Worlds of Fun History 

Worlds of Fun is a traditional amusement park themed around Jules Verne's adventure book "Around the World in Eighty Days". The park offers its guests more than 100 rides and attractions, including six world-class roller coasters, thrill rides, and award-winning live entertainment.

Oceans of Fun is one of the largest water parks in the Midwest. The park offers a wide variety of attractions for guests of all ages, including Paradise Falls, a four-story interactive water extravaganza that features water cannons, water slides and a 1,000-gallon bucket that empties every five minutes on guests below; the Typhooon, one of the world's longest water speed slides; a giant wave pool; Hurricane Falls, a large water slide raft ride; and several children's activity areas. A separate charge is required for Oceans of Fun, which is operated seasonally from May to September.

Covering more than 235 acres of land, Worlds of Fun and Oceans of Fun make up the number one tourist attraction in the Kansas City area today.

A Cedar Fair Entertainment Company Park:

Worlds of Fun and Oceans of Fun are owned by the Cedar Fair Entertainment Company.  Cedar Fair is a publicly traded limited partnership that owns and operates 12 amusement parks and five water parks, and a year-round indoor water park resort.  For more information Cedar Fair, visit the Company Info & Links page.

Timeline of Capital Additions at Worlds of Fun and Oceans of Fun:

1971    Worlds of Fun construction begins.

1973    Worlds of Fun opens with rides, shows, and attractions on May 26.

1974    The 4,000 seat Forum Amphitheatre is opened in the Europa section of Worlds of Fun.

1976    Bicentennial Square and the Scream Roller roller coaster are added to honor the nation’s 200^th birthday.

1977    Worlds of Fun adds the Bamboozler to the Orient section, the Wobble Wheel to the Americana section, the Micro Moto Bahn to the Scandinavia section, and the Bounce-A-Roos to Europa.

1978    The Aerodrome section is added, featuring several new rides and attractions including Barnstormer, Treehouse Hollow, the Prop Shop, and Lucky Lindy’s Lunch.

1979    New additions include Le Carrousel in the Europa section, the Zulu in the Africa section, Beetle Bumps in the Orient section, and Wing Ding in the Aerodome section.  Worlds of Fun also gives its 100 millionth ride.

1980    The new Orient Express steel roller coaster takes riders down a 115-foot drop at 65 mph and through four upside-down loops.

1981    The Incred-O-Dome Theatre, a sight and sound film spectacular with a 180-degree quadrospherical screen, premiers at Worlds of Fun.  The Casbah games area opens.

1982    Worlds of Fun celebrates 10 years.  The River City section including the Rampage and the 1,000 seat Country Junction Amphitheatre opens.  Oceans of Fun opens as the Midwest’s largest tropically themed water park with 60-acres of water attractions.

1983    The EXT, the first stand-up roller coaster in the Western Hemisphere, opens along with the Starbeam Music machine, a multi-image journey through rock n’ roll history. 

1984    The Fury of the Nile river rapids ride debuts as Worlds of Fun’s largest expansion project to date.

1985    Worlds of Fun adds more fun to its entertainment lineup with the Stax of Wax rock n’ roll review, the Haunted Theatre magic show, and the Rainbow Brite Kids musical.

1986    Worlds of Fun adds the Omegatron, a six-story, upside-down thrill ride and the park gives its 200 millionth ride.

1987    The 15^th anniversary of Worlds of Fun brings Pandamonium, a special area just for kids.

1988    Worlds of Fun introduces the Plunge, four lightning-quick hydroflumes.

1989    The Timber Wolf is unleashed at Worlds of Fun featuring a 95-foot drop and an upward spiraling 120-foot helix. 

1991    Worlds of Fun introduces Beat Street with the Rockin’ Reeler and the Skyliner Ferris Wheel.

1992    Worlds of Fun turns 20 and brings the torrential power of the Monsoon water ride.  Worlds of Fun and Oceans of Fun are linked with the Same Day Gateway allowing guests to visit both parks with the convenience of a short walk.

1993    The children’s roller coaster Wacky Worm is added.

1994    The Sea Dragon swinging ship ride debuts.

1995    Cyclone Sam’s is added at Worlds of Fun and Cedar Fair, L.P. purchases Worlds of Fun and Oceans of Fun.

1996    Worlds of Fun reaches new heights with the 200-foot-tall Detonator, the first twin-tower, 24-passenger space-shot structure in the world; and the RipCord combines the thrills of skydiving and bungee jumping into an adrenaline pumping adventure.

1997    Worlds of Fun celebrates its 25^th season with two exciting additions to the park.  Berenstain Bear Country, an interactive attraction straight from the pages of the popular story books, premiers as well as the debut of Summer Spectacular laser light show.

1998    Named for one of the fastest and most feared snakes in Africa, Worlds of Fun adds a new steel roller coaster, MAMBA®.  Mamba debuts as one of the tallest, longest, and fastest roller coasters in the world. 

1999    The all-new Grand Prix Raceway feeds the need for speed with a quarter mile of twisting racetrack.

2000    New for 2000 is the thrilling Boomerang roller coaster.  This 12-story-tall scream machine rockets riders both forwards and backwards through its course.

2001    Camp Snoopy, Worlds of Fun’s new family play land, opens as one of only five in America and is the only place in Mid-America to meet the PEANUTS™ characters every day.

2002    Worlds of Fun celebrates its 30^th season with ThunderHawk, a unique thrill ride that challenges the laws of physics.

2004    Worlds of Fun unleashes Spinning Dragons, a five-story tall roller coaster with cars that spin as they move through hairpin turns and plummeting spirals.  Camp Gonnagitcha Witchahatchet, Lore of the Vampire, and Fright Zone take frights to new heights during Halloweekends. 

2005    Guests stay where they play with the opening of the Worlds of Fun Village, a cabin, cottage, and RV resort located adjacent to both parks.  Camp Snoopy adds PEANUTS™ Playhouse, a three-story interactive funhouse with over 50,000 foam balls, slides, geysers, and blasters.  Perondi’s Extreme Canines take to the stage at the new Canine Crossing Theatre.  The opening of Zarda BBQ in the Europa section and Sunset Strips in the Scandinavian section offer guests new dining experiences. Dominion of Doom is added to Halloweekends.

2006    Park visitors soar with PATRIOT, the longest, tallest, and fastest full-circuit inverted roller coaster in the region, and the largest capital expenditure on a single attraction in the park’s history at over $14 million. Asylum Island is committed to Halloweekends.

2007    Serving wok-cooked Chinese favorites, Panda Express opens in the Orient section of the park.   BloodShed and CarnEvil are added to Halloween Haunt.

2008    Worlds of Fun celebrates 35 years with the addition of Celebrate America Festivals, Oktoberfest, Cinnabon, a new shooting gallery, and new Halloween Haunt attractions. Mamba celebrates 10 years of thrills with special events throughout the season.

2009    PROWLER, a beast of a wooden coaster, is added to the Africa section of the park. This incredible rides hugs the wooded terrain below. Subway, serving fresh sandwiches, opens in the Americana section of the park. The Lift, a teen focused apparel store, opens in Scandinavia along with Tyke Town Cafe.

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For more information on NEWS, contact:

Worlds of Fun & Oceans of Fun Public Relations
4545 Worlds of Fun Ave, Kansas City, MO 64161
Call 816.303.5125
Email wofpr@worldsoffun.com