Here's how to score the best deals on tickets, plus all the free promotions you won't want to miss. 1971 - 1973A clown lets a youngster ride a wild tricycle, 1971. San Antonio Zoo will honor and maintain Kiddie Park . 1968 - 2005A rider gets splashed on AstroWorld's Bamoo Shoot Ride on June 1, 1973. Whether youre shopping Way Day 2023 or Walmart, theres an al fresco set for you. There was also an adjacent water park. Sunshine was open in the 1980s and had a rollercoaster and other rides. 1984 - 1988After years of vandalism and arson, Magic Landing was razed to the ground. 5223 David Edwards San Antonio, TX 78233; 210-495-5888; 210-637-3486; Park Information. Save on AeroGarden indoor herb growing kits at Amazon, Dyson's air purifying headphones have finally arrived, Preorder 'The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom' today, Astros vs Phillies: How to get tickets and free swag this weekend, There are a ton of great patio furniture sets on sale right now, Heat and humidity head to Houston as summer approaches, Why this scenic train ride is considered one of Colorado's best. 1951 - 1996Nowadays, the once-famed resort is an environmental education center, the Meadows Center for Water and the Environment. All rights reserved, Southwest Rising at the Briscoe Western Art Museum, Still Brewing Art at the San Antonio Museum of Art. The remains of Funtown USA are fading into the past, its go-karts and arcade games long gone. Funtown it reads in block letters and a fun town it was. This page is not available in other languages. 1951 - 1996And who can forget Ralph the Famous Swimming Pig and his notorious "swine dive.". 5223 David Edwards, San Antonio, TX 78233; Sunday April 30. No trip to Kiddie Park is complete without having a face painted with your childs favorite things! So many locals' greatest memories were at Playland Park. Kiddie Park's iconic Herschell-Spillman Co. carousel was built in 1918, a good seven years before the park opened. Receive the latest news and updates, directly to your inbox! Plan Your Visit; Tickets; Map; Calendar; FAQs; Park Policies; https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Playland_Park_(San_Antonio,_Texas)&oldid=1114381833, This page was last edited on 6 October 2022, at 06:29. The coaster came down while his arm was stretched across the track and cut it off. Over on the Westside, you used to be able to find Funtown USA, which offered go-karts and arcade fixtures. Generator vs power station: Which one is right for you? (This photo was captured after the park closed. New MTB trails anticipated July 1. mid-1980s to mid-1990s A small but beloved theme park off FM 1960, Games People Play featured three water slides, a batting cage, arcade and a miniature golf course. We just had such a great time, he said. When it celebrated its grand opening on April 10, 2010, Morgan's Wonderland became the world's first theme park designed with individuals with special needs in mind and built for everyone's enjoyment. Attractions / 1951 - 1996Nowadays, the once-famed resort is an environmental education center, the Meadows Center for Water and the Environment. Some Houstonians share their earliest memories of Playland Park, here. The former Pear Apple County Fair, a staple of the 1990s, is now the home of a church. Today, the location is a campus of the Alamo Colleges District and no trace remains of the original park. 1940 to mid-1980sPlayland Park was Texas' first amusement park. On April 10, 2010, Morgans Wonderland became the worlds first theme park designed with individuals with special needs in mind. Scott came to the Express-News from the San Antonio Current, the Alamo City's alt-weekly publication, where she ran online and social programming. Even people who weren't here or weren't alive to experience it will tell you they get the sinking feeling they missed out. After a day of exploring and adventuring in the Alamo City, take comfort in knowing you have a great place to stay in our remarkable San Antonio hotels, resorts, B&Bs and more. Adults can join in on the fun and ride free with their child on the Carousel and the Flying Saucers. A longtime resident of the area, Patricia Herrera, visited Funtown with her family often and remembers it with fondness. Five years later, the Rocket was dismantled and resurrected as the Phoenix at Knoebels Amusement Park in Pennsylvania. 2023 Summer Camps Magic Camp : Ninja Camps Ninja Camp June 13th, 15th, and 16th : Ninja Camp June 20th, 22nd, and 23rd : Ninja Camp June 27th, 29th, and 30th . 1971 - 1973A clown lets a youngster ride a wild tricycle, 1971. