The park was located on the east side of Bethlehem Pike at Hillcrest Ave on sixteen acres of land.

The park opened in 1898. It was a trolley park that was serviced by two trolley lines; the PRT (Philadelphia Rapid Transit) and the Lehigh Valley Transit (from Allentown, Pa.). It drew crowds from both Philadelphia and Norristiown.

Henry Auchy never meant to compete with Willow Grove Park when he built White City. He wanted to draw the 'working-class' crowd to his park. That's why he offered only a brass band when Willow Grove had orchestras.

The Mountain Railway ride burned down twice. Once in 1899 (the year after the park opened) after being struck by lightning, and again in 1907.

Many of the Chestnut Hill residents were not happy with the park. They did not consider the park to be an asset to the neighborhood. Chestnut Hill was always a well-to-do area and the residents worried that the park depreciated their land values and "lowered the value of the entire neighborhood". For fourteen years they complained about the park and its "rowdy visitors".

In 1912, four of the neighborhood's wealthiest men pooled their resources and bought the amusement park. Shortly after, they had it torn down.

In 1924, Erdenheim High School was built on half of the site. Later, this was replaced by Hillcrest Junior High.

Today, half of the original site is still Chestnut Park. Though there are no amusements, people still come to the park to picnic and enjoy a sunny afternoon.

There are only a few pieces of the original Chestnut Hill Park left today. One is Hillcrest Lake, where people once relaxed in gondolas, although it's only a portion of its original size. Another, the trolley barn along Bethlehem Pike, although there are no trolleys in sight today. Two brick pillars along the Pike mark a pedestrian entrance to the park.

Across Montgomery Ave. from the park is the Wistar House where Henry Auchy, who built Chestnut Hill Park, once lived. Henry Auchy later joined with Chester Albright, of Willow Grove Park, to found the Phila. Toboggan Co., which still creates amusement rides today.

To read more about the closing of the park, read this Phila. Inquirer article (May 4th, 2000).

Only about a mile away is another of my favorite "places that aren't there anymore" - the Stotesbury Mansion (Whitemarsh Hall).