The History of Canada's Wonderland l The 1980s

[@RecMan2010]

Great video! I was there on Victoria Day 1988 - it was complete bedlam! It took us more than two hours to get in, and when we finally did it was so crowded we couldn’t get on any of the rides. We stayed for about an hour and then called it quits. My poor Dad, who had just arrived back in Mississauga after dropping us off, had to drive all the way back to pick us up again - no cellphones in those days! The next day I read in the paper about the guy drowning and the fights afterwards. We were lucky. I also worked there as a ride operator in the early 90’s. I worked at Racing Rivers the first year, and then the Zumba Flume, Shiva’s Fury and Great Whale of China the next year. Good Times!

[@canadianraunchycomedies]

Zumba Flume was my goto ride and skyfliyer

[@clairefunnell8481]

Wow! I'm speechless. What a fantastic history lesson. Real nice trip down memory lane. I remember most of it. Can t believe it's been 40yrs already. Happy 40th anniversary Canadas Wonderland.

[@emmanuelskywalkers9272]

#MOREBUMPSAHEAD. I remember Canada's Wonderland a lot. I went to school with Rodney Joyce, after he died it bug me a lot walking around Wonder Mount after Rodney died, I think about Rodney, he was two or three years older & me. I remember in 80s at Canada's Wonderland. Thank you sharing this with me, I remember first time I saw the Bat ride, I remember blue ice cream , early 1900s ride, Smurf village, many more too.

[@seanhuynh5184]

The level of detail in this video is insane

[@more_bumps_ahead]

My favorite comment probably ever ☺️

[@canadude6401]

excellent video! First went there in 1983. Been there about 20 times since. I have very vivid memories of the unusual Medieval music coming from those mushroom style speakers. 15:30 IMO, it was a really nice feature of the park. Kinda took you into a different world. It's a shame there isn't any music now.

[@restlessbohemian26]

That was a fun watch. I'm sure this will find it's audience over time!

[@more_bumps_ahead]

Slow and steady

[@johnpatterson4272]

Substantial research and videography on your part 1st Drop. I worked there (at CWL) in the early and mid 80s. It is a treasured place in my young-adult memory which connected me with Toronto and a broader life of potential outside my upbringing in a smaller Ontario town. I was there for the Kingswood opening, the Stand-up Coaster opening, the White Water Rapids accident, and the change from general admission with ride tickets to an all-park pass. Glorious yet hectic and sometimes confusing days, now part of Canadian history. Please do a Kingswood Music Theatre origins special in the near future.

[@canadianraunchycomedies]

heres Rogers show in 87 kzbin.info/www/bejne/rpPbhn6bmbehr9ksi=nG-QEKGcOXh9ZtF8

[@walterwhite3407]

I miss the old wonderland.

[@yukonstriker1703]

Fantastic documentary. At 55 I'm old enough to recall riding Minebuster in it's glory days of the original 3 airtime bunny hills after the drop with no seatbelts, only a buzz-bar to hold you in. Wasn't aware of the rowdiness, the fights, the child diddlers in washrooms, the shooting or the drowning. Thanks again

[@more_bumps_ahead]

It was a pleasure living through and making this series - very happy you enjoyed it!

[@junkbox_]

If you have seen The Dead Zone (1983) much of it was filmed in NOTL and parts of the GTA closer to Toronto. The movie was filmed in winter 1982 and the pre-accident scene was shot inside Canada's Wonderland. Christopher Walken has his first mental episode while riding the Ghoster Coaster. In the background you can see a baron park, mid winter, with Wild Beast as well as quick glimpses of Wonder Mountain in the background. In the movie they dress up the inside of the Ghoster Coaster station with a striped carnival pagoda tent and the staff member is an old man who is a carnie.

[@more_bumps_ahead]

I have a special video forthcoming that pays homage to the Dead Zone while tying in a little Niagara and wonderland folklore. Its a fun little project and can’t wait to share!

[@wrestlingwithjay3770]

Flashback in the 80's

[@britbeaudry9172]

That cranking sound The Bat makes when it climbs each side of the ride is so iconic.

