Luzerne Grove existed, along a railroad line, beginning in the late 1800’s, and that the park had one or more carousels, likely the only mechanical amusement device at the park. Beyond those few generalizations, the information is less than definitive.
The park existed along rail lines, likely either the Central Railroad of New Jersey, or the Lehigh Valley Railroad, or possibly both. Its exact location is also unclear, listed by some sources at or near Mountain Top, or possibly closer to Nanticoke, located in ‘Espy Grove‘.
The park existed along rail lines, likely either the Central Railroad of New Jersey, or the Lehigh Valley Railroad, or possibly both. Its exact location is also unclear, listed by some sources at or near Mountain Top, or possibly closer to Nanticoke, located in ‘Espy Grove‘.
The exact dates are not concrete, but the park is noted to have operated relatively early, opening around 1882 or 1883. Conflicting sources list the closing date anywhere from 1892 to after 1902.
Upon its closing, the sources uncovered so far also differ on what happened to the structures and other items from the park. If the park closed in 1892, some items may have been moved to Harvey’s Lake, where the picnic grounds were just recently opened by the Lehigh Valley Railroad. If it closed later, after 1902, the items could have been moved to Sans Souci Park, which was just starting up.
one or more carousels at the park, possibly the only mechanical amusement devices. The park also reportedly had a one quarter mile racetrack, a 30 by 60 foot dance pavilion, and smaller items like swings, ‘water tanks’ and different stands.
Luzerne Grove could possibly be the same as Mountain Park, which was also along the lines of the Central Railroad of New Jersey and come close to the dates of operation.
Mountain Park
Laurel Run/Wilkes Barre
(sometimes listed as Mountain Top)
Mountain Park was one of the first amusement parks in Northeastern Pennsylvania, opening to the public on July 14, 1883, one day after the comapny that owned the park, the Central Railroad Of New Jersey, had their company picnic.
The grounds of the park were well kept, being described as a well cultivated garden. Attractions in the earlier years included dancing, bowling and a large observatory to look over the tree tops into the valley below. The park closed in 1908 due to fears of collapses because of the mining operations underneath the park. However, the park was moved about one quarter mile down the mountain, and reopened by the Ogden Brothers and Company in 1912. They added more modern attractions to the park, including a merry-go-round, Ferris Wheel, and roller coaster. However, they couldn't achieve the success of original Mountain Park, and closed after the 1914 season. Many of the parks fixtures, including the picnic tables, benches and possibly some rides were moved to another local park, Valley View, also owned by the Ogden Bros
Today, the Ogden Bros. version of Mountain Park still has some remnants, located on Wilkes-Barre Mountain near the Seven Tubs Nature Area. Below are some pictures from 2002, showing some of the footers and rock walls amidst the underbrush and trees.
NOTE
Most of the land in that area is privately owned, the hike to the area can be dangerous.
Valley View Park
Valley View Park was located along the Laurel Line in Jenkins Township, just south of Pittston. The park may also have been known as Clipper Park or Inkerman Park in its early days.
Opened in 1904 by the Laurel Line on land leased from the Pennsylvania Coal Company, Valley View was known more for its picnic facilities and 60 by 100 foot dance pavilion than as a major amusement center. David Galvin served as the park’s first manager.
In addition to the summer dances and picnics, the park offered a merry-go-round, shooting gallery, penny arcade, swings, and a baseball diamond. On July 4, 1912, the ever popular annual Caledonian games and picnic were held at the park; the following year saw Baur’s Orchestra playing for the holiday.
Although the exact date is unknown, by 1914 the Ogden Brothers Company of Philadelphia either owned or leased the park. That same year, another park leased by the company, Mountain Park, closed at the end of the season. Many of the attractions, benches and tables were moved to Valley View Park.
Valley View continued to be popular into the 1920s, where on Memorial Day in 1922, over 20,000 attended the Lithuanian Day picnic. Just over a year later, on July 4, 1923, the park again saw over 20,000 for the Lithuanian Day picnic, even with the rainy weather for the holiday.
Fern Club dances were held weekly, and many other acts visited the park, including Billy Sharpe and his orchestra, and Harry MacDonald and his Californians with Jack Gallagher.
As reported by the Wilkes-Barre Record in May of 1928, no new amusement devices were being added. That same month would see the park being leased to Frank Killian and Edmund J. Granahan of Inkerman.
Valley View Park continued to operate until 1941, when the park, like so many others, closed in the face of rising costs, material shortages, and lack of attendance due to rationing of gas and rubber. Several years later, in 1945, strip mining was begun in a portion of the park.
