Indian Trail Park Memories

Indian Trail  Is a place you can sail,  On a ride in the sun!

Sung to ‘Indian Lake’ by the Cowsill’s

I hung on to my horse as we sailed into the wind, the gusts whipping through my curls.  Faster, Faster.

My horse’s black hide glistened in the summer sun.  Go Charger.

We picked up more speed.  Closer.  Getting closer.

I straightened myself in the saddle.   Almost there now.

The red wooden hinged arm came down and I leaned forward in the saddle, extending my arm.  This is it!

It’s now or never, I thought.

I leaned over and reached out.

Yesss!  I felt the cold metal slip onto my index finger as my trusty steed and I whirled into the sun, a band of gold twinkling on my finger.

I did it!  I did it! I caught the brass ring!

It was the early 1950’s and I was on my third or fourth ride on the Merry-go- Round at Indian Trail Park.

Accompanied by my family and my Aunt, Uncle and cousins, we arrived at the park early that bright Sunday in July.  Just as in past years, we secured the best spot under the covered pavilion right beside the creek.  And lost no time in putting our bottles of A-Treat soda in the creek to keep cold.  Cooler?  Who needed one with the creek right there?

My Mom and Aunt set up the tablecloths and picnic baskets, which contained a treasure trove of picnic delights, like Aunt Polly’s potato salad, ham, fried chicken and deviled eggs.

And just in case that wasn’t enough food, there were popcorn and candy apple concession stands just a few steps away.

Or, for the truly insatiable, the Trading Post, a quaint stone and natural wood siding building, was situated beside the park and featured a luncheonette and soda fountain.

Indian Trail Park was a little gem of an amusement park nestled in the hilly woods alongside Indian Creek in Pennsville, Pennsylvania.

Built by an Allentown building contractor named Samuel Solliday and his brother, it was billed as a “Cool Retreat from the Summer’s Heat.”  In 1929, Samuel and his brother William purchased the property to construct the park.  Early photos show a beautifully landscaped complex that included plenty of picnic areas, a huge swimming pool, fountains, benches, sun umbrellas and gardens.

Two of the most popular rides, the Merry-go-Round and the Roller Coaster, were the first rides at the park and were soon joined by other favorites, like the Whip.

And, it was all there for us in one sylvan setting.  There were trees everywhere for shade, and the burbling Indian Creek was a tranquilizer for city dwellers escaping their hectic lives.

Looking back now, I think one of the most unique features of Indian Trail Park was its smallness.  Our parents could sit comfortably at our pavilion and see us from just about any vantage point.

Indian Trail Park was a natural, simple haven where kids could enjoy the park’s entertainments under the watchful eyes of their parents.  Running back and forth to the rides, the swimming pool, the Penny Arcade, and the Trading Post, the mouth-watering aroma of freshly made caramel corn was sure to eventually lure us to the popcorn stand.

Nor was there any standing around forever in a serpentine line to get on a particular ride.

No, it was far removed from today’s mega amusement parks which cost a bundle and are not nearly as enjoyable as Indian Trail Park once was with its mellow pace.

Sadly, with the advent of Mega Parks, many little amusement parks like Indian Trail, fell by the wayside. And I deeply regret their passing.  So much was lost when they disappeared.

In 1984 after enduring many setbacks, Indian Trail Park slowly ceased operations as an amusement park. The park I once knew as a child with its musical Merry-go- Round, jaunty Roller Coaster and whirling Whip, slipped into history.

Today, the park now serves Lehigh Township as a recreation facility.  It still has several pavilions and the Indian Creek flows gently beside them.  Beautiful shade trees dot the park as they once did many years ago.

The Trading Post was rebuilt and serves as a local museum, a fun destination for anyone wishing to revisit those halcyon days of their youth as I recently did.

Walking through the park that morning, I was transported back to a gentler time when the laughter of families at a church picnic echoed through the valley and the delighted cries of children filled the air as they rode the roller coaster or caught the brass ring on the Merry-go-Round.

Oh, and what was my ‘prize’ for getting the brass ring, you ask?

Why, another ride on the Merry-go-Round, of course.

Go, Charger!