When the World was Young

Welcome back to Worlds of Fun great history moments brought to you by Jennifer Lovesee-Mast and photo credits to Brandon Stanley. I apologize for it taking so long to get this update posted, as more research was involved in figuring out what was actually happening in some of the photos we will be looking at!

First though, let's go back to where we left off, Worlds of Fun opening day May 26th 1973.

Part of opening ceremonies included a caravan of Safari and Le Taxi Tour cars being driven by Worlds of Fun Dignitaries. Here we have the late Lamar Hunt, his wife Norma Hunt (Norma's Funnel Cakes).

In the background of the 2nd photo you can briefly see the Cotton Blossom.



These next three are all but impossible to determine date, but I think they are still remarkable, for the details. In the first photo, we have Lamar Hunt again, but what is so unique (besides the fact that he lived after partaking of Worlds of Fun food!), is what we are looking at. This is Vittle Griddle, otherwise know as the past work place of our current park GM. We know this by the Henrietta's smoke stack in the background, and the Americana light posts. What I like to think about is how long those chairs lasted before they were replaced with the plastic tables that we have now. I personally don't think very long. I can just see the Worlds of Fun food ambassador saying "sir please put that chair down now!"


My favorite people in the "world" are those in Worlds of Fun landscaping. This is the Orient section and today we would be looking at the Bamboozler. In this photo though, we see its predecessor the Oriental Octopus. I am thinking this has to be near opening, as these brick planters are missing their Bradford Pears, which have been there as long as I can remember.


Another "wow" moment for me, Casbah Games and Moroccan Merchant. The trees were removed within the last ten years. Many center island trees have been removed during this time period, as the trees grew either to big, or were removed to allow for "easier flow of traffic". Personally, I would have rather liked to have kept these. I am sure the free throw game people would have liked that too!

Here we have Jack Steadman, president of Mid American Enterprises holding the tethers of a Hot Air Balloon. This one actually took me a while to figure out the back story (after all no one takes a photo without a good reason). I found the story quite interesting. From a story first published on June 19, 1973 in the Kansas City Star, Lamar Hunt had big plans for Kansas City, he wanted Kansas City to become to balloon capital of the world, and his first step on getting there (besides making the logo for his park a balloon...) was to sponsor the 1st annual Balloon Race, which was held on July 21st and July 22nd, 1973. Turns out it appears to have been the ONLY Balloon race.


And the new attraction for 1974? The Forum Amphitheater! Here we are looking at construction of Worlds of Fun's first addition.


As we celebrated the country's 200th birthday Worlds of Fun added the Screamroller roller coaster to the Americana section of the park. It was the 5th Arrow Dynamics corkscrew in the country, and was so popular it brought out 9,000 guests on its opening day, April 10th, 1976.


Moving ahead to the next big thing, which turned out to be the BIG thing, The Orient Express. Here we have Lamar Hunt making an announcement in front of the Orient Express track on site. We have sadly come full circle from this photo to today. Truly though, Orient Express was the biggest thing as the 1980 season officially attracted 1.421 million visitors. One of, if not the largest crowd in Worlds of Fun's history.


We should all recognize this place, it's Patriot Landing! Today it is atleast. Back in 1982 it was the new River City, and this ride, the new River City Rampage. Today, we know it as the Fjord Fjlarlene.



You are forewarned, sentimental moment ahead. I always say the moment my Worlds of Fun infatuation began when I was a kid riding the Ski Hi at night and I saw the park ablaze with lights. I didn't get a photo of that memory, (in fact I have no photos of any time I went to Worlds of Fun as a kid), but this photo is as good a stand in as I think I will ever find. It was truly breathtaking to see the park lit up for the sky. It was advertised at the time as "Worlds of Fun at Night", who knew a bunch of light bulbs would be so cool?

In the photo itself we see what is now Pizza Pier in the foreground, and in the background from left to right is the Screamroller, New Funtier Arcade, and Whirligig (now the Bamboozler) and finally the string of lights on the far right are the lights hanging from the Henrietta. I don't have an exact date this photo was taken but it would have had to have been between 1980 and 1985 as Whirligig was moved back to the Orient when Omegatron was added in 1986.

Of all the photos I have dated this next one has been the hardest. For two reasons. Number one the Barnstormer is there (about 3/4 of the way up about 2/3 of the way over), but Oriental Octopus has been removed, and it seems to be set up for a show area. My best guesstimate is that this would be June/July 1983. (If anyone has a better guess I am willing to hear it!). Barnstormer was grounded and removed in June 1983, and I believe it was later that year that Octopus was moved up to replace it, and became known as Tailspinner. A carnival troupe replaced Octopus for a few short years before Bamboozler was moved back down to this same spot. Hence the set up for a show.

On a side note I love the fact that you can see a park tram in this shot in the far right hand corner.

Prowler Construction Tour 01/22/2009

Jeff headed out to Worlds of Fun today again today to take a look at Prowler's status so far. It looks like Prowler structure is nearing completion. The lift is beginning to take sizable shape, as are the two major track cross overs.


