Dutch Wonderland opened on May 20, 1963, in East Lampeter Township just east of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, the creation of local potato farmer Earl Clark, who had little amusement industry experience but wanted a gentle, fairy-tale-themed park where young families could play together. It began modestly with just four rides, including a train and a riverboat, spread across 14 acres.
More than six decades later, the park still leans into its storybook, castle-and-dragon branding under the slogan ‘A Kingdom for Kids,’ having grown to 48 acres with 34 attractions, including three roller coasters and the Duke’s Lagoon water play area. Ownership has changed hands three times since the Clark family’s original run: to Hershey Entertainment and Resorts in 2001, to Palace Entertainment in 2010, and most recently to Herschend in early 2025.
Stats at a Glance
- Location: East Lampeter Township, Pennsylvania
- Operator: Herschend
- Opened: May 20, 1963
- Size: 48 acres (19 ha)
- Attractions: 34, including 3 roller coasters
- Signature Attraction: Kingdom Coaster (wooden coaster, opened 1992)
The Ride Experience
Dutch Wonderland’s three roller coasters each offer a different style of thrill scaled for a family crowd. The Kingdom Coaster, built in 1992 by Custom Coasters International, is a wooden coaster that ran for years as the Sky Princess before taking its current name ahead of the 2007 season. Joust, a steel ‘Big Dipper’ style coaster from Chance Rides that opened in 1998, serves as the manufacturer’s prototype for that model. The newest addition, Merlin’s Mayhem, opened in 2018 as a steel coaster from S&S that loops over part of the park.
Beyond the coasters, Duke’s Lagoon water play area, named for the park’s purple dragon mascot, and a mix of classic family rides like the Wonderland Express Train and Lady Gay Riverboat round out the experience, keeping the park’s original small-child focus intact even as it has expanded.
A Lancaster County Landmark
Set in the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch Country, the park draws on its Amish Country surroundings for theming and has long been paired with nearby farm markets and historic sites as part of a Lancaster family vacation. Its extended operating calendar includes seasonal events such as Happy Hauntings for Halloween and Dutch Winter Wonderland for the Christmas season.
The 2025 sale to Herschend, a company known for family-oriented attractions, marked the park’s third ownership change since Earl Clark founded it, following earlier sales to Hershey Entertainment and Resorts and then Palace Entertainment.
Explore more: Explore more family theme parks.
Rub-on sunscreen that fits in a pocket — reapply in the queue without greasy hands on the lap bar.
Folds into its own pocket. Pop it on when the storm rolls in and the rides reopen to short lines.
Keeps your phone strapped to you, not in a loose-article bin. Zip it before the lift hill and walk straight off the exit ramp.
Dutch Wonderland in the News
Stories from our daily theme park news roundups that mention Dutch Wonderland, newest first.
- Dutch Wonderland's Happy Hauntings Returns for Not-So-Spooky Halloween Fun — Sep 16, 2026
- November 2025 Theme Park News: Epic Universe, Lightwater Valley & More — Nov 6, 2025
Dutch Wonderland FAQs
When did Dutch Wonderland open?
Dutch Wonderland opened on May 20, 1963, founded by local farmer Earl Clark with just four rides on 14 acres.
How many roller coasters does Dutch Wonderland have?
The park has three roller coasters: the wooden Kingdom Coaster (1992), the steel Joust (1998), and Merlin’s Mayhem (2018).
Who owns Dutch Wonderland now?
Herschend acquired Dutch Wonderland in early 2025 as part of a larger purchase of Palace Entertainment’s U.S. properties.
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Photo: Martin Lewison / CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.