Hanson's Amusement Park

Chapter 2: Auction and Aftermath

Rising insurance costs, the loss of the Roller Coaster, theme park creations elsewhere, and changing public tastes in entertainment doomed most local amusement parks. Other county amusement parks, Sans Souci, Angela Park and Rocky Glen closed. In its last years the Merry-Go-Round, the Pretzel Ride, the Whip, and Flying Coaster still served the park.

The Kiddie-Land introduced wide-eyed youngsters to the magic of amusement rides. But the Lake’s public beaches closed and lingered last at Hanson’s until at Hanson’s the beachfront was converted into boat slip rentals.

Finally, it was also time to close the amusement park. On Wednesday, September 26, 1984, at 1:00 P.M., Don Hanson’s Amusement Park was auctioned. The sale was handled by Norton Auctioneers of Cold Water, Michigan, a nationally known amusement park auction service. During the weeks before the sale, small crowds enjoyed their last rides and photographed their children on the Merry-Go-Round.

A few of the Hanson rides have remained intact elsewhere. For example, the sixty-foot long train, with its four-cylinder Ford gasoline engine cab and three coaches, built in 1948 by the Bittler company of Elmira, New York, is now the Bonneville-Pine Creek Railroad, at Register (near Benton), Pennsylvania, and sometimes operates between the Bonham Nursing Home and Memorial Park. The Merry-Go-Round, separately owned by the Wintersteen family, and not included in the auction sale, was leased in 1987 to Old Town, a park in Kissimmee, Florida, where it delights a new generation of youngsters.

A few dances were held in the late 1980s with the RPM “Old Star” 50's Band, Joe Nardone and Billy Brown (formerly the All Stars), and Eddie Day and the Dayettes. In the summer of 1989, however, the Coaster, left mute since 1980, was dismantled. In May 1992 the 4,000 seat Bud Light Amphitheater opened at Hanson’s Park with a May 25 performance by Kenny Loggins and other musical guests.

During this time Joe Nardone’s All Stars and Eddie Day returned for reunion dances at Hanson’s dance hall above the restaurant - ventures which were very successful. The amphitheater had a five year run with many national musical stars at the Lake. After 1996 the park grounds have been leased for camping opportunities and for boat rentals. The grand splash from the Chute into the Lake, the musical boom of the Merry-Go-Round, the clapping of the Roller Coaster track, the spark of the Dodgem - all memories of another time.

For more information and photos of Hanson's Park, visit the site http://www.defunctparks.com/parks/PA/hansons/index.htm.

Copyright 2006-2008 F. Charles Petrillo