From Schussboomer to Zinger: Anton Schwarzkopf's legacy at Worlds of Fun

Of Worlds of Fun’s three original coasters two were produced by the same manufacturer Anton Schwarzkopf of West Germany, they were the Zambezi Zinger and Schussboomer. A recent post by a visitor commented incorrectly that Zinger had been found at a park near Chicago, Six Flags Great America. In truth, the coaster there (Whizzer) is similar to Zinger, but it is not Zinger. It made me think that maybe there needed to be a post discussing the Schwarzkopf coasters and how Worlds of Fun’s two original coasters fit into the Schwarzkopf family tree.  

Based in West Germany, all of Schwarzkopf’s earliest rides were intended to be portable, to move from fair to fair, disassembled and reassembled multiple times. For those familiar with Schussboomer that description should sound familiar, as Schussboomer was a Wildcat portable model, Schwarzkopf’s first coaster model that he produced. Schussboomer was bought by Mid-America Enterprises used, and since the first Wildcat model was produced in 1964 it has been hypothesized that Schussboomer might have been the prototype Wildcat. There is some evidence to support this, as though many Wildcat models were produced and many did make their way over to the United States, there are none that are (or were) exactly like Schussboomer. Schussboomer lacked the swooping turns found on other, later Wildcat models. Then, there is the fact that it was bought used, in 1972, when the very first model was only produced eight years earlier. Regardless, Schussboomer was a popular coaster at Worlds of Fun, yet was removed and scrapped only eleven years after it opened.

Many who remember Schussboomer, or any Wildcat coaster for that matter might not immediately make the connection between it and Zinger, though less than a decade separate the two technologies. The evolution was quick, in 1968 Schwarzkopf came out with his Jet Star I model, the first of his coasters to introduce the bobsled-style seating arrangement, and two years later the Jet Star II was introduced furthering the innovation with a three-seat car, and for the first time the electric spiral lift. Though technologically similar to Zinger, it should be remembered that Jet Star I and Jet Star II models were portable, "mass produced" models, like cars manufactured on an assembly line. There would be one more jump that would be needed to make Zinger possible and that was the introduction of the Speedracer model.  

Tig'r at Indiana Beach a Jet Star I model.  Notice the similar cars to the later models, but it has a more traditional chain lift hill.   

Jet Star II at Lagoon in Salt Lake City, Ut.  Notice the spiral lift and bobsled-style seating arrangement, very similar to those on Zinger.  

In 1971, the first Speedracer model was introduced at Six Flags Over Texas, it was called Big Bend. Speedracers set themselves apart from the prior Jet Star II by not only being non-portable, but also less compact and offering a custom layout, designed to meet the land they were built on rather than the other way around. In 1972, Schwarzkopf would use the achievement of Big Bend to build his last of the Jet Star portable series, Jet Star III or Jumbo Jet.  

In 1973, Schwarzkopf opened his second Speedracer, known as Zambezi Zinger. Zinger would follow Big Bend as the second custom, non-portable design, sometimes also referred to as an Extended Jumbo Jet. Zinger would incorporate everything learned from the entire Jet Star Series and Big Bend; the spiral electric lift, ground-hugging curves, a high-speed turn around the lift, but instead of two cars making a train, with Zinger it would be three. In 1976, the last two of Speedracer models would open, and they would be identical twins, the Willard Whizzers at the two Marriott Great America parks (Gurnee, Il., and Santa Clara, Ca.). The Whizzers though identical to each other would also be completely different in layout to the Zinger and Big Bend. The details that confuse people to think Whizzer could be Zinger is the fact that Whizzer still maintains the features of all Speedracer and Jumbo Jet coasters, the bobsled trains, the electric spiral lift and the quick, speedy turns.

It might look very familiar  but this isn't Zinger.  It is Whizzer at Six Flags Great America.  Still, the familiar resemblance is definitely there.  

 In the end there would be a total of four Speedracer coasters ever built (Big Bend, Zinger, and the two Whizzers) but today only one still operates in its original location, which is the Whizzer at the now Six Flags Great America in Gurnee, Il.. In 2012, Whizzer was recognized not only for itself but for its family of Speedracer coasters as a Roller Coaster Landmark by the American Coaster Enthusiasts.

Anton Schwartzkopf perfection.

By the mid-70’s Schwarzkopf would abandon the bobsled-style cars in favor of the more traditional side-by-side seating arrangement and chain lift. His coaster, Revolution at Magic Mountain would introduce the world to the first modern looping coaster in 1976, while Schwarzkopf also continued to build portable looping coasters as well. The Six Flags chain has held on to many of Schwarzkopf’s coasters, the Whizzer at Six Flags Great America, the Revolution at Six Flags Magic Mountain, Shockwave at Six Flags over Texas, Silver Bullet at Frontier City, and my favorite, Mind Bender at Six Flags over Georgia.  

Not to be confused with Zinger this is Whizzer at Six Flags Great America

Anton Schwarzkopf himself, while a mastermind at amusement park rides lacked a great deal of business sense and declared bankruptcy several times before retiring finally in 1995.  Anton passed away in 2001, but thankfully many of his fabulous rides still live on.

Learn more about Schwartzkopf and his rides at Schwartzkopf-Coaster.Net

Get Thar’ Eli!

ELI in 1973, notice the Burlington Northern logo on the tender. 

Some of the best stories when it comes to Worlds of Fun have to do with how various attractions received their names. Some involved a 6-pack of beer, at least one involved a famous Kansas City Chief’s player, one had a naming contest, and one… was named after a racehorse. 

