williams grove amusement park

williams grove 
amusement park

1850 - 2005

​Pennsylvania

cars of the Cyclone wooden rollercoaster 

In the 1850's the William's family began hosting family picnics and community events in the village of William's Grove outside of Mechanicsburg Pennsylvania. The family park had grown into the Mechanicsburg Fairgrounds within 20 years and by 1928 the fairgrounds received their first rides. After World War I the property ownership had changed hands multiple times but the late 1920s owners were the ones who developed this family park into an amusement park. Right before World War II, in 1938, the Williams Grove Speedway half-mile track opened across the street from the amusement park and is still open to this day.

Overgrown Cyclone wooden rollercoaster

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In 1972, Morgan Hughes purchased the amusement park for $1.2 million. The New Jersey Palisades Amusement Park had closed that same year and Hughes was able to purchase many of their rides and relocate them to Williams Grove. That same year, Hurricane Agnes caused flooding that nearly destroyed the park but Hughes stayed true to his investment and rebuilt. The Yellow Breeches Creek surrounds the amusement park and has flooded the grounds on a number of occasions both before and after the hurricane which put a strain on maintenance costs. 

Old train chairs outside of the bathroom behind the park

Cyclone wooden rollercoaster

Strip with park games and booths 

One of the cars from the little dipper that was removed from the park in 1963

The Cyclone was the main attraction of the park 

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After staying open for 33 years, the Hughes family decided to focus on the Williams Grove Speedway and in 2005 they made the decision to close the amusement park. The following year they tried to sell the property but were unable to find a buyer interested in keeping the park intact and operational. The Hughes family lost their opportunity to find a buyer for the park so they kept it and auctioned off some of the rides late 2006. Morgan Hughes passed away in 2008 and the park still remains untouched except for the occasional flea market held on the property in the summer.   

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Inside the former carousel shed 

Exterior of the former carousel shed

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the Rides of williams grove amusement park

The Cyclone

The Little Dipper

Twister

2 Waterslides

The Wildcat

Dante's Inferno

The Tilt-A-Whirl

The carousel

The Kiddie Coaster

Allotria

The Octopus

Bumper cars

The Cyclone - the parks main attraction. The wooden coaster was 65 ft high at its highest drop and could reach up to 45 mph. 
The Wildcat - opened in the 1980s and was the parks first and only steel rollercoaster. When the park closed the ride was relocated to Adventure Park in Maryland.
The Kiddie Coaster - brought to the park in 1992.
The Little Dipper - brought to the park in 1950 and removed in 1963
Dante's Inferno - dark fun house ride
Allotria - fun house walkthrough 
The 2 waterslides of Williams Grove Amusement Park were the first waterslides in the area and installed in the 1980s. The waterslides have since been removed and the platforms are all that remains. 
Other rides and entertainment include - Twister, Tilt-A-Whirl, The Octopus, The carousel, Kiddie train ride, bumper cars, laser tag, and the fun house. 

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Fence on the bridge which is the only way to the park since it is surrounded by the Yellow Breeches Creek. Spikes and barbed wire cover the top and sides making the small gaps in the middle our only way in.

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The first hill of the cyclone wooden rollercoaster

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references

"Pennsylvania's Creepiest Abandoned Amusement Park: The Williams Grove." The Vintage News, 16 Aug. 2016, www.thevintagenews.com/2016/08/16/priority-9/.

Vee, Wendy. "The Remains of Williams Grove." Roadside Wonders, 12 Oct. 2010, roadsidewonders.net/the-remains-of-williams-grove/.

"Williams Grove Amusement Park (Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, USA)." Roller Coaster DataBase, rcdb.com/4681.htm.

"William's Grove Amusement Park." Theme Park Review, www.themeparkreview.com/wgrove/wgrove.htm.

​"Williams Grove Amusement Park." RideZone, www.ridezone.com/parks/pa/williamsgrove/index.htm.