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| 10 Years of Making' Magic logo from 1982. |
Another year gone, and though 2021 wasn’t all we dreamed of after 2020, at least Worlds of Fun seemed to have a somewhat more normal season, Worlds of Fun-lightish. 2022 is here, and 2023 is right around the corner and with it some of the biggest anniversaries we will ever have, the 50th of Worlds of Fun and the 25th of Mamba just to cover the shortlist. But we aren’t there yet. 2022 has plenty to keep us all occupied.
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| Putting up the original Oceans of Fun sign |
The biggest anniversary of them all is Oceans of Fun which will turn 40 years old in 2022, but in a very strange twist, also celebrates its 40th season the same year. Keeping in mind with anniversaries there is no year ZERO, but there is a season ONE. Thanks to dear COVID Oceans didn’t open at all in 2020 so we went from Season 38 in 2019 to Season 39 in 2021.
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| The 25th Anniversary celebrated in 1997. |
This brings us to the next item. Oceans of Fun along with the Worlds of Fun additions of River City Rampage (Fjörd Fjärlene) and Country Junction were added for the park’s 10th anniversary in 1982 (10 Years of Makin’ Magic). If the 10th anniversary was in 1982 why isn’t the 50th in 2022? We can’t blame COVID this time. The truth is far more fascinating, and it goes back to who is running the show. When Mid-America Enterprises/Hunt Midwest owned the park they celebrated most anniversaries on the season number. So, the 10th anniversary was 1982, the 15th anniversary was 1987, the 20th was 1992, and so on. When Cedar Fair took over in 1995 they continued that making the 25th anniversary 1997, and the 30th in 2002. Then they changed everything in 2007. There was no 35th in 2007, the 35th anniversary was celebrated in 2008! On the year number instead of season number. That’s how we ended up with 2023 being the 50th anniversary and NOT 2022. Of course, we could always do what Disney does and celebrate it BOTH years.18-month celebration! Drinks at Belly Up Bar for everyone!
Speaking of Belly Up Bar. Let’s take a look at our ride anniversaries for 2022:
2017: 5th Anniversary: Falcon’s Flight/Mustang Runner/New Gate
2012: 10th Anniversary: Zombie High opens during Halloween Haunt
2007: 15th Anniversary: Bloodshed opens during Halloween Haunt
2002: 20th Anniversary: ThunderHawk
1997: 25th Anniversary: Bearenstain Bear Country/Summer Spectacular
1992: 30th Anniversary: Monsoon/Same Day Gateway/Coconut Cove
1987: 35th Anniversary: Pandamonium/Caribbean Cooler
1982: 40th Anniversary: River City Rampage/Oceans of Fun/Country Junction Theater
1977: 45th Anniversary: Singapore Sling/Wobble Wheel/Bounce a Roos/Half Pint’s Peak/Micro Moto Bahn/Floral Clock
1977: 45th Anniversary: Bamboozler
After the park would open in 1973 several new attractions would be welcomed to the park over the following years. One of the earliest additions that is still in operation today is Bamboozler. In 2022 Bamboozler turns 45 years old. Bamboozler, or as it was known in 1977, Singapore Sling was one of five major additions to the park, one in each themed area. Singapore Sling went to the Orient, while Wobble Wheel went to Americana, (removed in 1993), Bounce a Roos to Europa (removed in 2010), Half Pint’s Peak (removed in 1986), and the Floral Clock and Nairobi Nigel’s Pygmy Playhouse in Africa.
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| Singapore Sling in 1977, using the same queue entrance that would be re-used by Orient Express in 1980. |
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| Bamboozler today. |
While Singapore Sling was added in the Orient, it wasn’t in the same place that it is today, as Octopus was there until 1983. Instead, it was located about where Spinning Dragon’s exit is today, or where the entrance to Orient Express was previously. In fact, Orient Express would re-use the queue line from Singapore Sling in 1980! Also in 1980, Singapore Sling would be moved to Americana and become Whirligig up in the old Bicentennial Square (where Thunderhawk was most recently). Like many rides in that corner of the park it was affected by high winds and wouldn’t operate frequently, so when Octopus was moved out of the Orient, the newly re-named (AGAIN!) Bamboozler was moved into its place. And it’s there today.
