Waldameer Park & Water World sits at the base of Presque Isle State Park in Erie, Pennsylvania, where it has drawn lakeside crowds since 1896. Originally a picnic ground called Hoffman’s Grove, the site was leased and renamed by the Erie Electric Motor Company to appeal to the area’s large German community — “Waldameer” roughly translates to “woods by the sea.” It now ranks as the fourth-oldest amusement park in Pennsylvania and one of only thirteen trolley parks still operating in the United States.
The park offers free admission across its 34 acres, with guests paying per ride via wristbands or a points card, while the adjoining Water World water park charges separate admission. Waldameer’s headline attraction is Ravine Flyer II, a hybrid wooden coaster designed and built by The Gravity Group with trains supplied by Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters, which opened in 2008 and is famous for being the only ride in the world to cross a four-lane highway.
Stats at a Glance
- Location: Erie, Pennsylvania (base of Presque Isle State Park)
- Opened: 1896
- Size: About 34 acres
- Rides: Around 37 amusement rides plus a separate water park
- Signature coaster: Ravine Flyer II (opened 2008)
- Admission: Free park admission; pay-per-ride or wristband system
- Notable fact: One of only 13 trolley parks still operating in the U.S.
Rides and Attractions
Waldameer’s ride lineup blends heritage attractions with modern additions. The Comet, a wooden coaster dating to 1951, is an ACE Coaster Classic that still runs alongside newer rides like the Steel Dragon spinning coaster. The park’s centerpiece is Ravine Flyer II, a hybrid wood coaster designed and constructed by The Gravity Group with trains built by Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters, featuring a roughly 118-foot first drop and a top speed of about 57 mph. It was built on the ravine once occupied by the original Ravine Flyer coaster from the early 20th century. An arched bridge carries the ride over PA Route 832 twice, a feature unmatched anywhere else in the coaster world.
Adjacent Water World adds slides, a wave pool, and a lazy river, giving Waldameer a dual identity as both a classic trolley park and a modern water park destination on Lake Erie’s shore.
A Trolley Park Legacy
Few American amusement parks trace their roots as far back as Waldameer. Its founding as a streetcar-line picnic destination in the 1890s places it among a small handful of surviving trolley parks nationwide, alongside the likes of Kennywood and Lake Compounce. That history, combined with free admission and continued investment in new rides, has kept Waldameer a fixture of Erie summers for well over a century.
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Waldameer Park FAQs
Is Waldameer Park free to enter?
Yes, general admission to the amusement park is free; guests pay for rides through wristbands or a points card. The separate Water World water park charges its own admission.
What is Waldameer Park’s most famous ride?
Ravine Flyer II, a hybrid wooden roller coaster designed and built by The Gravity Group that opened in 2008, is the park’s signature attraction and is known for crossing a four-lane highway.
How old is Waldameer Park?
Waldameer dates to 1896, making it the fourth-oldest amusement park in Pennsylvania and one of the oldest in the United States.
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Photo: Cards84664 / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.