Some local attractions are riding high this summer, despite a down economy. Operators of several area amenities say they're enjoying good seasons as people ditch the drive to larger, fancier and more expensive venues, and seek more affordable fun closer to home. Living Treasures Animal Park in New Castle, for example, has been "blessed" with a 40 percent attendance increase compared to last year, park owner Adam Guiher said. "People are coming here because we are closer for local residents to travel to, and cheaper than a long trip to a huge park or beach vacation," Guiher said. "We will probably beat the 75,000 people we had last year." The California-based Economics Research Associates found that attendance at the top 20 North American theme and water parks grew to 123 million last year. But senior associate Edward Shaw cautioned that higher ticket prices and long-distance travelers who might not be able to pay fuel costs this year foretell decreased numbers this season at some destination parks. Cedar Point Amusement Park in Sandusky, Ohio, about 158 miles from Pittsburgh, ranked 12th on the list with about 3.2 million visitors. It is trying to keep attendance up by offering online discounts to its $44 admission fee. "We are always looking at ways to add more value, to make it less expensive for our customers," park spokesman Robin Innes said. Attendance at Kennywood parks, which include Kennywood and Sandcastle Waterpark in West Mifflin and Idlewild & SoakZone and Story Book Forest in Ligonier Township, decreased slightly compared to this time last year because of the economy, said spokesman Jeff Filicko. But he said he remains "cautiously optimistic" that a late summer surge will bring numbers back to the norm of 2 million visitors. "We never get too worried in the beginning. It usually stabilizes by July and August, which are our biggest months," Filicko said. "It's a tradition for families to visit here, and so long as we don't get a huge summer of rain, we should be fine." Robert Morris University finance professor Frank Flanegin said big attractions are hurting for the first time in 14 years. "Simply put, the tough times have called for people to be more conscious about how much they are spending, and as a result, they are saving more money and not blowing their earnings on big, expensive parks," Flanegin said. John Sovich, 34, and his wife, Michelle, 33, with their daughter Emma, 6, visited Living Treasures Animal Park on a recent weekday and said they wouldn't be traveling far from their Economy home this summer. "We usually go to Ocean City beach (in Maryland), but we are saving a little money and doing a bunch of little weekend vacations, like camping and getting outdoors more," Sovich said. That's likely helping smaller attractions such as Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater in Mill Run, Fayette County. It is on pace to beat a record 152,000 visitors, even though it made no changes in marketing, visitor services manager Brad Heiser said. "We actually had a plan in place, in case the economy affected us, but it just never happened," Heiser said. "It's probably because 75 percent of our visitors come from a three-hour driving range, so it's not as much gas to get here." Wright's Kentuck Knob Park in Chalk Hill had 30,000 visitors last year, and is on pace to meet or beat that this year, Monica Jackson, Kentuck Knob assistant director said. Some sites are adding features to draw consumers. Seven Springs Mountain Resort in Champion has had "flourishing" attendance this season, in part because of additions such as a full-service spa, outdoor pool and new lodge, spokeswoman Anna Weltz said. She did not make available the attendance figure, but said: "We are extremely pleased with how many customers we have been getting." VisitPittsburgh spokesman Craig Davis said the area usually gets around 10 million visitors annually. He said while there has been a 5 percent drop so far this year, it's not as bad as comparable cities, which are down more than 17 percent. "Everyone is losing on tourism, it's just Pittsburgh is losing the least," Davis said. "We are still fairing well." And with all the hype about vacationing closer to home, some people say they don't mind touring near their hometowns. Jeff Zimmerman, 33, of Bethel Park is among them. "I guess now we have a reason to see some local cool spots, like Waldameer (Park and Water World in Erie) and the Carnegie Museum (of Natural History in Oakland)," Zimmerman said after riding Kennywood's "The Jackrabbit" roller coaster with his wife and two kids. "We can see what fun there is here at home." Places to play Kennywood 4800 Kennywood Blvd., West Mifflin 412-461-0500, www.kennywood.com Hours: 10:30 a.m., majority of rides begin at 11a.m. Closing time is determined daily, but is usually around 10 p.m. depending on weather and crowd conditions. Idlewild & SoakZone, Story Book Forest 2582 Route 30, Ligonier Township 724-238-3666, www.idlewild.com Hours: 10:30 a.m. to at least 8 p.m. Living Treasures Animal Park 268 Fox Road, New Castle and 288 Route 711, Jones Mills 724-924 9571, 724-593 8300, www.ltanimalpark.com Hours: July to August, daily 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., September to October, daily 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Cedar Point Amusement Park One Cedar Point Drive, Sandusky, Ohio 419-627-2350, www.cedarpoint.com Hours: July to Aug. 22, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., Sunday to Thursday, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Schedule varies after Aug. 22 Seven Springs Mountain Resort 777 Waterwheel Drive, Champion 814-352-7777, www.7springs.com Hours: Open 24 hours, but times of events and activities vary. Carnegie Museums of Art and Natural History 4400 Forbes Ave., Oakland 412-622-3131, www.carnegiemuseums.org Hours: Monday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday 10 to 8 p.m., Sunday 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Closed Mondays starting in September Fallingwater 1491 Mill Run Road, Mill Run 724-329-8501, www.fallingwater.org Hours: Monday, Tuesday and Thursday to Sunday, 10 a.m to 4 p.m. Closed Wednesdays. Kentuck Knob 723 Kentuck Road, Chalk Hill 724-329-1901, www.kentuckknob.com Hours: July to November, Monday to Tuesday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Wednesday, noon to 4 p.m., Thursday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sandcastle Waterpark 1000 Sandcastle Drive, West Mifflin 412-462-6666, www.sandcastlewaterpark.com Hours: July and August, Monday to Thursday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Friday to Sunday, 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. Waldameer Park & Water World 220 Peninsula Drive, Erie 814-838-3591, www.waldameer.com Hours: July to September, amusement park 1 p.m. to 10 p.m., water park 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.