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| The original Surf City Wave Pool in 1982. |
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| The Oceans of Fun gate in 1987. |
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| Belly Up Bar in 1982 |
1982: 40th Anniversary: Oceans of Fun, River City Rampage, and Country Junction
When a park celebrates a big anniversary you expect big things. Worlds of Fun delivered for its 10th anniversary! It not only added several new attractions to Worlds of Fun, but it also added a whole new park, Oceans of Fun! Oceans of Fun was built as the world’s largest water park, spread over 60 acres which advertised 30 different attractions! Though the park has changed over its 40 years, it is still home to two original attractions the Surf City Wave Pool and Castaway Cove/Belly Up Bar. In recent years Oceans of Fun has become synonymous with Worlds of Fun since they are a single admission today. However, back in 1982 that was not the case, guests had to physically drive and park at both parks separately. That’s an important point to remember.
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| River City Rampage in 1982 |
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| Fjörd Fjärlane today. |
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| Construction of Country Junction and River City |
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| Concept art for River City and Country Junction. |
As if a new thrill ride, new area, and whole new water park were not enough for the 10th anniversary of the park, Worlds of Fun added a new theater in 1982 too! Country Junction, located next to the train depot would premier for the 1982 season with a Nashville-themed variety show featuring an 11-performer cast.
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| Concept art for Caribbean Cooler. |
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| Caribbean Cooler when it first opened in 1987, 35 years ago |
1987: 35th Anniversary: Caribbean Cooler and Pandamonium!
For the park’s 15th anniversary the attention would again be turned to Oceans of Fun, with the addition of the Caribbean Cooler an 810-foot long lazy river. Today it's nearly impossible to imagine an Oceans of Fun without it, but it and its memorable bright green astroturf that surrounded it was the first big expansion at the park since 1983. Designed by Burns and McDonnell, Caribbean Cooler is still as popular today as it was 35 years ago.
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| Same Day Gateway booth that existed from 1992 until 2012. |
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| Monsoon with its infamous "border wall". One side was Worlds of Fun and one side was Oceans of Fun. |
1992: 30th Anniversary: Monsoon, Coconut Cove, and Same Day Gateway
The trend for Oceans of Fun expansions on park anniversaries continued with 1992. Monsoon, today is just known as an Oceans of Fun attraction opened originally as a shared attraction between Worlds of Fun and Oceans of Fun. Not entirely technologically innovative, Monsoon was manufactured by Intamin Rides, the same company that built Fury of the Nile. What made Monsoon different was its unique joining of the two parks. Before 1992, both Worlds of Fun and Oceans of Fun were completely separate, to move between the two parks you had to physically drive between the two parking lots and enter each of the separate gates. With Monsoon came the Same Day Gateway. While both parks would remain separate admissions until 2013, with the Same Day Gateway guests could now walk between the two parks. The fact that both parks were separate admissions created a bizarre yet very real “border wall” at the Monsoon exit, and many Monsoon ambassadors jokingly referred to themselves as the “border protection agents”. The wall finally came down in 2013 when both parks were joined together as part of one admission price.
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| The original Neptune's Lagoon. |
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| And it's 1992 replacement, Coconut Cove. Definitely an upgrade! |
Nearby to Monsoon is Coconut Cove, described by Hunt Midwest as 20,000 square foot super pool. Filled with play toys, small slides, and in 1993 Aruba Tuba, Coconut Cove replaced the original, Neptune’s Lagoon.
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| Bloodshed turns 15 years old in 2022. |
2007 & 2012: 15th and 10th anniversary: Bloodshed and Zombie High
In the past few years, I haven’t included any of the Haunts, but someone mentioned how Haunt coming back in 2021 was one of their favorite memories… and how can haunt be a favorite memory if it isn’t at least an attraction? In 2007 the park introduced its first haunt specifically built to be a haunt, Bloodshed. 2007 was also the first year that the park changed the name of the event from Halloweekends to Haunt. In much the same way Zombie High was also a completely independent structure built specifically for a Haunt. Zombie High will be celebrating 10 years this year as it opened in 2012.
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| Mustang Runner turns five years old in 2022. |
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| Proving that it really has operated in prior years... |
2017: 5th Anniversary: Mustang Runner, Falcon’s Flight, and Park Gate
Five years ago Worlds of Fun not only introduced Mustang Runner and Falcon’s Flight but also replaced the old Scandinavian back gate with the new main gate we enjoy today! It’s surprising to realize that all occurred five years ago as it feels like in many ways it was only a year or two ago.
Then There are the Rest...
A few attractions that should be celebrating anniversaries this year but can't because they no longer exist.
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| Bearenstain Bear Country was introduced in 1997 and was one of the shortest lived attractions lasting only until 2000. It would have been 25 years old this year. |
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| Thunderhawk was Worlds of Fun's lawn ornament before Falcon's Flight, but it operated for several years before it obtained that status. Funny enough they are both Huss rides. Thunderhawk was introduced in 2002 and would be 20 years old this year. |