Story
Modesto Foieri and Doodle Bug Park
Coal operator and entrepreneur Modesto Bernard Foieri opened Doodle Bug Park in 1958, creating a summer gathering place remembered by Shamokin-area families long after its 1976 closing.
From the Coal Business to a Family Park
Modesto Bernard Foieri appears in local records under several versions of his first name, including Modest, Mode, and Modes. A 1948 state mining report identifies him as general manager of the Lower Region Coal Company, linking his working life to the Shamokin area’s coal economy.
Opening Day in 1958
Doodle Bug Park opened on Sunday, June 22, 1958. The park operated through 1976 and is remembered under several spellings, including Doodle-Bug Park, Doodlebug Park, and Doodlebug Kiddieland.
Rides That Outlived the Park
The Roller Coaster DataBase documents an Allan Herschell Little Dipper at the park. A carousel horse described by the Los Angeles Times in 1991 shows how pieces of Doodle Bug continued to carry family memories after the gates closed.