CANFIELD, Ohio - The Idora Park Experience Museum at 4450 S. Turner Road in Canfield will be open to the public on Saturday, May 19th and Sunday, May 20th from 10 a.m.- 5 p.m.

The owners are hoping that this opening could help them find a historical park item they have been on the hunt for. 

Representatives for the museum say that the Idora Park Experience is a private museum dedicated to everything 'Idora Park'. Their mission is to find, rescue, restore and share Idora Park artifacts and to keep alive the memories of Youngstown's Idora Park amusement park, which existed from 1899 - 1984.  

When Idora Park was up and running as an amusement park, it had a famous rollercoaster named the Wildcat. Owner of the Idora Park Experience, Jim Amey, says that this rollercoaster was one of the most treasured rides at the park.

For years now Jim Amey and his wife Tony have scoured the United States in search of Idora Park artifacts. 

Mr. Amey says that their most recent venture has been to restore one of three trains that belonged to the famed Wildcat roller coaster.

So far the couple has four of the five cars that belong on the train, and now they are eager to find the fifth and final car.

"With the acquisition of the fourth Wildcat car last week we are only one car away from having a full Wildcat train. Idora's Wildcat Rollercoaster had three trains with five cars each", said Amey.  "I think it would be incredible for the community to see a whole Wildcat train in one place." 

The Amey's are hoping that when The Idora Park Experience Museum opens this weekend they will get a lead on the whereabouts of that fifth Wildcat car. 

"Every time we're open, people come from all around to tell us about the items they have or that they know someone else has. It's a goldmine of information for us", said Toni Amey. 

The Amey's say that when the museum opens to the public it is also a time when people are more likely to donate an artifact, rather than sell it. 

"It's great when people walk up and say, 'I have this Idora item and I'd like to donate it'", said Jim, "We've funded this out of our pockets and it hasn't always been easy. Every artifact donated helps us to get another artifact - maybe even that fifth Wildcat car."

The entrance fee for the museum is $5.00 and helps to offset the costs of growing and maintaining the collection. 

Representatives for the museum say that visitors will enjoy experiencing:

• Four Wildcat cars;

• A Jack Rabbit coaster car;

• A Rapids/Lost River Boat; 

• A Tilt-A-Whirl car and signage;

• A Silver Rocket Ship;

• The complete Kiddie Train;

• All three Baby Wildcat coaster cars;

• A Caterpillar car and signage; 

• An 18' replica model of the Wildcat roller coaster; 

• An Arcade room with original working games from Idora Park's Arcade; and

• So much more!

The best way to get up to the minute news, and to share in the Ameys' fun adventures is to follow them on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheIdoraParkExperience or visit their website: www.TheIdoraParkExperience.com.