Niagara Amusement Park & Splash World

History

Fantasy Island, Inc. (1961–1981)

Fantasy Island was founded by real estate developer Lawrence Grant, and opened on July 1, 1961. It was planned by co-financier and local jeweler Gerald Birzon, with buildings designed by Milton Milstein & Associates. The ownership group was formed under the name Fantasy Land, Inc. before changing soon after to Fantasy Island, Inc. The group had originally planned to call the park Fantasy Land, but changed the name for legal reasons after discovering there was an area of Disneyland called Fantasyland.

Upon opening, the park occupied only 12 acre of land that was divided into five themed areas: Action Town, Animal Kingdom, Garden of Fables, Indian Village and Western Town. Action Town featured amusement rides, Animal Kingdom featured a petting zoo, Garden of Fables featured explorable recreations of fairy tale scenes, Indian Village featured Native American dancers, and Western Town featured a live Wild West show.

To promote the park, WGRz aired a live weekly television program on Saturday mornings from 1961 to 1962 titled Fantasy Island Show, featuring the park's characters and puppeteers performing for an all-children live studio audience. The show's host and protagonist was Buckskin Joe, portrayed by park general manager Clyde "Buddy" Farnan.

A 2,500-seat outdoor arena was constructed in 1965 for French lion tamer Jean "Tarzan" Zerbini's circus. Actor Jim Carrey grew up in nearby Ontario and would vacation at Fantasy Island, citing Zerbini's show as a fond memory.

The park was expanded to 85 acre in 1974 to make room for more thrilling rides and to broaden the park's appeal.

Citing the 1979 oil crisis and rising cost of gasoline, the park reported a 62% drop in profits during the 1979 season. The park was put up for sale that same year.

After dwindling attendance stemming from Western New York's Rust Belt economic decline, Fantasy Island, Inc. declared bankruptcy and the park did not operate for the 1982 season.

Charles R. Wood Enterprises (1982–1989)

The park was acquired out of bankruptcy in November 1982 by Charles R. Wood Enterprises, headed by Charles Wood, founder of Six Flags Great Escape and Hurricane Harbor in Queensbury, New York.

A water park called Water World was added in 1984. Wood also installed an 800-seat picnic pavilion that was previously used at the 1982 World's Fair.

Arto Monaco was commissioned to redesign Garden of Fables, constructing a castle with a moat that was encircled by a horse-drawn carriage he had previously built for Land of Makebelieve.

International Broadcasting Corporation (1989–1992)

Wood sold the park to International Broadcasting Corporation (IBC) in April 1989 for $36 million. As part of the deal, Wood would remain the chief executive officer of the park, and his son-in-law, Tom Wages, was retained as general manager.

Following the 1989 closure of nearby Crystal Beach Park, that park's famed The Comet roller coaster was purchased by Charles Wood at auction in October 1989 for $210,000, disassembled, and stored indefinitely at Fantasy Island.

In June 1990, Michael Murach was paralyzed from the head down while performing a high diving act at the park when he slipped on a diving board during a comedy act and fell 20 feet (6 m), hitting his head on the edge of the concrete pool. Years later, Murach was awarded damages of $58.6 million after a jury found International Broadcasting Corporation 100% liable for his injury. The end of the diving board was not installed at a proper distance away from the edge of the pool to prevent such an incident from occurring.

In August 1991, 14-year-old Kenneth Margerum fell 60 ft to his death from the park's Ferris wheel after his seat dropped from its axle. It was revealed that the park operators routinely removed one or two seats from the ride each day to prevent the ride from moving around in high winds during off-hours. Each time the ride opened, the seats were bolted back onto the frame of the ride. Investigators found that only one side of the victim's seat had been bolted properly, causing Margerum's seat to drop from its axle, subsequently leading to his death.

Charles R. Wood Enterprises (1992–1994)

Charles Wood reacquired the park in October 1992 for $14 million when International Broadcasting Corporation went bankrupt. In his second stint of ownership, Wood changed the park's name to Two Flags Over Niagara Fun Park.

Martin's Shows (1994–2016)

Martin DiPietro, owner of Martin's Shows, purchased the park and renamed it Martin's Fantasy Island in January 1994. Charles Wood took the stored The Comet roller coaster and reassembled it at Six Flags Great Escape and Hurricane Harbor later that year. DiPietro would install his own roller coaster named Silver Comet in 1999, inspired by the original.

Store Capital (2016–2021)

Apex Parks Group

Martin DiPietro sold the park's land to Store Capital in May 2016, and Apex Parks Group began leasing the property from Store Capital that same month. The park returned to its original name of Fantasy Island.

Reports surfaced in 2018 and 2019 that the general condition of the park had deteriorated, with many attractions not operational due to mechanical failure and understaffing.

On February 19, 2020, following reports that Apex Parks Group had put the park's rides up for sale, the company confirmed that the park had permanently closed. A settlement was reached with the Attorney General's office to refund customers that had purchased 2020 season passes.

IB Parks & Entertainment (2021–present)

Gene Staples, owner of IB Parks & Entertainment, entered a long-term agreement to lease the property from Store Capital in May 2021. Staples also owns and operates Clementon Park and Splash World and Indiana Beach. The park was renamed Niagara Amusement Park & Splash World, and reopened in August 2021. The 2021 season featured only the water park, as rides were refurbished and reinstalled in the dry park. The full park reopened for the 2022 season.

