Disneyland is pushing 60 years old and, like most people nearing that milestone, the park has had its fair share of cheeseball moments over the past six decades.
More specifically I'm talking about Disney's long history of promotional videos they produce when promoting a new park, attraction or event.
Check out five of Disney's cheesiest promo videos after the jump.
5. Space Mountain
Space Mountain debuted in 1977 in the park and, according to this video that announced the attraction's arrival, so did horrible hairdos and a terrible sense of fashion.
4. Disneyland Main Street Electrical Parade Is this a bad acid trip or a trailer for a slasher film? Neither! But this 1986 promo for Disneyland's Main Street Electrical Parade sure feels like a little bit of both. "Out of the darkness it will come... and it will make your eyes melt out of their sockets before it eats your brain!"
3. A Day at Disneyland (Part 1)
Created in early nineties for people who couldn't afford camcorders, this souvenir video allows viewers to watch costumed characters ride the attractions from the comfort of their own home. And hey, buying this video is way cheaper than flying your family of four to California to go to the actual park! Below is just the first ten minutes of the half-hour long video, which begs the question: If you can blow a half hour of your day watching this crap, what in the hell is wrong with you?
2. Grad Night Promo
Created in 1996 to promote the park's annual event for graduating seniors, this promo video reeks of middle-aged adults trying to appeal to what they think high school students are "down with, dude!" They've got hip-hop! They've got alternative! They've got fucking rollerblades! And they have 30-year-old actors who last roamed the halls of a high school when Ronald Reagan was president!
1. Splash Mountain Rap
Holy. Shit. Balls. This thing was supposedly produced in the nineties, which I guess is almost accurate considering the ride debuted in the park on July 17, 1989, but if this video doesn't look like the eighties barfed all over it I don't know what does. This "music video" features actor Scott Valentine (Mallory's boyfriend Nick from Family Ties) as he raps (HE RAPS?!?) about the new attraction. Holy. Shit. Balls. Again. (High-five to my friend Shawn for bringing this one to my attention.)
The world's 'highest' Ferris wheel' is set to open for business today on top of a 1,480ft tower in China - with passengers riding in see-through pods.
Built on the 450-meter-high Canton Tower, known as the Guangzhou TV Tower, the amazing wheel consists of 16 pods holding a total of 96 fearless passengers.
Each capsule is just over three meters wide, and built using a special macromolecule material which allows a 360-degree crystal clear view.
On top of the world: An elliptical track has been constructed around the edge of the tower's roof, and the 16 transparent 'crystal' pods take between 20 and 40 minutes to go round the track
Riding high: This is the world's 'highest' Ferris wheel on top of a 1,480ft tower in China - with passengers riding in see-through pods
Unlike other Ferris wheels, it has a 15-degree incline and can resist 8-magnitude earthquakes and Beaufort scale 12 typhoons.
An elliptical track has been constructed around the edge of the tower's roof, and the 16 transparent 'crystal' pods take between 20 and 40 minutes to go round the track.
It's located in Guangzhou, capital of the southwestern Chinese province of Guangdong.
Sturdy: Unlike other Ferris wheels this has a 15-degree incline and can resist 8-magnitude earthquakes and Beaufort scale 12 typhoons
Sky's the limit: Each capsule is just over three meters wide, and built using a special macromolecule material which allows a 360-degree crystal clear view
GROUND-BREAKING RIDES
1. Kingda Ka is the world's tallest rollercoaster at Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey, U.S. The top tower is 456 feet tall 2. Formula Rossa at Ferrari World in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, is the world's fastest roller coaster with a top speed of 150mph which it can reach in 4.9 seconds. 3.Takabisha is the world's steepest rollercoaster with a drop angle of 121 degrees in Yamanashi, Japan. 4. The Singapore Flyer is a giant Ferris wheel in Singapore at 541ft tall making it the tallest in the world 5. Superman Ride of Steel in Massachusetts, U.S. wins awards every year as the best rollercoaster in the country. It speeds over 77mph, has a 221ft drop into a tunnel and 10 seconds of weightlessness
The attraction will cost visitors 130 Yuan each.
Although it's described as a Ferris, its passenger cars are not suspended from the rim of a wheel in the traditional fashion and the track is horizontal.
