Angela Park Commemorative T-Shirts

Angela Park was an amusement park located along PA Route 309 in Butler Township, seven miles north of Hazleton, Pennsylvania. The park operated from 1957 through 1988 and its proximity to the Pocono Mountains made it a popular summer attraction in Northeastern Pennsylvania during parts of four decades. It was owned and operated as part of the Barletta Family enterprises until 1985 when it was sold to Mirth Master Corp. of Chester County (PA) who operated the park until 1988. After the 1988 season ownership filed for bankruptcy.

Angela Park opened on Mother's Day, May 12, 1957 to a large and enthusiastic crowd. The first year the park had only six rides, four which were designed exclusively for younger children: the Allan Hershel Tank Ride, Boat Ride, Carousel and Airplanes. The other two were the Miniature Train which was a model of the Lehigh Valley Black Diamond and a Roller Coaster. Several cinder block buildings were erected, each exterior painted a different color. The largest of these structures served as the main concession area and had six separate counter areas. The facility included the kitchen, the soft ice cream stand, main ticket window and main office. Directly across from the north end of this structure was the pink-colored sno-cone/cotton candy stand. Opposite the northeast side of the main structure was the green arcade building and directly east of the arcade was a similar-sized blue building which housed the bingo game. Along the north end of the park on the other side of the parking area was maintained a large grove area for picnics and outings. The picnic grove was adjacent to the Nescopeck Creek and was encircled by part of the route of the miniature train tracks.

The early 1960s saw more additions to the park. Two major activities oriented attractions were added; a miniature golf course and a baseball batting range. Also added to the summer schedule was the popular Saturday Night Swingout, a weekly dance party broadcast live on WAZL Radio. Frontline entertainment attractions continued as WFIL Philadelphia television personalities Sally Starr and Chief Halftown performed in 1960. Popular regional live bands made weekly appearances both on stage and for after dark pool parties. Groups line Mel Wynne and the Rhythm Aces and Ognir and the Night People drew large crowds of teens. Popular Polka Bands like Lefty and the Polka Chaps and Stanky and the Coal Miners drew large adult followings for Sunday performances.

During the mid-1960s several new rides were added including: The Tea Cup Ride (1961), The Paratrooper (1965), The Giant Slide (1966), The Sky Ride (1967) and the Swingin' Gyms (1967). Also during the decade a helicopter ride replaced the airplanes and an antique model car replaced the Panther cars on that ride. During the mid-1960s the miniature train was repainted changing the maroon and black Lehigh Valley Black Diamond to the silver, red and yellow of the Santa Fe War Bonnet.



In 1970 a golf driving range was constructed at the northeast end of the park. That same year a 1939 Authentic Fire Engine was purchased and the back was fabricated with two vertical rows for seating. With full siren and bell ringing the fire truck would complete a loop around the parks perimeter. For 1971 the Midway kiddie ride was added and the original paratrooper ride was replaced with a more modern version which allowed all cars to be loaded on the ground simultaneously. In 1972 the Satellite Jet ride was added and the original miniature train was replaced by a larger C.P Huntington Civil War Era model. June 1972 saw near disaster as the Nescopeck Creek flooded during Tropical Storm Agnes. The flood waters damaged the picnic grove area, and parts of the golf driving range and turned the parking area into a 6-foot-deep (1.8 m) lake. However the main park area and most of the rides were spared as the waters edge stopped a few feet away. In the mid-1970s the Swingin' Gyms were dismantled and sold while what would be the last two rides were added; The Tilt A Whirl Ride and the Columbus Ride. In 1976 the golf driving range was converted to a lighted softball field. This new field would host a memorable event in late June of that year when the Bicentennial Wagon Train encamped at Angela Park on their way to Philadelphia. This national celebration of the bicentennial was a re-enactment of a Conestoga Wagon Train expedition complete with overnight camping. It drew thousands of visitors to witness this living history experience.

The park experienced few changes after the mid-1970s. When Pennsylvania state law was initiated in 1980 permitting bingo games only by non-profit organizations the popular Sunday bingo games ended at Angela Park and the bingo building was converted into a haunted house ride attraction that never gained popularity. The Barletta Family opened the nearby Edgewood-In-The Pines Golf Course in the fall of 1979 and within the next two years they advertised the availability of Angela Park for sale. During the 1984 season a serious offer to purchase the park was made by Joseph Filoromo of Downingtown, Pennsylvania. Along with his mother they formed the Mirth Master Corporation and in 1985 season they bought Angela Park for $1.2 million. During the next four years Mirth Master fell into worsening financial condition and by 1988 the debt on the park was over $1 million.



Several of the Angela Park rides are in operation in different locations. The C.P. Huntington train was sold to the zoo in Erie, Pennsylvania. The tank ride is in Knight's Action Park in Springfield, Illinois. The antique car ride is in a New Jersey park and several of the dodgem bumper cars operate at Knoebels Amusement Resort in Elysburg, Pennsylvania.

The park's sole roller coaster was the "Valley Volcano." Designed by John C. Allen, the coaster was nearly identical to Wyandot Lake's Sea Dragon. During the last few seasons, the park changed the number of cars operating on this coaster, which can be seen in photographs that show the ride with four, three, and two cars on the train.

Celebrate your Great Memories of the park with these Limited Edition T-Shirts (and Sweatshirts) and help out a good cause, the Hazleton Area School District (HASD) Instrumental Music Department in the process. Thanks!