A park that opened more than 150 years ago still continues to evolve to please customers.
Trout Pond Park opened in 1854, Frank Pidcoe, the current owner, said.
Since then, a skating rink opened in the 1930s and a new skating rink replaced it in 1999.
Article Photos
MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette
Patrons enjoys skating at Trout Pond Park in Hughesville.
Back in the 1950s, amusement park rides entered the property.
Pidcoe bought the park on May 1, 2009, because it was the place where he grew up and he wanted to share the experience with others when the previous owners no longer wanted to run it.
"I started skating in the old skating rink when I was 2 years old," he said. "I grew up here."
The previous owners, Paul and Agatha Guisewhite, sold the property to someone from Reading, who did not keep it for long before the Guisewhites once again were in possession of it.
"They knew they were looking for another buyer," he said. "I twisted their arms and here I am."
Numerous pictures of what the park used to look like are displayed in the area where people rent roller skates. One shows a large group sitting by a stage. Pidcoe said all of the big companies visited on Sundays for company picnics.
In 1978, the owners at the time shut down the amusement park rides and sold them because the insurance cost too much money. Pidcoe said one of his goals for the park is to run the amusement park rides again one day.
Another goal for Pidcoe is to return the train to the park that it once had.
"I want to keep it family oriented," he said. "I want it to be a safe place for kids to come in."
One thing that has not changed throughout the park's long history is the fish. People still can fish for trout in the namesake's pond. Bands also still play on the stage where they used to play and the dance hall can be rented out for parties.
Other services still provided are miniature golf, picnic pavilions and primitive camping.
During the first Saturday of the month in warmer seasons, Trout Pond Park hosts a flea market.
The best part of owning the skate park for Pidcoe is not having to listen to someone in charge.
"I like being my own boss," he said.
Pidcoe also knows more of the regular skaters by name and they certainly also remember him.
"I know almost all of them," he said. "I may forget from time to time, but they remember me."
For Pidcoe, there are two main reasons to skate.
"It's good fun," he said. "That's the thing about it. It's also good exercise. You burn 360 calories every half-hour."
There are five open skating schedules at the park. On Sunday, skating hours are 2 to 5:30 p.m. On Tuesday, skating hours are 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. On Wednesday, skating hours are 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. On Thursday, which is adult night for ages 18 and over, skating hours are 7 to 10:30 p.m. On Saturday, skating hours are 7:30 to 10:30.
Pidcoe said the music played during the different skating hours targets the majority's taste. Organ music and rock and roll usually play Tuesday, while the top 40s usually play Saturday.
The size of the crowds varies between the days. Tuesday morning, Pidcoe said about 25 people skate.
"Wednesdays are hit or miss," he said.
Between 40 and 60 people arrive Thursday. On Saturday, about 60 people skate.
As the temperatures drop and nighttime arrives sooner, Pidcoe said the skating rink becomes more popular.
"The summer months are slower," he said. "There's stuff to do outside. There are diehard regulars. For them, it doesn't matter what the weather is outside."
He said children as young as two can skate, just as he did, and the oldest skater is almost 90.
