Paxtang Park is a current trailhead area in East

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania Harrisburg is the capital city of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States, and the county seat of Dauphin County. With a population of 50,135 as of the 2021 census, Harrisburg is the 9th largest city and 15th largest municipality in Pe ...

and former trolley park. It originally existed from 1823 to 1929 between Derry Street and Paxton Street along

Spring Creek A spring creek is a type of free flowing river whose name derives from its origin: an underground spring or set of springs which produces sufficient water to consistently feed a unique river. The water flowing in a spring creek may additionally be ...

and has reopened since 2020. The original park contained two roller coasters, the Coaster Flyer and the Jack Rabbit.

History

Paxtang Park was leased to the East Harrisburg Street Electric Railway Company on July 19, 1893, for a ten-year term. Plans included constructing a fence surrounding the property, though the park would remain free entry, a pavilion to hold several hundred people, new shaded areas, benches, and a "gravity railroad" (or scenic railway) for the following season. The gravity railroad was not installed in 1894, nor was it ever operational; it wasn't until 1905 that the park added its first roller coaster - Coaster Flyer. This was a

Figure 8 roller coaster Figure 8 roller coasters are a category of roller coasters where the train runs through a figure 8 shaped course before returning to the boarding station. This design was one of the first designs to be featured in roller coaster design, along with ...

and operated from 1905 until 1922. In 1922, the railroad company announced they would not renew the lease on the grounds of Paxtang Park for a fourth lease - they had renewed twice before in 1903 and 1913. They were no longer able to afford the costs of operating the park, so they announced 1922 would be the final season of Paxtang Park. However, in August, an amusement company from Newark, New Jersey was able to take control of the lease from the railroad company. They pledged many improvements to the park, which included a new roller coaster and other amusements. The park had some success, however by the late 1920s, they were struggling to open the park before the

Harrisburg Independence Day Celebration Harrisburg's Independence Day Celebration is an annual music and food festival that takes place in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania on Fourth of July weekend. It is the state's largest Independence Day weekend music festival. Festivities take place along ...

, when it normally would open earlier before Memorial Day, and they were missing tax payments. In 1930, Steelton Bank and Trust took control of the property, and sold off the amusements and other things at a sale, closing the park.

Reopening

Beginning in 2017, the Susquehanna Area Mountain Bike Association (SAMBA) announced plans to restore the park as a parking trailhead and picnic area for cyclists using the

Capital Area Greenbelt The Capital Area Greenbelt is a looping trail located in the area of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. This 20-mile loop around Pennsylvania's capital city provides visitors and tourists with opportunities to hike, ride bicycles, skate, jog, fish, walk t ...

. Ten miles of trails used for hiking and mountain biking are currently located on the Greenbelt and maintained by SAMBA. It was formally reopened in September 2020.

References

External links

DefunctParks.com's Paxtang Park page

Paxtang Park history at The Amusement Parkives

Amusement parks in Pennsylvania 1823 establishments in Pennsylvania 1929 disestablishments in Pennsylvania Defunct amusement parks in Pennsylvania Parks in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania {{Amusement-park-stub

History

Reopening

See also

References

External links