Yes a racehorse. 

The Newspaper article from the Chilicothe Constitution Tribune

A close up of the photo in the article. 

ELI, better known as Worlds of Fun’s sole steam engine from 1973 until 2018 has one of the most unique stories when it comes to how it acquired its name. The story is original from the 1973 Press Release, but was also repeated in the Chillicothe Constitution-Tribune in September 1973.  It goes that the engine named “ELI” and numbered “33” was named:

 “in honor of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy (CB&Q) fast overnight rail service which ran between Kansas City and Chicago prior to the turn of the century.  When the train began running in 1888 some now-forgotten Missourian likened its speed to the fleetness of a popular Chilicothe racehorse of the day and shouted. “Git thar ELI!”   ("Worlds of Fun Railroad steams into Yesterday", 1973)

 The CB&Q later became part of the Burlington Northern system, and as many know Burlington Northern was the original corporate sponsor of the Worlds of Fun Railroad and ELI. 

John Graves lubricating the rod bearings on ELI in 1973.

Mid-American Enterprises, a company formed by Lamar Hunt and Jack Steadman to build and operate the park was concerned with making as many aspects of the park as accurate as possible for the time, from the seven wooden train trestles, to the steam locomotive, to even using the Burlington Northern's "Cascade Green" coloration on the engine and coaches. Even those running ELI were authentic retired Burlington Northern Engineers, including John Graves who started his career as a fireman on the CB&Q Railroad in 1945 and Ed Henrion who started with Burlington Northern in 1925 and retired in 1972.  John and Ed weren't alone either, they were joined by Ed Watson who retired from Union Pacific in 1970.   

John Graves as Engineer in 1973.

Ray Booth as Engineer of ELI back in 2009.  Nearly the same view as above, you can see the pull cable for the steam whistle above Ray's head. 

So to say Burlington Northern had a major impact on Worlds of Fun Railroad is an not an understatement. Ever since I read the original press release from 1973 back probably over 20 years ago I had accepted that version of ELI's story as absolute fact. Then one day, when I was looking at old park souvenirs I found one that labeled the engine not as ELI but as CHIEF.  Was it a typo? Possibly, though admittedly that would be quite peculiar for a “typo” to be such a perfect fit for an engine owned by the same company that also owned the Kansas City CHIEFS.

The souvenir plate in question.

So which story is true?  Without getting into a philosophical discussion on truth, I will say that I believe they both are.  I believe, that it is POSSIBLE that Mid-American Enterprise's original name for ELI wasn’t ELI at all but was CHIEF.  When Burlington Northern came aboard as sponsors of the railroad a decision was made to change the name of the engine in honor Burlington Northern’s long local history. 

Stonewall Jackson, Crown Metal #556 at Kings Dominion.  The future Levy.

In 2019 ELI was originally planned on coming back, and as we all know what was planned… just like ELI’s supposed original name, didn’t actually happen. Whenever the park may re-open, the park will have a new engine as officially released by the park, another Crown Metal steam engine, LEVY.  However, ELI has also not been forgotten, and whatever its original name may have been, ELI has been for almost 50 years, and will always be to all of us, ELI.  

Orient Express 40 Years: 1980-2020

Not much more could be said about Orient Express that I haven't already written about or said in the past.  But today is April 4th, 2020, and today, forty years ago a gong sounded, and Orient Express gave its first public ride ever.  I can't just let that go without celebrating it just a bit on THE DAY.

If you want to read a little bit more about its specific history I recommend reading our historical review of Express which can be found here: http://www.worldsoffun.org/1980/orientexpress.html. But Express was so much more, it was the first thing everyone saw when they arrived, the sound of its lift hill still seemingly echos in our heads to this day.  It was also the last thing everyone saw as they exited, and that is regardless of what gate you went through, Americana or Scandinavia.  Worlds of Fun could have pulled a Six Flags and plopped a coaster into a parking lot, or field, but they didn't and to me at least that is part of what made it so special.

Ron Toomer, designer of Orient Express said it best:

"The Orient Express was designed to correspond with the existing ground layout, preserving as many trees and natural features as possible." Toomer said.  We were commissioned by Worlds of Fun to design a major coaster which not only provides an exciting ride experience, but a spectacular visual effect." (Worlds of Fun, 1980. p. 7)

And so today, on what would have been its 40th Anniversary, a tribute to that "spectacular effect'" of a coaster...

From April 4, 1980 until October 2003 no day at Worlds of Fun started without seeing the mighty Orient Express towering over the rest of the park.  Lee Derrough, General Manager of the park at the time Orient Express was built, made a comment when Timber Wolf was built that Hunt Midwest never attempted to build the longest, tallest anything because the next year another park would come and build something a few feet taller and a few feet longer.  Instead, he would go on to say, it was more important to focus on quality and building a good ride period, regardless of its statistics.  Orient Express was not the tallest, and it wasn't the fastest, and it certainly wasn't the loopiest, since Carolina Cyclone beat Express to four inversions only a few weeks prior.  The fact that Hunt focused on building a all-around amazing ride is why I believe Express could strike fear and awe into guests from day one until the very end.

Three were so many aspects that set Orient Express apart from other coasters though.  Of course there was its first drop...

