Dorney Park’s biggest fan shares massive collection of historic items
Ryan Eldredge
|
Dorney Park’s biggest fan and its first ever season passholder opened the doors of his Whitehall home to reveal an absolute treasure trove.
Throughout Reverend Cliff Herring’s town house, which he will soon be leaving behind, you’ll find historic items, priceless memorabilia, and one-of-a-kind souvenirs from his favorite place on Earth, Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom.
“Dorney Park has 140 years of history behind it and not a lot of things last 140 years!” Herring exclaimed as he led Dorney Park’s public relations team to a backroom full of some incredible items, including some of the original heads of the Alfundo the clown mascot.
Herring is best known for being the first in line for Thunderhawk every single season. “Without God we wouldn’t have roller coasters,” Herring said through a smile.
Herring takes great pride in preserving Dorney’s history.
“If Dorney Park came to me and said, ‘we are starting a museum do you have anything to give?’, I would tell them to send the truck over and I will gladly give them everything I have.”
Herring who grew up in Tamaqua making trips to Dorney Park every summer, fell in love when he moved to the region. Over the years he began collecting pieces, both historic and fun.
“I love my model of Hercules and the picture I have of my parents on the train from the first marketing materials,” said Herring as he held an original operator’s manual from Thunderhawk, then called ‘The Coaster’.
Old Dorney Park signs adorned virtually every wall of Herring’s home and his garage was packed with more historic pieces, like the original model of Steel Force.
“Steel Force is probably one of the most underrated roller coasters that is out there,” Herring said as he shuffled through his garage, pulling out old cups and newspaper articles, some of them adorning a familiar face on the front page. “Dorney is a sacred place. People have great, deep, meaningful memories. You would be blown away by the love, friendship, and happiness that has blossomed there.”
Although Herring has to part with a lot of the history he’s gathered over the years, as he prepares for the next stage of life, he’s hopeful that the majority of his collection will find a good home.
“Tell them that they need a museum,” he told the public relations team. “I could fill most of it myself!”
Herring says that he’s thankful for all the memories at Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom and is looking forward to the many more still to come.