Paramount Canada's Wonderland
Encyclopedia
Canada's Wonderland is a 330 acres (133.5 ha) amusement park
located in Vaughan
, Ontario
, Canada
, a suburb directly north of Toronto
, Ontario
, Canada
. The park is open seasonally from May to October and contains more than 200 attractions (including games) in eight differently themed areas. It opened in 1981 and was Canada's first major theme park and is still today the largest and most popular theme park in Canada. Under the ownership of Paramount Parks
from 1994 to 2006, it was known as Paramount Canada's Wonderland. When sold to Cedar Fair in 2007, the park reverted to its original name.
The park has been the most attended seasonal theme park in North America for numerous years in the 2000s. Almost every year in the decade, the park's attendance has reached the three million mark, slightly higher than that of other major destination parks such as Kings Island
, Knott's Berry Farm
and Cedar Point
, the three being sister parks to Wonderland. It also holds the record for most roller coasters in a park outside of the United States, with 16, including, Leviathan
, which is currently under construction.
Company, headed by Kelly Robinson, first proposed building a 330 acres (133.5 ha) theme park in the then-small village of Maple
, part of Vaughan
, Ontario. Several other possible locations in Ontario were considered, including Niagara Falls
, Cambridge
and Milton
, but Maple was finally selected because of its proximity to the city of Toronto
and the 400-series of highways
.
Others had seriously considered the Greater Toronto Area
as a spot to build a theme park, among them the Conklin family (whose Conklin Shows
ran various midways around North America, including Toronto's Canadian National Exhibition
midway). Walt Disney
also considered the idea before choosing Florida
, rejecting Toronto mainly because the climate
was too cold, making the operating season too short to be sustainable.
Construction of the park was opposed on multiple fronts. Many cultural institutions in Toronto such as Ontario Place
, the Royal Ontario Museum
and the operators of the Canadian National Exhibition felt that the Toronto market was not large enough to support more competition. Other groups that fought the building of Wonderland included a Vaughan residential association called SAVE, which felt the increased traffic would reduce property values. People in the region were concerned that the new park would be similar in esthetics to a carnival
or midway. Some of the concessions the company made included a landscaped berm
around the park to reduce noise and modifying the appearance of the large parking lot. Taft was concerned about opposition, going as far as to fly a group of opponents and regional councillors out to Cincinnati to show them the positive impact of one of its theme parks on the local community.
Canada's Wonderland was also responsible for changing the master development plan for the province of Ontario. The government wanted to increase residential and commercial development to the east of Toronto in the Regional Municipality of Durham, which includes Pickering
and Oshawa
, while keeping the lands to the north of Toronto agricultural (see Greenbelt (Golden Horseshoe)
). The Wonderland promoters were able to convince the province to amend the planning policy for the region, and the park secured infrastructure improvements (including a highway overpass and sewage systems) that were expanded and built out to the site. These improvements paved the way for increased development throughout the region.
Concerns were also raised about the cultural implications of allowing an American theme park to open in Canada. Many felt that it would be a "Trojan Horse
" for American culture
. To counter the criticism, Taft planned to open Frontier Canada, a part of the park devoted to Canada's history
. Early park maps show the area encompassing what is now Splash Works
, White Water Canyon
, the F/X Theatre and the southern part of Kidzville, as well as proposed attractions, including a steam passenger train. While Frontier Canada was never built, several elemental themes remain in the area. Unlike its sister parks, Kings Island
and Kings Dominion, it was decided in the early planning stages that the centrepiece of the park would not be a replica of Paris
's famous Eiffel Tower
. Instead, the park's designers chose to build a massive mountain, known as Wonder Mountain. Situated at the top of International Street, Wonder Mountain featured a huge waterfall and interior pathways which led visitors to a look-out point. Other elements that were never built include a hotel and conference centre (to have been constructed north of the park).
Bill Davis
depressed the plunger on an electronic detonating device in downtown Toronto, triggering an explosion on the site. Construction began immediately and continued on to early 1981. Canadian companies partnered on the preliminary design and engineering of the project and helped to mould the dream into a reality. Construction of the mountain alone involved a dozen local companies under Cincinnati engineer Curtis D. Summers.
Two years later, on 23 May 1981, Davis and Taft Broadcasting President Dudley Taft officially opened Canada's Wonderland to the public. The spectacular opening ceremony included 10,000 helium balloons, 13 parachutists
, 350 white doves, and a pipe band
. Four children, representing the Arctic
, Pacific
, Atlantic
, and Great Lakes
regions of Canada, each poured a vial of water from their home regions into the park's fountain. Hockey superstar Wayne Gretzky
also appeared as a special guest, helping to raise the Canadian flag
. 12,000 guests were welcomed into the park for the first time. The park cost $120 million to build.
During the 1980s, Canada's Wonderland and the Loblaws
supermarket chain mounted a cross-marketing
campaign. Loblaws issued "Wonder dollars" based on customers' purchases, which were redeemable at Canada's Wonderland at par with the Canadian dollar
on weekdays. The obverse of the coin featured Wonder Mountain, while the reverse featured the Loblaws logo.
Kings Entertainment Corporation
operated the park during the 1980s and early 1990s. The park's former connection to Hanna-Barbera
Productions was reduced after Paramount Pictures
raised its stake from 20% to full ownership of the park in 1993 and renamed it Paramount Canada's Wonderland. After Viacom
bought Paramount in 1994, a successful attempt was made to bring families back to the park by attracting children with original Nickelodeon
cartoon characters that were familiar to a new generation.
Many changes were made in the next decade. In 1996, Splash Works was expanded, with a new water slide, a wave pool and a new child-friendly water playground (The Black Hole, White Water Bay and The Pump House). In 1998, the park expanded by adding KidZville, which was mainly designed for infants and children. In 1999, Splash Works was expanded for the second time, with the addition of raft rides The Plunge and Super Soaker.
ride.
Splash Works also received its third and most current upgrade, with the addition of a child water playground area called Splash Island and the removal of Pipeline.
On 11 May 2003, with the park packed with people for Mother's Day
, two guests were involved in a fight at the front gates of the park which led to a shooting death. It was thought to have followed a prior dispute involving the two over a drug exchange, according to York Regional Police
. The park has since added metal detectors at the front gate, with twice the amount of security.
In 2005, the park introduced Fearfest
, a Halloween event featuring various haunted house attractions in different themed areas. Though the section for smaller children was closed off, the park continued running many of the thrill rides during the event, such as the Thunder Run, where patrons ride a mine-car-like train through a mountain. During the Halloween season, it is re-themed as the "Haunted" Thunder Run, with a darker tunnel and more strobe lights, fog machines, and black-light lit scenes featuring the "skeletons" of miners.
In 2006, the park introduced Spooktacular, a Halloween event geared towards children. The event included children's rides, costume contests and a treasure hunt. Spooktacular was open on weekends during the daytime, while Fearfest remained open at night. Due to very low attendance, Spooktacular only lasted one season.
On 14 May 2006, it was announced that Cedar Fair Entertainment Company was interested in acquiring the five Paramount theme parks
, including Canada's Wonderland. The acquisition was completed on 30 June. As a result, in early January 2007, Cedar Fair began to drop the "Paramount" name from all of the former Paramount parks, and the park is currently referred once again by its original name: Canada's Wonderland. The 2007 and 2008 season marked a transition year of removing "all things Paramount" throughout the park, which included the renaming of some of the rides. By the start of the 2008 season, the Paramount logo and similar references had been removed.
In August 2007, Cedar Fair announced that Fearfest would be renamed Halloween Haunt
to remain consistent with other Cedar Fair parks, and that Spooktacular would be discontinued. In its place, the park extended its regular operating season until the last weekend in October. Halloween Haunt runs in the late evenings on October weekends.
In the off-season of 2008–2009, the television show Flashpoint
shot an episode at Canada's Wonderland called "The Perfect Family", which aired on 10 April 2009. Canada's Wonderland was called Northern Dream Park in the episode.
On 4 May 2008, Canada's Wonderland opened a hypercoaster
called Behemoth
. Behemoth currently holds the records for the tallest and fastest roller coaster in Canada standing at 230 feet (70.1 m) (three feet [0.9 m] taller than the Drop Tower) and reaching speeds of up to 77 miles per hour (123.9 km/h). In addition, Cedar Fair reactivated the two topmost waterfalls, which had been inactive for a long time.
On 19 July 2009, Nik Wallenda
walked on a tight rope
from the pond area of Medieval Faire to Wonder Mountain.
, making it the tallest ride in the park (until Leviathan opens in 2012). The park also announced the addition of the Starlight Spectacular show, which started on 25 June 2011 and ended on Labor Day, 3 September 2011. It was a nightly light and sound show designed to celebrate the park's 30th anniversary; it was shown at 10pm EST every night on International Street. Canada's Wonderland stated that the total cost for the show was approximately $1 million, with 16 million different colours and 300,000 LED lights. While the show took place at the front of the park (International Street), the highlight was on Wonder Mountain, with many 3D images and colours. In July 2011, Cedar Fair released a game called Amazement Park on Facebook which can only be accessed by Facebook users. The game features many rides from all the Cedar Fair parks. Rides from Canada's Wonderland include Shockwave, WindSeeker, Behemoth, Drop Tower and many other attractions.
In August 2011, Canada's Wonderland officially announced a new ride for the 2012 season. Leviathan
will be the park's tallest, fastest, and longest roller coaster, as well as the tallest and fastest in Canada. In addition to Leviathan, Canada's Wonderland will also open Dinosaurs Alive!
in 2012.
(1992), and the expanded children's area including Nickelodeon Central (2003), Kidzville (1998), and Zoom Zone (2001).
sections of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts
. Using a format borrowed from Kings Island and Kings Dominion, both sides of the street are lined with shops, including souvenir shops, clothing stores, restaurants, and candy stores. Wonder Mountain, the park's centrepiece, appears at the end of the street. In early decades, stores sold high-quality imported goods, themed to the buildings, and restaurants sold unlikely foods for a theme park, such as shrimp, paella, and smoked sausage.
The buildings are named the Latin, Scandinavian, Mediterranean, and Alpine Buildings.
European theme in both the setting and the rides. However, this has diminished in recent years with the advent of unthemed new rides: Riptide, Drop Tower, Shockwave, Speed City Raceway, and The Bat. Quixote's Kettles, a spinning buckets ride, was renamed as Spinovator in 1998; its brown wooden buckets were painted bright pastel colours, and the buckets' twine handles were removed. The other original rides which are part of the medieval theme are Dragon Fire
, The Rage (a swinging Viking ship originally called Viking's Rage), Nightmares (originally called Wilde Night Mares), and Wild Beast. The two current roller coasters in the area, Wild Beast and Dragon Fire also had pseudo-old English spellings (Wilde Beast and Dragon Fyre) before 1998. The stores and restaurants follow the medieval theme, as does the castle theatre (Wonderland Theatre, originally Canterbury
Theatre) and a pirate show in the middle of the lake. In 2006, Wonderland Theatre had the stage refitted for an ice rink and has hired international figure skaters to perform in their ice shows.
Australia's Wonderland (later renamed Wonderland Sydney
), which opened in 1985, was modelled heavily on Canada's Wonderland, as both parks were constructed by Taft Broadcasting. Two of the three themed areas at Australia's Wonderland were Medieval Faire, and Hanna-Barbera Land.
. The rides include Thunder Run, WindSeeker
, The Fly, Vortex
, Klockwerks, and Krachenwagen. The original rides Krachenwagen and Klockwerks, with their pseudo-German name, and the former ride Bayern
's Curve, which featured a fake man in traditional German garb with a massive horn, and was surrounded by German fencing, all fit into its international theme.
, Timberwolf Falls, and Action Theatre, as well as Launch Pad, a set of six trampolines, a pay-per-experience attraction. This area was introduced in 1984 when the White Water Canyon ride debuted. It is where the Frontier Canada themed area had been promised (along with Splash Works
).
in Canada, and 16 water slides.
, with expositions from different countries, focusing on African and Asian themes. The original rides were in line with this motif: survivors Antique Carrousel, and Swings of the Century (originally Swings of Siam
), and former rides The Great Whale of China, The Fury (originally Shiva
's Fury) and Pharaoh's Eye, as well as the Racing Rivers slide Pharaoh's Falls. The Orbiter, which was called Sol Loco, had a Latin American theme. The restaurants and bathrooms formerly were true to the exposition theme. One of the restaurants was called Ginza Gardens (now The Backlot Cafe) and had a Japanese theme and formerly a Japanese façade. The newer rides – Backlot Stunt Coaster
, Jet Scream (which was removed in September 2010 and replaced by WindSeeker
), Time Warp
, SkyRider
, Flight Deck, Psyclone
, Sledgehammer
, Xtreme Skyflyer – have no connection to the theme. There is also an arcade area within this section of the park.
In 2002, Action Zone, was created as a new themed area within the Grande World Exposition of 1890 (for the new rides Psyclone and Sledgehammer). However, the entire area was later renamed Action Zone. Despite the name change, signs at the entrance from International Street still retain the old name.
The Mighty Canadian Minebuster
, one of the original four roller coasters, is on the outskirts of the Grande World Exposition of 1890 and was intended to be the centrepiece of the never-built Frontier Canada.
