The West Virginia Morning Show With Hans and Rona

America’s Oldest Amusement Parks

As Americans pack their bags and get ready to leave for vacation, one of the biggest attractions each year are amusement parks. The oldest worldwide amusement park is located in Denmark, dating back to 1583. The National Amusement Park Historical Association conducted a survey to find America’s oldest amusement parks still operating today. Coming in at No. 1 is Lake Compounce Amusement Park in Bristol, Connecticut, which began operating in 1846. No. 2 on the list is Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio, which began operating in 1870 and still runs today. Idlewild Park in Ligonier, Pennsylvania, opened in 1878, and Sea Breeze Amusement Park in Rochester, New York, began operating in 1879. Rounding out the top five is Dorney Park in Allentown, Pennsylvania, which opened its doors in 1884.

"Formerly known as Bland's Park until 2000, the small family-friendly amusement park is located in Tipton, in Blair County, Pennsylvania. Altoona railroad businessman Fred Delgrosso purchased the amusement park in 1946. DelGrosso's Amusement Park was originally opened by the Rinard brothers on the Blands' family farm in 1907. The park fell into disrepair during the Great Depression. It was purchased in 1946 by Fred DelGrosso, at which time only a few picnic shelters remained. The DelGrosso family has continued to invest in the park with various additions and improvements and continues to operate it today."

When I read the story:  "Cows Crash the Party; Drink All the Beer", I didn't think it was serious...I had to double check to make sure it wasn't April Fool's Day...it's not. Read on.

Six cows crashed a party in a Massachusetts town and bullied the guests for their beer. Boxford police Lt. James Riter was responding to a call about loose cows when he witnessed a herd high-tailing it for a backyard, followed by screaming. When he ran back there, he found the cows had chased off the guests and knocked their beer cans over so they could lap up the spillage. He says they even started rooting through the recycling for extra drops. "They enjoyed it," Riter says. "There’s no doubt about it." The cows' owner later showed up and herded them home.