Last time steel for the bridge was just being laid, now we have structure for the short run between the brakes and station.


What is it? The station? The queue-line? Neither is the concrete pad for the photo booth. You can see the African train trestle in the background.


In Kansas City bridges are a fact of life, same thing with Prowler. The second steel "bridge" in this case for the lift hill is taking shape.


This photo is a little bit tough to understand. Right past the bents is a dark black line, that will be the station. Where the photographer is standing is the run to the lift hill. Behind the trees you can see the breakrun/transfer track area.


Do the hookie pookie and turn yourself around... Yep its a 180 degree turn from the photo above. This is the run to the lift hill.


Looking at the drop, carpenters hard at work on the track!


What the heck is that?! In this photo we see the lift hill taking shape on the right, and the first cross over makes its progression towards us. Once done, the train will ascend the lift hill, navigate the 1st drop, and then cross back through the lift here on the way out.


Oh boy more tinker toys! Three things are happening in this photo. In the upper right you can see the straight lift hill going up. To the left is the first crossover that we talked about earlier. Introducing the third and final element, is the finale "s" curve (this is the final element on the inbound run right before hitting the brakes) that you can see taking shape in the lower right hand corner.


An artistic view of the two crossovers. Again lift in the upper right, first cross over after main drop is on the left, and final "s-curve" crossover is in the bottom right.


The first cross over that we talked about just a minute ago continues on its outbound run here.

Is this Atlas holding the weight of the world? No. Its a workman drilling a hole in the concrete footer. The drilled hole will be filled with a bolt holding the "batter" in place. A "batter" is the main diagonal supports for a wooden coaster. (somewhat like a buttress)


Going out aways is a look at the the turn-around area. Comments have been made about this section being devoid of trees, it is important to remember that this area never had any trees to begin with. (it was the field at the turn around). You can also see the entire structure is in its finished status with the steel rail in place.


A look at the turn around itself.

Prowler Construction 01/08/2009

Well we now see history has two sides, whats in the past, and what is in the future. We just looked at the past, now we look ahead at construction of Worlds of Fun's 7th Coaster, Prowler (I love to say 7th coaster!).

Steel from the bridge for the lift. Trains will cross the ravine before they approach the lift.



The Bridge for the brake run, return to the station is almost there. In the background you see the lift and drop almost completed.


The station basement, located across the ravine from the lift, has been finished.


With all footers down, its 100% vertical from here. Here are the footers for the run from the station to the lift.


Another view, the approach to the lift.


A new view, with the water tower to the left, the completed drop to the right.


A beautiful blue sky, and the first drop beckons.


Another view of the lift, 1st drop and banked turn.


A close up view of the top of the lift, you can see the track bed in this shot, and the crew hard at work.


This will be where the lift motor will be. The return run is visible in the background.


Two things are going on here, on the right is the top of the 1st drop, with just a portion of the lift beginning to take shape. On the left is the crossover which will eventually make its way through the lift structure.


Same piece of track as above, a little bit of a different view. This hill and drop will be directly after the main drop.


This is a bit backwards from what you would imagine, in this photo we are looking towards the lift and station. The left side is the return run, right side is the outbound.


I saved the best for almost last, the steel track bed is being laid.

I end this blog post on a sad note, a shot of the old west town literally falling down (it has been in the process since a strong wind storm at the end of the season).

Worlds of Fun Construction

Construction of Worlds of Fun has always been an interest to me. Several years ago (1999) I even wrote an brief editorial outlining the parks construction. It is still online here. The Beginning... Construction of Worlds of Fun

However, talking about something and actually seeing something have always been two very different things. Of course for years I had to be content with bad double copies from Kansas City Star & Times (remember that!) articles. I was happily surprised a few months ago when Brandon Stanley at Worlds of Fun allowed us to borrow several of the photos from Worlds of Fun construction. About two months ago we took a look at some of the conception art.

Now its time to actually look at the actual heavy lifting.

First though a little history. The era of the 1970's saw an unprecedented growth in the number of amusement parks and theme parks. Six Flags St. Louis in nearby Eureka, MO opened in 1972. A few years earlier, June 1969 in fact, across the state in Kansas City designs were unveiled for another park, and international themed park, in wooded and hilly Clay County. Just like today though the dragging economy slowed progress down, and it wasn't until 1971 that clear progress began to be visible.

The design of the park was left to Hollywood (MGM Studios) Art Director turned theme park designer Randall Duell who at the time had already done design work for Six Flags over Texas, Astroworld and Magic Mountain. With a 20.5 million budget, the name Worlds of Fun was chosen to convey the excitement found in a international themed environment, one in which even in 1971 the five themed worlds of American, European, Scandinavian and Oriental were already in place.

Worlds of Fun was to be but Phase-1 of a larger entertainment complex that would span the entire 500 original acres. As time would show the later plans Hunt Midwest had for planned motels, restaurants and commercial facilities (for visitors) never made it off the drawing table. A story line that would play out at other parks conceived during the same time frame.