The park existed along rail lines, likely either the Central Railroad of New Jersey, or the Lehigh Valley Railroad, or possibly both. Its exact location is also unclear, listed by some sources at or near Mountain Top, or possibly closer to Nanticoke, located in ‘Espy Grove‘.
The park existed along rail lines, likely either the Central Railroad of New Jersey, or the Lehigh Valley Railroad, or possibly both. Its exact location is also unclear, listed by some sources at or near Mountain Top, or possibly closer to Nanticoke, located in ‘Espy Grove‘.
The exact dates are not concrete, but the park is noted to have operated relatively early, opening around 1882 or 1883. Conflicting sources list the closing date anywhere from 1892 to after 1902.
Upon its closing, the sources uncovered so far also differ on what happened to the structures and other items from the park. If the park closed in 1892, some items may have been moved to Harvey’s Lake, where the picnic grounds were just recently opened by the Lehigh Valley Railroad. If it closed later, after 1902, the items could have been moved to Sans Souci Park, which was just starting up.
one or more carousels at the park, possibly the only mechanical amusement devices. The park also reportedly had a one quarter mile racetrack, a 30 by 60 foot dance pavilion, and smaller items like swings, ‘water tanks’ and different stands.
Luzerne Grove could possibly be the same as Mountain Park, which was also along the lines of the Central Railroad of New Jersey and come close to the dates of operation.
Mountain Park
Laurel Run/Wilkes Barre
(sometimes listed as Mountain Top)
Mountain Park was one of the first amusement parks in Northeastern Pennsylvania, opening to the public on July 14, 1883, one day after the comapny that owned the park, the Central Railroad Of New Jersey, had their company picnic.
The grounds of the park were well kept, being described as a well cultivated garden. Attractions in the earlier years included dancing, bowling and a large observatory to look over the tree tops into the valley below. The park closed in 1908 due to fears of collapses because of the mining operations underneath the park. However, the park was moved about one quarter mile down the mountain, and reopened by the Ogden Brothers and Company in 1912. They added more modern attractions to the park, including a merry-go-round, Ferris Wheel, and roller coaster. However, they couldn't achieve the success of original Mountain Park, and closed after the 1914 season. Many of the parks fixtures, including the picnic tables, benches and possibly some rides were moved to another local park, Valley View, also owned by the Ogden Bros
Today, the Ogden Bros. version of Mountain Park still has some remnants, located on Wilkes-Barre Mountain near the Seven Tubs Nature Area. Below are some pictures from 2002, showing some of the footers and rock walls amidst the underbrush and trees.
NOTE
Most of the land in that area is privately owned, the hike to the area can be dangerous.
Valley View Park
Valley View Park was located along the Laurel Line in Jenkins Township, just south of Pittston. The park may also have been known as Clipper Park or Inkerman Park in its early days.
Opened in 1904 by the Laurel Line on land leased from the Pennsylvania Coal Company, Valley View was known more for its picnic facilities and 60 by 100 foot dance pavilion than as a major amusement center. David Galvin served as the park’s first manager.
In addition to the summer dances and picnics, the park offered a merry-go-round, shooting gallery, penny arcade, swings, and a baseball diamond. On July 4, 1912, the ever popular annual Caledonian games and picnic were held at the park; the following year saw Baur’s Orchestra playing for the holiday.
Although the exact date is unknown, by 1914 the Ogden Brothers Company of Philadelphia either owned or leased the park. That same year, another park leased by the company, Mountain Park, closed at the end of the season. Many of the attractions, benches and tables were moved to Valley View Park.
Valley View continued to be popular into the 1920s, where on Memorial Day in 1922, over 20,000 attended the Lithuanian Day picnic. Just over a year later, on July 4, 1923, the park again saw over 20,000 for the Lithuanian Day picnic, even with the rainy weather for the holiday.
Fern Club dances were held weekly, and many other acts visited the park, including Billy Sharpe and his orchestra, and Harry MacDonald and his Californians with Jack Gallagher.
As reported by the Wilkes-Barre Record in May of 1928, no new amusement devices were being added. That same month would see the park being leased to Frank Killian and Edmund J. Granahan of Inkerman.
Valley View Park continued to operate until 1941, when the park, like so many others, closed in the face of rising costs, material shortages, and lack of attendance due to rationing of gas and rubber. Several years later, in 1945, strip mining was begun in a portion of the park.
