Cascade Park
Cascade Park in New Castle, Pennsylvania, began its life as a classic “trolley park,” an amusement destination created in 1897 by the New Castle Traction Company to boost weekend streetcar ridership. At its peak, the park was a regional marvel, with trolleys shuttling up to 7,200 people an hour to its gates to enjoy its roller coaster, grand dance pavilion, and scenic lake. This direct link to the streetcar line made it one of western Pennsylvania’s most bustling leisure destinations, a legacy that remains etched into the park’s landscape even after the rides fell silent.
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Roller Coaster
Cascade Park in New Castle, PA, featured several notable roller coasters during its long history as an amusement park. The first major roller coaster, built in 1903 and sometimes referred to as the “Gorge” due to its path through the park’s ravine, was a wooden structure with about 1,700 feet of track, beginning its ride
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Dancing Pavilion
The pavilion at Cascade Parks was originally known as the dance pavilion, and it held the distinction of being the largest dance pavilion in Pennsylvania when it was built in 1898. Situated just north of the park’s signature falls, the pavilion stands on an elevated site and initially measured 70 by 152 feet, with a
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Outdoor Theater
Opened on May 29, 1897, originally known as Brinton Park before being renamed through a naming contest in honor of its cascading waterfall. It was purchased by the New Castle Traction Company, which developed it into a popular amusement and excursion park, attracting visitors from western Pennsylvania and eastern Ohio. The park featured many attractions
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Bathing Scene
Bathing Scene at Cascade Park, New Castle, PA
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View of Cascade Park
View of bridge and picnicers at Cascade Park, New Castle, PA
