Dutch Wonderland is a theme park just east of Lancaster, Pennsylvania in East Lampeter Township, appealing primarily to families with small children.
The park's theme is a "Kingdom for Kids". Its entrance has a stone imitation castle façade, which was built by Earl Clark, a potato farmer, before he opened the park in 1963.
Overview The park has 30 rides, plus a tropical-themed interactive water play area called Duke's Lagoon, and live entertainment. It also has an extended season, open for "Eggcellent Celebration," "Happy Hauntings," and "Dutch Winter Wonderland" events for Easter, Halloween, and Christmas. The park is part of a larger area in Lancaster zoned for entertainment, dining, lodging, and conferences.
The Clark family sold Dutch Wonderland in 2001 to Hershey Entertainment and Resorts Company. They also operate Old Mill Stream Campground and Dutch Wonderland Inn (formerly Cartoon Network Hotel) at the same location, as well as the Gift Shop at Kitchen Kettle Village in nearby Intercourse, Pennsylvania.
Next to the park, they used to operate Wonderland Mini-Golf and Wonderland Cinema, which were demolished to make room for parking in 2014 and 2015, respectively. On November 12, 2010, Hershey Entertainment announced that they sold Dutch Wonderland to Palace Entertainment.
In early 2025, the park was sold to Herschend.
Attractions Dutch Wonderland features 32 rides, a water park called Duke's Lagoon (named for a purple dragon costumed character), along with shows and games for children. In addition to Duke the Dragon, the park also features costumed characters Princess Brooke, Merlin the Wizard and Sir Brandon, the Knight of Safety.
A five-acre island at the back of the park, "Exploration Island", includes a Prehistoric Path featuring more than 20 animatronic dinosaurs, the Turnpike, and Gondola Cruise.
Current roller coasters Dutch Wonderland has three rollercoasters. RideOpenedManufactureNotes Merlin's MayhemS&S WorldwideA steel inverted rollercoaster, manufactured by S&S Worldwide, which passes over the Skyride and stands on the land the Turnpike once stood.Custom Coasters International (CCI)A wooden rollercoaster, the first coaster ever built by Custom Coasters International. Uses a single Philadelphia Toboggan Company train with buzz bars. The park's monorail runs through the structure of the ride. The ride was once painted white, and is currently painted blue. It was named the Sky Princess until the 2007 season.JoustChance RidesA steel "Big Dipper" style rollercoaster, manufactured by Chance Rides. It sits where the Flying Trapeeze once stood, in front of the Kingdom Coaster. Chance's prototype Big Dipper Coaster.
Other attractions
RideOpenedManufacturer DescriptionBalloon ChaseZamperlaA Samba Balloon ride Bumper Cars LusseA classic Lusse bumper car ride Choo Choo CharlieWood Amusement Rides B.V.A manual-powered handcar ride. Double Splash FlumeArrow DevelopmentA double drop log flume (the lower drop at the beginning of the ride, the higher drop at the end) with a mist tunnel. Dragon's LairArrow DynamicsA boat ride, visible from outside the park. 1 of the 4 original rides in the park that before switching to log style boats were Whale Boats as well as Swan Boats Duke's Dozers Allan Herschell CompanyA kiddie ride where children ride in bulldozers, moved from Hersheypark where it had been called Earthmovers. Wonder House In-HouseA rare "haunted swing" ride, where the entire house revolves around the riders, described in a newspaper article as "an extremely disorienting effect" No longer has Dutch in the name. Wonderland Special Chance RidesA 2-foot narrow-gauge railroad featuring a C.P. Huntington gasoline-powered locomotive built by Chance Rides, previously an Allan Hershel Iron Horse Train. Flying TrapezeChance RidesA Yo-Yo chair swing ride Frog HopperS&S - Sansei TechnologiesA Frog Hopper drop tower Fun SlideUnknownA giant slide, relocated from Hersheypark. Gondola CruiseArrow DynamicsPart of the larger Exploration Island area Honey HopHampton AmusementsPanda Party with a makeover Kite FlightZamperlaA Kite Flyer ride Leapin' FrogsZamperlaA Frog-themed Jump Around ride Monorail Universal MobilityA monorail ride which takes a tour of the park Merry-Go-Round Chance RidesA family carousel ride Off-Road RallyVenture ManufacturingA family carousel ride Panda PartyHampton AmusementsA bee ride, no longer in operation. Pit Stop'Outback ToysA pedal car ride, no longer in operation. Sky FighterMolina & Son’sA plane ride Sky RideUniversal Design Ltd.A station-to-station sky ride Topsy Turvy Tea PartyUnknownA spinning tea cup ride Turnpike Cars 2.0Gould ManufacturingA reconstruction of the original Turnpike Cars formerly located in the middle of the park, it opened in 2014 on Exploration Island and is nearly double the length of the original. Turtle Whirl Sellner Manufacturing A classic tilt-a-whirl ride with a turtle theme purchased from Clementon Lake Park The Twister Chance Rides A family ride moved from Hersheypark (1978–2008) Wonder Whip Mangles Company A kiddie whip ride moved from Hersheypark, formerly called Wells Cargo (1964–2003) Dino Dig – Part of the larger Exploration Island area. Prehistoric Path – Features many animatronic dinosaurs. Part of the larger Exploration Island area.
