Castles N' Coasters
Castles N' Coasters is an amusement park and family amusement center located in Phoenix, Arizona. The approximately 14-acre (57,000 m2) park features four outdoor 18-hole miniature golf courses, several rides, and an indoor video game arcade. The park was built in 1976, and is designed in a Middle-Eastern motif though other eras are featured such as the Wild West-themed miniature golf course and log flume ride.
| Previously known as Golf n' Stuff (1976-1992) | |
 | |
| Location | 9445 North Metro Parkway East, Phoenix, Arizona, U.S. |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 33.5723°N 112.1188°W |
| Opened | 1976 |
| General manager | Darsey Grantham |
| Slogan | Arizona's Finest Family Fun and Thrill Park |
| Operating season | All year |
| Attendance | 20,000 annually |
| Area | ~14 acres |
| Attractions | |
| Total | 14 |
| Roller coasters | 2 |
| Water rides | 2 |
| Website | Official website |
Other attractions includes a go-kart track, bumper cars, bumper boats, 2 roller coasters called Patriot and Desert Storm, some thrill rides including Magic Carpet, Sea Dragon, Free Fall and Sky Diver drop rides, and a log flume called Splashdown.
History
In 1976, the entertainment park originally opened under the name "Golf N' Stuff". It later turned into "Castles N' Coasters" in December 1991 after adding its Ride Park.[1] Also expanding to 14 acres which brought two roller coasters, Desert Storm and Patriot, as well as a multilevel arcade.
The bumper boats were originally batting cages.
Rides and attractions
Roller coasters
| Name | Year Opened | Manufacturer | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Desert Storm | 1992 | Hopkins Rides | A looping roller coaster that uses a simple lap bar restraint. It is one of the park's main attractions and has two loops. Manufactured by Hopkins. |
| Patriot | 1992 | Hopkins Rides | A mild roller coaster that is colored red, white and blue as its name suggests. It is centered around a large American flag and does two circuits. Manufactured by Hopkins. |
Amusement rides
| Name | Year Opened | Manufacturer | Model | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Splashdown | 1991 | Hopkins Rides | Log Flume | Features a logging town, tunnel, waterfalls, fountains, squirting African Elephant statues, native huts, and two large drops. The first drop measure 10 feet and the second drop measures 30 feet. |
| Skydiver | 2008 | Larson | Super Shot | A 120 foot tall free-fall drop tower. |
| Free Fall | 2012 | Moser | Spring Ride 5+5 | A smaller version of Sky Diver (above). |
| Sea Dragon | 2012 | Chance | Spring Ride 5+5 | A large swinging Viking ship. |
| Ram Rods | 2000 | Majestic | Bumper Cars | Riders steer their cars in any direction across the metal rectangular floor bumping other cars out of their way. |
| Magic Carpet | 2003 | Preston & Barbieri | Music Express | A quick circular ride that travels clockwise around an undulating track and goes through "Aladdin's Castle. Goes forward and backward. |
| Carousel | 1970 | Philadelphia Toboggan Company | Carousel | Features 60 hand painted horses and circus animals |
| Flying Bugs & Spinning Tops | 2002 | Zamperla | Jump Around | Kiddie rides located near the queue line for Desert Storm. |
| Dixie Jr. Wheel | 1992 | Eyerly | Miniature Ferris Whell | |
- Li'l Indy is a go-cart track that passes under the Desert Storm roller coaster (above).
- Bumper Boats
- Arcades
- Miniature Golf features four courses. Each have trick shots, multiple themes, and many water features.
Incidents
On May 1, 2005, eleven people were left stranded for nearly three hours after a free fall ride malfunctioned. Reports indicate that the floorless, four-sided passenger cabin jerked as it ascended the tower. The cabin, guided by cables, normally drops to the bottom of the 120-foot-tall tower and comes to a stop, however when it reached the halfway point on its ascent, it made loud screeching noises and came to a sudden halt. It took firefighters nearly three hours to rescue the riders, who were locked in their seats about 30 feet above the ground.[2]
The park's manager says that the ride would be closed until investigators determined what caused the malfunction.
On March 30, 2015, two young boys suffered burns when the bumper boat they were in caught fire.[3]
On November 28, 2015, a twelve-year-old boy named Dominick Leal was seriously injured after falling from the park’s Splashdown attraction after standing during the ride, and required immediate emergency brain surgery.[4]
On May 15, 2021, fire crews rescued 22 people that were stuck on the Desert Storm rollercoaster. Investigators said the cars on the coaster stalled and the riders were stuck about 20 feet up on a horizontal loop. A long bolt broke and scraped against the wheel railing where the coaster eventually grinded to a halt. [5]
References
- "On a Roll". Newspapers.com. September 27, 1991. Retrieved 2023-10-01.
- Bland, Karina (May 6, 2005). "Pressure is on for state inspections of rides". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2023-10-01.
- "2 boys suffer serious burns after bumper boat fire at amusement - FOX 10 News | fox10phoenix.com". Archived from the original on 2015-04-03. Retrieved 2015-04-08.
- Woodworth, Whitney M. (November 29, 2015). "Boy, 12, hurt on ride at Castles N' Coasters". Arizona Republic. Retrieved 2023-09-30.
- "22 people rescued after roller coaster gets stuck at Phoenix's Castles N' Coasters".