[@DolOnTheDial]

My older brother and sister worked there when it first opened, they use to get free passes for me all the time, I can't count the number of times I hung out all day in the park. I use to know it like the back of my hand. Back then, there were no franchise type restraunts like subways or pizza pizza it was all themed to food from different countries. The pirate show in the pond at Medival Faire was amazing, one of my fondest memories is watching it with my dad the year before he passed away.

[@canadianraunchycomedies]

miss them days NO franchise type restraunts

[@eshep71]

I remember driving up to Wonderland in the early 90s. That mountain was all you can see for a few KM. There was nothing around. Now, with the nearby highrises and new style rollercoasters, you barely notice the mountain.

[@daviddoyle8956]

That sucks.

[@BadmanBadman-rs2iy]

@@daviddoyle8956really does man I remember growing up Early 2000s their was so greenery in Toronto and the areas now it’s jus a pats

[@dakotanorth1640]

I remember as a tween, walking through the construction site of Canada's Wonderland. I was so privileged in those days. Now it's been years since I was there.

[@shanedaiken2831]

I really like the effort and thoroughness of this mini documentary. Well done. I was lucky enough to be there July 81 and.every summer throughout the 1980s. Thanks.

[@dariusq8894]

Interesting. I went to CWL several times as a child during the 80's and never realized how new the park was. It was much closer to home than Marine Land or Ontario Place and had better rides. After my family went to Walt Disney World, the luster of the park seemed to fade but it's impressive to see how successful it's been over the years.

[@willstuart4504]

Such a well thought out and in-depth history lesson of Canada's greatest Theme Park, 👏👏👏 I'd add perhaps one of North America's best as well... Wonderland was a huge part of nearly every summer for myself and friends growing up. The fact we lived in North Bay which was only about 2-3 hrs north, played the biggest role for our accessibility to a theme park of that magnitude. * SOOO happy the original site was rejected East of Toronto and especially the Niagara region.... lol, don't think I would've made it down there half as often had Wonderland been built down there. Being so close to the Park made waking up early and driving down for a day of thrills and excitement, then driving home that same night quite doable for young enthusiasts. Definitely got lucky with the location. Sadly I haven't been to CWL for some years now, but my kids certainly have enjoyed the Park many times in the past few years. Great job on the video friend!! Cheers

[@more_bumps_ahead]

Glad to share these memories! Thank you for watching!

[@mitch1352]

Great video, thank you for the in-depth research and presentation! I was born in 1979 and I've been going my whole life. I have very early memories of visiting in the 1980's. Particularly Hannah Barbara Land, when Smurf Village, Bedrock, and the aquatic theatre were there. My parents have polaroid photos of tiny me on things like Swan Lake :) I also remember later visits in the 1980's when the Bat and Sky Rider were new. I was too afraid as a kid to ride anything big, but I conquered it all in my teens in the 1990's. Now I'm a coaster enthusiast and it's still my home park!

[@alimahou]

Interestingly, I've been so curious about Wonderland's beginnings lately and this was JUST posted. Awesome lol..

[@more_bumps_ahead]

Very happy to have shared and thank you!

[@bakerfx4968]

Is there a 2000s one yet? My kids and I are loving these videos!! Great work dude

[@more_bumps_ahead]

Thank you very much and glad you enjoyed these! The next one should be ready in time for the opening of the season in a few weeks from now.

[@ThemeParkAvenue]

This is a fantastic, informative video! You deserve way more subs. Keep up the great work!

[@more_bumps_ahead]

Thank you!!

[@zoso2o5o]

Nice deep dive and solid research. I learned so much.

[@pattykochenower4222]

I remember the stand up coaster there!!! Great video !

[@more_bumps_ahead]

We miss it still!

[@canadianraunchycomedies]

sky flyier or something like that

[@BTM866]

Great video!

[@marcopisani9289]

That was a fun watch. Our family would go every year and I’ve got many memories of those early years. Great information about the history and what it took to get it all up and running. I had no idea of the origin story. I really enjoyed this video. Thanks 🍻

[@more_bumps_ahead]

Thank you - you nailed every reason why we made this film!

