Idlewild Park is the longest-operating amusement park in Pennsylvania and among the oldest in the nation. In 1878, Thomas Mellon leased land along his Ligonier Valley Railroad, hoping to increase passenger traffic by opening a picnic ground. Amusement rides began to be added in the 1890s, and several rides from the 1930s continue to operate today. Surviving the railroad closure, two World Wars, and the Great Depression, Idlewild provides nationally recognized family recreation.