The tower is also known by its local nickname - Xiao Man's waist - which refers to a famous Geisha who used to entertain people during the reign of the tang Dynasty.
She was appreciated for her slim waist and the tower has a twisted and tight appearance. In August, Las Vegas announced plans to build the world's 'tallest' Ferris wheel, which will be more than 100ft higher than the London Eye.
Caesar's Entertainment, which runs the Caesar's Palace hotel and casino, revealed its wheel will be called the 'Las Vegas High Roller' and measure 550ft.
That would pip the Singapore Flyer (541ft) to the title of world's highest wheel. The London Eye is 443ft tall.
Great view: Built on the 450-meter-high Canton Tower, the amazing wheel consists of 16 pods holding a total of 96 fearless passengers
Roller coasters: fun. Driving a Ferrari: also fun. And there's only one place where the two meet. Nope, not in the parking lot at your local Six Flags. We're talking about Ferrari World.
The theme park is finally open to the public, complete with all the attractions, from F1-themed coasters to a pit crew-themed acrobatic take on Cirque du Soleil. Unfortunately you'll need to travel all the way to the Abu Dhabi to see it first hand, so if that's not in the cards any time soon, or even if it is, you can follow the jump to watch the video and see what's in store.
The Mammoth, a planned Indiana water coaster opening in 2012, will be 1,763 feet long. Photo: YouTube
Best Opinion: Huff. Post, Attractions, Courier Press
The video: Holiday World, an Indiana theme park that is already home to the world's largest water coaster, has announced plans to build an even larger water coaster. The Mammoth, a $9-million ride that's scheduled to open in 2012, will take thrill-seeking passengers on six-person rafts through a 1,763-foot course that includes an initial drop of 53 feet and spreads out over three acres. (Watch a video of the planned ride below.) For those uninitiated in the finer points of water-park rides, a water coaster differs from a water slide by offering uphill climbs as well as downhill drops. Motors that create magnetic fields beneath the coaster's track will propel Mammoth's passenger rafts uphill. The new attraction will take up residence right next to Holiday World's popular Wildebeest ride, which currently holds the record for world's longest water coaster, at 1,710 feet.
The reaction: The Mammoth "is guaranteed to make a big splash," says The Huffington Post. Indeed, says Andy Guinigundo at Attractions Magazine. And while it's true that lots of details about this ride still have to be sorted out — speed and run time, for instance, won't be determined until 2012 — "this looks like loads of wet fun!" You've got that right, says Holiday World president Dan Koch, as quoted by the Evansville, Ind., Courier Press. Once constructed, there won't be "another ride like this on the planet." See for yourself:
Summer is a great time to toss the family in the minivan, pick up a week’s worth of Ritz crackers and gummy worms, and hit the open road for a good ol’ fashioned family vacation. If you’re lucky enough to be one of the few Americans who can afford a vacation this year, there are plenty of awesome theme parks to choose from. There are also a few really crappy amusement parks that you should try to avoid at all costs. Here are the 10 Worst Theme Parks in the World:
Loveland
South Korea Everybody likes porn, so why haven’t they ever made a theme park of it? That’s exactly what some people in South Korea thought in 2004, aso they came up with the best idea ever: a porn-themed amusement park! Located on Jeju Island, South Korea, Loveland is an outdoor park that features giant erotic statues portraying weird, kinky sex acts and positions. In other words, it’s not the best place to take a first date. Definitely a go-to for your third date, though.
Bon Bon Land
Denmark
If you enjoy Bon Bons, then you’ll probably be impartial to Bon Bon Land, because it really doesn’t have anything to do with Bon Bons. As the fourth largest theme park in Denmark (which is about as big as New Hampshire), Bon Bon Land boasts an impressive collection of wacky cartoon statues and carnival rides that you could find at the far end of any Wal-Mart parking lot, along with a whole bunch of playgrounds and a “Beaver Rafting Ride” that lets users ride down a little fake river in a raft. It was listed as one of the most popular Denmark tourist destinations in 2008, but that’s like saying you were the most popular student in your home school class. It’s Denmark, so it doesn’t really count.