[@crystalheartstar]

The DragonFyre was my favourite rollercoaster! Seconded only by the Python at Busch Gardens in Tampa, Florida. My family and I were living in the "Tronna Burbs" at the time and I was in the mid teens when the park opened, and I remember all the excitement!

[@more_bumps_ahead]

Look out a film celebrating the history of Dragon Fyre soon!

[@WonderlandWeekly]

Awesome awesome awesome video!!!

[@themeparkreconnoiter9787]

1981 was the big year for Canada. Over millions of Fireworks light up in 15 major cities. Disco was still going on. My Bloody Valentine aired on the Big screen. And This park opened to the public as the largest theme park in the country.

[@gamefreak9]

Great video. Been going since 1984 and used to work there as well. Lots of memories. Keep up the great work!

[@jaerockchalk3216]

wow this video really takes me back to my youth this is so well done thanks for sharing ! ill always love the merth mobile from Waynes World in the middle of the one path .

[@more_bumps_ahead]

Very happy you enjoyed it!

[@lundier]

So fun to watch! Great work and keep it up :)

[@junkbox_]

I witnessed rollback on Dragon Fire in 1989. It is apparently completely undocumented. It happened on a long weekend, but I don't remember if it was Victoria Day or Labor Day. It is possible that it was the same day as frisbee guy, I was there that day as well as several other times with fights/police. I was lined up for the HUSS spinny standing ride called Wild Nightmare, looking east across the grassy clearing directly towards Dragon Fire doing circuits in the background. The HUSS ride line took well over an hour to board, and in the midst of the queue about 6 of us witnessed Dragon Fire rollback as it slowed, stopped, then reversed back into the final corkscrew after clearing that section. The brake run locked the train up and the thing rolled back immediately. People in line freaked out. Eventually the fire department set up shop as by now over 100 or 200 of us in line across the way were all looking across the field at Dragon Fire which is now stuck in corkscrew and the people in the back car of the train were about 70% inverted. Eventually I got on the ride and after that I didn't see Dragon Fire again because dusk was setting in and I just chose to go back to the grassy hill to camp out for fireworks in another hour or so. This is a very undocumented rollback event in 1989 during one of the 2 seasonal long weekends which both have fireworks at the end of the night. I had a pass and so I went every week or two and that is why I don't know whether or not it was Victoria or Labor Day because I went 40 or more times a year. I do know there were fights inside the park that day but by that point every long weekend at CW had fights and that is why I quit going to that dump in the early 1990s. That rollback incident was crazy. That used to happen to The Vampire at Kentucky Kingdom which was a reversed clone of The Bat by Vekoma. That ride in Louisville was removed over a decade ago and was replaced with a shuttle loop. The 2 adult wooden coasters at CW are due for hybrid steel tracking and re-launch. I can't go to such a violent amusement park. I can't tolerate that, I would end up in jail in two shakes of a lamb's tail because I don't put up with any TNB or monkeyshines.

[@junkbox_]

Correction, I believe the rollback incident may have been 1990 the year of Jet Scream. I have combed the web and I cannot find a peep about any of it. It could have been overshadowed because there was a police incident that day because of a brawl near Timberwolf Falls near the bridge where the Vortex station was built a season later.

[@905Metalhead]

Can’t wait for the 90s version :)

[@rajuma]

Awesome enjoyable video!! Great job!!!

[@SharpCinema]

When did they turn off the top two waterfalls on Wonder Mountain? It's so much grander with them

[@alexgeorge501]

Thank you, thank you, Thank you! I can't wait for the rest of this series to take off! (Happy 40th Wonderland!)

[@ThomasC-Crazy4NiagaraFalls]

Very interesting video. I visited Canada's Wonderland only once and that was in early June 1981, shortly after it opened. I was only 11 and don't remember much other than the huge mountain and waterfall. I am from Ohio and had no idea of the the Ohio connection with President Taft and Kings Island. Very cool. My family visited Kings Island the first year they had The Beast and I still have my baseball hat and pin that read, "I Rode It...The Beast". I live in northern Ohio, less than an hour away from Cedar Point. Have you ever visited Cedar Point? It is a great park and I just spent a couple days there two weeks ago. Thanks for the video!

