The Troubled History of Six Flags Atlantis: Closed by a Hurricane...

Join us on Expedition Extinct as we look at the troubled history of Six Flags Atlantis. Originally planned to be called Atlantis: The Water Kingdom, this forgotten Six Flags Water Park in Hollywood, Florida had a difficult time during construction before lawsuits, accidents, and an eventual sale plagued the park's very short existence. A closure which was often blamed on a Hurricane.
There is very little footage of this park available. If you have any from the park's lifetime let me know in the comments. I would love to see it!
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#sixflags #troubled #abandoned

[@lsrose]

Every time I see a video about a well loved theme park closing to make room for a a shopping mall, the words of Joni Mitchell come to mind. “They paved paradise to put up a parking lot.” I wonder how the shopping mall is doing now?

[@lauriesmith5008]

It’s probably closed

[@JustClaribel]

Its literally just a shopping plaza..TJMaxx, Home Depot, and stores like that.

[@dayrebecca3593]

Yes the shopping plaza is still there, nothing special though. Just many different stores, some restaurants and a movie theater. As a local I would love to have had this water park still around

[@EminaSirena]

You're telling me I've been robbed of a whole water park for a shopping plaza 😢

[@ryebread4369]

It will be redone many more times before the world sets it in stone. Maybe the next thing they build, after the next thing, will leave a longer and truly brighter mark on the world💛

[@XxHannahTehGREATxX]

My parents both worked at that park right after high school and that's actually how they met and ultimately why I exist :)

[@elizabethwitt2621]

Aw!

[@redheadgeek9225]

I LOVED this place! I was 9 when it opened and lived in Boca Raton, one of the cities within short driving distance. We were there every summer, and it was awesome! I remember my mom bringing me, my brother, and what felt like a dozen of our friends to the water park several times every summer. She would lay back and read a book while us preteens went crazy running around all day. By the time we left, all us kids were sleeping in the car on the way home. We moved out of FL before Atlantis closed, and we were really sad when our friends back in FL told us Atlantis closed. During my teen years, we lived in AZ, where there were a lot more waterparks to choose from every summer, but Atlantis always held a special place in our hearts. When my mom passed away in 2013, my friends told me that one of their fondest memories of my mom was her driving all us kids several times during the summer, every summer, for the four years we lived there, to Atlantis. My dad was a stock broker at the time and making decent money, so my mom would pay for all of our friends to get in as well as ourselves. I didn't know how much that simple kindness affected my friends until after she had passed. Atlantis will always remain to me not only wonderful memories of an incredible water park, but how kindness by others can affect us for the rest of our lives.

[@indiscriminatethoughts6269]

Wow this is crazy. I too lived in boca from 1983-1990. I went to six flags frequently when I was around age 12-13. I remember when NNOTB played there!!! I also remember the coke/pepsi taste challenge! I also moved before it closed, to CT in 1990 And was deeply saddened to know it had been destroyed! Funny, my dad was a commodities broker!! He passed in 2014. My mom in 2020. It’s amazing how fast all that time flew by!!!

[@elizabethwitt2621]

Aw! Love this story? What a great mom you had.

[@lizard3755]

I'm sorry for your loss. Your mom sounds like an awesome lady. Sometimes we don't know how much memories will end up meaning to us until long after we've made them.

[@Jason_N_Paradise]

Memories, I sure do remember Six Flags Atlantis! Growing up here in South Florida it was a jewel at the time, and huge teen hangout spot! Thanks from us South Florida locals for taking us down memory lane!

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Im glad you enjoyed it!

[@crittermia77]

It truly was the best waterpark back then.

[@DE-GEN-ART]

Florida man approves

[@CowboyLuigi]

I'm kinda bummed I never got to see it. Well, I guess I’ll always have C.B Smith Park, Rapids, and so on!

[@butterbook]

@@CowboyLuigi C. B. Smith the OG!

[@davidbilu1166]

That wavepool traumatized me as a kid. When I was 8 or 9 years old the wave machine started sucking me closer and closer towards it instead of pushing me away. I freaked out as it pulled me past the “warning rope” and remember grabbing the side concrete and holding on for dear life until a lifeguard came, but for at least 2 minutes I honestly thought I was going to either drown or be crushed by machinery!

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

I think we’ve all had that feeling somewhere

[@sullysullivan1282]

fun fact, those waves are made by a concrete box filled with compressed air. (blower releases air into box, air pushes down on water, push = wave) so, if you somehow made it past 2 or 3 bars and grills, you'd end up in a concrete box with a little porthole filling said box with compressed air. It became a lot less scary when I figured out it was just....air pushing water around.

