Joyland was an iconic place to all those who lived in wichita and in the surrounding communities. The story of joyland has often been the story of wichita. If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article. Inspired designs on tshirts, posters, stickers, home decor, and more by independent artists and designers from around the world. This match cover is not dated but it is believed to be from the 1950s. Joyland amusement park wichita, kansas, a former amusement park in wichita. Remembering joyland wichitas last theme park public. Prior to opening joyland, herb operated a small park called playland in planeview, kansas in the late 1930s to the early 1940s. Joyland a condensed history the abandoned carousel. Discount hotels near joyland amusement park, wichita ks. The loss of wichita s own joyland amusement park makes the nostalgia of the fading amusement park of the novel palpable for those of us who remember the many warm summer days and nights of our youth spent riding the roller coaster, soaring high on the ferris wheel, and screaming through the wacky shack. The current location of joyland amusement park came into existence on june 12, 1949, primarily to give the owners miniature locomotive a permanent home in kansas.
With all of the available parking nearby, stressing over finding a parking space wont be part of your travel agenda. This move occurred prior to the roller coaster being built. Recorded in summer 93 while the park was operated by the nelson family, hes in fine. It pictures a rollercoaster, a ferris wheel, and a merry go round or carousel. With its closing, the only remaining amusement park in kansas is schlitterbahn kansas city.
Since 1949, joyland was wichita s largest amusement park but that changed when the park closed in 2006. Research of extinct towns and cemeteries in kansas. Joyland park wichita, ks roller coasters, theme parks. The eagle has been running a series of articles in the past week about the place of joyland in wichita s history. Your support will restore this nostalgic piece of history. Back in the 80s, wichita ks had a real life amusement park named joyland that was the brainchild for kings book a truly magical place in its heyday. Fire destroys whacky shack at old joyland amusement park. Ottaway, 79, of 811 south crestway, wichita businessman and one of the founders of joyland amusement company. The amusement park offers something for everyone and has thrills.
Joyland amusement park joyland park abandoned explorers. Joyland park gunfighters, wichita, ks home facebook. Wichita residents have made several attempts to revive the park, but so far none have succeeded. The picture shows a view of this old wichita kansas joyland amusement park advertising match book cover.
Book online for instant confirmation and 247 live support. Joyland wichita whacky shack 1997 joyland amusement park wichita, kansas wikipedia, the free encyclopedia a sad end to the once beloved wichita, ks amusement park. Nearly a decade after he went missing, the beloved mascot at wichita s joyland amusement park is free again and was to be reintroduced. It was then moved about 5 miles to the southeast to its current location. On june 12, 1949, joyland was opened in wichita, ks. New images reveal derelict joyland amusement park at heart. For more than five decades, joyland was wichitas only amusement park. Joyland roundup, big truck kiddie ride, and paratroopers.
The locomotive was permanently moved to joyland, it was believed the park was created to give the locomotive a permanent home. It was in continuous operation for 55 years, at one point being the largest theme park in central kansas. The cover is imprinted in red and black on a white background. The restored joyland carousel at botanica in wichita opens to the public for rides this. Khicha family carousel at koch carousel gardens botanica. Wichitas joyland appears in new photo book about creepy amusement parks. Walk to all the best landmarks and hidden gems, answering trivia questions and solving challenges. Apr 9, 2016 wichitas defunct amusement park joyland has landed on the cover of a. It was once the largest theme park in central kansas and featured a. Joyland amusement park was an amusement park in wichita, kansas, united states. Save up to 75% off hotels near amusement and theme parks in wichita ks. It was in continuous operation for 55 years, from june 12, 1949 to 2004.
All orders are custom made and most ship worldwide within 24 hours. In addition to it being important to our community, it is important to know that this particular carousel is known to be the only one of its kind in existence. It was previously answered as no but this is not the case. For me, just 45 minutes south of my childhood home in newton was wichita s joyland amusement park. The loss of wichitas own joyland amusement park makes the nostalgia of the fading amusement park of the novel palpable for those of us who remember the. Hotels near joyland amusement park are always on sale with cheapoair. Located in wichita, kansas, joyland is an amusement park thats been shuttered since 2006. Joyland amusement park abandoned theme park wichita kansas usa hd duration. Book a travel experience like no other at joyland amusement park in wichita and enjoy a relaxing vacation.
