Growing up in North Fayette, Pennsylvania, Roy Todd didn’t wasn’t born into a family who owned or operated an amusement park.  At a young age, Todd found employment working as a coal miner and later spent the war years as a welder at Westinghouse Electric where he built electric switch gear boxes.  In 1949, Todd, his wife Catherine “Kate”, sister Margaret “Marge” and her husband Edward Kleeman built and opened the Crafton Diner on Route 60 and later Pittsburgh Motel.  Over time, the business partnership began to blossom and Roy Todd envisioned expanding the operations.  In 1953, Todd and his sister sold the diner and motel and purchased 47 acres on what is now I-376 and Route 60 on the border of Findlay and Moon Townships.

This was the beginning of White Swan Park, a small family-oriented amusement park.  The property which was purchased had a swamp that was drained and, in its place, where three lakes, concreate and numerous picnic shelters.  The name White Swan Park was selected because Todd envisioned the lakes featuring swans but those plans never occurred due to swans becoming birds of prey for local wildlife.  The name itself came from Ed Kleeman who simply liked white swans.

When White Swan Park opened to the public in 1955, north of Pittsburgh, only a handful of rides, a few games and food stands were on site.  It took several years to develop the property, and while the park was always business on weekends, the small family ownership and operations team worked diligently to build business during the week.  In addition to his sister and brother in law, the park was managed by George Bodnar who previously worked at nearby West View Park.

In 1963, a miniature golf course was added to the far end of the park.  Even though the park was only open Tuesday through Sunday, the miniature golf was open 7 days a week.  Three years later in 1966, the park opened what was dubbed “The longest train ride in the tri-state” area.

Over the years, White Swan Park grew to host 15 rides, all of which were purchased new, a well-rounded game operation (which included a popular Game Pavilion), and group sales business.  While White Swan Park remained a small operation, it had a reputation in the local community as a local fun summer spot and known for its group picnics, especially those of the local Boilmakers, Fraternal order of Pittsburgh Police.  Annual attendance to the park was estimated at roughly 150,000.

The business was run ever so tightly that Todd himself very rarely left the property, in large part because he lived on the property.  Roy Todd was a quiet individual, but a determined businessman.  His years of experience working in and around machinery proved critical as he not only oversaw ride maintenance but facility maintenance and park operations. After a fire destroyed the original game pavilion and roof the parks carousel, Todd built on his own a pavilion for the ride and games building for parks Skee-Ball alleys.

When the possibly of a new Pittsburgh International Airport became reality, White Swan Park was left in the middle of a new planned highway and interchange project.  Roy Todd and his sister Marge considered moving the park and decided to retire from the business.