Thrills of a century

Posted December 20, 2007 by Tom Wilk

They once proliferated in South Jersey, with names like Almonesson Park, Grenloch Park, and Tumbling Dam Park. But family-owned amusement parks largely have gone the way of rotary telephones and eight-track tapes.

One happy exception is Clementon Amusement Park and Splash World, a Camden County landmark that celebrates its 100th anniversary this year.

To stay in business this long reflects a willingness to try new things, says chief executive officer Larry Baker, whose family purchased the park in 1977.

“I’ve changed every ride in the park since then,” said Baker. Most notable was the arrival of the J2 in 2004, a 55-mph roller coaster that climbs to 100 feet and takes its passengers through a “very intense” helix. That coaster, built of steel with wooden tracks, replaced the wooden Jack Rabbit roller coaster that had been in operation for 83 years.

At Splash World, opened in 1993, popular rides include Vertical Limit, where six people at a time race downward on mats, and a Rapids Ride with giant tubes.

On Memorial Day weekend, Clementon starts a festive year that includes a daily show with about seven trained bears. Beginning in July, on Monday nights cars with at least six passengers will be admitted for $10 per person, instead of the usual $21.95.

“Everything is themed to the 100th anniversary. It’s going to be a party,” Baker says.

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