EARL E CLARK
EARL E CLARK
Year Inducted:
2025
Tired of being on the road so much, in 1958 at age 28, Earl built the Congress Inn on Route 30 in Lancaster PA. With 52 rooms it was the largest motel in the area. Lots of people thought he was crazy but one yar later he added 20 more rooms to keep up with demand. In 1962 he got an offer he couldn’t refuse to purchase the motel, and he took it.
One thing he often heard from motel guests was that there wasn’t enough to do in the area with children. That planted the seed for his next venture.
Earl then purchased 14 acres of land on Route 30 just ½ mile west of the Congress Inn. The parcel was also bordered by Mill Creek on the back side making it the perfect setting. Dutch wonderland opened on this parcel Memorial Day Weekend of 1963. There were only 4 rides. The Train, turnpike, Lady Gay Riverboat and the Whale Boats. There were also numerous exhibits in the park such as the miniature farm and the rocket launch pad.
Earl’s wife Molly worked by his side through his ventures and she admits there were some scary times. She says that she always trusted Earl’s vision and hard work however.
The park was even more successful than my father dreamed so in 1965 he purchased an adjoining 55 acre farm. In 1966 Earl added a Monorail which really put us on the map. Also, that year, the Island of Botanical Gardens and The Old Millstream Camping Manor. More rides followed, and in 1969 the Wax Museum of Lancaster County History made its debut on our complex.
All of this time Dad was also serving on committees and the Board of the local Visitors Bureau. He also served on the state tourism board, and received the “Special Achievement Award” from the Travel Industry Advisory Council of PA.
By the mid to late 70’s Dad was also, getting involved in some outside ventures and investments, so I got a lot more responsibilities. We made a good team and continued to grow the park with rides such as an Arrow Flume ride and the Sky Princess Wooden roller coaster.
Earl passed away in June of 1993, at age 63, due to cancer. My younger brother Brad and I continued to nurture and grow Dutch Wonderland for about 10 years before selling the complex to Hersheypark.
It was a great ride.