, featuring Rugrats
, Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius, The Wild Thornberrys
, and Dora the Explorer
themed rides, leaving only Scoobyville and the swan ride as is. Planet Snoopy
, based on the comic strip Peanuts
, replaced both sections (including Kidzville) for the 2010 season, standardizing the park with the rest of the Cedar Fair chain.
The first ride accident in the park's history
occurred on 23 August 2003, when the Jimmy Neutron Brainwasher fell apart. Three children were sent to hospital as a precautionary measure.
replaced Yogi's Woods. The section featured the newly popular Hanna-Barbera cartoon The Smurfs
and was a walk-through attraction. For the 1993 season, the Smurf Village section became Kids Kingdom. 1998 saw the Kidzville (styled as KidZville) area replace the Kids Kingdom. While the two Kids Kingdom rides were kept, Kidzville also introduced Taxi Jam, Flavourator, Chopper Chase, Toucan Sam maze, and Swing Time (which replaced Snail Trail). It now also has the rides Frequent Flyers, Jokey's Jalopies, and Kidzville Station.
A fourth themed area is Zoom Zone. Quite small, it is part of Kidzville. Created in 2001 with the debut of Silver Streak
, it also contains the small rides Blast Off, and Jumpin' Jet. One of the Kidzville rides, and originally a Kids Kingdom ride, Jumbo Bumps, was removed to make way for these three rides and the new section. Starting in 2004, Zoom Zone was no longer shown on park maps as an independent section. However, since Cedar Fair's takeover, each of the three rides mentions it is in Zoom Zone, and park signage continues to use the name.
scheduled to open in 2012. The park encompasses eight themed areas on 330 acres (1.3 km²) of land, with an artificial mountain as the central feature. In the southwestern quadrant, a 20 acres (80,937.2 m²) waterpark called Splash Works has over 2 million gallons (7,570 m3) of heated water, Canada's largest outdoor wave pool
, measuring 36000 ft2, a lazy river, and 16 water slides.
In 1983, Canada's Wonderland added the Kingswood Music Theatre
, a 15,000 seat amphitheatre that has hosted many "big-name" concerts. After the Molson Amphitheatre opened on the grounds of Ontario Place
in 1995, cultural festivals at the theatre became less prominent.
Besides the large number of roller coasters, the park also has a huge variety of flat rides, such as bumper car
s, carousel
s, many of these relying on centripetal force
, and other funfair rides, such as:
Current name in (brackets); R = Removed/Closed
. It is bounded by Highway 400 to the west, Jane Street to the east, Major Mackenzie Drive to the north and Rutherford Road to the south. Formerly quite isolated when the park opened, it is surrounded by housing on all sides since the mid-2000s. It has two public entrances and one entrance for staff, deliveries, and buses.
(YRT), while GO Transit
, Brampton Transit
, and MiWay all run special services. The bus loop at Wonderland is located near the northeast corner of the park, and is accessible from the service entrance on Jane Street, north of Major Mackenzie Drive.
Transportation to the Wonderland Terminal
is available from the following of the regional transit organizations:
York Region Transit used to provide express Magic Wonderbus service from Newmarket
and Markham
, but this was discontinued for the 2007 season. As well, beginning with the 2009 season, Route 4 Major Mackenzie no longer serves the Wonderland bus loop.
The park from its opening in 1981 was known as Canada's Wonderland. In 1994, when it was sold to Paramount Pictures
(later Viacom), they changed the name of the park to include the word Paramount, something Paramount Parks
did with all of its other parks in 1993. Prior to that, none of the Paramount-owned parks had the Paramount prefix.
The logo was completely changed to match the style of the Paramount Parks logo, as well as their other theme park properties, which all had the same styled logos, including the Paramount prefix, and the Paramount Pictures mountain logo.
In 2003, Viacom updated the logo of Paramount Parks, and all its theme parks, including Wonderland, to include an updated Paramount logo, even though the logo for Paramount Pictures, the film studio, remained unchanged.
In 2007, CBS Corporation
, (split from Viacom in 2005), sold all of its theme park properties to Cedar Fair Entertainment Company, which in turn, dropped the Paramount prefixes from all five parks, and gave the logos the Cedar Fair logo and font style.
Amusement park
thumb|Cinderella Castle in [[Magic Kingdom]], [[Disney World]]Amusement and theme parks are terms for a group of entertainment attractions and rides and other events in a location for the enjoyment of large numbers of people...
located in Vaughan
Vaughan
Vaughan is a city in York Region north of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Vaughan is the fastest growing municipality in Canada achieving a population growth rate of 80.2% between 1996–2006, according to Statistics Canada having nearly doubled in population since 1991. Vaughan is located in Southern...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, a suburb directly north of Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. The park is open seasonally from May to October and contains more than 200 attractions (including games) in eight differently themed areas. It opened in 1981 and was Canada's first major theme park and is still today the largest and most popular theme park in Canada. Under the ownership of Paramount Parks
Paramount Parks
Paramount Parks was an operator of theme parks and attractions, which annually attracted about 13 million patrons. Viacom had assumed control of the company as part of its acquisition of Paramount Pictures in 1994....
from 1994 to 2006, it was known as Paramount Canada's Wonderland. When sold to Cedar Fair in 2007, the park reverted to its original name.
The park has been the most attended seasonal theme park in North America for numerous years in the 2000s. Almost every year in the decade, the park's attendance has reached the three million mark, slightly higher than that of other major destination parks such as Kings Island
Kings Island
Kings Island is a amusement park located northeast of Cincinnati in Mason, Ohio. Opened in 1972 by Taft Broadcasting Company and now owned by Cedar Fair Entertainment Company, Kings Island is the most visited seasonal amusement park in the U.S...
, Knott's Berry Farm
Knott's Berry Farm
Knott's Berry Farm is a theme park in Buena Park, California, now owned by Cedar Fair Entertainment Company, and a line of jams, jellies, preserves, and other specialty food, now part of The J. M. Smucker Company based in Placentia, California....
and Cedar Point
Cedar Point
Cedar Point is a 364 acre amusement park located in Sandusky, Ohio, United States on a narrow peninsula jutting into Lake Erie. Cedar Point is the only amusement park with four roller coasters that are taller than...
, the three being sister parks to Wonderland. It also holds the record for most roller coasters in a park outside of the United States, with 16, including, Leviathan
Leviathan (roller coaster)
Leviathan is a steel giga coaster currently under construction at Canada's Wonderland in Vaughan, Ontario, Canada It will be the first giga coaster made by Swiss manufacturer Bolliger & Mabillard. At long, tall, and with a top speed of , Leviathan will be the tallest and fastest coaster in Canada...
, which is currently under construction.
Origins
In 1972, the Taft BroadcastingTaft Broadcasting
The Taft Broadcasting Company, also known as Taft Television and Radio Company, Incorporated, was an American media conglomerate based in Cincinnati, Ohio....
Company, headed by Kelly Robinson, first proposed building a 330 acres (133.5 ha) theme park in the then-small village of Maple
Maple, Ontario
Maple is a high-growth suburban community northwest of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, part of the city of Vaughan in York Region.-Geography:The west branch of the Don River rises to the northwest and flows 1 km west of Maple. Several creeks are to the east and the Black Creek begins slightly west...
, part of Vaughan
Vaughan
Vaughan is a city in York Region north of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Vaughan is the fastest growing municipality in Canada achieving a population growth rate of 80.2% between 1996–2006, according to Statistics Canada having nearly doubled in population since 1991. Vaughan is located in Southern...
, Ontario. Several other possible locations in Ontario were considered, including Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls, Ontario
Niagara Falls is a Canadian city on the Niagara River in the Golden Horseshoe region of Southern Ontario. The municipality was incorporated on June 12, 1903...
, Cambridge
Cambridge, Ontario
Cambridge is a city located in Southern Ontario at the confluence of the Grand and Speed rivers in the Regional Municipality of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. It is an amalgamation of the City of Galt, the towns of Preston and Hespeler, and the hamlet of Blair.Galt covers the largest portion of...
and Milton
Milton, Ontario
Milton is a town in Southern Ontario, Canada, and part of the Halton Region in the Greater Toronto Area. Milton received a tremendous amount of awareness following the release of the results of the 2006 Census, which indicated that Milton is the fastest growing municipality in the Greater Golden...
, but Maple was finally selected because of its proximity to the city of Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
and the 400-series of highways
400-series highways
The 400-series highways are a network of controlled-access highways throughout the southern portion of the Canadian province of Ontario, forming a special subset of the provincial highway system. They are analogous to the Interstate Highway System in the United States or the British Motorway...
.
Others had seriously considered the Greater Toronto Area
Greater Toronto Area
The Greater Toronto Area is the largest metropolitan area in Canada, with a 2006 census population of 5.5 million. The Greater Toronto Area is usually defined as the central city of Toronto, along with four regional municipalities surrounding it: Durham, Halton, Peel, and York...
as a spot to build a theme park, among them the Conklin family (whose Conklin Shows
Conklin Shows
Conklin Shows was the largest traveling amusement corporation in North America. The 75 year-old company operated 'fun fairs' at various summer agricultural shows across North America and is based in Brantford, Ontario and West Palm Beach, FL. The company has a long history in Canada, providing...
ran various midways around North America, including Toronto's Canadian National Exhibition
Canadian National Exhibition
Canadian National Exhibition , also known as The Ex, is an annual event that takes place at Exhibition Place in Toronto, Ontario, Canada during the 18 days leading up to and including Labour Day Monday. With an attendance of approximately 1.3 million visitors each season, it is Canada’s largest...
midway). Walt Disney
Walt Disney
Walter Elias "Walt" Disney was an American film producer, director, screenwriter, voice actor, animator, entrepreneur, entertainer, international icon, and philanthropist, well-known for his influence in the field of entertainment during the 20th century. Along with his brother Roy O...
also considered the idea before choosing Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, rejecting Toronto mainly because the climate
Climate
Climate encompasses the statistics of temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, wind, rainfall, atmospheric particle count and other meteorological elemental measurements in a given region over long periods...
was too cold, making the operating season too short to be sustainable.
Construction of the park was opposed on multiple fronts. Many cultural institutions in Toronto such as Ontario Place
Ontario Place
Ontario Place is a multiple use entertainment and seasonal waterfront park attraction located in Toronto, Ontario, and owned by the Crown in Right of Ontario. It is administered as an agency of the Ontario Ministry of Tourism and Culture. Located on the shore of Lake Ontario, just south of...
, the Royal Ontario Museum
Royal Ontario Museum
The Royal Ontario Museum is a museum of world culture and natural history in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. With its main entrance facing Bloor Street in Downtown Toronto, the museum is situated north of Queen's Park and east of Philosopher's Walk in the University of Toronto...
and the operators of the Canadian National Exhibition felt that the Toronto market was not large enough to support more competition. Other groups that fought the building of Wonderland included a Vaughan residential association called SAVE, which felt the increased traffic would reduce property values. People in the region were concerned that the new park would be similar in esthetics to a carnival
Carnival
Carnaval is a festive season which occurs immediately before Lent; the main events are usually during February. Carnaval typically involves a public celebration or parade combining some elements of a circus, mask and public street party...
or midway. Some of the concessions the company made included a landscaped berm
Berm
A berm is a level space, shelf, or raised barrier separating two areas. Berm originates in the Middle Dutch and German berme and came into usage in English via French.- History :...
around the park to reduce noise and modifying the appearance of the large parking lot. Taft was concerned about opposition, going as far as to fly a group of opponents and regional councillors out to Cincinnati to show them the positive impact of one of its theme parks on the local community.
Canada's Wonderland was also responsible for changing the master development plan for the province of Ontario. The government wanted to increase residential and commercial development to the east of Toronto in the Regional Municipality of Durham, which includes Pickering
Pickering, Ontario
Pickering is a city located in Southern Ontario, Canada immediately east of Toronto in Durham Region. It is part of the Greater Toronto Area, the largest metropolitan area in Canada.- Early Period :...
and Oshawa
Oshawa
Oshawa is a city in Ontario, Canada, on the Lake Ontario shoreline. It lies in Southern Ontario approximately 60 kilometres east of downtown Toronto. It is commonly viewed as the eastern anchor of both the Greater Toronto Area and the Golden Horseshoe. It is now commonly referred to as the most...
, while keeping the lands to the north of Toronto agricultural (see Greenbelt (Golden Horseshoe)
Greenbelt (Golden Horseshoe)
The Greenbelt is a permanently protected area of green space, farmland, forests, wetlands, and watersheds, located in Southern Ontario, Canada. It surrounds a significant portion of Canada's most populated and fastest-growing area - The Golden Horseshoe....
). The Wonderland promoters were able to convince the province to amend the planning policy for the region, and the park secured infrastructure improvements (including a highway overpass and sewage systems) that were expanded and built out to the site. These improvements paved the way for increased development throughout the region.
Concerns were also raised about the cultural implications of allowing an American theme park to open in Canada. Many felt that it would be a "Trojan Horse
Trojan Horse
The Trojan Horse is a tale from the Trojan War about the stratagem that allowed the Greeks finally to enter the city of Troy and end the conflict. In the canonical version, after a fruitless 10-year siege, the Greeks constructed a huge wooden horse, and hid a select force of men inside...
" for American culture
Culture of the United States
The Culture of the United States is a Western culture originally influenced by European cultures. It has been developing since long before the United States became a country with its own unique social and cultural characteristics such as dialect, music, arts, social habits, cuisine, and folklore...
