Thrill-Ville USA
Encyclopedia
Thrill-Ville USA was an amusement park in Turner, Oregon
, United States
. The park was located next to the Enchanted Forest
south of Salem
on Interstate 5
. Opened in the 1970s, the park grew to more than 20 rides before closing in 2008. Rides included roller coaster
s, go-kart
s, classic carnival rides (such as Octopus, Rock-O-Plane, Tilt-A-Whirl, Paratrooper, and many more) a 55 feet (16.8 m) double water slide, and a regular slide. The park also had an area called "Thrill-Zone" which included a Sky Coaster, Big Sling ride, SCAD Freefall Tower, and Turbo Force. De-construction of the park's major roller coaster, the "Ripper" started in spring 2010.
. The Vettrus brothers later owned and operated the amusement park that grew to more than 20 different rides. In 1984, the park added a 55 feet (16.8 m) waterslide.
The park was renamed as Thrill-Ville USA in the early 1990s. Marion County
told the operators in the early 1990s that the park’s land needed to be rezoned or face possible closure. In 1995, Thrill-Ville was allowed to stay open after meeting a variety of conditions set by the county including noise abatement and establishing a parking plan. By 1999, the park had an annual attendance of 200,000 people. In May 2008, the park announced that due to higher insurance costs and a slowing economy that the park would not open for its usual season of Memorial Day to Labor Day in 2008. The park also said that Thrill-Ville USA may not ever re-open.
s, The Ripper and the Little Ripper. The bigger one was 60 feet (18.3 m) tall. Another ride was the Skycoaster, which lifted people 100 feet (30.5 m) up before dropping them to swing in their harnesses. A 55 feet (16.8 m) tall water slide was the largest in Oregon. It had two open-chutes that spiraled down over 350 feet (106.7 m) to the pool below. Other attractions included go-karts, a large slide, and miniature golf
among others. Visitors were summoned to the park by a large spray foam
figure named Thrillman.
Turner, Oregon
Turner is a city in Marion County, Oregon, United States. The population was 1,199 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Salem Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The park was located next to the Enchanted Forest
Enchanted Forest (Oregon)
The Enchanted Forest is an amusement park located in Turner in the U.S. state of Oregon, next to Interstate 5 just south of Salem. Creator Roger Tofte opened the park in 1971 after seven years of construction. Today, the Tofte family still owns and operates the park.The park is divided into...
south of Salem
Salem, Oregon
Salem is the capital of the U.S. state of Oregon, and the county seat of Marion County. It is located in the center of the Willamette Valley alongside the Willamette River, which runs north through the city. The river forms the boundary between Marion and Polk counties, and the city neighborhood...
on Interstate 5
Interstate 5 in Oregon
In the U.S. state of Oregon, Interstate 5 traverses the state from north to south, passing through the major cities of Portland, Salem, Eugene, and Medford.-Route description:...
. Opened in the 1970s, the park grew to more than 20 rides before closing in 2008. Rides included 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...
s, go-kart
Go-kart
thumb|A [[Kart racing|racing kart]] at the [[Commission Internationale de Karting|CIK-FIA]] European Championship 2008A go-kart is a small four-wheeled vehicle...
s, classic carnival rides (such as Octopus, Rock-O-Plane, Tilt-A-Whirl, Paratrooper, and many more) a 55 feet (16.8 m) double water slide, and a regular slide. The park also had an area called "Thrill-Zone" which included a Sky Coaster, Big Sling ride, SCAD Freefall Tower, and Turbo Force. De-construction of the park's major roller coaster, the "Ripper" started in spring 2010.
History
In the early 1970s what later became Thrill-Ville USA opened as a go-cart track. The Vettrus family added the go-carts as a children’s amusement feature next to the family’s recreational vehicle (RV) parkRV park
A recreational vehicle park or caravan park is a place where people with recreational vehicles can stay overnight, or longer, in alloted spaces known as "pitches"...
. The Vettrus brothers later owned and operated the amusement park that grew to more than 20 different rides. In 1984, the park added a 55 feet (16.8 m) waterslide.
The park was renamed as Thrill-Ville USA in the early 1990s. Marion County
Marion County, Oregon
Marion County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oregon. It was originally named the Champooick District, after Champoeg, a meeting place on the Willamette River. On September 3, 1849, the territorial legislature renamed it in honor of Francis Marion, a Continental Army general of the...
told the operators in the early 1990s that the park’s land needed to be rezoned or face possible closure. In 1995, Thrill-Ville was allowed to stay open after meeting a variety of conditions set by the county including noise abatement and establishing a parking plan. By 1999, the park had an annual attendance of 200,000 people. In May 2008, the park announced that due to higher insurance costs and a slowing economy that the park would not open for its usual season of Memorial Day to Labor Day in 2008. The park also said that Thrill-Ville USA may not ever re-open.
Attractions
The park had two roller coasterRoller 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...
s, The Ripper and the Little Ripper. The bigger one was 60 feet (18.3 m) tall. Another ride was the Skycoaster, which lifted people 100 feet (30.5 m) up before dropping them to swing in their harnesses. A 55 feet (16.8 m) tall water slide was the largest in Oregon. It had two open-chutes that spiraled down over 350 feet (106.7 m) to the pool below. Other attractions included go-karts, a large slide, and miniature golf
Miniature golf
Miniature golf, or minigolf, is a miniature version of the sport of golf. While the international sports organization World Minigolf Sport Federation prefers to use the name "minigolf", the general public in different countries has also many other names for the game: miniature golf, mini-golf,...
among others. Visitors were summoned to the park by a large spray foam
Spray foam
Spray foam is a very specialised packing material, often required for use in shipping valuable fragile items. Engineered packaging principles are designed to protect sculptures, vases, large fossils, lamp bases, busts, computers, furniture, chandeliers and other objects of unusual shape...
figure named Thrillman.
External links
- Official website - Via the WayBack Machine
- Ultimate Rollercoaster