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate. . Generator vs power station: Which one is right for you? One (1) unlimited rides wristband | $14 Value More by Shari Biediger, Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window). I remember when they were building it, and we were so curious about what it was going to be, said Grace Alingod, who lived nearby growing up. View Details Kiddie Park Private Party Patricia Herrera, a lifelong resident of the Thompson neighborhood where Funtown is located, said she enjoyed the park as a teenager and later took her young nieces and nephews there. 5223 David Edwards San Antonio, TX 78233; . 1940 to mid-1980sPlayland Park was Texas' first amusement park. He later took his nieces and nephews. Facebook-f Twitter Instagram Youtube. 1913 - 1967With ships frequently hitting the bridge, access became limited. STAY COOL TEXAS: Top 21 Texas water parks. 2023 Visit San Antonio. May 26- Mountain opens for Scenic Lift Rides, Ziptour, and Horseback Riding. 1971 - 1973A clown lets a youngster ride a wild tricycle, 1971. Visit our park to experience accessible rides. It was established in 1925 and a lot of the rides are original but, of course, refurbished. (This photo was captured after the park closed. Enjoy the South Texas sunshine and when youre ready, cool down with even cooler indoor experiences including non-stop fun at attractions throughout the city! Contact Us. 1971 - 1973Located next to the Anheuser-Busch brewery, Busch Gardens was a 40-acre theme park with hundreds of exotic, tropical birds from Asian and South America plus a domed ice cave featuring sea lions, polar bears and penguins in an arctic environment. 1965 - 1990Before we had Sea World, Texans spent summer vacations visiting Sea-Arama Marineworld in Galveston. 1913 - 1967With ships frequently hitting the bridge, access became limited. Bexars Eye: Fort Sam Soldiers Practice Mindfulness in Resiliency Kitchen, Bexars Eye: Southsider Finds a Home Among the Birds at Mitchell Lake, Proudly powered by Newspack by Automattic. City elections are underway in San Antonio and were keeping you up-to-date with comprehensive coverage of key council races and the battle over Prop A. In 2019, the county tax assessor appraised the property at $156,450. While we as a city love to see new things and businesses pop up around town, there is a lot weve said goodbye to. Book your child's next birthday party or celebration at Kiddie Park, America's oldest children's amusement park. 12 awesome things you can do in S.A. that you couldn't do last summer. And for. And rides were not safe. Originally located in Houston, the predecessor to AstroWorld, it moved to San Antonio in the 1960s. Playland Park opened in 1943 and was owned by Jimmy Johnson. 1984 - 1985There were also swan pedal boats. 1984 - 1985The theme park was based on the worlds of the Hanna-Barbera cartoons like "The Flinstones," "Yogi Bear" and "Scooby-Doo.". Contact Us. Name . 1984 - 1985The theme park was based on the worlds of the Hanna-Barbera cartoons like "The Flinstones," "Yogi Bear" and "Scooby-Doo.". Some parks suffered tragic accidents and weren't able to recover. It had bumper cars and paddle boats, a swinging pirate ship and Ferris wheel, and a fateful roller coaster called the Wildcat. Felicia Flores also remembered going to the Funtown batting cages with her baseball and softball teams. Thanks to all that make this park possible, our children deserve all inclusion!!". Playland, at North Alamo Street where the Alamo Colleges headquarters now sits, was open from 1943 to 1980. 1913 - 1967Pleasure Pier began with a dance hall and roller coaster. Owner Louis Slusky also owned and operated the miniature train at the Hermann. At least a few generations of Texans got to experience the San Antonio favorite, which opened in 1985. 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There was also a version in San Antonio. Shari Biediger is the development beat reporter for the San Antonio Report. One (1) Carousel Ride | $3 Value The list just keeps on going! 1942. 1984 - 1988After the death of an employee, the park could not afford the insurance to stay in business. The go-karts were fast because the track was so small compared to the North Sides Malibu Castle, and the price to ride was cheap, he said. Playland Park was an amusement park formerly located at 2222 North Alamo in San Antonio, Texas. Holidays Spring Summer Fall Summertime Events 1965 - 1990Sea-Arama was one of the first ocean-themed parks in the world, according to the site: Remembering Sea Arama Marineworld. Herrera is a past president of the Thompson Neighborhood Association (TNA) and said she could envision an amusement park there again now that the area is growing again, with new homes and schools being built. The precursor to AstroWorld, Playland Park had a tilt-a-whirl, loop-de-loop and "rollie" coaster. Sunshine