Funtown Splashtown USA

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Funtown Splashtown USA (commonly referred to as just "Funtown") is a small amusement park located in Saco, Maine, in the United States.

[edit] History

In 1959, Ken and Violet Cormier opened "Marvel Drive In", a drive-in restaurant. Ken’s brother-in-law, Andre Dallaire opened a mini-golf course that previous year next to Marvel Drive-In. In 1963, Andre opened a Go-kart track behind his mini golf course, and in 1964 Ken added batting cages and an archery range in 1967 behind Marvel Drive In. Over the course of the next few years, Cormier and Dallaire added several kiddie and carnival-style rides including SkySlides and Swinging Gyms. A gift shop was also opened.

In 1967, Cormier and Dallaire form a partnership and Funtown U.S.A. was born. Over the next few years, Funtown added a "Zipper", outdoor bumper cars, and the “Luv Machine” (Bayun Kurve).

In 1996, Cormier bought out the remaining Dallaire interest at the park and it was then renamed Funtown Splashtown U.S.A.

[edit] Park Features

The park features Maine's only wooden roller coaster, Excalibur, as well as New England's longest and tallest log flume ride, Thunder Falls. It also has a 220 foot tall freefall tower ride called the "Dragon's Descent". One of the park's most popular rides is the Astrosphere, which is an indoor spinning ride (Scrambler) which features alien projections on the walls while playing ELO's "Fire on High. With its state of the art intelligent light show the Astrosphere is by far the most unique special effects ride in all of New England. There is also a waterpark ("Splashtown") which features "Pirate's Paradise", essentially a large playground which every few minutes drops hundreds of gallons of water on to its guests.

For the 2007 season, a waterpark expansion has been built (according to the 2006 park map) in the Splashtown portion of the park.