Restoration Projects: Rebuilding the

Heart of the Midway

Every nail driven, every gear greased, and every brushstroke applied is a quiet act of devotion.

Introduction

The Kleins don't just repair rides — they honor the mechanical integrity of a bygone era, ensuring the park's soul remains intact for generations to come. Restoration at Bushkill Park is never about making things look "new." It is about preserving the tactile memory of the place: the worn wood, the stubborn gates, and the specific quirks of each ride.

Hilarity Hall (The Bar'l of Fun)

Built in 1918, Hilarity Hall is the oldest funhouse in the United States — a folk-art masterpiece of spinning barrels, tilted floors, and trick mirrors. When many parks demolished such attractions to make room for steel coasters, the Longs doubled down on "folk mechanics," understanding that the simple, physical comedy of a rotating wooden barrel had a timeless appeal.

​

But decades of floods and neglect had taken their toll. When restoration began, the building was filled with mud and debris. Chuck Burnham, a renowned "dark ride artist," helped the Kleins and the owners of the time remove several feet of mud from beneath the legendary spinning barrel. This excavation revealed a large concrete disk — remnants of a 1914 "human roulette table" similar to those at Coney Island, which once flung riders in all directions, creating a sensation described by the Easton Express as "a cross between ecstasy and dizziness."

​

John Klein got the original barrel running, widened the maze for wheelchair access, and updated only the necessary safety parts. Most of the original wood and structure remain.

​

The result is a living, breathing experience. A 93-year-old guest returned to relive his 5th birthday, completing the funhouse and descending the original two-story wooden slide. The wood he touched at 93 was the same wood he had touched at age 5. As The Morning Call observed, "In Bushkill, the wood remembers."

Mom & Pop's Café

An old storefront was converted into Mom and Pop's Café as a diner honoring Mabel B. and Thomas V. Long. The menu and operation intentionally echo the Longs' hospitality — milkshakes piled high, hamburgers flipped with an exacting thumb, hot dogs and hot meals — all reflecting Sue Klein's conviction: "Mom and Pop would have wanted us to feed people."

​

The café is the emotional heart of the park. Sue painstakingly recreated a sense of belonging that bridges the gap between the 1950s and today. As the Lehigh Valley History Project noted, "Sue Klein didn't just want a cafe; she restored a lineage of kindness."

The Carousel Room

Originally home to Fascination Station — a 1918 boardwalk game in which players roll small rubber balls into a 5x5 grid to light a bingo-like sequence — this space was repurposed as a party room in the 1980s and 1990s, filled with inflatables, ball pits, slides, and toys for tots.

​

Today, it is known as the Carousel Room, a rentable banquet hall for parties and events. The Fascination game mechanics (rolling balls into a grid to make five-in-a-row) remain a founding memory, but the room has been transformed into a warm, versatile gathering space.

​

The first significant private event in the Carousel Room was Corinne Pulliam's bridal shower — described as "filled with love and laughter" — an emblem of old becoming new.

The 1928 C.W. Parker Carousel

On July 4, 2023, a restored 1928 C.W. Parker "county fair" carousel was unveiled at Bushkill Park. This model was originally designed in Leavenworth, Kansas, to be disassembled and transported across Midwest fairs. It features 20 hand-painted aluminum horses and two carriages.

​

The carousel was restored over a two-year period, paid for by Fran and Jan McBride, who utilize the carousel to provide vocational training and job opportunities for teenagers residing at the Children's Home of Easton. Beyond its role as an amusement attraction, the carousel serves as a multifaceted platform for these residents:

• Vocational Training: Resident teenagers help operate the park's rides and attractions, gaining tangible, real-world work experience and professional responsibility.

• Life Lessons: Through the restoration process and daily park operations, the McBrides and other volunteers impart core values, emphasizing the importance of preserving traditions and the stewardship of community landmarks.

• Financial Support: All revenue generated by the carousel is directed to support the programs and services of the Children's Home of Easton, a nonprofit organization that provides care for children who cannot live with their families of origin.

The carousel celebrated its grand opening in July 2023 and continues to operate seasonally.

Kiddie Rides and Mechanical Stewardship

Under the Kleins' maintenance, several kiddie rides were managed, inspected, and used to train staff in the art of repair and operation: the Kiddie Cars, Kiddie Boats, Little Beauty Carousel, Helicopter Kiddie Ride, and Kiddie Ferris Wheel. These rides are owned by Sammy Baurkot but maintained by J & S Klein — and John not only fixed the machines, he trained others to do the same, building institutional knowledge for continued operation.

​

• The "Silent Sentinel" Midnight Repair: During the most isolated years, John would often be found in the dead of night, hunched over the motor of the Kiddie Boats. He refused to replace original parts with modern, "soul-less" equivalents if the original could be mended. This level of dedication shows that his work was never about efficiency; it was about honoring the mechanical integrity of a bygone era.

​​

• The "Heritage Hue" Preservation: Sue Klein spent months researching the exact "Bushkill Blue" and "Carousel Cream" pigments used in the early 20th century. By hand-mixing paints to match these historic shades, she ensured the park's rebirth was visually authentic. This "chromatic devotion" created a psychological time-capsule effect for returning visitors, proving that "the Kleins' love is visible in every brushstroke."

​​

• The Legacy Apprenticeship: Recognizing that he is the "last of a breed," John has turned the maintenance shop into a classroom. By training young staff in the "language of vintage machinery," he is ensuring that the park's heart will continue to beat long after his own hands have rested. This gift of knowledge is perhaps his most impactful contribution to the park's future.

The Philosophy Behind the Work

As the National Canal Museum noted, "Small parks like Bushkill rely on these 'living landmarks' to provide the continuity that makes a place feel like home across generations."

​

Every project is guided by a simple question: What would Mom and Pop have wanted? The answer is always the same — to keep the laughter echoing, the carousel turning, and the gates open for everyone who needs a place to belong.

📖Continue Reading

• General Mission & History — The big picture: why Bushkill Park matters and what we're building together.
  Read the Mission & History →

• The Heart of the Midway — The full overview: from trolley park origins to the 2020 surprise reopening.
  Read the Overview →

• The Keepers of the Midway — The Klein family, Elwood Smith, and the human stories behind the restoration.
  Meet the Keepers →

• Rebuilding the Heart — Hilarity Hall, the Carousel, Mom & Pop's Café, and the art of mechanical stewardship.
  Explore the Restoration →

• Floods & Resilience — How the park learned to "speak the creek's language" and outrun the water.
  Read the Flood Story →

• Support Our Mission — How you can help preserve this historic landmark.
  Join the Keepers →

• Further Reading & Resources — Articles, films, archives, and more for those who want to dig deeper.
  Explore the Archive →