AHYP History Series: Ligonier's Gem - Idlewild Park
About this Event
This event is open to all, members and non-members!
Plan on joining us for our next presentation in our Pittsburgh History Series on Wednesday, July 22nd
Cocktail hour at 5pm with presentation at 6pm
Idlewild expert Jennifer Sopko will be presenting about the park's fascinating and long history.
Program: “Idlewild: History and Memories of Pennsylvania’s Oldest Amusement Park”
A longtime summer fun destination, Idlewild Park has charmed folks across Western Pennsylvania and beyond since the late 19th century. Nestled among the Allegheny Mountains and along the Loyalhanna Creek, this historic amusement park was founded by the Mellon family in 1878 as a scenic picnic grove designed to boost passenger traffic on the Ligonier Valley Rail Road. Now the oldest operating amusement park in Pennsylvania and the third oldest in the United States, today’s Idlewild and SoakZone has delighted generations of families with its classic amusement rides, themed areas and natural beauty. Writer and historian Jennifer Sopko will share the fascinating story of Ligonier’s beloved amusement park, plus vintage images gathered during research for her book, Idlewild: History and Memories of Pennsylvania’s Oldest Amusement Park
Jennifer Sopko is a Pittsburgh-based writer and historian with a love of local history, especially amusement parks. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, Pennsylvania. Since 2003, Jennifer has covered the Ligonier Valley, Westmoreland County and Western Pennsylvania as a freelance writer and journalist for several regional publications, including the Latrobe Bulletin, The Ligonier Echo and Westmoreland History magazine. She is the author of Idlewild: History and Memories of Pennsylvania’s Oldest Amusement Park and Ligonier Valley Vignettes: Tales From the Laurel Highlands. Her next book will cover lost amusement parks across Western Pennsylvania. A seasoned guest speaker, Jennifer also serves as editor of the Westmoreland Historical Society’s Westmoreland History magazine, operations chair for the National Amusement Park Historical Association, and board member for the Ligonier Valley Rail Road Association, the Ephemera Society of America, and Tube City Community Media, Inc., among other historical affiliations. Follow her at www.jennifersopko.com.
Agenda
🕑: 12:00 PM
Club opens for day
🕑: 05:00 PM - 06:00 PM
Cocktail hour begins in lounge
🕑: 06:00 PM - 07:00 PM
Presentation begins
🕑: 08:00 PM
Lounge closes
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
USD 0.00
