For the first time, Idlewild park to offer beer during summer season

Idlewild & SoakZone will sell beer during its regular summer season for the first time, beginning this weekend.

Beer will be available for patrons to purchase in one location initially 一 Mineshaft Kitchen in Hootin’ Holler 一 where it will “pair nicely” with Idlewild’s famous Potato Patch fries, said Jeff Croushore, director of marketing at the park.

The Ligonier Township park has held a liquor license for “many years,” according to Croushore, and is no stranger to offering alcoholic beverages. Beer is usually sold during the Highland Games festival in September, Oktoberfest and Hallowboo events in the fall, and was sold during an over-21 nostalgia night in 2019.

Alcohol servers will be trained and certified in the Responsible Alcohol Management Program, according to Croushore. Park guests are prohibited from bringing adult beverages to Idlewild.

The park is looking at the possibility of offering beer at a second location in SoakZone in the “near future,” Croushore said.

“The industry continues to rebound from the impacts of covid-19 over the last year, and the introduction of beer to summer season operations is simply done as an added revenue stream,” Croushore said. “Sales will be evaluated throughout the season, as we do for all items, to determine if (beer) will remain long-term.”

Croushore said the park recently announced an extended operating schedule. It will be open daily from June 17 through Aug. 23, with weekend hours until Sept. 12. The Highland Games will be held Sept. 18.

Idlewild’s sister parks 一 Kennywood and Sandcastle Water Park 一 have offered adult beverages to patrons for years. Kennywood began offering them almost 10 years ago, and Sandcastle has served alcohol for over 30 years.