. To counter the criticism, Taft planned to open Frontier Canada, a part of the park devoted to Canada's history
History of Canada
The history of Canada covers the period from the arrival of Paleo-Indians thousands of years ago to the present day. Canada has been inhabited for millennia by distinctive groups of Aboriginal peoples, among whom evolved trade networks, spiritual beliefs, and social hierarchies...
. Early park maps show the area encompassing what is now Splash Works
Splash Works
Splash Works is a water park located within the park boundaries of Canada's Wonderland in Vaughan, Ontario, Canada. Entry is free with park admission. Splash Works is home to "Whitewater Bay", that was the largest outdoor wave pool in Canada, and is today home to 16 waterslides.-First expansion:...
, White Water Canyon
White Water Canyon
White Water Canyon is a river rafting ride originally named White Water Rafting Adventure. It is found at the Cedar Fair parks of Canada's Wonderland, Kings Dominion, and Kings Island. It features six seat tubes.-Locations:...
, the F/X Theatre and the southern part of Kidzville, as well as proposed attractions, including a steam passenger train. While Frontier Canada was never built, several elemental themes remain in the area. Unlike its sister parks, Kings Island
Kings Island
Kings Island is a amusement park located northeast of Cincinnati in Mason, Ohio. Opened in 1972 by Taft Broadcasting Company and now owned by Cedar Fair Entertainment Company, Kings Island is the most visited seasonal amusement park in the U.S...
and Kings Dominion, it was decided in the early planning stages that the centrepiece of the park would not be a replica of Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
's famous Eiffel Tower
Eiffel Tower
The Eiffel Tower is a puddle iron lattice tower located on the Champ de Mars in Paris. Built in 1889, it has become both a global icon of France and one of the most recognizable structures in the world...
. Instead, the park's designers chose to build a massive mountain, known as Wonder Mountain. Situated at the top of International Street, Wonder Mountain featured a huge waterfall and interior pathways which led visitors to a look-out point. Other elements that were never built include a hotel and conference centre (to have been constructed north of the park).
Construction and opening
On 13 June 1979, Ontario PremierPremier of Ontario
The Premier of Ontario is the first Minister of the Crown for the Canadian province of Ontario. The Premier is appointed as the province's head of government by the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, and presides over the Executive council, or Cabinet. The Executive Council Act The Premier of Ontario...
Bill Davis
Bill Davis
William Grenville "Bill" Davis, was the 18th Premier of Ontario, Canada, from 1971 to 1985. Davis was first elected as the MPP for Peel in the 1959 provincial election where he was a backbencher in Leslie Frost's government. Under John Robarts, he was a cabinet minister overseeing the education...
depressed the plunger on an electronic detonating device in downtown Toronto, triggering an explosion on the site. Construction began immediately and continued on to early 1981. Canadian companies partnered on the preliminary design and engineering of the project and helped to mould the dream into a reality. Construction of the mountain alone involved a dozen local companies under Cincinnati engineer Curtis D. Summers.
Two years later, on 23 May 1981, Davis and Taft Broadcasting President Dudley Taft officially opened Canada's Wonderland to the public. The spectacular opening ceremony included 10,000 helium balloons, 13 parachutists
Parachuting
Parachuting, also known as skydiving, is the action of exiting an aircraft and returning to earth with the aid of a parachute. It may or may not involve a certain amount of free-fall, a time during which the parachute has not been deployed and the body gradually accelerates to terminal...
, 350 white doves, and a pipe band
Pipe band
A pipe band is a musical ensemble consisting of pipers and drummers. The term used by military pipe bands, pipes and drums, is also common....
. Four children, representing the Arctic
Northern Canada
Northern Canada, colloquially the North, is the vast northernmost region of Canada variously defined by geography and politics. Politically, the term refers to the three territories of Canada: Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut...
, Pacific
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, Atlantic
Atlantic Canada
Atlantic Canada is the region of Canada comprising the four provinces located on the Atlantic coast, excluding Quebec: the three Maritime provinces – New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia – and Newfoundland and Labrador...
, and Great Lakes
Southern Ontario
Southern Ontario is a region of the province of Ontario, Canada that lies south of the French River and Algonquin Park. Depending on the inclusion of the Parry Sound and Muskoka districts, its surface area would cover between 14 to 15% of the province. It is the southernmost region of...
regions of Canada, each poured a vial of water from their home regions into the park's fountain. Hockey superstar Wayne Gretzky
Wayne Gretzky
Wayne Douglas Gretzky, CC is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player and former head coach. Nicknamed "The Great One", he is generally regarded as the best player in the history of the National Hockey League , and has been called "the greatest hockey player ever" by many sportswriters,...
also appeared as a special guest, helping to raise the Canadian flag
Flag of Canada
The national flag of Canada, also known as the Maple Leaf, and , is a red flag with a white square in its centre, featuring a stylized 11-pointed red maple leaf. Its adoption in 1965 marked the first time a national flag had been officially adopted in Canada to replace the Union Flag...
. 12,000 guests were welcomed into the park for the first time. The park cost $120 million to build.
1981–1999
Loblaws
Loblaws is a supermarket chain with over 70 stores in Canada, headquartered in Brampton, with stores across Ontario and Quebec. Loblaws is a division of Loblaw Companies Limited, Canada's largest food distributor...
supermarket chain mounted a cross-marketing
Marketing co-operation
A marketing co-operation or marketing cooperation is a partnership of at least two companies on the value chain level of marketing with the objective to tap the full potential of a market by bundling specific competences or resources...
campaign. Loblaws issued "Wonder dollars" based on customers' purchases, which were redeemable at Canada's Wonderland at par with the Canadian dollar
Canadian dollar
The Canadian dollar is the currency of Canada. As of 2007, the Canadian dollar is the 7th most traded currency in the world. It is abbreviated with the dollar sign $, or C$ to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies...
on weekdays. The obverse of the coin featured Wonder Mountain, while the reverse featured the Loblaws logo.
Kings Entertainment Corporation
KECO Entertainment
Kings Entertainment Company owned and/or operated six theme parks around the world. The company was originally owned by Taft Broadcasting and in the mid 1980s was purchased by a few top-level executives of Taft's....
operated the park during the 1980s and early 1990s. The park's former connection to Hanna-Barbera
Hanna-Barbera
Hanna-Barbera Productions, Inc. was an American animation studio that dominated North American television animation during the second half of the 20th century...
Productions was reduced after Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures Corporation is an American film production and distribution company, located at 5555 Melrose Avenue in Hollywood. Founded in 1912 and currently owned by media conglomerate Viacom, it is America's oldest existing film studio; it is also the last major film studio still...
raised its stake from 20% to full ownership of the park in 1993 and renamed it Paramount Canada's Wonderland. After Viacom
Viacom (1971–2005)
Viacom , stylized as VIACOM in its current logo, was an American media conglomerate. It was the owner of CBS, Nickelodeon & MTV, among others. Effective December 31, 2005, this corporate entity changed its name to CBS Corporation...
bought Paramount in 1994, a successful attempt was made to bring families back to the park by attracting children with original Nickelodeon
Nickelodeon (TV channel)
Nickelodeon, often simply called Nick and originally named Pinwheel, is an American children's channel owned by MTV Networks, a subsidiary of Viacom International. The channel is primarily aimed at children ages 7–17, with the exception of their weekday morning program block aimed at preschoolers...
cartoon characters that were familiar to a new generation.
Many changes were made in the next decade. In 1996, Splash Works was expanded, with a new water slide, a wave pool and a new child-friendly water playground (The Black Hole, White Water Bay and The Pump House). In 1998, the park expanded by adding KidZville, which was mainly designed for infants and children. In 1999, Splash Works was expanded for the second time, with the addition of raft rides The Plunge and Super Soaker.
2000–2009
In 2001, a new themed area called Zoom Zone was added within the KidZville section. Three new attractions were built in that area: Silver Streak, a family roller coaster; Blast Off, a "frog hopper"; and Jumpin' Jet. In 2002, the park unveiled Action Zone, a new themed area which at the time contained already existing rides and added the PsyclonePsyclone (ride)
Psyclone is a ride at Canada's Wonderland. The Mondial ride was opened on May 5, 2002 to the public at the park. The 1 minute and 54 second ride features 40 seats facing outwards that rotate from a central pendulum as the ride reaches its maximum arc angle of 120 degrees...
ride.
Splash Works also received its third and most current upgrade, with the addition of a child water playground area called Splash Island and the removal of Pipeline.
On 11 May 2003, with the park packed with people for Mother's Day
Mother's Day
Mother's Day is a celebration honoring mothers and celebrating motherhood, maternal bonds, and the influence of mothers in society. It is celebrated on various days in many parts of the world, yet most commonly in March, April, or May...
, two guests were involved in a fight at the front gates of the park which led to a shooting death. It was thought to have followed a prior dispute involving the two over a drug exchange, according to York Regional Police
York Regional Police
York Regional Police is a law enforcement organization that serves over 1.1 million residents in the York Region, Ontario, Canada, located north of Toronto...
. The park has since added metal detectors at the front gate, with twice the amount of security.
In 2005, the park introduced Fearfest
Halloween Haunt
Halloween Haunt, originally known as "Fearfest", is a haunted attraction at Canada's Wonderland located in Vaughan, Ontario, Canada. It runs after the park's regular operating hours on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings in October - up to, and including Halloween night...
, a Halloween event featuring various haunted house attractions in different themed areas. Though the section for smaller children was closed off, the park continued running many of the thrill rides during the event, such as the Thunder Run, where patrons ride a mine-car-like train through a mountain. During the Halloween season, it is re-themed as the "Haunted" Thunder Run, with a darker tunnel and more strobe lights, fog machines, and black-light lit scenes featuring the "skeletons" of miners.
In 2006, the park introduced Spooktacular, a Halloween event geared towards children. The event included children's rides, costume contests and a treasure hunt. Spooktacular was open on weekends during the daytime, while Fearfest remained open at night. Due to very low attendance, Spooktacular only lasted one season.
On 14 May 2006, it was announced that Cedar Fair Entertainment Company was interested in acquiring the five Paramount theme parks
Paramount Parks
Paramount Parks was an operator of theme parks and attractions, which annually attracted about 13 million patrons. Viacom had assumed control of the company as part of its acquisition of Paramount Pictures in 1994....
, including Canada's Wonderland. The acquisition was completed on 30 June. As a result, in early January 2007, Cedar Fair began to drop the "Paramount" name from all of the former Paramount parks, and the park is currently referred once again by its original name: Canada's Wonderland. The 2007 and 2008 season marked a transition year of removing "all things Paramount" throughout the park, which included the renaming of some of the rides. By the start of the 2008 season, the Paramount logo and similar references had been removed.
In August 2007, Cedar Fair announced that Fearfest would be renamed Halloween Haunt
Halloween Haunt
Halloween Haunt, originally known as "Fearfest", is a haunted attraction at Canada's Wonderland located in Vaughan, Ontario, Canada. It runs after the park's regular operating hours on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings in October - up to, and including Halloween night...
to remain consistent with other Cedar Fair parks, and that Spooktacular would be discontinued. In its place, the park extended its regular operating season until the last weekend in October. Halloween Haunt runs in the late evenings on October weekends.
In the off-season of 2008–2009, the television show Flashpoint
Flashpoint (TV series)
Flashpoint is a Canadian police drama television series that debuted on July 11, 2008, on CTV in Canada and ran on CBS in the United States for its first three and a half seasons. In 2011, Ion Television began airing new episodes of the series in the United States...
shot an episode at Canada's Wonderland called "The Perfect Family", which aired on 10 April 2009. Canada's Wonderland was called Northern Dream Park in the episode.
On 4 May 2008, Canada's Wonderland opened a hypercoaster
Hypercoaster
A hypercoaster can mean one of two things:*Any continuous-circuit roller coaster with a height or drop measuring greater than 200 feetOr, more narrowly:*A style or model of roller coaster with three features:**A height of 200–299 feet...
called Behemoth
Behemoth (roller coaster)
Behemoth is a steel roller coaster at Canada's Wonderland in Vaughan, Ontario, Canada. It is a Hyper Coaster designed and developed by Swiss manufacturer, Bolliger & Mabillard. Behemoth is currently the tallest and fastest roller coaster in Canada...
. Behemoth currently holds the records for the tallest and fastest roller coaster in Canada standing at 230 feet (70.1 m) (three feet [0.9 m] taller than the Drop Tower) and reaching speeds of up to 77 miles per hour (123.9 km/h). In addition, Cedar Fair reactivated the two topmost waterfalls, which had been inactive for a long time.
On 19 July 2009, Nik Wallenda
Nik Wallenda
Nikolas Wallenda, known as Nik Wallenda born January 24, 1979 is an American high wire artist, acrobat, daredevil and Guinness Book of Records world record-holder. A direct descendant of Karl Wallenda , Nik is known for performing death-defying stunts on highwire without a safety net...
walked on a tight rope
Tightrope walking
Tightrope walking is the art of walking along a thin wire or rope, usually at a great height. One or more artists performs in front of an audience or as a publicity stunt...
from the pond area of Medieval Faire to Wonder Mountain.
2010–present
In 2011, Canada's Wonderland opened a 301 feet (91.7 m) WindSeekerWindSeeker
WindSeeker is a thrill ride at several Cedar Fair parks. The Mondial rides were opened for the 2011 season at Ontario's Canada's Wonderland, Ohio's Cedar Point and Kings Island, and California's Knott's Berry Farm. Charlotte's Carowinds and Doswell's Kings Dominion will open their models in 2012...