The boomerang, or as it was known on the coaster the Kamikaze Kurve.  The unique aspect of the Kamikaze Kurve was that it was not only the first non-loop or corkscrew element on a roller coaster anywhere, but it would go onto the be re-used over and over and is still being used by Vekoma today on its modern coasters.  (Energylandia's newest coaster: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1pGqsibw0Y)

Then there were the interlocking loops.  Express wasn't the first, that went to Loch Ness Monster (Nessie) at Busch Gardens Williamsburg (it's also still operating).  On Nessie both the lower and upper loop use the traditional Arrow lattice structure on the supports.  On Express, the top loop still incorporated that same lattice structure, but the bottom loop used the more modern "less is more" supports.  The combination of the old and new created something that probably wasn't planned but was absolutely aesthetically beautiful.  

The sunlight fades, the park lights are illuminated.  Coasters definitely take on a whole new personality as nighttime approaches.  Then just like that it's time to leave.  Whenever we left we always knew we would see this same view the next time we came.   

This is the last thought I will leave you with.  With everything going on in the world it's hard to see past today.  However, I believe, I hope, tomorrow will come.  Tomorrow, the sun will rise on a day when Worlds of Fun is once again open, and we will all see Mamba, Patriot, even the Worlds of Fun Railroad running once again.  I firmly believe today is not October 2003... today is April 4, 1980 and we have a great big beautiful tomorrow waiting for us.

And as an added bonus!  Orient Express 1990 footage.  Special thanks to Randal Strong-Wallace for finding this and providing us with the video!

Worlds of Fun (1980). Conjuring up the Orient Express. Great Times, 3, 7.

Worlds of Fun (1989). Not Quite the Tallest, Longest or Fastest, Just The Best.  Coaster Count-Down.

1999-2019: 20 Years in 100 Photos

Several over the years have asked for a review of history for the last decade or the first decade of the 21st century.  I'll be honest, it took a while for me to twist my mind around that time period as "history".   I not only lived it, I lived it in technicolor, I was already writing opening day reviews for dot org as early as 1999!  It just never seemed that long ago, but of course, it was now 20 years ago.  Crazy to think Mamba has now operated almost as many seasons as Orient Express ever did.   Creating this blog took more time than I could ever imagine, I sifted through literally 10,000+ different photos that we shot, at the time covering current events, now history.  For me, it has been bittersweet, reliving great memories, tons of them, and all the moments of "oh I had forgotten, or oh I miss that".  One more fascinating detail I realized partially through... starting in 1999 pictures used were actual print photos developed from film (whats that?!) that had to be scanned or had been scanned prior.  A few years later, it switched to pulling photos off of CD's, and then off a hard drive, and finally came pulling photos off an iPhone.  I realized this blog isn't just a history of Worlds of Fun, but a literal history of the evolution of photography  It's been quite a re-discovery.  

1999

1999 came right on the shirt tales of 1998 and Mamba.  I often consider Mamba's addition the turning point in park history, neatly dividing "old Worlds of Fun" from "new Worlds of Fun" but though it's nice and neat on a timeline even that isn't 100% accurate.  Drastic changes occurred before 1998 and after 1998, the park we know today is vastly different than the park in 1999.  Zinger was gone, but Orient Express was still there, and it wasn't just about the rides either.

1999 also began the multi-year transition of color for everything in the park.  Prior to 1999, everything was in the fall color palette, warm browns, reds, and golds.  Post-2001, everything was more of a winter shade, blues and greens mostly.  From 1999 until 2009 the park added a total of four new roller coasters, but also saw the removal of Orient Express.  From 1999 until 2019 the park saw the removal of 13 rides in addition to Express, but also saw the addition of 20 new rides (not to mention the four coasters).  In 1999, you could enter Oceans of Fun from Worlds of Fun by walking, but it was still a separate admission and separate season pass too!  

Overall, I believe one of the biggest changes over the last twenty years is the appearance of the park, colors have changed, landscaping has changed, the entire park gate looks about as different as night and day, multiple midways, such as the Orient, American Front Street, and Africa all look completely different.  And that is not necessarily a bad thing.  A few days ago there was a post regarding dwelling on the past, that nostalgia can go into overload.  It might surprise some that I couldn't agree more.  I find it important to find a balance between appreciating the past, and recognizing the changes that need to happen to make the park a better place.  However, you can't know where you are going without knowing where you have been and that is why this blog, this website, everything I have done and written over the past twenty-three plus years exists.  

So let's take a step back in time to 1999, things might have seemed far simpler back then but nothing could be further from the truth as the park was in the midst of massive upheavals. 

Africa isn't even remotely recognizable to its self prior to 1998, and one of those changes was the addition of Coasters Diner which in this photo is still under construction.  Coasters would open in May and would be virtually identical to the one at Cedar Point.

Ugh, how I detested the Grand Prix Go-Karts from the very beginning, even more so than Boomerang.  A pay-extra attraction, that wasn't all that attractive, built right over the Americana Gate, and then they ripped up Henrietta to do it.  To top it off they used Cedar Point's old hand-me-down Go Karts.  I was THRILLED  when Steelhawk came around to replace it.

I wrote an unpublished editorial a few years ago, as thoughts to when Worlds of Fun released the video of this old gate being demolished.  My thoughts are still the same.  I love the new gate, I think it's about as better than this as you can get, but some little part of me will always miss the old gate because of all the memories I had with it.  Including the one where this photo was shot in 2000.  Interestingly enough, the Scandinavian gate itself changed appearances several times over its tenure as "main back gate".  In 2000, the year this photo was shot it had only just been painted blue, over the old gold color.  The sign was new too.

1999 was Python Plunge's last year, of course in 1999 it was known as just The Plunge.  I have a friend of mine that loved Plunge, and have found over the years that it was like Arthur Bryant's Barbecue, you either loved it or hated it.  Personally, though I never rode it (to rollercoaster-like), I did operate it a few times, and I detested it for the sheer fact that you had to carry those rafts up the tower and they were heavy, wet and HOT.  

