Great Times, Greater Thrills: Zulu turns 46!

 

The quintessential Zulu from 1999, it was still a youngster than at 20 years old!

  

In 2025, Zulu is due to turn 46 years old, making it the 9th-oldest operating ride at the park*.  For the last few years, there have been concerns over its removal, as many parks across the country remove their aged Huss and Schwarkzkopf Enterprise rides, to note Zulu is a Huss Enterprise model. Huss, the ride’s manufacturer, no longer makes its Enterprise model (and Schwarzkopf doesn’t even exist) so costs to maintain these types of rides have skyrocketed as parts can either only come from another scrapped ride, or machined. In a way, that's how Worlds of Fun lost Octopus (an Eyerly Monster ride) a decade ago, in a “switcharoo” with another Cedar Fair park that had a Eyerly Monster ride, and also a Huss Enterprise. They removed their Enterprise, Worlds of Fun got the parts, and the other park got Octopus to use for its parts. Thankfully, it appears Zulu has not only received a reprieve, but has in recent years been updated, and for the 2025 season will receive its first major color change in its 46 years of operation. 

Concept art showing the African section of the park, but with an Arrow corkscrew and train station!

So, time for a trip back to the 1970’s. Prior to Zulu’s addition in 1979, Worlds of Fun had been looking for ways to “plus” that section of Africa for a few years. The Safari, one of the park’s original rides, was located in that section of Africa, about where Prowler Plaza is today. But Zulu wasn’t Worlds of Fun’s first plan. No, according to Randall Duell’s concept art (shown at the 50th anniversary history exhibit), Worlds of Fun actually looked first to adding an Arrow Development Corkscrew, a second train depot, along with possibly a Schwarzkopf Bayern Kurve ride-  all located behind Safari (where Prowler’s lift hill and drop are now). For unknown reasons that plan was dropped and the Corkscrew would become Screamroller in Americana in 1976. In 1979, after the removal of the short-lived Safari ride, the stage would be set for Zulu… 

At that time, I was only 2 years old; many reading this were not even born, while some were old enough to actually be working at the park at the time. Generation X was still being born, and in most cases were experiencing childhood- instead of today’s iphones and ipads for Christmas, we had Atari's and Speak and Spells- the epitome of technology at the time. Living rooms were covered in shag carpet, with orange, avocado green and brown furniture, and in many cases, fake wooden paneling. Lots of wooden paneling. In world news, 1979 is most often recalled for the Iranian revolution, (which led to the Islamic Republic that it is today), oil shortages, and the Iranian hostage situation. 

You can see the W. Germany (or West Germany) designation of its manufacturer plate here. This was only taken a few years ago.  Taken by Jennifer Lovesee-Mast

World history leaked into Worlds of Fun history too, with Zulu. If you take a good look at the lift arm of Zulu, you can see the Huss Manufacturing logo, which still lists its manufacturing country as West Germany. For those youngsters who may not know, that's not referring to a geographical location but a literal, real country name, with countries East Germany and West Germany being separated by the “iron curtain” until 1991.  

The 1978 souvenir map, no Zulu

The 1979 souvenir map, WITH Zulu. 

1979 came on the heels of a successful 1978 season, with a reported 1.26 million visitors (4,000 less than 1977), with over 60% being attributed to visitors from out of town. Following the blueprint of the prior seasons, the park looked at expansions for a wide variety of guests, and included the Beetle Bumps kiddie ride in the Orient (removed in 2022), Le Carrousel in Europa (removed after 2016), Wing Ding, relocated from Fairyland and the park’s shortest lived ride (removed only two seasons later), and finally, the last survivor from the 1979 expansion, Zulu. 