[@TracyA123]

As someone who lost their home park (Opryland, USA) to a shopping mall development I can completely understand the outrage of the locals. This looked like a fun place..and the cheesy commercials are so 1980's 😀. Also, 8.95 a day was a great price for local families to bring the kids and have a great time. Today, I can't afford the amount of money needed to get one of us into DW or Universal...much less bring the whole family.

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

yeah another shame.

[@TracyA123]

@@ExpeditionThemePark Great video! Obscure little water park..kudos on being so thorough! I'm always mystified by how you get so much info on places like this. ☺

[@lsrose]

I consider Opryland to be my home park even tho I’m from Kentucky. As far as I can tell, they paved paradise to put up a shopping mall. I’m sure the locals still wonder why that decision was made. We all know what’s happening to malls across the country. There is not nor will there be another park like Opryland. Went to the mall once. I wasn’t impressed and didn’t go back.

[@TracyA123]

@@lsrose Yeah. It's such a stupid decision they made. Opryland was paradise.😞

[@PeppermintPJ90025]

So sad. And that it was replaced by a *shopping center* is disgusting.

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

A shame’

[@danandtab7463]

I lived there eons ago...I feel like since then, everything down that way was replaced by shopping centers...including shopping centers lol

[@nonna_sof5889]

I mean, I suppose it's better then the usually story of. It was closed to build this thing, but that thing was never built so the land sat abandoned.

[@carvahaunter122]

At least there’s a Dave and Busters there

[@ThrillsofColdplay]

I hate that when places like this are replaced buy condos and shops it’s such a waste

[@zenwithanedge]

I grew up going to Atlantis in the 80s and saw a bunch of bands there before they were big. It was a huge part of my childhood and it hurt my heart when I watched it get torn down for more shopping centers. Thanks for this walk down memory lane.

[@joelawson3638]

Musta been there at the same time who knows lol

[@CrazyDiamnd76]

This episode hits close to home. I grew up about a mile away and spent many a summer day here. The last thing South Florida needed was more shopping, but they got it. One of the coolest features about this park, that I have yet to see anywhere else, were these running troughs of water through the pathways, so your feet never burned. They also had hot tubs there, knowing what I know now, lounging in those was probably a bad idea. The Grand Prix story is an interesting one, you should look into that.

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

I did write about the cooling features but i couldn't find much footage or pictures to show it.

[@CrazyDiamnd76]

@@ExpeditionThemePark there was one quick shot of it during the video, which was awesome by the way, like everything else on your channel.

[@Raptor-kc9vh]

that was one of the best features no one learned from. lol i remember the hot tubs like a room of them i believe with sail like ceiling covers. always had the older folks in them. also the kids area when it first opened was awesome. had that water channel that ran thru the fort like raised building where you would ride in canoes. never understood why they removed that after couple seasons and just made it a larger shallow water play area. I remember they kept that raised structure but closed off the tunnel. Lots of fun memories from this place.

[@Raptor-kc9vh]

@@ExpeditionThemePark ive seen some photos. you will know when you find it. they had a rock like structure raised with a water fountain type feature in the middle of the walkways. usually, people would pose on them for photos ive seen.

[@chevyllac091]

Just like how Astroworld had outdoor air conditioning, so when you waited in line cool air would blow on you, no one else does that and that has existed since 1968 until 2005 in Astroworld.

[@mleonard724]

I loved going here as a kid! I was so sad it became just another shopping center. I still remember the tunnel slide, called the Awesome Twosome! I would ride it with friends over and over. So many memories of a time I miss so much. Thanks for the video!

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Thank you!

[@everon344]

I was working at Homestead AFB at the time Hurricane Andrew hit. I recognize the pictures of the base which you show taken in the aftermath of the storm. While I no longer work there, my husband does and even after all this time, there is still evidence of Andrew and the base is still rebuilding. Another very interesting vlog. Thank you so much for all your hard work and research.

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Thank you so much

[@ShoalFox]

Finally a park that was close to home. I’ve always wanted to know more about it :)

[@ronbenjamin4351]

I was born in key West in 71 and never heard of this place!! Crazy!!

[@Meatball2022]

@@ronbenjamin4351 it’s very far from key west. It was much smaller than the typical theme park.

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Hope you enjoy!

[@jimmymelendez1836]

@@chanel113 Huh?

[@phantomstrider]

Really glad I learned about this channel. I love theme parks and learning about their history has been great with a friendly, chill narration. Cheers

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Thank you

[@ValleyThrills]

Never expected to see you here, Strider!

[@thevillain5698]

Omg huge fan

[@skylark2077]

I use to love going to six flags when I was a kid it was awesome 👌🏾

[@emmajoy3864]

I remember going to Oakwood all the time with my mom throughout my childhood, and out of the blue one day she turned to me and said, "Did you know this place used to be a six flags?" It's unbelievable how badly this park has been forgotten, because that was the first and last time I ever heard of it before I found this video.

