of Princess Brooke's global adventures.
Popular culture
- On the TLCTLC (TV channel)TLC is an American cable TV specialty channel which initially focused on educational content. Since 1991 TLC has been owned by Discovery Communications, the same company that operates the Discovery Channel, Animal Planet and The Science Channel, as well as other learning-themed networks...
show Jon & Kate Plus 8Jon & Kate Plus 8Jon & Kate Plus 8, named Kate Plus 8 from the sixth season on, is an American reality television series airing on TLC. It is produced by Figure 8 Films about the Gosselin family, consisting of parents Jon and Kate and their eight children: fraternal twins and sextuplets...
, the family visited Dutch Wonderland in the episode titled "Gosselins Go Dutch."