Diggerland
England
For those of you who have never seen a construction site before (let alone been annoyed by one that’s been working right outside of your window every morning for several months in a row), you’re in luck: you can go to Diggerland! Diggerland is England’s premiere construction-themed amusement park. How exciting! At Diggerland, you can actually sit in construction equipment like forklifts, bulldozers, and even cranes! Just in case you’re wondering, you’re not allowed to operate any of the machinery at Diggerland. You can just sit in it. So it’s kind of like breaking into any construction site, except that you have to pay for a ticket.
Isgyvenimo
Lithuania
Y’know what sucks about Disneyland? It just doesn’t have the “Communist USSR” vibe that we’re all looking for when we set out to an amusement park. Luckily, Isgyvenimo is here to save the day! Isgyvenimo is more of a dramatic experience than an amusement park, but it’s definitely a hot tourist destination for dozens of Lithuanians who really miss the good old days when the USSR controlled every facet of their lives. Visitors to Isgyvenimo will be immediately charmed by the parks rustic “Old Soviet Bunker” feel and those who don’t get freaked out from wearing a gas mask will get to experience the ins and outs of every day Lithuanian life back in 1984, when the country was under Soviet control. In Soviet Russia, amusement park enjoys YOU!
Harmonyland
Japan
There’s no better way to top of your summer vacation than by having your eyes raped by vibrant pastels and rounded bubbly Sanrio cartoon characters, and that’s exactly what Japan’s Hello Kitty-themed Harmonyland has in store for you. And it’s not just the collection of creepy, child-like costumed characters that will enamor your soul. If you’re a 12-year old Asian girl, you’ll absolutely love this place. Otherwise, you’ll probably hate it. The theme park also boasts a whopping 12 Hello Kitty-themed rides and a number of live shows, so you’ll definitely make good use of the Hello Kitty Japanese-to-English dictionary you’ll buy in the gift shop.
Dickens World
England
If you’re looking for a solid escape from reality this summer, look no further than the mid-19th century-themed Dickens World. If you hate reliable indoor plumbing and love the smell of coal and dirty little panhandling kids with driving caps and cockneyed accents, then travel into the world of Charles Dickens. Explore a few streets modeled after the 19th century English neighborhood where Dickens lived. Look at a stunning recreation of Dickens’ house, and encounter a number of recognizable characters from famous Charles Dickens novels. Just be sure not to solicit the 1860′s English prostitutes, because as it turns out they are not real prostitutes and you will get kicked out of Dickens World, which is something that you can never be proud of.
Shijinghan Amusement Park
Beijing, China
Just to be clear: Shijinghan Amusement Park is not affiliated with Disney in any way, and they’re also definitely not ripping off Disneyland. I can see how a common tourist might see a lot of similarities between the two parks. Both are built around giant model castles that are nearly identical to one another. Both of them feature a vast assortment of costumed characters including a black mouse with red pants, a duck wearing a blue sailor’s outfit, and a big “goofy” dog wearing overalls, but just because they’re exactly the same in every way doesn’t mean that Shijinghan Amusement Park is blatantly ripping off Disneyland, because it’s totally not. That costumed character that you think is Mickey Mouse is actually a black cat who just happens to be wearing mouse ears. And that duck is a goose…who happens to look exactly like Donald Duck. In fact, the two parks are so dissimilar to one another that everyone in China was totally surprised when Disney sued Shijinghan Amusement Park a few years ago for copyright infringement and forced them to change some of their more blatantly “borrowed” park elements. Nonetheless, if you’re interested in copyright infringement then this is definitely the park for you.
Fantazyland
Alexandria, Egypt
Imagine what an amusement park would look like if you visited immediately after an Apocalyptic world war, in which every living thing on the planet was killed and every structure on Earth was leveled to the ground. That’s pretty much exactly what Egypt’s Fantazyland looks like. The seemingly-abandoned-but-still-charging-for-admission theme park is considered by some to be the worst amusement park in the entire world. Most of the rides don’t work, the ticket takers will blatantly rip you off, and the place is simply a shambles. Half-finished construction sites block of crudely paved trails. The “lagoon” looks more like a bubbling cesspool, and the rides are more dangerous than the inside of a porta-potty at a chili cook-off. If it were a junkyard, it would still be a crappy junkyard, so you can imagine how you’ll feel when you actually pay to see the devastation that is Fantazyland.