[@elizabethwitt2621]

Most people living here either slightly remember it or never heard about it. Very strange. I remember it and Boomers Dania, The Grand Prix Race arama and the wooden Hurricane Coaster.

[@emmajoy3864]

@@elizabethwitt2621I went to Boomers and the Grand Prix all the time as a kid! The Six Flags was just ever so slightly before my time. I moved away from Florida some time ago, but I can't even imagine how much more is gone these days what with all the luxury development going on down there. And that ugly as a sin guitar hotel littering the sky at night....I'm being left with fewer and fewer reasons to go back.

[@beaustager428]

So I found out when my grandfather passed that he was the main inspector for the city of Hollywood to review the Park inspections. And they wanted to open by memorial day weekend but he wouldnt pass inspections on things and was put on leave or suspension. Lets just say shady shit was done and politcs.

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

I’m not surprised one bit

[@shaggytallboy4982]

The nearby city of North Lauderdale lost their rights to do their own inspections because of all the shady stuff they did back in the 70s and they still don't do their own inspections to this day

[@IkePaz]

Thank you, thank you thank you, this was a piece of my childhood... even when I wasn't going to the park, I always passed by Neptune on I-95... AND YES, hurricane Andrew set back south Fla for weeks and months... and financially for years

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Thank you for watching!

[@gregorymoore2877]

I had forgotten this place existed. In the early 80's I had a small souvenir booklet of AstroWorld which mostly consisted of pictures and captions describing AstroWorld. Inside the back cover was a list of all the other Six Flags parks at the time and a short description of each. These consisted of Six Flags Over Texas; Six Flags Over Georgia; Six Flags Over Mid America; Six Flags Great Adventure; Six Flags Power Plant; and Six Flags Atlantis. There might have been a Movie Land & Wax Museum listed. I don't think Magic Mountain was listed as Six Flags hadn't acquired that park yet at the time. It's nice to be reminded of this park's existence and to find out what it actually was.

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

That’s awesome!

[@princessravendiamond4288]

Six Flags Power Plant? Why would someone name a park that? And where was this place?

[@KennyRyman]

And Six Flags AstroWorld....

[@KennyRyman]

Six Flags WaterWorld in Houston...

[@gregorymoore2877]

@@princessravendiamond4288 I think it was in Michigan. And, I think Expedition Theme Park (or somebody else?) has done a video about it.

[@princesskristan]

I learned something new today! I never knew about this water park, and I wonder if it would be as successful as Hurricane Harbor is if it didn't have all of these issues. But you should look into Wild Rivers water park. I went there once when I was a kid and it was disgusting/riddled with bees

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

It’s on my list!

[@xavierwalko4175]

Same. Now... If I had a nickle for every time a Six Flags park had to close forever because of a Hurricane I would have 2 nickels (Atlantis and New Orleans) Which isn't a lot but it's weird it's happend twice.

[@scout_princess]

@@xavierwalko4175 I didn’t know that As I’m from the other side of the pond UK 🇬🇧 I see what you did there.

[@danandtab7463]

I love that you made a video of this, because this is the only "Six Flags" I'd ever gone to, and I was a small child at the time. I remember the wave pool, the slides, the kiddie park, and me yelling to Daffy "hey! where's Bugs Bunny??". I'd been wondering what happened to it years later, and well, now I know.

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Haha yes!

[@matthewgoodtimes3555]

This place was the best time I ever had as a kid in the 80s. WoW!! That super speed slide was insane!! They has a zip line. The whole park was a water kids dream! Wave pool and constant pool of water ever where" just incredible amounts of water events. Your feet were always under water just walking around. Great part of south Florida history.

[@ChristyHunter]

Very interesting watch. I think it's kind of sad that the park was profitable, but those in charge wanted to close it. The hurricane probably put the nail in the coffin, but I'm sure if those in charge wanted the waterpark they would have rebuilt it after the hurricane.

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Yeah a shame!

[@princessravendiamond4288]

Gotta say that I love the riff on "Great Balls of Fire" in the commercial

[@lockjaw3388]

This video was very informative.. I remember as a kid .. me and my parents would pass this place on I-95 .. and I would see those water slides.. and I would beg my dad to bring me there, but he never did.. until it closed down.. I was so disappointed.. this short documentary was a fantastic trip down memory lane.. Now if only we could get one history lesson on.. Grand Prix Race o Rama.. of Dania.. that would be awesome

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

I will in the future

[@shaggytallboy4982]

@@ExpeditionThemePark don't tease me!

[@CowboyLuigi]

You know, hearing about the Grand Prix reminds me of this restaurant that may have been a tourist spot: Jaxson's.

