Playland (Vancouver)

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Playland at the PNE

Location	Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada,
Website	http://www.pne.ca/playland
Owner	Pacific National Exhibition
Operating season	April – October
Rides	28 total 4 roller coasters 1 water rides
Slogan	Come and join the fun!

Amusement Parks Portal

Entrance to Playland

Playland is an amusement park at in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It is located in Hastings Park and is the oldest amusement park in Canada.

Every year the park will replace one or two rides with new ones and the attendance of the park is always near capacity during the annual fair. It is the home of the famous 1958 wooden roller coaster. Some of the newer rides at the park are The Hellevator and Hell's Gate, whose marketing campaign angered a few Christian groups.

At the end of August, Playland and its renting partner Pacific National Exhibition (PNE) collectively host an annual fair for the local residents of Greater Vancouver. Talent shows, Animal Races, Demolition Derbies, Monster Trucks and many foods/snacks are a few of the many interesting events found at the fair. During this time, they also rent some rides from West Coast Amusements.

The city of Vancouver has long debated about whether the PNE and Playland will stay at or move from its current location. However, it has been decided that they would stay where they are for some time to come.

Playland's regular season operates from the beginning of April to the end of September every year.

1 Attractions in Playland
2 Annual events
- 2.1 Fright Nights
3 Gallery
4 External links

[edit] Attractions in Playland

[edit] Roller coasters

Ride	Year Opened	Description
The Coaster	1958	Playland's signature attraction, this wooden roller coaster from 1958 has a maximum drop height of 20 m (68 ft) and speeds of up to 75 km/h (48 mph). The coaster was designed by Carl Phare. It is an ACE Coaster Classic. The Coaster was featured in the movie Riding the Bullet and was the "Bullet", it also made a brief appearance in the teenage thriller Fear (1996)[1]. The Coaster is commonly just called Coaster. Occasionally it is called by the unofficial name "Big Dipper", apparently an echo of British coasters of the same name.
Wild Mouse	1958	A wild mouse roller coaster with tight turns and drops. It was built by Princeton Machine. In a previous smaller incarnation, it was named the Mad Mouse.
Corkscrew	1994	A standard Vekoma-built roller coaster with a Bayerncurve and double corkscrews. Corkscrew has been in operation since 1994. This ride was relocated from Boblo Island, where it was known as Screamer. [2] This coaster was featured in the movie Final Destination 3, and in the television series Smallville.
Kettle Creek Mine	2004	A family coaster in the form of a figure 8 track. The ride takes two trips around. It replaced the Dragon Coaster in 2004.

[edit] Main amusement rides

Ride	Year Opened	Description
Breakdance!	2003	A model of the Breakdance ride by HUSS.
Crazy Beach Party	2005	A model of the Frisbee designed by HUSS.
Drop Zone	2000	Guests attached to rip cords get pulled up a 30 m (100 ft) tower then let to free fall. There is an additional charge to go on this attraction.
Enterprise	1984	A standard Enterprise ride.
Westcoast Wheel	2007	A newer ferris wheel bought in 2007 to replace the 80 year old Ferris Wheel that used to be at Playland.
Flume	1985	A log flume water ride with two drops, with the second drop being 12 m (40 ft) tall.
Gladiator	2004	Three arms with spinning air boats raise and lower while spinning.
Hellevator	2000	A 60 m (202 ft) tall pneumatically-powered vertical tower ride by S&S Power. A model of the "Combo Ride" [3] [4], it may operate in Turbo Drop mode, Space Shot mode, or irregularly, combining both. This ride is free with admission during the regular operating season, but there is an additional cost to go on it during PNE days and special events.
Hell's Gate	2000	A Top Spin ride with water jets spraying guests at random times. However, the water jets got pulled out and no longer spray guests.
Music Express	1990	A model of Music Express ride, cars on a raised and lowered circular track spin rapidly while music is played.
Pirate	1984	A swinging pirate ship ride.
Revelation	2000	A 50 m (160 ft) tall rotating arm with cockpit seats on both ends. There is an additional charge to go on this attraction.
Scooters	1992	Bumper car ride.
Scrambler	1984	A Scrambler ride, three arms hold three sets of cars each, spinning rapidly and giving the feeling of collision.
Wave Swinger	1960	A Wave Swinger ride with a top that tilts.

[edit] Children's attractions

These rides are located at a section of the park called Kids Playce at Playland! All rides there have a height restriction (90 cm/36") and the maximum height is 150 cm (60") unless otherwise noted.

Dune Buggies
Flying Elephants - Circular elephant ride.
KC's Raceway - Motorized car ride.
Helicopters - Ten helicopters, with names such as Zippy, move in a circular motion while the riders may control the helicopters to go up and down. No 150 cm (60") limit.
Kiddie Swings - Smaller version of the Wave Swinger.
Merry-Go-Round - Classic carousel ride. No 150 cm (60") limit.
Paddle Wheelers - Boats on a small shallow circular water channel.
Raiders - Large themed jungle gym set.
Stunt Cycles - Motorcycles move in a circular motion.

[edit] Other attractions

Demons Of The Dark and House Of The Dead - (New for 2007) Two haunted houses for the price of one with real people/monsters lurking inside. There is an additional charge for this attraction (except during Fright Nights).
Climbing Wall - A 10 m (35 ft) tall climbing wall with three climbing stations, two for beginners and one for experts. This attraction is free with admission during the regular operating season, but there is an additional cost to go on it during PNE days.
Glass House - A maze constructed of transparent walls.
Mini Golf - A small 18 hole miniature golf course.'
Basketball Courts - 2 basketball courts for guests to use.

[edit] Annual events

[edit] Fright Nights

Since 2003 [5], Playland organises a special Halloween event in the park called Fright Nights[6]. In addition to haunted houses and other exclusive scary attractions, the majority of the main attractions are open. Many specially employed monsters are scattered around the park, roaming and scaring the patrons. The Haunted Houses are owned and managed by ScreamWorks Inc., a Calgary based company.

For 2007, Fright Nights is open from October 12-31.

[edit] Gallery

Hell's Gate	Corkscrew	Enterprise	Wave Swinger
Pirate	Hellevator	Revelation	Scrambler
Wild Mouse	Flume	Music Express	Crazy Beach Party
The Coaster	Kids Playce Playland	Scooters