[@junkbox_]

When Racing Rivers was new I went down Watersnake. My friend was behind me in line and followed me down the same tube a short time after I left. I had been eating at Barney's Burgers, as well as a lot of carbonated drinks, greasy popcorn, etc... I make it about 1/3 of the way down Watersnake when I roll back my knees behind my head and blow the loudest and most violent fart of the entire summer. As I pop out of the end of the tube at the bottom, I notice that the attendant as well as absolutely everybody who was waiting at the exit for their loved ones, were all laughing hysterically and the whole scene was pandemonium. Then 15 seconds later my friend shoots out of the same tube and he is clearly suffocating to death from the trapped nerve gas in the right tube slide of Watersnake. By the time he exited the ride I watched 2 other people come out of that side and they were suffocating and completely paniced and disgusted. The nerve gas was trapped in the mid section of the tube. That was awesome!

[@randywest2591]

Randy West Love ❤️ Canada's Wonderland in Vaughan, Ontario Canada 🇨🇦 & Randy West First Time in 2016.

[@sylvainbrousseau44]

Excellent. Thank you

[@komradekat]

Did anyone else catch they used Robert Smith from The Cure's photo at 12:37? I'm pretty sure that Robert Smith is from England 😂

[@junkbox_]

In the mid 80s The Minebuster was sponsored by Sweet Marie. The sign at the ride entrance said that the coaster was a product of the Philadelphia Toboggan Company and was sponsored by Sweet Marie. At some point Minebuster was disassociated with PTC and all the wiki type stuff only says it was an in-house build. The whole scenario is confusing. Sweet Marie was similar to Oh Henry, they also sponsored the "Canadian Concert Listings" segment on MuchMusic until about 1987/88. This segment ran like a bumper. The piece had a silent peroxide blonde heavy metal chick who walks into the frame and then takes a bite of a Sweet Marie bar and then just held the pose in silence.. then she starts chewing and all of a sudden the opening riff to You Really Got Me by Van Halen started. This commercial was unrelated but was aired during the Minebuster sponsorship tenure. And if it means anything, Humpty Dumpty potato chips sponsored/co-sponsored the fireworks celebrations at Canada's Wonderland in the mid to late 80s and possibly into the early 90s.

[@more_bumps_ahead]

There was a fair amount of sponsorship and product tie ins that did not make the cut in this and other parts of the series. Most of Kingswood’s concert history was cut as well. However I am considering including this and more info as has come to light in generous postings ;) in the full length cut of this film.

[@ChrisTheAppleOne]

Crazy to see all the performers and people taking pride in making this park magical. You don’t see that today! Instead it seems like a lot of the employees probably have sunstroke and heat exhaustion 😅 I don’t blame them tho!

[@more_bumps_ahead]

A tough crew back in the day!

[@censortube7160]

@ 0:59 My crew built a house in this subdivision from this point of view, 2 storey, 3 bath home..

[@mikelynch-zeroviewz2507]

I remember seeing The Smiths and Billy Bragg in the mid 80s ... great bands and Morrisey threw a few disparaging remarks about the shallowness of the Thompson Twins lol

[@canadude6401]

That is Morrissey on the right at 27:54 I saw him in concert at Kingswood. Awesome show.

[@BmanTheChamp]

Boy, this was a helluva start, I can't wait for the rest! By the way, wouldn't this have been more appropriate to drop on July 7th, since that's when Wonderland's supposed to open?

[@more_bumps_ahead]

This was intended to be released on the date of the 40th anniversary, so it's delayed by three weeks regretfully.

[@BmanTheChamp]

@@more_bumps_ahead Oh, I see. I just thought you would be waiting for Wonderland to actually open before dropping this.

