Joyland Amusement Park (Wichita)
Encyclopedia
Joyland Amusement Park opened in Wichita, Kansas
, United States on June 12, 1949, and was in continuous operation for 55 years. The park closed in 2004 when its owners experienced financial difficulties due to declining attendance.
The park was once the largest theme park in central Kansas, and it featured a wooden roller coaster
. Today the site is abandoned, and most buildings and rides have been vandalized.
, back in 1933. The train had been part of a defunct amusement park in Fort Scott and was originally built by the Miniature Railway Company of Elgin, Illinois
, between 1905 and 1910. By 1934, Herb Ottaway, who worked as a race car builder, had fully refurbished and restored the steam locomotive and cars and began transporting the miniature train to county fairs in western Kansas and eastern Colorado. Ottaway soon built a track for his miniature locomotive around the Manitou Springs, Colorado
, racetrack and operated the train there for some time.
The current location of Joyland Amusement Park came into existence on June 12, 1949, primarily to give Harold’s miniature locomotive a permanent home in Kansas. The park was originally located at 1515 East Central in Wichita (between New York and Mathewson streets) but soon moved to its current location at 2801 South Hillside. After Lester Ottaway’s death in the mid-1950s, his three sons, Herbert, Harold, and Eddie, continued running the park as a family operation.
Joyland's 1949 era roller coaster
, a Philadelphia Toboggan Company
coaster designed by Herbert Paul Schmeck
, is one of the last surviving original wooden roller coasters, and is one of 33 surviving roller coasters of only 44 original coasters designated as an ACE Coaster Classic
. Originally called simply Roller Coaster but for a time was renamed Nightmare, it has a 2600 ft (792.5 m) track span, 80 ft (24.4 m) drop, and 50 mi/h top speed. It has the distinction of being the only remaining roller coaster in North America using vintage rolling stock with fixed lap bars. The film King Kung Fu
was filmed on location at several locations in the Wichita area, including at Joyland. One scene in the film features several minutes of footage shot on the Roller Coaster.
In addition to the miniature train and wooden roller coaster, Joyland had a Mammoth Military Band Organ
, also known as a Wurlitzer Style 160
. It was the largest of the Wurlitzer’s early band organs. The organ was built around 1905 by the DeKleist Musical Instrument Works and was sold by the Rudolph Wurlitzer Company
. It contained 486 wood and brass pipes and used two perforated paper music rolls. The organ represented the effect of a military brass band of 20 to 25 musicians. It was the largest available band organ from Wurlitzer at the time, and was designed primarily for the skating rink industry. In 1915, the organ was taken back to the Wurlitzer factory and remodifed into a Wurlitzer Style 165. The organ was sold to W.P. Brown of Coffeyville, Kansas
, who owned and operated the Silurian Springs Bath House, which also featured a skating rink. The organ was used to provide music for the skating rink. In the 1930s the organ went into storage. It was heavily water damaged and some of its brass parts were stripped off during World War II
scrap metal drives. In 1948, Jess Gibbs of Parsons, Kansas
, purchased the old organ and began the painstaking work of restoring the instrument. In 1950 he sold the refurbished organ to the Ottaway family, who installed it in Joyland Amusement Park. The Ottaways added Louie the Clown Organist, an automated clown who sits before the organ keyboard and "plays" the instrument. Louie the Clown and the Mighty Wurlitzer have been a fixture at Joyland ever since. It creates a sound that resonates through the entire park. The Joyland organ is one of only two Mammoth Organs still in existence and, until the park closed, it was the only one in public view.
Joyland also features an original Allan Herschell Company designed Carousel
, which was built in 1949. It has all of the original Carousel horses. The carousel is disassembled at the end of every season, which has been carefully done for protection every year for the last 59 years.
The Ottaway brothers retired from the amusement park business in the late 1960s and sold the park to Stanley and Margaret Nelson. Stanley Nelson died on July 13, 2010, at the age of 87. The Nelsons were the driving force behind Joyland Park for over 30 years and a large percentage of the park's current rides, including the Bill Tracy designed Whacky Shack dark ride
, added to the park in 1974, come from the Nelsons' time as owners. Though there are a few Whacky Shacks still in use across the country today, this classic two-story dark ride was the prototype, and the closest one can find to Tracy's original designs. In addition, the original miniature train
retired with the Ottaway family and was replaced with the first-ever C.P. Huntington miniature train. This train carries serial number 1 from the factory.