Newspaper article from the KC Star announcing the 1979 ride addition line-up including Zulu

Zulu, along with the relocated Silly Serpent (Funicular), would bring a revitalization to the African section, replacing-  as previously mentioned-  The Safari ride, with Zulu going so far as to re-use the Safari’s queue house. And for 46  years… that’s where Zulu would stay. Unlike its other 1970’s still-existing expansion flat ride, Bamboozler, (which has moved twice and had three different names), Zulu still sits in exactly the same spot, with exactly the same name, and pretty much the same appearance for nearly five decades. A plethora of rides have come and gone around it — the original Zambezi Zinger, Silly Serpent, Python Plunge, and now Prowler — but Zulu hasn’t changed. And that I think is why many Worlds of Fun fans, and even those who are not even fans of the park, love Zulu. 

Looking at Zulu from most likely the Zinger lift hill. You can see Silly Serpent in front of Zulu. This was taken probably around 1987. Taken by Jeff Mast. 

But really, its history is only the beginning of its story, because with 46 years of existence Zulu has so many stories to tell. A while ago, I put out a request for personal remembrances of Zulu and was shocked by the response- over a hundred replies and counting.

Early 1979-1980 photo of Zulu where you can still see the black painted shields on the roofs of each car. That was about the only cosmetic change Zulu has had until this season. Taken by Jeff Mast

Most responses revolved around a central theme, their love for Zulu: “I love the Zulu”, “This was one of my favorite rides”, “I liked Zulu”, “I absolutely love this thing!”.  An anecdotal story that backs up this detail is that Zulu appeared quite popular with attendees during last year’s ACE Preservation Con; I never saw it sitting still waiting for riders. The best comment that sums this all up neatly was made by Murthy Mathiprakasam: “The Zulu is the epitome of the Worlds of Fun ride experience.”

Zulu 1980's most likely (from a postcard)

This one might look very similar but it was taken nearly 40 years after the photo above it. Taken by Jeff Mast/Jennifer Lovesee-Mast (meaning we don't know which one took it!). 

Probably one of my favorite features of Zulu though, showed up in a number of comments which is not the ride experience, but the ride’s appearance. From the very beginning, Zulu has lit up its section of Africa like the jewel it is. Ian Brisco commented:  “Zulu makes that section of the park gorgeous, Hope it stays” and Greg Nuse commented that:  “The ride is a staple of the park and absolutely beautiful at night. I love these rides in general but this one feels special somehow..”  I think Greg's comment hits the nail on the head.  Zulu, I think, IS special because it's a reminder, a holdover, if you will, from a different time. Like that beloved antique Christmas ornament, still sparkling and beautiful today, but even more beautiful because of all the memories associated with it. 

Then there are the ride experiences— and man are there a lot of stories there, too. One aspect of Zulu, which it shared with the original Zambezi Zinger, to which John Talbot commented:

Hanging out in the cabin together on Zulu taken by Jeff Mast/Jennifer Lovesee-Mast 

 “It’s interesting that nobody mentioned the social aspect of the ride - the Zulu  and the Zinger were the two rides at the park that encouraged teens on dates to snuggle up as a matter of necessity. It was a great ice-breaker for shy kids. As with the Zinger, I'll bet there are a few old married couples around the KC area who had their first real physical contact while riding the Zulu”. 

Zulu 1999, loading, taken by Jennifer Lovesee-Mast

Many came back to respond to John's comments including one from Kathleen Jones, where she comments: “so fun sitting in front of your sweetie acting scared so he’d hold you extra tight”. It's an aspect that was lost with the original Zinger, so the fact that it still exists on Zulu should encourage its continued operation.

Taken in 1979/1980 by Jeff Mast

An on-ride photo when they were allowed, taken 1979/1980 by Jeff Mast

Of course there is the flip side to Zulu, no mistaking it's a thrilling ride and there is a reason there is a bathroom across the midway from it. Jenn Marie commented that:  “The Zulu is the first and only ride I've ever gotten sick on.” And then there are the Ambassador memories of cleaning up afterwards — on Zulu it was a real mess — as guests would frequently stick their heads out, creating a “path of breadcrumbs” to be cleaned up after the fact. But that doesn’t make it a bad ride; that just means it's still a truly great ride, in my opinion.

