| Worlds of Fun | |
|---|---|
| Location | 4545 Worlds of Fun Avenue, Kansas City, Missouri, U.S. |
| Website | www.worldsoffun.com |
| Owner | Cedar Fair Entertainment Company |
| Opened | May 26, 1973 |
| Operating season | April through October |
| Area | 235 acres (0.95 km2) (~0.90 km²) |
| Rides | 43 total
|
Worlds of Fun (WOF) is an amusement park in Kansas City, Missouri, United States. The park opened in 1973 and was originally built by Lamar Hunt and Jack Steadman (Hunt-Midwest). In 1995 Hunt-Midwest sold Worlds of Fun to Cedar Fair Entertainment Co., which currently owns the park. Worlds of Fun has an attached separate-admission water park named Oceans of Fun. Worlds of Fun will open for its 39th season on April 14, 2012.
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Worlds of Fun opened on May 26, 1973, at a cost of $10 million. It was situated at the northern edge of a vast industrial complex developed by Hunt in the bluffs above the Missouri River in Clay County, Missouri. Immediately south of the park is Hunt's SubTropolis underground business complex.
At the time, numerous modernization projects were transforming Kansas City including the opening of Kansas City International Airport, Bartle Hall and Kemper Arena. Lamar Hunt, seeking to capitalize on Kansas City's expansion, began construction on a new amusement park in 1969. The original plan featured Worlds of Fun as a side note attraction to the 500-acre (2.0 km2) entertainment and hotel corridor Hunt planned on creating. A lagging economy scaled down such grand plans.
In 1974, the first addition to Worlds of Fun was the 4000 seat Forum Amphitheater opened in the Europa section of the park. In 1976, a new section opened for America's Bicentennial called Bicentennial Square. The Scream Roller coaster was also added to honor the 200th birthday of the nation. Three mascots also accompanied Worlds of Fun in the early days: Sam Panda, Grrrtrude the Lovable Gorilla, and Dan'l Coon.
In 1982, ten years after Worlds of Fun's opening, Oceans of Fun (at the time the largest water park in the world) opened next door. However, it would take another ten years before the two parks were linked. Also a sub-world "River City" was opened in Americana bordering the Orient. The next year saw the Scream Roller Coaster being transformed into the USA's first stand up roller coaster. Worlds of Fun ended the decade with a bang, with the addition of the Timber Wolf.
The 1990s would prove to be a decade of challenge, triumph, and struggle for Worlds of Fun. In 1995 Cedar Fair LP bought Worlds of Fun from Hunt Midwest, which took the park in a new direction. 1995 also was one of Worlds of Fun most tragic years when a fatality occurred on the Timber Wolf (The first and only fatality at the park). The following years would see the removal of many original park rides, attractions, and thematic elements that made the park unique. It was an awkward adjustment to the new owners for many of the loyal park fans. But just as Hunt Midwest had ended the 80s with a bang, Cedar Fair would close out the 1990s with the largest addition to the park since it open; Mamba was unleashed in Africa.[1]
The park is themed around the Jules Verne book, Around the World in Eighty Days. Worlds of Fun is divided into five major sections (Scandinavia, Africa, Europa, the Orient, and Americana). Rides, attractions, shops, shows, and restaurants are named according to the area theme. Guests enter the park in Scandinavia. In 1997 the Americana "main entrance" was closed for the creation of Grand Prix, so the "back gate" became the "main gate" ever since. The next world to the left is Africa, continuing in a clockwise roation, guest would then enter the Americana section, followed by the Orient. The Europa section is located in the approximate center of the circle.
Within Americana, lies the sub-section of Camp Snoopy (the area of the park specifically for young children). Originally added in 1978 as an expansion of Americana, over the years the grounds have changed its identity several times. Initially it was called "Aerodrome" (1978–86) with futuristic rides for adults, it then became a children's area called "Pandamonium!" (1987–97), then "Berenstain Bear Country" (1997–2000), and "Camp Snoopy" (2001–2010), and is currently "Planet Snoopy", new to the 2011 season. Past sub-sections have also included Bicentennial Square, River City, and Beat Street, which all have been absorbed back into Americana.
Despite the lack of an Australian/Oceanic section, the Australian-themed Boomerang roller coaster is incorporated into Africa.
In 2005 Worlds of Fun opened the first on-site resort. The campground is adjacent to the park, and is located "behind" Mamba. The Village has 22 cabins and 20 cottages and 82 sites for RVs, complete with electric and TV cable hook ups. Each cabin or cottage can fit 6-8 people.
