We’ve all heard of Disneyland and Magic Kingdom, but while these giants of happy family memories might be famous around the world, local small town theme parks also held an important place for many of us growing up. Started as picnic and recreation areas by streetcar companies to give people a reason to use their services on weekends, small town theme parks were an important place to enjoy summer and have experiences of a lifetime. Actors dressed as our favourite characters, roller coasters, Ferris wheels, and cotton candy, here are some of the best theme parks that didn’t require boarding a plane or cramming into the car for a cross-country road trip.
#1: Rocky Glen Park (Moosic, PA) – 1885-1987
Rocky Glen Park was home to an array of roller coasters. If you wanted to test your nerves at the Figure 8, Mountain Dip, Jazz Railway, or the legendary ‘Million Dollar Coaster’, Rocky Glen was the place to do it. Generations of Pennsylvanians enjoyed their summers here until the park’s closing in the late ‘80s.