Taken by Jennifer Lovesee-Mast

Other Zulu riders agree. Susan Tayor commented:  “Oh no, my 11 and 15 year olds just got the courage to ride it this year and loved it!”  Stefanie Moser Throm commented that:  “The Zulu was my first ‘big kid' ride and I rode it with my sister and brother-in-law. My brother-in-law made jokes and commentary the whole ride to keep me from freaking out. I always think of that everytime I ride it now.”  It’s a right of passage, like many other thrillers that have come and gone over the years. 

Zulu's ride cabins being painted, photo by Worlds of Fun

For the first time in 46 years Zulu will have a new color scheme! Photo by Worlds of Fun

As we stand on the precipice of the park’s 53rd season (52nd year), thanks to Worlds of Fun we now have a little insight into what the season will hold- but opening day is always a bit of a surprise like Christmas day, for me at least. Many long time fans are breathing a sigh of relief, Zulu is safe, for now, as are its 46 years of past and future memorie. Parents can still bring their kids, and now grandkids, to ride this thriller they first rode themselves as teenagers. And that- for anyone paying attention- is priceless. Back in 2019, I wrote a blog where I jokingly stated that no ride was immortal except for Zulu, which actually now is. Maybe I was on to something there.

*The top ten oldest rides at Worlds of Fun

1-6: Worlds of Fun Railroad, Scandi Scrambler, Flying Dutchman, Le Taxitour, Autobahn (Der Fender Bender), Viking Voyager - all introduced in 1973

7: Red Baron (1974)

8: Bamboozler (1977)

9. Zulu (1979)

10. Fjord Fjarlane (1982)

Happy New Year 2025!

 Happy New Year 2025! Every year for the past five years or so on New Year's Day we have looked at the anniversaries for the next season. This tradition was borrowed from CP Food Blog, which was running anniversary blogs too at the time. Though we don’t yet have an opening day for 2025 we are continuing this new tradition for this new year!  Believe it or not, there are only three total rides that have anniversaries this year, with only two of them actually being existing rides. Several attractions celebrate anniversaries this year and we will look at those too.

1975 - 50th Anniversary - Sam Panda, Dan'l Coon and Grrrtrude Gorilla

There weren't a whole lot of additions for the 1975 season, which would have been the park’s 3rd season; the massive ride additions and land expansions would start with the following season. However, one addition that many remember from the 1980s got started in 1975 and that was the introduction of the park’s second set of park mascots, Sam Panda, Dan’l Coon, and Grrrtrude Gorilla. They weren’t the original park mascots as many think, that title goes to a set of pretty terrifying seven-foot-tall characters, the French Germanderie and the Viking. Created by long-time Worlds of Fun costume designer Dawna Welborn Sam Panda, Grrrtrude Gorilla, and Dan’l Coon would flip the switch for the Country Club Plaza lights in November 1974 but would be nameless at the time, they would receive their names through a naming contest in 1974 and were named by Richard Rice of Independence, Mo. Sam, Dan’l, and Grrrtrude would greet guests throughout the season and in a variety of off-season events for the next two decades. They would be joined by a smaller, pint-sized brother, P.J. Panda in 1987. 

1980 - 45th Anniversary - Orient Express

The seasons following 1975 saw a variety of new rides and coasters, the pinnacle of which was the addition for the 1980 season, the Orient Express. Orient Express was built by Arrow Development of Mountain View, CA, and designed by legendary Ron Toomer. Toomer and Arrow would go on to create a legacy of 1980’s steel, multi-looper thrillers but I like to think that Orient Express started all of that. One fact is indisputable, Orient Express introduced the world to the first upside-down element (inversion), outside of the vertical loop and corkscrew, which was known on Express as the Kamikaze Kurve. Today the element is known as either a boomerang or batwing and continues to appear on modern coasters to this day. Being the first to use such an element, Orient Express was a prototype and had the issues that went along with that. The forces exerted on the ride would lead to its downfall, and Orient Express would be retired in September 2003, and removed in November of the same year. To this day its site sits empty as neither Spinning Dragons nor Patriot occupy any of the land previously occupied by Orient Express. The station of Orient Express is used by Lore of the Vampire haunt. 

