Calaway Park
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Calaway Park is the only amusement park near Calgary, Alberta, Canada. It is the largest outdoor theme park in western Canada, and only second to Toronto's Paramount Canada's Wonderland in size. The park is located 10km west of the city on the Trans-Canada Highway.
When the park opened in 1982, many of the buildings, merchandise and rides were styled around licensed Hanna-Barbera characters. These can be still seen today in some of the older, but colourful Flintstones-style buildings. Licensing was dropped and instead money that would have been spent was reinvested back into the grounds. The park features a variety of rides including a large log flume, ferris wheel, the ride "Chaos", and the park's biggest attraction: its corkscrew roller coaster "The Vortex". There are many other rides that are original to the park and not seen anywhere else. In 2001, the park bought five new acres of land and is now home to three new children's rides, a restaurant, and two wild rides including "Topsy Turvy." Stage shows are presented daily by Calaway Live at three stages throughout the park including one enclosed theatre.
In the late 80's Calaway Park introduced its two mascots Jack Bunny and Jill O' Hare who can now be seen roaming the streets of the Park. 2005 was the Jack and Jill Club's 10th Birthday. The Jack and Jill Club is a club that any season pass holder who is aged 3-12 can join. Catch the Jack and Jill Club stage show daily!
2005 was a year of changes for Calaway Park. The Corkscrew Roller Coaster as it was formerly known went a major transformation including a brand new paint scheme, new theme and a brand new name. "The Vortex Roller Coaster". The park's famous gas powered bumper boats we're taken out of service in 2005 and newer environment-friendly electric powered boats featuring water squirt guns were introduced. "The BumperBoat Splash Challenge!". Two thrill rides were also repainted and renamed. The "Mountain Scrambler" became "Adrenaline Test Zone" and the family thrill ride: "SkyRider" became the "Wave Rider".
Other renovations included the expansion of the Mini Golf Course, renovation of Mini Donuts #1 (now known as "Hole in one Mini Donuts"), new concession stall: "JavaSplash".
In 2005 Calaway Park put the family ride "Swing Around", a large chair swing out of service and in its place now stands the newest thrill at Calaway Park, "The STORM".
2005 was also the introduction of Halloweekends, a spooky five weekend event. During this time, the park undergoes a haunted transformation, including an updated Haunted House, Freaky Food, a new Spooktacular Stage Show, and many characters roaming the streets of the park.
In 2006 Calaway Park celebrated the park's 25th Anniversary with the introduction of its new family thrill ride, "The Storm: Mother Nature's Thrill Ride". Other celebrations included "Swirly Twirl", the new children's swing ride, and the renovation of the Turnpike, now "U-Drive: Safety School Of Motoring".
Calaway Park is a popular spot for families living in the city for it is only a short commute out. Widely distributed discount coupons also make it easily affordable too. The park has been developing a lot of new property and changing things. Between 2000 and 2005, they have added eight new rides, added five new food stalls, and expanded five acres.
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[edit] Current Rides & Attractions
Calaway Park has several attractions for suitable for all ages. From soft playgrounds to giant thrill rides. The park is amongst North America's safest amusement parks. (2005 statistics) Calaway Park offers several mandatory training sessions, safety briefings and ride-employee certifications that take place prior or during the employee's first shift. Calaway Park ride employees are trained to enforce height restrictions very carefully, being accurate to the inch specified by the ride manufacturers.
[edit] Children Rides
Ball Crawl (ball pit where kids under 54" can play in)
Freddie Fireboat (soft playground)
Theodore Tugboat (soft playground)
Biplanes: Stunt School *Renamed in 2006* (ride consisting of biplanes being raised and lowered as the ride spins)
Boulder Bumper Cars (children bumper cars)
Tot Yachts (revolving boat ride)
Free Wheelin' (rotating car/bike ride)
Calaway Express (miniature train along a track. Manufactured by CHANCE Corp. "Locomotion")
Super Trucks (another variation of a mini-train with truck-like cars.)
SuperJet Rollercoaster (A junior steel rollercoaster designed for small children.)
Swirly Twirl *NEW IN 2006* (small chairswinger that carries small children at a slow speed)
[edit] Family Rides
Egg Ride (Egg shaped cars raised and lowered as they rotate at a slow speed)
Carousel (Merry-Go-Round with 36 horses and 2 benches.)
Berry Ride (rotating strawberry shaped cars that can be spun by the riders)
SkyClimber (miniature ferris wheel)
U-Drive: Safety School of Motoring *Renovated in 2006* (old fashioned cars moving along a narrow track.)
Rocky Mountain Railroad (large diesel train moving along a quarter mile track.)
Haunted Mansion (a spooky-themed house.)
BumperBoat: Splash Challenge! (electric powered bumper boats with squirt jets.)
Big Eli (manual ferris wheel 50' in diameter.)
[edit] Thrill Rides
AirGliders *Renamed in 2006* (takes you on a dizzying trip around in a circle as a giant arm raises and lowers you. Formerly known as Paratrooper)
Adrenaline Test Zone (The ride has three arms with seven cars on each arm that each spins you around and lifts you high off the ground.)
Chaos (ride that raises you up in the air, circles you around and flips you around and around in your carrier!)
Dodgem' (Adults and big kids can test their driving skills by negotiating their way around others, bumping into whatever is in their way!
Ocean Motion (ride consisting of a large ship that swings back and forth to great heights.)
Round 'em up (fast ride that rotates continuously on a hydraulic arm that raises you up.)
Shoot the Chutes (Log Ride) (water ride in a log boat, going up and back down two water slides measuring 7.5m and 10.5m vertical drops.)
Storm *NEW IN 2006* (consists of 20 cages attached to a revolving wheel that lifts up while spinning at great speeds. At full height, cages go upside down.)
Tip Top (spinning ride where guests sit in giant cups. The guests control the speed of rotation from inside the cup as the platform of ride raises up and down.)
Topsy Turvy (thrill ride that rotates in a circle with individual cars that turn you upside-down repeatedly.)
Western Tornado (The G-Forces push riders towards the outside of the car, making for a fun ride with friends.)
Wave Rider (ride consisting of fourteen arms with one car on each arm. The arms pop you up and swing you out.)
Vortex Rollercoaster (Corkscrew rollercoaster ride with twisty turns and an upside down thrill.)
[edit] Employment
Each year, Calaway park hires an approximate 700 to 750 Summer employees in every position except management. However, the number of applicants is rising, the most recent being an approximate 3000 people (2005 approximation). Specific jobs are given based on age and the choice of the employee. For example, most employees who are hired at the age of 14 are put into groundskeeping. Due to the nature of the job (low wages, inconvenient location, and poor working conditions) there are several people who either quit or are fired throughout the summer, and thus Calaway park hires new employees throughout the season. Calaway park also supports school programs that allow students to earn Senior-high-school credits for filling out forms or completing certain assignments throughout the year.
Payscales are determined by the job done, the quality of service given (which is determined by covert watching of the employee and through guest comments). There are several opportunities throughout the season for raises or promotions. Employees are also hired on a basis of their apparent personality, leading to a summer job wherein most, if not all, employees are friendly and responsible.
