The oldest amusement park in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Idlewild & SoakZone, originally Idlewild Park, is located in Ligonier Township, just west of Ligonier, Pennsylvania.
Founded in 1878, the park was created by Thomas Mellon (founder of what is today Mellon Financial) after Mellon purchased the Ligonier Valley Railroad in 1875. The park was established on land owned by William Darlington.
The park was acquired in 1931 by Idlewild Management Company, owned by Richard B. Mellon and C.C. Macdonald. The Macdonald family fully acquired Idlewild Management Company in 1951, assuming control of the park in the 1952 season. The Macdonald family sold Idlewild Park to Kennywood Park in January 1983.
Kennywood Entertainment sold the entire company to Parques Reunidos, of Spain, in 2007. Idlewild has been part of Parques Reunidos American division, Palace Entertainment.
Idlewild Park was renamed Idlewild & SoakZone when SoakZone was added in 2011.