Black Pool Pleasure Beach in UK.
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/126/386908241_a51bf38967.jpg
The history of amusement parks started in the Middle Ages. First there were periodic fairs with live entertainment, fireworks and games not unlike the circus. The oldest park still working is in Bakken, north of Copenhagen. It was first opened in 1583. In Denmark there is also the oldest still in use wooden roller coaster. In the late 1800s amusement parks began to appear in America. They were usually built at the end of trolley lines and were a very popular Sunday destination for families with children. In 1919 there were almost two thousand amusement parks in America. Today there are only 600. Older, small local fairs with wooden coasters were replaced by huge parks with rides manufactured with steel components. The first theme park in America was Knott’s Berry Farm, which opened in 1940.
In the 1950’s, Disneyland was created. Many speculated and assumed it wouldn’t last long but it turned out to be a great success. The public gradually lost interest in the smaller amusement parks in favor of theme parks similar to Disneyland. Over time, the larger theme parks became more commonplace.
A Disneyland commercial from 50's.
Here is a film showing the background creation of Disneyland.
Here is how one of Disneylands' parks looks like nowadays.
Do you think those abandoned old parks are still attractive to visit?
Some abandoned amusement park in Japan.
http://ruinsds.sakura.ne.jp/t_rando/t_rando05.jpg
Have you ever visited an amusement or a theme park?
Which one?
Did you have fun?
Abandoned parks can in no way be attractive since they are empty and nobody ever goes there. Amusement parks should make us happy and abandoned parks make us feel uncomfortable.
ReplyDeleteYes, I have visited couple of amusement parks in USA, Canada and Germany and they were all great. I had so much fun like never in my life before. The best was the thrill as you were riding one of the most dangerous rides on earth.
I have never visited any amusement park. Perhaps that could be a nice experience, especially if I would go with children. Still, I don't feel any need to go there. I'm not sure if this is a kind of entertainment tailored for me. I don't like noise and crowd and I've never felt comfortable in a funfair.
ReplyDeleteThese old Disneyland commercials are fantastic! That would be nice to visit it in the 50'ties, to move in time and see amazed people having fun.
The picture of the abandoned amusement park in Japan is very appealing to me. There's a mystery and sadness, some kind of unspeakable feeling. I love it and I'm sure there are others who would find it attractive to visit.
I've seen a couple of amusement parks. I recommend you Wesołe Miasteczko in Chorzów, not as great as once but still working. Unfortunately, there are not many in Poland. There is no amusement park in Warsaw, which is a pity, the water park on Górczewska street cannot compare to anything, besides it's crowded like hell. I saw a water park near Madrid once - awesome!
ReplyDeleteAlso there, in Getafe, there is a Warner Bros theme park. Interesting if you are a cartoon fan.
Has anybody any information about an amusement park in Poland? Please share!
Once I was in heide park. I was young and probably I don't remember much, but one thing I remember - I have to go back there sometime. Several years ago,I was looking at old pictures, the park looks really interesting is polished and impressive. This is not a Disney park where we can find a mass of the mascots, but interesting place for kids also with attractions for adults, especially with what my colleagues say the best are 'x-tremes' entertainments. It can be seen at Heide park home page, right here:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.heide-park.de/index.php?id=175&L=4&tx_ttnews[cat]=2&cHash=cc8525fddba96869010bedcac49621fd
I have never visited any amusement park but it seems interesting;) Certainly if I had the chance to visit it I will go there.
ReplyDelete@Jakub:
ReplyDeleteWarner Bros theme park! Thanks for mentioning this one!
Unfortunately I don't know a lot about interesting theme parks in Poland, but I heard there are plans to build a giant theme park (costing $2 billion) called Park of Poland. I'm afraid that's all I know in that matter.
What do you think about the evolution of Disneyland in more than half a century since it got opened?
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ReplyDeleteUnfortunately I haven’t despite numerous occasions. I can’t tell why, maybe I’ve had something better to do? Whatever..
