2016 Shillelagh Honoree

Paul Nelson is the owner of Waldameer, one of the top attractions in the region and one of only a handful of family-owned amusement parks in the country.

Paul started working at Waldameer at eleven years old and still loves the park as much as the first day he started working there. 

The photo was taken at Santa Cruz Boardwalk in California during a four-day meeting of twelve family- owned parks where only the owners get together to exchange details of their operation every year. This year, because of Waldameer’s great expansion of Water World, the parks will be meeting in Erie.
Paul was one of the first in the community to embrace Barber Beast on the Bay, welcoming participants to his comfortable picnic groves that served as the site for registration and finish line festivities since the event began in 2013.

Last year, Paul hosted the adapted course inside of the park where adults with disabilities completed a one-mile course with seven obstacles. All participants in both courses were thrilled to end the event with a splash as the Wave Pool became the final obstacle.

With grateful appreciation for his support of our mission, the Barber National Institute is proud to honor Paul Nelson as the 2016 Shillelagh Man of the Year.