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An amusement park is a place that offers attractions in the form of rides, games, and shops that primarily aim to entertain visitors. The idea of amusement parks originated in Europe, and to this day, they continue to evolve and innovate to suit the tastes of the generation. One example is what is now called theme parks, which base their structures and attractions on a specific theme.
See the fact file below for more information on Amusement Parks, or you can download our 28-page Amusement Parks worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.
Key Facts & Information
Amusement Parks History
- An amusement park is a park that offers entertainment through its attractions in the form of rides, games, shops, exhibits, and even shows.
- It is believed that leisure parks first appeared in Europe even before the Renaissance era. However, these theme festivals (also called religious festivals or trade fairs) centered around religious holidays when people would gather to enjoy food and exotic wares from faraway places.
- If guests wanted to take a ride, they would sit in a basket and be spun around; this may be where what we know today as carousels originated.
- There were also games, such as hurling javelins which required hand-eye coordination.
- Knights showed off their horsemanship through jousting.
- As time went by, the demand for entertainment grew because of the rising number of middle-class people.
- This paved the way for the birth of pleasure gardens, which were initially developed from resort grounds by the owners of inns and taverns.
- In these pleasure gardens, visitors could stroll through designed and structured grounds, enjoy live music, and be entertained by acrobats, plays, jesters, and fireworks shows.
- The first popular pleasure gardens were Vauxhall Gardens in London which opened in 1661. They covered 12 acres or 5 hectares and offered free admission for music, acrobat acts, and fireworks.
- In the 1700s, news about the fun of pleasure gardens spread in America, which paved the way for the opening of pleasure gardens in New York.
- Rides were added to the earlier forms of entertainment.
- This was when the first carousel on the continent was made and became popular.
- Because of this, the demand for more rides grew.
- In the late 1800s, these pleasure gardens also gave way to more thrill-seeking entertainment.
- Rocky Point, in Warwick, Rhode Island, became the countryβs first amusement park where beer was the most popular refreshment. Because of this, it was also called a beer garden.
- Small parks with minor rides, picnic areas, and games started to be built. The amusement area which became the most popular was Coney Island. This allowed families around Coney Island to relax at the seaside in the summer after a long week of school or work.
- In 1884, the Switchback Gravity Pleasure, which became the first rollercoaster, was invented by LaMarcus A. Thompson.
- The first rollercoaster had a speed of six miles per hour and was 50 feet high. This was already a thrilling ride for those who experienced it.
- The first amusement parks were a success, and a century after, hundreds of amusement parks were built across the country.
- In 1944, Arthur Fritz started a chain of parks called Kiddieland, and many other parks of the same kind followed.
- Eventually, Disneyland rose to be the nationβs first large park centered around a specific theme in 1950.
- Parks that followed a certain theme started to be called theme parks. Because of this brilliant and enticing idea, they made a fortune.
- Since then, theme parks have continuously developed attractions, specifically rides, that are out of the ordinary and thrilling.
- Rollercoasters, for example, have become more thrilling, with extraordinary twists and loops that make riders scream in excitement.
AMUSEMENT PARK COMMON ATTRACTIONS
- Amusement parks are regarded as entertaining places because of the various attractions and activities they offer.
- First, they typically offer food kiosks or small food stores that sell delicious dishes that evoke childhood memories. The famous treats that amusement parks normally sell are cotton candy, ice cream, churros, and milkshakes.
- They also sell hotdogs, corn dogs, popcorn, chips, and burgers.
- This shows that amusement parks are good places to eat.
- Second, amusement parks have spectacular exhibits, especially those that are centered on themes.
- Amusement parks are not only known for their extreme rides. Nowadays, exhibits are another feature that attracts visitors.
- Amusement parks also have shows: musical shows, ballet shows, and even plays.
- In Busch Garden Williamsburg, a dance show called Celtic Fyre portrays Irish culture.
- Some amusement parks charge additional fees for shows.
- Lastly, amusement parks really reached their peak because of their thrilling rides.
- The first ride that became popular was the carousel, which had horses to ride on.
- While the carousel spins at a certain speed, they move up and down.
- A modern innovation of a carousel is known as the merry-go-round, which has the same mechanism but features other fictional characters on rides.
- Second is the ferris wheel which has become a landmark of many amusement parks all around the world.
- It was engineered by George Ferris for Worldβs Columbian Exposition fair organizers. The structure was intended to rival Franceβs Eiffel Tower.
- A ferris wheel is a ride that rotates like a wheel.
- Rollercoasters offer more adventure with steep inclines and descents. They are now adding more thrilling obstacles.
