2020 is finally coming to an end, and while it feels like 2019 ended decades ago, and there is no guarantee that 2021 will be an improvement, I like to keep positive and hope that it will be. We can also hope that Worlds of Fun will have a slightly longer season than it did last year. I believe the 2020 season was maybe just a slight bit over two months long? So let’s look forward to 2021 and with 2021 we have several anniversaries! Just a quite note, we are celebrating the anniversaries of those attractions on the “every five year anniversary” mark.
Before we go any further I would like to recognize the two rides that should have had their 20th and 25th anniversary in 2020… but because neither of them operated at all in 2020, and hopefully will in 2021, they deserve mention. That honor belongs to both Boomerang (20th anniversary) and to Cyclone Sams: Cloudpoofer 2000 (25th anniversary). Boomerang, I think we can suffice to say is a Vekoma Boomerang. However Cyclone Sam’s is unique, the ride itself was built by Chance Rides of Wichita. Ks. with its enclosed building designed and built by Burns and McDonnell. It can never be said enough, Cyclone Sams was NEW when it was added in 1995. Many confuse it for being Wobble Wheel, its very similar predecessor. Sam’s is a Chance Wipeout, a updated version of the Chance Trabant, which is what Wobble Wheel was. Similar but not the same. Say it with me… Similar but NOT the same. But hopefully we will see both Boomerang and Sam’s in operation this year.
So drum roll please the rides celebrating five year anniversaries this year are (or were):
1971: 50th Anniversary Worlds of Fun Announcement and Park Ground Breaking
1976: 45th Anniversary Screamroller
1981: 40th Anniversary: Incred-O-Dome
1986: 35th Anniversary: Omegatron
1991: 30th Anniversary: Beat Street, Skyliner and Rockin’ Reeler
1996: 25th Anniversary Detonator & Ripcord
2001: 20th Anniversary: Camp Snoopy, Snoopy Bounce, Woodstock’s Airmail and Camp Bus
2006: 15th Anniversary: Patriot
2011: 10th Anniversary: Planet Snoopy, Woodstock Whirlybirds, Lucy’s Tugboat, Sally’s Swing Set, Peanut’s Road Rally, Flying Ace Balloon Race, Peanuts 500, and Snoopy’s Rocket Express. Grand Carrousel.
2016: 5th Anniversary: Planet Snoopy Expansion: Woodstock Gliders, Beagle Brigade Airfield, Snoopy Space Buggies, Linus Launcher, Snoopy Junction.
1971: 50th Anniversary Worlds of Fun Announcement & Ground Breaking
Yes, we have made it to the very beginning of the official 50th anniversary activities when it comes to Worlds of Fun. We have awhile yet until the park’s actual 50th anniversary which will be May 26, 2023, (or the 50th season which will be 2022). The original idea for what would become Worlds of Fun was announced in 1969 when the original plans had the park located next to the Truman Sports Complex. However by 1971 that original idea had been abandoned, and the current site had been chosen. The park would be announced, named, and celebrate its ground breaking ceremony in late 1971. Since both the official announcement and ground breaking are such major benchmarks in park history there will be separate, individual blogs written on both events later this year.
We’ll have to skip twenty years in the future to find an existing attraction celebrating an anniversary with the three attractions 1976, 1981 and 1986 all being defunct.
1991: 30th Anniversary Beat Street
Of all the anniversaries this one boggles my mind as as I can personally remember its announcement and opening as a teenager which for me doesn't seem all that long ago. Beat Street wasn’t actually “new” more so it followed the long outstanding Worlds of Fun tradition of “reuse, re-theme and call it new”. Beat Street was the re-themed River City which was introduced in 1982 next to Cotton Blossom. The rides themselves while also “new” to the park were actually bought used, Rockin’ Reeler a Reverchon Himalaya, and Skyliner an ELI Bridge BIG ELI Wheel. Reeler was removed following the 2005 season, Skyliner though continues to operate and win the award for being quite possibly the most pain in the butt ride to operate in the park. Those who have operated it know exactly what I mean.
