This trolley park's first season presented its guests a bandstand, theater, dance pavilion, a roller coaster, a circle swing, and concession stands.

When a bridge spanning the Mahoning River opened on Youngstown's Market Street on May 23, 1899, the entire South Side was unrolled for development.

During the 1930s, the coaster underwent expansions and structural adjustments.In a bid to attract more visitors for the 1984 season, the park's owners decided to reverse the direction of the Jack Rabbit's trains and rebranded it as the Back Wabbit.

Other attractions included an open air, roofed picnic table area (where attendees could serve food they brought from outside the park) and an old-fashioned automobile pathway which had a self-guiding track but allowed for a minor amount of steering so that even children could feel they were actually driving these low-powered gasoline vehicles.

Radio increased the level of listener sophistication, and Idora Park soon began to hire to big-name bands.

Subsequent decades brought glorious entertainment to the ballroom: dances, concerts, New Year's parties, and Presidential campaign visits from John F. Kennedy.

[citation needed] Additional attractions and features of Idora Park included Kooky Castle, a haunted house; Laffin Lena's, a funhouse (which featured a hall of mirrors); Old Saw Mill, a water boat ride; Tilt-O-Whirl; the Scrambler; the Caterpillar; the Orbit prior to the Scrambler; bumper-cars; a Ferris Wheel; a small passenger train (Idora Express) which traveled through the park; and a spinning ride (The Rockets) with three bus-sized stainless steel open-air rocket ships which were attached by thick cables.

Adjacent to the rocket ride was a french fry stand which was one of the most popular and famous items sold at Idora Park.

Midway games, including a shooting gallery and a penny arcade, were present in several locations of the park along with a miniature golf course.

The overnight loss of nearly 5,000 jobs greatly impacted the Youngstown region's economy and Idora Park directly.

[citation needed] A devastating fire on April 26, 1984 destroyed the Wild Cat roller coaster, the Lost River ride, eleven concession stands, and the park office.

Many off-duty firefighters also responded to the call to help contain flames that spread along the Wild Cat's wooden tracks and threatened the merry-go-round, which was scorched but ultimately saved from destruction.

[5] Firefighters found themselves at a disadvantage with a lack of in-park hydrants, poor water pressure, and aged wooden rides and buildings.

Calvary Pentecostal Church in Youngstown bought the Idora property and announced plans for a religious complex, to be named the "City of God".

Days after the fire, an interview with the property owners stated that they "offered to allow (preservation groups) to take the roller coasters down as long as they funded it and had proper insurance and bonding".

[6] However, on July 26, 2001, the Wild Cat, Jack Rabbit, and all other decaying structures (all unsalvageable) were demolished by bulldozers to prevent any future fires.

Calvary Pentecostal Church restated that: "This future complex (City of God) will only help the entire community but especially youth... hopes to break ground no later than next spring (2002).

"The Mahoning County Common Pleas Court dismissed the delinquent tax case against the owners of the former Idora Park...."[9] The case was dismissed because one of the parties named in the suit, Teen Missions International, Inc. of Merritt Island, Florida, paid the delinquent taxes on behalf of Mt.

Teen Missions has loaned nearly $1.2 million to Mount Calvary over a period of time to help develop the Idora property.

Calvary Church subsequently filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy by February 2017, with the majority of the outstanding debt being related to the delinquent taxes on the Idora Park property.

[10] The Youngstown 2010 redevelopment and city revitalization plans have also stated their interest in acquiring the property to utilize it as a green space extension of nearby Mill Creek Park.

Calvary Church refused to sell the property, though the couple hoped that bankruptcy court would force a sale by public auction.