Lakemont Park

Lakemont Park is an amusement park located in Altoona, Pennsylvania. The park opened in 1894 as a trolley park and became an amusement park in 1899. It is one of only thirteen trolley parks still operating, and the 8th oldest amusement park in the United States. The park was closed from 2017 to 2018, but re-opened in summer 2019. It will be closed for the 2024 season.

Lakemont Park houses the world's oldest surviving roller coaster, Leap-The-Dips. On June 19, 1996, Leap-the-Dips was added to the list of National Historic Landmarks by the National Park Service.

History
Lakemont Park opened in 1894 as a trolley park, and became an amusement park in 1899. It was donated to Blair County in 1937. It was privatized on May 23, 1986 when it was purchased by the Boyer Candy Company, at which point it was called Boyertown USA. Although it was sold on July 1, 1988, it remained in continuous operation through 2016. The park was closed for the 2017 season, as many rides and attractions were undergoing maintenance. In 2018, Lakemont Park announced that it would remain closed for the season, with plans to reopen as a "family entertainment location with some amusements" in the summer of 2019. The park sold a lot of its former rides and attractions. It successfully reopened in the summer of 2019. The park will not operate during the 2024 season due to a lack of funds for ride maintenance.

Lakemont Park is also known for its 51-acre drive-through holiday light display, Holiday Lights on the Lake, which operates from November to January.

Current rides and attractions
Lakemont Park has numerous outdoor attractions.

Other family rides and attractions

 * Paddle Boats
 * Tin Lizzy Antique Cars
 * Motorway Go-Karts
 * C.P. Huntington Train
 * 4 Batting cages
 * 18 Hole Keystone Falls Mini Golf
 * 18 Hole Rabbit Hole Mini Golf
 * 4 Basketball courts
 * 2 Volleyball courts
 * Corn hole boards
 * Horseshoe pits
 * Walking paths

Kiddie rides and attractions

 * 4X4 Monster Trucks
 * C.P. Huntington Train
 * Lil' Leaper
 * Playground

Water park
The water park closed in 2020 and has not opened since.

Former roller coasters
Like any amusement park that has been open for many years, some of Lakemont Park's roller coasters have been removed over the years for various reasons.

Incidents at Lakemont Park

 * On July 23, 1959, a twelve-year-old boy named Frank Vestri drowned in the water park swimming pool, despite a life guard being on duty.


 * On September 2, 1991, a seventeen-year-old ride operator named Chris Whitfield was injured by the Little Leaper coaster. He lost his right leg after it was caught between the train and its chain. The accident was featured on the television series Rescue 911 on CBS in 1992.