Cliff's Amusement Park

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Cliff's Amusement Park
Previously known as
Uncle Cliff's Kiddieland (1959–1963)
Uncle Cliff's Amusement Park (1963–1991)
Cliff's Amusement Park logo.svg
Cliff's Amusement Park entrance gate.jpg
Location4800 Osuna Road NE, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Coordinates 35°08′42″N106°35′22″W / 35.14494°N 106.58938°W / 35.14494; -106.58938
StatusOperating
Opened1959
Operating seasonMay through September
Area15 acres (6.1 ha)
Attractions
Total25
Roller coasters3
Water rides4
Website www.cliffsamusementpark.com
Cliffs Amusement Park Cliffs Amusement Park, Albuquerque NM.jpg
Cliffs Amusement Park

Cliff's Amusement Park (previously known as Uncle Cliff's Amusement Park prior to 1991) is a combination amusement park and water park in Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States. [1] It opened in 1959 by Cliff and Zella Hammond. It features 24 rides for all ages, food, and carnival style games. It also features a water attraction, WaterMania!, which operates Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. It also has the only wooden-hybrid roller coaster in New Mexico, the final coaster designed by Custom Coasters International, called the New Mexico Rattler.

Contents


Early beginnings (1959–1962)

Cliff and Zella built a small kiddie park located at 7600 Lomas Blvd in 1959 and named it Uncle Cliff’s Kiddieland. After a few years at this location, the neighbors started a petition to have the park shut down. They relocated for a very short time to Little Beavertown in Tijeras Canyon outside Albuquerque.[ citation needed ]

Evolution (1963 – present)

In 1963, Cliff's relocated to its present location at 4800 Osuna Rd. NE. At that time it was on the very outskirts of Albuquerque. As bigger attractions were being built the company wanted to take the emphasis from the word "Kiddie" and dropped it and renamed the park Cliff's Amusement Park.

Rides

Roller coasters

ImageNameOpenedManufacturerDescription
Galaxi
1977
S.D.C. A Galaxi roller coaster model.
Uncle Cliff's Roller Coaster.jpg New Mexico Rattler
2002
Custom Coasters International, Cliff's Amusement ParkA wooden roller coaster with an out-and-back layout.
Spin-O-Rama
2016
SBF Visa Group A figure eight roller coaster with spinning cars that opened in May 2016.

Water rides

NameManufacturerDescription
The Big Flush WhiteWater West A 2-person raft slide.
Mega Water MonkeysWhite Water WestRF-5 Water Play Element
Lil SquirtsIn houseA splash pad.
Rocky Mountain Rapids OD Hopkins A log flume ride.

Thrill rides

NameOpenedManufacturerDescription
Air Race
2025
ZamperlaA Air Race ride
Downdraft
2019
DartronA downdraft ride.
Cliff Hanger
2005
ARM Rides and Larson InternationalA 120-foot tall drop tower.
Musik Express
2005
Mack Rides A Music Express ride
Fireball
2013
Larson InternationalA Fire Ball ride
Wind Rider
2012
ARM RidesA 115 foot tall swing ride
SideWinder
2007
Moser's Rides A sidewinder ride
Falling Star
2005
Chance Rides A falling star ride

Family rides

NameOpenedManufacturerDescription
Demolition Disco
1970
Soli of ItalyA classic bumper cars ride
Train
1975
Chance Rides A train ride
Carousel
1970
Chance Rides A carousel ride
Tilt-A-Whirl
1980
Sellner ManufacturingA tilt-a-whirl ride
Sea Dragon
1999
Chance Rides A Pirate ship ride

Kiddy rides

NameOpenedManufacturerDescription
Kiddy Bumper Cars
1980
Soli of ItalyA children's bumper cars ride
Happy Swing
2012
Zamperla A Happy Swing ride
Doggie-Go-Round
2012
SBF Visa Group A Puppy Go Round ride
Drop N Twist
2023
SBF Visa Group Mini Drop Tower

Former Rides

NameOpenedClosedManufacturerDescription
Rock-O-Plane
2012
Everly Airplane Co.Replaced by Fireball
Yo-Yo
2006
Chance RidesReplaced by SideWinder
ParatrooperFrank Hrubetz & Co.Tilt-a-Whirl moved to its former spot.
The Balloon Wheel
1999
2024
SatoriReplaced by Air Race
Scrambler
2011
Eli BridgeReplaced by Wind Rider

References

  1. Moffett, Kevin (November 2004). "Funworld: the business of writing about the business of roller coasters". The Believer. Retrieved August 11, 2014.