Castle Fun Park

Last updated
Castle Fun Park
Previously known as Wonderland Amusement Park (1989-1998)
Location Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada
StatusOperating
Opened1989, July
Themecastle; medieval architecture
Website https://castlefunpark.com/

Castle Fun Park is an amusement park located in Abbotsford, British Columbia, by the Trans-Canada Highway. [1] The park is built like a castle resembling medieval architecture and includes many attractions and arcade games. The park is currently run by the Wiebe family.

Contents

History

In 1988, Hank and Doreen Wiebe started construction on their recently purchased land in Abbotsford for an amusement park and in July, 1989, they opened it with the name "Wonderland Amusement Park". [2] The park's buildings resembled medieval architecture. In 1998, they had to change the park's name into "Castle Fun Park" due to a name infringement of another amusement park in Ontario. Today, the park is operated still by the Wiebe family and have since added many new attractions and rides. [3]

2021 Flooding

On November 15, 2021, the entire park was flooded and was closed shortly after. [4] Despite the flood, the park's social media stayed "optimistic," posting on their Facebook on November 18, four days after the initial flooding, saying "...[we'll] keep coming back to faith, optimism, and even moments of laughter." [5] [6] In the same post, they stated that they were aiming for a reopening in early-spring. On January 26, they posted a video on their Instagram showing the ruined state the park was in while still showing signs for the proposed reopening in early-spring. [5] [7] [4]

On Canada Day, 2022, the park was officially reopened. [8]

Attractions

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Six Flags Darien Lake</span> Amusement park in Corfu, New York

Six Flags Darien Lake is a 1,200-acre (4.86 km2) amusement park and resort located in Corfu, New York, off of Interstate 90 between Buffalo and Rochester. Six Flags Darien Lake features a theme park, water park, campground and lodging. It is owned by EPR Properties and operated by Six Flags.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Knoebels Amusement Resort</span> Amusement park

Knoebels Amusement Resort is a family-owned and operated amusement park, picnic grove, and campground in Elysburg, Pennsylvania. Opened in 1926, it is United States's largest free-admission park. The park has more than 60 rides including three wooden roller coasters, three steel roller coasters, a 1913 carousel, and 2 haunted house dark rides, among more.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Playland (Vancouver)</span> Amusement park in Vancouver, BC

Playland Amusement Park is an amusement park in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The amusement park is located at Hastings Park and is operated by the Pacific National Exhibition (PNE), an organization that hosts an annual summer fair and exhibition adjacent to Playland. Playland opened at its current location in 1958, although its predecessor, Happyland, operated at Hastings Park from 1929 to 1957. Playland was formally made a division of the PNE in 1993.

The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is an oceanfront amusement park in Santa Cruz, California. Founded in 1907, it is California's oldest surviving amusement park and one of the few seaside parks on the West Coast of the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tilt-A-Whirl</span> Amusement park ride

Tilt-A-Whirl is a flat ride similar to the Waltzer in Europe, designed for commercial use at amusement parks, fairs, and carnivals, in which it is commonly found. The rides are manufactured by Larson International of Plainview, Texas.

Castles N' Coasters is an amusement park and family amusement center located in Phoenix, Arizona. The approximately 14-acre (57,000 m2) park features four outdoor 18-hole miniature golf courses, several rides, and an indoor video game arcade. The park was built in 1976, and is designed in a Middle-Eastern motif though other eras are featured such as the Wild West-themed miniature golf course and log flume ride.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michigan's Adventure</span> Amusement park in Muskegon, Michigan

Michigan's Adventure is a 250-acre (1.0 km2) amusement park in Muskegon County, Michigan, about halfway between Muskegon and Whitehall. It is the largest amusement park in the state and has been owned and operated by Cedar Fair since 2001. As of 2022, Michigan's Adventure has 37 rides, more than any other park in the state.

