Worlds of Fun

Worlds of Fun
Worlds of Fun logo, featuring Snoopy and Woodstock
Slogan Thrills Connect
Location 4545 Worlds of Fun Avenue,
Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.
Coordinates 39°10′38.4″N 94°29′20.5″W / 39.177333°N 94.489028°W / 39.177333; -94.489028Coordinates: 39°10′38.4″N 94°29′20.5″W / 39.177333°N 94.489028°W / 39.177333; -94.489028
Theme Jules Verne's story "Around the World in Eighty Days."
Owner Cedar Fair
General Manager Tony Carovillano
Opened May 26, 1973 (May 26, 1973)
Operating season April through December
Area 235 acres (0.95 km2) (~0.90 km²)
Rides
Total 47
Roller coasters 7
Water rides 3
Website http://www.worldsoffun.com

Worlds of Fun is a 235-acre amusement park in Kansas City, Missouri, United States. The park opened in 1973 and is owned and operated by Cedar Fair, which purchased the park from Hunt-Midwest in 1995. Admission to Worlds of Fun includes access to Oceans of Fun, a water park adjacent to the amusement park.

History

A view of Worlds of Fun from outside the park.

Worlds of Fun opened on May 26, 1973, at a cost of $10 million. It is situated at the northern edge of a vast industrial complex in the bluffs above the Missouri River in Clay County, Missouri. At the time of its opening, numerous modernization projects across Kansas City were in progress including the opening of Kansas City International Airport, Kemper Arena (now called Hy-Vee Arena) and the Truman Sports Complex. Mid-America Enterprises, seeking to capitalize on the citywide expansion movement, began construction on a new amusement park in 1969. The park was originally planned to complement a 500-acre (2.0 km2) hotel and entertainment complex, but a lagging economy during the park's early years derailed the idea.

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 in honor of the United States Bicentennial – the 200th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence – and was named Bicentennial Square. The new section included the debut of Screamroller from Arrow Dynamics, which was a replica of the first modern-looping roller coaster, Corkscrew, that opened a year earlier at Knott's Berry Farm.

In 1982, Oceans of Fun opened next door as the largest water park in the world. Also the same year, a sub-world "River City" was opened in Americana bordering the Orient section. Screamroller was transformed into Extremeroller the following year, which featured stand-up trains instead of the original sit-down models making it the first looping, stand-up roller coaster in North America.[1] Several years later in 1989, Worlds of Fun ended the decade with the addition of Timber Wolf, a wooden roller coaster that initially ranked high in several national polls.[2][3]

Cedar Fair LP purchased Worlds of Fun in 1995. The new owners invested $10 million with the addition of Mamba, a D.H. Morgan Manufacturing steel hypercoaster, to the park's attraction lineup in 1998.[4]

Other notable additions

  • 2006: Patriot opens as the longest, tallest, and fastest full-circuit inverted roller coaster in the region. It was the park's largest capital investment on a single attraction at $14 million.
  • 2008: For their 35th anniversary, Worlds of Fun added a festival called Oktoberfest.
  • 2009: A new wooden coaster, Prowler, is added to the Africa section of the park. It receives the Golden Ticket Award for "Best New Ride of 2009" by Amusement Today magazine.
  • 2010: Snoopy's Hot Summer Lights, a $1 million immersive light and sound experience, opens in the Europa and Africa sections of the park. Subway opens at Oceans of Fun.
  • 2011: Planet Snoopy, an $8-million children's themed area, is added to Worlds of Fun featuring over 20 rides and attractions. An Illions carousel called The Grand Carousel is added to the Scandinavia section of the park.
  • 2012: A premium line queue system called "Fast Lane" is introduced.
  • 2013: Oceans of Fun receives full integration with Worlds of Fun sharing one admission for both parks.
  • 2014: WindSeeker – a 301-foot (92 m) Mondial swing ride at Knott's Berry Farm – was renamed SteelHawk and relocated to Worlds of Fun for the 2014 season.
  • 2016: Planet Snoopy receives upgrades, including five new rides added to the children's area, with the removal of two former attractions.
  • 2017: Mustang Runner (HUSS Troika), Falcon's Flight (HUSS Condor) is added to the Americana section of the park. A newly remodeled entrance is introduced, and Winterfest is introduced in November 2017.
  • 2018: Nordic Chaser (Mack SeaStorm) is added to the Scandinavia section of the park. Timber Wolf replaced their helix with a new seventy-degree back turn. Great Coasters International constructed the new element.