1996: 25th Anniversary Detonator & Ripcord
It’s hard to imagine a world of amusement parks without S&S drop or launch towers, especially 15-20 years ago when they were being added seemingly by the dozens at parks across the country. Back in 1996 though, no one had ever seen anything quite like Detonator. Leslie Kuske Worlds of Fun’s director of PR at the time described it to the Kansas City Star as “sitting on the outside of a rocket at liftoff” (Campbell, 1996) and it’s telling how unique Detonator was when you realize there was only a concept drawing to use for its announcement in the paper. Detonator would open on April 13th with the park for it’s 24th season, and would be the world’s first twin-tower Space Shot, and the first permanent installation of a Space Shot at any amusement park anywhere.
Detonator then as now takes 12 riders per tower straight up at speeds of 45 MPH with a force of 4.5 G’s, and then drops passenger, faster than a free fall at negative 1 G. Probably one of my favorite stories about Detonator revolve around the park map, which if you were to pay attention to the 1996 map you would notice Detonator had THREE towers not two as it was built. It was drawn that way as it was originally planned to have three towers.
Opening the same season, but not at the same time was Ripcord, the 180-foot SkyCoaster. Ripcord is remembered well for replacing Cotton Blossom. Unlike Detonator, Ripcord opened in May 1996, and was then as today a pay extra attraction $24.95 for a solo flight, $19.95 for two and $14.95 for three. The concept of the ride over the last twenty-five years is unchanged, with a basic principle of free flight, or as I call it free falling.
2001: 20th Anniversary Camp Snoopy
It’s easy for those old enough to remember how drastically the park changed in a short span of time, and another one of those changes occurred in 2001. While Worlds of Fun had introduced Bearenstain Bear Country in 1997, replacing a portion of Pandamonium, Camp Snoopy would be the first expansion that would revitalize the ENTIRE area and not only replace the short-lived Bear Country but also the rest of Pandamonium. Out went the colored block lights and Bear Country Tree and in came red-wood queue lines and benches and lantern lights. Camp Snoopy would also introduce two new rides, Woodstock’s Airmail, built by S&S (same as Detonator), and the Camp Bus, along with the inflatable Snoopy Bounce play area. Interesting enough there was a twist with Camp Snoopy too, since while it did introduce the whole Peanut’s gang to Worlds of Fun, it would RE-INTRODUCE Snoopy, since Snoopy had made his original introduction at Worlds of Fun way back in 1978.
2006: 15th Anniversary Patriot
Quite possibly the most major attraction celebrating an anniversary in 2021 is Patriot, which turns 15 years old this year! Remembering back to when Patriot was announced it wasn’t really a surprise to anyone, track had already been spotted in Ohio with the “W.O.F” letters attached firmly to it. Then there was the multitude of teaser eagle statues, the entire shut down of Beat Street, and of course the need for a replacement for Orient Express all pretty much pointed to a B&M inverted coaster coming to Worlds of Fun. Announced on September 8th, 2005, construction had already begun in earnest, with the lift hill and first loop completed before the close out of the 2005 season in October.
When researching this blog I ran into the article published by The Kansas City Star at the time of Patriot’s announcement and Jeff always laughs that the one quote they used from him was “This is a biggie” (Alm, 2005) and for Worlds of Fun at the time it was. Of course, Patriot wasn’t alone either, as it was joined by four other new coasters in nearly the same decade. (Mamba, Boomerang, Spinning Dragons, Prowler). Still, then and even today Patriot is still thought of in the same breath as Orient Express. Funny enough it doesn’t overlap any of the territory occupied by Express, being firmly on the opposite side of the old tram road.
Patriot for Patriot’s sake was then and still is today a great coaster, offering a great thrill, and is a fantastic addition to a truly great coaster collection. It also, especially thanks to its very recent new paint job, is just as striking today as it was the day it opened. One of my favorite stories about Patriot since we are in the story telling arc is from an interview with Rob Decker, then senior director of planning and design for Cedar Fair. Originally, when Patriot was designed it was designed not just with the white stripe on red track but with white stars that covered the lower blue supports of the coaster too. Though its easy to say that it was yet another budget cut, I don’t think this one was, it was cut because it made the coaster design feel too cluttered, and I rather have to agree with that opinion. Plus, can you imagine having to re-paint the stripe AND the stars?!
