7 Camden Park
Faith Lienhard
Camden Park is a twenty-six acre amusement park located near Huntington, West Virginia. Established in 1903 as a picnic spot by the Camden Interstate Railway Company, it is one of only thirteen trolley parks that remain open in the United States. Whereas most trolley parks were located at the end of trolley lines, Camden Park is unusual in that it was built where riders traveling between Huntington and nearby cities would stop to change lines. Not long after opening, the park soon gained a carousel and other roadside attractions. Camden Park is West Virginia's only amusement park. The park is home to more than thirty rides and attractions, including a full-size traditional wooden roller coaster, the Big Dipper, and several other vintage rides.
Over the years, Camden Park has featured a swimming pool, a roller rink, and even a small zoo. Today, the park hosts a variety of events throughout the year, including live musical performances as part of the "Hot Summer Nights" concert series. Other events include the "Children's Festival," "Coca-Cola Days," and the "Halloween Spooktacular." The park is typically open six days a week from late May to early August, with a more limited schedule in late August, and select dates in September and October.
Camden Park was established as a picnic spot by the Camden Interstate Railway Company in 1903, and named after former West Virginia Senator Johnson N. Camden. As steamboat traffic gave way to intercity trolleys, the park was located near the mouth of Twelvepole Creek, where riders traveling between Huntington, Ceredo, Kenova, Ashland, and Coal Grove would stop to change lines.
The first amusement park ride, a carousel, was built around 1903; the park owners consider this to be the official date of the park's founding, celebrating the park's eightieth anniversary in 1983, and centennial in 2003; promotional materials produced in 2013 describe the park as having provided "110 years" of fun. About 1912, the park's first roller coaster was added. Described as the "new sensation," the attraction featured a tall hill, a spiraling section, and several dips of various lengths.
Eustace Via purchased Camden Park from the Ohio Valley Electric Railway in 1916, and operated the park until the end of World War II, adding various rides and attractions. The park was subsequently sold to a group of investors, including Harry Nudd, who operated the park. Deeming the original roller coaster unsafe, the owners demolished it in the summer of 1957. Nudd obtained plans for what became the Big Dipper, a new wooden roller coaster that opened in the summer of 1958.
The park subsequently came into the hands of J.P. Boylin, whose family continues to operate the park and its attractions. Many of the attractions are vintage amusement park rides, such as the carousel, The Whip, Tilt-A-Whirl, Paratrooper, Dodgem Cars, and Scrambler. The park also features a miniature railway with a covered bridge, a vintage Pretzel Haunted House ride, swan-shaped pedal boats, a miniature golf course, arcade games, shooting galleries, and a restaurant. The park once featured a roller rink, and a paddleboat attraction known as the Camden Queen, which took riders on a short excursion up the Ohio River.
In the center of the park is an Indian mound, once used as a picnic area, but now heavily grown over with trees. Many large sycamores formerly lined the park's midway, but these appear to have been cut down in the 1990s.[1]
Roughly 21,000 residents along with nearby employers are located within a 20-minute walk of Camden Park. Westchase District also has entered into shared parking agreements with several adjacent office buildings to provide complimentary parking for park goers during evenings and weekends. A mid-block pedestrian-activated crossing will be added to ensure ease of crossing Wilcrest. Patrons also can use a circular drive for convenient pick up and drop-off. The lighted park will be staffed with onsite guest service attendants and onsite security.
The announcement of Camden Park comes a little more than a year after Westchase District opened its first fully programmed park, Woodchase Park. In its first year of operation, Woodchase Park attracted more than 25,000 visitors.
The trails are located on the south side of Camden Park, starting with the Born Learning trail, located just off the main roadway. Parking is available at the north and south sides of the trail system.
Camden Park has just over half a mile of walking paths located within the 90 acre park. Nearby, you'll find two disc golf courses, soccer/baseball fields, picnic areas, and playgrounds. Camden Park's disc golf courses, "Camden 1" and "Camden 2" are a great way to get some exercise as you hike through a mix of wooded and open areas. Camden Park also has a shelter, lodge, and event center that are available to rent.
