Hanson’s Amusement Park: Abandoned but Not Forgotten Ruins
All photos are from June 15, 2010
Located on Harvey’s Lake, in Luzerne County Pennsylvania, this site opened in 1891 as the old Lehigh Valley Railroad Picnic Grounds. Early attractions at this location included a carousel, bowling alley, dance hall, a small roller coaster and an arcade.
Roller Coaster Skeleton
The Hanson family purchased the park in the mid 1930s after the addition of a Pretzel dark ride, which was later renamed Pirate’s Cove. The family continued to add numerous attractions to the park such as a skating ring, Ferris Wheel, Whip, and a kiddie land with boats, pony carts and fire engines.
Interest in the park started to decline during the 1970s. In 1980, when the “Speed Hound” roller coaster shut down because of structural damage, the park lost the ability to draw much of a crowd. The park closed after the 1984 season and its contents were auctioned off. In local newspapers, Don Hanson attributes the decision to close the park to the fact the liability insurance skyrocketed in 1984. For a few years after the park closed, a Bud Light Amphitheater operated on the picnic grounds.
To see more abandoned places in NEPA, visit my collection at:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cheri_sundra/sets/72157625528264284/
Cheri Sundra © 2010
All Rights Reserved
Bud Light Amphitheater Remains
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Cheri Sundra--Guerrilla Historian 
these are great pictures! Thanks for sharing!
Your pictures are great. Thanks for posting them. I would really like to see this place someday.
This site says that the Speed Hound closed in 1980, that is incorrect. We lived out the lake and I spent every summer at that park and worked there for 2 years in high school. My last summer there was 1983 and the roller coaster was very much still running….. I remember the honor of kerosening the tracks for the first run in the morning!
miss the rides , and the arcade was the best !
Saw many of bands there! To bad it’s gone…
Spent many nights at this place of pure fun. Wish it was back opened with new movies but then again what ruined this country Greed. Great articles Cheri!