Splash Adventure: Difference between revisions
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[[Image:Alabama adventure logo.jpg|right|200px]] | [[Image:Alabama adventure logo.jpg|right|200px]] | ||
'''Alabama Adventure,''' formerly known as '''Visionland,''' is a theme park, located off [[Interstate 20]]/[[Interstate 59|59]] in [[Bessemer]], west of [[Birmingham]]. The park is owned by | '''Alabama Adventure,''' formerly known as '''Visionland,''' is a 70-acre theme park, located off [[Interstate 20]]/[[Interstate 59|59]] in [[Bessemer]], west of [[Birmingham]]. The park, which is divided into the '''Splash Beach''' water park and '''Magic City USA''' amuesement park, is owned by California-based Southland Entertainment Group, and managed by [[John Collins]]. | ||
==History== | |||
[[Image:Visionland logo.gif|right||Visionland logo]] | |||
Visionland was built largely as a result of efforts by then-[[Mayor of Fairfield]] [[Larry Langford]], who was seeking to provide recreational opportunities and boost development in the western part of [[Jefferson County]]. He led the creation of the [[West Jefferson Amusement and Public Park Authority]], which counted representatives from 11 [[List of Jefferson County municipalities|municipalities]] ([[Adamsville]], [[Bessemer]], [[Birmingham]], [[Brighton]], [[Fairfield]], [[Hueytown]], [[Lipscomb]], [[Maytown]], [[North Johns]], [[Sylvan Springs]], and [[Vance]]). With help from the Alabama Legislature, the group borrowed $65 million to build the park. | |||
The project team for construction included [[Volkert & Associates]] for site surveying, environmental studies, utilities and lighting; [[HKW Architects]] for master planning and architectural design; and [[Brasfield & Gorrie]] for construction management. Construction began in March [[1997]], and the park opened for business 14 months later on [[May 23]], [[1998]]. | |||
In June 2002, the park filed Chapter 9 bankruptcy. It was purchased in 2003 for | In June [[2002]], the park filed Chapter 9 bankruptcy. It was purchased at government auction in [[2003]] for $5.2 million by the Southland Entertainment Group. For their first year, Sounthland invested about $20 million for new attractions such as a wave pool. | ||
On March 27, [[2006]], Southland Entertainment officials announced that, after a record-setting season | On [[March 27]], [[2006]], Southland Entertainment officials announced that, after a record-setting season of 345,000 visitors, that $100 million of new rides and other facilities were on the drawing board. They also announced the park's name change to "Alabama Adventure" for the [[2006]]-[[2007]] season, which attracted 388,000 visitors. | ||
==Rides== | ==Rides== | ||
===Marvel City=== | ===Magic City USA=== | ||
* Carousel | * Fender Bender | ||
* Giant Wheel, 120' diameter Ferris Wheel | |||
* Hurricane | |||
* Tidal Wave | |||
* Mind Spinder | |||
* Motorcross | |||
* Patriot | |||
* Pirate | |||
* [[Rampage]], 3,500 foot-long wood roller coaster with a top speed of 56 miles per hour (1998) | |||
* Scrambler | |||
* Space Shot, a 185-foot launching tower | |||
* Wild River Gorge | |||
* Cahaba Falls | |||
* Vertigo (2007) | |||
* [[Zoomerang]], roller coaster (2006) | |||
====Marvel City==== | |||
* Carousel with 60 horses and 2 chariots | |||
* Convoy | * Convoy | ||
* Balloon Wheel | * Balloon Wheel | ||
| Line 22: | Line 41: | ||
===Splash Beach=== | ===Splash Beach=== | ||
* Acapulco Drop | * Acapulco Drop | ||
* Cahaba Falls | |||
* Kahuna Waves | * Kahuna Waves | ||
* Neptune's Plunge | * Neptune's Plunge | ||
* Lazy River | * Lazy River | ||
* Splashdown | * Splashdown | ||
* Wild River Gorge | |||
* Salamander Bay, children's activity area (2007) | * Salamander Bay, children's activity area (2007) | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
