The Weona Park Carousel

Weona park was chartered in 1920 when a seventeen-acre tract on the eastern edge of the town was purchased with public funds, private donations and corporate gifts. The initial conception of the park was that it would be just an athletic facility; however, when the site was cleared the citizens of the town realized that it had a greater potential and expanded their vision to include a recreational center and a playground.

The summer of 1920 was a busy one for the citizens of Pen Argyl. Companies donated steam shovels; some donated coal; others sent teams and trucks. Business executives worked hand in hand with quarry workers, and the result was that the unsightly brush at the end of the town had been turned into the rough outline of a park. At this point the directors decided that the park must be given a name. Unable to come to an agreement, the Board of Directors decided to hold a competition open to all the citizens of the town. Hundreds of names were submitted, but the winner was Miss Corienne Broad who submitted the winning name Weona (We-own-a) Park. In the following three years the citizens of the town erected a swimming pool, bath house, athletic field and picnic grounds. But it was in 1923 that Weona Park would purchase its crown jewel, a standing Denzel Carousel.

Typical of the citizens of Pen Argyl, the purchase of the carousel was a community effort. The carousel was purchased from The Denzel Factory in Germantown, Pennsylvania and brought to Pen Argyl. The cost of the carousel was paid for by offering rides once the carousel was operating. The first ride ticket was purchased for one hundred dollars, and others who joined for the first ride paid ten dollars for a ride. The carousel gained popularity as a local attraction and quickly the debt was paid off. The building which housed the carousel still stands and is in mint condition. It is a specially made round wooden structure supported with sixty-eight concrete piers. The center of the structure is twenty feet high, and its built in benches offer seating space for over two hundred people as well as shelter for hundreds more in case of rain.

The carousel still looks much the same as it did in 1920. There are forty-four animals: thirty four horses, three giraffes, three goats, three deer, one zebra and two chariots. All of the animal bodies are in original condition but are showing signs of age. The machine is powered by a five horse power electric motor which was refurbished in 1995.

The Pen Argyl Park is actively trying to preserve this "slice of Americana" and has tried some unique fund raisers. One such fund raiser was having a local artist, Bob Doney, draw a painting of the carousel and then have prints made. These prints were framed and sold by the Park Board and raised twenty thousand dollars which was used to refurbish the machinery for the carousel. The Park board is now in the process of refurbishing the animals on the machine. Lisa Parr of Old Parr's Inc. in Highland Park, Illinois has been retained by the Park board for the restoration project. The American Carousel society has donated the cost for the refurbishment of one horse (approximately two thousand dollars) and three other animals have been "adopted" by community organizations and private citizens. It is the plan of the Park Board to restore the animals, but to keep the original paint intact. One by one, the animals will be removed from the carousel and sent to Illinois to be restored. The restoration process involves the painstaking work of removing all the old varnish and dirt until the original colors remain. Then great pains are taken to match the paint as the tedious in-painting process begins. Several coats of varnish are then added as protection against the wear and tear of carrying passengers. The end result is stunning. The refurbished animal looks brand new in starling contrast to its glum neighbors. It is the hope of the Park Board that all of the animals will be finished by the year 2000. Plans also include getting the carousel on the National Register of Historic Places and restoring the carousel building.

Pen Argyl is an easy day trip from New York or Philadelphia. From New York, take Route 80 west to Delaware Water Gap and into Pennsylvania. Continue on Route 80 to Route 33 south. Get off at the Wind Gap exit and turn left into the town of Wind Gap. Go the first traffic light, turn left on Route 512 into Pen Argyl. Go through the town to Weona Park which lies on the east side of the town. From Philadelphia take the Northeastern extension of the Pennsylvania Turnpike to the Allentown exit. Take Route 22 east to Route 33. Take Route 33 north to the Wind Gap exit and follow Route 512 into Pen Argyl.

The Park is open seven days a week from Memorial Day to Labor Day. The carousel is open on Saturdays and Sundays from 12:00 pm to 9:00 pm. Pavilions can be rented for group tours by calling 610-863-9249 to make a reservation. A day pass for the swimming pool costs $3.50, and a ride on the carousel costs $1.00. Group tours can be arranged by calling the Park and arranging a date and time for the tour with the Park manager. If anyone is interested in making a donation to the Weona Park Restoration fund, send a check to The Pen Argyl Park and Athletic Association, Weona Park, Pen Argyl, PA 18072.

We have made every reasonable attempt to insure that our web pages are educationally sound and do not contain links to any questionable material or anything that can be deemed in violation of the Pen Argyl Area School District Acceptable Use Policy.