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Pee
Wee Valley Amusement Park debuted July 1, 1948 by at Lunken
Airport Playfield by Ferd A. Cleman. The area was originally
developed in October 1935 by the Works Progress Administration
(WPA) who installed water, foundations, horseshoe pits,
baseball field. The area was destroyed by the 1937 flood.
Attractions included a miniature train ride called the Pennsylvania
Pee Wee, a carousel, a Rocket ride and a kiddie jeep ride.
Ferd’s wife, Rosemary, served as general manager.
In
March 1950, Cleman announced that Pee Wee Valley would move
to Reading, Ohio due to constant problems with flooding
from the nearby Ohio River. In June, a pony ride, a new
carousel, a new miniature train ride and hand cars were
added to the park at their new location at 9606 Reading
Road (State Route 42) between St. Peter’s Church and
Cooper Road.
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In
1955, a Teeter Copter was developed and constructed by Clemen
and installed at Pee Wee Valley. His plan was to distribute
the ride to other parks. It cost Cleman $14,000 to build
the ride. The ride consisted of three horsepower engine
moving colored fiberglass copters at 700 feet per minute
for 2 ½ minutes. The copters were equipped with rotor
blades, exhaust pipes and lights.
In
1958, a boat ride, plane ride and miniature golf were added
to the park’s attractions. By 1963, the park featured
go-karts and flying cages
In
1966, Pee Wee Valley closed. Today, the site is the home
of K & K Motors. The car dealer’s office building
is the former concession stand and the only original building
left from the amusement park era.
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