Joyland featured over 24 amusement rides, including:
Wichita, Kansas
Wichita is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kansas.As of the 2010 census, the city population was 382,368. Located in south-central Kansas on the Arkansas River, Wichita is the county seat of Sedgwick County and the principal city of the Wichita metropolitan area...
, United States on June 12, 1949, and was in continuous operation for 55 years. The park closed in 2004 when its owners experienced financial difficulties due to declining attendance.
The park was once the largest theme park in central Kansas, and it featured a wooden roller coaster
Wooden roller coaster
A wooden roller coaster is most often classified as a roller coaster with laminated steel running rails overlaid upon a wooden track. Occasionally, the structure may be made out of a steel lattice or truss, but the ride remains classified as a wooden roller coaster due to the track design...
. Today the site is abandoned, and most buildings and rides have been vandalized.
Origins
The park was founded by Lester Ottaway and his sons Herbert and Harold, to serve as the home for a miniature 12 inches (304.8 mm) gauge steam locomotive that Herb Ottaway had purchased in Fort Scott, KansasFort Scott, Kansas
Fort Scott is a city in and the county seat of Bourbon County, Kansas, United States, south of Kansas City, on the Marmaton River. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 8,087. It is the home of the Fort Scott National Historic Site and the Fort Scott National...
, back in 1933. The train had been part of a defunct amusement park in Fort Scott and was originally built by the Miniature Railway Company of Elgin, Illinois
Elgin, Illinois
Elgin is a city in northern Illinois located roughly northwest of Chicago on the Fox River. Most of Elgin lies within Kane County, Illinois, with a portion in Cook County, Illinois...
, between 1905 and 1910. By 1934, Herb Ottaway, who worked as a race car builder, had fully refurbished and restored the steam locomotive and cars and began transporting the miniature train to county fairs in western Kansas and eastern Colorado. Ottaway soon built a track for his miniature locomotive around the Manitou Springs, Colorado
Manitou Springs, Colorado
The city of Manitou Springs is a Home Rule Municipality located in El Paso County, Colorado, United States. The population was 4,980 at the 2000 census.Students are served by Manitou Springs School District 14 and Manitou Springs High School....
, racetrack and operated the train there for some time.
The current location of Joyland Amusement Park came into existence on June 12, 1949, primarily to give Harold’s miniature locomotive a permanent home in Kansas. The park was originally located at 1515 East Central in Wichita (between New York and Mathewson streets) but soon moved to its current location at 2801 South Hillside. After Lester Ottaway’s death in the mid-1950s, his three sons, Herbert, Harold, and Eddie, continued running the park as a family operation.
Roller coaster
Roller coaster
The roller coaster is a popular amusement ride developed for amusement parks and modern theme parks. LaMarcus Adna Thompson patented the first coasters on January 20, 1885...
, a Philadelphia Toboggan Company
Philadelphia Toboggan Company
The Philadelphia Toboggan Company is one of the oldest existing roller coaster manufacturing companies in the world.Mack Rides of Germany dates back to 1781, but it did not start building coasters until 1921 Based in Hatfield, Pennsylvania, it was established in 1904 by Henry B...
coaster designed by Herbert Paul Schmeck
Herbert Paul Schmeck
Herbert Paul Schmeck was an American roller coaster designer. From 1923 to 1955, Schmeck designed 84 coasters for the Philadelphia Toboggan Company...
, is one of the last surviving original wooden roller coasters, and is one of 33 surviving roller coasters of only 44 original coasters designated as an ACE Coaster Classic
American Coaster Enthusiasts
The American Coaster Enthusiasts is an organization dedicated to the enjoyment and preservation of roller coasters. Membership is open to anyone with payment of yearly dues, and membership benefits may include discounted admission to certain amusement parks...