Located a few minutes north of Camden on U.S. Route 1, the park offers year-round trail activities and camping. Winter camping, in a rustic shelter, is also offered and available by reservation by calling the park. Renowned for the panoramic view of Camden Harbor and Penobscot Bay from the top of Mt. Battie, which inspired Edna St. Vincent Millay's poem "Renascence," the park still inspires wonder in visitors today.
Fee collected year-round at entry booth by staff or self-service station. *NOTE: The Mount Battie Road, from Nov 1 to May 1, may be closed based on weather and staffing. Call the park ahead of your visit if you want to know the current status. The rest of the park is open year-round; the park entrance lot is plowed as well as other access points. After a major snowfall consider calling the park if the notice above has not yet been updated.
The streetcar line eventually gave way to a modern four-lane highway, U.S. 60, that goes past the park entrance. The 1937 Ohio River flood and then World War II caused major setbacks. In 1946, Camden Park was sold to Huntington furniture dealer James P. Boylin and brought back from the brink of extinction to become a popular, family-oriented park.
Designed by landscape architect Chip Calloway, Camden Park features a variety of native trees and shrubs, and is anchored by two ponds connected by a terraced creek. The park is home to our beloved concrete sheep and features benches from to enjoy the beautiful views.
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Its crazy that I live less than 20 minutes from Camden Park, but never go. The Big Dipper was the first roller coaster that I ever rode. Its weird to think that early in 07 I was terrified of it, and by October of that same year I was riding Son of Beast and loving it.
I'm taking my wife to Camden Park before summer ends. She is anxious to see the park that I grew up visiting And I cannot wait to sink my teeth into a Stewart's Hotdog as we pass through Huntington on the way home!
Many childhood memories were made there. I remember when the cost of admission was ten cents. That was for parents that had smaller children (or grandparents) that did not want to ride. They could watch their own kids have fun on the attractions..
My school outing was always in late May and during the week, the cost to us was just a mere $5. You can hardly purchase a Pronto Pup and drink for that nowadays. I always had fun and rode The Big Dipper about a half dozen times. My record in my 8th grade year was 17 laps.
Many other rides have come and gone, as with any park. Do yourself a favor, If you have never been to Camden Park, make the trip, some of these "older" rides are just all about gone. You may never get another chance to take a spin on some classic amusement park rides.
The gated community at Camden Park in Edmond is filled with hidden treasures. As the exclusive builder, Bill Roberts Custom Homes brings distinctive style with quaint exteriors, maintained lawns, and standard luxury amenities. A gorgeous clubhouse sits at the heart of the community and seamlessly connects residents to the beautifully landscaped 2-acre park and extensive network of walkways.
Starting from the low $500s, these homes are perfect for anyone seeking a luxurious, low-maintenance lifestyle with all the conveniences that come with living in a well-planned community. Call us for more information or to make an appointment to see any available homes!
Fish for trout in the Redwood River, hike or ride the trails, then cool off in the spring-fed pool. Walk along the wooded river valley, climb the valley to the Dakota Valley Lookout and enjoy Brawner Lake. 15 miles hiking, 4 miles biking and 10 miles horse trails. Cross country ski trails are not groomed, but you may blaze your own trail anywhere in the park that isn't groomed for another use. There are 2 semi-modern campgrounds plus a primitive horse camp and a group camp. Two picnic shelters are available for rental year round. The park is situated along the banks of the Redwood River.
The newly remodeled park office was remodeled with "Green" in mind. The office is heated and cooled with geothermal heat pumps, additional insulation, energy efficient lighting and a 10KW wind turbine. Plumbing fixtures are also water-efficient models.
Our drive through the state of West Virginia started off in some of the hardest rain I have ever driven. As we worked our way southeast from Pittsburgh and onward to Charleston the rolling hills of Appalachia were beautiful. I was born in this state. A state that is famous for its coal mining and odd shape state that looks a bit like a frying pan.
This would be the most difficult two days of our trip. I would be visiting the gravesite of my grandparents on my mothers side and my grandparents on my fathers side that are in a nursing home. I was apprehensive to see both of these people and places but I think it needs to be done. I have thought about both of them for a long, long time.
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