Boardwalk Fun Park

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Boardwalk Family Fun Park
LocationGrand Prairie, Texas, United States
Coordinates32°45′40″N 96°59′49″W / 32.761°N 96.997°W / 32.761; -96.997Coordinates: 32°45′40″N 96°59′49″W / 32.761°N 96.997°W / 32.761; -96.997
OpenedJuly 1982
ClosedNovember 1992
Previous namesWhite Water Grand Prairie (1982-1985)
StatusClosed
Area28-acre (110,000 m2)[1]
24-acre (97,000 m2) (as White Water)[2]
Water slides15 rides & 1 roller coaster water slides

Boardwalk Fun Park was a 28-acre (110,000 m2) amusement park located in northeast Grand Prairie, Texas near the intersection of Belt Line Road and Interstate 30. It was originally a water park.

History[]

The park was originally built and developed in 1982 by Herschend Family Entertainment Corporation as "White Water" in the Grand Prairie Entertainment district, along with Lion Country Safari and the .[citation needed]

The site was purchased and closed by Wet 'n Wild Inc. at the end of 1985 to reduce competition at their park 5 miles (8.0 km) away in nearby Arlington, Texas.[2][3] The closure was condemned by the city council who were granted a restraining order preventing dismantling of the park.[4][5] The council dropped their attempt to gain control of the park after a task force determined that it would be too expensive.[6]

The park was redeveloped in 1991 and 1992 as Boardwalk Fun Park.[7] The new owners used much of the old infrastructure and rides in the new park.[1] The park suffered delays in construction and ride certifications,[citation needed] and it opened in July 1992. In September 1992, an accident on the park's roller coaster, the Pipeline Express, threw a 12-year-old girl approximately 35 feet (11 m) into an unused pool beneath the ride causing her to slip into a coma and suffer brain trauma.[8][9] The coaster was closed following the accident.[10] The victims parents sued the park for negligence and deceptive trade practices.[11]

The park aimed at reopening for the 1993 season, which did not occur.[10][12] After sitting closed for several years, in 1996 the park's land was purchased by and the infrastructure and rides were removed in April 1997.[13] The Grand Prairie Ford car dealership was constructed on the site in 1999.[14]

Rides and attractions[]

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b O'Brien, Tim (July 13, 1992). "Boardwalk Family Fun Park set for July 23 premiere". : 17.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b Richter, Marice (December 18, 1985). "WHITE WATER WASHED UP? Arlington rival plans to buy 2 theme parks". The Dallas Morning News (Home Final ed.). p. 34A.
  3. ^ Ragland, James (January 4, 1986). "Rival Will Shut Down White Water on I-30". The Dallas Morning News (Home Final ed.). p. 33A.
  4. ^ Riner, Bobette (February 1, 1986). "Grand Prairie Seeks to Keep Park Open". The Dallas Morning News (Home Final ed.). p. 43A.
  5. ^ Ragland, James (February 6, 1986). "Judge Extends Order on White Water". The Dallas Morning News (Home Final ed.). p. 30A.
  6. ^ Ragland, James (February 12, 1986). "Grand Prairie Drops Park Effort". The Dallas Morning News (HOME FINAL ed.). pp. 26A.
  7. ^ Johnson, Jason B. (December 20, 1991). "Grand Prairie to gain amusement park $10 million project being built at site of facility that closed in '85". The Dallas Morning News (Home Final ed.). p. 33A.
  8. ^ Scott, Steve (September 10, 1992). "Park accident still unsolved Investigation of girl's fall from roller coaster continues". The Dallas Morning News (Home Final ed.). p. 31A.
  9. ^ "The best Christmas present'/Brain damage victim, 11, recovering after park accident". Houston Chronicle (3 STAR ed.). December 6, 1992. p. 11.
  10. ^ Jump up to: a b Pierre, Nancy St. (March 9, 1993). "Park to scrap ride on which girl hurt". The Dallas Morning News (Home Final ed.). p. 15A.
  11. ^ Michel, Karen Lincoln (April 17, 1993). "Parents sue amusement park Girl suffered brain damage in '92 fall from roller coaster". The Dallas Morning News (Home Final ed.). pp. 40A.
  12. ^ Pierre, Nancy St. (June 15, 1993). "GP amusement park still closed High hopes for Boardwalk marred by girl's injury". The Dallas Morning News (Home Final ed.). p. 19A.
  13. ^ Chuang, Tamara (April 15, 1997). "GP Ford dealership still on hold". The Dallas Morning News (ARLINGTON MORNING NEWS ed.). p. 2B.
  14. ^ Cox, Bob (July 7, 1999). "Work Set to Begin on New Ford Dealership in Grand Prairie, Texas". Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
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