Circus World had an interesting, but short, history in a competitive market.  The park began life as the Circus World Showcase in 1974 as a museum to document the history of the circus industry.  However, life got more difficult for the facility as Florida slowly turned into a tourist mecca.  During the decade:

  • Walt Disney World opened in 1971.
  • While it opened in 1959, Busch Gardens added attractions throughout the 1970's; culminating in an Arrow Corkscrew coaster (Python) in 1977 and a Schwarzkopf Silverpfiel (Scorpion) in 1981.
  • Sea World in Orlando opened in 1973 with easy access to the new Bee Line Expressway.

Tim Onosko's 1978 publication Funs Land U.S.A. said "Circus World is undergoing an interesting metamorphosis.  Originally it was intended as little more than a walk-through museum of circus lore.  Suddenly, partly because of strong competition from Walt Disney World and nearby Busch Gardens' Dark Continent Park, it began adding thrill rides.  The first of these was an Arrow Development back-and-forth Loop.  In all likelihood, Circus World will continue to add rides in order to develop into its own version of a modern theme park." (Page 143)

According to RCDB.com the park was first called the Circus World Showcase, then Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey Circus, Circus World and finally Boardwalk and Baseball.  The park bounced from owner to owner as it was part of a deal that sold the circus to Mattel in 1982, developer Jim Monaghan two years later and Harcourt Brace and Jovanovich in 1986.  HBJ removed the park's circus theming in favor of a Victorian-accented concept called Boardwalk and Baseball.  Miniscule reinvestment hurt all of HBJ's entertainment properties and they finally sold to Busch Entertainment in 1989.  Busch wanted little to do with the Boardwalk and Baseball and sold the rides the company did not relocate to their existing facilities.  The postcards are from various eras of the park and the brochure is from the Circus World time period.  

Florida has long been a home to traveling show people.  The warm winters make it an ideal place for circus and carnival winter quarters.  In addition, the long history of the state in the outdoor entertainment industry combined with the weather no doubt made the Ringling Brothers, Barnum & Bailey Circus feel that the area was a great spot for a new entertainment complex.

 

This Arrow Development Shuttle Loop coaster was the company's prototype and no doubt sold to the park for a very small price.  It went through several names while at the facility, but is best remembered as the Zoomerang.  The coaster opened in 1977 and after being sold opened at Fun Spot in Indiana for the 1991 season.  The coaster was known for having an elevator to take riders to the top of the six story structure.     

 

The Zierer Wave Swinger was a staple family flat ride addition at many amusement parks during the 1970's.  To the left is the Zoomerang's elevator and to the right is the Rosser wooden coaster and a parachute ride.  I do not know latter's the manufacturer, but for some reason my memory says it was a Bradley and Kaye.

 

The Vekoma Ferris Wheel, called Jumbo, stood around 150 feet tall.  The ride was later sold to Lagoon Park near Salt Lake City, Utah.

 

This wooden coaster opened as the Roaring Tiger in 1978, was briefly known as Michael Jackson's Thrill Coaster and ended life in the sunshine state as the Florida Hurricane.  The coaster was designed by Don Rosser, most likely with Bill Cobb providing assistance.  The layout was essentially a double out & back with plenty of fun airtime.  The ride was moved to Magic Springs in Arkansas for the 1992 season.  The layout was carefully preserved so that the coaster which once towered over the sandy ground of Florida now flies through the Ozark woods.  I could find no information on the carousel, if you can provide any it would be appreciated.

 

The Wiener Looping was a one-of-a-kind Shuttle Loop coaster from Anton Schwarzkopf.  The coaster came from Prater in Vienna and operated here for the 1984 and '85 seasons.  Riders were accelerated backwards out of the station, reversed directions and sped back through the station, through the loop, up the second spike and then did the entire course backwards.  The ride was sold to Flamingo Land in the United Kingdom after the 1985 season.  An Anton Schwarzkopf Santa Maria can also be seen in the bottom left-hand corner of the photo on the right.

 

Sources & Links

RCDB.com: Information on the park's history.

Mark Rosenzweig's Park Ride List on Rec.Roller-Coaster

O'Brien, Tim.  "Cypress Gardens Speculation Abounds."  Amusement Business  April 21, 2003

Onosko, Tim.  Fun Land  U.S.A.  Copyright 1978.

Lostparks.com.  Circus World and Boardwalk and Baseball articles.

 

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