2011: 10th Anniversary Planet Snoopy and Grand Carrousel
If you haven’t already noticed many benchmark changes to the park are being celebrated in 2021, and yet another one, actually another two are celebrating their 10th anniversary. Planet Snoopy would replace Camp Snoopy in 2011, and completely, once again, revitalize the area, replacing the woodsy theme with a bright and colorful new take on Snoopy. With Camp Snoopy’s retirement so went three of the park’s children’s rides. Seven more though were added brand new, so much so that it makes both 2011 and 2016 feel like a Zamperla Rides free for all (I sure hope Cedar Fair got a bulk discount!). Woodstock Whirlybirds, Lucy’s Tugboat, Sally’s Swing Set, Peanut’s Road Rally, Flying ACE Balloon Race, Peanuts 500, and Snoopy’s Rocket Express were all added, with Road Rally (Micro Moto Bahn), Head over Wheels (Viking Vheel) and Bouce-A-Roos removed after the 2010 season.
Grand Carrousel was the other major addition for 2011, and unlike all the brand new Zamperla Rides, Grand Carrousel wasn’t what anyone would consider “new” and was in fact actually by far the oldest attraction ever added to the park, originally built in either 1918 (according to Painted Ponies) or 1926 (according to the National Carousel Association).
According to the National Carousel Association it was built by M.C. Illions of Coney Island for the Philadelphia Sesquicentennial in 1926. It would go on to operate in Birmingham Al. from 1926 until 1937 and finally at its long time home of Geauga Lake from 1937 until 2007 when the park was permanently closed. With the park’s closure the carousel was put in storage, and then sent in 2010 to Carousel Works for a full restoration, and installed at Worlds of Fun in spring of 2011. Though the carousel and its band organ were meticulously and beautifully restored by Cedar Fair one faucet of the ride was altered, originally the horses were mounted so they would rock while the carousel turned. With a new installation it was determined that in order to keep that slight thrill a seat belt would have had to be have been added to each horse. The decision was made to remove the rocking mechanism and instead make each horse a more traditional jumper in order to keep the attraction seatbelt free.
2016: 5th Anniversary Planet Snoopy Expansion
Five years ago doesn’t seem all that long ago, but let me be the first to say that I can recall when we were celebrating the 5th anniversary of Mamba, and now its 23 years old. Time passes in a blink of an eye. In 2016, five new rides were added to Planet Snoopy, and as mentioned prior it really did extend the Zamperla ride free for all with four MORE new rides from Zamperla Rides, Beagle Bay Airfield, Snoopy Space Buggies, Linus Launcher and Snoopy Junction were all added to Planet Snoopy along with the Larson Flying Scooters ride, Woodstock Gliders. Fascinatingly enough the Gliders was the first ride at that specific location in 20 years, since Octopus had been removed in 1996. Woodstock Gilder’s also occupies the same land once home to the Barnstormer, a unique and thrilling, yet short lived bi-plane ride. So it seems only appropriate that another airplane-like ride would occupy its land.
The first time I ever wrote a blog on park ride anniversaries was two seasons ago when we celebrated the anniversary of rides like Timber Wolf, Spinning Dragons, Prowler, and Steelhawk. It is necessary in my mind to thank the writer that I originally borrowed the idea from too, which was CP Food Blog (http://www.cpfoodblog.com). It’s also interesting to think back on last year, before the pandemic, and that there were only two existing rides that had anniversaries, Cyclone Sam's and Boomerang. All the other rides that had anniversaries, especially the big one, Orient Express, were gone. It gives me time to be thankful that I have more than just a handful of existing rides with anniversaries this year. Still, there are many rides that could have had anniversaries this year, Screamroller would have been 45 years old, Omegatron would have been 35, and Incred-O-Dome would have been 40, making that twist from old relic to cool old retro, but it was not to be. I’m also 100% sure I made at least one person feel really old with that Screamroller comment, you’re welcome. So here’s to a new year, may 2021 be far more worth remembering than 2020, and hopefully we can all get out and ride both the rides mentioned here and all of them a lot more than we did in 2020!
Alm, R. (2005, Sept. 8). A New Spin on Fun. The Kansas City Star. p. C1.
Campbell, M. (1996, Apr. 9). A Frenzy of Speed, Gravity. The Kansas City Star. . A1.
Dinger, C. (1983). Art of the Carousel. Carousel Art, Inc.
Triplett, W. (1991, Mar. 21). The Beat Goes On. The Kansas City Star. p. 45.