- Next are bumper cars, which are powered through an overhead grid in a large pen. The rider hops into the car and maneuvers it. The thrill comes from the cars slamming other cars into the pen.
- Log rides were inspired by loggers who transported felled trees to sawmills.
- The person rides in a hollowed log and travels the track created. Getting soaked is one of the things that makes this ride thrilling.
- Lastly, the scrambler is a really fast ride. It has a main arm that holds all the other little arms attached to the individual ride.
- All the arms rotate at a certain speed, and typically when the main arm is slow, the mini arms go faster.
- This makes the riders dizzy, and they feel the illusion that they are going to bump into another car or ride.
AMUSEMENT PARKS INTERESTING TRIVIA
- The worldβs oldest operating amusement park is Dyrehavsbakken which is commonly known as Bakken. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, it first opened in Denmark in 1583.
- It formerly attracted visitors because of its fresh spring water, which Copenhagen lacked at the time. It started as a pleasure garden but now has more vendors and entertaining attractions for visitors. It has 150 attractions and is the second-most popular tourist attraction in Denmark.
- The amusement park which offers the highest number of rides is Cedar Point, Amusement Park. It is located in Ohio, and is home to 72 different mechanical rides.
- It is also popular for its extreme kinds of rollercoaster which are Steel Vengeance and Millenium Force.
- Nowadays, Cedar Point offers a Gold Pass, which grants unlimited visits in 2022 and 2023, free parking, exclusive discounts, and special events for $125.
- The worldβs largest temporary amusement park is in Munich, Germany, as part of the celebration of Oktoberfest Beer Festival.
- It is held every year from the last week of September to the first week of October to honor Prince Ludwigβs marriage to Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen.
- It hosts 50 portable mechanical rides together with gallons of beer and beverages.
- The first chain of amusement parks was created by Frederick Ingersoll, an American inventor, designer, builder and entrepreneur. These parks were called Luna Parks.
- The highest rollercoaster in the world was in Las Vegas, and was built by helicopters. It was hosted by Stratosphere, the largest freestanding tower in the United States.
- The famous Disneyworld and Disneyland were inspired by Walt Disneyβs visits to various amusement parks with his daughters over 10 years.
- After hiring a consultant, Disney bought a 160-acre site near Anaheim in 1953. A year after, construction began, and in 1955, it started to operate and offer characters, rides and shows based on the creations of Walt Disney.
- There are five Disneyland Resort theme parks, and they offer unique attractions. They are found in California, Paris, Tokyo, Shanghai, and Hong Kong.
- Doritos, a famous chip, was invented at a Disneyland restaurant. They were created from tortillas as a way to prevent food waste by using unused tortillas.
Amusement Parks Worksheets
This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about Amusement Parks across 28 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use worksheets are perfect for teaching about Amusement Parks; an amusement park is a place that offers attractions in the form of rides, games, and shops that primarily aim to entertain visitors.
Complete List of Included Worksheets
Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.
- Amusement Parks
- Amusement Parks Fact Check
- Amusement Parks Info
- Trivia Section
- Men of Amusement Parks
- Amusement Park Rides
- Amusement Park Puzzle
- Trip to an Amusement Park
- Top Three Parks
- Ferris Wheel Lessons
- Amusement Park Plan
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an amusement park?
An amusement park is a recreational facility that features various rides, attractions, and entertainment options for visitors of all ages. These parks are designed to provide entertainment, excitement, and leisure activities, often centered around themes or unique concepts.
What types of attractions can be found in amusement parks?
Amusement parks offer a wide range of attractions, including roller coasters, water rides, carousels, Ferris wheels, spinning rides, haunted houses, live shows, arcades, and more. These attractions can be thrilling, family-oriented, or focused on immersive experiences, catering to different preferences and age groups.
What are some famous amusement parks around the world?
There are numerous famous amusement parks globally. A few examples include Disneyland and Universal Studios in the United States, Disneyland Paris in France, Tokyo Disneyland in Japan, Alton Towers in the United Kingdom, and Ocean Park in Hong Kong. Each of these parks offers its unique set of attractions and experiences.
What safety measures are in place at amusement parks?
Safety is a top priority at amusement parks. Parks adhere to strict safety regulations, including regular ride inspections, maintenance, and staff training. Rides are designed and operated following industry standards to minimize risks. Height and age restrictions are enforced for certain rides to ensure the safety of all visitors.
How do amusement parks create themed experiences?
Many amusement parks are known for their themed areas that transport visitors to different worlds or time periods. Themes can be based on popular movies, historical eras, fantasy worlds, or cultural concepts. They’re created through architecture, landscaping, rides, attractions, and even food offerings, aiming to provide an immersive and cohesive experience for visitors.
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Use With Any Curriculum
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