Removed rides Wally the Whale Boats (1963–1967) – One of the original rides for the park. It was replaced by the Swan boats. . Swan train ride (1965–1967) – The "Gliding Swans" was a ride that drove through the path of the park, it only lasted for three seasons until it was removed due to increased foot traffic. Swan Boats (1968–1974) – A swan paddle boat ride that was replaced by log boats (now "Dragon's Lair"). . Original Iron Horse Train (1963–1985) – In 1974 the park added a second train, CP Huntington #123, which ran with the Iron Horse train. The Iron Horse train was removed after 1985 and replaced with CP Huntington #206 in 1986. Old 99 (1974–2002) – An electric train ride that went around a track by itself made by Chance Rides. The ride was eventually replaced with a theater. Giant Slide (1968–2007) – Replaced with two portable slides. Ripcord (1990–2010) – A parachute ride made by Venture Manufacturing, it was replaced with a Zamperla Kite Flyer. Ferris Windmill (1981–2012) – A kiddie Ferris wheel ride with a windmill theme, built by International amusements, the ride was removed for Exploration Island. Crazy Plane (1994–2014) – A Crazy Plane prototype made by Zamperla, the ride was removed after the 2014 season and was replaced by Bon Voyage Balloon Chase. Silo slide (1963–2015) – A slide that went down the exterior of a silo, its final year was 2015, the silo still stands today without the slide pieces. Lady Gay Riverboat (1963–2016) – An original ride from the park, it was modified many times since it opened, and the ride and the dock were eventually removed due to maintenance upkeep. Tug Boat (1967–2016) – A similar boat ride that came after the Lady Gay, the Tug Boat and Lady Gay would switch which boat was being used from time to time, until they both ceased operation in the park. Turnpike Cars 1.0 (1963–2013) – An Arrow Dynamics antique car ride that was located in the centre of the park, where Merlin's Mayhem is today. The attraction was reconstructed on Exploration Island for the 2014 season. Wiggle Racers – A ride where self-propelled scooters race around a track that includes a maze and a cave. This ride replaced the miniature train display which had replaced the indoor miniature circus display. The Wiggle Racers were then moved to a spot closer to the stream in the back of the park, and Huck Finn's Leapin' Frogs now resides in the footprint of the old miniature circus building. Astroliner (1978–2020) – an older space simulator that was added to the park in 1978, built by Wisdom Manufacturing, and removed in 2020. VR Voyager – a modern motion simulator removed in 2020. Space Shuttle (1985–2021) – A swinging ship ride built by Morgan. Removed in 2022. Panda Party (1970-2025) A bee ride by Hampton Amusements remade into Honey Hop.
Shows The Adventures of the Frog Prince – a high-dive show A Dragon's Tale – a high-dive show Storytime Corner – Princess of Dutch Wonderland and the Dutch Wonderland Knight read stories to children PBS KIDS Daniel Tiger Stage Show - based on the Mister Rogers' Neighborhood franchise.
Previous shows
Bubba and the Badland Band (1989–2024) – A Sally Corporation animatronic stage show featuring six animal characters which performed popular country songs. The Dutch Wonderland show has since been preserved by the American Amusement Park Museum in Newville. The Star Girls From Planet Groove Rock This World!-A mid-2000s music show with an ARIA-nominated girls' group and kids' band from Sydney, Australia. Garfield the Great & Friends – A magic show based on the Garfield franchise. Thomas & Friends Live – based on the Thomas & Friends franchise. Danger Rangers Live in Safety Rules! – based on the Danger Rangers cartoon.
See also Incidents at independent amusement parks
References
External links Official site Park sale to Hershey Entertainment and Resorts Company Dutch Wonderland Information and Photos Dutch Wonderland Flickr Group