2002-03: 81,500 With whispers of a future Wonderland in Sydney, it begs the question whether some of these rides may one day find themselves coming back to Australia or counterparts built to pay homage to the original attractions that made Wonderland a historic piece of nostalgia. A 'Parachute Tower' built by Vekoma, the Skyhawk consisted of four cars; two for sitting passengers, two for standing. I honestly think I would have gone to Wonderland every second day in the school holidays. Bounty's Revenge was dismantled and sent to Sunway Lagoon. Join the conversation with your fellow The New Daily readers and see their replies. Wonderland's demise follows the closure of Old Sydney Town on the Central Coast and the Kinkuna Country Fun and Fauna Park at Lakes Entrance, Victoria. Australia's Wonderland also claimed that it was the largest wooden rollercoaster in the Southern Hemisphere. A large wheel-shaped machine which laid on one of its faces, with several rocking rider cars attached around the circumference. Owners say the threat of terrorism, coupled with skyrocketing insurance premiums, SARS and the Asian bird flu have all taken their toll on the number of visitors to the park. Wobbies World in Melbourne's east opened in 1970 and closed in 1999. June 17th 2004Wonderland became a danger-land training environment for soldiers of 5 Bdes Reserve Response Force (RRF) during the conduct of Exercise Ferris Wheel.The space probe, demon and the snowy river rampage where reported to be seen operating from outside the park. There was also signage from an old food stand, listing ice cream for sale. Ninety per cent of what I want (for the master plan) I already have, Mr Bakas, operations manager of Orlandos Walt Disney World, said. The New Daily takes a look back at Australias most loved and forgotten theme parks. Luna Park, Glenelg, operated from 1930 until 1935. Started Thursday at 09:35 PM. We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we live, learn, and work. He was a regular visitor. Dimly lit, hard-to-watch Disney trailer is further proof Hollywood has embraced the dark side, From Aussie politics to catering funerals: Here are 10 new books to check out in March, Introducing the worlds smartest suitcases. A parachute would then allow riders to slowly descend to the ground. It had several attractions including the popular Gee-Wizz ride, flying boats, merry-go-rounds, shooting and archery galleries. After this contract expired, the ride dropped the '7' from its name). And my friend wanted to take a drone, so we went out again this month.. The park had a satisfactory couple of months, but for all their rides and investment they couldn't make very much of a profit. Wonderland Sydney, then known as Australia's Wonderland opened amid much media attention and publicity on 7 December 1985 with financial backing from the New South Wales State Superannuation Board, James Hardie, Leighton Holdings and Taft Broadcasting (through Kings Entertainment Company)[3] at Eastern Creek on the junction of Wallgrove Road and the M4 Motorway. WORLDS of Wonder is destined to propel Western Sydney to the nations top theme park destination, knocking off the Gold Coast. Sydneys Wonderland revamp gets $1 billion funding. Join the conversation, you are commenting as. It was put into voluntary liquidation in 1934, with its rides dismantled and sent to Luna Park in Sydney. Sega World, which was on Sydneys Darling Harbour, was a nod to the Sega gaming franchise, primarily Sonic the Hedgehog. Eventually, in 1992, all of the Taft Broadcasting Parks were sold to Viacom and re-branded as Paramount Parks. ), but I don't think it's something that can be seen as. CEO Stephen Galbraith stated the September 11 attacks, the 2002 Bali bombings, the collapse of HIH Insurance, the SARS virus, the bird flu virus, consistent losses on the Asian financial crisis, the collapse of Ansett Australia, the Iraq War and the 2003 bushfires all contributed to the park's closure. 27/04/04 - Laughter turns to tears as sun sets on Wonderland, 23/07/04 - Family seeks theme park ticket refund. The Sydney park was immediately closed after the fire and most of the park was demolished. Wonderland will shut its doors on April 26. But finally, in 2004, persistent losses incurred and difficult market conditions saw the theme park shut its doors for the last time. The Western Sydney marvel deemed as "Wonderland" was a world of escape for families for almost 20 years. The most notable attractions included The Demon, The Beastie, The Bush Beast and the Snowy River Rampage. IS THIS LAST DRINKS FOR THE 1:30AM LOCKOUT? August 2005Site access is granted after 5 months of delays. He cited events including September 11, the Ansett and HIH collapses, bushfires and SARS. Author: Kathy Mac Dermott There was a miniature golf course called Top Cat's Putt Putt Park; prior to the installation of Fred Flintstone's Splashdown there was a putting course known as Old McScrappy's Golfing Farm. 