The Orient in 1999, looking far different than it does today.  The Aquatic Arena and Pagoda Soda would be demolished after the 2003 season (along with Orient Express), along with the large Bradford pears on the right.  Today the new trees planted in 2004 have filled in nicely.  

Tivoli in 1999, I am not entirely sure when Tivoli received its paint job, though I am taking an educated guess and thinking it was probably either '98 or '99 like the rest of the park.  Otherwise, Tivoli was much as most of us remember it with its covered entrance still intact and at this point still in decent shape.

Zulu looked about the same but the surrounding area looked quite a bit different in 1999.  It looked pretty similar to this until 2008, both the planter in front of Zulu (with the elephant ears) and the center island (with the cannas) were removed when the concrete was replaced with Prowler's opening.

2000

 

I specifically picked this photo since comparing this view and today, they are so quite shockingly different.  Yet to me, this view seems just like yesterday.  I loved the wooden benches that surrounded the trees, and then there is the SO bridge that also looks so completely different today.

Boomerang on opening day April 8, 2000, it shared the spotlight with the re-opening of Orient Express.  Opening Day 2000 is a day I am very likely to never forget as it was so cold that day that it took several hours before any rides opened to the public.  

Bear Country had such a short lifespan at the park, lasting only four seasons from 1997 until 2000.  Many of its various attractions would go on for several more years, re-themed to Camp Snoopy, such as the Spooky Old Tree becoming the Kite Eating Tree and the Club House becoming Woodstock's Nature Center.  However, the Bear County Treehouse which was built on the pad previously occupied by Octopus was removed and replaced with Snoopy Bounce in 2001.

Stax of Wax would celebrate 15 years in 2000.  Stax of Wax by name would be discontinued after the 2002 season but continues to live on in spirit as part of the back story to Haunted Homecoming: Meat Cleaver High.  

Beat Street, another one of those views that is so hard to contemplate that it's been almost 15 years since its looked this way.  Nothing in this view had changed since the removal of Cotton Blossom about five years prior, it still retains its harbor town feel that it was built with originally in 1982 as River City.  Rockin' Reeler was another one of my favorite rides, it was removed after the 2005 season and the area became a brick patio area.  Today, it is near where Cotton Blossom BBQ is, if you scroll to 2019 you can see an almost identical modern view of the same area.

Another view that has changed drastically.  That smoothie stand on the right is now the Coca Cola Refresh, its the same structure, it was built originally as Lamar's Libations.  The Grand Prix Raceway on the left was an eyesore for MANY years, I despised the thing, and was thrilled the last vestige of it go after the 2017 season, today Falcon's Flight is located there.  In the distance, you can see Autobahn with its tan and mint green color scheme, it would be re-painted in 2001 as we will soon see.

New Funtier Arcade in 2000 with it's original brown and cream color scheme.

2001

My sister calls this the show with the guys in speedos, which I guess is pretty accurate!  There were a few different diving shows that called the Aquatic Arena home after Fins and Flippers departed after the 1996 season.  Mermaids and Mariner's, which this is a photo of was the last one. 2001 was the last year for that show.

I remember when Camp Snoopy opened that it was such a delightful sight for sore eyes after the additions of 1999 and 2000 (Grand Prix and Boomerang).  I remembered commenting how finished it appeared, and looked... like someone put some thought into its design.  It looked quite a bit like the one at Cedar Point, but it was one comparison to Cedar Point that wasn't a bad thing at all.

Gazebo and playground area in Camp Snoopy in 2001.  Today, the gazebo would be standing right about where the entrance to Peanut's Playhouse/Pig Pen's Petting Farm is.  The gazebo was stored for a few years I remember it sitting back in the maintenance area, but I am guessing it has gone the way of the dodo.  It's fascinating to think back in 2001 that there were ZERO rides back in this area at the time, it was just a children's play area and gravel pit with a gigantic play dinosaur skeleton.  Today there are five rides back there!  The truly amazing thing is the one thing that hasn't changed is quite possibly more popular than any ride, and that is the musical foot board that is just outside of this photo. 

Another ride that I didn't ride, but again even if I didn't ride it there are just some things I will never forget.  Whhhhaaaaaaaa cling cling cling X 100... Waaaaa... I can't type it out well but for those that remember it you know exactly what I mean.  Omegatron was the prototype Vekoma Skyflyer (Vekoma also built Boomerang), there were only a few ever built.  There is still a Vekoma Skyflyer operating at Energylandia in Poland. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHq052bOPaE)

Moulin Rouge's exterior in 2001, it wouldn't change appearances much at all until 2013 when we walked in opening day and the sign was missing and replaced by a banner.  

Stax of Trax premiered in 1999 as the secondary show to Stax of Wax.  Unlike Stax of Wax, Trax was the next generation focused on the '60's and '70's, including a variety of '70's television shows.  This photo is from 2001.

Omegatron like many removed rides of Worlds of Fun's past didn't make it until the end of the season as this photo can attest.  And yes, that is Jeff in the photo, taking a close up photo.  

2002

With the removal of Omegatron in late 2001, new for 2002 was Thunderhawk a HUSS Top Spin.  Worlds of Fun attempted a unique twist on this classic flat ride by adding a drenching water feature.  It's likely that the water feature was also the end of Thunderhawk too.  

And New Funtier and Calamity Games also received new paint jobs, following the trend of bright colors it went from the muted brown and cream to a rainbow of colors.  Also, notice the red mulch that was so common throughout the park during these years.

