A predecessor to Lehigh Valley Transit Co. built an
amusement park on the border of Allentown (Rittersville) and Bethlehem
in 1892. After a devastating fire in 1951 which destroyed the
Derby Racer coaster, carousel and theatre the park was closed.
Most of the park was obliterated by the construction of a car
dealership, retirement high rise apartments and a beverage distributor.
Some traces remain in the woods.
I grew up in the Rittersville section of Allentown in the 1970s and my grandfather used to take me on nature walks in the woods that were Central Park. Back then it was possible to find an occasional artifact and spot foundations in the underbrush. I had not thought about the area much until recently when I heard that the area was being rezoned for development. In fact, apartments/townhouses are planned for the area where the surviving footers of the Derby Racer are located.
This is part of an ongoing personal photo-archeaological project. This page will be updated as I gather more information regarding the locations of ruins found in the park. I also have some old postcards from the park which I will eventually scan and where appropriate will post them side by side with current views.
USGS topographical map of area (left)
Bethlehem PA political map (right)
I grew up in the Rittersville section of Allentown in the 1970s and my grandfather used to take me on nature walks in the woods that were Central Park. Back then it was possible to find an occasional artifact and spot foundations in the underbrush. I had not thought about the area much until recently when I heard that the area was being rezoned for development. In fact, apartments/townhouses are planned for the area where the surviving footers of the Derby Racer are located.
This is part of an ongoing personal photo-archeaological project. This page will be updated as I gather more information regarding the locations of ruins found in the park. I also have some old postcards from the park which I will eventually scan and where appropriate will post them side by side with current views.
Starting at the East end
Just off Florence Ave. on
the Bethlehm side is Eastern boundary of the park. This is also
where the Derby Racer roller coaster was located. New home
construction and expansion of the Benett car dealership are
obliterating evidence. There used to be a ball park just North of
here up into the early 1980s but now there is a large storage lot for
the car dealer <sigh>.
Derby Racer Coaster, May 2004
East side of park at Florence Ave. in
Bethlehem. New home construction is encroaching and these footers
are just off to the West of a new home's side yard. Taken with Kiev 4A, Jupiter 12 f2.8
35mm. Film was Kodak BWC400, commercial processing and scan.
Derby Racer Coaster area, June 2004
Derby Racer Coaster area, June 2004
Same area a month later. Taken with Kiev 60TTL and Mir-26b f3.5 45mm.
Redevelopment begins!
After several months I was able to wander the woods again at the end of November 2004. I found that some clear cutting of trees started and that many of the old Derby Racer footers were gone. The remaining footers were spray painted bright orange, I suppose so that equipment operators wouldn't get fouled up with them.
Derby Racer, November 2004
Taken with Zorki-C and Jupiter-8 f2.0 50mm lens.
Down the main concourse
Directly behind the Banko Beverage
distributor and the Central Park senior high-rise would be the South
end of the main concourse.
Main Concourse, behind the Central Park Senior High-Rise, June 2004
Carousel pilings, May 2004
Part
of the
carousel building at the bottom of a slope.. Located just south of the Central Park Senior
Apartments. Same camera data as above.
Pathway to ?, May 2004 |
 |
 |
Three more shots of the down slope supports for the carousel building. November 2004
Pathway heading West, located South of
the concrete
ruins. Same camera data as above.
West End
The west end of the park featured a
scenic outlook over the State Hospital agricultural fields. The
overlooks are overgrown now and nothing can be seen from the former
park area. The fields are still there, but now are all open grass
land as farming stopped long ago.
Maxwell House, June 2004
Near the old scenic lookout.
Minesweeper, June 2004
Near the old scenic lookout.
West boundary fence, June 2004
For more on Central Park, check this page at Defunct Parks