Pedroland
South Carolina
If there’s one complaint that people often voice about South Carolina, it’s that the state as a whole just isn’t racist enough. That’s why South Carolinians created Pedroland, an amusement park that was built specifically to ridicule Mexicans. There are more than enough incredibly racist attractions at Pedroland to keep even the most hatefully racist person occupied for an entire afternoon. The entire landscape is donned with traditional Mexican decor, like pink flamingos and hot tamales. And we all know how Mexicans like to make fun of their own language by using really bad puns all the time, right? Well South Carolina knows that too, and they spared no expense in utilizing only the best puns to entice your adventurous side, like the “Golf of Mexico” mini-golf course (did you get it? Golf of Mexico!). That’s just the tip of the iceberg, my amigos.
Mukluk Land
Alaska
Alaska doesn’t have much in the way of entertainment, which is probably one of the many reasons why they boast the highest suicide rate in the country. What they do have, though, is something far more exciting than entertainment: they have the largest mukluk in the world. If you have half of a brain in your head, you already know that a Mukluk is a….well, it’s like a…kind of a shoe thing…kind of like a mocassin, but not exactly…it’s kind of like a non-commercialized Ugg boot. Well, anyway, a mukluk is a shoe-like thing and Mukluk Land is the proud home of the largest Mukluk in the world. But don’t just pay your admission, check out the Mukluk for a few thrilling hours, and then turn around and head home. There’s so much more to Mukluk Land! The theme park also has skeeball, mini golf, and a giant cabbage. You wouldn’t want to miss out on a giant cabbage, would you?!
A Japanese amusement park introduces a ride with a record drop that leaves thrill-seekers screaming
This Japanese roller coaster sends its brave riders on an inverted, 121-degree free fall, making it the steepest drop in the world. Photo: YouTube
The video: The Fuji-Q Highland amusement park in Japan has unveiled the world's steepest roller coaster. The Takabisha coaster (Japanese for "dominant") sends riders into an S-shaped 121-degree free fall, beating out the British Flamingoland's Mumbo Jumbo ride, which drops at 112 degrees, and France's Le Timber Drop, with its 113-degree plunge. (See video of a demonstration ride below). These attractions can put thrill-seekers under a G force similar to what jet-fighter pilots experience. The Takabisha's sharp dive sends riders hurtling 141 feet down at 62 mph. It takes just 112 seconds to cover the coaster's 3,281 feet of track. It cost $37 million to build, meaning the park will have to sell some 3 million $12.50 tickets to recover its investment.
The reaction: The Takabisha coaster isn't just steep, says Sky News. It might be "the world's wildest rollercoaster ride," period. Yes, this looks "terrifying," says Rick Chandler at NBC Sports. If you dare climb on board, you'll hurtle through a "maze of crazy twists and turns that will not only cause you to lose your lunch, but perhaps be hit by that same lunch moments later." You'll definitely need "a good head for heights and a strong stomach" to conquer this white-knuckle ride's seven dizzying loops, says Melissa Thompson at Britain's Mirror. "From the screaming faces of thrill-seekers braving its maiden voyage ... it's clearly a scary experience." Have a look for yourself:
Earlier in February we mentioned that a Blizzard themed amusement park called "World Joyland" may have been in the works and now, thanks to an article in The Huffington Post, we've found out that the rumors are true. The theme park, located in the Wunjin District, China was supposed to open in March, but judging from the few pictures that have been released, it looks like it will take a bit longer, but it seems to be shaping up quite nicely.
The theme park will have five areas: Island of Mystery, Terrain of Warcraft, Universe of StarCraft, World of Legend and Molesworld (that's the kid area). It might as well be called Dream Land, and I've already bought my ticket.
Joyland's website shows off all of the various worlds, but unfortunately it's only available in Chinese. There was also a Chinese news report video released, which shows off the construction of the park. From the video the theme park looks massive, and the few shots of the architecture we've seen do great justice to the concept material. It was rumored earlier that Joyland would include a video game museum and a dedicated e-Sports center.
Here's one picture of Joyland's concept art brought to life. It's a stylized Blood Elf tower from World of Warcraft.
Not bad, huh?
For more pictures head over to The Huffington Post article.
Although the exotic menagerie and midway attractions are long gone, Michael Jackson’s former estate, Neverland Ranch, is still one much-discussed property. Back in March of 2009, a couple of months before the fallen King of Pop passed away, I asked how you’d repurpose the 2,500-acre parcel of land in Santa Barbara, California. At the time, Mother Nature had taken over the once-immaculately landscaped property in something that could only be described as Alan Weisman’s The World Without Us gone Peter Pan.
