BY RUTH RICE

RRICE@TRIBDEM.COM

One of Blair County’s amusement parks is known for America’s best park food and its free concerts. The other is home to the world’s oldest roller coaster.

DelGrosso’s Amusement Park in Tipton has been open for limited hours on weekends and is officially kicking off its summer season today.

On Monday, all veterans and current military personnel will be able to ride and slide free.

Food at DelGrosso’s is a cut above the usual cotton candy and hot dogs available at most amusement parks.

“We’re most famous for our food,” said Jeff Ingram, marketing director for the park. “People come to eat. The DelGrosso family has worked to bring quality food.”

Spaghetti Wednesdays, always a family favorite, will begin June 4 and continue through Aug. 20.

“Spaghetti is $6.50 for a large serving and $5.50 for a small, which is a bellyful,” Ingram said.

Homemade pizza, a variety of pastas and Murf’s potato salad also are available.

“Everything is made fresh every morning,” he said. “This is our niche.”

DelGrosso’s series of free country concerts will kick off June 1 with Southern rocker James Otto, whose single “Just Got Started Lovin’ You” from the compact disc “Sunset Man” is currently the No. 1 country song on Billboard’s charts.

Other free concerts will feature country duo Halfway to Hazard on July 13, country newcomer Matt Jen-kins on Aug. 3 and Ronnie McDowell, who has had hits since the 1970s, on Sept. 28.

“These concerts are at 3 and 7 p.m. and are sponsored by area businesses,” Ingram said.

“There is free parking and free admission. Guests just need to bring their lawn chairs.”

FrontLine Ministries YouthFest will present free shows featuring 321 Improv Comedy and Christian artist Britt Nicole at 3 p.m. Aug. 31 and American Idol finalist Chris Sligh at 7 p.m.

Kids have their own kingdom at DelGrosso’s, with eight individual rides designed just for them.

The Wacky Worm kid-sized roller coaster was introduced in 2004, offering the thrills of bigger steel coasters but on a miniature scale.

“It is designed so that parents can ride with their small children,” Ingram said.

Rides for bigger kids and adults include the Crazy Mouse spinning roller coaster.

The Crazy Mouse combines the up and down ride of a standard coaster with wild spins on hairpin turns.

“You don’t eat a hot dog before you go on this one,” Ingram advised.

The Free Fall gravity drop is another relatively new ride, taking riders up a 50-foot tower and dropping them at unpredictable intervals.

“It might be a foot and it might be all the way down,” Ingram said. “You leave your eyeballs and your heart at the top.”

Rounding out the Kids Kingdom rides are the classic Paratrooper, Tilt-a-Whirl and Scrambler.

The antique carousel is a favorite of all ages.

The 18-hole championship miniature golf course has three lakes, five waterfalls, a swinging bridge and lush landscaping.

Family fun on the links is $3.75 per person.

The go-carts at Altoona-Tipton Speedway offer kids of all ages the chance to drive themselves around the track while battling for position.

A five-minute ride is $3.75.

“We have a couple cars where kids can ride with their parents,” Ingram said.

While there are no new rides this year at DelGrosso’s, there is plenty of good, clean family fun.

Two side-by-side water parks offer cooling off periods for young and old alike.

The Tipton Waterworks is geared for younger children and their parents.

“It has water squirts, a water umbrella and a big bucket that dumps water,” said Ingram.

“There are as many parents as children.”

The Tipton Rapids has five water slides for riders 42 inches tall and taller.

Other slides are the Twin Twisters, two side-by-side speed slides; Great White; Gravity Groove; and Midnight Express.

“There are two separate locations and activity pools which are open during park hours,” Ingram said.

All-day ride and water park passes are $15.95.

Fun at DelGrosso’s continues past Labor Day with an Italian Food and Heritage Festival on Sept. 21 and Harvestfest on Sept. 27-28.

For Harvestfest, a $4 admission price includes rides and entertainment.

“September is huge for us,” Ingram said.



Lakemont Park and Island Water park in Altoona is not a destination park like some of the larger amusement parks, but it is a neighborhood park where families can enjoy the day without spending too much.

Families struggling with a budget can take advantage of Wednesday Dollar Days from June 11 to Aug. 20.

On those cost-conscious days, guests can ride and slide all day for $3 and enjoy miniature golf for $1 per round.

Lakemont Park is the eighth oldest amusement park in the United States, opening in 1894 as a trolley park.

The park’s historic wooden roller coaster, Leap-the-Dips, the last remaining example of the side friction figure-eight design, was built on-site in 1902 by the E. Joy Morris Co.

It was named a National Historic Landmark in 1996 and was restored and reopened on Memorial Day 1999.

Lakemont Park is home to more than 30 rides and attractions, including the Island Water park, two roller coasters, go-cart track, kid’s rides, an 18-hole miniature golf course and lots of food.

The Spins ’n’ Grins Kiddieland will keep younger guests happy, while classic amusement-park rides such as the carousel, Ferris wheel, round up, scrambler, tilt-a-whirl and twister will bring back memories and fun.

An all-day ride-and-slide pass is $7.95 and includes unlimited use of the Island Water park and amusement park rides, excluding the go-carts and miniature golf.

A ride on the Monster Motorway Go-karts is $3.75, while a swing at Traintown miniature golf is $3.

Independence Day will be a time to celebrate at Lakemont with a $4 admission price, live music and a fireworks display.

Area restaurants will vie for the title of best hot wings on Thursday Wing Offs from July 10 through Aug. 14.



DelGrosso's Amusement Park

Where: 10 miles north of Altoona along Business Route 220 in Tipton, Blair County.

Open: Today and Monday. Regular park hours resume Saturday.

Cost: All-day pass including waterworks, $12.95; all-day rides, waterworks and rapids, $15.95; season pass, $79.95.

Information: 684-3538.



Lakemont Park

Where: Take Frankstown Road Exit on Interstate 99 in Altoona.

Open: Today and Monday. Regular park hours resume Saturday. Park is closed every Monday and Tuesday.

Cost: All-day ride-and-slide pass $9.95; evening pass, $7.95; season pass, $40.

Information: (800) 434-8006.