This Retro Amusement Park In Texas Is A True Blast From The Past
By Katie Lawrence|Published July 24, 2019
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Katie Lawrence
Author
Katie Lawrence is a Southeast Texas native who graduated 18th in her high school class with a GPA of 4.25. She attended college in the Houston area and began writing for OnlyInYourState in 2015.
Today, Katie writes, edits, and performs several other tasks for OnlyInYourState and has never been more passionate about a job before. Outside of work, you can likely find her curled up on with a hot cup of coffee, practicing yoga, baking, or exploring the beautiful Lone Star State (in particular, the vast and mystical West Texas desert).
Pictures are a great way to relive old memories, but watching the past come to life right before your eyes is so much cooler. Here at Wonderland, a retro amusement park in Amarillo, you can do just that.
Looking like it was plucked straight out of the 1950s, this retro amusement park is nostalgia at its very finest. Vintage lettering and color schemes plus rides you likely haven't seen since yesteryear guarantee every visitor takes a mental trip back to childhood.
Originally called Kiddie Land, the park first opened its doors in 1951. Despite featuring just three rides, it became an instant hit among local residents were used to nothing but bleak stretches of roadway for miles in every direction.
18 years later, the name "Wonderland" was born in an effort to appeal to all ages. Dozens of rides were incrementally added, and the park now boasts a whopping 30 different attractions.
Seven different roller coasters each offer a different thrilling adventure. This is the Texas Tornado, whose loop-de-loops tower at 80-feet-tall and reach heart-pounding speeds of 65 mph. Among the other rides guaranteed to make your palms sweat include are the Cyclone, Mouse Trap, and infamous Drop of Fear.
An 18-hole miniature golf course features quirky obstacles that'll have the entire family erupting in uproarious laughter. Send your ball through the gaping mouth of a hippo, over a series of undulating hills, and around a tranquil Japanese pagoda. The course costs $5/person and is open from 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday during the summer.
By now, you're probably thinking something like, "What does Wonderland NOT have?" Well, the answer certainly isn't water rides because there are five of them! Go river rafting, twist your way down a pitch-black pipeline, and plunge down this 25-foot slide in a giant log.
Hop on the Sky Ride for an aerial view of the entire park. Other family-friendly classics include bumper cars, the tilt-a-whirl, and — of course — a Ferris Wheel, aptly named "Wonder Wheel."
Have you ever been to Wonderland Amusement Park? If so, what’s your favorite ride? Let us know your thoughts, and be sure to check out our previous article for more retro places in Texas guaranteed to deliver a hefty dose of nostalgia: 10 Retro Places In Texas That Will Take You Back In Time.
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