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Niagara Amusement Park and Splash World

Previously known as Fantasy Island (1961–1992, 2016–2019) Two Flags Over Niagara Fun Park (1992–1994) Martin's Fantasy Island (1994–2016)
Location	2400 Grand Island Boulevard, Grand Island, New York 14072
Coordinates	43°1′37.2″N 78°58′14.5″W / 43.027000°N 78.970694°W / 43.027000; -78.970694
Status	Operating
Opened	July 1, 1961 (1961-07-01)
Owner	IB Parks & Entertainment
Operated by	IB Parks & Entertainment
Area	85 acres (0.34 km)
Website	Official website

Niagara Amusement Park and Splash World is an 85 acres (34 ha) amusement park in Grand Island, New York near Niagara Falls, New York. It features a theme park, water park, and is adjacent to a KOA campground. The park is owned by Store Capital and operated by IB Parks & Entertainment.

History

Fantasy Island, Inc. (1961–1981)

Fantasy Island was founded by real estate developer Lawrence Grant, and was opened on July 1, 1961. It was planned by co-financier and local jeweler Gerald Birzon with buildings designed by Milton Milstein & Associates. The ownership group was formed under the name Fantasy Land, Inc. before changing soon after to Fantasy Island, Inc. The group had originally planned to call the park Fantasy Land, but changed the name for legal reasons after finding out there was already an area of Disneyland called Fantasyland.

Upon opening, the park occupied only 12 acres (0.049 km) of land that was divided into five themed areas: Action Town, Animal Kingdom, Garden of Fables, Indian Village and Western Town. Action Town featured amusement rides, Animal Kingdom featured a petting zoo, Garden of Fables featured explorable recreations of fairy tale scenes, Indian Village featured Native American dancers, and Western Town featured a live Wild West show.

To promote the park, WGR-TV aired a live weekly television program on Saturday mornings from 1961 to 1962 titled Fantasy Island Show featuring the park's characters and puppeteers performing for an all-children studio audience. The show's host and protagonist was Buckskin Joe, portrayed by park general manager Clyde "Buddy" Farnan.

A 2,500-seat outdoor arena was constructed in 1965 for French lion tamer Jean "Tarzan" Zerbini's circus. Actor Jim Carrey grew up in nearby Ontario and would vacation at Fantasy Island, citing Zerbini's show as a fond memory.

The park was expanded to 85 acres (0.34 km) in 1974 to make room for adult rides and broaden the park's appeal.

Citing the 1979 oil crisis and rising cost of gasoline, the park reported a 62% drop in profits during the 1979 season. The park was put up for sale that same year.

After dwindling attendance stemming from Western New York's rust belt economic decline, Fantasy Island, Inc. declared bankruptcy and the park did not operate for the 1982 season.

Charles R. Wood Enterprises (1982–1989)

The park was acquired out of bankruptcy in November 1982 by Charles R. Wood Enterprises, headed by Charles Wood, founder of Great Escape in Queensbury, New York.

A new themed area called Water World, a water park, was added to the site in 1984. Wood also installed an 800-seat picnic pavilion that was previously used at the 1982 World's Fair.

Arto Monaco was commissioned to redesign Garden of Fables, constructing a castle with moat that was encircled by a horse-drawn carriage he had previously built for Land of Makebelieve.

International Broadcasting Corporation (1989–1992)

Wood sold the park along with Great Escape to International Broadcasting Corporation (IBC) in April 1989 for $36 million. As part of the deal, Wood would stay on as chief executive officer of the park and his son-in-law, Tom Wages, was retained as general manager.

Following the closure of nearby Crystal Beach Park after the 1989 season, that park's famed Comet roller coaster was purchased by Charles Wood at auction in October 1989 for $210,000, disassembled and stored indefinitely at Fantasy Island.

In June 1990, Michael Murach was paralyzed from the head down while performing a high diving act at the park when he slipped on a 3-meter diving board during a comedy act and fell 20-feet, hitting his head on the edge of the concrete pool. Murach was years later awarded damages of $58.6 million after a jury found International Broadcasting Corporation 100% liable for his injury. The end of the diving board was not installed at a proper distance away from the edge of the pool to prevent such an incident from occurring.

In August 1991, 14-year-old Kenneth Margerum fell 60 feet (18 m) to his death from the park's Ferris wheel after his seat dropped from its axle. It was revealed that the park operators routinely removed one or two seats from the ride each day to prevent the ride from moving around in high winds during off-hours. Each time the ride opened, the seats were bolted back onto the frame of the ride. Investigators found that only one side of the victim's seat had been bolted properly, causing Margerum's seat to drop from its axle and subsequently leading to his death.

