Boardwalk and Baseball, originally known as Circus World, was an amusement park in Haines City, Florida, USA. The park originally had a circus theme before later changing to a baseball theme. The park closed on January 17, 1990 after it was purchased by Anheuser-Busch.[1]
History
Circus World, a circus-inspired amusement park, was announced in September 1972 with plans for an amusement park, safari, and hotel. The project was developed by Ringling Brothers-Barnum and Bailey Combined Shows, Inc., a subsidiary of Mattel Inc. Ground broke for the park's preview center on April 26, 1973, with Mercury Construction Co. building the center.[2] The preview center included a large building themed as a circus tent, complete with an IMAX theater inside.
Mattel announced plans to sell the subsidiary in December 1973. At approximately the same time, the preview center was delayed from December till February 1974. Circus World Showcase, a preview center for the Circus World amusement park, opened on February 21, 1974 after a media preview the day before. It included a carousel as the only ride. At the time, the complete project was estimated to cost $50 million and be completed in early 1976.[3]
An expansion to the park opened in 1977, including the Zoomerang roller coaster, a small children's play area named Clown-A-Lot, and the usage of former railway cars as decoration. It was expanded again in 1978 with Florida Hurricane and Center Ring.[4]
Circus World closed on May 10, 1986 and was re-branded as Boardwalk and Baseball.
Boardwalk and Baseball closed on January 17, 1990.
Defunct coasters
Name | Manufacturer | Type | Opened | Closed | Fate |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dragon Coaster | Zamperla | Powered Family | 1985 | 1989 or later | Unknown |
Florida Hurricane | Marvin M. Black Co. | Wooden | June 18, 1978 | January 17, 1990 | Relocated to Magic Springs & Crystal Falls |
Wiener Looping | Schwarzkopf | Shuttle | 1985 | 1985-86 | Travelling Germany |
Zoomerang | Arrow Dynamics | Shuttle | 1977 | January 17, 1990 | Relocated to Fun Spot Park |
Defunct attractions
- This list is incomplete, please expand it if you can.
Name | Manufacturer | Type | Opened | Closed | Fate |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1001 Nights | Weber | Flying Carpet | 1985 | 1990 | Relocated to Geauga Lake |
Big Wheel | Vekoma | Ferris Wheel | 1983 | 1988 | Relocated to Gillian's Wonderland Pier |
Big Wheel | Nauta Bussink | Ferris Wheel | 1989 | 1990 | Relocated to Lagoon |
Calypso | Unknown | Calypso | 1981 or earlier | 1988 or later | Unknown |
Canoe Ride | Unknown | Unknown | 1985 | 1985 or later | Unknown |
Carousel | M.C. Illions | Carousel | 1974 | 1981 or later | Unknown |
Das Monster | Unknown | Polyp | 1985 | 1989 or later | Unknown |
Enterprise | HUSS | Enterprise | 1978 | 1990 | Unknown |
Grand Rapids Log Flume | Arrow Dynamics | Log Flume | 1987 | 1990 | Relocated to SeaWorld San Antonio |
Jaguar | Unknown | Unknown | 1985 | 1989 or later | Unknown |
Music Express | Unknown | Music Express | 1985 or earlier | 1985 or later | Unknown |
Ranger | Unknown | Ranger | 1985 or earlier | 1989 or later | Unknown |
Santa Maria | Schwarzkopf | Santa Maria | 1985 | 1990 | Travelling France |
Schlittenfahrt | Mack Rides | Matterhorn | 1985 | 1990 | Travelling USA |
Scooter Pavilion | Unknown | Dodgem | 1981 or earlier | 1989 or later | Unknown |
Swiss Bob | Unknown | Unknown | 1985 | 1989 or later | Unknown |
Para Tower | Unknown | Paratower | 1985 or earlier | 1989 or later | Unknown |
Wave Swinger | Zierer | Waveswinger | 1985 | 1990 | Travelling Germany |
References
- ↑ Strother, Susan (January 18, 1990). "The roller-coaster ride is over for theme park". The Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved December 10, 2021.
- ↑ Brown, Lonnie (1973-12-19). "Mattel Selling Circus World". Lakeland Ledger. Retrieved 2023-07-09.
- ↑ Fiero, Peter (1974-02-21). "Hurry, Hurry! Circus World Showcase Officially Opens Today". Lakeland Ledger. Retrieved 2023-07-09.
- ↑ "Fifteen former Ringling Circus Train cars go to Circus World Theme Park 1977-1986 & Boardwalk and Baseball 1987-1990". Theme Trains. Retrieved 2023-08-11.