ReplyDeleteIn this situation the other questions are useless so I’d like to show you (maybe not everyone knows that such a park exists) Ferrari World: http://www.ferrariworldabudhabi.com/en-gb.aspx - Ferrari themed amusement park on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi.
Forget about disneyland and other theme parks, go there and test by yourself Formula Rossa –„ a hydraulically-launched roller coaster manufactured by the Swiss coaster design firm Intamin AG. It is currently the world's fastest roller coaster reaching a top speed of 240 kilometres per hour”. Awesome right? For now and for sure it’s the best thing in the history that human has built!
This photo if abandoned amusement park in Japan looks great. I have a vision now in my mind of making a horror kind movie in such a scenery.
ReplyDeleteI had a great ocasion to visit a "Mirabilandia" park in italy. There was a nice rollercaster called "Katun". It is a fantastic experience to ride on such a construcion. I recommend it for everyone.
I think there is no any big theme park in Poland. Right now we can make fun only by going to the "wesole miasteczka" riding around our country.
Amusement parks are great :) Especially the biggest and most frightening roller-coaster in the park. That's my usual choice! I've only been to one big amusement park. It was in Germany - Heide Park in Soltau, Lower Saxony. It was really great, I loved every minute spent there, even though a wait for the biggest ride - which goes by a fabulous name "Colossos" - was horribly long. Colossos was the biggest (60 m high) and fastest (max speed of 120km per hour) roller-coaster in the whole theme park.
ReplyDeleteIf you are ever near that park and you are an adrenaline junkie, give it a try - you certainly won't regret it ;)
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ReplyDeleteI'm really keen on fun parks. I've been there couple of times. And I think I'm not going to grow up and give up with that. It's like an addiction.
ReplyDeleteFirstly, when I was a child, I've been in a polish amusement park near 'Chorzów'. I had been thinking about going there once again. But I stopped since I've heard about many victims due to old stuffs. Few years ago there were few cases when people died because of old attractions crashed. Then I've been visited Munich Oktoberfest fun park few times. During that event city authorities build a big amusement sub-city, with thousands attractions and beer tents. There was a really nice roller coaster, built in Olympic rings shape. Funny as hell :) Besides that, many drunk Germans.
If you are interested in such pictures, try to search Urban Exploration sites - accentually it's one of my free-time thing to do (maybe hobby).
Go to: http://opuszczone.com
There you are able to find pictures from Ukraine - Pripyat. That's a abandon city near Chernobyl nuclear plant. People had 24 hours just for escape. The most frightening pictures are: abandoned fun park and play ground with empty child's beds with anti-gas masks.
When I was a chils I've been in Disneyland in France. It is hard to remember much of it but rollercoaster still returns to me a nightmares. ;)
ReplyDeletei did not know that amusements parks have got so long history... since 1583... whooo... it is proof that people need entertainment very much. But i am not so sure i would like to try ride in wooden rolercoster ;) this abandoned parks may be the great background to some film plot or for photo session. I can not imagine for what other purposes they may be used? As i wrote some itme ago i was in asterix park next to Paris and it was great. I have got pans to visit more, maybe in germany. I have heard that there are also huge in holland. Any time i would have opportunity to spend my day there i would use it. It is so pity that Michael Jackson did not realize his plans. He wanted to build such park in Poland!
ReplyDeleteI have already mentioned a simmilar website (opuszczone.net) while commenting on some other presentation a few weeks ago:) I think that urban exploration is a very interesting subject and its not only about abandoned amusement parks. This kind of tourism has become extremely popular recently . You mentioned Priplat in your comment and I must say that I've heard about some guy who went there with a camera located on his forehead and made a brilliant documentary about this abandoned city.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ti8uwMDgBLU
Unfortunately, I never had occasion to be in an amusement park. Once I had the possibility because my friends drove to the park in Germany, but I did not go. I hope that even once I go and then come back here and answer on the rest of your questions :)
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