1985 - 40th Anniversary - Haunted Theatre and Stax of Wax

1985 was very much a live entertainment year, though no new rides were introduced, two new shows would be. The first show introduced in 1985 was Haunted Theatre, at the Tivoli Music Hall. A creation of illusionist Mark Wilson, Haunted Theatre would be an overall $750,000 investment, and involved the renovation of the Tivoli stage and theater, along with a modification of the Tivoli live entertainment offerings which had to that point featured live band musical revue shows. Though only running for two seasons at Worlds of Fun, Haunted Theatre captured the imaginations of a variety of park guests and is remembered not only for its well-choreographed style and music but also its unique brand of 1980s-style macabre. 

The second show lasted just a bit longer… becoming the park’s longest-running show in history and generating at least three different spin-offs. Stax of Wax, a tribute to 1950s and 1960s rock-n-roll would premier at Moulin Rouge, and play under that same name until 2002. For the 2003 and 2004 seasons, the names would be modified but the basis of the show would remain the same, giving a sort of “gray” period as far as history goes. Still, that means that even with the re-naming Stax of Wax had a historic 20-season run. It would create its first spin-off in 1999 with Stax of Trax, featuring a tribute to 1970s music, and in 2004 would spin-off in a haunted direction with Haunted Homecoming, a show that continues to play at the Moulin Rouge during Halloween Haunt. (and is on the cusp of taking over the title of the longest-running show from its progenitor). The backstory of Stax of Wax, a 1950s high school named Cleaver High also continues to be used by the Zombie High haunt. 

1995 - 30th Anniversary - Cyclone Sam's and Captain Kidd's

Yes, 1995 was 30 years ago, crazy to think. 1995 was the last season of Hunt Midwest, and saw their last addition to the park, Cyclone Sam’s: Cloudpoofer 2000. It is also our first attraction on this list that still exists.  I would like to think that Cyclone Sam’s was added as a tribute to the recently removed (at the time) Cyclone Sadies Funhouse and the also recently defunct (again at the time) Wobble Wheel. Wobble Wheel had been added as part of that massive 1976-1980 expansion period, in 1977 to be specific, and would be removed after the 1993 season. A Ford Motor Company exhibit was added to the empty ride pad in 1994, and then replaced by a new ride, Cyclone Sam’s in 1995. Wobble Wheel and Cyclone Sam’s were both manufactured by the same company, Chance Rides of Wichita KS, and the rides are so similar that many still think that Wobble Wheel and Sam’s were the same ride. Let me nip that urban legend in the bud right now, by saying they were/are different rides. Cyclone Sam’s was and still is Worlds of Fun’s only dark ride created with a well-developed back story, and still offers an amazingly thrilling ride 30 years later.  

Not to be left out, Oceans of Fun would see an expansion for the kids with the addition of Captain Kidd's Pirate Ship play area. 

2000 - 25th Anniversary - Boomerang

Probably the anniversary most Worlds of Fun fans would like to forget, and that’s Boomerang which celebrates its silver anniversary this year. Fans love to hate it, but overall many of the GP (General Public) love it, and I’ve heard more than a few times that many consider it their favorite coaster at the park. Many simply forget that for as oft duplicated the Vekoma Boomerang is (and man is it), there is a reason for the mass duplication… it's not a bad ride, and it can be ridden with a 48” height requirement as opposed to Patriot’s 54”. Boomerang’s manufacturer, Vekoma International grew to worldwide recognition as the international distributor for Arrow Development/Dynamics and built many of its coasters using the same mold of Orient Express. In an interesting twist, Boomerang, added exactly 20 years after Orient Express is now OLDER than Orient Express ever was, and is only the second full-size steel coaster in park history to hit its 25th anniversary operating at Worlds of Fun (the other being Mamba). 

