Celebration City
 | |
| Location |
Branson, Missouri,  United States |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 36°38′52″N 93°17′45″W / 36.64765°N 93.2959°WCoordinates: 36°38′52″N 93°17′45″W / 36.64765°N 93.2959°W |
| Owner | Herschend Family Entertainment |
| Opened | 2003 |
| Closed | October 25, 2008 |
| Previous names | Branson USA |
| Operating season | May until October |
| Rides | |
| Total | 30+ |
| Roller coasters | 3 |
| Water rides | 2 |
| Status | SBNO |
Celebration City was a "night-time theme park" located in Branson, Missouri, USA. It was themed after America in the 20th century, with areas based on Route 66, Small-town America in the 1900s, and a beachside boardwalk in the 1920s. As a "sister park" to Herschend Family Entertainment's Silver Dollar City theme park located nearby, It was meant to continue the day where Silver Dollar City's 19th century theming left off. It opened in the afternoon into the evening, with the operating day capped off by a laser and fireworks display.
The park featured many rides, shows, and attractions. Its operating season ran from May until mid-September.
History
An amusement park named Branson USA was opened on the site in 1999. The park struggled in its early years and closed in 2001. Herschend Family Entertainment Corporation purchased the park in 2002 with plans to redevelop and reopen it. The Branson Courier reported at a cost of over $40 million. It was reopened as Celebration City in 2003, after a redesign and expansion. It was equipped with a laser, water, and fireworks show, a wooden roller coaster, and a brand new log flume ride in 2008.
On Friday October 24, 2008, Herschend Family Entertainment Corporation announced that the park would finish out its 2008 season and not return for 2009, due to unmet financial expectations. It closed its doors for good on Saturday, October 25, 2008. Herschend continues to operate the nearby Silver Dollar City and White Water Branson attractions, and in announcing the closure, stated "...the company is already exploring various new development concepts for the site including an aquarium, other family attractions, re-theming the current park and also, destination retail and dining."
Rides
Since the park closed, rides have been moved to other Herschend Family Entertainment properties, other amusement parks, or are SBNO. Rides included:
- Accelerator, a S&S double shot tower, installed by Ride Entertainment Group[1]
- Bumble Bee, a kiddie ride
- Electric Star Wheel, a Ferris wheel
- Fireball, a swing ride
- Flying Aces, a kiddie ride
- Flying Carpet
- Flying Circus, a Larson Flying Scooters ride (which has been moved to Herschend owned Wild Adventures)[2]
- Freefall, a milder version of Accelerator
- Frisco Line
- Jack Rabbit, a steel roller coaster (Built by E&F Miler Industries in 2003 which has been moved to Herschend owned Wild Adventures as Viking Voyage)
- Orbiter
- The Ozark Wildcat, a GCI wooden roller coaster built in 2003. It was demolished 12/15/15.
- Paris Wheel
- Roaring Falls, a Shoot-the-Chutes ride, it opened in 2008 and was relocated from Geauga Lake
- Route 66 Speedway, a large go-kart track
- Scrambler (which has been moved to Herschend owned Wild Adventures) [2]
- Shoot-D-Chute, a log flume
- Stinger
- Slick's Slightly Used Cars, bumper cars
- Swing & Twirl
- Thunderbolt, a steel roller coaster
- Vintage Carousel, a carousel
Former Rides
- Chaos, a Chance Rides ride
External links
- Aerial video of abandoned park by Phantom 2 Drone
- Herschend Family Entertainment
- SDCFans.com - A Fansite
- Video of Celebration City's nightly laser and fireworks display
References
- ↑ "Projects". Ride Entertainment Group. Retrieved 22 November 2013.
- 1 2 "Wild Adventures making big plans for 2010". Valdosta Daily Times. Retrieved 2009-10-08.