As of 2011, only 12 of the park's original rides have weathered each season since opening in 1973, most notably the Viking Voyager, Finnish Fling, Le TaxiTour and the Flying Dutchman (which park founder Lamar Hunt once said was his favorite[5]).
List of rides as of 2011[6]
| Ride | Ride Manufacturer and Type | Height Requirement | Location | Thrill level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Autobahn | Reverchon Bumper Car Ride | Over 48" | Europa | High |
| Bamboozler | Hrubetz Round Up | Over 46" | Orient | Moderate |
| Boomerang | Vekoma Boomerang | Over 48" | Africa | Aggressive |
| Camp Bus | Zamperla Crazy Bus | 42" or with adult | Planet Snoopy | Moderate |
| Charlie Brown's Windup | Under 54" | Planet Snoopy | Mild | |
| Cyclone Sam's | Chance Morgan Wipeout | Over 48" | Americana | Aggressive |
| Detonator | S&S Space Shot | Over 52" | Americana | Aggressive |
| Finnish Fling | Chance Morgan Rotor | Over 46" or with adult | Scandinavia | High |
| Fjörd Fjärlane | Huss Swing Around | Over 48" | Scandinavia | Moderate |
| Flying Ace Balloon Race | Zamperla Balloon Race | 42" or with adult | Planet Snoopy | Mild |
| Flying Dutchman | Intamin Flying Dutchman | Over 46" or with adult | Europa | Mild |
| Fury of the Nile | Intamin river rafting ride | Over 46" | Africa | Aggressive |
| Grand Carrousel | 1926 M.C. Illions Supreme Carousel | Over 46" | Scandinavia | Low |
| Grand Prix Raceway + | Over 58" | Americana | High | |
| Kite Eating Tree | Over 36" | Planet Snoopy | Mild | |
| Krazy Kars | Under 54" | Americana | Mild | |
| Le Carrousel | Traditional Carousel | Over 46" or with adult | Europa | Mild |
| Le TaxiTour | Arrow Dynamics track car ride | Over 48" or with adult | Europa | Moderate |
| Linus' Beetle Bugs | Under 54" | Planet Snoopy | Mild | |
| Lucy's Tugboat | Zamperla Tugboat | 42" or with adult | Planet Snoopy | Mild |
| Mamba | Chance Morgan hypercoaster | Over 48" | Africa | Aggressive |
| Monsoon | Intamin Shoot-the-Chutes ride | Over 46" | Africa | High |
| Octopus | Eyerly Octopus | Over 48" or with adult | Scandinavia | Moderate |
| Patriot | B&M inverted coaster | Over 54" | Americana | Aggressive |
| Peanuts 500 | Zamperla Speedway | 42" or with adult | Planet Snoopy | Mild |
| Peanuts Playhouse | Under 54" | Planet Snoopy | Low | |
| Peanuts Pony Promenade | Under 54" | Planet Snoopy | Low | |
| Peanuts Road Rally | 42" or with adult | Planet Snoopy | Mild | |
| Peanuts Turn Tyke | 36"-54" | Planet Snoopy | Low | |
| Prowler | Great Coasters International | Over 48" | Africa | High |
| RipCord + | Skycoaster | Over 48" | Orient | Aggressive |
| Sally's Swing Set | Zamperla Happy Swing | 42" or with adult | Planet Snoopy | Mild |
| Scrambler | Eli Bridge Scrambler | Over 48" or with adult | Americana | Moderate |
| Sea Dragon[7] | Chance Morgan Sea Dragon | Over 48" or with adult | Scandinavia | Moderate |
| Skyliner | Eli Bridge Ferris wheel | Over 36" | Americana | Mild |
| Snoopy vs. Red Baron | Under 54" | Planet Snoopy | Mild | |
| Snoopy's Junction | Kiddie Train | Under 54" | Planet Snoopy | Low |
| Snoopy's Moon Bounce | a bounce house for everyone | Under 54" | Planet Snoopy | Mild |
| Snoopy's Rocket Express | 42" or with adult | Planet Snoopy | Mild | |
| Snoopy's Yacht Club | Under 54" | Planet Snoopy | Low | |
| Spinning Dragons | Gerstlauer spinning coaster | At least 42" | Orient | High |
| The Rock + | Rockwall | Over 36" | Orient | High |
| Thunderhawk | Huss Top Spin | Between 55" and 77" | Americana | Aggressive |
| Timber Wolf | Dinn Corporation wooden twister | Over 48" | Americana | Aggressive |
| Viking Voyager | Arrow Dynamics log flume | Over 46" or with adult | Scandinavia | Aggressive |
| Wacky Worm | Pinfari kiddie coaster | Over 42" | Planet Snoopy | Moderate |
| Woodstock Whirlybirds | 42" or with adult | Planet Snoopy | Low | |
| World's of Fun Railroad | Crown Metal Products | Over 46" or with adult | Americana | Mild |
| Zulu | Huss Enterprise | Over 54" | Africa | Aggressive |