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"It was devastating to see Wonderland close down because of how much fun it brought people over the years. Wonderland Sydney was a theme park in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. If there had been one thing I wish could have found when I was out at that boneyard it would have been a piece of the Bush Beast. "I guess it felt like I had a certain amount of closure by being able to climb The Beastie this one final time, it being the first roller-coaster I ever went on as a child.". SCAT paramedics and a doctor from Careflight arrived on scene to assist in treating the patient.He was released two and a half hours later and taken to Westmead hospital with a back injury in a stable condition. Wonderland was an Aussie theme park that created fond memories for many kids of the '80s and '90s. Two years earlier, the Skyway had closed as construction began on the three massive E-Ticket attractions - The Matterhorn Bobsleds, The Submarine Voyage, and the Disneyland Monorail - that would herald the park's famed "second opening day." When that day came in '59, the Skyway had been rerouted also that it travelled THROUGH the . Some wouldn't survive. Get The New Daily free every morning and evening. The sublime Irish gin which stole Rustys heart, Parallel roads which are streets apart in temperature. Watts' obsession with the derelict site shows the impact Wonderland had on his formative years when it was alive and functioning. The park opened in 1997 and operated for four years. International guests aren't attracted to Australian theme parks by big thrill rides, they are attracted by uniqueness, diversity and in particular wildlife. Australias Wonderland opened in December 1985 on a 219-hectare parcel of land in western Sydney. Successive inconveniences and high costs caused Wonderland Eurasia to . Cox says Wonderland also suffered because of its Eastern Creek location. Leisureland Fair was in Langwarrin, in Melbournes south-east, and operated from 1984 to 1992. Obsessed with travel? Adventure Parc, Tamborine Mountain; Amazons Aquatic Adventureland, Jindalee - closed down in 2001, the site has since become Centenary Quays, a gated community Wonderlands 400 employees would get their full entitlements and help to find new jobs.. The park was renamed Harbourside Amusement Park for a while before resuming its old name. Convincing the operator on the Tasmanian Devil to go backwards. Nationwide News Pty Ltd 2023. Pasted as rich text. Following the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, Disneyland closed its gates for a national day of mourning on November 23, 1963, marking the first unplanned closure unrelated to weather in its history. After Wonderland shut Watts roamed the abandoned lot and took the liberty of entering sections of the park that were off-limits to visitors when it was open, including climbing to the top of The Beastie roller coaster structure. Of all the rides on the 540 acre site, he has always been most fond of Wonderland's two wooden roller coasters, The Beastie and The Bush Beast. For almost two decades Wonderland operated as New South Wales answer to Disneyland, offering more than 20 rides from its Eastern Creek home until its eventual closure in 2004. It is now the site of the Forest Hill police station. 09/03/04 - What do you think of Australia's Wonderland closing down? 16 February 2004The Sunway company announced that International Theme Park Pty. Mr Eddy said yesterday his park had just registered its best summer holiday period, and visitor numbers were soaring. . News 4; More attractions at Wonderland Sydney Top rated experiences at Wonderland Sydney. Five-centuries-old saffron and ginger found preserved in shipwreck off Sweden, Chinese migrants walked a gruelling 500km to Victoria's goldfields in the 19th century. It was sad to look out and see there really was nothing left of it. With the CN characters, they've just had the Powerpuff Girls, but . March 12, 2005Ambulances were called to reports of a person fallen at the 'Space Probe'.On arrival ambulance officers found a male in his early 30s trapped on a platform inside the tower approximately 30 metres above the ground. Closed in 1998. The park would later add rides such as the 'Demon' (1992) and 'Space Probe 7' (1995; sponsored by the Seven Network, who bought naming rights to the ride. 14. Well-known circus family, the Bullens, also had other lion parks in NSW, Queensland and South Australia. The business had just invested $250,000 on a crocodile exhibit, he said. Wonderland opened with three separate themed areas within the park: 'Goldrush', 'Medieval Faire' (later renamed Old Botany Bay), and 'Hanna-Barbera Land' (later renamed 'Little Wonders Land' in 20012002) which featured rides and attractions based on characters from Hanna-Barbera animation shows such as Yogi Bear, Scooby-Doo and The Flintstones. Your previous content has been restored. There was an error submitting the form. The park, aimed primarily at younger children, featured a static Bell helicopter plus a chopper-themedWhirliebird monorail, golf course, trampolines and several food and drink kiosks. Started Friday at 03:54 AM, By The fact of the matter is that the place NEVER made a profit, even going back into the 80's and 90's. 