originally posted on 10/1/2019
Photo: Torrence Jenkins. View full-sized image.
Clementon Park and Splash World (Clementon, New Jersey), one of the oldest traditional amusement parks in the United States (operating since 1907, when it opened as a trolley park), was supposed to be open weekends this fall through September 22. However, in an incident widely reported within the region’s media recently, a family drove to the park on Sunday, September 15, armed with tickets they’d purchased in advance for Clementon’s special-priced and park-promoted “Appreciation Day.” Once there the folks were appreciated with a “park closed” sign and security guards telling them that the place was shut for the season. Subsequently, the family and reporters from the two television stations that interviewed them (Philadelphia’s Fox 29, and ABC’s Channel 6) reached out to the owners/operators of the park. One reporter heard back — an outside marketing company (Clementon Holdings) said the family’s tickets were the only ones sold for the day. The representative said the park was happy to offer a refund. Channel 6 then asked Clementon Holdings for a statement about when the schedule change occurred (that the park would close for the season earlier than had been previously touted), but there has been no response.
Photo: JasonWollenberg. View full-sized image.
Meanwhile, Clementon fans noted that the park’s Instagram account had officially been removed, and even the park’s Facebook page had been taken down. Alhough the park’s website is still accessible, it is not advertising the availability of 2020 season passes, nor has any information been updated in recent weeks — all considered by park observers to be troubling signs for the likelihood of Clementon’s ongoing existence.
Photo: Jeffrey Seifert. View full-sized image.
Photo: Richard Koppelman. View full-sized image.
Meanwhile, another incident occurred in which Clementon was unexpectedly shut down, in this case for a previously scheduled event to be held at the park. Jamie Messenger, who for the prior two years has organized the large-turn-out Clementon Fall Festival in mid-October, learned at the last minute the event was cancelled by the park. Messenger recently remarked to 42-Freeway.com-news (as well as to Channel 6 news, again), “About a month ago, my emails to park management started going unanswered and phone calls weren’t being returned. I dropped off a huge 12-foot banner to be hung on the gates of the park (just like last year), and for two weeks it wasn’t hung. I finally reached out and said I’ll have the Borough hang it.” And that’s when she was finally told what is going on. “I was told that the corporation that owns the park has closed [it] early, and [they] have been looking for buyers for a while. Some interest, but no strong definite buyers so far. Because of this, they had to let it go to bank ownership, which I believe switches over at the end of September.”
Photo: Torrence Jenkins. View full-sized image.
Clementon has been owned by Premier Parks, LLC, which purchased the park in November 2011. Premier has said nothing on the issue of Clementon’s future. However, a source close to the situation indicated there could be a potential sale of Clementon, although it’s too early to speculate, seeming to suggest that if the park ever does reopen, it would likely need to be under new ownership.
Clementon has been home to two coasters most recently: the 2004 wooden Hell Cat (designed by Alan Schilke, built by S&S Worldwide) and Dragon Coaster (a Wisdom Rides, Flying Dragon-model family steelie) relocated to the park this year. Famously, Clementon was home to the Jack Rabbit, a vintage woodie (John A. Miller/Philadelphia Toboggan Company), which ran at the park from 1919 to 2002 before being removed.
— Randy Geisler
@#$%&!
#ACENews