A family entertainment center, often abbreviated FEC in the entertainment industry, also known as an indoor amusement park, family amusement center, family fun center, soft play, or simply fun center, is a small amusement park marketed towards families with small children to teenagers, often entirely indoors. They usually cater to "sub-regional markets of larger metropolitan areas." FECs are generally small compared to full-scale amusement parks, with fewer attractions, a lower per-person per-hour cost to consumers than a traditional amusement park, and not usually major tourist attractions, but sustained by an area customer base. Many are locally owned and operated, although there are a number of chains and franchises in the field. Some, operated by non-profit organizations as children's museums or science museums, tend to be geared toward edutainment experiences rather than simply amusement.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bullwinkle's Restaurant</span> American family entertainment center chain

Bullwinkle's Entertainment, previously known as Family Fun Centers & Bullwinkle's Restaurant and formerly Bullwinkle's Family Food n' Fun is a chain of family entertainment centers. Locations feature a sit-down restaurant, complemented by arcade games, go-karts, bumper boats, mini golf, laser tag, a ropes course, a zip line, and small rides for children. Games and activities are generally themed around the company's namesake, The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Camden Park (amusement park)</span> Amusement park near Huntington, West Virginia

Camden Park is a twenty-six acre amusement park located near Huntington, West Virginia. Established in 1903 as a picnic spot by the Camden Interstate Railway Company, it is one of only thirteen trolley parks that remain open in the United States. Whereas most trolley parks were located at the end of trolley lines, Camden Park is unusual in that it was built where riders traveling between Huntington and nearby cities would stop to change lines. Not long after opening, the park soon gained a carousel and other roadside attractions. Camden Park is West Virginia's only amusement park. The park is home to more than thirty rides and attractions, including a full-size traditional wooden roller coaster, the Big Dipper, and several other vintage rides.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adventuredome</span> Indoor amusement park at Circus Circus in Winchester, Nevada

Adventuredome is a 5-acre (2.0 ha) indoor amusement park at Circus Circus in Winchester, Nevada on the Las Vegas Strip. It is owned by Phil Ruffin. It is contained within a large glass dome, and offers various rides and attractions including the Canyon Blaster and El Loco roller coasters, a rock climbing wall, an 18-hole miniature golf course, a video game arcade, and carnival-type games. Because the park is enclosed, it is unaffected by weather, unlike most theme parks, and is open year-round. Every October from 2003 until 2017, the Adventuredome was turned into the Halloween-themed Fright Dome.

Castle Park, formerly Castle Amusement Park, is a 25-acre amusement park and family amusement center located in Riverside, California. The park utilizes a medieval "castle" theme and includes attractions such as a miniature golf course, arcade, and 22 amusement rides including two roller coasters such as Merlin's Revenge, a junior rollercoaster, and Screamin' Demon, a spinning Wild Mouse rollercoaster. The main "castle" themed building, houses the arcade as well as its only dark ride, "Ghost Blasters", an interactive attraction, designed by Sally Corporation, which can also be found at other amusement parks throughout North America. The park was designed, built and operated by Bud Hurlbut, who designed several rides at Knott's Berry Farm. Castle Park is currently owned and operated by Palace Entertainment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adventure Island (amusement park)</span> Amusement park in England

Adventure Island is a theme park in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, England. The site of the theme park flanks the north end of Southend Pier and has been a theme park since 1976 when the land now forming the west side of the park was purchased by the Miller family. The park used to be known as Peter Pan’s Playground and later Peter Pan’s Adventure Island before becoming Adventure Island. The site is owned and managed by Stockvale Limited. The park contains thirty six rides, retail outlets, and numerous catering outlets.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adventureland (New York)</span> Amusement park in East Farmingdale, New York, U.S.

