Celebration City
| Celebration City | |
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| Location | Branson, Missouri, U.S. |
| Coordinates | 36°38′52″N 93°17′45″W / 36.64765°N 93.2959°WCoordinates: 36°38′52″N 93°17′45″W / 36.64765°N 93.2959°W |
| Owner | Herschend Family Entertainment Corporation |
| Opened | 2003 |
| Closed | 2008 |
| Previous names | Branson USA |
| Operating season | May until October |
| Rides | 30+ total
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Celebration City was a "night-time theme park" located in Branson, Missouri, USA. Celebration City was themed after America in the 20th century, with areas based on Route 66, Small-town America in the 1900s, and a beachside boardwalk in the 1920s. As a "sister park" to Herschend Family Entertainment's Silver Dollar City theme park located nearby, Celebration City was meant to continue the day where Silver Dollar City's 19th century theming left off. Celebration City opened in the afternoon into the evening, with the operating day capped off by a laser and fireworks display.
The park featured many rides, shows, and attractions. Celebration City's operating season ran from May until mid-September.
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[edit] History
An amusement park named Branson USA was opened on the site in 1999. The park struggled in its early years and closed in 2001. Herschend Family Entertainment Corporation purchased the park in 2002 with plans to redevelop and reopen it. The Branson Courier reported at a cost of over $40 million. Branson USA was reopened as Celebration City in 2003, after a redesign and expansion. The park was equipped with a laser, water and fireworks show, a wooden roller coaster, and a brand new log flume ride in 2008.
On Friday October 24, 2008, Herschend Family Entertainment Corporation announced that the park would finish out its 2008 season and not return for 2009, due to unmet financial expectations. It closed its doors for good on Saturday, October 25, 2008. Herschend continues to operate the nearby Silver Dollar City and White Water attractions, and in announcing the closure, stated "...the company is already exploring various new development concepts for the site including an aquarium, other family attractions, re-theming the current park and also, destination retail and dining".
[edit] Rides
Rides included:
- Accelerator, a S&S double shot tower double shot tower
- Bumble Bee, a kiddie ride
- Fireball, a swinging ride
- Flying Aces, a kiddie ride
- Flying Circus, a Larson Flying Scooter ride (which has been moved to Herschend owned Wild Adventures)[1]
- Freefall, a milder version of Accelerator
- Jack Rabbit, a steel roller coaster (Built by E&F Miler Industries in 2003 which has been moved to Herschend owned Wild Adventures as Viking Voyage)
- Orbiter
- Paris Wheel
- Roaring Falls, a Shoot-the-Chutes ride
- Route 66 Speedway, a large go-kart track
- Scrambler (which has been moved to Herschend owned Wild Adventures) [1]
- The Stinger
- Slick's Slightly Used Cars, bumper cars
- Swing & Twirl
- The Electric Star Wheel, a Ferris wheel
- The Flying Carpet
- The Frisco Line
- The Ozark Wildcat, a gci wooden roller coaster built in 2003
- Thunderbolt, a steel roller coaster
- Vintage Carousel, a carousel
- Shoot-D-Chute, a log flume
[edit] Former Rides
- Chaos
[edit] External links
- Herschend Family Entertainment
- SDCFans.com - A Fansite
- Video of Celebration City's nightly laser and fireworks display
[edit] References
- ^ a b "Wild Adventures making big plans for 2010". Valdosta Daily Times. http://www.valdostadailytimes.com/local/local_story_280233356.html. Retrieved 2009-10-08.
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