The Idora Park Experience is now open at the Tyler History Center noon to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. (Submitted photo)

YOUNGSTOWN –  The Idora Park Experience is now open at the Tyler History Center. This exhibit highlights some of the stories and memories from the beloved Mahoning Valley landmark, Idora Park, and the work of Jim and Toni Amey.

Jim and Toni Amey didn’t set out to start a museum, but their collection of Idora Park artifacts has grown to be one of the most extensive of its kind. Once they realized the significance of what they had created, they knew they had to share it with the public. The Ameys opened The Idora Park Experience, housed in a 4,400-square-foot building on their Canfield property, and welcomed the community to discover or relive the magic of Youngstown’s Idora amusement park.

The Idora Park Experience began as a labor of love. Jim Amey spent a summer working on Idora’s midway, gathering fond memories that fueled his passion for preserving the park’s legacy. He and Toni Amey began collecting pieces of Idora’s past about 30 years ago. As the collection grew, their mission transformed from holding onto childhood memories to saving an important part of the Mahoning Valley’s history.

While few under the age of 50 have memories of Idora, the Ameys are committed to sharing the park’s important history with new generations and audiences. The Idora Park Experience collection will soon become part of a new museum in downtown Youngstown’s east end. 

The exhibit, open in the Tyler History Center’s Youngstown Foundation Community History Gallery, features several memorable pieces, including Fun House mirrors, the Relax-a-lator, signs, and park models. The Tyler History Center is open noon to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.