Areas and attractions

The park takes its theme from 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 Planet 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.

Africa

Ride Year Opened Ride Manufacturer and Type Height Requirement Rating[5]
Boomerang 2000 Vekoma Boomerang roller coaster Over 48" 5
Fury of the Nile 1984 Intamin river rafting ride Over 46" 4
Mamba 1998 Morgan steel hypercoaster Over 48" 5
Monsoon 1992 Intamin Shoot-the-Chutes ride Over 46" 4
Prowler 2009 Great Coasters International wooden coaster Over 48" 4
Zulu 1979 HUSS Enterprise Over 54" 4

Americana

Ride Year Opened Ride Manufacturer and Type Height Requirement Rating[5]
Cyclone Sams 1995 Chance Rides Wipeout Over 48" 5
Detonator 1996 S&S Worldwide Space shot Over 52" 5
RipCord 1996 Skycoaster Over 48" 5
Mustang Runner 2017 HUSS Troika 3
Patriot 2006 Bolliger & Mabillard Inverted roller coaster Over 54" 5
Skyliner 1991 Eli Bridge Ferris wheel Over 36" 2
SteelHawk 2014 Mondial Windseeker Over 52" 5
Timber Wolf 1989 Dinn Corporation wooden roller coaster Over 48" 5
Worlds of Fun Railroad 1973 Crown Metal Products[6] 3 ft (914 mm) narrow gauge railroad Over 46" or with adult 2

Europa

Ride Year Opened Ride Manufacturer and Type Height Requirement Rating[5]
Autobahn 1973 Reverchon Bumper Cars ride Over 48" 4
Flying Dutchman 1973 Intamin Flying Dutchman Over 46" or with adult 3
Le Taxi Tour 1973 Arrow Dynamics track car ride Over 48" or with adult 3
Falcon's Flight 2017 HUSS Condor Over 48" or with adult 4

Orient

Ride Year Opened Ride Manufacturer and Type Height Requirement Rating[5]
Bamboozler 1987 Hrubetz Round Up Over 46" 3
Spinning Dragons 2004 Gerstlauer Spinning roller coaster Over 48" or with adult 5

Scandinavia

Ride Year Opened Ride Manufacturer and Type Height Requirement Rating[5]
Fjörd Fjärlane 1981 HUSS Swing Around Over 48" or with adult 3
Grand Carrousel 2011 1926 M.C. Illions Supreme Carousel Over 46" or with adult 1
Sea Dragon 1994 Chance Morgan Sea Dragon Over 48" or with adult 4
Viking Voyager 1973 Arrow Dynamics log flume Over 46" or with adult 4
Scandi Scrambler 2015 (originally 1973) Eli Bridge Scrambler Over 48" or with adult 3
Nordic Chaser 2018 Mack Seastorm 48" tall to ride alone or 40" tall with adult 3

Planet Snoopy

Ride Year Opened Ride Manufacturer and Type Height Requirement Rating[5]
Camp Bus 2001 Zamperla Crazy Bus 42" or with adult 2
Charlie Brown's Windup 2001 Zamperla Between 36" and 54" 1
Cosmic Coaster 1993 Preston and Barbieri Wacky Worm Over 42" 3
Beagle Brigade Airfield 2016 Zamperla Flying Tigers Over 42" to ride alone 2
Flying Ace Balloon Race 2011 Zamperla Balloon Race 42" or with adult 2
Kite Eating Tree 2001 S&S Worldwide Over 36" 2
Linus' Beetle Bugs 2001 Zamperla Under 54" 2
Linus' Launcher 2016 Zamperla Kite Flyer Over 42" 3
Lucy's Tugboat 2011 Zamperla Tugboat 42" or with adult 2
Peanuts 500 2011 Zamperla Speedway 42" or with adult 2
Peanuts Playhouse 2005 Koala Play Between 36" and 54" 1
Peanuts Road Rally 2011 Zamperla 42" or with adult 1
Peanuts Turn Tyke 1987 Zamperla Between 36" 54" 1
Sally's Swing Set 2011 Zamperla Happy Swing 42" or with adult 2
Snoopy Junction 2016 Zamperla 36" or with adult 1
Snoopy vs. Red Baron 2001 Herschell Under 54" 2
Snoopy's Rocket Express 2011 Zamperla 42" or with adult 2
Snoopy's Space Buggies 2016 Zamperla 36" or with adult 2
Snoopy's Yacht Club 2001 Go Forth Industries Under 54" 1
Woodstock Gliders 2016 Larson Fly Scooter Over 42" 3
Woodstock Whirlybirds 2011 Zamperla 42" or with adult 2
  • + Denotes an extra cost for the ride or attraction.