'Tasmanian Devil' opened 1985. During that time he shot photos showing the remains of what was once a special part of many people's childhoods. There's not too many attractions you can add that will ultimately effect this demographic. This guy thought he could charge what he wanted ($500 an hour to be precise) because there was such urgency to get the Demon down and out. Wonderland Sydney (Closed) Sydney, Australia I've done Wonderland Sydney. Owners say the threat of terrorism, coupled with skyrocketing insurance premiums, SARS and the Asian bird flu have all taken their toll . Henry VIII and were earning lots of money so they decided to close Drowning, 08/05/85 - The frame goes up for new coaster, 26/04/85 - Whoosh - and up she goes (Bush Beast), 16/07/85 - Wonderland Rises up from Suburbia, 15/08/85 - Hair-raising Beastie is ready to roll, 28/08/86 - It's as exciting as Disneyland, 19/09/86 - Why Wonderland is riding the J-Curve, 15/06/91 - Holiday fun with famous Wrestlers, 11/09/92 - Life's Ups And Downs Can Send You Loopy, 28/03/97 - Australia's Wonderland sold for $50m, 01/07/97 - Kelair keeps the rides running, 24/07/97 - Wonderland hosts feast of country music, 31/01/98 - Scooby's life not all happy snaps, 08/04/99 - Tie ends `Whirl till you Hurl'. Other proposals just never progressed beyond the drawing board, including the $485million Studio City proposal for Melbourne's Docklands and the canning of Dolly Parton's Dixie Stampede planned for Surfers Paradise. Ltd. the operator of Wonderland Sydney would close its theme park operation by middle of 2004 as part of the Group's overall rationalization exercise to exit from non-performing business units. 2001-02: 165,400 Watts also chanced upon piles of documentation that explained how some rides operated. It was an institution for many, and a hotspot during school holidays. Western Sydney resident Chris Watts spent 19 years living a short drive from amusement park Wonderland. Removed in 2000. The Bush Beast was identical in layout to the Wild Beast at Canada's Wonderland and Grizzly at Kings Dominion. Here Are 21 Photos of Wonderland After The Theme Park Closed Its Doors To The Public. Balnaves dismisses claims that international events including September 11 and SARS drove Wonderland to the wall as "excuses". This amusement park in Frankston, opened its doors in 1966 and operated for almost 10 years. Discover unique things to do, places to eat, and sights to see in the best destinations around the world with Bring Me! Many of Australia's Wonderland's rides correlate to the rides at the former Paramount Parks still in operation today. Most of the rides were sold to other amusement parks, while 'The Bush Beast', 'The Beastie' and 'The Snowy River Rampage' were demolished. The space probe and the demon were operating and the guysers on the snowy river rampage where going off. Speaking to Nine News at the time, Mr Naylor said visiting the site brought back memories he had as a child. If you could have told me for sure that I had found even a small part of that ride I would have taken it home and hung it on the wall., To join the conversation, please Tricoart Originally known as. Wonderland, Sydney. A look back at Australias forgotten theme parks. This in turn damaed the negotiations for Visionland to buy the Bush Beast and Beastie coaster cars. Wonderland's demise follows the closure of Old Sydney Town on the Central Coast and the Kinkuna Country Fun and Fauna Park at Lakes Entrance, Victoria. [5][6], The gates shut for the last time on 26 April 2004,[7] the day after the Anzac Day public holiday, and a complete demolition of the park was undertaken in September 2005. "Many of our Boomerangs have been relocated over the years. It hadfamous waterslides that twisted across each other, and other rides such as dodgem cars, mini golf, a carousel, an alligator-themed roller- coaster and a video game arcade. Beasties two blue PTC Trains under the cover of the stables in the back paddock behind Minchinbury reservoir. Are bills set to rise? These two parallel streets are only 100m apart but an astonishing 20 degrees apart in temperature because one is tree-lined and the other is not. Don't have an account? Wonderland's lack of branding also meant the park could not harness valuable merchandising