Outta Sync would premier in 2002 as a roving band, it would last until the 2006 season.  In the background, you can see the old Front Street Americana area, one of the old tree islands that has been removed over the years, and The Rock climbing wall that was added in 2000 as a pay-extra attraction.

Rockin' the House at Tivoli  in 2002.  If you notice the backdrop in this photo hung on the wall of Tivoli's lobby for several years afterward.

By 2002 the Aquatic Arena was fenced off, and by 2004 the whole area would look completely different. The only attraction in this photo that still exists is the Skyliner Ferris wheel.  

Python Plunge was also removed after the 2001 season, but the concrete queue areas and runoff troughs were left until 2008 and Prowler construction.  Much of the leftover queue line and Python Potions snack area were reused for the first Camp Gonna Gitcha. 

And in 2002 Autobahn got this... unique... color scheme change, but if you notice both ends had yet to be enclosed, that wouldn't happen until 2010 to coincide with Hot Summer Lights.

Front Street still looked like it had since its 1995 renovation.  I know a lot of people miss the large trees, but I imagine it will regain its shaded status in a few years.

2003

Paradise Falls opens in 2003!  Much like the first opening day for Ocean of Fun, opening day for Paradise Falls was very chilly, I believe the temperatures reached the upper 50's.  I tried out a few of the slides but the water was extremely cold!

In 2003 with very little fanfare the first haunt opened in the old Beat Street area, known as Carnival of Carnivorous Clowns.  A second, family-friendly haunted house also opened in Camp Snoopy known as Magical House on Boo Hill. 

Scandinavia and Viking Voyager in 2003, I would work Voyager in both 1994 and 2006, so I remember both when this station was brown and orange with brown extended queue rails, and these trees were much smaller.  I also remember in 2006 when it looked just like this and I would sit on Lift 2, watching these trees turn yellow in the fall, as they would tower over the top of the queue house, it was quite beautiful. 

A common sight in 2003, as Orient Express was down almost as much as it was operational. 

Spooktacular during Halloweekends produced and performed by magician and illusionist John Bundy, and escapologist Morgan.  Spooktacular would run at the Tivoli from 1998 until 2011.

2004

Spinning Dragons  just prior to opening in 2004, this was shot on opening day 2004.  That day was rather unforgettable, we walked past a lady crying on a bench in the Orient.  Now I don't know if she was upset about the Express or it was just me transferring my thoughts to her, but it seemed an appropriate emotion at the time.  Spinning Dragons would parlay an entire refurbishment of the Orient section, one that was much needed, and though it seemed sparse in 2004, it has grown into itself and looks great today.

Snoopy Rocks at the Tivoli in 2004.  Neither Jeff or I are huge show fans but we did try to catch each show at least once a year.  Snoopy Rocks was a take-off of the Knott's and Cedar Point's Snoopy Rocks on Ice, which was a sing and dance show on ICE.  The detail I most vividly remember about this show is a family group who sat next to us and the teenage kid seemed completely uninterested thinking it was a "stupid Snoopy show" but perked up when he saw the live band, his commentary?  "I didn't know there was a live band!"

2004 was the last season for Fowl Play, it was hosted by Deb and Mark Obarka who started their careers at Busch Gardens in Tampa.  

Haunted Homecoming: Meat Cleaver High premiers as part of the newly expanded Halloweekends in 2004. (photo from 2006).  One fascinating tidbit is that the backstory (Cleaver High School Beavers) for Haunted Homecoming is lifted from that of Stax of Wax, and this is true with Zombie High as well.  

Digger's Used Coffin Lot was a skit that ran until 2011 and was located in Europa and Africa on varying years.  Though Jeff always made comments on the limited nature of Halloweekends prior to Carnival of Carnivorous Clowns in 2003, I always loved Digger's Used Coffin Lot and Witch Doctor's Revenge.  I do believe at least a few of the coffins from the show are still used in Lore of the Vampire as props.

2005

Peanut's Playhouse opened in spring 2005, replacing the playground and dinosaur dig area that preceded it.

Perondi's Extreme Canine Show premiered in 2005, replacing Fowl Play at the Country Junction Theater.  The Perondi family would host the show for three seasons through 2007.

Not long after the 2005 season concluded half of the old River City/Beat Street shopping complex was demolished with the remaining portion used for Patriot's Landing. 

2006

The same vantage point as posted above, and only a few months separate both photos.

Opening Day 2006 in Europa, an ice storm had downed the 3-4 Bald Cypress trees here, and it looked quite barren without them.  As part of the same storm, straps were also added to one of the train bridge supports. 

2006 was the last year for Rangoon Refresher, it would be replaced by Panda Express in 2007.  For at least a few years afterward the Rangoon Refresher sign would be relocated to the Ambassador Break Room (Ambam).

Compare this view to the same one of Rockin' Reeler above, it looks very different.  In 2019 Cotton Blossom BBQ would open about where the rock above is located.

2007

2007 would be the last year for Custer's Last Stand, in 2008 it would be renovated into the ICEE stand that it is today.  I always loved Custer's and Wet Your Whistle (which was over by Country Junction), both the names and signs.  They were so completely original.

And the first year for Panda Express, which replaced Rangoon Refresher.   I remember hearing a story that Panda Express wanted the Vittle Griddle location in Americana, but the park wouldn't allow it since it was there most profitable location, and I just can't imagine it there.  Kind of like the Panda Express in the Gotham area at Six Flags.  

