Our History
Formerly Bland's Park (1900s to 2000)
Editor's Note
From the early 1900s until 2000, DelGrosso’s Amusement Park was known by the name of the family farm on which it was founded and was called Bland's Park. On November 1, 2000, after more than 50 years of ownership and management by the DelGrosso Family, Bland’s Park became DelGrosso’s Amusement Park.
Beginnings
Est. 1907
The Bland Family farm
Generations of families from across Pennsylvania have special memories of DelGrosso’s Amusement Park. Since its beginnings around the turn of the century, the Park has been a source of family entertainment.
The Rinard brothers first entertained the public on the Bland Family farm in 1907 when they brought their carnival to Tipton. Twelve years later, Fred Bland opened the park, which consisted of a small dance floor and a picnic grove.
1946
Fred and Mafalda DelGrosso
Altoona railroader Fred DelGrosso believed that he and his wife, Mafalda, could give new life to the Park. He bought the amusement park in 1946 and almost immediately began improvements. During the next decade, the Park was reborn!
Under Fred DelGrosso’s guidance, the amusement park grew to include adult and kiddie rides, new concession stands, and new restrooms.
The park was growing and so was the DelGrosso Family. Fred and Murf’s seven sons and daughters, along with their husbands and wives, joined in cooking the food, running the rides, and hosting reunions, company picnics, and family outings.
Antique Carouselle
made in the 1920s
The pride and joy of DelGrosso’s Amusement Park is the antique Carouselle.
It was manufactured in the 1920s by the artisans at the Herschell-Spillman Company of North Tonawanda, NY.
The 36 hand-carved carousel horses are considered true antiques. The park’s machine is one of only 30 carousels left in Pennsylvania and one of less than 70 remaining in the United States.
1980s
The Big Improvements
New rides, concession stands and safety features
The DelGrosso Family embarked on a multimillion-dollar improvement plan in the 1980s.
New rides were added, and an elaborate concession stand and gift shop were built.
The safety of guests was further enhanced in 1989 when the DelGrosso Family built a crosswalk over U.S. Route 220.
1990s
The Expansion
Golf Course & Altoona-Tipton Speedway
The 90s saw great expansion at DelGrosso’s Amusement Park. The family fun experience was enhanced by the addition of Championship Miniature Golf and the Altoona-Tipton Speedway.
The golf course, exclusively designed for Tipton, featured an 18-hole course, a 22-foot mountain featuring a five-tier waterfall, a swinging bridge, a cave and numerous water hazards.
The Altoona-Tipton Speedway Go-Kart track embraced the spirit of the past with fun technology. The track featured 20 go-karts. The golf course and go-kart track were removed in 2015 to make room for a major water park expansion project.
1997
Water Attractions
Tipton Waterworks
Water attractions made their debut in Tipton for the first time in 1997. The Tipton Waterworks features two slides, directional sprays, fountains, and water-spouting mushrooms. A HUGE bucket fills with water and tips every 10 minutes, dumping hundreds of gallons of water onto the waiting crowds!
The Tipton Waterworks was the first phase of a multi-faceted water park. Two years later, the five exciting slides of the Tipton Rapids opened. Gravity Groove, Midnight Express, Great White, and the Twin Twisters have become the Summer destination of thousands of fun and sun-seekers.
Events
Music & Family Entertainment
Whether you enjoy country music, Christian contemporary music, Native American dancing, or family entertainment, DelGrosso’s Amusement Park offers family entertainment in a variety of ways through a variety of shows around the park. Concerts take place on our large permanent stage (built in the 80s), the free concerts have become a prominent part of summer fun.
Famous Food
America’s Best Amusement Park Food
DelGrosso’s Amusement Park is known as the home of America’s Best Amusement Park Food.
Each summer season, park guests feast on appetizing sandwiches, “Murf’s” potato salad, handmade pizza, and other delicious foods made fresh each day.
September is always an exciting month in Tipton. An Italian Food Festival highlights the family’s ethnic roots and also serves as a fundraising venue for many area organizations. For more than a dozen years, the season ends with the very popular Harvestfest.
Fundraising
For Non-Profits
The DelGrosso Family has long been recognized for its generosity. Annually, dozens of non-profit groups have benefited from fundraising events held at the park.
Tradition
4th of July Summer Thunder
Rozzi fireworks
Who doesn’t like fireworks? Since the first time Fred DelGrosso invited the famous Rozzi fireworks family of Loveland, Ohio, to Tipton, July 4th has always been spectacular. Today, the third generation DelGrosso and Rozzi Families continue that tradition.
Summer Thunder is viewed by tens of thousands of people every year. The shells for Summer Thunder are custom-designed to match a music soundtrack which is broadcast live on Froggy 98.1 Radio.
2016
The Water Park Expansion
The DelGrosso Family is continuing its commitment to affordable family fun in the region and is looking forward to a major expansion in 2016.
Laguna Splash Water Park opened in 2016. The $12.5 million expansion project includes a new grand entrance area, ticket booths, five new food stands, a lazy river, and a wave pool complex.
The once-small picnic grove in Tipton has grown into a full-scale family amusement center that still features family entertainment at reasonable prices, free admission, free parking, and free live entertainment.