Outdoor Exploration
Visit Pendora Park
Walk Pendora Park in East Reading. The park sits below the 1927 Lindbergh Viaduct, the first concrete viaduct built on a curve in the United States.
- Duration:
- 1 hr
Photo coming soon
Outdoor / Natural Site
Pendora Park
Reading City Park Below the 1927 Lindbergh Viaduct
19th and Perkiomen Avenue, Reading, PA 19606
Wheelchair Accessible
Research-Backed · 4sources
Age
All Ages
Cost
Free
Free public park access.
Access
Wheelchair OK
Paved park paths; some grassy areas
Equipment
Photos OK
Est. 1907 · Original 1907 commercial amusement park · Lindbergh Viaduct (1927) - first concrete viaduct on a curve in the U.S.
Pendora Park's first identity was as a commercial amusement park. It opened to the public on July 25, 1907 as a 14-acre park bordered by 18th Street, Mineral Spring Road, Forest Street, and 19th Street. The original park included a lagoon (converted from Sweeney's Ice Dam), an 8-building amusement complex called 'the white city,' a roller skating rink, a bowling alley, a Shoot-the-Chutes water slide, a penny arcade, ice cream parlors, and a merry-go-round.
A major fire on January 3, 1911 destroyed most of the amusement park, leaving only a band shell and the merry-go-round. The amusement park did not reopen. After a 1917 thunderstorm caused a flood that burst the ice dam, the City of Reading purchased the land in 1918 and converted it into a city playground. The park has retained the Pendora Park name.
The Lindbergh Viaduct was constructed across the park in 1927 to provide an additional eastern entrance to Reading. The viaduct was designed by Berks County Engineer Charles F. Sanders and is recognized as the first concrete viaduct built on a horizontal curve in the United States, with construction costing approximately $470,000. The viaduct forms a dramatic backdrop to the park and has, over the decades since its construction, been the site of fatal falls.
Sources
- https://berkshistory.org/article/mineral-spring-park-pendora-park-the-zoo-of-the-city-of-reading-and-removal-of-animals-to-memorial-park-williamsport-pennsylvania/
- https://goreadingberks.com/the-lindbergh-viaduct/
- https://goreadingberks.com/pendora-park-the-great-white-city/
- https://goreadingberks.com/park-and-garden-entertainment-era-of-reading-pa/
Sounds resembling distant calling or crying near the viaductSense of being watched in the park at duskBrief figure-sightings near the viaduct's footings
Pendora Park's haunted reputation is anchored to the Lindbergh Viaduct that arcs above its eastern edge. The viaduct has, across its nearly 100-year history, been the site of fatal falls, and Reading-area local tradition associates the park below with quiet auditory phenomena interpreted as sounds of distress.
Reports collected over the years include sounds resembling distant calling or crying near the underside of the bridge, occasionally described as voices and occasionally as wind-like effects; a sense of being watched in the park during early evening hours; and brief sightings of figures glimpsed near the viaduct's footings. These reports are typical of the kind of layered atmosphere that very old transportation bridges over public parks tend to acquire, and visitors should treat them as part of the local oral tradition rather than as a programmed attraction.
The city park itself is a normal daytime recreational space, and the reported phenomena are not associated with the playground or the original 1907 amusement-park footprint.
Plan Your Visit
1 way to experienceSources & Further Reading
Every HauntBound history is researched from documented sources. We clearly separate verified historical fact from paranormal folklore.
- 1.berkshistory.org/article/mineral-spring-park-pendora-park-the-zoo-of-the-city-of-reading-and-removal-of-animals-to-memorial-park-williamsport-pennsylvania
- 2.goreadingberks.com/the-lindbergh-viaduct
- 3.goreadingberks.com/pendora-park-the-great-white-city
- 4.goreadingberks.com/park-and-garden-entertainment-era-of-reading-pa
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Pendora Park family-friendly?
Family-friendly daytime city park. The associated tradition involves people who have fallen or jumped from the viaduct above; this context should be acknowledged but not dramatized. Overall family fit: Moderate.
How much does it cost to visit Pendora Park?
Free public park access. This location is free to visit.
Do I need to book in advance?
No advance booking is required, but checking availability is recommended.
Is Pendora Park wheelchair accessible?
Yes, Pendora Park is wheelchair accessible. Terrain: Paved park paths; some grassy areas.