sales. Theme park analyst David Barbuto, of JPI Consulting, says Wonderland had lost its identity and did not offer a sufficient menu of attractions to lock people into a four- to six-hour stay. Publication: Financial Review Taking the technology and making it move in a different direction.. "At a time when international tourists want to do Cape York to Melbourne in one day, Wonderland was too far out of Sydney," he says. Upload or insert images from URL. Photo Wonderland Eurasia. Amidst record attendance set as a result of the announcement of the closure, Wonderland says goodbye. Okay, so the official reason given by the park was that it was a combination of a downturn in air-travel post 9/11, SARS, Bird-Flu, HIH Insurance collapse, (stuff outside it's control). Summer holiday (Dec - Jan) figures: Keep track of all the parks and rides you've experienced, Rate and review your favourite attractions, Join the discussion in our forums to find out what new rides/attractions are on their way. Before Werribee Zoo, visitors to Ashtons Bacchus Marsh drove through a safari park where lions would latch their paws onto their cars. March 31 2005A cyclone fence went up around the Bush Beast while the Heritage Order for the Bush Beast was being reviewed by Blacktown Council. The content of this website is provided for information purposes only. The Real Reasons for Wonderland's Closure, Dreamworld announces Wave Swinger, Dreamland (DreamWorks retheme) and new coasters. The owners of'HMS Endeavor' (beleved to be Sunway) where given access to the site and started started dismantling the ride.HMS Endeavor was then moved out to the back paddock. Plans for the park include a water park, a wildlife park and the return of the Wonderland. Australia's forgotten theme parks hold unforgettable memories for visitors. 'Ned Kelly's Getaway' opened 1985. The 100ha site in western Sydney was worth about $100million, and its owners could make more money from subdividing the site than they could from a theme park, he said. Sydney's Wonderland theme park at Eastern Creek is to close. The Bush Beast Roller Coaster . "There was a kind of strange air of serenity after years and years of screams and shouts and the noise of all the rides and the music, the place was tranquil and relatively peaceful in the fading afternoon light. 03/12/05 - Bush Beast's resting place revealed. Pictured is the Big Dipper roller-coaster that was closed after only a year of operation in 1995 after noise complaints by . Technology has changed so drastically between decades, he said. [1] Officially opened in December 1985 by the Premier of New South Wales, Neville Wran,[2] the park was the largest in the southern hemisphere. Water park Magic Mountain in Glenelg opened opened in 1982 and closed its doors in 2004. The Fox Studios Backlot in Moore Park was also a much-loved treasure among film buffs. ``We compete pretty hard with them so we expect to pick up (group bookings) Christmas parties, school excursions. We are all aware of Sea World, Dreamworld and Movieworld. themagician 2002-03: 170,000 They started the diesel motor on Zodiac and manually operated the lift cylinders as per evac when no power is available, lowering the western arm ready for the gondolas to be removed. This week, the 27-year-old decided to go back for a second visit to Wonderlands graveyard complete with a drone to see what he may have missed during his first visit two years ago. parks have managed topersist for decades, but most have sadly shut their doors. But I am glad that some of the rides have managed to survive," Ammar Khan, who operated rides at the park for nine years told nine.com.au. Music by Jonny Higgins - http://www.jonnyhiggins.com/contact/For a lot of Australian's Wonderland Sydney is ingrained in their childhood, but internationally. [1] It opened on Saturday, 1 December 1906 and closed in 1911. The main attraction was its four water slides, particularly during the hot Adelaide summers. The heartbroken family of Matthew Eakin, who died on the K2 in Pakistan, has made a desperate plea for help to retrieve his body. It is kind of like having a foot but you dont know the exact shoe size., SYDNEY WALK-THRU JUNKYARD THAT HAS EVERYTHING. This is how we got here and what needs to change, 'Please confirm what Muslim refers to': Why Ali's birthday payment for his nephew was flagged by his bank, Kade was a fit 31-year-old when he died from a heart attack, Sherpa are world famous for their work, which is synonymous with their name. In 1990 Wonderland opened the 'Australian Wildlife Park'. Its main attraction was a figure-eight roller-coaster called Jazz Junction, with its track running overhead along the fifth level. In 2017, amateur filmmaker Phil Van Gerwen decided to take a trip down memory lane, and venture to the site where rides have been dumped following the parks