, making it the tallest ride in the park (until Leviathan opens in 2012). The park also announced the addition of the Starlight Spectacular show, which started on 25 June 2011 and ended on Labor Day, 3 September 2011. It was a nightly light and sound show designed to celebrate the park's 30th anniversary; it was shown at 10pm EST every night on International Street. Canada's Wonderland stated that the total cost for the show was approximately $1 million, with 16 million different colours and 300,000 LED lights. While the show took place at the front of the park (International Street), the highlight was on Wonder Mountain, with many 3D images and colours. In July 2011, Cedar Fair released a game called Amazement Park on Facebook which can only be accessed by Facebook users. The game features many rides from all the Cedar Fair parks. Rides from Canada's Wonderland include Shockwave, WindSeeker, Behemoth, Drop Tower and many other attractions.
In August 2011, Canada's Wonderland officially announced a new ride for the 2012 season. Leviathan
Leviathan (roller coaster)
Leviathan is a steel giga coaster currently under construction at Canada's Wonderland in Vaughan, Ontario, Canada It will be the first giga coaster made by Swiss manufacturer Bolliger & Mabillard. At long, tall, and with a top speed of , Leviathan will be the tallest and fastest coaster in Canada...
will be the park's tallest, fastest, and longest roller coaster, as well as the tallest and fastest in Canada. In addition to Leviathan, Canada's Wonderland will also open Dinosaurs Alive!
Dinosaurs Alive! (attraction)
Dinosaurs Alive! is an animatronic dinosaur themed area for children at several Cedar Fair parks. The version of this attraction at King's Island is the world's largest animatronic dinosaur park. A $5.00 fee is required in order to enter into this attraction....
in 2012.
Themed areas
The park has several themed areas. The four original sections are: International Street, Medieval Faire, Grande World Exposition of 1890 (now Action Zone), and the Happyland of Hanna-Barbera (renamed Hanna-Barbera Land). Later areas include White Water Canyon (1984), Splash WorksSplash Works
Splash Works is a water park located within the park boundaries of Canada's Wonderland in Vaughan, Ontario, Canada. Entry is free with park admission. Splash Works is home to "Whitewater Bay", that was the largest outdoor wave pool in Canada, and is today home to 16 waterslides.-First expansion:...
(1992), and the expanded children's area including Nickelodeon Central (2003), Kidzville (1998), and Zoom Zone (2001).
International Street
International Street is the park's entry area, similar to the Main Street, U.S.A.Main Street, U.S.A.
Main Street, U.S.A. is the first "themed land" inside the main entrance of the many 'Magic Kingdom'-style parks run by The Walt Disney Company around the world....
sections of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts
Walt Disney Parks and Resorts
Walt Disney Parks and Resorts is the segment of The Walt Disney Company that conceives, builds, and manages the company's theme parks and holiday resorts, as well as a variety of additional family-oriented leisure enterprises...
. Using a format borrowed from Kings Island and Kings Dominion, both sides of the street are lined with shops, including souvenir shops, clothing stores, restaurants, and candy stores. Wonder Mountain, the park's centrepiece, appears at the end of the street. In early decades, stores sold high-quality imported goods, themed to the buildings, and restaurants sold unlikely foods for a theme park, such as shrimp, paella, and smoked sausage.
The buildings are named the Latin, Scandinavian, Mediterranean, and Alpine Buildings.
Medieval Faire
The Medieval Faire section of the park has a medievalMiddle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
European theme in both the setting and the rides. However, this has diminished in recent years with the advent of unthemed new rides: Riptide, Drop Tower, Shockwave, Speed City Raceway, and The Bat. Quixote's Kettles, a spinning buckets ride, was renamed as Spinovator in 1998; its brown wooden buckets were painted bright pastel colours, and the buckets' twine handles were removed. The other original rides which are part of the medieval theme are Dragon Fire
Dragon Fire (roller coaster)
Dragon Fire is a steel roller coaster located at Canada's Wonderland in Vaughan, Ontario, Canada. It was manufactured in 1980, but it was opened when the park made its debut in 1981 under the name Dragon Fyre until it was later renamed. It was one of the four original coasters at Canada's...
, The Rage (a swinging Viking ship originally called Viking's Rage), Nightmares (originally called Wilde Night Mares), and Wild Beast. The two current roller coasters in the area, Wild Beast and Dragon Fire also had pseudo-old English spellings (Wilde Beast and Dragon Fyre) before 1998. The stores and restaurants follow the medieval theme, as does the castle theatre (Wonderland Theatre, originally Canterbury
Canterbury
Canterbury is a historic English cathedral city, which lies at the heart of the City of Canterbury, a district of Kent in South East England. It lies on the River Stour....
Theatre) and a pirate show in the middle of the lake. In 2006, Wonderland Theatre had the stage refitted for an ice rink and has hired international figure skaters to perform in their ice shows.
Australia's Wonderland (later renamed Wonderland Sydney
Wonderland Sydney
Wonderland Sydney was a theme park in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. The park was the largest one in the southern hemisphere. It remained open for almost nineteen years and was the premier theme park in New South Wales for much of its life, but it closed in 2004...
), which opened in 1985, was modelled heavily on Canada's Wonderland, as both parks were constructed by Taft Broadcasting. Two of the three themed areas at Australia's Wonderland were Medieval Faire, and Hanna-Barbera Land.
International Festival
International Festival is located in the northeast section of the park and is home to 14 games and six rides. International Festival is most notable for its midway gamesMidway (fair)
A midway at a fair is the location where amusement rides, entertainment and fast food booths are concentrated....
. The rides include Thunder Run, WindSeeker
WindSeeker
WindSeeker is a thrill ride at several Cedar Fair parks. The Mondial rides were opened for the 2011 season at Ontario's Canada's Wonderland, Ohio's Cedar Point and Kings Island, and California's Knott's Berry Farm. Charlotte's Carowinds and Doswell's Kings Dominion will open their models in 2012...
, The Fly, Vortex
Vortex (Canada's Wonderland)
Vortex at Canada's Wonderland is a suspended roller coaster, which enables it to swing under the track. It officially opened during the 1991 season. On "Vortex" riders are taken up through the top of the mountain and dropped at high speeds...
, Klockwerks, and Krachenwagen. The original rides Krachenwagen and Klockwerks, with their pseudo-German name, and the former ride Bayern
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
's Curve, which featured a fake man in traditional German garb with a massive horn, and was surrounded by German fencing, all fit into its international theme.
White Water Canyon
This section of the park is heavily surrounded by trees and includes White Water CanyonWhite Water Canyon
White Water Canyon is a river rafting ride originally named White Water Rafting Adventure. It is found at the Cedar Fair parks of Canada's Wonderland, Kings Dominion, and Kings Island. It features six seat tubes.-Locations:...
, Timberwolf Falls, and Action Theatre, as well as Launch Pad, a set of six trampolines, a pay-per-experience attraction. This area was introduced in 1984 when the White Water Canyon ride debuted. It is where the Frontier Canada themed area had been promised (along with Splash Works
Splash Works
Splash Works is a water park located within the park boundaries of Canada's Wonderland in Vaughan, Ontario, Canada. Entry is free with park admission. Splash Works is home to "Whitewater Bay", that was the largest outdoor wave pool in Canada, and is today home to 16 waterslides.-First expansion:...
).
Splash Works
Opened in 1992, Splash Works is a 20 acres (8.1 ha) water park. The water park is home to Whitewater Bay, the largest outdoor wave poolWave pool
A wave pool is a swimming pool in which there are artificially generated, reasonably large waves, similar to the ocean's. Wave pools are often a major feature of water parks...
in Canada, and 16 water slides.
Action Zone
The Grande World Exposition of 1890 is one of the original four themed areas at Wonderland. It was made to resemble an old world's fairWorld's Fair
World's fair, World fair, Universal Exposition, and World Expo are various large public exhibitions held in different parts of the world. The first Expo was held in The Crystal Palace in Hyde Park, London, United Kingdom, in 1851, under the title "Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of All...
, with expositions from different countries, focusing on African and Asian themes. The original rides were in line with this motif: survivors Antique Carrousel, and Swings of the Century (originally Swings of Siam
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
), and former rides The Great Whale of China, The Fury (originally Shiva
Shiva
Shiva is a major Hindu deity, and is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. God Shiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power lives a life of a...
's Fury) and Pharaoh's Eye, as well as the Racing Rivers slide Pharaoh's Falls. The Orbiter, which was called Sol Loco, had a Latin American theme. The restaurants and bathrooms formerly were true to the exposition theme. One of the restaurants was called Ginza Gardens (now The Backlot Cafe) and had a Japanese theme and formerly a Japanese façade. The newer rides – Backlot Stunt Coaster
Backlot Stunt Coaster
Backlot Stunt Coaster is a steel launched roller coaster currently open at Canada's Wonderland in Vaughan, Ontario; Kings Dominion in Doswell, Virginia; and Kings Island in Mason, Ohio.-History:The three roller coasters originally opened as Italian Job: Stunt Track at Canada's Wonderland and...
, Jet Scream (which was removed in September 2010 and replaced by WindSeeker
WindSeeker
WindSeeker is a thrill ride at several Cedar Fair parks. The Mondial rides were opened for the 2011 season at Ontario's Canada's Wonderland, Ohio's Cedar Point and Kings Island, and California's Knott's Berry Farm. Charlotte's Carowinds and Doswell's Kings Dominion will open their models in 2012...
), Time Warp
Time Warp (Canada's Wonderland)
Time Warp, formerly Tomb Raider: The Ride, is a flying roller coaster operating at Canada's Wonderland. It opened on May 2, 2004. Its theme featured the 2003 Paramount Pictures film Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life.-Ride layout and experience:...
, SkyRider
SkyRider
SkyRider is a roller coaster at Canada's Wonderland opened in 1985, it was the park's fifth coaster, and the first one they built since the park's opening in 1981. Built by TOGO, it is the first of two stand-up roller coasters built in Canada, and the fifth stand-up roller coaster in the world...
, Flight Deck, Psyclone
Psyclone (ride)
Psyclone is a ride at Canada's Wonderland. The Mondial ride was opened on May 5, 2002 to the public at the park. The 1 minute and 54 second ride features 40 seats facing outwards that rotate from a central pendulum as the ride reaches its maximum arc angle of 120 degrees...
, Sledgehammer
Sledgehammer (ride)
Sledgehammer is a ride at Canada's Wonderland. The Huss ride was opened to the public on May 4, 2003 and continues to operate today. Sledgehammer is also the worlds first and only 'giant jumping machine' to be ever made...
, Xtreme Skyflyer – have no connection to the theme. There is also an arcade area within this section of the park.
In 2002, Action Zone, was created as a new themed area within the Grande World Exposition of 1890 (for the new rides Psyclone and Sledgehammer). However, the entire area was later renamed Action Zone. Despite the name change, signs at the entrance from International Street still retain the old name.
The Mighty Canadian Minebuster
Mighty Canadian Minebuster
The Mighty Canadian Minebuster was one of the four roller coasters that debuted with Canada's Wonderland, an amusement park located in Vaughan, Ontario, Canada, in 1981, and is still operational today...
, one of the original four roller coasters, is on the outskirts of the Grande World Exposition of 1890 and was intended to be the centrepiece of the never-built Frontier Canada.
Children's areas
The children's areas in Canada's Wonderland all began as The Happyland of Hanna-Barbera. The three areas were themed as Yogi's Woods, Scoobyville, and Bedrock; the first was converted to Smurf Village in 1984. In 1993, the Smurf area transitioned to Kids Kingdom, which became Kidzville in 1998. In 2003, Bedrock became Nickelodeon CentralNickelodeon Central
Since the 1990s, Nickelodeon, a worldwide children's entertainment company, has had an involvement in the creation and theming of amusement park rides. This article details the ventures of Nickelodeon in amusement parks....
, featuring Rugrats
Rugrats
Rugrats is an American animated television series created by Arlene Klasky, Gábor Csupó, and Paul Germain for Nickelodeon. The series premiered on August 11, 1991, and aired its last episode on June 8, 2004....
, Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius, The Wild Thornberrys
The Wild Thornberrys
The Wild Thornberrys is an American animated television series that aired on Nickelodeon. It was rerun in the USA on Nickelodeon and occasionally The N until 2009 and Nicktoons until 2007...
, and Dora the Explorer
Dora the Explorer
Dora the Explorer is an American animated television series created by Chris Gifford, Valerie Walsh, and Eric Weiner. Dora the Explorer became a regular series in 2000. The show is carried on the Nickelodeon cable television network, including the associated Nick Jr. channel. It aired on CBS until...
themed rides, leaving only Scoobyville and the swan ride as is. Planet Snoopy
Planet Snoopy
Planet Snoopy is a Peanuts themed area for children in Cedar Fair parks.* Kings Island in Mason, Ohio.* Carowinds in Charlotte, North Carolina* Canada's Wonderland in Canada.* California's Great America* Kings Dominion in Doswell, Virginia....
, based on the comic strip Peanuts
Peanuts
Peanuts is a syndicated daily and Sunday American comic strip written and illustrated by Charles M. Schulz, which ran from October 2, 1950, to February 13, 2000, continuing in reruns afterward...
, replaced both sections (including Kidzville) for the 2010 season, standardizing the park with the rest of the Cedar Fair chain.
