Idlewild & SoakZone in Ligonier, PA

This is a family oriented theme park mainly for younger children. The rides are geared towards children and the park is full of tree’s and shady spots with benches to relax on. The soak zone is great and has something for all ages. Story Book Forest is also part of the deal also a small train ride. The Potato Patch was awesome fries with gravy delicious. So many more things to do and eat. The giant yellow Duck was there and baby duck also

I first went to Idewild over 50 years ago as a kid. We took our kids there when they were little. Today I took my adult daughter and granddaughter. What a huge disappointment. Storybook Forest hasn’t changed at all in 50 years, and that’s not a good thing. The buildings are run down and reek of mildew. The stories featured are pretty outdated and most kids today aren’t familiar with them. There were creepy characters who attempted interaction with the visitors but they were just so weird. It would have felt safer having my granddaughter talk to a middle age man handing candy out of a van. These characters were so creepy and borderline inappropriate as to how they talk to children. The rides are old and don’t look like they receive any regular maintenance at all. I can’t fathom how these things pass state inspections. The rides in kiddie land are all super old. I’ve read reviews where people describe them as nostalgic. To me they looked like they were salvaged from a Soviet Cold War era amusement park. They were just old and sad. There was a log jammer ride that no one would ride because the thing was so rickety and rusty. I mean not a single guest the whole time we were in the vicinity. And I wish I would have gotten a picture of a sign I saw in kiddie land that listed the requirements for that particular ride. They literally listed a requirement that all riders had to have at least one functioning limb (which could be natural or prosthetic, arm or leg). I wonder all possible scenarios that would inspire a park to include that on a sign. The wait for rides was ridiculous. It took a good half hour for each ride outside of kiddie land. Games were crazy expensive. Most were $10. I don’t get how a family can afford that. Food was also pretty expensive and just ok. The souvenir shops had very little selection and the merchandise was so bland. There were some positives though. The park is moderately clean and parking is free. What I liked the most is the beautiful scenery. The park is in a beautifully wooded area with streams and we even saw baby deer bedded down with their mother while on the trolley ride. That was the highlight of the day.

Everything was good except getting into the park. We sat in a line of cars for 45 minutes just to get in to the park. It doesn’t take that long to get in Disneyworld parks! They need to do something about that. The whole highway in front of the park was backed up. They need to make the check in /admission a lot quicker.

Awseome day to visit on October 20th. Busy upon arrival but all motor gates were staffed, and parking was quick. Food stand employees were working as fast as they could, and ride operators were efficient. Park was very clean, and well decorated with the natural Laurel Highlands mountain foliage looking great as the backdrop. Many greta surprises this season like a new arcade, and a family of Bigfeet discovered on the train ride. A beautiful day with sunshine and clean mountan air!

Idlewild and Soak Zone is a park veered towards the life and fun of both kids and adults! From Storybook Forest for the young ones (or young at heart) to Idlewild full of rides and fun for all ages, to Soak Zone for cooling off on a hot day. They have it all covered! I love the way the park is spread out. No worrying about being in others’ spaces while also being able to explore each nook and cranny of this beautifully made park. Rivers, bridges and gorgeous flowers make for lovely scenery and photography. There are also plenty of props and photo op locations to start a whole memory book. Storybook Forest throws any adult back to their childhood while the littles marvel in it. The actors, playing nursery rhyme characters, do their jobs amazingly adding to the realistic land. Jumpin’ Jungle still has areas of hands on fun. The ball pit needs to make a return, but everything else is still there. The kids can get some energy out here. Old Idlewild offers classic rides such as the Carousel, Scrambler and more! The Wild Mouse Coaster was closed during our visit and we heard it had been down for quite a while. We hope that it will return soon as it takes a little bit of a crowd away from the other roller coaster located in the park which means less wait times. Hootin’ Holler is a western town with many cute buildings that make you feel like you should be walking in on a horse. The log jammer is located here and is still one of the best rides in the park! Raccoon Lagoon Kiddieland has all the rides a kid could want that brings on the smiles. Each one is only steps away from another one so there isn’t too much of a walk between. Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood allows for some time off your feet to visit the land of make believe. This area, I’ve noticed on a few occasions when I come is prone to having line jumpers. Please make sure to slide all the way down on the seating while you wait. Soak Zone has so many different areas you can hit depending on your energy level. Pirates Cove is great for young and older kids. There is a splash pad and wading pool, Wowabunga is the wave pool that many like to hang out in. The lazy river is great for any age, all while watching the huge soak zone bucket dump every so many minutes, sometimes with a crowd of people under it. The waterslides are a lot of fun. One of them was down while we were there, which made for a lot of waiting for the one on the other side. Hope that it is back up and running on our next visit. There are pavilion areas to bring a picnic lunch to enjoy or there are plenty of places in the park to purchase food, drinks and snacks. The souvenir cup is available for purchase as well. Games are plentiful, so you will see lots of stuffed prizes being carried around the park. Souvenir shops are located in a few areas, so be sure to stop by and take home a memory from your day. Live shows are available throughout the park. Sometimes it is characters from Idlewild and other times dance troops from around the areas. It’s a nice way to sit down and get off your feet for a little while, but still keeping the kids entertained. Overall, this park is absolutely amazing for any age. It will put a smile on any face whether you are a child running happily through the park, an adult reliving your childhood, or just watching your children, have the time of their lives! * wheelchair, accessible entrance, parking, restrooms, and seating. Wheelchairs and motorized vehicles are also available for rental. Tickets in advance are recommended and you could experience wait times for some of the more thrilling rides. Family, friendly and good for kids with playground type equipment and rides. Infant changing stations available in the restrooms.