Splish Splash

Many amusement parks today include a water park on their grounds to attract pleasure seekers looking for a fun way to cool off. At nearby Idlewild Park, in Ligonier, PA, the western lake-end along Route 30 is known as “SoakZone” and features a new wave pool called the “Wowabunga.” While Rock Springs Park never had a specific area exclusively set up and advertised as a “water park”, it did have a number of water-related attractions including the Crystal Pool, the Lake, the Shoot-the-Chutes ride with Splash Lagoon, and several cooling fountains and lily ponds.

Mirrored Rotating Fountain



Lily Pond

 

Shoot-the-Chutes

The Crystal Pool and Lake

Couple Elope from Rock Springs

At the dawn of the 20th Century, many couples were wed in Rock Springs Park. Ceremonies were conducted atop the Shoot-the-Chutes Bridge.

I have read several newspaper articles featuring weddings held in the outdoors at Rock Springs Park. Two such stories and photographs appear in my book, Images of America: Rock Springs Park. The first, at the top of page 12, is of a wedding party posing casually in the park in 1889 and the second, on the book’s dedication page, a couple being married under a white canopy on the arched bridge which spanned the Shoot-the-Chutes Ride in 1908. Below, however, is an article from the Youngstown Vindicator from August 10, 1902, that tells of a couple eloping from Rock Springs Park and being married “over the wire” in Lisbon, Ohio.

All that remains of the Shoots Ride Bridge are the cement supports that were partially buried under landfill and used to line the drive of the log house when it was moved to its present location in 1974.Fact: The first telephone call was made by Alexander Graham Bell, inventor of the telephone, when he called to his assistant, Thomas Watson: "Mr. Watson--come here--I want to see you." on March 10, 1876.

Ouch!

The Shoot-the-Chutes tower in Rock Springs Park was so tall it could be seen above the trees at the lower park entrance.

I have found instances of injuries on rides including the Cyclone, and the Merry-Go-Round in Rock Springs Park, and reported them here, but this is the first instance of an injury sustained on the Shoot-the-Chutes, and all I can say is, “Ouch!”

The Daily Times, Beaver PA -- June 18, 1908

Miss Alice Beaulean, of Hinds Street, Rochester, met with a serious accident yesterday while attending Rock Springs Park. She, with several friends, were enjoying a ride on the Shoot the Shoots [sic] and was thrown to the bottom of the boat in some manner the ligaments of her liver were torn loose. She was brought to Rochester last evening and conveyed to her home in a carriage, and said to be resting as easy as could be expected.

For a description of the Chutes ride and a wonderful picture of the boatmen in sailor suits see Images of America: Rock Springs Park pages 48 – 49. In the meantime, click on the YouTube video below to see one in action at Coney Island. Notice how the boat skips due to the curved ramp at the bottom of the chute. One can easily see how a young woman could lose her balance and be injured from a fall.