Well, California Assemblyman Mike Davis has a grand idea: the state should buy Neverland Ranch — purchased by Jackson in 1988 for $17 million and acquired by an private investment firm in 2008 — and turn it into a state park. But not so fast … California state park officials aren’t exactly embracing the idea.
Ronilee Clark, chief of the Parks and Recreation Department's southern division, tells the LA Times:
We've been struggling with our budgetary situation and working very, very hard to keep the parks in the system open. We're not necessarily looking for an acquisition at this time.
Davis, who admits that corporations and nonprofits would have to chip in and help with the acquisition of Neverland since severely cash-strapped California wouldn’t be able to afford it, is pushing his idea when the Legislature meets again in August. Although it’s a financial stretch, I don’t think it’s too shabby of an idea. I mean what else would you do with it? Besides, there are plenty of private residences that have been turned into parks, nearby Hearst Park being one of them. I'm all for it as long as the park is really a park where Mother Nature is the main attraction, not an icky MJ memorial theme park or as the Awl suggests "some kind of museum of insanity." What do you think of Davis’ idea?
And a little interesting tidbit while we're on the topic of the homes of iconic dead musicians: Graceland, Elvis Presley's former home in Memphis, is the second most visited private home in the United States behind the White House.
Erin Wuchte serves up Butterbeer to guests at "The Wizarding World of Harry Potter" at Universal Orlando theme park in Orlando, Fla., June 9, 2010. (AP Photo)
(CBS/AP) Until now, Harry Potter fans could only imagine the sensation of quaffing a butterbeer, finding a magic wand at Ollivander's or escaping the steam from a snarling dragon's snout.
But finally, 13 years after the first of seven books began chronicling the boy wizard's adventures, imagination has become reality at Universal Orlando.
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, a minipark inside Universal's Islands of Adventure theme park, opens to the public on Friday, one of most highly anticipated theme-park attractions in years.
The park received a vague, unspecific bomb threat Thursday night, Universal spokesman Tom Schroder said, and is working closely with law enforcement officials and taking all "appropriate precautions."
According to the Orlando Sentinel, authorities were investigating the call, but police said it wasn't practical to search the park's entire grounds. A message left for a police spokeswoman was not immediately returned.
But the police activity did not deter large crowds from flooding the theme park Friday morning. Visitors will get their first glance at 9 a.m., but the parking garages at Universal opened at 5 a.m. for eager muggles to begin lining up, reportsCBS affiliate WKMG in Orlando.
Journalists and a few lucky visitors have already gotten a sneak peak at the park.
The entrance to Hogwarts Castle is seen at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando theme park in Orlando, Fla., June 9, 2010. The park-within-a-park opened to the public June 18. (AP Photo)
Past a stone archway and the steam-belching Hogwarts Express, the fictitious city of Hogsmeade unfolds amid snowcapped, dingy rooftops and storefronts packed like row houses with shops straight from the books and movies. Zonko's joke shop offers Sneakoscopes and extendable ears. The confectionary Honeydukes has chocolate frogs and Bertie Bott's Every-Flavour Beans (literally ranging from pear to fish). At the Owl Post, guests can stamp mail with a genuine Hogsmeade postmark.
Towering over it all is Hogwarts, a perfect reproduction of the imposing, many-spired castle where Harry and his magician friends are students.
"Once we locked in and knew what we were doing, what we thought would be the most iconographic moments of the fiction to bring to life, it became a matter of executing at a level of authenticity and detail that was going to be unquestionable," said Mark Woodbury, head of Universal Creative.
"It was crowded, but great. Definitely well worth the wait. Everything is small, but when you're inside it makes you feel attended to," said Jennifer Moore, a one of the early visitors.
Park construction was overseen by the production manager from the Potter movies, and as Warner Bros. filmed the series' sixth movie, "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince," scenes were shot for the park's crown jewel, a ride called Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey.
The cutting-edge ride seamlessly combines the sensation of flight with tactile experiences like smoke and drops of water as it takes guests through a hodgepodge of encounters in Potter's chaotic life, from the Quidditch field to the mouths of giant spiders and dragons. The ride queue stars lifelike projections of film characters like Hogwarts headmaster Albus Dumbledore.