Rides and attractions

Roller coasters

Flat rides

Water park attractions

Unopened attractions

Niagara Amusement Park & Splash World owns a large collection of attractions that are in varying states of construction or storage. Listed below are rides that have not been opened to the public since the park reopened. The reopening timeline for all rides listed is vague and unclear. The Comet, a kiddie coaster named Miner Mike, and a drop tower named Strike-U-Up were briefly in storage at the park as well, but have since been removed and were never constructed.

Former rides and attractions

Many of the park's rides were sold by Apex Parks Group following the closure of the park in 2019.

Former roller coasters

Former flat rides

Former water park attractions

References

References

1. "Niagara Amusement Park and Splash World".
2. "IB Parks & Entertainment Official Website".
3. Futrell, Jim. (March 2, 2006). "Amusement Parks of New York". Stackpole Books.
4. Hirsch, Rose Ann. (March 2, 2011). "Western New York Amusement Parks". Arcadia Publishing.
5. (July 8, 2011). "Theme park to mark 50th year; Fantasy Island plans Saturday celebration".
6. (March 2, 2020). "Fantasy Island reunion: 'Western Town' alumni reunite". [[WGRZ]].
7. (22 August 2018). "The Golden Age of Kids' TV in Buffalo – Buffalo Stories Archives & Blog".
8. Hirsch, Rose Ann. (March 2, 2011). "Western New York Amusement Parks". Arcadia Publishing.
9. Futrell, Jim. (March 2, 2006). "Amusement Parks of New York". Stackpole Books.
10. Liu, Qina. (February 19, 2020). "From Jim Carrey to Wild West Shootouts: Twitter reacts to Fantasy Island closing".
11. Futrell, Jim. (March 2, 2006). "Amusement Parks of New York". Stackpole Books.
12. (February 1, 1980). "Amusement Business 1980-03-01: Vol 92 Iss 9 : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive".
13. (September 20, 1980). "Amusement Business 1980-09-20: Vol 92 Iss 38 : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive".
14. "Youngsters need those summer jobs".
15. Hirsch, R.A.. (2011). "Western New York Amusement Parks". Arcadia Publishing Incorporated.
16. Futrell, Jim. (March 2, 2006). "Amusement Parks of New York". Stackpole Books.
17. "International Broadcasting v. Turner, 734 F. Supp. 383 | Casetext".
18. (October 18, 1989). "The Comet Is Going, Going... But Might Not Be Gone – $210,000 Sale May Bring It to Fantasy Island".
19. (December 3, 2003). "Paralyzed Ex-Diver Awarded $58.6 Million".
20. "Boy Killed in Fall from Ferris Wheel".
21. (January 17, 1994). "Area Firm Buys Two Flags Over Niagara Grand Island Amusement Complex To Be Renamed 'Martins Fantasy Island'".
22. Hirsch, Rose Ann. (March 2, 2011). "Western New York Amusement Parks". Arcadia Publishing.
23. (August 10, 2013). "Silver Comet keeps thrill alive for fans of the Crystal Beach roller coaster".
24. Fink, James. (May 14, 2016). "Fantasy Island bought by California company". American City Business Journals.
25. "Real Property Information".
26. "Complaints and petition signatures grow over Fantasy Island".
27. (16 July 2019). "Season pass holders complain about conditions at Fantasy Island".
28. (February 19, 2020). "Multiple reports say Fantasy Island rides are being sold".
29. (February 19, 2020). "Fantasy Island confirms it has closed".
30. (7 April 2020). "Fantasy Island to refund customers for 2020 season".
31. Christmann, Samantha. (2 July 2021). "Q&A: Gene Staples, new owner of Fantasy Island, 'fell in love with' the park".
32. Keefe, Karen Carr. "Lifeguards training, water's running at Splash World". Niagara Frontier Publications.
33. (2022-03-11). "Niagara Amusement Park and Splash World shares progress on rides".
34. Marden, Duane. "Niagara Amusement Park & Splash World (Grand Island, New York, United States)".
35. Bobby. (16 June 2017). "Remember the Laser Loop?".
36. (October 13, 2019). "Amusement park to shut down after accident". [[El Universal (Mexico City).
37. (September 2, 2020). "Kennywood Park's former Laser Loop for sale in Mexico City".
38. (April 11, 2021). "What's new at Indiana Beach? Off Season Construction Update! April 10, 2021". Thrill Ridez.
39. Pastrick, Chris. (February 10, 2022). "Kennywood's Laser Loop returns to U.S. — at New York amusement park".
40. Nick. (February 9, 2022). "Former Kennywood Coaster Coming to Niagara Amusement Park".
41. (2024-02-08). "Fans of Niagara Amusement Park & Splash World 🎢".
42. "Pendulum At Six Flags Great Adventure".
43. (May 28, 2024). "Enjoy this Time Lapse Video of the NEW Midway Mayhem being erected!...".
44. "86'd Rides vol 2: Hell Hole | The DoD3". domainofdeath3.com.
45. Rides, Technical Park Amusement. (December 20, 2018). "LOOP FIGHTER".
46. Streeter, Harold. (June 28, 1962). "New Rides Show Imagination". News-Press.