Situated along U.S. Route 30 in the Laurel Highlands near Ligonier, Pennsylvania, Idlewild and Soak Zone lies approximately 50 miles east of Pittsburgh. Set in the scenic foothills of the Laurel Ridge alongside Loyalhanna Creek, the park is easily reached via the historic Lincoln Highway. It sits just two miles from historical Fort Ligonier, nestled in a region rich in colonial history dating back to the French and Indian War.
First founded in 1878 by Thomas Mellon as a picnic ground along the Ligonier Valley Railroad, Idlewild is the oldest operating amusement park in Pennsylvania and the third oldest in the United States. The Mellon family maintained ownership for over a century before selling to Kennywood Entertainment Company in 1983. Spain-based Parques Reunidos acquired the property in 2007, and in early 2025, control transitioned to Herschend.
The park is divided into several distinct themed areas, including Olde Idlewild, Hootin' Holler, Raccoon Lagoon, Jumpin' Jungle, and the Soak Zone water park. Central historic rides include the 1930 Philadelphia Toboggan Company carousel, the 1938 wooden Rollo Coaster, and the 1993 Vekoma Wild Mouse coaster. Families can explore optical illusions at Confusion Hill, ride a log flume, or take the Loyalhanna Limited Railroad across the creek.
Idlewild has earned industry recognition as the best children's park in the world, making it ideal for multi-generational family visits. The integrated Soak Zone features a 280,600-gallon wave pool and numerous water slides. Entertainment options extend to live stage performances at the Hillside Theater and large circus acts, catering primarily to families with young children seeking a full day of traditional rides and water play.
01 Signature rides & attractions
The park’s headline rides across its themed areas. Confirm heights and any single-rider lines on the day.
Compiled from Wikipedia · a full ride-by-ride list per themed area is on the way.
Park map
The free OpenStreetMap layer below shows the park and its surroundings — entrances, themed areas, car parks and access roads. Zoom in for detail; the official ride-by-ride park plan is linked below.
Map: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL, free). Official park maps are copyrighted — we link to them.
02 Tickets & prices
Ticket prices for Idlewild and Soak Zone change by date and season, and the park sells single-day, multi-day and annual passes — buying online in advance is almost always cheaper than at the gate, and popular dates can sell out. Check the official site for live pricing before you travel.
We deliberately don’t list prices that change daily — the ticket button leads to live, up-to-date pricing.
03 Getting there & parking
| Option | Detail |
|---|---|
| Road | Located along U.S. Route 30 (Lincoln Highway) near Ligonier, Pennsylvania, about 50 miles east of Pittsburgh. |
Getting there & parking · Last updated: 2026-09-12 · prices may change
04 Themed areas
Each area has its own theming — architecture, food and rides. Half the fun is simply walking through.
Good to know
- Idlewild has won industry awards as the best children's park in the world.
- The park features an expanded water park area named Soak Zone with a large wave pool and slides.
- Rollo Coaster operates with modern safety restraints including seat belts and ratcheting lap bars.
- The park sits just two miles from historic Fort Ligonier in the Laurel Highlands.
