Ghosts in the Grove_P1_Williams Grove Dark Ride

A History of the Dark Rides and Fun Houses
of Williams Grove Amusement Park

Early History and Development

Williams Grove Amusement Park started in 1850 as a picnic park by the Williams family on a small plot of land in Mechanicsburg, PA. Through the years, many different owners came and went, all without any success. In 1924, Roy Richwine bought the park and was the first to start adding rides.

Among the more popular ones built were a wooden roller coaster in 1933, built by the Philadelphia Toboggan Company and designed by Oscar Bitler called "The Zipper". At a modest (by today's standards) 65' tall with a 60' first drop, this 2300' out and back style ride was a huge hit in the local area. Bitler was also the designer of the defunct Eldridge Park "Speedway" roller coaster in Elmira, NY. A carousel, kiddie rides and more were added.

Laff In The Dark

In 1942, the park's first dark ride opened called "Laff in the Dark", a R.E. Chambers/Traver built ride which was installed at many amusement parks, such as Playland Park in Rye, NY and the defunct Crystal Beach amusement park in Canada.

Long remembered for classic stunts like the “Kicking Mule”, “Fighting Cats”, Popeye", "Dancing Skeleton", and "Maggie and Jiggs. These dark rides were often complemented by animated figures on their facades and loading areas such as "Laffing Sal". This over-imposing figure was built at a large 6' size by the PTC company in the 1930s and featured a loud and sometimes obnoxious sound of a woman laughing hysterically. Sal drew attention to the attraction while many a young child had haunted dreams of her for years to come.

Photos show plywood Traver/Chambers Laff In The Dark stunts as would have been installed in the Williams Grove ride. These examples were part of the installation at Crystal Beach, Ontario, Canada.

The dark ride was a staple and popular ride along the long "T-shaped" midway that Williams Grove had. Located along the Yellow Breeches Creek, it was a park just as popular as Hershey Park was for many years.

A speedway was built next to the park in 1938 and in 1958 the Williams Grove Historical Steam Engine Association was formed for exhibits and shows right next to the park. Williams Grove also hosted many big country music shows including Dolly Parton and Johnny Cash. Things were good at the Grove for many years.

The Morgan Hughes Era

In 1972 the Richwine family was looking to sell the park and up stepped a young, yet seasoned operator in Morgan Hughes, who bought the park for 1.2 million dollars.

"Mickey" as he was called in the industry and by friends, had built a successful ride business by importing spectacular European built rides from Mack, Schwarzkopf, Huss and others. Mickey would feature his rides at Palisades Amusement Park, in a partnership with the owners, the Rosenthal Brothers. His rides would then be sold across the US and many piers on the New Jersey shore from Seaside Heights down to Wildwood, and would feature the latest rides from Europe, all thanks to Mickey.

When it was announced that Palisades would be closing, Mickey made an unsuccessful bid to purchase that park. Mickey had plans to repeat his success at Williams Grove by featuring imported rides and adding them for a season or two before selling them to others. Sadly, Hurricane Agnes had other ideas, and in June 1972, hit the park hard, causing much destruction to his rides and the park's attractions.

Mr. Hughes would not be deterred from operating the park, as he and his staff worked hard around the clock, rebuilding and replacing several rides. Hughes obtained a PTC coaster train from Palisades Park’s Cyclone coaster (1945 to 1971) that bore the coaster’s name in wooden block lettering on its front panel, so it was decided to rename The Zipper to Cyclone.

At right: Palisades Amusement Park owner Irving Rosenthal and Morgan "Mickey" Hughes discuss the park's opening day in 1966, featuring rides newly imported by Hughes.