Legend city
Encyclopedia
Legend City was an amusement park
that existed on the border of Phoenix
and Tempe
, Arizona
from its opening in 1963 to its closing and demolition in 1983.
, Legend City endured a series of closings, bankruptcies and ownership changes throughout the 1960s and 1970s, and was never a significant financial success. Nevertheless, Legend City is still remembered very fondly and held in surprisingly high regard by locals who knew and frequented the park in its heyday.
Legend City opened to much public fanfare on June 29, 1963, but rapidly fell into financial difficulty and filed for bankruptcy in 1966. Crandall departed as president, and the first of several ownership changes then ensued. The property was eventually purchased in 1982 by the Salt River Project
, which closed the park permanently after the 1983 season. Legend City was then dismantled and razed to the ground to make way for new corporate offices for SRP.
Legend City featured a number of popular and memorable attractions such as the Lost Dutchman Mine ride, Cochise’s Stronghold river ride, Sky Ride
, Penny Arcade, Miniature Golf, Log Jammer, and Iron Horse train ride. Local kid’s TV show hosts Wallace and Ladmo appeared at Legend City virtually every weekend for the entire run of the park. Vonda Kay Van Dyke
, later Miss America
1965, performed a popular ventriloquism act in the early days at the park's Golden Palace Saloon.
Perhaps the ultimate legacy of Legend City is that Metro Phoenix, one of the largest metropolitan areas in the United States, still remains devoid of a major amusement park.
Amusement park
thumb|Cinderella Castle in [[Magic Kingdom]], [[Disney World]]Amusement and theme parks are terms for a group of entertainment attractions and rides and other events in a location for the enjoyment of large numbers of people...
that existed on the border of Phoenix
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
and Tempe
Tempe, Arizona
Tempe is a city in Maricopa County, Arizona, USA, with the Census Bureau reporting a 2010 population of 161,719. The city is named after the Vale of Tempe in Greece. Tempe is located in the East Valley section of metropolitan Phoenix; it is bordered by Phoenix and Guadalupe on the west, Scottsdale...
, Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
from its opening in 1963 to its closing and demolition in 1983.
History
Originally conceived as an Old West theme park in the mold of Disneyland by Phoenix artist and advertising agency owner Louis E. CrandallLouis E. Crandall
Louis Eugene Crandall is an American printer and entrepreneur. He is founder of both Legend City and the Crandall Historical Printing Museum, and he currently serves as president and CEO of the latter.-Biography:...
, Legend City endured a series of closings, bankruptcies and ownership changes throughout the 1960s and 1970s, and was never a significant financial success. Nevertheless, Legend City is still remembered very fondly and held in surprisingly high regard by locals who knew and frequented the park in its heyday.
Legend City opened to much public fanfare on June 29, 1963, but rapidly fell into financial difficulty and filed for bankruptcy in 1966. Crandall departed as president, and the first of several ownership changes then ensued. The property was eventually purchased in 1982 by the Salt River Project
Salt River Project
The Salt River Project is the umbrella name for two separate entities: the Salt River Project Agricultural Improvement and Power District, an agency of the state of Arizona that serves as an electrical utility for the Phoenix metropolitan area, and the Salt River Valley Water Users' Association, a...
, which closed the park permanently after the 1983 season. Legend City was then dismantled and razed to the ground to make way for new corporate offices for SRP.
Legend City featured a number of popular and memorable attractions such as the Lost Dutchman Mine ride, Cochise’s Stronghold river ride, Sky Ride
Sky Ride
The Sky Ride was an attraction built for the Century of Progress Exposition in Chicago, Illinois in 1933. It was a transporter bridge , designed by the bridge engineering firm Robinson & Steinman, that ferried people across the lagoon in the center of the fair...
, Penny Arcade, Miniature Golf, Log Jammer, and Iron Horse train ride. Local kid’s TV show hosts Wallace and Ladmo appeared at Legend City virtually every weekend for the entire run of the park. Vonda Kay Van Dyke
Vonda Kay Van Dyke
Vonda Kay Van Dyke was crowned the 1965 Miss America on September 13, 1964. Earlier in the year, she had taken a break as a 21-year-old junior at Arizona State University to become Miss Arizona. She is unique among pageant winners in that she was and still is the only Miss America who was also...
, later Miss America
Miss America
The Miss America pageant is a long-standing competition which awards scholarships to young women from the 50 states plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands...
1965, performed a popular ventriloquism act in the early days at the park's Golden Palace Saloon.
Perhaps the ultimate legacy of Legend City is that Metro Phoenix, one of the largest metropolitan areas in the United States, still remains devoid of a major amusement park.
External links
- Official Website
- Legend City at MySpace