demise. Wonderland's 400 employees would get their full entitlements and help to find new jobs.Stephen Galbraith. Jamberoo Recreation Park visitor numbers: It is now a housing estate, with the only reference to it being a street called Leisureland Drive. Overseas attendees provide a better yield once they pass through the gates, with Japanese visitors the best spenders. Ashley Jeffery Lewis Carroll's classic, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, starts with a plunge down a hole in pursuit of a white rabbit before things turn "curiouser and curiouser." According to Khan, the construction of the Park would take three years. The most depressing thing was realising we were standing on the exact same spot where the actual Beastie used to be, he said, referring to the parks smaller wooden rollercoaster. Any unauthorised use of Parkz content is expressly prohibited. But it was so popular I really wanted to explore it. [5] Sydney Morning Herald stated that Sunway Group "blames Wonderland's demise on everything except poor management". Kennedy had visited the park once, as a Senator, four years earlier in October 1959. . "It was a strange feeling to see a place I had loved so much reduced to such a decrepit level of decay and destruction.". Wonderland (TIME) has lost 96.4% of its value since tapping a $10,063 ATH three months ago. "If nothing else, travelling down the M4 and seeing The Bush Beast, Demon and Space Probe every time they drove by, it was part of the landscape.". While few probably still play this game or even heard of it, it was one of the few turn based MMORPGs out there. Anzac Day - April 25, 2004The gates shut for the last time. For almost two decades, Wonderland operated more than 20 rides in Sydneys Eastern Creek. The developers sought to provide an alternative to the troubled Luna Park Sydney, which had opened and closed multiple times in its recent history. Half the size and height of, 'Antique Autos' opened 1985. In the mid 1990s he said Wonderland was consistently attracting 1 million visitors a year. Vekoma said it was not uncommon for its rides to remain in service for decades at a time. The Bush Beast's wooden tracks were torn apart and carriages left to rust, and the. SUNWAY CLOSURE OF WONDERLAND SYDNEY; The Final Day; The Last Day; A visit to Wonderland 12/10/2004 after closure; Demolition Time Line; Wonderland Galleries; Wonderland History; Wonderland Wedding; The Demon, or Boomerang as it classified by manufacturers Vekoma, originally operated at the shorty lived World Expo in Brisbane in 1988 under the name Titan. Visitors were told that the rides were being relocated to the remaining sections, so that they would be closer (as the rides were spaced apart). The park was demolished to make way for what is now the Luna Shopping Centre. A former employee made a list of what happened to some of the rides. Lots of money, Jewellery and Mobile phones.Most of the rides still on site where removed. The park opened in 1991 and closed in 1998. Relocated from, This page was last edited on 6 February 2023, at 00:58. Dreamworld did well to counter this with very well times thrill and family attractions. Many rides closed, the rest lacking quality, incomplete landscaping in places, and Lightspeed breaks down and has people evaced from the brake run. With China's rise and democracy's decline, what will the global order look like in 2050? January 2005ING now own the park outright, all the rides should have been removed and demoliton well under way but everything is still delayed. Australia's Wonderland Sydney - TV Commercial 1987 Watch on Children's author and good friend Andrew Levins has spent some time in lockdown researching the history of Wonderland, 35 years after it first opened, and shared some of his stories on Hope Breakfast. It really was gone, he said. Date: 21/02/2004 A new 'veloway' is welcome news for Melbourne's cyclists. Similar to a scaled-down Chair-O-Planes, riders were instead seated in two-seater 'flying boats'. Luna Park, Scarborough Beachopened in 1939 and closed after 33 years of operation. 'HMS Endeavour' opened 1985. In September 2015 the proposal received financial backing with a $1 billion cash injection from a consortium of investors via the multinational, Fox Petroleum Limited.