DelGrosso's Park is a family-oriented amusement park located in Tipton, Pennsylvania, a northern suburb of Altoona, Pennsylvania. The park was purchased by the DelGrosso family in 1946 and was named "Bland's Park" until 2000. In 2000, the DelGrosso family decided to change its name to "DelGrosso's Amusement Park." The park is known for its family-friendly ride line-up, food, and games as well as free parking. The park hosts picnics and special music events in its pavilion/picnic area.
History
Formerly known as Bland's Park until 2000, the small family-friendly amusement park is located in Tipton, in Blair County, Pennsylvania. Altoona railroad businessman, Fred DelGrosso, purchased the amusement park in 1946. DelGrosso's Park was originally opened by the Rinard brothers on the Blands' family farm in 1907. The park fell into disrepair during the Great Depression. It was purchased in 1946 by Fred DelGrosso, at which time only a few picnic shelters remained. The DelGrosso family has continued to invest in the park with various additions and improvements and continues to operate it today. The DelGrosso family is also the founder of DelGrosso Foods, Inc. DelGrosso Foods produces and distributes pizza sauce, spaghetti sauce, spaghetti noodles, and other Italian specialty items.
The current park
The park includes more than 30 rides, numerous games, food venues, and an adjacent waterpark. The park provides rides for both adults and children with an extensive kiddie-land, pavilions, and catering amenities. The park hosts several annual events throughout the year. The “Summer Thunder” fireworks show for the 4th of July is a highlight of the park's season. Other events include the Native American Pow Wow, Italian Festival, and Harvestfest which is a fall festival held in September to close out the season. The park also hosts "Spaghetti Wednesday" which features a special Italian dish each Wednesday during the summer. Laguna Splash is an Italian themed waterpark that opened in 2016. Laguna Splash was an expansion of the park's existing waterpark amenities of a new wave pool, lazy river, and a variety of water features including a scale version of the Leaning Tower of Pisa, and tipping buckets and vases. The Laguna Splash Water Park also features 12 Cabanas that can be rented on a daily basis when the water park is in operation. The water park is open seven days a week, typically 11 AM to 7 PM from approximately the end of May to mid-September. The park resides on both sides of Old Route 220 with Laugna Splash and parking on the southeast side of the road, while park-side resides on the northwest side of the road. There is a wheelchair-accessible walking bridge connecting both sides of the park over Old Route 220. Ride and water park passes may be purchased on either side of the park. At the beginning of each day, the park salutes the United States with "The Star Spangled Banner". At this time, everything in the park is halted as the national anthem is played.
Roller coasters
After the 2003 season, the park sold its Pinfari "Zyklon" roller coaster, installed in 1987, to Blue Diamond Park. This coaster replaced a smaller steel mini-coaster known for jumping the track every third lap. A Reverchon "Crazy Mouse" was installed in its place in 2004. In the same year, a Fajume "Wacky Worm" kiddie coaster was added to the park. In 2006, the park purchased the "Revolution," an Arrow Dynamics loop and corkscrew, from Libertyland for $55,000 USD at auction. The coaster has since been purchased by Gloria's Fantasyland in the Philippines and is no longer on site as of June 2019.
A water-play structure opened in 1997 as the first part of the water-park, showcasing small slides and a tipping-bucket
Laguna Slides :
A water slide complex opened in 1999 with five slides on two towers called the Red Tower and Green Tower. Red Tower
Midnight Express:
A mostly enclosed slide. It is the only enclosed slide of the five.
Great White:
A wide "double-dip" slide that usually makes the passenger's rafts going down spin.
Gravity Groove:
A slide that has a hair-pin curve and a dip and an uphill section. Riders must weigh 140 lbs. combined to ride so they can make it over the hill. Green Tower
Twin Twisters:
Two identical slides that are the tallest of the slides. On the slide, you race the person on the other Twister slide on a toboggan-style mat.
Wave Oceano
Opened in 2016, a large, six-foot-deep Wave pool at the far end of the water park
River Lazio
Opened in 2016, a winding Lazy river attraction that offers both a relaxing and wild experience
