William D. Evans Sr., left, and guests enjoying the roller coaster at West Point Park, right.
A special memorial program will be held Wednesday, Dec. 4, in honor of William D. Evans Sr., long-time co-owner and manager of West Point Park, who died Sept. 21, 2019, at age 91.
Friends of Evans and the park are invited to a meet-and-greet at the Upper Gwynedd Firehouse, 660 Garfield Avenue, West Point, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The program will feature a slide show and a sharing of memories of the man and the park.
Evans, along with in-laws Edward and Howard Booz, entered the amusement park business in 1953 when they leased Forest Park in Chalfont. A few years later, they purchased West Point Park in Upper Gwynedd. West Point Park was built in the post-Civil War years as a summer retreat by its namesake, Hezekiah Zieber. Over the years it was renamed and grew into a small amusement park.
Forest Park closed in 1964, but West Point Park flourished under Evans’ management as a favorite local venue known for its kid-friendly rides, family-like atmosphere and low prices, especially on special $1 nights. It also became a popular spot for annual company and church picnics.
The park, located between Garfield Avenue and Park Road just east of Broad Street, closed in 1989.
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