Brandywine Springs Amusement Park by MikeOtt

Brandywine Springs Amusement Park
by MikeOtt

Route 41 (also known as Newport/Gap Pike) crosses the Kirkwood Highway near Price's Corner. As it does the geography changes drastically. The road drops down a steep hill then starts climbing another equally steep hill. But these two hills are just the beginning. As you reach the top of this second hill you discover another steep descent followed by another steep climb. At the top of this 4th hill, on the right, is a county park called Brandywine Springs. A quick right hand turn takes you down a short road leading to its parking lot.

Looking at this park today you see large open fields, a few pavilions, and, in the background, a forested area. It looks nothing like the image in this picture. Yet, a bit more than a century ago this is what was here.

This picture shows the dance hall and the lake that was in the area near the present parking lot. Bridges allowed for crossing the lake and there were boats available for rent for those who wished to paddle from island to island in the lake. But all this was at the "back" of the park. This main area was down at the bottom of a hidden hill and was a very large amusement park.

Back at the turn of the 20th century trolley cars would bring patrons from the city of Wilmington out to the park. If you look closely at the picture above you can see some of the trolley tracks. Much of the park was in the area that is now forest. And to find the cache that Mike Ott has hidden here, you will need to find the location of the original entrance to this park. Be prepared for some hiking and some climbing.

This is the area you are trying to find. The picture on the left shows the entrance arch. Just beyond it was a fun house, pony rides, one of the first roller coasters, a movie theater, a restaurant and many other amusements. The trolleys from Wilmington would stop here so patrons could enter through this arch. The picture on the right shows how this same area looks today. The white poles were placed there by a group called the "Friends of Brandywine Springs". The poles are in the exact spot where the arch stood and are set at the exact spacing as the original arch. Just beyond the poles is all that is left of the path way leading into the former amusement park. The "Friends" have also placed signs throughout the area to help visitors "find" where the long vanished amusements were located. Archeological digs are held here regularly by the "Friends" and many artifacts have been found. And, since this was once such a popular spot, many photographs exist that show what this area used to look like.

What happened to this park? The automobile was invented and a man named Henry Ford found a way to make them affordable by the average worker. Once families could "drive" anywhere they wished, attendance at the park began to fall. The last operating season for the park was 1922. In 1923 the owners chose not to open it. It was abandoned. Over the years the rides were vandalized and the buildings fell into ruins. The forrest took over.

As you search for Mike Ott's cache you will be walking "through" the arch and along the path that formerly led to the amusement area. But as with most Mike Ott caches, he has supplied an interesting challenge for you. He notes: "Since this is in a deep valley with lots of trees and jumping co-ordinates this search will be slightly different. You need to bring a compass. The co-ordinates should put you in the exact center of the entrance gate for the amusement park--or at least where it used to be. That should be easy to find if you read the signs about the park. The cache is not there, but close. Standing in the middle of the "gate" go 40-45 paces on a 320 deg magnetic compass bearing, or the best you can considering the obstructions."

And, just as with many other Mike Ott caches, there's a trick lurking here. Seems that there's a letterbox hidden near here also. If you're not sure what a letterbox is, it's another kind of hide and find activity. Unless you are very accurate with your compass heading and count off just the right number of paces, you may find this:

This is the letterbox log. Put it back and try again.

Oh, yes. If you are trying to find this cache on the weekend, especially during the afternoon, you might also encounter another reminder from the past. The Wilmington and Western Railroad tracks run through this area of the park. On the weekends they run their diesel or steam trains several times a day. So don't go near the train tracks.

The log for this cache site shows 84 entries. Most of them are from folks who have been successful making the find. Many also express surprise upon discovering this area and learning of what was once here. Those who have done several of Mike Ott's caches know that this is one of his features. A Mike Ott cache is often a challenge, a lot of fun, and a learning experience. As you are walking through this dense forrest, listen closely. Can you still hear the echoes of the happy children and their parents out for a day's fun at the amusement park? Will Disney World one day look like this too?

For those who want to know more about this area and the park, contact the Friends of Brandywine Springs.