Old MacDonald's Slaughterhouse (Bloodshed) opened as the park's 7th haunt in 2007. It was the first new structure built specifically for a haunt, it was also the first year and first haunt where makeup was not done at each specific haunt, which necessitated the creation of the parade.  A funny story is that many props tended to be moved from new haunt to new haunt.  For example, much of the exterior fencing was moved from Asylum Island to Slaughterhouse.  Also, the rotating barrel, which started with Carnival of Carnivorous Clowns, moved to Slaughterhouse and then onto various other haunts over the years.

This small shack was originally built as Python Potions, a drink stand next to Python Plunge.  When Camp Gonna Gitcha was added to the site in 2004 it was, like so many things at Worlds of Fun, repurposed.  This photo was taken in 2007 the last year Camp Gonna Gitcha was located in the old Plunge lot.  In 2008 it would be moved up by Nile to make way for the construction of Prowler.

Big Game Hunt would not only change scenery but also names after the 2007 season, this was one last look at the old layout (photo from 1999).  A fascinating and possibly true story regarding Big Game Hunt is that in 1999 there was a rumor it was going to be replaced by a Nascar Race Simulator. Jeff wrote his only editorial in an attempt to save Big Game Hunt.  Whether that had any impact or not, or whether the rumor was true or not, Big Game Hunt would stick around for 17 more seasons (counting from 1999).  

2008

SO Bridge in 2008 decorated for the Celebrate America Festival.  Celebrate America Festival ran through the entire month of July and featured classic cars on display, discount foods, ($1 hot dogs, soda, chips), fireworks every night.  I didn't realize it at the time but it, like Oktoberfest was an attempt to reboot a classic Hunt Midwest festival.  It like, Oktoberfest was discontinued after 2009.

Oktoberfest also returned for a short run in 2008, it like Celebrate America would only last until 2009.  It just wasn't heavily attended, the park didn't stick with it long enough really to get the word out like Halloweekends.  However, I remember it being very well produced, and enjoyable, The Leiderkranz Singers, Beer Sliding, German food, and then this trio pictured, the Bavarian Brass.

Haunt parade in 2008, this was the second year for the parade and the last year before Overlord.  Notice the lack of crowds in the background, just small groups of families!  This was the first year I wasn't a Screamster in Haunt, (I worked in Asylum in 2006 and 2007), and was at Patriot instead.  I made tombstones for the Patriot drive box for all the defunct coasters that year!  I believe operations kept them for a couple of years afterward. 

Outlaw's Revenge premiered in 2008.  Jeff was an inaugural outlaw and recalls (as do I) the trial and error with the sliding gear the park went through the first two years.  Jeff recalls going through the original park-provided pads in minutes and had to go out to Home Depot to buy his own, as well as hot gluing his own spark-creating gloves.

Big Game Hunt became Shooting Gallery in 2008, they completely gutted most of the targets but did, and I always find the choices here peculiar, keep the piano player, hotel sign and sewing machine (yes, sewing machine).  

2009

Prowler opens on May 1, 2009.  In 2009, I was working at the Depot/Le Carousel/Autobahn complex and recall Jeff walking by telling me he was invited to ride Prowler prior to its grand opening.  Needless to say, I was furious.  He has yet to live that one down.  

Overlord's Awakening premiered in 2009 and is truthfully a "cornerstone" addition in that it inaugurated the truthfully massive Haunt event that we know today.  Prior to Overlord there were no crowds in the Scandinavian plaza area, starting with Overlords the crowd started and would continue to grow into what it is today.

2010

The story of Worlds of Fun's kid's rides is one of movement, so many moved from all over the park, Viking Vheel (Head over Wheels) started in Scandinavia in 1982, it was moved to Pandamonium in 1987 and located where Detonator is today, and finally moved again with the addition of Detonator in 1996.  It wasn't the only kids ride to be removed in 2010 or 2011, Road Rally (Micro Moto Bahn) and Bounce-A-Roos were also removed after the 2010 season, and Pony Promenade (Peanut's Pony's) was removed after the 2011 season.  Funny story time, Jeff once was assigned to work Pandamonium back in the late '80's, he had never once operated the ride... and on top of operating a ride that he had personally never been trained on, he was also told to train a new ambassador on it too.  Let's just put it this way, at least kiddie rides aren't complicated attractions.

Planet Snoopy was announced in August 2010, what I remember most about this event... it was HOT, around 100 degrees or so.  Almost everyone was trying to find any shade which in that area of the park is minimal!  

Snoopy's Hot Summer Lights premiered in 2010, it ran from Europa to Africa, and had interactive roaming characters the first year, including the glow-worm above, it would be discontinued after the 2013 season.  One of my best memories of it is rather unique.  Jeff and I set up about four different history exhibits at the park from 2009 until 2014, we would come in right after the park closed to bring in the big items, and leave them there overnight.  One evening after finishing past midnight we ended up, for whatever reason, driving through the park.  There wasn't a single soul in the park, but the lights and music for Hot Summer Lights was still on, it was like driving through a Christmas Light drive-through experience. 

Festhaus in 2010, it would be gone by 2011 and replaced by Grand Carrousel.  The Festhaus wooden trellis structure was originally the queue line for the Schussboomer roller coaster which was removed after the 1984 season.  

2011

Planet Snoopy opens with 2011 season, though on Opening Day most rides weren't operational or even in one piece, the first  new rides wouldn't even open until May 1, 2011.  However, I remember being startled with the bright colors on opening day!  Not to say I didn't like them, I actually loved the colors after I got used to the change!  