Attendance began to dwindle as parents became concerned over the park's safety following Margerum's death.

Charles R. Wood Enterprises (1992–1994)

Charles Wood reacquired the park along with Great Escape in October 1992 for $14 million when International Broadcasting Corporation went bankrupt. In his second stint of ownership, Wood changed the park's name to Two Flags Over Niagara Fun Park.

Martin's Shows (1994–2016)

Martin DiPietro, owner of Martin's Shows, purchased the park and renamed it Martin's Fantasy Island in January 1994. Charles Wood took the original Comet roller coaster and reassembled it at his Great Escape park later that year. DiPietro would install his own roller coaster named the Silver Comet in 1999 that was inspired by the original.

Store Capital (2016–present)

Apex Parks Group

Martin DiPietro sold the park's land to Store Capital in May 2016, and Apex Parks Group began leasing the property from Store that same month. The park returned to its original name of Fantasy Island.

Reports surfaced in 2018 and 2019 that the general condition of the park had deteriorated, with many attractions not operational due to either mechanical failure or under-staffing.

On February 19, 2020, following reports that Apex Parks Group had put the park's rides up for sale, the company confirmed that the park had permanently closed. A settlement was reached with the Attorney General's office to refund customers that had purchased 2020 season passes.

IB Parks & Entertainment (2021-present)

Gene Staples, owner of IB Parks & Entertainment, entered a long-term agreement to lease the property from Store Capital in May 2021. Staples also owns and operates Clementon Lake Park and Indiana Beach. The park was renamed Niagara Amusement Park and Splash World and reopened in August 2021. The 2021 season only featured the splash park, with rides being re-added to the park in time for the 2022 season.

Rides and attractions

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Roller Coasters

Name	Picture	Opened	Manufacturer	Notes
The Serpent		2024	S.D.C	A Galaxi coaster that previously ran at; Noble Park Funland in Paducah, Kentucky, during 1987 and 1988; LeSourdsville Lake Amusement Park in Monroe, Ohio, from 1989 to 2002; and Kokomo's Family Fun Center in Saginaw, Michigan, from April 2009 to 2019. Serpent was dismantled in early 2022 and first set up at Niagara later that year.
Silver Comet		1999	Custom Coasters International	A wooden roller coaster modeled after The Comet.

Flat rides

Unopened Attractions

Niagara Amusement Park owns a large arsenal of attractions that are in varying states of construction or storage. Listed below are rides that have not been opened to the public since the park reopened. Opening years for previously operational attractions are listed below, and the reopening timeline for all are either vague or unclear.