In the spring of 2011 Worlds of Fun will debut Planet Snoopy, a $6 million expansion to the park’s children’s area. The new Planet Snoopy will feature six new rides all themed around the popular Peanuts characters. To celebrate the new expansion, Worlds of Fun introduced a Snoopy appearance program, for schools, churches, and community events. In total over 20 rides, shows, and attractions will greet guests in 2011 inside the new Planet Snoopy. Zamperla Incorporated of Boonton, New Jersey, is manufacturing Planet Snoopy’s new rides. With the addition of Planet Snoopy, Worlds of Fun will also unveil a newly restored and installed historic carousel. The carousel built my M.C. Illions in 1926 for the Sesqui-Centennial Celebration in Philadelphia, operated at Cedar Fair’s now defunct Geauga Lake in Aurora, Ohio, from 1937 to 2007, and now has been restored to its original condition. Once installed at Worlds of Fun this spring, the carousel will be one of only two operating in the world. To make way for the new carousel, Festhaus, the park's catering facility, will be removed and rebuilt as a brand new permanent structure. This new pavilion will be able to handle groups into the thousands as well as multiple events simultaneously.[9] On January 26, 2011, the park announced Sally's Swing Set, an new swing ride also manufactured by Zamperla that will join the previously announced new ride offerings in Planet Snoopy, boosting the park's new ride offerings in 2011 to eight.[10]
“Snoopy’s Hot Summer Lights” which debuted in 2010 is an immersive light and sound experience starring the Peanuts characters. Snoopy’s Hot Summer Lights features over 2 million LED lights and a variety of audio soundtracks through the Africa and Europa sections of the park. Along the walkway there are replicas of Snoopy and other characters for guests to view. Snoopy's Hot Summer Lights was a one million dollar investment that uses special effects and sound design, custom designed for Worlds of Fun by Emmy Award-Winning RWS and Associates. Snoopy’s Hot Summer Lights opened for its original run on June 4 and ran through September 5, 2010.[11]
Every year the park is transformed during the "Halloween Haunt." During the day the park is a friendly "Halloween town" filled with pumpkins and seasonal decorations. As well as having several Halloween themed shows and contests. Then as night approaches fog fills the park and frightful characters roam the midway. One regular price admission ticket allows access to the year-round rides, Halloween shows and other attractions as well as the nine "Extreme Haunts".
List of "Extreme Haunts" as of 2010.[12]
| Haunt Attraction Name | Description | Location | Year Added |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overlord’s Awakening | A midway show and parade marking the beginning of Haunt. | Scandinavia | 2009 |
| The Fright Zone | A walkway where characters lurk in the shadows. | Africa | 2004 |
| Master McCarthy’s Doll Factory | A serial killer turns his beautiful victims into living dolls. | Africa | 2008 |
| Corn Stalkers | Countless scarecrows fill a farm and ward off any would-be trespassers. | Africa | 2010 |
| Asylum Island | A mental hospital where the criminally insane have taken over. | Oceans of Fun Pavilion | 2006 |
| London Terror | The streets of London cry out for blood of Jack the Ripper's blade. | Americana / Africa | 2011 |
| BloodShed | An evil meat processing plant. | Camp Snoopy | 2007 |
| Outlaw’s Revenge | The ghosts of an old western town haunt the night. | Americana | 2008 |
| CarnEvil | A twisted sideshow filled with freaks and evil clowns. | Americana | 2007 |
| Lore of the Vampire featuring Club Blood | An ancient catacomb inhabited by vampires and a booming nightclub. | Orient | 2004 |
| Attraction Name | Description | Replaced By | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Camp Gonnagitcha Wichahatchet | A summer camp gone terribly wrong. | Corn Stalkers | 2010 |
| Carnival of Carnivorous Clowns | A carnival gone bad filled with evil clowns. | CarnEvil | 2006 |
| Dominion of Doom | A gothic cemetery. | London Terror | 2011 |
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