Castle Rock Park or Castle Rocks Park

Castle Rock was a popular 33-acre amusement park where folks gathered for music and summer merriment in the cool picnic grove along Crum Creek. In 1848, West Chester Turnpike Company began running a horsecar line from Philadelphia to West Chester and later installed trolley cars.

The rock formation was an early tourist destination, so much so that the Philadelphia and West Chester Traction Company built a trolley line from 63rd Street out to an amusement park that they created at Castle Rock. A 1902 news article described what was there: "The cave and the rocks which were the hiding places and fortifications of Fitzpatrick during the long period of his depredations in the Revolutionary War have been made easy of access by shaded walks and are visited by thousands of curious persons. Fishing, dancing, merry go-rounds, shuffle boards and other games are delighting visitors. The Park has a fine restaurant. It is an enjoyable ride on the Philadelphia and West Chester trolley line to Castle Rock."

CREDITS: Newtown Square Historical Society and Library_____________