Bell's Amusement Park

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Bell's Amusement Park
Location Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States Flag of the United States
Website http://www.teamled.com/bells This is the current website
Owner Robert Bell
Opened 1951
Closed 2006
Operating season March through September
Rides 17 total
  • 1 John Allen Wooden Out-and-Back roller coasters
  • 1 Log Flume, 2 Water Slides water rides

Bell's Amusement Park was a small amusement park located in Tulsa's Expo Square, part of the Tulsa County Fairground. The park was founded in 1951 by Robert Bell with a small collection of rides and amusements including a three car choo-choo train and a Shetland pony ride. This would later grow into third generation controled family amusement tradition with over 50 rides and attractions.

The park was forced to relinquish its position at the Square at the end of the 2006 season when the county did not renew its lease.[1] The reason given for the park's removal was nonviable business plans even though the 2006 season was the most successful the park had seen for years and expansion plans were underway.[2] The park paid $135,000 to the Expo in 2006 and a total of $12.5 million since 1951.[3]

The park has announced plans to move elsewhere, but as of fall 2007 the amusement park rides sit in a warehouse.[4] Many locations around Northeast-Oklahoma have been surveyed for the new home of Bell's,[5] but as of November 2007 there has been no official word as to when an announcement will be made in regards to an official location for the park. Their website has been taken down and rumors are about that the park will not reopen.

Contents

[edit] Impact to the 2007 Tulsa State Fair

Following the close of Bell's, the 2007 Tulsa State Fair saw a 7% drop in attendance and a 29% hit on midway ticket sales.[6] Vendors told the fair board that the board's decision not to renew Bell's lease is the reason for the drop.[7] The Fairgrounds CEO said that they did not have any theories at the time to account for the drop. But some people have indicated that they boycotted the 2007 Tulsa State Fair in response to the county's decision.[8] The midway for the Tulsa State Fair was provided by Jerry Murphy, Bell's main competitor.[9]

[edit] Ride malfunction

On April 20, 1997, mechanical failures on the Wildcat roller coaster caused a car near the top of a chain hill to disengage and roll backwards, colliding with another car. The accident killed a fourteen-year-old and injured six others.[10] The Wildcat was disassembled following the accident.

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Tulsa County seeks warrant after Bell's Amusement Park taxes go unpaid", Tulsa World, World Publishing Co., 2007-07-20. Retrieved on 2007-08-11. 
  2. ^ "Bell's Says Tulsa County Treating Them Unfairly", KOTV, Griffin Communications, LLC, 2006-10-11. Retrieved on 2007-08-11. 
  3. ^ "Bell's Amusement Park Lease Expires", KOTV, Griffin Communications, LLC, 2007-07-20. Retrieved on 2007-08-11. 
  4. ^ "News On 6 Investigation: What Really Happened To Bell’s Amusement Park?", he News On 6, KOTV.com, 2007-08-30. Retrieved on 2007-09-21. 
  5. ^ "Amusement Park Icon Coming Down", KOTV, 2007-03-25. Retrieved on 2007-10-10. 
  6. ^ "Fair Attendance Down, Preliminary Figures Show", KOTV, Griffin Communications, LLC, 2007-10-08. Retrieved on 2007-08-11. 
  7. ^ "State Fair Revenue Down", KOTV, Griffin Communications, LLC, 2007-10-04. Retrieved on 2007-08-11. 
  8. ^ "Bell’s Amusement Park is gone, but the crowds remain at the Tulsa State Fair", Tulsa World, World Publishing Co., 2007-10-02. Retrieved on 2007-08-11. 
  9. ^ "News On 6 Investigation: What Really Happened To Bell’s Amusement Park?", KOTV, Griffin Communications, LLC, 2007-08-30. Retrieved on 2007-08-30. 
  10. ^ Oklahoma Department of Labor (1997-07-03). "Labor Commissioner Issues Interim Report on Amusement Park Accident". Press release. Retrieved on 2006-08-31.

[edit] External links

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