The first ride accident in the park's history
Incidents at Cedar Fair parks
This is a summary of notable incidents that have taken place at amusement parks, water parks, or theme parks that are currently owned or operated by Cedar Fair Entertainment Company. This list is not intended to be a comprehensive list of every such event, but only those that have a significant...
occurred on 23 August 2003, when the Jimmy Neutron Brainwasher fell apart. Three children were sent to hospital as a precautionary measure.
Kidzville
In 1984, Smurf VillageThe Smurfs (merchandising)
The Smurfs is a Belgian comic book series created by Peyo in 1958. It became well-known worldwide with the Hanna-Barbera cartoon series in the 1980s. With the popularity of the Smurfs came a wide range of toys and spin-off products and use of the Smurfs in merchandising...
replaced Yogi's Woods. The section featured the newly popular Hanna-Barbera cartoon The Smurfs
The Smurfs
The Smurfs is a comic and television franchise centred on a group of small blue fictional creatures called Smurfs, created and first introduced as a series of comic strips by the Belgian cartoonist Peyo on October 23, 1958...
and was a walk-through attraction. For the 1993 season, the Smurf Village section became Kids Kingdom. 1998 saw the Kidzville (styled as KidZville) area replace the Kids Kingdom. While the two Kids Kingdom rides were kept, Kidzville also introduced Taxi Jam, Flavourator, Chopper Chase, Toucan Sam maze, and Swing Time (which replaced Snail Trail). It now also has the rides Frequent Flyers, Jokey's Jalopies, and Kidzville Station.
A fourth themed area is Zoom Zone. Quite small, it is part of Kidzville. Created in 2001 with the debut of Silver Streak
Silver Streak (roller coaster)
Silver Streak is a suspended family roller coaster at Canada's Wonderland in the Vaughan, Ontario, Canada. The ride opened in 2001 as one of the first suspended family roller coasters. More information about the roller coaster's operations can be found at Suspended Family Coaster....
, it also contains the small rides Blast Off, and Jumpin' Jet. One of the Kidzville rides, and originally a Kids Kingdom ride, Jumbo Bumps, was removed to make way for these three rides and the new section. Starting in 2004, Zoom Zone was no longer shown on park maps as an independent section. However, since Cedar Fair's takeover, each of the three rides mentions it is in Zoom Zone, and park signage continues to use the name.
Attractions
Today, Canada's Wonderland has over 200 attractions (including games), with over 60 thrill rides. The park holds a number of Canadian records, among them the most roller coasters, with 15 and one moreLeviathan (roller coaster)
Leviathan is a steel giga coaster currently under construction at Canada's Wonderland in Vaughan, Ontario, Canada It will be the first giga coaster made by Swiss manufacturer Bolliger & Mabillard. At long, tall, and with a top speed of , Leviathan will be the tallest and fastest coaster in Canada...
scheduled to open in 2012. The park encompasses eight themed areas on 330 acres (1.3 km²) of land, with an artificial mountain as the central feature. In the southwestern quadrant, a 20 acres (80,937.2 m²) waterpark called Splash Works has over 2 million gallons (7,570 m3) of heated water, Canada's largest outdoor wave pool
Wave pool
A wave pool is a swimming pool in which there are artificially generated, reasonably large waves, similar to the ocean's. Wave pools are often a major feature of water parks...
, measuring 36000 ft2, a lazy river, and 16 water slides.
In 1983, Canada's Wonderland added the Kingswood Music Theatre
Kingswood Music Theatre
Kingswood Music Theatre is a 15,000 seat amphitheatre, at Canada's Wonderland, in Vaughan, Ontario. Kingswood is open from May to September. Opened in 1983, Kingswood hosted many "big-name" concerts....
, a 15,000 seat amphitheatre that has hosted many "big-name" concerts. After the Molson Amphitheatre opened on the grounds of Ontario Place
Ontario Place
Ontario Place is a multiple use entertainment and seasonal waterfront park attraction located in Toronto, Ontario, and owned by the Crown in Right of Ontario. It is administered as an agency of the Ontario Ministry of Tourism and Culture. Located on the shore of Lake Ontario, just south of...
in 1995, cultural festivals at the theatre became less prominent.
Roller coasters
These are the roller coasters at Canada's Wonderland.| Name | Type | Opening Date | Manufacturer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Backlot Stunt Coaster Backlot Stunt Coaster Backlot Stunt Coaster is a steel launched roller coaster currently open at Canada's Wonderland in Vaughan, Ontario; Kings Dominion in Doswell, Virginia; and Kings Island in Mason, Ohio.-History:The three roller coasters originally opened as Italian Job: Stunt Track at Canada's Wonderland and... |
Steel launched roller coaster Launched roller coaster The launched roller coaster is a modern form of roller coaster which has increased in use in the last decade. In place of a traditional chain lift, the launched coaster initiates a ride with high amounts of acceleration via one or series of Linear Induction Motors , Linear Synchronous Motors ,... |
2005 on 1 May | Premier Rides Premier Rides Premier Rides is an amusement ride manufacturer based in the United States. The company was the first to use Linear Induction Motors on their roller coasters. Jim Seay has been the sole owner and company president since 1996.... |
| The Bat | Steel Shuttle roller coaster Shuttle roller coaster A shuttle roller coaster is any roller coaster that ultimately does not make a complete circuit, but rather reverses at some point throughout its course and traverses the same track backwards... Boomerang Boomerang (roller coaster) Boomerang is a model of roller coaster built by Vekoma, and named after the hunting implement based on the traditions of the Indigenous Australians... |
1987 | Vekoma Vekoma Vekoma Rides Manufacturing B.V. is a roller coaster and thrill ride designer with its facilities based in the Netherlands. The company was founded in 1926 by Hendrik op het Veld under the name "Veld Koning Machinefabriek" and had first manufactured agricultural machinery and mining equipment... |
| Behemoth Behemoth (roller coaster) Behemoth is a steel roller coaster at Canada's Wonderland in Vaughan, Ontario, Canada. It is a Hyper Coaster designed and developed by Swiss manufacturer, Bolliger & Mabillard. Behemoth is currently the tallest and fastest roller coaster in Canada... |
Steel hypercoaster Hypercoaster A hypercoaster can mean one of two things:*Any continuous-circuit roller coaster with a height or drop measuring greater than 200 feetOr, more narrowly:*A style or model of roller coaster with three features:**A height of 200–299 feet... |
2008 on 4 May | Bolliger & Mabillard Bolliger & Mabillard Bolliger & Mabillard Consulting Engineers is a roller coaster design consultancy based in Monthey, Switzerland. The company was founded in 1988 by Walter Bolliger and Claude Mabillard, with Bolliger acting as president and Mabillard as vice-president... |
| Dragon Fire Dragon Fire (roller coaster) Dragon Fire is a steel roller coaster located at Canada's Wonderland in Vaughan, Ontario, Canada. It was manufactured in 1980, but it was opened when the park made its debut in 1981 under the name Dragon Fyre until it was later renamed. It was one of the four original coasters at Canada's... |
Steel 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... |
1981 | Arrow Dynamics Arrow Dynamics Arrow Dynamics was a roller coaster and amusement ride design company based in Clearfield, Utah, United States. In 2002, the company went bankrupt but was quickly bought by fellow amusement ride manufacturer S&S Power to form S&S Arrow. During its peak, Arrow Dynamics was responsible for some of... |
| Flight Deck | Steel inverted roller coaster Inverted roller coaster An inverted roller coaster is a roller coaster in which the train runs under the track with the seats directly attached to the wheel carriage. This latter attribute is what sets it apart from the older suspended coaster, which runs under the track, but "swings" via a pivoting bar attached to the... Suspended Looping Coaster |
1995 | Vekoma Vekoma Vekoma Rides Manufacturing B.V. is a roller coaster and thrill ride designer with its facilities based in the Netherlands. The company was founded in 1926 by Hendrik op het Veld under the name "Veld Koning Machinefabriek" and had first manufactured agricultural machinery and mining equipment... |
| The Fly | Steel Wild Mouse Wild Mouse roller coaster A Wild Mouse roller coaster is a type of roller coaster characterized by small cars that seat four people or fewer and ride on top of the track, taking tight, flat turns at modest speeds, yet producing high lateral G-forces... |
1999 on 2 May | MACK Rides MACK Rides Mack Rides is a German company that designs and constructs roller coasters. The family that owns the company also owns Europa Park.-History:The creation of the Mack company goes back to 1780, by Paul Mack, when he started building carriages. The Mack company started to design roller coasters in 1920.... |
| Ghoster Coaster | 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... |
1981 | 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... |
| Leviathan Leviathan (roller coaster) Leviathan is a steel giga coaster currently under construction at Canada's Wonderland in Vaughan, Ontario, Canada It will be the first giga coaster made by Swiss manufacturer Bolliger & Mabillard. At long, tall, and with a top speed of , Leviathan will be the tallest and fastest coaster in Canada... |
Steel Giga Coaster | 2012 in May | Bolliger & Mabillard Bolliger & Mabillard Bolliger & Mabillard Consulting Engineers is a roller coaster design consultancy based in Monthey, Switzerland. The company was founded in 1988 by Walter Bolliger and Claude Mabillard, with Bolliger acting as president and Mabillard as vice-president... |
| Mighty Canadian Minebuster Mighty Canadian Minebuster The Mighty Canadian Minebuster was one of the four roller coasters that debuted with Canada's Wonderland, an amusement park located in Vaughan, Ontario, Canada, in 1981, and is still operational today... |
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... |
1981 | 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... |
| Silver Streak Silver Streak (roller coaster) Silver Streak is a suspended family roller coaster at Canada's Wonderland in the Vaughan, Ontario, Canada. The ride opened in 2001 as one of the first suspended family roller coasters. More information about the roller coaster's operations can be found at Suspended Family Coaster.... |
Steel inverted roller coaster Inverted roller coaster An inverted roller coaster is a roller coaster in which the train runs under the track with the seats directly attached to the wheel carriage. This latter attribute is what sets it apart from the older suspended coaster, which runs under the track, but "swings" via a pivoting bar attached to the... |
2001 on 6 May | Vekoma Vekoma Vekoma Rides Manufacturing B.V. is a roller coaster and thrill ride designer with its facilities based in the Netherlands. The company was founded in 1926 by Hendrik op het Veld under the name "Veld Koning Machinefabriek" and had first manufactured agricultural machinery and mining equipment... |
| SkyRider SkyRider SkyRider is a roller coaster at Canada's Wonderland opened in 1985, it was the park's fifth coaster, and the first one they built since the park's opening in 1981. Built by TOGO, it is the first of two stand-up roller coasters built in Canada, and the fifth stand-up roller coaster in the world... |
Steel stand-up roller coaster Stand-up roller coaster A stand-up roller coaster is a roller coaster designed to have the passengers stand through the course of the ride. These roller coasters are very intense, and generally carry taller height restrictions than other rides.-History:... |
1985 | TOGO TOGO TOGO was a Japanese roller coaster design company, famous for inventing the stand-up roller coaster. TOGO went bankrupt in the early 2000s due to a lawsuit by Knott's Berry Farm for problems with their Windjammer roller coaster. TOGO is also credited with creating the first working pipeline roller... |
| Taxi Jam | Children's steel 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... |
1998 | E&F Miler Industries |
| Thunder Run | Steel powered coaster Powered coaster A powered roller coaster is a roller coaster which relies on a motor in the train to complete the course, often replacing a traditional chain lift hill. This allows for both compact layouts that start out with curving hills, or long, extended layouts that would need too many lifts to be feasible.... |
1986 on 23 May | MACK Rides MACK Rides Mack Rides is a German company that designs and constructs roller coasters. The family that owns the company also owns Europa Park.-History:The creation of the Mack company goes back to 1780, by Paul Mack, when he started building carriages. The Mack company started to design roller coasters in 1920.... |
| Time Warp Time Warp (Canada's Wonderland) Time Warp, formerly Tomb Raider: The Ride, is a flying roller coaster operating at Canada's Wonderland. It opened on May 2, 2004. Its theme featured the 2003 Paramount Pictures film Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life.-Ride layout and experience:... |
Steel flying roller coaster Flying roller coaster A flying roller coaster is a variation of roller coaster meant to simulate the sensations of flight by harnessing riders in a prone position during the duration of the ride. The roller coaster cars are suspended below the track, with riders secured such that their backs are parallel to the track... |
2004 on 2 May | Zamperla Zamperla Zamperla is a designing and manufacturing company in Vicenza, Italy. It is best known for creating thrill rides and roller coasters worldwide. The company also makes smaller coin operated rides commonly found inside shopping malls.... |
| Vortex Vortex (Canada's Wonderland) Vortex at Canada's Wonderland is a suspended roller coaster, which enables it to swing under the track. It officially opened during the 1991 season. On "Vortex" riders are taken up through the top of the mountain and dropped at high speeds... |
Steel suspended roller coaster | 1991 | Arrow Dynamics Arrow Dynamics Arrow Dynamics was a roller coaster and amusement ride design company based in Clearfield, Utah, United States. In 2002, the company went bankrupt but was quickly bought by fellow amusement ride manufacturer S&S Power to form S&S Arrow. During its peak, Arrow Dynamics was responsible for some of... |
| Wild Beast | 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... |
1981 | 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... |
Flat rides
Bumper car
Bumper 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...
s, carousel
Carousel
A carousel , or merry-go-round, is an amusement ride consisting of a rotating circular platform with seats for riders...
s, many of these relying on centripetal force
Centripetal force
Centripetal force is a force that makes a body follow a curved path: it is always directed orthogonal to the velocity of the body, toward the instantaneous center of curvature of the path. The mathematical description was derived in 1659 by Dutch physicist Christiaan Huygens...