2005 - 20th Anniversary, Worlds of Fun Village and Peanut’s Playhouse

It might boggle the mind that 2005 was 20 years ago, but that’s a fact. When Worlds of Fun Village was first being built we were taken on a walk-through of the area, and I was surprised as to the quality of what was being built. This was happening right in the middle of what I call the “Coaster Decade” and had already seen the introduction of Mamba, Boomerang, and Spinning Dragons and would soon see the announcement of Patriot. Things weren’t perfect, but it's easy to overlook a few things when lots of new shiny coasters are being installed, along with the park’s first onsite lodging. Today, Worlds of Fun Village hasn’t changed a whole lot but I think like a lot of additions it tells a story about the time it was added. 

So does the other 2005 addition, Peanut’s Playhouse, a foam ball playhouse located in the middle of the then Camp Snoopy, a lot of kids loved this attraction in much the same way that the kids of the 1980s loved the ball pit or kiddie-o-polis play areas. The Playhouse’s last season would be in 2018 before it would be closed, gutted, and used off and on as a petting zoo area. 

2010 - 15th Anniversary Snoopy’s Hot Summer Lights and Cornstalkers

Some of Worlds of Fun’s more “interesting” and “memorable” attractions always seem to show up on the off years before and after a big coaster. Snoopy’s Hot Summer Lights would follow the 2009 introduction of Prowler and be one of those types of attractions. Added for a cost of one million dollars Hot Summer Lights lit up the Europa and Africa section of the park with colored lights, themed music, and for at least the first season, walk-around light-up characters. Though it would only last for a few seasons, Hot Summer Lights is still remembered by many as a favorite attraction.

2010 also saw the addition of a new haunt to Halloween Haunt, and it was directly connected to Prowler’s addition in 2009 as well. Before Prowler, the area it is situated was home to Camp Gonna Gitcha Haunt (and yes before that Python Plunge and The Safari), Prowler would kick Camp out and it would relocate to near the Fury of the Nile in 2008. Camp just didn’t make a successful transition though, and the area would be heavily re-themed to Cornstalkers in 2010.

2015 - Splash Island and Blood on the Bayou

The twenty-teens years do seem to be easy to overlook when it comes to Worlds of Fun history, probably for a variety of reasons. The years 2010-2020 did not see a single new coaster addition, and the biggest addition of that decade was Steelhawk (in 2014). Then there is the fact that the last few years before 2020 are rather overshadowed BY 2020. By 2015, Octopus had been removed, Oceans and Worlds had been combined and Winterfest hadn’t yet arrived. 2015 saw small additions including the addition of Splash Island (a toddler play area at Oceans of Fun), and one of the most popular haunted houses in Worlds of Fun’s Haunt history, Blood on the Bayou.

2020 - Covid shut down

And here it is. FIVE years ago fans celebrated the new year at Worlds of Fun during Winterfest on December 31, 2019. It would be more than six months before Worlds of Fun would open again, June 22, 2020, to be specific. By far the latest, and shortest of all park seasons, it was without a doubt the strangest of them all too and I don’t think Worlds of Fun has ever been the same. Five major rides wouldn’t operate at all during the 2020 season (Boomerang, Cyclone Sam’s, Steelhawk, Falcon’s Flight, and the Worlds of Fun Railroad), and many more would take months to re-open at all. Then there were the temperature checks, the Relax Zone areas, the bathroom attendants, the ride shutdowns for sanitation, and the six-foot “space” lines for queues. If I hadn’t experienced it first hand it would seem like a scene from a sci-fi dystopian novel. Today, things are mostly back to normal, we no longer have to keep a six-foot space between groups (though in some cases you can still tell where the lines were) but it makes that ten-year span between 2015 and today feel nearly just as long as the twenty or twenty-five-year span that precedes it. 

The Worlds of Fun we know has changed, it changed like it did 26 years ago with the introduction of Mamba, a split I have often referred to as old/new Worlds of Fun. I think with five years of hindsight I might say that starting with 2020, we are all living in a new Worlds of Fun era, not an old or a  new, but more a post-modern era, and it's anyone’s guess how history will play out.