[@BadmanBadman-rs2iy]

Thank you for the In dept video about my home town sad Fires ruined a lot of potential parks we would’ve had / ir being closed could’ve helped traffic

[@junkbox_]

I was there on 2 of the fireworks days that had violent incidents. The demographics of the park somehow turned even worse in the early 2000s and now the whole area is a densely populated crime incubator.

[@more_bumps_ahead]

It’s pretty close to Brampton after all 😉

[@ibeleaf]

my dad and grandfather both worked on the mountain

[@StamfordBridge]

Interesting that the development threat of the park we now know as Canada’s Wonderland was seen as American cultural imperialism.

[@meskidei]

this background music goes so hard

[@more_bumps_ahead]

Very proud of this mix!

[@carmenlopes3737]

this is very interesting

[@more_bumps_ahead]

All the memories!

[@StamfordBridge]

Can’t say I saw a President Taft lead-in coming! 😂

[@more_bumps_ahead]

Nor did I haha! However the connection now I can't escape from!

[@daviddoyle8956]

The Prince of darkness Justin as a kid.

[@daviddoyle8956]

I remember in the mid 80's you could go under the mountain they made a Smurf village you could walk up the mountain but I guess the Smurf village is long gone? and you can't go up the mountain anymore or behind the falls. Last time I was there was 1997 a few days after Princess Diana was murdered my friend and I went on the Dragon Fire 3 times in a row the 3rd it started rain and lighting we talked the guy into letting on and he said your ass. The ride through the mountain was different this time around I was 11, 12 mid 80's now mid 20's was not the same feel the funny part is besides going on the Dragon Fire the only other coaster that gave us that rush was the Ghoster Coaster we could barely fit in but we did it. The Bat I went on and again the last time but never went on it was when that ride was new mid 80's I was in late public school lets just say I closed my eyes and held on when The Bat went back wards didn't like that much. Another person commented on here there is condo's built around there now can barely se the Mountain anymore that's a shame you used to see that for miles even before you got to the park.

[@TrackZero]

Hearing it said as "Wild Beast" hurts the soul. "Will-duh-beast", please.

[@more_bumps_ahead]

It is very hard not to say it 'correctly' in these videos ;)

[@BadmanBadman-rs2iy]

Bud he made a fucking 40 min video on our Country’s sad Entertainment Be happy Mad over a typo

[@richarda38]

Why did they stop people from walking up Wonder Mountain?

[@more_bumps_ahead]

After Thunder Run was built inside Wonder mountain it was determined to be structurally unsafe for the pubic walk up the mountain. The path behind the falls was closed shorty after that as well.

[@Thirsty_Fox]

@@more_bumps_ahead Worth it, Thunder Run is awesome

[@mikedrown2721]

👍👌👏😊❤️🇺🇲

[@justbuildgunpla1315]

35:00 "regretfully, as non-whites". Better times. At least they weren't afraid to describe criminals back then for fear of "raciscm".

[@mixmastertoronto]

Hold up! It cost $125 million to build and they sold it for $90 million in 1986 ???

[@more_bumps_ahead]

correct

[@deadon4847]

Refused to ever set foot in the place and never have.

[@GWNorth-db8vn]

My friends and i got chased out of there 4 wheeling when they were building the place. I've never gone there when it was in business. They won't let people in the parking lot during fireworks, and that's about the only use I'd have for the place.

[@outdooraddventure]

Construction of Canada's Wonderland took place April 2nd 1979 my birthday is April 2nd 1978 that makes me exactly one year older than Canada's Wonderland fun facts

[@Grayfl1cks]

The monotonous voice, the random imagery, the overly detailed yet not relevant information. I loved it!!!

[@themeparkreconnoiter9787]

Back When Paramount owns this park, They only do not have the Star Trek Characters, back when they introduced Fear Fest they probably had creepy characters wandering around the park. such as "Harry Warden" If you're not a horror fan or a Canadian, or both. "Harry Warden is a Killer Miner from the 1981 Canadian Slasher Film "My Bloody Valentine" distributed and released by Paramount Pictures, also Produced by Canadian Film Development. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Warden