Once a year in late july, leoti, ks hosts the wichita county fair. Joyland king novel, a 20 novel by stephen king disambiguation page providing links to topics that could be referred to by the same search term this disambiguation page lists articles associated with the title joyland. The worlds most hauntingly beautiful abandoned theme. Joyland s wood roller coaster 2003 joyland s whacky shack 1997 joyland s wurlitzer organ with louie the clown in front of it 1981 joyland amusement park is an abandoned amusement park in wichita, kansas, united states. Born december 18, 1873 near lawrence, kansas and came to wichita from fort dodge, iowa in 1904. After lesters death in the 1950s, his three sons, herbert, harold, and eddie continued running the park. It was in continuous operation for 55 years, from june 12, 1949 to 2004, closing permanently in 2006. Joyland amusement park, a theme park in lubbock, texas.
One of the highlights of the fair is the plethora of amusement rides including three that were bought from joyland in 2008. John rolfe, president of the cvb, says joyland may not be on the scope or size of a regional attraction such as six flags, but it is an important part of wichita s tourism effort. This is a website commemorating the gunfights staged in joyland parks frontier town. Joyland park gunfighters, wichita, ks, wichita, kansas. This is the only album with the important things, the mechanical side and controls. Louie at joyland amusement park, wichita, ks youtube. Boeing had moved a large portion of production to planeview during world war ii, so the town was home to thousands of people. Heres the ferris wheel that i rode countless times, with one of the ticket booths. Take a break from the hustle bustle of city life and spend a wonderful time with your family at joyland amusement park. In the early 1970s the ottaway brothers retired and sold the park to stanley and margaret nelson who were the driving force behind the park for.
It was once the largest theme park in central kansas and featured a wooden roller coaster and 24 other rides. Herb ottaway had purchased a 12gauge miniature train in 1933. Read here about whether the city will ever get another amusement park and here. Posted by emily on november 25, 2019 updated january 21, 2020 filed under.
What is left of joyland wichita kansas dji phantom 4 duration. Wichitas defunct amusement park joyland has landed on the cover of a new book of photographs about abandoned theme parks. Hotels near joyland amusement park, wichita ks best. Joyland opened in june 1949 as a home for a miniature train ride. The joyland restoration project aims to recruit volunteers to clean up the park and reopen it. Want to know all the history and details of this once abandoned now mostly razed par. Riders are arranged 2 across in 3 rows for a total of 18 riders per train. The new owners of wichita s former joyland amusement park got the green light to move forward with redevelopment plans. Joyland was a park with a lot of history before i even stepped foot into it for the first time in the early 70s.
Save 15% on all used books excluding those in the glass cases. Even though joyland amusement park is north of oklahoma in wichita, ks, this is one of those locations we are sure you will enjoy. Wichitas abandoned joyland amusement park gets green. Joyland kansas road trip free joyland for a day event at carousel skate center. Here are a bunch of creepybeautiful images documenting natures reclamation of the site. I guess they really have little money to spend on advertising the park to the local areas, along with maintenance on many of the flats and buildings one part of the park is closed off as the buildings are condemned. Joyland has been abandoned since it permanently closed in 2006. Wichita s joyland appears in new photo book about creepy amusement. Haunted memories fill decaying joyland amusement park. Mystery of louie the missing joyland clown ends at kansas. Joyland park was first built near the corner of east central avenue and north washington streets.
Joyland amusement park in wichita kansas was founded in 1949 by lester ottaway and his sons. A short clip of louie at the console of the mighty organ. It was truly a frightening journey just to get into kansas. Old wichita kansas joyland amusement park advertising.
I worked there from 1973 to 1979 and one night during a school night party some kids grandfather asked me. Playland in planeview, kansas in the late 1930s to the early 1940s. J oyland was founded by lester ottaway and his sons herb and harold, but this was not the beginning of the familys amusement park endeavors. Old wichita kansas joyland amusement park advertising match book cover. October 24, 2019 wichita, ks i urbexed joyland 10 years ago, its all gone now so i thought it was time to share. The wichita fire department didnt release the cause of the fire.