Happy birthday to these Waldameer rides marking 15 to 75 years in 2026
Park rides also have milestone birthdays in 2026.
The Comet, the granddaddy of the park's five roller coasters, is 75 years old.
Sky Fighters, like the Comet, launched in 1951.
The Thunder River water ride is 30 years old.
And three rides are 15 years old this year. Flying Swings, SS Wally and Wendy's Tea Party were introduced in the park's $2 million North End development in 2011.
The Comet: 75 years old
Waldameer's iconic wooden coaster was built from Pacific coast timber in the spring of 1951, according to a June 17, 1951, Erie Times-News account.
The coaster was designed by Herbert Schmeck of the Philadelphia Toboggan Company.
Forty-five feet high with 1,400 feet of "medium-sized hops, dips and turns," according to the Waldameer website, the Comet was designed to be not too scary for kids but still thrilling for adults. Cars reach speeds up to 25 mph.
The Comet has been rolling at Waldameer for 75 years.
Its construction was overseen by construction engineer James Martz, who helped build the midway for the 1939-40 New York World's Fair as well as Palisades Park in New Jersey and structures at New York's Coney Island.
The Comet was officially christened by "Bobby Benson," star of the Mutual Broadcasting System's "Bobby Benson and the B-Bar-B Riders" radio program for kids. The young radio cowboy was the special guest at the park's Western Round-Up christening event on June 27, 1951.
The ride was called the "Bobby Benson Stratocruiser" for the day.
Sky Fighters: 75 years old
Little airplanes in the ride rise eight feet and fly along a circular path.
Sky Fighter planes at Waldameer each accommodate two small flyers.
Each plane accommodates two young riders, both equipped with a toy machine gun to target "enemy" aircraft.
The ride for "small fry" was set for first take-off in Waldameer's 1951 season, according to an April 15, 1951, Erie Times-News account.
Thunder River: 30 years old
Billed as the "wettest ride in the amusement park," Thunder River has been soaking riders since its launch during Waldameer's 100th anniversary season in 1996.
Waldameer's wettest ride is Thunder River.
"Log" boats carry four passengers each along a water-filled trough. The path includes a foggy tunnel, rapids and two large drops — ideal for quick splashes on hot summer days.
The $2 million Thunder River replaced Ye Old Mill Chute, a more sedate, and dryer, boat ride.
Flying Swings: 15 years old
The Flying Swings lifts riders into the air and twirls them for panoramic views of the park, Lake Erie and Presque Isle.
The ride's 48 swing seats are suspended from a central tower that gently rises and rotates.
The ride was built by Zamperla, an Italian manufacturer, and made its North End debut in 2011. Its colorful central tower is decorated with scenes of Italy.
SS Wally: 15 years old
The SS Wally is a tugboat that rocks and rolls and spins along a track to simulate a ride on rough seas.
The ride is one of the park's kiddie attractions but adults are also welcome aboard.
The SS Wally arrives in port at Waldameer in 2011.
It's named for Wally Bear, a Waldameer mascot.
Wendy's Tea Party: 15 years old
Wendy Bear, Wally's mascot partner, has her own tea party-themed ride.
Six teacup-shaped cars on a rotating platform can be spun or not by riders, maybe depending on how recently they've had their tea.
Riders take a spin on the Wendy's Tea Party ride at Waldameer.
The ride is a kiddie attraction, but adults are also welcome to ride.
Wendy's Tea Party and SS Wally, like the Flying Swings, were built by Zamperla, which also built one of the park's newest attractions, Time Twister, opened last year.