Many things would change from original design to actual park, but one aspect hasn't changed through the years, and that is the natural beauty of the site chosen, even Jack Steadman commented that "Worlds of Fun will be designed to preserve and enhance the natural beauty of the heavily wooded park site"

Site Preparation began in early 1971 with grading, drainage and electrical work being completed by Amino Brothers Construction with engineering done by Burnes & McDonnell. Vertical construction began slightly over a year later in May 1972 with the signing of JE Dunn for general construction of the 140 acre park. The first buildings that rose though were not in the park proper but instead were the two olive colored administrative buildings still in use today.

In less the a years time, over 60 different buildings, 20 rides, encomposing 22 box cars of lumber, 3 miles of plumbing, 2 1/2 acres of roofing materials, and 35 miles of electric wiring would be combined to open the park on May 26, 1973, slightly behind its original scheduled opening in April.

By Nov 1972, three parking lots, capable of holding 5,000 cars were complete, Henrietta's foundation was poured, and Westport Landing, the lake that would hold the Cotton Blossom, and today's Ripcord attraction was just being completed. Market Square, in 1973 home to Yum Yum tree, Front Street Dry Goods and Electric Company, a hat shop and Vittle Griddle were all taking shape. The Six wooden trestles, specifically designed for their rustic and authentic appearance were also in place.

With the prototype Flying Dutchman on the literal boat from Switzerland, the cold winter was blowing in, and would eventually cause the opening day delay. Curbs, sidewalks and rides aside, the landscaping always an important aspect from the very beginning was beginning to see its own problems. In February 1972 the park was a quagmire of mud, creating by the record ice storm that hit in the preceding January, and that penetrated the ground up to 21 inches deep. The crews of landscaper Kenneth Burrow persevered with jack hammers, to plant the trees we see today.

Weather certainly wasn't pristine in February and things didn't look any better on Worlds of Fun's grand opening on May 26th, rain and mist filled the air throughout the day. The opening ceremonies started at 9:30AM, and was marked by a grand opening parade led by Worlds of Fun Ambassadors, Taxi Cars and Safari Cars carrying dignitaries, as well as an official christening of the SS Henrietta at the park's entrance, a balloon release and airplane flyover. Exactly 11,072 were there that day to experience the festivities, attractions and rides for the very first time. Over the preceding years history would be made, possibly not the kind that Lamar Hunt and Jack Steadman had envisioned (after all it was estimated 1.9 million in attendance by the 10th year, something that never happened), but history that is still remembered with fond memories by those that lived it. This was only the beginning.


The perfect place to start, a park painter puts the finishing touches on Worlds of Fun's original logo. The single line "Worlds of Fun" logo would remain exactly the same until 1997.

Don't you recognize the park entrance? This IS the main gate, or what will become the main gate atleast. to the left is the keel for the Henrietta. This photo was most likely taken around Nov, 1972.

A bridge, but which one? Near our newest ride for 2009 Prowler, this is the Congo Clearing bridge, today we would be looking at the Congo Clearing restaurant on the other side. Zulu would be just behind us.

Often overlooked for Worlds of Fun's more heralded 1st coaster, Zambezi Zinger, Schussboomer also opened with the park in 1973. Though there are rumors that Schussboomer was bought used (they have never been substantiated) it is a fact that it came from the same place as its big brother, West Germany from the then popular roller coaster designer Anton Schwartzkopf.

For those younger readers, its a great example of how history is one large interconnected web in that articles referring to Anton Schwartzkopf and his factory list its location at West Germany. At that time, and until the early 1990's Germany was divided by the Berlin Wall into East Socialist Germany and West Capitalist Germany. The end of the Cold War between the Eastern USSR powers (now Russia) and the western world saw the downfall of the Berlin Wall and saw the end of West Germany and East Germany.




September 1972, track is unloaded for the Schussboomer roller coaster. Schussboomer would later become Worlds of Fun's first operating ride.

Schussboomer is taking shape in the Scandinavian section of the park. Schussboomer was a Wildcat model coaster, very similar to Galaxi and Zyklon coasters. Schussboomer was removed at the end of the 1985 season and scapped for steel. Today the Festaus Picnic pavilion is located were Schussboomer was located.



A gathering in Scandinavia. In the front you can see Jack Steadman. In the background is the Copenhagen shop (Girls Only or otherwise the shop that changes names every year). In the far background you can see the Scandinavian station for the Ski Heis cable car ride. Today that same station is the picnic area known as Tivoli East.

Lots of things happening here! The barn on the left side is the red barn in Americana today, it was the Sky Hi station when the park opened. In the middle, with the straight line of concrete, is the train depot under construction, just to the north of that, the structure that looks almost like a coaster? Its not, thats Cotton Blossom going up!





The Aquatic Arena, home to Fins and Flippers Dolphin show until 1996. Today the pool is the Spinning Dragons fountain.


Last Photo, the Scandi/Orient (SO) Bridge. To the left you can see Viking Voyager (view really hasn't changed much!). If you blow the photo up in the background you can see the Orient section with the original Bradford Pears (they were removed with Orient Express), and Oriental Octopus station (now Bamboozler). In the far background the wheel house of the Cotton Blossom is visible peaking out from the trees.