Remembering Allen 'Al' Fasnacht
It is with great sadness that we share the passing of Allen “Al” Fasnacht on Sunday, March 23, 2025 at the age of 96.
For over 60 years, Al was a cornerstone of Funland — not just through his dedication to the park, but through the countless meaningful and lasting connections he built with guests, employees, and the community. Al had a truly profound impact on so many people, and he did it quietly, with humility and kindness.
Guests didn’t just return to Funland year after year to visit the park — they came back to see Al.
Al was a man of deep faith, and knew that the park could be more than just a place of entertainment. Having fun with family and friends wasn’t frivolous, it was a gift to be cherished.
Whether it was a warm smile, a heartfelt conversation, or a simple act of kindness, Al made people feel valued and seen. Al delighted in putting generations of families on rides himself, especially along the ‘Kiddie Row”. “Funland doesn’t need me, I need Funland,” he once said, and this mantra kept him going well past a formal retirement. Even into his 90’s Al could be found around the park, painting a green bench, cleaning up a spill or chatting with a guest. No job was too small, no encounter too brief to merit his attention. He formed lasting bonds that went far beyond a typical greeting; these were genuine connections that meant the world to him and to those whose lives he touched.
Through his quiet dedication, Al showed us what it means to lead with compassion, hard work, and care for others. His lasting legacy will continue to inspire us, and his presence will be deeply missed.
History of Funland
It all started as an innocent vacation to the beach, back in 1961…
Allen and Don Fasnacht, their wives Jean and Dee, and their parents Al and Sis visited the place that was to become Funland during a trip to the Delaware seashore in August of 1961.
At the time, the family was operating a small “picnic park” near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, called Willow Mill Park. Being the park people that they were, they visited the Rehoboth Beach Sports Center, as it was called when the Dentino family owned it. While they were talking about the ins and outs of the park business with Mr Dentino, he asked if they might be interested in buying the Sports Center. Yeah right, was the thought not spoken, but that was going through the Fasnachts’ minds. Mr. Dentino affirmed that he was indeed interested in selling the business and that the Fasnachts should think about buying it.
Think about it is exactly what the family did when they returned home. It became a recurring topic in the Fasnacht family. They called Mr. Dentino and decided to go through with the purchase.
By March 1962 everything was falling into place, but so was an unusual area of low pressure off the East Coast. This storm never developed into a hurricane but was the lowest pressure system ever recorded for the area. Settlement on the park was to be on March 15, 1962. The Great Atlantic Storm hit on March 6th, devastating the entire eastern seacoast. The Fasnacht family traveled down from Hershey, and the Dentino family came up from Florida to assess the situation. Both families agreed to go ahead with the deal after they worked out an allowance for the damage.
The rest is history: expanding the park here and there, adding rides and games, and buying adjoining properties for the growing family and their children. From the original 1st and 2nd generation, there are now over twenty 3rd and 4th generation family members who are directly involved with the business. They, along with over ten 5th generation members coming up closely behind them, are all continuing that heritage that began half a century ago!
If you would like to hear more about the Funland story check out the link below!
CBS Sunday Morning: “Old-Fashion Fun: Funland”
Content Delaware Documentary: “Nothing Beats Fun: The Funland Story!”.