"The special effects were just great! You really felt like you were riding along with Harry on his adventure," said visitor Karen Collins of Revere, Massachusetts.
The average time to experience the new Forbidden Journey ride is about one hour, according to Universal, but with more people, the wait time will be longer.
Potter author J.K. Rowling is a stickler for details, and Universal worked hard to get her approval. So many recipes were offered to find the perfect look, texture and taste for the heretofore fictitious butterbeer that Woodbury lost count.
"We had to package up all the ingredients and rent a hotel kitchen in Scotland so that we could put it all together," he said.
The result? A tasty, thickheaded (and nonalcoholic) brew reminiscent of cream soda, which has proven wildly popular with the fans who bought special tickets to preview the Potter park ahead of the June 18 public opening. Like Wizarding World employees, some of these avid Potterphiles dressed in robes and wizard hats, at times giving the place the slightly geeky feel of a "Star Wars" convention.
Besides the Forbidden Journey, The Wizarding World has just two other rides: Flight of the Hippogriff and Dragon Challenge, both of which are older roller coasters repurposed with Potter themes.
There's no additional admission for Wizarding World once you pay to enter Islands of Adventure. But guests who travel long distances to see it may be disappointed that there is not much to do beyond the three rides other than soaking up the scenery and going shopping - although long lines for the attractions could easily keep them in the minipark for hours.
One-day tickets can be purchased online for $69 for kids and $79 for adults. Universal reportedly spent $200 million to create the world, and it's hoping the investment pays off.
According to theme park attendance numbers, in 2009, Universal Orlando ranked 13th in the world, but the park is hoping that number will change for the better.
The attraction's lure could rival the economic impact that Disney's Magic Kingdom had on central Florida nearly 40 years ago, according to a University of Central Florida theme parks expert told WKMG.
Duncan Dickson, an assistant professor at UCF's Rosen College of Hospitality Management, said "Wizarding World" will give Harry Potter fans a reason to visit Florida, providing a much-needed boost to Orlando-area hotels, restaurants and stores.
"Right now, it's just a small part of Islands of Adventure. They could grow this thing into huge proportions," Dickson said.
Florida's tourism industry is currently struggling because of the economy and the Gulf oil spill.
"This has the potential to have as big of an impact as the Magic Kingdom in 1971," Dickson said. "It gives people a reason to travel and experience something different."
The shopping opportunities are so extensive - from broomsticks ($250 to $300) to magic wands ($28.95) and Gryffindor scarves ($34.95) - that it feels at times like the whole park is for sale.
The Wizarding World is an ambitious bet for Universal, which is co-owned by a division of NBC Universal and private equity firm Blackstone. Contract details buried in Securities and Exchange Commission filings reveal how badly Universal wanted a piece of the franchise, which it describes as the most financially successful in film history. The contract gives Universal the rights to operate the park for nine years, with two additional five-year options. But the rights can be pulled should Universal fail to maintain minimum quality standards, invest enough capital or sell its controlling interest.
Universal has poured cash into the park the past few years, sinking up to $380 million in the Potter park and two other attractions - a ride themed on television's "The Simpsons" and a roller coaster on which guests choose their own soundtrack. The Potter section of Islands of Adventure alone reportedly cost more than $250 million.
Twitter was filled this week with rave reviews of what was being referred to in tweets as "wwohp." One fan who got access to the soft opening said it was the "best park experience" he had had in a long time; another said Forbidden Journey was so good she cried. "Thumbs up" to butterbeer and pumpkin juice, tweeted another.
"It was truly amazing; they brought the books to life," said Jacki Lenners of Flagstaff, Arizona, who attended an early preview of the park last month.
"Wizarding World" held a star-studded opening ceremony Wednesday night, complete with J.K. Rowling and the cast of the movies. Daniel Radcliffe, the actor who plays Harry Potter, lit up Hogwarts with a flick of his wand and reciting of a spell before a fireworks show illuminated the castle.
Amusement parks walk the fine line between fun-ish and semi-creepy. Maybe it’s the combination of sketchy rides, circus folk, questionable attractions, and way too many screaming kids, but there’s something a little unsettling about them. Add an ill-advised theme into the mix, and you’ve got a real summer-time winner.
