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Downtown Youngstown will be home to the Idora Park Museum

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In a historic announcement, the Mahoning Valley Historical Society (MVHS) and Jim and Toni Amey, owners of The Idora Park Experience, have reached an agreement for MVHS to acquire the beloved and significant Idora Park artifact collection.

A press conference was held on Monday, September 30 at 9:30 AM at the future home of the Idora Park Museum, 250 E. Federal Street, where MVHS Executive Director Bill Lawson and Jim and Toni Amey officially signed the agreement. The event also featured discussions about the acquisition process and plans for developing an exhibit showcasing the collection and the history of Idora Park.

"The vision is very clear. We need to engage our architect in planning the structural changes that will need to happen to create the museum space. We will need to hire an exhibit design firm to work with us on creating. We’re taking our vision and putting it into a plan that we can actually create that space and have a budget in place so we know what we need to do," said Bill Lawson, Mahoning County Historical Society executive director.

The collection includes a variety of items from Idora Park's storied past, such as vintage rides, games, and memorabilia. These artifacts will be on display at the new museum, providing visitors with a glimpse into the park's history.

The owners of the Idora Park Experience said although they are excited to see what becomes of the museum, giving their donation is a bittersweet moment.

"We’ve always wanted it in the community, we’ve always wanted it to be interactive, and for us, the historical society was our prime choice, which is why we worked so hard with them through the years," said Toni Amey, Idora Park experience co-owner.

It's expected to take 25 months to get the museum up and running. So far, only $2.4 million of the total $11 million needed has been raised. The society said they plan on raising the rest through fundraisers and donations.  You can always donate to the project on the Mahoning Valley Historical Society's website.

Idora Park, once a beloved amusement park in Youngstown, was devastated by a fire in 1984. Its closure marked the end of an era for the city, but the memory of the park lives on through its artifacts and the stories they tell.

In 2013 Jim and Toni built a 4,400-square-foot building next to their home on Turner Road in Canfield to house the collection of Idora Park artifacts and in April of 2014, 30 years after the fire that destroyed Idora Park, they welcomed over 1,000 people to the grand opening weekend of The Idora Park Experience.

Because of local zoning issues, the museum only opened a few days each year but has had more than 10,000 visitors to date and enjoys a large social media following.

In November 2023 MVHS purchased the former IBM building in Youngstown's east end to display the Idora artifacts.


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