, and other funfair rides, such as:
- PsyclonePsyclone (ride)Psyclone is a ride at Canada's Wonderland. The Mondial ride was opened on May 5, 2002 to the public at the park. The 1 minute and 54 second ride features 40 seats facing outwards that rotate from a central pendulum as the ride reaches its maximum arc angle of 120 degrees...
, a RevolutionPendulum ridePendulum rides are amusement rides based on the motion of a fixed pendulum. These rides consist of an arm attached to an axle. One end of the arm is fitted with a passenger-carrying gondola, while the other is usually fitted with a heavy counterweight...
, swinging and spinning, reaching a height of over 120 feet (36.6 m) - ShockwaveShockwave (Canada's Wonderland)Shockwave is a ride at Canada's Wonderland. The Mondial ride opened to the public in May 2001 and continues to operate today. The ride spins around on an angle while guests are spun around on almost every possible angle the ride operates on...
, a Top Scan that twist and turns on every possible axis - RiptideRiptide (Canada's Wonderland)Riptide is a thrill ride at Canada's Wonderland. The ride is similar to the parks Shockwave ride in terms of how the riders are spun. At the base of the ride there are a number of fountains that shoot up towards the riders as they are spinning and soak them...
, a SplashoverTop Spin (ride)The Top Spin is a thrill ride developed by HUSS Maschinenfabrik, and is the generic name for a series of rides from other manufacturers that follow the same principle. The ride consists of a passenger platform suspended between two counterweighted arms...
with twin gondolas that flip and go around in the air. Riders will get wet during the summer when the weather's hot - Antique Carousel, a classic carouselCarouselA carousel , or merry-go-round, is an amusement ride consisting of a rotating circular platform with seats for riders...
in Action Zone - OrbiterOrbiter (Canada's Wonderland)Orbiter is a HUSS SkyLab at Canada's Wonderland in Ontario, Canada. The ride opened in 1981 with Canada's Wonderland...
, an EnterpriseEnterprise (ride)The Enterprise is an amusement ride, manufactured primarily by HUSS Maschinenfabrik in 1972. The ride was an adaptation and improvement of a design produced earlier that year by Schwarzkopf, with an increased passenger capacity. Despite not owning the original incarnation of the ride, HUSS was...
ride that rotates around one axle, which eventually tilts almost 90° - Spinovator, a Tea CupsTeacupsTeacups is an amusement ride characterized by cup-style spinning vehicles atop a turntable-like floor.-Operation:Typically, each set of four teacup vehicles has a circular floor or a motor capable of turning 360 degrees. The circular floor or motor sits within a larger, turntable-like floor...
ride - The RageThe Rage (Canada's Wonderland)The Rage is a swinging ship ride at Canada's Wonderland. The Rage was the first of three swinging pendulum rides that operated at the park. Today, there are only two pendulum rides at the park after Jet Scream was removed to make room for WindSeeker...
, a standard Pirate BoatPirate ship (ride)A pirate ship is a type of amusement ride, consisting of an open, seated gondola which swings back and forth, subjecting the rider to various levels of angular momentum.... - Klockwerks, a Swingaround
- SledgehammerSledgehammer (ride)Sledgehammer is a ride at Canada's Wonderland. The Huss ride was opened to the public on May 4, 2003 and continues to operate today. Sledgehammer is also the worlds first and only 'giant jumping machine' to be ever made...
, an OctopusOctopus (ride)The Octopus is a type of amusement ride in the shape of an octopus. Five to eight arms attached to a central axis spin and move up and down in random, while cars at the end of the arms spin on rotary bolts. Each Octopus ride has the arms attached the middle of the ride. The middle of the ride will...
ride that spins riders on two axes and blasts them up and down - Action Theatre, a motion-based seating rideMotion simulatorA motion simulator or motion platform is a mechanism that encapsulates occupants and creates the effect/feelings of being in a moving vehicle...
in two large theatres featuring SpongeBob SquarePants in 3DSpongeBob SquarePants 4-DSpongeBob SquarePants 4-D is an 4-D film based upon the popular television series SpongeBob SquarePants. It can be found at many aquariums and theme parks across the world. The ride consists of a pre-show which then leads into a stadium seated auditorium... - Drop Tower: Scream Zone, a vertical Drop Tower ride that begins by slowly taking its passengers up the towards the top of the tower and then immediately drops them until they reach the ground
- WindSeekerWindSeekerWindSeeker is a thrill ride at several Cedar Fair parks. The Mondial rides were opened for the 2011 season at Ontario's Canada's Wonderland, Ohio's Cedar Point and Kings Island, and California's Knott's Berry Farm. Charlotte's Carowinds and Doswell's Kings Dominion will open their models in 2012...
, a tall Swing Tower
Major attractions by year
- 1981 – Park opens with:
-
- Antique Carousel, Balloon Race (Frequent Flyers), Bayern's Curve (R), Bedrock Dock (R) moved to Carowinds, now operates as "Little Bill's Cruisers", Thunder Run, Dragon FireDragon Fire (roller coaster)Dragon Fire is a steel roller coaster located at Canada's Wonderland in Vaughan, Ontario, Canada. It was manufactured in 1980, but it was opened when the park made its debut in 1981 under the name Dragon Fyre until it was later renamed. It was one of the four original coasters at Canada's...
, Flintstone's Flyboys (R), Ghoster Coaster, Great Whale of China (R), Happy Landing (Swan Lake), Hot Rock Raceway (R), Klockwerks, Krachenwagen, Mighty Canadian MinebusterMighty Canadian MinebusterThe Mighty Canadian Minebuster was one of the four roller coasters that debuted with Canada's Wonderland, an amusement park located in Vaughan, Ontario, Canada, in 1981, and is still operational today...
, Wilde Beast (Wild Beast), Quixote's Kettles (Spinovator), Scooby Choo (KidZville Station), The Fury (R), Orbiter, Swings of the Century, Nightmares, The Rage, Wonder Tour, and Zumba Flume (R).
- Antique Carousel, Balloon Race (Frequent Flyers), Bayern's Curve (R), Bedrock Dock (R) moved to Carowinds, now operates as "Little Bill's Cruisers", Thunder Run, Dragon Fire
-
- 1982 – Kings Courtyard (The Courtyard)
- 1983 – Kingswood Music TheatreKingswood Music TheatreKingswood Music Theatre is a 15,000 seat amphitheatre, at Canada's Wonderland, in Vaughan, Ontario. Kingswood is open from May to September. Opened in 1983, Kingswood hosted many "big-name" concerts....
- 1984 – White Water CanyonWhite Water CanyonWhite Water Canyon is a river rafting ride originally named White Water Rafting Adventure. It is found at the Cedar Fair parks of Canada's Wonderland, Kings Dominion, and Kings Island. It features six seat tubes.-Locations:...
, Smurf ForestThe Smurfs (merchandising)The Smurfs is a Belgian comic book series created by Peyo in 1958. It became well-known worldwide with the Hanna-Barbera cartoon series in the 1980s. With the popularity of the Smurfs came a wide range of toys and spin-off products and use of the Smurfs in merchandising...
(until 1990s) (R) - 1985 – SkyRiderSkyRiderSkyRider is a roller coaster at Canada's Wonderland opened in 1985, it was the park's fifth coaster, and the first one they built since the park's opening in 1981. Built by TOGO, it is the first of two stand-up roller coasters built in Canada, and the fifth stand-up roller coaster in the world...
- 1986 – Thunder Run (formerly Blauer Enzian)
- 1987 – The Bat
- 1988 – Racing Rivers
- 1989 – Timberwolf Falls
- 1990 – Jet Scream (R)
- 1991 – VortexVortex (Canada's Wonderland)Vortex at Canada's Wonderland is a suspended roller coaster, which enables it to swing under the track. It officially opened during the 1991 season. On "Vortex" riders are taken up through the top of the mountain and dropped at high speeds...
- 1992 – Splash WorksSplash WorksSplash Works is a water park located within the park boundaries of Canada's Wonderland in Vaughan, Ontario, Canada. Entry is free with park admission. Splash Works is home to "Whitewater Bay", that was the largest outdoor wave pool in Canada, and is today home to 16 waterslides.-First expansion:...
: Whirl Winds, Body Blast, Splash Island Kiddy Slides - 1993 – Kid's Kingdom play area (later renovated and renamed Candy Factory)
- 1994 – "Days of Thunder" – Motion Simulator Movie Ride (Action Theatre – Currently Playing "SpongeBob SquarePants 3D")
- 1995 – Top Gun (later renamed Flight Deck)
- 1996 – Xtreme SkyflyerXtreme SkyflyerXtreme Skyflyer is a Skycoaster at several Cedar Fair parks. The Carowinds and Kings Island models opened in 1995, while the Canada's Wonderland and Kings Dominion models opened in 1996 followed by California's Great America which opened their model in 1997. In order to ride the attraction, guests...
; Splash Works Expansion: Wave Pool, The Pump House, Black Speed City Raceway - 1997 – Drop Zone (later renamed Drop Tower)
- 1998 – Kidzville, James Bond – "License To Thrill" (feature at Action Theatre (R)), The Edge Climbing Wall (R)
- 1999 – The Fly; SplashWorks Expansion: Super Soaker and The Plunge; "Escape from Dino Island" (feature at Action Theatre (R))
- 2000 – Riptide, Scooby-Doo's Haunted Mansion (Boo Blasters on Boo Hill)
- 2001 – ShockwaveShockwave (Canada's Wonderland)Shockwave is a ride at Canada's Wonderland. The Mondial ride opened to the public in May 2001 and continues to operate today. The ride spins around on an angle while guests are spun around on almost every possible angle the ride operates on...
; Zoom Zone (new kids area) including: Silver Streak, Blast Off and Jumping Jet; "7th Portal" (feature at the Action Theatre (R)) - 2002 – PsyclonePsyclone (ride)Psyclone is a ride at Canada's Wonderland. The Mondial ride was opened on May 5, 2002 to the public at the park. The 1 minute and 54 second ride features 40 seats facing outwards that rotate from a central pendulum as the ride reaches its maximum arc angle of 120 degrees...
; SplashWorks Expansion: Riptide Racer, Barracuda Blaster and Kids Sprayground - 2003 – Sledge Hammer, Nickelodeon CentralNickelodeon CentralSince the 1990s, Nickelodeon, a worldwide children's entertainment company, has had an involvement in the creation and theming of amusement park rides. This article details the ventures of Nickelodeon in amusement parks....
(replacing Bedrock), "Warrior of the Dawn" (in Action Theatre) (R), "SpongeBob SquarePants 3-D" (feature in Action Theatre), Launch Pad (trampolines; requires separate fee) - 2004 – Tomb Raider (later renamed Time Warp)
- 2005 – The Italian Job (later renamed Backlot Stunt CoasterBacklot Stunt CoasterBacklot Stunt Coaster is a steel launched roller coaster currently open at Canada's Wonderland in Vaughan, Ontario; Kings Dominion in Doswell, Virginia; and Kings Island in Mason, Ohio.-History:The three roller coasters originally opened as Italian Job: Stunt Track at Canada's Wonderland and...
) - 2006 – "School of Rock: Live in Concert", "Paramount's Hollywood Stunt Spectacular" show (R), "The Funtastic World of Hanna-Barbara" (feature at the Action Theatre) (R), Nickelodeon Celebration Parade (R)
- 2007 – Coasters 50s Diner, International Marketplace Buffet, "Twistin to the 60s" show (R), "Endless Summer on Ice" show, Picnic Pavilion
- 2008 – BehemothBehemoth (roller coaster)Behemoth is a steel roller coaster at Canada's Wonderland in Vaughan, Ontario, Canada. It is a Hyper Coaster designed and developed by Swiss manufacturer, Bolliger & Mabillard. Behemoth is currently the tallest and fastest roller coaster in Canada...
, "Dance to the Music" show (R) - 2009 – "Signed, Sealed, Delivered" show, "Marty's Party" Show
- 2010 – "Rockband Live" show, "Snoopy On Ice" show, Planet SnoopyPlanet SnoopyPlanet Snoopy is a Peanuts themed area for children in Cedar Fair parks.* Kings Island in Mason, Ohio.* Carowinds in Charlotte, North Carolina* Canada's Wonderland in Canada.* California's Great America* Kings Dominion in Doswell, Virginia....
- 2011 – WindSeekerWindSeekerWindSeeker is a thrill ride at several Cedar Fair parks. The Mondial rides were opened for the 2011 season at Ontario's Canada's Wonderland, Ohio's Cedar Point and Kings Island, and California's Knott's Berry Farm. Charlotte's Carowinds and Doswell's Kings Dominion will open their models in 2012...
, Starlight Spectacular (R), VIP Tour Program, "Start Me Up" show, "Charlie Brown’s Pirate Adventure" show - 2012 – LeviathanLeviathan (roller coaster)Leviathan is a steel giga coaster currently under construction at Canada's Wonderland in Vaughan, Ontario, Canada It will be the first giga coaster made by Swiss manufacturer Bolliger & Mabillard. At long, tall, and with a top speed of , Leviathan will be the tallest and fastest coaster in Canada...