Retired rides and attractions

Past Roller Coasters

  • Schussboomer, (1973–1984), a ski-themed steel roller coaster with ten separate 4-passenger cars.
  • Screamroller/Extremeroller , (1976–1988), the first stand-up roller coaster in the Western Hemisphere. Its only season as a stand-up coaster was in 1983, after which it was reverted to the original sit-down style.
  • Zambezi Zinger, (1973–1997), a steel "Speedracer"-type roller coaster (one of only two in existence at the time of its removal) with an electric spiral lift and a fast-paced ride through the woods. Currently in operation at the Colombian National Coffee Park as Broca Colombia, South America.[7]
  • Orient Express, (1980–2003), the first roller coaster in the world to feature a batwing (then known as a "Kamikaze Curve"), now a common element in thrill rides. Also, it was the second roller coaster in the world to have two interlocking loops.
  • Silly Serpent/Funicular, (1973-1987) An Allan Herschell Company Little Dipper. The children's coaster was originally located in the Europa section of the park as "Funicular" and moved to the Africa section where it operated as "Silly Serpent" until it was removed in 1987.

Flat Rides/Attractions

  • Barnstormer, (1978-1983), a 100-foot tall spinning airplane ride manufactured by Bradley & Kaye. Added with the opening of the Aerodrome area. Retired in part due to frequent shutdowns due to high winds.[8][9][10]
  • Incred-O-Dome, (1981–1997), an OMNIMAX-style theater where viewers could go on a virtual ride of, among other things, the Orient Express coaster. This appealed to visitors who did not want to wait in line or experience the real ride, as well as those with physical conditions which would prevent them from riding at all. The show was presented less than 200 yards (180 m) away from the actual ride.
  • Omegatron, (1986–2001), a six-story, upside-down thrill ride.
  • Python Plunge, a water-slide type ride where the riders would carry the raft up to the top themselves. There were two types of slides. One slide was open aired and went straight down, the other was a twisting tube.
  • Grand Prix Raceway, (1997-2014) replaced by the SteelHawk.
  • Octopus, replaced by the Scandi Scrambler.
  • Thunderhawk, (2002-2015) a HUSS Topspin ride that flipped riders several times and took riders to a height of 60 feet.
  • Krazy Kars, (1973-2015) a children's bumper car ride removed for Mustang Runner.
  • Le Carousel, (1979-2016) 3 across horse merry-go-round replaced by Falcons Flight
  • Finnish Fling, (1973-2017) a Chance Rides Rotor, believed to have been one of fewer than six operating Rotors in North America.[11][8] Likely to be replaced by Nordic Chaser.

Oceans of Fun

Oceans of Fun is Worlds of Fun's water park. It opened in 1982 as the world's largest water park. It is included with admission to Worlds of Fun, beginning in the 2013 season.

Fast Lane

Fast Lane is Worlds of Fun's new 'two line' system for 2012. For a cost between $30 and $50 (in addition to normal admission charges), visitors receive a wrist band that enables them to bypass the 'normal-wait' line and enter the 'Fast Lane' to significantly reduce their wait time.

