Martin's Fantasy Island
Encyclopedia
Martin's Fantasy Island is an amusement park
located in Grand Island, New York
.
, the original owner of Storytown USA. He sold the park to International Broadcasting Corporation (IBC) in 1989, and later reacquired the park in 1992 when IBC went bankrupt. The second time Wood owned the park he changed the park's name to Two Flags Over Niagara Fun Park, a name it kept until 1994 when local businessman Martin Dipietro purchased the park and redubbed it Martin's Fantasy Island.
Originally the park only occupied 12 acres (48,562.3 m²) of land. It expanded to 85 acres (343,983.1 m²) in 1974.
The park's Silver Comet roller coaster
, introduced in 1999, was created in the style of the original Comet
roller coaster that was located at nearby Crystal Beach, Ontario
for many years. In fact, the original Comet was stored at Fantasy Island after Charles Wood purchased it in 1989. Wood would later move the Comet to his Great Escape
park in Queensbury, New York
, where it was reassembled in 1994 and remains in operation to this day.
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...
located in Grand Island, New York
Grand Island, New York
Grand Island is a town and an island in Erie County, New York, USA. As of the 2010 census, the town population is 20,374. This represents an increase of 9.41% from the 2000 census figure . The current town name derives from the French name La Grande Île, as Grand Island is the largest island in...
.
History
Fantasy Island opened in 1961 and went bankrupt in 1982. It was acquired out of bankruptcy by Charles WoodCharles Wood (businessman)
Charles R. "Charley" Wood was an American businessman.-Biography:Wood was born in Lockport, New York, in 1914.After seeing the amusement park Knott's Berry Farm in southern California he was inspired in 1954 to open his own park in Queensbury, New York, which he named Storytown USA. In order to do...
, the original owner of Storytown USA. He sold the park to International Broadcasting Corporation (IBC) in 1989, and later reacquired the park in 1992 when IBC went bankrupt. The second time Wood owned the park he changed the park's name to Two Flags Over Niagara Fun Park, a name it kept until 1994 when local businessman Martin Dipietro purchased the park and redubbed it Martin's Fantasy Island.
Originally the park only occupied 12 acres (48,562.3 m²) of land. It expanded to 85 acres (343,983.1 m²) in 1974.
The park's Silver Comet roller coaster
Roller coaster
The roller coaster is a popular amusement ride developed for amusement parks and modern theme parks. LaMarcus Adna Thompson patented the first coasters on January 20, 1885...
, introduced in 1999, was created in the style of the original Comet
Comet (Great Escape)
The Comet is a wooden roller coaster located at The Great Escape & Splashwater Kingdom, Lake George in Queensbury, New York, in the United States.-History:...
roller coaster that was located at nearby Crystal Beach, Ontario
Crystal Beach, Ontario
Crystal Beach is a community within Fort Erie, Ontario with a population of 3,800. It was named for the "crystal-clear" water conditions present when it was founded on the northeast shore of Lake Erie, across from Buffalo....
for many years. In fact, the original Comet was stored at Fantasy Island after Charles Wood purchased it in 1989. Wood would later move the Comet to his Great Escape
The Great Escape & Splashwater Kingdom
The Great Escape & Splashwater Kingdom is an amusement and waterpark located in Queensbury, New York. It is advertised as being located in Lake George, New York...
park in Queensbury, New York
Queensbury, New York
Queensbury is a town in and the county seat of Warren County, New York, United States. The town is located in the southeastern part of the county. The population was 25,441 at the 2000 census. The town is named in honor of Queen Charlotte, the consort of George III of Great Britain and Ireland. It...
, where it was reassembled in 1994 and remains in operation to this day.