* "Alabama Adventure Theme Park." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 28 Mar 2006, 20:41 UTC. 28 Mar 2006, 20:43 [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Alabama_Adventure_Theme_Park&oldid=45901554]. | * "Alabama Adventure Theme Park." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 28 Mar 2006, 20:41 UTC. 28 Mar 2006, 20:43 [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Alabama_Adventure_Theme_Park&oldid=45901554]. | ||
* Tomberlin, Michael (March 28, 2006) "Visionland has new name, plans." ''Birmingham News''. | |||
* Williams, Roy L. (April 5, 2007) "Earlier start, new draws for Alabama Adventure." ''Birmingham News''. | * Williams, Roy L. (April 5, 2007) "Earlier start, new draws for Alabama Adventure." ''Birmingham News''. | ||
==External links== | ==External links== | ||
* [http://www. | * [http://www.alabamaadventure.com Alabama Adventure] website | ||
* [http://www.alabamaadventureguide.com Alabama Adventure Guide] a fan website | * [http://www.alabamaadventureguide.com Alabama Adventure Guide] a fan website | ||
Revision as of 09:24, 17 October 2007
Alabama Adventure, formerly known as Visionland, is a 70-acre theme park, located off Interstate 20/59 in Bessemer, west of Birmingham. The park, which is divided into the Splash Beach water park and Magic City USA amuesement park, is owned by California-based Southland Entertainment Group, and managed by John Collins.
History
Visionland was built largely as a result of efforts by then-Mayor of Fairfield Larry Langford, who was seeking to provide recreational opportunities and boost development in the western part of Jefferson County. He led the creation of the West Jefferson Amusement and Public Park Authority, which counted representatives from 11 municipalities (Adamsville, Bessemer, Birmingham, Brighton, Fairfield, Hueytown, Lipscomb, Maytown, North Johns, Sylvan Springs, and Vance). With help from the Alabama Legislature, the group borrowed $65 million to build the park.
The project team for construction included Volkert & Associates for site surveying, environmental studies, utilities and lighting; HKW Architects for master planning and architectural design; and Brasfield & Gorrie for construction management. Construction began in March 1997, and the park opened for business 14 months later on May 23, 1998.
In June 2002, the park filed Chapter 9 bankruptcy. It was purchased at government auction in 2003 for $5.2 million by the Southland Entertainment Group. For their first year, Sounthland invested about $20 million for new attractions such as a wave pool.
On March 27, 2006, Southland Entertainment officials announced that, after a record-setting season of 345,000 visitors, that $100 million of new rides and other facilities were on the drawing board. They also announced the park's name change to "Alabama Adventure" for the 2006-2007 season, which attracted 388,000 visitors.
Rides
Magic City USA
- Fender Bender
- Giant Wheel, 120' diameter Ferris Wheel
- Hurricane
- Tidal Wave
- Mind Spinder
- Motorcross
- Patriot
- Pirate
- Rampage, 3,500 foot-long wood roller coaster with a top speed of 56 miles per hour (1998)
- Scrambler
- Space Shot, a 185-foot launching tower
- Wild River Gorge
- Cahaba Falls
- Vertigo (2007)
- Zoomerang, roller coaster (2006)
Marvel City
- Carousel with 60 horses and 2 chariots
- Convoy
- Balloon Wheel
- Barnstormer
- Marvel Mania, roller coaster (1998)
- Adventure Express
- Bump-A-Round
Splash Beach
- Acapulco Drop
- Cahaba Falls
- Kahuna Waves
- Neptune's Plunge
- Lazy River
- Splashdown
- Wild River Gorge
- Salamander Bay, children's activity area (2007)
References
- "Alabama Adventure Theme Park." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 28 Mar 2006, 20:41 UTC. 28 Mar 2006, 20:43 [1].
- Tomberlin, Michael (March 28, 2006) "Visionland has new name, plans." Birmingham News.
- Williams, Roy L. (April 5, 2007) "Earlier start, new draws for Alabama Adventure." Birmingham News.
External links
- Alabama Adventure website
- Alabama Adventure Guide a fan website
| Dual licensed with the Creative Commons Attribution Share-Alike License version 3.0 | |
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