Boardwalk Fun Park

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.

Boardwalk Family Fun Park
LocationGrand Prairie, Texas, United States
Coordinates32.761°N 96.997°W / 32.761; -96.997
OpenedJuly 1982
ClosedNovember 1992
Previous namesWhite Water Grand Prairie (1982-1985)
StatusDefunct[[]]
Area28-acre (110,000 m2)[1]
24-acre (97,000 m2) (as White Water)[2]
Water slides15 rides & 1 roller coaster water slides

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 Palace of Wax.

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, 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 Automotive Investment Group 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. O'Brien, Tim (July 13, 1992). "Boardwalk Family Fun Park set for July 23 premiere". Amusement Business: 17.
  2. 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. 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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