Bushkill Park
The Barl of Fun funhouse. 115th Anniversary of Bushkill Park
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| Location | Easton, Pennsylvania, United States |
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| Coordinates | 40°42′07″N 75°15′04″W / 40.702°N 75.251°WCoordinates: 40°42′07″N 75°15′04″W / 40.702°N 75.251°W |
| Owner | Sammy Baurkot |
| Opened | July 3, 1902 |
| Operating season | Year-Round for Skating Rink; starting in 2018, Summer For Rides |
| Area | 13 acres (0.053 km2) |
| Rides | |
| Total | 7 (in 2018) |
| Website | Official website |
Bushkill Park is located in Easton, Pennsylvania. It is a small amusement park, generally geared toward younger audiences, although most of it is not currently open. The facility operated continuously from 1902-2004 and during the summer of 2006, and was then closed until January 2017, when the roller skating rink reopened. In 1933, Thomas Long (1885-1965) leased Bushkill Park, furnishing it with a hand carved carousel that he and his father had purchased. Long bought the park in 1939 and operated it for the rest of his life with his wife, Mabel "Mom" Long. After his death, Mabel operated it with Melvin Heavener until he died in 1986 and then alone until her own death in 1989. The first owner after 1989 was Neal Fehnel. Fehnel sold his share to Sammy Baurkot, who was already a co-owner; the date of the sale is uncertain and some news reports in 2017 continued to refer to him as co-owner.
Bushkill Park was famous for its antique rides such as bumper cars, "The Whip", "The Haunted Pretzel", and "The Bar'l of Fun." The park has operated two vintage carousels over the years, however the carousel building collapsed in 2014. Bushkill Park is home to one of the United States of America's oldest funhouses, (not currently operating), the "Bar'l of Fun".
In January 2017, the park had reopened its skating rink, the indoor arcade and children's party area. The park currently runs open roller-skating on Friday and Saturday nights, and on Sunday afternoons, in addition to line dancing Wednesday nights. Rental for birthday parties and picnics is also available. At the 115th Birthday celebration on July 9, 2017, rides were not yet operating but plans were revealed for reopening a completely revamped facility with seven or eight fully functioning rides and the funhouse for the 2018 season. In the past, 14 of the 17 rides had been sold, so the owner may be acquiring new ones or renovating those previously considered to have been destroyed.
The Bar'l of Fun was one of the oldest operating funhouse in the United States, built sometime before 1935. The funhouse (currently under renovation) is also notable due to the amount of untouched Folk art painted on the walls and on banners inside the building.
Inside the funhouse, aside from the rotating barrel (from which the attraction gets its name), is a maze-like layout in a dark room with mirrors. In the past, there has been a flashing strobe light in the corner of this room. Beyond the maze is the famous barrel, a multi-person 'sit-and-spin' style ride, and a wobbly staircase. Upstairs is the Hall of Mirrors, and a rolling walkway that looks out onto the park. Finally, there is an original antique wooden slide that goes from the second floor to the first. The funhouse was featured on the Discovery Channel in 1997.
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Wikipedia