What's New

Opening Day at Idlewild is Saturday, May 18!

Gear up for a season of family fun at the "Best Kids' Park in the World!" 

Visit like a VIP and experience all that’s new in 2024 with a Season Pass.  
Get Unlimited Visits all year for under $100 with the Gold Season Pass.  Hurry! Limited time only. 

More Days to Play - Flower Garden & Rides

NEW! More Days to Play!

Idlewild & SoakZone fun keeps getting better with even more days to play in 2024!  We've add 12 operating days into the schedule over last season for more family fun, summer splashes, and memories that last a lifetime.  The Idlewild fun kicks off on Saturday, May 18, with the SoakZone opening for the season on May 25.  We can't wait to see you this summer!  

Child with stuffed rabbit.

NEW & IMPROVED! Tickle Your Taste Buds

We've got a whole new leadership team in our Food & Beverage Department that is cooking up a lot of tasty treats!  The BBQ Pit expands its menu of grilled summer favorites with the all-new BBQ Rib Sandwich served with delicious comfort foods like mashed potatoes, corn cobbettes or baked beans.. Snack Shack will intorduce a Grilled Chicken Sandwich in addition to cheeseburgers, hot dogs and other favorites.  Zach's Snack's will offer convenient grab-and-go options like hoagies, and Otis Spunkmeyer cookies.  Two of your Idlewild favorites return for 2024 - Fresh-squeezed lemonade, and the classic Cyclone Cone!  Ricky's Cafe will offer convenient meals that will satisfy the little ones, like the new Grilled Cheese or Uncrustables Combos offered with fruit slices, veggie sticks, or french fries.  Plus, we'll have 2 self-serve soda machines for speedy refills of souvenir cups - one at Hillside Grill, and one at SoakZone's Snack Shack!  

 

Story Book

Starting A New Chapter....

Story Book Forest has delighted visitors to Idlewild since 1956, when it was created to be a magical land based on emotion rather than motion.  Featuring a winding path through a real forest, guests visit cottages and other character scenes from fairy tales and nursery rhymes.  You'll notice many updates when you visit your favorite characters this year!  We are launching a multi-year enhancement project highlighted by improving accessibility along the Forest's pathways.  You'll notice more paved sections allowing for am easier trek through the woods to Grandmother's House.  All in all, about 1/3 of the forest will have paved pathways this year, with the rest slated to get the royal treatment next year!     

Child with stuffed rabbit.

...at Story Book Forest

Last season, we enhanced the character experience at Story Book Forest, adding more favorites!  This year, we'll build upon that and enhance the storytelling even more as we bring back two former scenes to the Forest:

  • Jack and the Beanstalk
  • Rub-A-Dub-Dub! 

You'll also see the Windmills and Waterwheels turning once again, and the centerpiece pond is undergoing some work to make the water sparkle! 

 

Couple drinking delicious coffee

IMPROVED! Enhanced Skooter Experience

Get ready for even more fun on the Skooters as we add more bumper cars to the track.  We're looking to double the current capacity on the Skooters going into the 2024 summer season.  So, grab a friend, or a dozen, and have a blast with the new and improved ride experience!  

Child with stuffed rabbit.

NEW! Shopping at SoakZone

We've gutted the inside of our SoakZone gift shop and are busy refurbishing it from top to bottom to give you an enhanced shopping experience. Look for new floors, new wall units, and fancy displays to complement a ton of new merchandise coming your way.  Check out the new look when the SoakZone opens on Saturday, May 25th!   

Story Book

NEW! Covered Dining Area

Raccoon Lagoon Kiddieland is one of the most popular areas of the park, but we were lacking a covered dining area to escape the sun or sprinkles.  We're fixing that with the construction of a new pavilion!  You'll have it made in the shade the next time you dine at Ricky's Grill, or grab a cool bottled beverage or snack from the gift shop.   

Child with stuffed rabbit.

IMPROVED! Carousel Horse Restoration Continues!

Our beloved 1931 PTC Carousel remains a favorite among visitors to Idlewild, and our multi-year refurbishment project continues to make it even better.  Yes, it can be a slow process stripping the horses down to the bare wood and hand painting them again, but our park artist, Ed Ostroski, is doing a magnificent job freshening up the horses for a new generation of visitors.  Approximately half of the 48 horses will be complete for the 2024 season, with work continuing on the others this fall.  

 

Story Book

NEW & RETURNING! Exciting Events

We're planning exciting adventures all summer long, including the return of our popular Kids Fest, Neighbor Days, Season Passholder Weekends, and HALLOWBOO!   Want some more foam parties?  You got them!  Bubble Dances, Scavenger Hunts, and special character meets... they are all coming your way in 2024!  We'll be updating our Events page closer to the season with all the details so you can plan your days of fun, all summer long!  

Child with stuffed rabbit.

NEW & IMPROVED! Season Pass Perks

We're revamping our Season Pass perks program to give Passholders even more in-park discounts than ever before.  Plus, we'll soon be launching an improved communication plan to passholders so that you can keep tabs on all the special offers, discount Bring a Friend days, early SoakZone access times, and more!  Stay tuned for more updates coming soon!