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Worlds of Fun Turns 35

Lamar Hunt’s vision of bringing the world to Kansas City is still going strong 35 years later.

To mark Worlds of Fun’s 35th anniversary, the Northland amusement park is planning a season full of special events, new food options, games, concerts and midway renovations, Vice President and General Manager Frank Wilburn said.

“We are delighted to celebrate 35 years of family fun with our guests,” Wilburn said. “The Celebrate America weekends, Mamba birthday parties and the return of Oktoberfest ensure that guests will have plenty of new experiences to share with their friends and families.”

Kansas City Chiefs owner Lamar Hunt and Jack Steadman of Hunt Midwest Enterprises founded Worlds of Fun in 1973. Public Relations Manager Brandon Stanley said the Jules Verne novel “Around the World in 80 Days” inspired the park’s theme.

“Worlds of Fun opened with 15 rides,” Stanley said. “Viking Voyager, Octopus, Worlds of Fun Railroad, Finnish Fling, Scrambler, Autobahn, Flying Dutchman, Le Taxi Tour and Krazy Kars are all original rides that are still in the park today.”

Today Worlds of Fun boasts 43 rides and six roller coasters spread across 175 acres. Rides added over the years include Zambezi Zinger, Orient Express, Schussboomer and Scream Roller. In 1982, the Hunt family opened Oceans of Fun, a water park that added another 60 acres.

Cedar Fair Entertainment Co. purchased Worlds of Fun and Oceans of Fun in 1995. Under new management, the parks added Camp Snoopy and the Worlds of Fun Village resort.

In 2006, Cedar Fair opened Patriot, the region’s longest and tallest inverted roller coaster, and the largest capital expenditure on a single ride in park history, Stanley said.

For the Northland, the economic impact of the pair of parks is considerable. More than one million guests from a five-state region walk through Worlds of Fun and Oceans of Fun turnstiles every year, Stanley said. The parks hire about 2,000 employees every season.

As part of the anniversary, Worlds of Fun will host Celebrate America festivals every Saturday and Sunday in July with concerts, unique meals and special shows.

Also, Oktoberfest will be held Sept. 6, 7, 13 and 14. Participants can enjoy “a German festival, complete with beer garden and plenty of live music,” Stanley said.

The park’s 2008 season will close with an expanded Halloween Haunt, the city’s largest Halloween event, Stanley said.

Visit the web: www.worldsoffun.com/