During Halloween Haunt, a similar system named 'Fright Lane' is sold. Essentially the same purpose as Fast Lane, it significantly reduces wait time of select haunted attractions. 'Fright Lane+' includes a 'Skeleton Key', a key that grants you special access to secret, intense rooms in six of the eight haunted houses. In addition, you receive special seating for Ed Alonzo's Psycho Circus of Magic and Mayhem. 'Fright Lane Max' is a VIP system that allows you special seating at Overlord's Awakening, a meal, limited edition Haunt T-shirts, plus all perks listed above.

Worlds of Fun Village

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.

Snoopy's Hot Summer Lights

"Snoopy's Hot Summer Lights" which debuted in 2010 was 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 were replicas of Snoopy and other characters for guests to view. Snoopy's Hot Summer Lights was a one million dollar investment that used 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.[12]

Halloween Haunt

Halloween Haunt is a Halloween event that takes place during the Halloween season. It is included in the price of admission.

Current attractions

As of 2018, it features 12 Extreme Haunts, including eight mazes and four scare zones, along with three spectacular shows.[13]

Attraction Type Opened Location Theme
Khaos Unleashed Maze 2018 Oceans of Fun Chaos
BloodShed Maze 2007 Planet Snoopy Slaughterhouse
CornStalkers Maze 2010 Fury of the Nile Cornfield/Scarecrows
Ripper Alley Maze 2017 Bicentennial Square Jack the Ripper/Jekyll & Hyde
Lore of the Vampire Maze 2004 Orient Vampires & Werewolves
Blood on the Bayou Maze 2015 Bicentennial Square Voodoo Spirits
Chamber of Horrors: Condemned Maze 2018 Dinosaurs Alive Abandoned Wax Museum
Zombie High Maze 2012 Prowler queue Zombies
Hexed Zone 2015 Scandinavia Witches
CarnEvil Zone 2016 Patriot Plaza Hobo Clowns
Outlaw's Revenge Zone 2008 Old West/Americana Outlaws
Boneyard Zone 2014 Africa Orcs
Show Type Location
Overlord's Awakening Monologue/Parade International Plaza
Meat Cleaver High Music Performance Europa
Skeleton Crew Music Performance International Plaza

Former Haunt attractions

Attraction Name Replaced By Year closed
Camp Gonnagitcha Wichahatchet CornStalkers 2009
Carnival of Carnivorous Clowns CarnEvil 2006
Dominion of Doom London Terror 2010
Master McCarthy's Doll Factory Miss Lizzie's Chamber of Horrors 2012
FrightZone The Boneyard 2014
Club Blood BlackOut (Skeleton Key Room for Lore of the Vampire) 2015
Asylum Island Urgent Scare 2016
London Terror Ripper Alley 2017

Games

Cole Lindbergh, former manager of the park's games department, was featured in a 2011 episode of Public Radio International's This American Life, "Amusement Park."[14] In the nine-minute prologue,[15] host Ira Glass interviews Lindbergh about his management philosophy and plays segments from several YouTube videos he made to promote the park's games.[14]

Incidents

Barnstormer

  • In July 1978, during the ride's first season of operation, a malfunction of the 100-foot tall Barnstormer caused the spinning planes carrying riders to descend rapidly, hitting each other on the way down. Some riders were also sprayed with hydraulic fluid. In total, 20 riders suffered minor injuries.[10]

Oceans Of Fun

  • In 2016, a man was arrested after touching 2 young girls.

Orient Express

  • On June 14, 1987, a train that was pulling into the loading station malfunctioned and slammed into the rear of the other train inside of the roller coaster station. A total of 56 passengers were involved in the accident, but only 8 were taken to the hospital for injuries.[16]
  • On July 17, 1999, two cars of a seven-car train derailed due to severe internal metal fatigue in a support post, stranding 18 people. Two were immediately taken to hospital, and six went later. None of the injuries were life-threatening.[17]

Screamroller

  • On May 18, 1976, Robbie M. Meyers, an 8-year-old boy, was struck and seriously injured by the Screamroller after entering a restricted area.[18] In 1977, Meyers was awarded $1.39 million (equivalent to $5.61 million in 2017[19]) in a lawsuit finding Mid-America Enterprises responsible for his injuries.[20]