. Originally called simply Roller Coaster but for a time was renamed Nightmare, it has a 2600 ft (792.5 m) track span, 80 ft (24.4 m) drop, and 50 mi/h top speed. It has the distinction of being the only remaining roller coaster in North America using vintage rolling stock with fixed lap bars. The film King Kung Fu
King Kung Fu
King Kung Fu is a 1976 comedy film directed by Lance D. Hayes that is a low budget spoof of both King Kong and Kung Fu done in the slapstick style of Benny Hill which predates the similarly silly Airplane! by several years.-Plot:...
was filmed on location at several locations in the Wichita area, including at Joyland. One scene in the film features several minutes of footage shot on the Roller Coaster.
Other original attractions
Fairground organ
A fairground organ is a pipe organ designed for use in a commercial public fairground setting to provide loud music to accompany fairground rides and attractions...
, also known as a Wurlitzer Style 160
Wurlitzer
The Rudolph Wurlitzer Company, usually referred to simply as Wurlitzer, was an American company that produced stringed instruments, woodwinds, brass instruments, theatre organs, band organs, orchestrions, electronic organs, electric pianos and jukeboxes....
. It was the largest of the Wurlitzer’s early band organs. The organ was built around 1905 by the DeKleist Musical Instrument Works and was sold by the Rudolph Wurlitzer Company
Wurlitzer
The Rudolph Wurlitzer Company, usually referred to simply as Wurlitzer, was an American company that produced stringed instruments, woodwinds, brass instruments, theatre organs, band organs, orchestrions, electronic organs, electric pianos and jukeboxes....
. It contained 486 wood and brass pipes and used two perforated paper music rolls. The organ represented the effect of a military brass band of 20 to 25 musicians. It was the largest available band organ from Wurlitzer at the time, and was designed primarily for the skating rink industry. In 1915, the organ was taken back to the Wurlitzer factory and remodifed into a Wurlitzer Style 165. The organ was sold to W.P. Brown of Coffeyville, Kansas
Coffeyville, Kansas
Coffeyville is a city situated along the Verdigris River in the southeastern part of Montgomery County, located in Southeast Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 10,295...
, who owned and operated the Silurian Springs Bath House, which also featured a skating rink. The organ was used to provide music for the skating rink. In the 1930s the organ went into storage. It was heavily water damaged and some of its brass parts were stripped off during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
scrap metal drives. In 1948, Jess Gibbs of Parsons, Kansas
Parsons, Kansas
Parsons is a city in the northern part of Labette County, located in Southeast Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 10,500...
, purchased the old organ and began the painstaking work of restoring the instrument. In 1950 he sold the refurbished organ to the Ottaway family, who installed it in Joyland Amusement Park. The Ottaways added Louie the Clown Organist, an automated clown who sits before the organ keyboard and "plays" the instrument. Louie the Clown and the Mighty Wurlitzer have been a fixture at Joyland ever since. It creates a sound that resonates through the entire park. The Joyland organ is one of only two Mammoth Organs still in existence and, until the park closed, it was the only one in public view.
Joyland also features an original Allan Herschell Company designed Carousel
Carousel
A carousel , or merry-go-round, is an amusement ride consisting of a rotating circular platform with seats for riders...
, which was built in 1949. It has all of the original Carousel horses. The carousel is disassembled at the end of every season, which has been carefully done for protection every year for the last 59 years.
Joyland today
Dark ride
A dark ride or ghost train is an indoor amusement ride where riders in guided vehicles travel through specially lit scenes that typically contain animation, sound, music, and special effects....
, added to the park in 1974, come from the Nelsons' time as owners. Though there are a few Whacky Shacks still in use across the country today, this classic two-story dark ride was the prototype, and the closest one can find to Tracy's original designs. In addition, the original miniature train
Ridable miniature railway
A ridable miniature railway is a ground-level, large scale model railway that hauls passengers using locomotives that are models of full-sized railway locomotives .-Overview:Typically they have a rail track gauge between and , though both larger and...
retired with the Ottaway family and was replaced with the first-ever C.P. Huntington miniature train. This train carries serial number 1 from the factory.