Roller coasters
Martin's Fantasy Island only has two operating roller coasters as of 2011.| Name | Year Opened | Status | Type | Manufacturer/Model | Height | Drop | Speed | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crazy Mouse | 2005 | Operating | Steel Steel roller coaster A steel roller coaster is a roller coaster that is defined by having a track made of steel. Steel coasters have earned immense popularity in the past 50 years throughout the world... Wild Mouse Wild Mouse roller coaster A Wild Mouse roller coaster is a type of roller coaster characterized by small cars that seat four people or fewer and ride on top of the track, taking tight, flat turns at modest speeds, yet producing high lateral G-forces... spinning roller coaster |
Zamperla Zamperla Zamperla is a designing and manufacturing company in Vicenza, Italy. It is best known for creating thrill rides and roller coasters worldwide. The company also makes smaller coin operated rides commonly found inside shopping malls.... |
42.8 ft (13 m) | 29.1 mi/h | Like a typical wild mouse, except with spinning cars | |
| Dragon Coaster | 1986 | Removed 1990's | Steel Steel roller coaster A steel roller coaster is a roller coaster that is defined by having a track made of steel. Steel coasters have earned immense popularity in the past 50 years throughout the world... family roller coaster |
Zamperla Zamperla Zamperla is a designing and manufacturing company in Vicenza, Italy. It is best known for creating thrill rides and roller coasters worldwide. The company also makes smaller coin operated rides commonly found inside shopping malls.... |
Was located between Silver Comet and the Giant Slide | |||
| Little Dipper | Removed 1994 | Steel Steel roller coaster A steel roller coaster is a roller coaster that is defined by having a track made of steel. Steel coasters have earned immense popularity in the past 50 years throughout the world... kiddie roller coaster |
||||||
| Orient Express | 1998 | Removed 2003 | Steel Steel roller coaster A steel roller coaster is a roller coaster that is defined by having a track made of steel. Steel coasters have earned immense popularity in the past 50 years throughout the world... kiddie roller coaster |
Wisdom Rides | Themed as a Chinese dragon. Replaced with Jack and the Beanstalk (Moser Spring ride) in 2004. |
|||
| Silver Comet | 1999 | Operating | Wood Wooden roller coaster A wooden roller coaster is most often classified as a roller coaster with laminated steel running rails overlaid upon a wooden track. Occasionally, the structure may be made out of a steel lattice or truss, but the ride remains classified as a wooden roller coaster due to the track design... Hybrid |
Custom Coasters International Custom Coasters International Custom Coasters International was one of the premier wooden roller coaster manufacturers in the world and produced more wooden coasters in recent times than any other company... wooden thrill roller coaster |
82 ft (25 m) | 50 mi/h | Modeled after The Comet from Crystal Beach Crystal Beach, Ontario Crystal Beach is a community within Fort Erie, Ontario with a population of 3,800. It was named for the "crystal-clear" water conditions present when it was founded on the northeast shore of Lake Erie, across from Buffalo.... . |
|
| Wildcat | 1972 | Removed 2004 | Steel Steel roller coaster A steel roller coaster is a roller coaster that is defined by having a track made of steel. Steel coasters have earned immense popularity in the past 50 years throughout the world... thrill roller coaster |
Schwarzkopf Anton Schwarzkopf Anton Schwarzkopf was a German engineer of amusement rides, and founder of the Schwarzkopf Industries company, which built numerous rides and large roller coasters for both amusement parks and travelling funfairs.... |
44 ft (13.4 m) | Replaced with Crazy Mouse in 2005 |
Water attractions/Rides
| Name | Type | Year Opened | Status | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bumper Boats | bumper boats | Removed | ||
| CannonBowl | ProSlide CannonBowl | 2006 | Operating | A generic ProSlide CannonBowl water slide. |
| Dinosaur Pool | Kiddie Pool | 1980s | Operating | A small shallow pool with a dinosaur shaped slide. |
| Old Mill Scream | Log Flume ride | 1986 | Operating | A log flume ride with two hills, located with the "dry" rides. |
| Raging Rapids | Water Slides | 1984 | Operating | A set of two mat water slides that cross over each other. |
| Splash Creek | Lazy River | Operating | A lazy river ride with water falls. | |
| Surf Hill | ProSlide Water Slide | 1980s | Operating | A small pink racing water slide for small children. On some park maps it's mistakenly called "Pro-Slide". |
| Wave Pool | Wave Pool | 1995 | Operating |
Dry rides
- Antique Cars
- Blue Goose Oerating since 2011
- Boats
- Bumper Cars (Scooter)
- Carousel Operating since 1994
- Crazy Bus Operating since 1997
- Devil's Hole (Wisdom GravitronGravitronThe Gravitron is an amusement ride, most commonly found as a portable ride at fairs and carnivals. The Gravitron first appeared at Morey's Piers in 1983 and quickly became a fixture at amusement parks in many countries. It is a modification of an earlier ride called the Rotor...
version) Operating since 2011 - Full Tilt Operating since May 12, 2007
- Flight Operating since July 4, 2008
- Giant Slide Operating since 1975
- Grand Circus Menagerie Operating since May 10, 2008
- Gondola Wheel Operating since 1994?
- Jack and the Beanstalk Operating since May 15, 2004
- Mind Warp Operating since 2011
- Mega Disk'o Operating since May 23, 2009
- Motorcycles
- Red Baron
- Tea Cups Operated 1997-2007 Operating May 10, 2008
- Tilt a Whirl Operating since 1974
- Train (Iron Horse)
- Up Up and Away Operating since 1996
Former Rides
- 4x4 Truck Ride Closed in 2008
- Chaos Closed in 2006
- Cinema 180 Closed in 2003
- DareDevil Operated from 2001-2007
- Egg Roll
- Flying Bobs Closed in 2002
- Jets
- Nitro Operated from 2003-2008
- Paratrooper
- Patriot Operated from 1989-2008
- Super Spiral 1977 - 2002
- Tranbat
- Sizzler Closed in 2011
- Starship 2000 Operated from 2009-2010
- YoYo Closed in 1990
- Space Shuttle Closed in 1992
- Devil's Hole (Chance Rotor version) Operated from 1975-1993
- Sea Ray operated from 1995 - 2010
External links
- Martin's Fantasy Island - official website