Western Pa.’s lost amusement parks to be reclaimed in new book by Greensburg author

Those wanting to revisit the dips and turns of former roller coasters at old Pennsylvania amusement parks will soon have such an opportunity.

Greensburg-based writer Rachel Smith hopes to reclaim the sense of nostalgia and have people revisit memories in her book “Western Pennsylvania’s Lost Amusement Parks.”

“I think it’s kind of a way to bring people together with a common interest,” she said. “There’s so many things right now that divide people. It’s kind of nice to bring people together. … It invigorates good memories and good feelings.”

The book, which is set for release April 13, revisits old amusement parks including West View Park, in Allegheny County’s North Hills, and Rainbow Gardens in White Oak. Some parks noted in the book, published by Arcadia Publishing, were not built past dance halls and merry-go-rounds.

Smith, who previously wrote “Greensburg” and “Latrobe and the Ligonier Valley,” both part of Arcadia’s Postcard History series, came up with the idea for the book after delving into the topic on her blog Third Stop on the Right.

“What else was there around here?” Smith recalled asking herself after learning about Oakford Park in Jeannette. “Slowly I found another one, then another one, and then another one. It just kind of snowballed. There were a lot (of parks) around here.”

Smith hopes the book will help preserve the history of about 12 area amusement parks that would be lost to time due to natural disasters, the decline of streetcars, competition from other amusement parks and changing economies, she said.

She noted that Oakford Park was destroyed by a flood after a dam similar to the one involved in the 1889 Johnstown flood broke.

“It’s stories like that, little things that get lost to time that are interesting to uncover,” she said.

The book, which costs $21.99, will be available on the Arcadia Publishing website.