Water attractions/rides

Former rides and attractions

Former roller coasters

Former water attractions/rides

Former dry rides

References

1. "Niagara Amusement Park and Splash World".
2. "IB Parks & Entertainment Official Website". IBParks.com.
3. Futrell, Jim (March 2, 2006). Amusement Parks of New York. Stackpole Books. ISBN 9780811732628 – via Google Books.
4. Hirsch, Rose Ann (March 2, 2011). Western New York Amusement Parks. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 9780738574561 – via Google Books.
5. "Theme park to mark 50th year; Fantasy Island plans Saturday celebration". July 8, 2011.
6. Gallivan, Pete; Welshofer, Kate (March 2, 2020). "Fantasy Island reunion: 'Western Town' alumni reunite". WGRZ. Retrieved March 2, 2020.
7. "The Golden Age of Kids' TV in Buffalo – Buffalo Stories Archives & Blog". 22 August 2018.
8. Hirsch, Rose Ann (March 2, 2011). Western New York Amusement Parks. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 9780738574561 – via Google Books.
9. Futrell, Jim (March 2, 2006). Amusement Parks of New York. Stackpole Books. ISBN 9780811732628 – via Google Books.
10. Liu, Qina (February 19, 2020). "From Jim Carrey to Wild West Shootouts: Twitter reacts to Fantasy Island closing". The Buffalo News. Retrieved November 19, 2021.
11. Futrell, Jim (March 2, 2006). Amusement Parks of New York. Stackpole Books. ISBN 9780811732628 – via Google Books.
12. "Amusement Business 1980-03-01: Vol 92 Iss 9 : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive". Internet Archive. February 1, 1980. Retrieved November 21, 2021.
13. "Amusement Business 1980-09-20: Vol 92 Iss 38 : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive". Internet Archive. September 20, 1980. Retrieved November 21, 2021.
14. "Youngsters need those summer jobs". UPI.
15. Hirsch, R.A. (2011). Western New York Amusement Parks. Images of America. Arcadia Publishing Incorporated. p. 132. ISBN 978-1-4396-3928-3. Retrieved November 19, 2021.
16. Futrell, Jim (March 2, 2006). Amusement Parks of New York. Stackpole Books. ISBN 9780811732628 – via Google Books.
17. "International Broadcasting v. Turner, 734 F. Supp. 383 | Casetext". casetext.com.
18. "The Comet Is Going, Going... But Might Not Be Gone – $210,000 Sale May Bring It to Fantasy Island". October 18, 1989.
19. "Paralyzed Ex-Diver Awarded $58.6 Million". December 3, 2003.
20. "Boy Killed in Fall from Ferris Wheel". AP News.
21. "Area Firm Buys Two Flags Over Niagara Grand Island Amusement Complex To Be Renamed 'Martins Fantasy Island'". January 17, 1994.
22. Hirsch, Rose Ann (March 2, 2011). Western New York Amusement Parks. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 9780738574561 – via Google Books.
23. "Silver Comet keeps thrill alive for fans of the Crystal Beach roller coaster". August 10, 2013.
24. Fink, James (May 14, 2016). "Fantasy Island bought by California company". Buffalo Business First. American City Business Journals. Retrieved May 14, 2016.
25. "Real Property Information". paytax.erie.gov.
26. "Complaints and petition signatures grow over Fantasy Island". spectrumlocalnews.com.
27. "Season pass holders complain about conditions at Fantasy Island". WGRZ. 16 July 2019.
28. "Multiple reports say Fantasy Island rides are being sold". February 19, 2020.
29. "Fantasy Island confirms it has closed". February 19, 2020.
30. "Fantasy Island to refund customers for 2020 season". wgrz.com. 7 April 2020.
31. Christmann, Samantha (2 July 2021). "Q&A: Gene Staples, new owner of Fantasy Island, 'fell in love with' the park". The Buffalo News. Retrieved 2021-07-07.
32. "Niagara Amusement Park and Splash World shares progress on rides". News 4 Buffalo. 2022-03-11. Retrieved 2022-03-12.
33. Bobby (16 June 2017). "Remember the Laser Loop?". westmifflinborough.com. Retrieved February 13, 2022.
34. "Amusement park to shut down after accident". El Universal. October 13, 2019. Retrieved February 13, 2022.
35. "Kennywood Park's former Laser Loop for sale in Mexico City". WTAE-TV. September 2, 2020. Retrieved February 13, 2022.
36. "What's new at Indiana Beach? Off Season Construction Update! April 10, 2021". YouTube. Thrill Ridez. April 11, 2021. Retrieved February 13, 2022.
37. Pastrick, Chris (February 10, 2022). "Kennywood's Laser Loop returns to U.S. — at New York amusement park". triblive.com. Retrieved February 13, 2022.
38. Nick (February 9, 2022). "Former Kennywood Coaster Coming to Niagara Amusement Park". Coaster101. Retrieved February 13, 2022.
39. ^ "Fans of Niagara Amusement Park & Splash World 🎢". Facebook. 2024-02-08. Retrieved 2024-02-08.
40. "Pendulum At Six Flags Great Adventure". www.greatadventurehistory.com. Retrieved 2022-10-04.
41. @niagara_park (May 28, 2024). "Enjoy this Time Lapse Video of the NEW Midway Mayhem being erected!..." (Tweet) – via Twitter.
42. Marden, Duane. "Miner Mike  (Knucklehead's Bowling & Family Entertainment)". Roller Coaster DataBase.
43. "86'd Rides vol 2: Hell Hole | The DoD3". domainofdeath3.com. Retrieved September 7, 2016.
44. Rides, Technical Park Amusement (December 20, 2018). "LOOP FIGHTER".
45. Streeter, Harold (June 28, 1962). "New Rides Show Imagination". News-Press. Retrieved October 18, 2020.

External links

• Official website
• IB Parks & Entertainment
• Niagara Amusement Park & Splash World at the Roller Coaster DataBase
• Lifeguards training, water's running at Splash World

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Category

• Operating amusement parks
• 1961 establishments in New York (state)
• Amusement parks opened in 1961
• Amusement parks in New York (state)
• Buildings and structures in Erie County, New York
• IB Parks & Entertainment
• Companies that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 1982
• Companies that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2020