In the age of SnapChat and Netflix, it’s not often you get to walk into a place like Hilarity Hall.

Volunteers at Bushkill Park in Forks Township claim it’s the oldest funhouse in America. Nobody knows for sure how old it is. Volunteers found insurance records for the funhouse dating back to 1927. One volunteer believes he could date the facade paint back to 1918. If it’s not the oldest funhouse in America, it’s certainly up there.

For the first time since a flood devastated the park in 2004, the funhouse will open to the public on Sunday.

“It’s not 100%. But it’s 100 years old. It’s never going to be 100%,” cautioned volunteer Sue Klein of Forks Township.

The park has a stable of loyal patrons who remember going there as children, then longing to share the nostalgia with their children and grandchildren. A 120-year birthday celebration for the park is planned for Sunday, July 3. The first 100 visitors will get to walk through the funhouse for free.

“There’s been a lot of interest on Facebook about the funhouse. Everybody asks about it,” said volunteer Fran McBride.

Many of the features haven’t changed, including the rotating barrel tunnel that tries to flip you over as you walk through. The rickety staircase, funny mirrors, hallway of rollers and wooden slide are all still there. The entryway maze was removed and will be replaced eventually. Workers found paintings of old comic-looking figures when they removed the walls.

Klein, 57, of Forks Township, sold tickets at the park when she was 15. The fond memories are what kept her coming back to help, then later encouraged her to help restore the park after a devastating series of floods.

The park opened at a trolley station in 1902. The Bushkill Creek wraps around the park. Floods in 2004, 2005 and 2006 drenched the rides beyond repair. The damaged rides were sold off or disposed of. But volunteers refused to give up on the park.

In 2017 the park hosted its first open house since the floods to reconnect with the community. Thousands of people showed up even though the park had no functioning rides.

By 2019, new kiddie rides were operational. This year, the park has added a tilt-a-whirl and a “merry mixer” to go along with the funhouse.

Part of the park’s appeal is sentimental. Last weekend, Klein chanced upon a kind older couple enjoying ice cream cones.

“They were reminiscing,” she said. “They said ‘We met here, fell in love here and we came back on our anniversary.’ It was sweet.”

Out-of-state transplants fueling the region’s real estate boom are also gradually finding their way to the park. McBride said he met one such former New Jersey resident at a local restaurant. She was stunned and thrilled to learn about the park’s indoor roller rink.

“She’s a big-time roller skater and she had no idea we were over here,” McBride said.

Everybody misses the park carousel, McBride said. It was dismantled and its pavilion roof collapsed in a snowstorm. After years of searching for a suitable replacement, McBride found one on eBay. The 1928 C.W. Parker merry-go-round came to Forks Township via Georgia. It’s an all-weather coaster, so it won’t be necessary to reconstruct the pavilion.

“It’s the perfect carousel for the park,” he said.

It’s being restored piece by piece. McBride hopes to have it operational later this summer.

The park is still flood prone. It flooded again in 2018, although not to the extent of the massive floods earlier this century. People often ask McBride why anyone would even bother to restore the park when it’s so vulnerable to water damage.

McBride said the flood-prone landscape is probably why the parkland wasn’t developed.

“That’s probably what saves this park, because it’s on a flood plain. All the other ones have disappeared,” he said. If the land were elevated higher “there’d be warehouses here probably.”

Volunteers aren’t discouraged. They keep working. And smiling.

“I just love seeing kids happy,” Klein said. “Just handing them an ice cream cone and making them happy makes me happy.”

Find out more about Bushkill Park on its website, bushkillparkandgrove.com, and its Facebook page, Bushkill Park Friends.

120 years

Highlights of the 120-year park birthday celebration set for Sunday, July 3. (Rain date, July 4)

Noon -- First 100 people get free admission to the funhouse

Noon to 8 p.m. -- Car show

Noon to 11 p.m. -- Open skate

2 to 5 p.m. -- Music by The Buzz

5 p.m. -- Crazy hat parade (First prize, free pavilion for 2022; second prize, $50 in ride tickets; third prize, six free skate passes)

6 p.m. -- Time capsule burial

What else is happening?

On the first Friday of every month, Bushkill Park hosts a car show from 4 to 8 p.m.

On the third Friday of every month, “Jeep night is cheap night.” You can buy a wristband for $20 for unlimited skating and rides from 4 to 8 p.m.

The roller rink is open Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The rink is available for birthday parties.

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Rudy Miller may be reached at rmiller@lehighvalleylive.com.