, Dinosaurs Alive!Dinosaurs Alive! (attraction)Dinosaurs Alive! is an animatronic dinosaur themed area for children at several Cedar Fair parks. The version of this attraction at King's Island is the world's largest animatronic dinosaur park. A $5.00 fee is required in order to enter into this attraction....
Current name in (brackets); R = Removed/Closed
Complete list of rides
All of the attractions at Canada's Wonderland as of 2011 are shown below.| Ride | Ride Manufacturer and/or Type | Height Requirement | Location | Thrill level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Action Theatre | Motion Simulator Motion simulator A motion simulator or motion platform is a mechanism that encapsulates occupants and creates the effect/feelings of being in a moving vehicle... |
Over 44" or with an adult | White Water Canyon | High |
| Antique Carrousel | Carrousel Carousel A carousel , or merry-go-round, is an amusement ride consisting of a rotating circular platform with seats for riders... |
Over 46" or with adult | Action Zone | Low |
| A-Mazing Adventure | Children's Maze | Under 54" | KidZville | Low |
| Backlot Stunt Coaster Backlot Stunt Coaster Backlot Stunt Coaster is a steel launched roller coaster currently open at Canada's Wonderland in Vaughan, Ontario; Kings Dominion in Doswell, Virginia; and Kings Island in Mason, Ohio.-History:The three roller coasters originally opened as Italian Job: Stunt Track at Canada's Wonderland and... |
Premier Rides Premier Rides Premier Rides is an amusement ride manufacturer based in the United States. The company was the first to use Linear Induction Motors on their roller coasters. Jim Seay has been the sole owner and company president since 1996.... launch coaster Launched roller coaster The launched roller coaster is a modern form of roller coaster which has increased in use in the last decade. In place of a traditional chain lift, the launched coaster initiates a ride with high amounts of acceleration via one or series of Linear Induction Motors , Linear Synchronous Motors ,... |
Over 48" | Action Zone | Aggressive |
| Barracuda Blaster | Pipe flume | Over 48" | Splash Works | Aggressive |
| The Bat | Vekoma Vekoma Vekoma Rides Manufacturing B.V. is a roller coaster and thrill ride designer with its facilities based in the Netherlands. The company was founded in 1926 by Hendrik op het Veld under the name "Veld Koning Machinefabriek" and had first manufactured agricultural machinery and mining equipment... boomerang coaster Boomerang (roller coaster) Boomerang is a model of roller coaster built by Vekoma, and named after the hunting implement based on the traditions of the Indigenous Australians... |
Over 48" | International Festival | Aggressive |
| Behemoth Behemoth (roller coaster) Behemoth is a steel roller coaster at Canada's Wonderland in Vaughan, Ontario, Canada. It is a Hyper Coaster designed and developed by Swiss manufacturer, Bolliger & Mabillard. Behemoth is currently the tallest and fastest roller coaster in Canada... |
Bolliger & Mabillard Bolliger & Mabillard Bolliger & Mabillard Consulting Engineers is a roller coaster design consultancy based in Monthey, Switzerland. The company was founded in 1988 by Walter Bolliger and Claude Mabillard, with Bolliger acting as president and Mabillard as vice-president... hyper coaster Hypercoaster A hypercoaster can mean one of two things:*Any continuous-circuit roller coaster with a height or drop measuring greater than 200 feetOr, more narrowly:*A style or model of roller coaster with three features:**A height of 200–299 feet... |
Over 54" | Action Zone | Aggressive |
| Black Hole | Speed slide | Over 48" | Splash Works | Aggressive |
| Blast Off! | Jumping Rocket Ship | Over 36" | KidZville | Mild |
| Body Blast | 3 Body Flumes | Over 48" | Splash Works | High |
| Boo Blasters on Boo Hill | Interactive dark ride | 46" or with adult | Planet Snoopy | Mild |
| Candy Factory | Children's Playground | Under 54" | KidZville | Low |
| Character Carrousel | Carousel Carousel A carousel , or merry-go-round, is an amusement ride consisting of a rotating circular platform with seats for riders... |
Over 46" or with adult | Planet Snoopy | Low |
| Chopper Chase | Over 42" or with adult | KidZville | Mild | |
| Dinosaurs Alive!* (2012) + | Planet Snoopy | |||
| Dragon Fire Dragon Fire (roller coaster) Dragon Fire is a steel roller coaster located at Canada's Wonderland in Vaughan, Ontario, Canada. It was manufactured in 1980, but it was opened when the park made its debut in 1981 under the name Dragon Fyre until it was later renamed. It was one of the four original coasters at Canada's... |
Arrow Dynamics Arrow Dynamics Arrow Dynamics was a roller coaster and amusement ride design company based in Clearfield, Utah, United States. In 2002, the company went bankrupt but was quickly bought by fellow amusement ride manufacturer S&S Power to form S&S Arrow. During its peak, Arrow Dynamics was responsible for some of... steel coaster Steel roller coaster A steel roller coaster is a roller coaster that is defined by having a track made of steel. Steel coasters have earned immense popularity in the past 50 years throughout the world... |
Over 48" | Medieval Faire | Aggressive |
| Drop Tower | Intamin AG Gyro Drop/or Giant Drop | Over 54" | Medieval Faire | High |
| Flavourator | Over 44" or with adult | KidZville | Mild | |
| Flight Deck | Vekoma Vekoma Vekoma Rides Manufacturing B.V. is a roller coaster and thrill ride designer with its facilities based in the Netherlands. The company was founded in 1926 by Hendrik op het Veld under the name "Veld Koning Machinefabriek" and had first manufactured agricultural machinery and mining equipment... inverted coaster |
Over 52" but under 78" | Action Zone | Aggressive |
| The Fly | Steel coaster Steel roller coaster A steel roller coaster is a roller coaster that is defined by having a track made of steel. Steel coasters have earned immense popularity in the past 50 years throughout the world... |
Over 54" or over 44" with adult | International Festival | High |
| Frequent Flyer | Under 50" | KidZville | Mild | |
| Ghoster Coaster | 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... wooden 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... |
Over 46" or over 40" with adult | Planet Snoopy | High |
| Joe Cool’s Dodgem School | Bumper car Bumper car Bumper 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... s |
Over 38" but under 54" | Planet Snoopy | Mild |
| Jokey’s Jalopies | Over 46" or with adult | Planet Snoopy | Mild | |
| Jumpin’ Jet | Over 42" or with adult | KidZville | Moderate | |
| KidZville Station | Over 40" or with adult | KidZville | Mild | |
| Klockwerks | Over 48" or over 44" with adult | International Festival | Moderate | |
| Krachenwagen | Bumper Cars Bumper car Bumper 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... |
Over 48" | International Festival | High |
| Launch Pad + | Bungee Trampoline | White Water Canyon | High | |
| Lazy River | Lazy river Lazy river A lazy river is a water ride found in many amusement parks or water parks. They are also found at some resorts and recreation centers. It usually consists of shallow pool that flows similarly to a river.... |
Over 42" or with adult | Splash Works | Mild |
| Leviathan Leviathan (roller coaster) Leviathan is a steel giga coaster currently under construction at Canada's Wonderland in Vaughan, Ontario, Canada It will be the first giga coaster made by Swiss manufacturer Bolliger & Mabillard. At long, tall, and with a top speed of , Leviathan will be the tallest and fastest coaster in Canada... * (2012) |
Bolliger & Mabillard Bolliger & Mabillard Bolliger & Mabillard Consulting Engineers is a roller coaster design consultancy based in Monthey, Switzerland. The company was founded in 1988 by Walter Bolliger and Claude Mabillard, with Bolliger acting as president and Mabillard as vice-president... giga coaster |
Medieval Faire | ||
| Lucy’s Tugboat | Over 42" or with adult | Planet Snoopy | Mild | |
| Mighty Canadian Minebuster Mighty Canadian Minebuster The Mighty Canadian Minebuster was one of the four roller coasters that debuted with Canada's Wonderland, an amusement park located in Vaughan, Ontario, Canada, in 1981, and is still operational today... |
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... wooden 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... |
Over 48" | Action Zone | Aggressive |
| Nightmares | Over 54" | Medieval Faire | High | |
| Orbiter Orbiter (Canada's Wonderland) Orbiter is a HUSS SkyLab at Canada's Wonderland in Ontario, Canada. The ride opened in 1981 with Canada's Wonderland... |
HUSS HUSS Park Attractions HUSS Park Attractions is a company specialising in the development and manufacture of amusement rides, and is based in Bremen, Germany. HUSS have designed over 35 different types of amusement rides installed worldwide.-History :... SkyLab |
Over 54" | Action Zone | High |
| PEANUTS 500 | Over 42" or with adult | Planet Snoopy | Mild | |
| The Plunge | Family raft slide | Over 48" or over 40" with a PFD and with adult | Splash Works | Aggressive |
| Psyclone Psyclone (ride) Psyclone is a ride at Canada's Wonderland. The Mondial ride was opened on May 5, 2002 to the public at the park. The 1 minute and 54 second ride features 40 seats facing outwards that rotate from a central pendulum as the ride reaches its maximum arc angle of 120 degrees... |
Mondial Mondial (amusement ride manufacturer) Mondial is a Dutch company specialising in the manufacture of amusement rides. The company was founded in 1987 and has installations throughout the world.... swinging pendulum ride Pendulum ride Pendulum rides are amusement rides based on the motion of a fixed pendulum. These rides consist of an arm attached to an axle. One end of the arm is fitted with a passenger-carrying gondola, while the other is usually fitted with a heavy counterweight... |
Over 54" | Action Zone | Aggressive |
| Pump House | Water playground | Splash Works | Low | |
| The Pumpkin Patch | Over 44" or with adult | Planet Snoopy | Mild | |
| The Rage The Rage (Canada's Wonderland) The Rage is a swinging ship ride at Canada's Wonderland. The Rage was the first of three swinging pendulum rides that operated at the park. Today, there are only two pendulum rides at the park after Jet Scream was removed to make room for WindSeeker... |
Swinging Ship Pirate ship (ride) A pirate ship is a type of amusement ride, consisting of an open, seated gondola which swings back and forth, subjecting the rider to various levels of angular momentum.... |
Over 54" or over 44" with adult | Medieval Faire | Moderate |
| Riptide Riptide (Canada's Wonderland) Riptide is a thrill ride at Canada's Wonderland. The ride is similar to the parks Shockwave ride in terms of how the riders are spun. At the base of the ride there are a number of fountains that shoot up towards the riders as they are spinning and soak them... |
Mondial Mondial (amusement ride manufacturer) Mondial is a Dutch company specialising in the manufacture of amusement rides. The company was founded in 1987 and has installations throughout the world.... splash over |
Over 54" | Medieval Faire | Aggressive |
| Riptide Racer | 8 lane mat slide | Over 40" | Splash Works | High |
| Sally’s Love Buggies | Over 44" or with adult | Planet Snoopy | Mild | |
| Shockwave Shockwave (Canada's Wonderland) Shockwave is a ride at Canada's Wonderland. The Mondial ride opened to the public in May 2001 and continues to operate today. The ride spins around on an angle while guests are spun around on almost every possible angle the ride operates on... |
Mondial Mondial (amusement ride manufacturer) Mondial is a Dutch company specialising in the manufacture of amusement rides. The company was founded in 1987 and has installations throughout the world.... Top Scan |
Over 54" | International Festival | Aggressive |
| Silver Streak Silver Streak (roller coaster) Silver Streak is a suspended family roller coaster at Canada's Wonderland in the Vaughan, Ontario, Canada. The ride opened in 2001 as one of the first suspended family roller coasters. More information about the roller coaster's operations can be found at Suspended Family Coaster.... |
Vekoma Vekoma Vekoma Rides Manufacturing B.V. is a roller coaster and thrill ride designer with its facilities based in the Netherlands. The company was founded in 1926 by Hendrik op het Veld under the name "Veld Koning Machinefabriek" and had first manufactured agricultural machinery and mining equipment... suspended family coaster |
Over 44" but under 76" | KidZville | High |
| SkyRider SkyRider SkyRider is a roller coaster at Canada's Wonderland opened in 1985, it was the park's fifth coaster, and the first one they built since the park's opening in 1981. Built by TOGO, it is the first of two stand-up roller coasters built in Canada, and the fifth stand-up roller coaster in the world... |
TOGO TOGO TOGO was a Japanese roller coaster design company, famous for inventing the stand-up roller coaster. TOGO went bankrupt in the early 2000s due to a lawsuit by Knott's Berry Farm for problems with their Windjammer roller coaster. TOGO is also credited with creating the first working pipeline roller... stand-up coaster Stand-up roller coaster A stand-up roller coaster is a roller coaster designed to have the passengers stand through the course of the ride. These roller coasters are very intense, and generally carry taller height restrictions than other rides.-History:... |
Action Zone | Aggressive | |
| Sledge Hammer Sledgehammer (ride) Sledgehammer is a ride at Canada's Wonderland. The Huss ride was opened to the public on May 4, 2003 and continues to operate today. Sledgehammer is also the worlds first and only 'giant jumping machine' to be ever made... |
HUSS HUSS Park Attractions HUSS Park Attractions is a company specialising in the development and manufacture of amusement rides, and is based in Bremen, Germany. HUSS have designed over 35 different types of amusement rides installed worldwide.-History :... Giant Jump 2 |
Over 54" | Action Zone | Aggressive |
| Snoopy’s Revolution | Children's Ferris wheel Ferris wheel A 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... |
Over 44" or with adult | Planet Snoopy | Mild |
| Snoopy’s Space Race | Under 60" | Planet Snoopy | Mild | |
| Snoopy vs. Red Baron | Over 32" but under 60" | Planet Snoopy | Mild | |
