Volume 1, No. 10. June 15, 2001
Call to arms
Another incongruous pairing over
the U.S. Memorial Day holiday weekend mixed scenes of war with one of the country's
most tranquil amusement parks. However, at Idlewild and Soak Zone in Ligonier,
Pennsylvania, the annual tradition of honoring the nation's servicemen and women
has become a viable attendance driver, and with Civil War re-enacters on hand,
the park takes on an almost fantasyland feel.
For the past half dozen years the Civil War Society of Western Pennsylvania
has set up an encampment at Idlewild, a small family trolley park about 50 miles
east of Pittsburgh, for the three-day weekend. The 20 members dressed in authentic
period battle uniforms pitch their tents under the trees by the park's Jumpin'
Jungle section. Guests are allowed to roam into the camp to see demonstrations
and exhibits of Civil War weaponry and supplies. The battalion also drills and,
by its presence, brings a greater sense of authenticity to the frontier town-themed
Hoot and Holler. "They look like they're part of the act," said Jerome Gibas,
vice president and general manager of the park.
The Civil War buffs' primary act, though—shooting off their cannon—is
done at a ball field in a far corner of the park. "We have to keep that cannon
away from everybody," Gibas said. "It's pretty loud."
Usually the park also has a large modern contingent of the National Guard on
hand, with local units bringing their tanks and jeeps, and any Guard member
wearing his or her uniform to the park earning admission discounts for the whole
family. This year, however, local units had been deployed for military exercises.
Idlewild recognizes yet a third army for the weekend: anybody who brings a can
of food to donate to the Salvation Army gets discounted admission.
Despite the holiday weekend, Idlewild needs these promotions to push attendance
in what is still a pre-season for the park whose primary business is group and
family picnics, Gibas said. Opening May 12 for weekends, Idlewild uses the May
weekends to do several special events, including a YMCA 5K race inside the park
and an American Heart Association 3K walk. Both races pull in up to 400 participants,
Gibas said, and the park gets a bonus as many attendees stay with their families
for an afternoon picnic.
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