Grand Carrousel replaced Festhaus in 2011, a new, permanent Festhaus (I call it Festhaus II) was built just adjacent.  If you remember my story about how Jeff got to ride Prowler before opening day, the same thing happened with Grand Carrousel.  He went out every week (probably to keep me happy, since I couldn't come since I was in nursing school and working full time), for photos of it under construction.

A photo taken from the Forum just after the stage was demolished (the dumpster is still there).  The reason we were given at the time for the stage demolition is that acts in many cases brought their own stages with them.  

Don't Stop Believin' at Tivoli was the second year for the show, but more importantly it was the last year for the Tivoli summer show, after 39 seasons of shows.

Scandi Skees was an original building to the park, but opened as Arctic Arcade it changed to Scandi Skees in 1984.  I will always remember it for having those odd Air Ball games.  

2012

Plaza Gifts replaces Scandi Skees in 2012, everything was repainted to the peach color we know today, except for the two towers.  The towers wouldn't be repainted until 2014.  It was kind of a joke we had how the towers didn't match the rest of the building for two seasons.

The Northland Kansas City water tower is re-painted in 2012.  Worlds of Fun pitched in $50,000 to repaint it in the signature Worlds of Fun colors.  I remember this well, I was surprised the day it turned up grey, and we all held our breath as we wondered if it would be repainted the same as it was previously.  This was during the time period that we were unsure if the park would stick with the balloon logo.

As late as 2012 Africa didn't look all that much different than it did in 2000.  Have I mentioned yet how much I hated that basketball free throw game?

Tivoli 2012, the first year there was no Tivoli summer show, and it looks downright sad with no marque signage.  

2013

And the Extreme Makeover: Theme Park Edition continues in Africa as it receives its first drastic cosmetic changes in over a decade with the coming of Dinosaurs Alive.

Probably the biggest change in 2013 was to Oceans of Fun, for the first 20 years of existence Oceans of Fun was a separately ticketed park, and even had its own separate Oceans of Fun season pass.  When I was a kid back in the 80's you couldn't even really see Worlds of Fun from Oceans of Fun, and I was always told "the parks were only separated by a fence", which was mind-boggling to a little kid.  In 1992, the changes started happening with the Same-Day Gateway, but both parks were still a separate admission.  In 2013 that was all wiped away, both parks became one, one ticket for both.  Truthfully, I was concerned with how that would impact Oceans of Fun attendance, and as most can attest, it most definitely hasn't!  As part of the combination, Oceans of Fun received a massive refurbishment, including its main gate, which has now become the new back gate.  

Oceans also received its first new thrilling water slide complex since 1983, Predator's Plunge.  You can see the wave pool to the left with its new color scheme.

Dinosaur's Alive was new in 2013, it was the park's fourth pay extra attraction after Ripcord, Grand Prix, and The Rock climbing wall. 

Zulu's overall station appearance and surrounding atmosphere appeared quite different starting in 2009, this photo is from 2013.

2014

On opening day 2013 we walked in and the old marque sign above Moulin Rouge was replaced with a temporary banner as we found out later the old sign was in danger of literally falling off the building.  In 2014 the temporary banner was replaced with this new neon sign, reproducing the original Moulin Rouge's sign (in Paris).  The exterior was also renovated.

Flying Dutchman's original sign was on its last leg here, and we didn't even know it.  We only found out one day when the sign had been replaced by a temporary banner which would be up for the rest of 2014 and 2015 seasons.

Steelhawk Opens on July 2, 2014 (It was Wednesday), and it wasn't an announced opening,  I remember getting a phone call that it was open and to head out in the middle of the week!  

Wilburn Gang robs the train in 2014, another short-lived addition that lasted only until 2015.  The original town of Yumma Yucca Mesa had been destroyed by a wind storm during the construction of Prowler in the winter of 2008, and was re-built for the new skit.  

Scrambler had been relocated to Americana in 1998, but 2014 would be it's last season there.  In 2015 it would be moved back to Scandinavia.  A fascinating story I've heard, and like many have no idea exactly how true it is... but fascinating none the less, is that the park initially looked at putting Scrambler inside the old Incred-O-Dome dome, to make it an inside ride similar to Cyclone Sams.  It only barely didn't fit.  I don't know about you, but that would have been awesome!

2014 would be the last season for Octopus.  Octopus had operated at its Scandinavia location since 1999 when it had been reinstalled after its 1997 removal from Pandamonium. An interesting point is that up until 2019, Octopus was the only original ride that had skipped an operating season during its tenure at the park. 

2015

A construction tour of Blood on the Bayou in 2015 during Coaster Mayhem.  I don't know why my memory seems to remember the extremely hot days but this was another one, it was stuffy inside, but it's incredibly fascinating to look back at these photos and recall it with the perspective after having experienced the completed haunt.

All-Wheels Sports, a bicycle and skating stunt show played at Heart of America Theater (Forum) in 2014 and 2015, it was fairly popular and in our opinion a great show!  

Ride rotation spans the entire history of Worlds of Fun, several rides, including several still at the park have been moved, sometimes on multiple occasions.  Scrambler would operate in Americana/Camp Snoopy from 1998 until 2014 (replacing Incred-O-Dome), but would move back to its original location in Scandinavia in 2015.  It would also receive an entirely new lighting package. The great detail about Scrambler is that it's manufacturing company is not only U.S. Based (ELI Bridge out of Jacksonville, Il) but also still in business so parts, such as the cars that were just replaced in 2019 are easy to obtain.  