| Speed City Raceway + | Go-Kart Track Kart racing Kart racing or karting is a variant of open-wheel motorsport with small, open, four-wheeled vehicles called karts, go-karts, or gearbox/shifter karts depending on the design. They are usually raced on scaled-down circuits... |
Driver: Over 58" but under 78" Passenger: Over 40" but under 78". Passengers between 40" and 58" must be with adult |
Medieval Faire | Aggressive |
| Spinovator | Spinning tea cup Teacups Teacups is an amusement ride characterized by cup-style spinning vehicles atop a turntable-like floor.-Operation:Typically, each set of four teacup vehicles has a circular floor or a motor capable of turning 360 degrees. The circular floor or motor sits within a larger, turntable-like floor... ride |
Over 48" or over 44" with adult | Medieval Faire | Moderate |
| Splash Island Kiddie Pool | Children pool | Under 54" or with adult | Splash Works | Low |
| Splash Island Kiddie Slides | Children water slides | Under 54" | Splash Works | Low |
| Splash Island Sprayground | Interactive water playground | Under 60" or with adult | Splash Works | Low |
| Splash Island Waterways | Children's raft slide | Over 36" or under 36" with adult | Splash Works | Moderate |
| Super Soaker | Family Raft slide | Over 48" or over 40" with a PFD and with adult | Splash Works | Aggressive |
| Swan Lake | Swan ride | Over 48" or with adult | Planet Snoopy | Low |
| Swing of the Century | Rotating swing ride | Over 48" | Action Zone | Moderate |
| Swing Time | Low level rotating swing ride | Over 36" but under 54" | KidZville | Low |
| Taxi Jam | Children's coaster | Over 40" or over 36" with adult | KidzVille | Mild |
| Thunder Run | Mack Rides MACK Rides Mack Rides is a German company that designs and constructs roller coasters. The family that owns the company also owns Europa Park.-History:The creation of the Mack company goes back to 1780, by Paul Mack, when he started building carriages. The Mack company started to design roller coasters in 1920.... steel coaster Steel roller coaster A steel roller coaster is a roller coaster that is defined by having a track made of steel. Steel coasters have earned immense popularity in the past 50 years throughout the world... |
Over 54" or over 44" with adult | International Festival | High |
| Timberwolf Falls Timberwolf Falls (Canada's Wonderland) Timberwolf Falls is a Shoot-the-Chutes water ride which opened in 1989. The ride contains a basic oval shape and features one drop creating a wave soaking all riders. The ride also features a Splash Zone which allows spectators to get soaked by the wave from a bridge located above the main... |
Shoot-the-Chutes Shoot-the-Chutes Shoot-the-Chutes is an amusement ride consisting of a flat-bottomed boat that slides down a ramp or inside a flume into a lagoon. Unlike a log flume, a Shoot-the-Chutes generally has larger boats and one single drop.... |
Over 46" | White Water Canyon | High |
| Time Warp Time Warp (Canada's Wonderland) Time Warp, formerly Tomb Raider: The Ride, is a flying roller coaster operating at Canada's Wonderland. It opened on May 2, 2004. Its theme featured the 2003 Paramount Pictures film Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life.-Ride layout and experience:... |
Zamperla Zamperla Zamperla is a designing and manufacturing company in Vicenza, Italy. It is best known for creating thrill rides and roller coasters worldwide. The company also makes smaller coin operated rides commonly found inside shopping malls.... steel flying coaster Flying roller coaster A flying roller coaster is a variation of roller coaster meant to simulate the sensations of flight by harnessing riders in a prone position during the duration of the ride. The roller coaster cars are suspended below the track, with riders secured such that their backs are parallel to the track... |
Over 54" | Action Zone | Aggressive |
| Vortex Vortex (Canada's Wonderland) Vortex at Canada's Wonderland is a suspended roller coaster, which enables it to swing under the track. It officially opened during the 1991 season. On "Vortex" riders are taken up through the top of the mountain and dropped at high speeds... |
Arrow Dynamics Arrow Dynamics Arrow Dynamics was a roller coaster and amusement ride design company based in Clearfield, Utah, United States. In 2002, the company went bankrupt but was quickly bought by fellow amusement ride manufacturer S&S Power to form S&S Arrow. During its peak, Arrow Dynamics was responsible for some of... steel suspended coaster |
Over 48" | International Festival | Aggressive |
| White Water Canyon White Water Canyon White Water Canyon is a river rafting ride originally named White Water Rafting Adventure. It is found at the Cedar Fair parks of Canada's Wonderland, Kings Dominion, and Kings Island. It features six seat tubes.-Locations:... |
Intamin raft water ride River rafting ride A river rafting ride is an amusement ride that simulates whitewater rafting.-History:The river rapids ride concept was proposed by Bill Crandall and developed by Intamin AG... |
Over 48" but under 76" | White Water Canyon | High |
| Wild Beast | 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... wooden 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... |
Over 48" | Medieval Faire | Aggressive |
| WindSeeker WindSeeker WindSeeker is a thrill ride at several Cedar Fair parks. The Mondial rides were opened for the 2011 season at Ontario's Canada's Wonderland, Ohio's Cedar Point and Kings Island, and California's Knott's Berry Farm. Charlotte's Carowinds and Doswell's Kings Dominion will open their models in 2012... |
Mondial Mondial (amusement ride manufacturer) Mondial is a Dutch company specialising in the manufacture of amusement rides. The company was founded in 1987 and has installations throughout the world.... high rotating swing ride |
Over 52" | Action Zone | High |
| Whirl Winds | 2 intertwining speed slides | Over 48" or over 40" with PFD | Splash Works | High |
| Whitewater Bay | Wave pool Wave pool A wave pool is a swimming pool in which there are artificially generated, reasonably large waves, similar to the ocean's. Wave pools are often a major feature of water parks... |
Over 42" or with adult (Under 48" requires life jacket) | Splash Works | Moderate |
| Woodstock Whirlybirds | Over 40" or with adult | Planet Snoopy | Moderate | |
| Xtreme Skyfler + | Skycoaster Skycoaster Skycoaster, most commonly also named Ripcord or Xtreme SkyFlyer , is an amusement park ride, produced and managed by Skycoaster, Inc.... |
Over 48" | Action Zone | Aggressive |
- + Denotes the requirement that guests pay an additional fee for the ride or attraction.
- * Denotes that the ride is under construction
Location
Canada's Wonderland is on the east side of Highway 400 between Rutherford Road (Exit 33) and Major Mackenzie Drive (Exit 35), 13 km (8 mi) north of Highway 401, 6 km (4 mi) north of Highway 407 and 64 km (40 mi) south of BarrieBarrie
Barrie may refer to:* Barrie, city in Ontario, Canada* Barrie , Canadian federal electoral district* Barrie , provincial electoral district* Barrie—Simcoe—Bradford, former Canadian electoral district...
. It is bounded by Highway 400 to the west, Jane Street to the east, Major Mackenzie Drive to the north and Rutherford Road to the south. Formerly quite isolated when the park opened, it is surrounded by housing on all sides since the mid-2000s. It has two public entrances and one entrance for staff, deliveries, and buses.
Public transportation
Regular transit access is provided by York Region TransitYork Region Transit
York Region Transit is the public transit operator in York Region, Ontario, Canada. Its headquarters are in Richmond Hill, at 50 High Tech Road....
(YRT), while GO Transit
GO Transit
GO Transit is an inter-regional public transit system in Southern Ontario, Canada. It primarily serves the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area conurbation, with operations extending to several communities beyond the GTHA proper in the Greater Golden Horseshoe...
, Brampton Transit
Brampton Transit
Brampton Transit is public transport bus operator for the City of Brampton in the Regional Municipality of Peel, and within the Greater Toronto Area in Ontario, Canada. Brampton Transit began operations in 1974....
, and MiWay all run special services. The bus loop at Wonderland is located near the northeast corner of the park, and is accessible from the service entrance on Jane Street, north of Major Mackenzie Drive.
Transportation to the Wonderland Terminal
Wonderland Terminal
Wonderland Terminal is a small bus terminal located on the north side of Canada's Wonderland in Vaughan, Ontario, Canada. As the theme park is open seasonally from May to October, the terminal is only in operation at that time, with bus routes and schedules rearranged to suit.-Bus services:Platform...
is available from the following of the regional transit organizations:
- Toronto Transit CommissionToronto Transit Commission-Island Ferry:The ferry service to the Toronto Islands was operated by the TTC from 1927 until 1962, when it was transferred to the Metro Parks and Culture department. Since 1998, the ferry service is run by Toronto Parks and Recreation.-Gray Coach:...
on behalf of York Region Transit: Toronto – Route 165 Weston Road North bus to Canada's Wonderland from York MillsYork Mills (TTC)York Mills is a station on the Yonge–University–Spadina line of the subway system in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is located at 4015 Yonge Street at Wilson Avenue/York Mills Road...
subway stationToronto subway and RTThe Toronto subway and RT is a rapid transit system in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, consisting of both underground and elevated railway lines, operated by the Toronto Transit Commission . It was Canada's first completed subway system, with the first line being built under Yonge Street, which opened in...
via WilsonWilson (TTC)Wilson is a station on the Yonge–University–Spadina line of the subway system of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is located in the median of Allen Road at 570 Wilson Avenue.2257 parking spaces surround the station in four commuter lots.-History:...
subway station. Extra fare is required north of Steeles Avenue. - Mississauga Transit: Route 88, express, non-stop trip between Canada's Wonderland and Mississauga's Square One Shopping CentreSquare One Shopping CentreSquare One Shopping Centre is a shopping mall located in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. It is one of the largest shopping malls in Canada, with over 1.6 million square feet of retail space and more than 360 stores and services...
. - York Region Transit: Route 20 Jane-Concord provides service along the Jane Street corridor from York UniversityYork UniversityYork University is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is Canada's third-largest university, Ontario's second-largest graduate school, and Canada's leading interdisciplinary university....
to Teston Road. YRT Route 87 Langstaff-Maple serve the park from nearby stops on Jane Street. - GO Transit: Wonderland GO Bus Service (Route 60) from York Mills Bus TerminalYork Mills Bus TerminalYork Mills GO Bus Terminal is located at 4023 Yonge Street, near the northeast corner of York Mills Road, in the North York area of Toronto, Canada...
and Yorkdale Bus Terminal. - Brampton Transit: Route 66 from Bramalea City Centre.
York Region Transit used to provide express Magic Wonderbus service from Newmarket
Newmarket, Ontario
Newmarket is a town in Southern Ontario located approximately 50 km north of downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is part of the Greater Toronto Area and is connected to Toronto by freeway, and is served by three interchanges along Highway 404. It is also connected to Highway 400 via Highway 9...
and Markham
Markham, Ontario
Markham is a town in the Regional Municipality of York, located within the Greater Toronto Area of Southern Ontario, Canada. The population was 261,573 at the 2006 Canadian census...
, but this was discontinued for the 2007 season. As well, beginning with the 2009 season, Route 4 Major Mackenzie no longer serves the Wonderland bus loop.
Logos
Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures Corporation is an American film production and distribution company, located at 5555 Melrose Avenue in Hollywood. Founded in 1912 and currently owned by media conglomerate Viacom, it is America's oldest existing film studio; it is also the last major film studio still...
(later Viacom), they changed the name of the park to include the word Paramount, something Paramount Parks
Paramount Parks
Paramount Parks was an operator of theme parks and attractions, which annually attracted about 13 million patrons. Viacom had assumed control of the company as part of its acquisition of Paramount Pictures in 1994....
did with all of its other parks in 1993. Prior to that, none of the Paramount-owned parks had the Paramount prefix.
The logo was completely changed to match the style of the Paramount Parks logo, as well as their other theme park properties, which all had the same styled logos, including the Paramount prefix, and the Paramount Pictures mountain logo.
In 2003, Viacom updated the logo of Paramount Parks, and all its theme parks, including Wonderland, to include an updated Paramount logo, even though the logo for Paramount Pictures, the film studio, remained unchanged.
In 2007, CBS Corporation
CBS Corporation
CBS Corporation is an American media conglomerate focused on commercial broadcasting, publishing, billboards and television production, with most of its operations in the United States. The President and CEO of the company is Leslie Moonves. Sumner Redstone, owner of National Amusements, is CBS's...
, (split from Viacom in 2005), sold all of its theme park properties to Cedar Fair Entertainment Company, which in turn, dropped the Paramount prefixes from all five parks, and gave the logos the Cedar Fair logo and font style.
See also
- Paramount ParksParamount ParksParamount Parks was an operator of theme parks and attractions, which annually attracted about 13 million patrons. Viacom had assumed control of the company as part of its acquisition of Paramount Pictures in 1994....
- List of amusement parks in the Americas
- Incidents at Cedar Fair parksIncidents at Cedar Fair parksThis is a summary of notable incidents that have taken place at amusement parks, water parks, or theme parks that are currently owned or operated by Cedar Fair Entertainment Company. This list is not intended to be a comprehensive list of every such event, but only those that have a significant...