Timber Wolf

  • On March 31, 1990, two trains collided just short of the loading platform, injuring 35 people.[21] The control system had malfunctioned, and was unable to control two trains at once. The ride reopened with a single train until the control system was fixed to handle two.[22]
  • On June 30, 1995, a 14-year-old girl fell from her seat on the coaster and died. The park owner at the time, Hunt-Midwest Entertainment Inc., and ride manufacturer, Dinn Corporation, claimed that she was switching seats when the accident occurred. A riding companion claimed that safety restraints (a lap bar and seat belt) had come undone on a sharp turn at the top of one of the ride's hills. But, Worlds of Fun officials claimed that witnesses had seen her remove her restraints and tried to switch seats and that there had been no malfunction, though her family disputed this. The ride was temporarily closed pending an investigation of its safety features, which resulted in new lap bar installations. Hunt-Midwest Entertainment Inc. and Dinn Corporation settled with the family for $200,000.[23] This makes the Timber Wolf the only ride so far at Worlds of Fun with a fatality.
  • On August 2, 2014, an 11-year-old boy was taken to a hospital after suffering a concussion and a bloody nose on the ride. The boy said that as the coaster was descending down the hill, he hit his head & nose on the restraint and therefore had a bloody nose as he was exiting the ride. He had blood all over his shorts according to authorities. Paramedics wrapped the boy's nose with a towel to prevent blood from dripping on his legs and feet .[24]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Marden, Duane. "Extremeroller  (Worlds of Fun)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved September 10, 2014.
  2. ↑ "Inside Track "Top Coasters" Readers Survey". Roller Coaster FAQ. Retrieved September 10, 2014.
  3. ↑ "8th Annual NAPHA Amusement Park and Attractions Survey". National Amusement Park Historical Association.
  4. ↑ "Timeline section".
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Ratings assigned per Worlds of Fun's own system, where "1" is the least intense and "5" is the most. See their "Guest Assistance Guide" (PDF). Worlds of Fun. for more specific details.
  6. ↑ "Worlds of Fun Railroad - Worlds of Fun".
  7. ↑ "Zambezi Zinger - Worlds of Fun (Kansas City, Missouri, USA)".
  8. 1 2 "Worlds of Fun Gone but Not Forgotten". www.worldsoffun.org. Retrieved 2018-04-30.
  9. ↑ Lovsee-Mast, Jennifer (2011-01-10). "A is for Aerodrome". Worlds of Fun.Org. Retrieved 2018-04-30.
  10. 1 2 "20 injured when ride goes haywire at Worlds of Fun". Salina (Kansas) Journal. UPI. 1978-07-02. p. 2. Retrieved 2018-04-30.
  11. ↑ Sloan, Nick (2017-10-18). "Worlds of Fun announces closing of Finnish Fling". KCTV 5 News. Retrieved 2018-04-30.
  12. ↑ "Kansas City Amusement Park - Ride On & Slide On! - Worlds of Fun". Archived from the original on May 3, 2010.
  13. ↑ "Halloween Haunt rides and attractions". Worlds of Fun. Retrieved September 14, 2013.
  14. 1 2 ""Amusement Park," This American Life, Aug. 12, 2011".
  15. ↑ "Prologue".
  16. ↑ "Investigation of roller coaster mishap begins" Archived from UPI.com, June 15, 1987
  17. ↑ "Officials find cause of July derailment of roller coaster", Archived from MorningSun.net, November 17, 1999
  18. ↑ Nolan, Mary Lou (1976-06-26). "Added safety for ride". The Kansas City Times. p. 4. Retrieved 2018-04-30.
  19. ↑ Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis Community Development Project. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. Retrieved January 2, 2018.
  20. ↑ "Youth wins suit against KC amusement park". Salina (Kansas) Journal. UPI. 1977-12-30. p. 11. Retrieved 2018-04-30.
  21. ↑ "35 Injured at Worlds of Fun", The Witchita Eagle, April 1, 1990
  22. ↑ "Coaster To Run Again", The Witchita Eagle, April 25, 1990
  23. ↑ Scott Bekker (July 1, 1995). "Girl Dies in Fall from Roller Coaster". Associated Press. Retrieved May 20, 2016.
  24. ↑ "Mom says son got concussion on Worlds of Fun roller coaster", KCTV 5 News, August 28, 2014
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