[28]. DECEMBER 18 2004The Wonderland Sign above the front gate was taken down and sold for $1,000 to a Junkyard in Londonderry. "At lower elevations, where it did not snow The high velocity ride which sling-shotted passengers at more than 70km/h forwards and then backwards operated in Wonderland's Transylvania Land until its closure in 2004. Perhaps put more eloquently than Daniel, but yeah, there was really nothing there that is terribly new. Keep up with the latest daily buzz with the BuzzFeed Daily newsletter! Leisureland Fair When it shut its doors to the public in April 2004, he wasn't quite ready to let go of his childhood. in 2020 , leaving a strong feeling . log in. Some of the rides were moved, but others were scrapped. THE Illawarra's only theme park is proving more popular with visitors, despite Sydney's Wonderland closing its doors citing the impact of terrorism, SARS and Asian bird flu. This week Wonderland's chief executive Stephen Galbraith cited a litany of reasons for the park's demise, including Asian bird flu, SARS and the collapse of HIH. Also thought it was interesting to hear from Neil Balnaves and it pleases me that he is obviously well aware of the need for capital investment in a park. By Saturday August 27 6am, 2005The Bushbeast was demolished.One of the steal cables from the Sky Rider was taken down and wrapped around the bushbeast and then connected to two D9 bulldozers which tried to pull the bush beast over, the bulldozers moved towards the Snowy River Rampage pushing everything in there path into the Snowy River Rampage with the cable around the Bush Beast and a dozer on each end of the cable they tried to pull the Bush Beast over, The Bush Beast did not go down without a fight, the SkyRider cable snapped several times and in the end they just drove the dozers through the supports with the structure coming down behind them.. Monday August 29, 2005 They started seperating Bush Beasts sleel track from the wood and demolished the station. on top of a roller coaster, and passengers had to get off on foot. In 2004, the theme park closed its doors. Park Musical Supervisor for the 19851986 opening season was Derek Williams. By Richard Wilson 26 April 2004 1 Shares. To join the conversation, please It takes another player out of the market." After the Demon was down and out of the park the original Canadian company, who were contracted to pull it down, decided not to pay guy his exorbitant fee using the distance between the two countries as a safe haven. Self care and ideas to help you live a healthier, happier life. Join the conversation, you are commenting as. Featured as the world's tallest and fastest free-fall ride at the time, Space Probe quickly became a crowd favourite with guests often queueing up for almost an hour to ride the attraction that lasted only 3.8 seconds as it dropped guests at 120km/h. Register, Join the conversation, you are commenting as Logout. Sydney's Luna Park has closed and re-opened numerous times. Selling fun just not the Wonderland it used to be The ride was sold in 2005 to Fly Coaster, a small. Wonderland Sydney / Via Twitter: @Wonderland_Syd Your parents wouldn't leave the park without one. What we have available now is on such a different level.. Snowy River Rampage Political turmoil, uneven ride quality, and a lack of attendance caused the massive park to. It was famed for its pyramid which displayed sculptures made of human teeth. The ride closed in 2002. Sunway Group, who managed Wonderland, blamed a multitude of factors for its closure including the September 11 attacks and the collapse of Ansett Australia. Only one ride, Skyrider which was the former cable car at the Sydney Showgrounds, was added between the 1997 takeover and the park's closure. Among the rides to find new homes was The Demon, which served as Wonderland's unofficial flagship attraction for more than a decade. "Overall the theme park industry is in great shape," he says. The Great Balloon Race was dismantled and taken off site by its new owner. The park haddodgem cars, a roller-coaster, an arcade, mini-golf, bumper boats and gravity-defying ride called The Scat. I know there is not really any new info as such in the articles (as I said I was not expecting any of you to be surprised) but as you said Richard it is the first time this angle has been published, unfortunately. You can post now and register later. 19/09/86 - Why Wonderland is riding the J-Curve; 1991. WORLDS of Wonder is destined to propel Western Sydney to the nation's top theme park destination, knocking off the Gold Coast. Wonderland Project Surrounded by Controversy In addition to the major losses, Wonderland creators have been under scrutiny in recent times. The Broken Hill Mill Games Arcade in Gold Rush was dismantled and taken off site by its new owner. The master plan for the Western Sydney area is an entertainment precinct with attractions, resort . Author: By DAVID CRAWSHAW Mr Eddy said the park was on track to exceeding 200,000 visitors this financial year - up from 170,000 in 2002-03 and 165,400 in 2001-02. "It was basically a 'wear-out' process," he says. The park had three separate themed areas, including Hanna-Barbera Land, which featured rides and attractions based on characters such as Yogi Bear, Scooby-Doo and The Flintstones. Its headline feature was a jungle boat cruise which allowed visitors to pass large concrete dinosaurs, with speakers set into the grass.