Although for most of the 20th century amusement parks were a staple of American culture, the shine is definitely off the bumper car. Tons of new parks litter the country, but many of the old classics, unable to compete with the snazzy new parks have been shut down. Most have been destroyed to make way for housing developments and malls, but a few still remain. Mostly forgotten and in total disrepair, these abandoned amusement parks are sometimes more interesting in their decay then they were while in operation.
But be warned urban explorer! Most of these parks are privately owned and do not appreciate people traipsing through their property, taking ridiculously cool pictures. If you get stopped by some authorities…just don’t tell them NileGuide sent you!
1. The Prehistoric Forest, Irish Hills, Michigan
Imagine Jurassic Park, but instead of real, blood-thirsty-Jeep-munching dinos you get dilapidated, stationary dinosaur statues situated around a mediocre community pool. It’s a wonder this park didn’t appeal to 21st century kiddies….
Opened in 1963, the park had a smoking volcano, waterfall, water slide, and 100 fiber glass dinosaurs sprinkled across the 8 acre property. Since closing in 1999 the property has been on and off the market, all the while in complete disuse. As the years have gone by the park continues to revert back to forest, and the dinosaur dioramas have begun to blend into the natural world.
If you should feel so inclined, The Prehistoric Forest is currently for sale for a cool $548,000 and according to its real estate listing, the property has an arcade, gift shop and a 1200sq foot community shower building and could be used as a campground or day care…EEEEEEKK! Now that’s frightening. Better start exploring soon before this gem gets snatched off the market!
“Jazzland”, a New Orleans-themed park was built on acres of swamp-land outside of the city in 2000 and was purchased by Six Flags and changed names in 2002. During Hurricane Katrina, Six Flags was completely flooded and an estimated 70-80% of the park was destroyed, leaving it much too expensive to fix. The park has been slowly rotting, decaying, and sinking into the swamp for the past 5 years since disaster struck.
What’s extra eerie is the park features many miniatures of New Orleans itself, including a “Main Street” designed after the French Quarter and restaurants that are modeled after some of the city’s historic eateries. Like many of the buildings they are modeled after, many of the park’s structures were submerged in 7 feet of water for over a month and now clearly display the ravages of the flood.
Although this painful reminder of Katrina’s devastation is sitting in total disrepair, it seems like it might be that way for a while longer. Six Flags and the City of New Orleans are in a entangled legal battle over the land. If you want to visit be careful, many urban explorers have been able to enter with no problems at all, while others have been handcuffed, driven off the premise, and had their camera film destroyed.
3. The Rocky Point Amusement Park, Warwick Rhode Island
When it was built in 1847, Rocky Point was pretty much the neatest thing in all of Rhode Island. It had everything an East Coast Victorian family could want: a Ferris-wheel, picturesque water-front views, a classy dining hall, and a long pier perfect for strolling…ahh. And as far as amusement parks, Rocky Point lasted a pretty long time. It enjoyed continued popularity and was able to evolved with the times, that is until the early 1990s took their toll.
After some horrid (and possibly shady) investments that the park held went bankrupt, it could no longer continue operating under its investors’ heavy debts. The iconic “Rocky Point” gate closed for the last time in 1996. Since then, most of the rides have been removed and sold to other parks. The rest of the property has been left to disrepair, and has suffered two possible arson attacks. Although everything of “value” has been dispersed to needy amusement parks around the country, remnants of Rocky Point can still be seen.
Desperate to know more? Bellow is the trailer for Rocky Point documentary made a few years ago.
4. Lincoln Park, Dartmouth, Massachusetts
This park was originally opened by the Union Street Railway Company to increase tourism on their rail line in 1894. The park expanded over time, but its most popular attraction from 1946 on was “The Comet”, a wooden roller coaster. When it was built in the 40s the coaster was the absolute bees knees. Passengers were even willing to carry sandbags to help the cars move along the track since the ride wasn’t “loose” enough to let gravity do the work. Although the coaster was the ultimate in cool, it also turned out to be deadly too.
In the mid 60s, a man stood up in a car and was killed going down a lift. Then in 1968 the last car detached from the rest of the coaster and rolled backwards until it derailed, tossing its passengers out, injuring them. Then again in 1986 another man was killed while trying to climb from one car to another while the coaster was moving.
