Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom - Allentown, PA - amusement park and water park

Covering 200 acres, Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom is a dual amusement park, with one side being strictly amusement park rides and attractions and the other side being a popular water park. The concept for this park has roots as far back as 1860, when local landowner Solomon Dorney built a summer resort and trout hatchery outside of Allentown. He went public with the attraction in 1870, and the park was officially founded in 1884. Today, the park is owned and operated by Cedar Fair Entertainment Company.

Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom has nearly 60 rides, as well as a number of other attractions, including a number of roller coasters. Hydra: The Revenge is the first and currently only floor less roller coaster in the state, and it shoots riders over a half mile into the sky along a steel track. Also popular is the Dominator with its 15-story drop and the Meteor, which suspends riders face to face and runs both backward and forward. In 2008, the park also opened Possessed, a steel coaster over 700 feet long that takes riders up two u-shaped towers while suspended. Other coasters at the park include the Screamin' Swing, Steel Force, Talon, and Thunderhawk. Thunderhawk, with its wooden track, is the oldest coaster in the park, as it was first build in 1923.

The park isn't just known for its thrill rides. There are also other rides for the entire family to enjoy, including guests who don't want as much action in their lives. These rides include the Antique Carrousel, the Chance Carousel, the Ferris Wheel, Krazy Kars (bumper cars), Road Rally, the Scrambler, the Sea Dragon Viking Ship, swan pedal boats, the Thunder Creek Mountain flume ride, the Whip, and the Tilt-a-Whirl.

Along with these rides, which are all found in the Dorney Park section, there are a number of water rides in the other half of the facility - Wildwater Kingdom. The rides here include the Aqua Racer, a 300-foot mat racing slide, as well as at the Cascade, a tube ride that rises thirty feet into the air. Nearby, guests can check out the Aquablast, a raft ride that is one of the longest elevated water slides in the entire country, as well as other slides like the Jumpin' Jack Splash, Lightning Falls, Patriot's Plunge, and the Speed Slides. There's also Runaway River, Wildwater River, and Riptide Run, three rivers where guests float along on inner tubes, as well as a number of water playgrounds and activity areas for the kids. Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom guests also usually enjoy time in one of the two wave pools in the park.

Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom opens annually starting weekends in May, and they're open daily from Memorial Day to Labor Day. The park is also open weekends during September and October. During the summer, they are open from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM most days, with slightly shortened hours near the beginning and end of the season. The water rides close early daily. General admission for guests at least 48 inches tall is $40.99, with discounts for two-day tickets, early season dates, admission after 5:00 PM, children, and seniors. They also have season passes available. For more information, call the park at 610-395-3724.