Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom

Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom is a combined amusement park and water park located at 3830 Dorney Park Road in Allentown, Pennsylvania, in the Lehigh Valley region of the eastern part of the state. The property brings together a traditional ride park and a full water park on a single site, with both included under one admission ticket. It operates on a seasonal schedule, generally opening in the spring and running through the fall, with the water park portion active during the warmer summer months.

The park sits just off Hamilton Boulevard on the western edge of Allentown, close to Interstate 78 and the Pennsylvania Turnpike's Northeast Extension. Its position places it within a reasonable drive of Philadelphia, New York City, northern New Jersey and much of eastern Pennsylvania, which has long made it a popular day trip destination for families and coaster enthusiasts from across the region.

History and Background

Dorney Park traces its origins to the 1880s, when Solomon Dorney developed a fish hatchery and summer retreat on the site and gradually added attractions for visitors. What began as a trout hatchery and picnic grove evolved over the following decades into a trolley park, then into a full amusement park with mechanical rides, a carousel and a wooden roller coaster. Thunderhawk, the park's wooden coaster, dates back to the 1920s and remains one of the older operating wooden coasters in the United States, a physical link to the property's early years.

Wildwater Kingdom was added in the mid 1980s, transforming the site into a dual park destination well before that model became common in the industry. In the early 1990s the property was acquired by Cedar Fair, the operator of Cedar Point and several other regional parks, which invested in a series of major roller coasters and infrastructure improvements over the following decades. Following the 2024 merger between Cedar Fair and Six Flags, the park became part of the combined Six Flags Entertainment Corporation portfolio.

Rides and Attractions

The ride lineup is built around a set of large steel roller coasters supported by a broad range of flat rides, family attractions and children's rides. Notable coasters include:

• Steel Force, a hypercoaster that opened in 1997 with a drop of more than 200 feet and a long out and back layout known for sustained airtime.
• Talon, an inverted coaster that opened in 2001, featuring multiple inversions and a smooth, swooping ride path over the center of the park.
• Hydra The Revenge, a floorless coaster known for its unusual jojo roll inversion taken immediately out of the station.
• Possessed, an impulse style launch coaster that shoots riders forward and backward along vertical spikes of track.
• Iron Menace, a dive coaster that opened in 2024 and became the first of its type in Pennsylvania, with a beyond vertical drop and a compact, intense layout.
• Thunderhawk, the historic wooden coaster that has operated on the site for a century.

Beyond the coasters, the park operates a full complement of spinning rides, drop towers, swing rides, a classic carousel and dark ride style attractions. A dedicated children's area themed to the Peanuts characters gathers scaled down rides for younger guests in one section of the park, along with opportunities to meet costumed characters. The park also maintains a playground area, arcade games and midway attractions.

Wildwater Kingdom

The water park occupies a substantial portion of the property and includes a wave pool, a lazy river, body and tube slides, a large activity pool and interactive play structures designed for smaller children. Because access is included with general admission, many visitors plan their day around moving between the two halves of the park, using the water attractions to cool off between rides. Cabana rentals are available for groups who want a reserved, shaded base for the day, and lockers and baggage storage help guests manage clothing, towels and personal items while moving between wet and dry attractions.

Dining, Entertainment and Group Services

Food service ranges from quick counter windows and midway snack stands to sit down restaurant style dining, with a bar available on site for adult guests. The park programs live entertainment throughout the operating season, including musical performances, character appearances and seasonal parades staged along the midways.

Seasonal events are a significant part of the calendar. Summer typically brings themed celebration events and holiday fireworks, while the autumn schedule centers on a Halloween event that combines haunted attractions and scare zones for older guests with a milder, daytime trick or treat program aimed at families with young children. Party services and group event packages are offered for birthdays, corporate outings, school groups and other organized visits.

Planning Your Visit

• Tickets: Purchasing admission in advance is recommended, both for pricing and to reduce time spent at the gate. Season passes are offered and are frequently the more economical choice for anyone planning more than one or two visits in a year.
• Discounts: Active military discounts are available.
• Crowds: Weekends and peak summer days draw the largest attendance and the longest queues. Weekdays and early or late season operating days typically see lighter traffic.
• Parking: A paid parking lot serves the property, with accessible spaces available. Some street parking exists in the surrounding area, both free and metered depending on location.
• Payments: Debit cards, credit cards and NFC mobile payments are accepted.
• Accessibility: The park offers a wheelchair accessible entrance, accessible restrooms and accessible parking. Guests with specific needs can contact guest services for information on ride boarding procedures.
• Amenities: Restrooms, lockers, baggage storage, first aid and guest services are located throughout the grounds.

Contact and Location

Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom is located at 3830 Dorney Park Road, Allentown, Pennsylvania 18104. The park can be reached by phone at +1 610-395-3724. Because hours vary considerably by date and by season, and because the water park operates on a shorter calendar than the ride park, checking the published schedule before traveling is worthwhile.