National Amusement Park Historical Association

06/16/2026

Kingdom Coaster at Dutch Wonderland in Lancaster, PA.
Opening in 1992 as the park's first roller coaster, Kingdom Coaster, formally known as Sky Princess, was the first ride designed and developed by Mike Boodley and Custom Coasters International. It stands 55 ft tall and travels 45 mph across 2,000 ft of track along the east perimeter of the park and acting as a beacon for the nearby Lincoln Highway.

Check out the NAPHA YouTube Channel with regular uploads of historic and unique rides and attractions from around the country!
https://www.youtube.com/

06/15/2026

A violent storm with winds over 70 mph toppled the old Ferris wheel at Geneva‑on‑the‑Lake’s Old Firehouse Winery, mangling the 1956 ride but injuring no one. Built for the now‑defunct Erieview Park, the wheel was purchased new in 1956 and operated there until the park closed in 2007. (📸 Dave Otto)

06/12/2026

Heading into the weekend like…

06/11/2026

A serene setting in the short-lived Delmar Garden amusement park in Oklahoma City (operated from 1902 to 1910). (📸 NAPHA Archives/John M. Caruthers Collection)

06/10/2026

NAPHA just held an Informal Meet-Up at Memphis Kiddie Park! Hear from Operations Supervisor Mike Kreutzer why this park means so much to the Cleveland region!

06/05/2026

We are saddened to learn of the passing of Harry W. Henninger, whose leadership and vision helped shape Kennywood for generations. Under his team's guidance, Kennywood became a Lifetime Member of NAPHA—a testament to his commitment to preserving amusement park history. Our thoughts are with his family and all who knew him.

View Harry W. Henninger, Jr.'s obituary, contribute to their memorial, see their funeral service details, and more.

06/02/2026

NEW for 2026 at Kings Island is Phantom Theater: Opening Nightmare!
This reincarnation takes guests on moving "opera boxes" through the theater to help Maestro, No Legs Larry, and the rest of the staff to harness ghost notes using usher flashlights! Original elements were borrowed from the original Phantom Theater (1992-2002) and Boo Blasters on Boo Hill (2010-2025) but most set pieces and audio animatronics were developed by Sally Dark Rides.

Check out the NAPHA YouTube Channel with regular uploads of new, historic, and unique rides and attractions from around the country!
https://www.youtube.com/

05/28/2026

For this Thursday, a throwback to Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom’s Roller Coaster in the 1950s. Built in 1924, it is known as Thunderhawk today.

05/26/2026

Corkscrew at Cedar Point in Sandusky, OH.
Premiered in 1976, Corkscrew became the first triple-looping roller coaster, featuring a vertical loop and the namesake double corkscrew over the midway! Built by Arrow Dynamics, the ride stands 85 ft. in the air and reaches a top speed of 48 mph. NAPHA celebrates 50 years of Corkscrew, helping turn the coaster world upside down!

Check out the NAPHA YouTube Channel with regular uploads of historic and unique rides and attractions from around the country!
https://www.youtube.com/