2015 was the last season for Phileas Fogg and Nellie Bly, both characters were introduced in the 2012 season.  The character of Phileas was based on the main fictional character from Jules Verne's Around the World in 80 Days (in which the park is based on), while Nellie Bly was based on a non-fictional character that in 1889 completed a factual 72-day trip around the world.  

2016

2016 saw a second expansion to Planet Snoopy, making it one of the largest kids areas of any amusement or theme park in the country.  The expansion would include five new rides including the Larson Ride's Flying Scooters, known as Woodstock Gliders.  Larson Rides is located in Plainview Tx, and is probably most widely known for their Ring of Fire rides (very common at carnivals) but also in amusement enthusiast circles for their storage/display of the National Amusement Park Museum, which includes the lead car of the Orient Express train.

The Tivoli show Don't Stop Believin'. at least in concept was re-developed for Moulin Rouge in 2016.  I don't ever recall laughing so hard when I first saw this scene in the show.  

The new permanent Flying Dutchman sign in 2016.  Fascinatingly enough that when this photo was taken the background looks exactly like the 2014 photo, but that would change in a matter of months.

Baltic Bazaar in 2016, it would be demolished as part of the new gate and International Plaza addition.  Though not one to shed a tear over something that needed replacing, its impossible to miss the fact that Baltic Bazaar opened with the park in 1973 and had changed relatively speaking, very little over its forty-four years of existence.  

2017

Construction of the new Scandinavian gate in 2017.  It's can be quite a long story when it comes to the history of the main gate, as in reality the main gate was originally located halfway across the park from where it is now in Americana from 1973 until 1998. When the park discontinued the trams after the 1994 season, the Scandinavian (back gate) began the process of taking over as the main gate, and became the parks only gate after the Americana gate's demolition in 1998.  The Scandinavia gate, at best, was somewhat functional.  With its replacement in 2017, the park gained a real main gate for the first time in almost twenty years.  A fascinating tidbit is that the old Guest Relations and First Aid structures from the old gate live on serving as Passholder Services and Locker Rentals respectively.   (Photo from Worlds of Fun Social Media)

Falcon's Flight and Mustang Runner were introduced in 2017 in conjunction with the Cedar Fair European tour, when the company, under the guidance of Matt Ouimet, picked up several classic rides to bring back and re-introduce in the United States.  Both rides were bought used but refurbished to the point that they were like new when installed in the park.  Since the last new ride installed in Europa prior to Falcon's Flight was Le Carrousel in 1979 it was beyond time for Europa to get some love and it looks much cleaner now too. 

Tivoli in 2017 with its covered entrance removed.  For those that don't know, the entrance was added in 1974 and was not original to the theater.  The new entrance signage was added later that season.

2017 was the last season for Finnish Fling, it closed on closing day for the regular season of 2017, and sat there in the dark during Winterfest.  I rode Finnish Fling once, it wasn't all that memorable, except it made me feel like my throat was being pushed up against the wall, it was a weird feeling.  The funny thing is I remember going to WOF, in 1989 I think, it was with my aunt, uncle and cousins and mom.  My mom rode this thing then, as well as Zambezi Zinger, My mom hates amusement park rides more than I do!  I still can't believe she got talked into this above all the other rides.  

When Winterfest was announced in 2016 no one knew what to think. the park had never been open that late in the season before over its forty-five-year history at that point.  I remember driving by though the night of Thanksgiving, just before it opened the next day and seeing the park with all the lights on just absolutely blew my mind.  

2018

Some look at Africa and think not much has changed between the 2012 photo and today, I look at it and think what hasn't changed?  The only thing that hasn't changed is the trellis over the midway!  There is no more High Striker, there IS a Floral Clock (cue the angels singing), and then there is the current Auntie Annies (mmm pretzels..).  The pretzel place is probably the most successful of the variety of quick-service snack places that have been located at the end of Casbah Games... but its been one of MANY, from Rick's Cafe, to King Tut's Fresh Cut Fries, to ZardaQ Express, there has been a lot of variety there over the years and that's just the last 20 years or so. 

This trolley made its first appearance during Winterfest in 2017, since then it has been used for both its Winterfest Holly Jolly Trolley, various parade floats (Snake Saturday/St Patrick's Day Parade), and the summer-time show as well.  I like it, it reminds me of the Main Street Trolley Show at Magic Kingdom, which I think is kind of the point.

2019

Cotton Blossom BBQ under construction prior to the 2019 opening, if you notice it is the same view as the photo from 2006 & 2000!  (Photo from Worlds of Fun Social Media)

Front Street in 2019.  As many have commented it looks very different than it did in 2017 prior to the  renovation of the area, but I believe it needed it, and it will be only a few years before the trees began to fill out just like the ones by Voyager. 

In 2016 the old trees in front of Viking Voyager were removed and new trees planted, three years later the new trees have begun developing well.  

SO Bridge in 2019 during the premiere of Grand Carnivale.  One final story before we close it out.  If you notice throughout this blog I call the bridge joining Scandinavia and Orient the SO Bridge, that's what I have always heard everyone call it, and it was "given" that unofficial name by ambassadors and permanent staff long ago since it connects Scandinavia to the Orient.  As the photos have shown the SO Bridge has changed drastically over the years, first with flags and wooden hand railing, today, with a Torii gate and updated metal rails. Some say this necessities a change in name, but I disagree.  First, many attractions that have changed names are still called by their old names, years, decades later.  The Forum, Forum Road, Vittle Griddle, Blue Bronco even River City Rampage (that's Fjord Fjarlene), all have been re-named over the years, but are still called by many by their older names, because that's what many of us know them as.  For me SO Bridge is just SO Bridge.