Amusement Park San Antonio: 1980s (c.) Vickery Park Dallas: 1940s-1976 Wet 'n Wild: Garland: White Water Grand Prairie: 1982-1986 Zero Gravity Amusement Park: Dallas: 1992-2021 Utah. EDWARD A. ORNELAS/SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS. The historic River Walk winds almost three miles through the heart of San Antonio. Choice of one (1) hot dog or one (1) popcorn & one (1) 16 oz. Sunshine Park 2834 Roosevelt Avenue . In 2006, Gordon Hartman observed his daughter, Morgan, wanting to play with other vacationing kids at a hotel swimming pool, but the kids were leery of Morgan and didnt want to interact with her. Pear Apple County Fair, on Loop 410 near Bandera and Ingram roads, opened in 1993 and closed in 1997. Situated at the headwaters of San Marcos River, Aquarena Springs was a popular resort featuring a sky ride, submarine theater and glass-bottom boat tours with program of swimming performances. Ed Gaida, who lived at Playland Park and had access to records and archives, wrote a book about the park and Johnson.[1]. Catch a glimpse of San Antonio from above while riding the Whirling Wonder ferris wheel. Playland Park was in fact Texas' first amusement park. 1951 - 1996"Mermaids" put on shows that could be seen from an underwater submarine theater. Guided by its mission of inclusion, the park strives to bring together guests of all ages and all abilitiesthrough the power of inclusive play. As there were no blueprints to work with, each individual board was numbered and cataloged on site. mid-1940s to 1980Located on N. Alamo off Broadway, the site of Playland Park is a12.5 acrevacant lot. Sunshine Park, located at Roosevelt and Southcross, is one of various childrens amusement parks that have come and gone in San Antonio in the years leading up to the opening of Six Flags Fiesta Texas in 1992. Amusement Parks in San Antonio. But memories of the go-karts stand out for most. Neighborhoods / 5 farmhouses to book for an agritourism getaway, Preorder 'The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom' today. It closed within two years. Adults can join in on the fun and ride free with their child on the Carousel and the Flying Saucers. All Day Park Hours: 11am - 5pm Search Roller Coasters Amusement Parks Companies People. A ballroom, Olympic-size swimming pool and 18-hole golf course followed. It's one of the most popular amusement parks in Texas, and with good reason. REMEMBER WHEN: Texas destinations that kids and teens loved but no longer exist. Party packages start at just $200 and includes a two-hour time block at Kiddie Park, unlimited rides for you and your party members, and a special gift for your child! It closed within two years. 1971 - 1973 A park visitor slides down after climbing the thatched tree-house at Houston's Busch Gardens. San Antonians of a certain generation had Playland Park and the Rocket roller coaster, which was actually the first "rollie" in Texas erected in the 1940s. It was located at South Main between Murworth and Westridge. mid-1970s to 2004Until it was demolished in 2012, Castle Golf and Games was located off Loop 610 near U.S. 290. 4522 Fredericksburg Rd, 78201 It had bumper cars and paddle boats, a swinging pirate ship and Ferris wheel, and a fateful roller coaster called the Wildcat. The world's largest marine life adventure park and family entertainment showplace presents a splashy lineup of more than 26 shows, thrilling rides, an, Don't see the business you're looking for? San Antonio, Texas, United States. "Great place for everyone!! Nonetheless, people continue to hold these places deep in their nostalgic hearts, and memorial sites are all around from the Facebook group We Miss Games People Play to the blogsMagic Landing In Memoriam and Remembering Sea-Arama. A food and drink scene bursting with flavor and fun. We are more than just a theme park! We are more than just a theme park! When he is not busy planning the theme park, Slusky is a full-time cardiologist. Things to do in Seabrook: A guide to Washington's cozy Des Linden unveils new book, shares race day must-haves. More than 100 years ago, San Antonios very own Samuel Weiss opened the Electric Park Company across the street from San Pedro Spring Park. Real Estate / This is a carousel. 1965 - 1990Sea-Arama was one of the first ocean-themed parks in the world, according to the site: Remembering Sea Arama Marineworld. Here are some amusement parks and attractions that San Antonio was able to enjoy before they were eventually closed. Playland Park was in fact Texas' first amusement park. Create a bonsai tree out of bricks with this $40 LEGO set, Dyson's air purifying headphones have finally arrived, Save on AeroGarden indoor herb growing kits at Amazon.