Joyland featured over 24 amusement rides, including:
- Round Up — a circa 1960 Hrubetz High Speed Circular ride
- ZumurChair-O-PlanesThe Chair-O-Planes is a fairground ride that is a variation on the carousel in which the chairs are suspended on chains from the rotating top of the carousel...
- A Chance RidesChance-MorganChance Morgan, a roller coaster and amusement ride manufacturer, was formed in 2001 with the merger of Chance Industries and D. H. Morgan Manufacturing . The main office is D. H. Morgan's former location in La Selva Beach, California and they utilize Chance Industries' former manufacturing...
Wave Swinger - Dodge'm — Classic Bumper carsBumper carBumper car is the generic name for a type of flat ride consisting of several small electric cars which draw power from the floor and/or ceiling, and which are turned on and off remotely by an operator...
- Tilt-A-WhirlTilt-A-WhirlTilt-A-Whirl is one of the best-known flat rides, designed for commercial use at amusement parks, fairs and carnivals in which it is commonly found. The rides are manufactured by Sellner Manufacturing of Faribault, Minnesota...
- Log Jam - a Log flumeLog flume (attraction)Log flumes originally referred to a special construct used to transport lumber and logs down mountainous terrain to a sawmill by using flowing water. Today, however, the term is also used to refer to an amusement ride consisting of a water flume and artificial hollow logs or boats...
style ride - Giant SlideFun SlideFrederiksen's Fun Slide is an Amusement ride that is popular with young children. People walk up the stairs to get to the top of this slide along with a mat, than sit down, and place the mat on the slide. They then slide down the slide. There are three models: State Fair 5 lane, 90 foot 3 lane,...
- ParatrooperParatrooper (ride)A Paratrooper also known as an "Umbrella Ride" is a type of fairground ride based on cars suspended below a wheel which rotates at an oblique angle. The cars are free to rock sideways and swing out under centrifugal force and the wheel rotates. Invariably, the cars on a paratrooper have an umbrella...
- Ferris wheelFerris wheelA Ferris wheel is a nonbuilding structure consisting of a rotating upright wheel with passenger cars attached to the rim in such a way that as the wheel turns, the cars are kept upright, usually by gravity.Some of the largest and most modern Ferris wheels have cars mounted on...
- Scrambler
- SkycoasterSkycoasterSkycoaster, most commonly also named Ripcord or Xtreme SkyFlyer , is an amusement park ride, produced and managed by Skycoaster, Inc....
- The Whacky Shack - Dark rideDark rideA dark ride or ghost train is an indoor amusement ride where riders in guided vehicles travel through specially lit scenes that typically contain animation, sound, music, and special effects....
Reopening and closing
The park was showing its age when the Nelsons shut it down in mid-2004, with many attractions requiring extensive repairs. In 2006 the Seattle-based T-Rex Group, who were instrumental in turning around a pair of small parks in Washington state, leased the park from the Nelson family and temporarily reopened it with plans for a complete refurbishing. Nevertheless, financial problems continued to plague the park, and it did not re-open after the 2006 season.Vandalism
Since the park closed in 2004, it has been subjected to numerous incidents of vandalism and looting. Nearly every building in the park is covered with graffiti, and the vintage sign from the top of the roller coaster has been stolen. The administration offices have also been destroyed. Park owner Margaret Nelson was quoted as saying "We're sick. Our hearts are just sick. It's not easy, not easy."Joyland restoration project
Recently Restore Hope, a project founded by local Wichita resident Alex East, has stepped in to regain support towards rebuilding the park with a emphasis on a community effort and involvement in the restoration process. The plan is to restore Joyland by 2013 and begin a 5 step expansion process to help the park grow and become a integral part of the Wichita community.External links
- Official Joyland Restoration Project Website
- Joyland Restoration Project Facebook Group
- Save Joyland Facebook Group
- Joyland Photos and Videos at JoylandWichita.org
- Archived copy of former Joyland website
- Joyland's Roller Coaster
- In-ride video of Joyland's roller coaster
- Joyland's Mammoth organ and Louie the Clown Organist
- Whacky Shack at Darkride and Funhouse Enthusiasts
- Daily Mail photos of derelict Joyland Theme Park