Adventureland is an amusement park in East Farmingdale, New York, located on Route 110. Adventureland has been Long Island's main amusement park since 1962. There are a total of twenty eight rides, two of which are roller coasters and three are water rides. Adventureland is opened seasonally: weekends in March, April, May, September and October and all days in the summer. Alvin Cohen and Herb Budin bought seven acres of property in 1962 and opened a restaurant, an arcade and mini golf. Along with the building, there were four rides brought to Long Island for entertainment. The original four rides were the Carousel, the Iron Horse train, Little Dipper Coaster, and boats. Willy Miller bought Adventureland from Alvin Cohen on September 15, 1977. Throughout the years, Willy Miller brought in new rides and expanded Adventureland's activities. In 1987, the park was sold to Tony Gentile and Peter Amoruso. In 1991, they began to add water rides to Adventureland. Adventureland celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2012 and 60th anniversary in 2022. The park is a popular attraction for children, schools and day camps on Long Island.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adventure Landing</span> Group of amusement parks in the United States

Adventure Landing is a group of amusement parks located in Florida, New York, North Carolina and Texas. The first park was opened in Jacksonville Beach, Florida in 1995 by Adventure Entertainment Company. It was a success and nine other Adventure Landing parks were constructed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Luna Park (Coney Island, 2010)</span> Amusement park in Coney Island, Brooklyn, New York

Luna Park is an amusement park in Coney Island, Brooklyn, New York City. It opened on May 29, 2010, at the site of Astroland, an amusement park that had been in operation from 1962 to 2008, and Dreamland, which operated at the same site for the 2009 season. It was named after the original 1903 Luna Park which operated until 1944 on a site just north of the current park's 1000 Surf Avenue location.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fun Spot America Theme Parks</span> Amusement park in Orlando, Florida

Fun Spot America Theme Parks is a group of amusement parks. Since 1979, the group has owned and operated a number of small amusement parks over the years and currently has three locations in Orlando, Florida, Kissimmee, Florida, and Fayetteville, Georgia.

Hydro Adventures was an amusement park, waterpark and family entertainment center located in Poplar Bluff, Missouri, and owned by national amusement park operator, United Parks. Hydro Adventures' Water Park operated from May through September, and the Dry Park was open year-round. According to the website, the park consisted of 7 water attractions and 8 dry attractions of varying “thrill levels.” Hydro Adventures was unable to open for the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and was soon put up for sale.

Tinkertown Family Fun Park is an amusement park located in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. It is a seasonal amusement park, only being open in the summer.

References

  1. Yau, Pamela J. (2023-10-10). "Castle Fun Park's Beloved Underwater Mini-Golf Course Reopens". 604 Now. Retrieved 2023-11-10.
  2. "Hank Wiebe". The Abbotsford News. Retrieved 2023-11-09.
  3. 1 2 Gill, Meagan (2017-03-30). "The History Of Abbotsford's Magical Castle Fun Park". 604 Now. Retrieved 2023-11-09.
  4. 1 2 "VIDEO: Abbotsford's Castle Fun Park begins rebuilding after flooding". The Chilliwack Progress. 2022-01-28. Retrieved 2023-11-10.
  5. 1 2 "Abbotsford's Castle Fun Park reopens after flood damage repaired". British Columbia. 2022-07-02. Retrieved 2023-11-09.
  6. "Owners of Abbotsford's Castle Fun Park find a funny side to recent flooding". Vancouver Is Awesome. 2021-11-21. Retrieved 2023-11-09.
  7. "Abbotsford's Castle Fun Park announces possible reopening by summer (VIDEO)". Vancouver Is Awesome. 2022-02-01. Retrieved 2023-11-09.
  8. "Castle Fun Park in Abbotsford reopens after 2021 floods | CityNews Vancouver". vancouver.citynews.ca. Retrieved 2023-11-09.
  9. 1 2 3 "Attractions | Castle Fun Park - Abbotsford, BC Canada". Castle Fun Park. Retrieved 2023-11-09.
  10. 1 2 "Abbotsford's Castle Fun Park re-opens mini-golf course". The Chilliwack Progress. 2023-10-03. Retrieved 2023-11-10.
  11. "Abbotsford's Castle Fun Park announces new Secret Garden mini-golf course". The Abbotsford News. 2023-02-08. Retrieved 2023-11-10.

49°02′21″N122°13′24″W / 49.03917°N 122.22333°W / 49.03917; -122.22333