No surprise, these “incidents” were hard hard for many people to forget (even though the two deaths are clearly caused by “user error”), and the decline of Lincoln Park began. Hoping more money would fix the problem, Lincoln Park’s owners invested $75,000 in the park, but no soon had construction been completed then the Comet’s brake’s failed and the coaster’s cars jackknifed and the last car detached. Finally screeching to a halt hanging precariously off the tracks. Not shockingly, that was The Comet’s final ride. Facing mounting debts and an accident-prone amusement park, Lincoln Park was shut down for good.
Although most of the rides were sold off, the Comet still remains. A morbid reminder of the park’s previous glory which can be explored off rout 6 in North Dartmouth.
6. Lake Dolores, Newberry Springs, CA
From 1962 to the late 80s Lake Dolores contained the trifecta of summer fun: it was combination water park, amusement park, and campground but in an unexpected locale. Situated on the eastern edge of the Mojave Dessert between Los Angeles and Las Vegas, the park was supplied with water by underground desert springs that fed the area. After multiple owners and unsuccessful new concepts (changing its name to Rock-a-Hoola being one of them) the park fell out of style, and most of the rides were sold off.
All that remained were the old water slides which must have seemed pretty bizarre hanging out on an abandoned stretch of highway in the middle of the desert. That is until Lake Dolores was happened upon by the reality TV show Rob and Big which focuses on the life of Rob, a professional skateboarders and his friends. While filming a drive from LA to Vegas, the reality show crew stopped at Lake Dolores to attempt skateboarding on the abandoned slides. EEEK!! You can watch it here.
Although no one got hurt, leaving the slides intact became and huge liability for the owners of Lake Dolores. Soon after the episode aired, most of the water slides were taking out of the park.
7. Glen Echo Amusement Park, Glen Echo, Maryland
Glen Echo was created in 1891 as a Chautauqua site (a government funded adult arts center) and slowly morphed into an amusement park in the beginning of the 20th century. The park’s gorgeous art-deco buildings and craftsman carousel drew crowds from D.C., but slowly old fashion Glen Echo lost popularity, and it closed its doors in 1968.
Glen Echo was then turned over the the National Parks Service who has donated the park to different arts organizations over the years. Although many other of the original buildings and rides and fallen into disuse, the Spanish Ballroom and Bumper-Car Pavilion host dances on Friday and Sunday Nights and art classes are held in the former Arcade building. In addition, the classic carousel (which has 2 chariots, 4 rabbits, 4 ostriches, 38 horses, a lion, tiger, giraffe, and a fancy prancing deer) went through an almost 20-year renovation, and is now open to the public for rides.
Disclaimer: Chippewa Lake was torn down in 2009 so you can no longer visit it, but it’s still worth reading about. Built in 1875 by Edward Andrews, Chippewa Lake Park was originally named “Andrew’s Pleasure Ground”. Luckily that innuendo-inducing name was changed in 1898 when the park switched owners and even more rides were installed. Chippewa Lake Park was super popular in the 20s and then slowly declined until it was closed in 1978. After being abandoned, it was left pretty much alone for the next 30+ years. All of the wooden rides remained and as the forest took back the land that was cleared for the park, the rides became part of the environment.
Since the park lay abandoned for so many years, it became almost as beloved in “death” as it had been in “life”. There were even group tours offered on the grounds of the park in the months before its final demise.
Since these pictures were taking all the buildings and rides of Lake Chippewa have been destroyed to make way for a spa and hotel, which has yet to be built.
Came across any sweet abandoned amusement parks we left off the list? Le us know! And keep checking back for installment two of the series aboud long forgotten theme parks in other countries!
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All you art collectors out there. Here is a chance to get a Giclee copy of some of Ian M Sherwin work. Ian is planning on doing a whole series of Marblehead, Massachusetts paintings. His work is amazing.
Everybody likes porn, so why haven’t they ever made a theme park of it? That’s exactly what some people in South Korea thought in 2004, aso they came up with the best idea ever: a porn-themed amusement park! Located on Jeju Island, South Korea, Loveland is an outdoor park that features giant erotic statues portraying weird, kinky sex acts and positions. In other words, it’s not the best place to take a first date. Definitely a go-to for your third date, though.
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