[@charlottestreet3301]

How come your dad said no

[@lockjaw3388]

@@charlottestreet3301 .. my father was always a busy person , he never made time for amusement parks to enjoy with his family and plus he was strict with money and how he spends it

[@aarongipson7056]

Castle Park, right across the way from Atlantis was an absolute gem as well for us locals back in the day.

[@Southfloridelphia]

I was a kid in the area when this park was functioning. It was great. Unfortunately, the management had gone downhill after it lost the Six Flags name and it got really sketchy.

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Yeah wasn’t great in the end

[@davidowen7600]

I'm one of those kids. Thank you for making this video and taking me way back. I'm actually teared up over here. What a wonderful place it was.

[@TheNinjaDC]

Ah, land developers. The mortal enemy of small and medium sized amusement parks. Kentucky Kingdom almost didn't escape their fangs.

[@AlbertCalis]

I'm so glad you finally covered this lost gem! I have so many fond memories of this place, as this was the very first water park I have memories of visiting regularly as a child. I was beyond sad when it closed down. At least we now have The Rapids Waterpark, but it is much further away than SFA was, and not as good in my opinion.

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Yeah nearly but not quite

[@JasonRBeing]

I remember going to Atlantis, it was so much fun! I live across from Oakwood Plaza. Its so weird to see a "City Furniture" being built where "K-Mart" was (where the wave pool used to be) and the Home Depot is where "Incredible Universe" (does anyone remember Incredible Universe) used to be. Funnily, a BIGGER more upscale shopping center, Dania Pointe, built by the owners of Oakwood Plaza, is across from Oakwood Plaza. Dania Pointe is where Grand Prix used it be, it has multiple nice stores, nice restaurants, a fancy bowling alley resembling Disney Springs' Splitsville, a Regal that has 4DX is currently being built, the future main headquarters of Spirit Airlines.

[@jimideez9829]

Bought my first computer there...wild place.

[@tankart150]

What’s Incredible Universe?

[@shaggytallboy4982]

I can't explain how happy I am that you made this video. I have great memories of that place although my memories don't exactly match your description. I'll never forget how heavy those board were that you had to take to the top of the slide that was near the water show. I remember even as a kid thinking that adding the amusement park rides was a big mistake because you either let kids get your rides wet or tell wet kids that they can't ride. If I remember correctly, they were only there for a short time and didn't make it to the end of the parks history. Another great memory is the McDonald's that was in the end of the very big parking lot. It had sand blasted windows inside with the parks logo on them. There is a Mcdonald's there still but it's not the same one, it's just in the same place. I wonder what happened to the submarine after it left the Grand Prix that isn't there anymore. That area had a lot of places that closed before their time

[@deadinthescene8373]

I was born and raised in South Florida. I have fond memories of this place. I remember swimming to the bottom of the wave pool to look for loose change and jewelry. I always found something.

[@kelsoredd5690]

Finally my childhood revisited. What a place to be as a child.

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Right?!

[@mathewluna3361]

I love your videos. I lived in FL for 22-23yrs and never knew a Six Flags even existed there prior to moving there. It was very interesting to know, since I lived on the east coast of central FL and went to school at University of Miami. Probably drove by the old site 100s of times and never knew. Thanks for the videos and keep up the good work.

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Thank you so much

[@shaggytallboy4982]

It's where the Dave & Busters is now across I95 from the Penn Dutch. I'll never forget being able to see the Penn Dutch from the slide tower or being sad when my parents dragged me to Penn Dutch and you could see everyone having fun across the interstate

[@sccarguy8242]

Wow memories!!! My Grand Parents lived in Del Ray, and they would take me there… probably went 3-4 times, never knew what it’s true history was or how it ended. So sad :(

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Ahh that’s cool!!

[@sohoboy506]

As a Floridian and child of the 80's I'm so surprised I never heard of this? Great one!!!

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Thank you!

[@Epidemic13]

I went here all the time as a child. Thank you for this video it brings back great memories.

[@IsurvivedAntiochCA]

I feel like the six flags board of directors hold rituals to summon Poseidon the way they let use hurricanes to cut out unprofitable parks.

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Hahaha yes

[@medea27]

These videos are such a valuable resource on these parks & their history 👍Too often when people research events in the last century they just regurgitate info in newspaper articles, corporate propaganda, etc without actually _understanding_ what's behind it. This is a lesson in nasty business practices ruining a profitable, going concern built by a guy doing it the right way.... build it for the locals first. It's obvious that John Bond had plenty of business acumen & common sense but was going to have a hard slog battling corporates like Six Flags and Hollywood Inc, who had _no intention_ of running a water park. RIP to an awesome spot for the locals 🌊

[@searcher00211]

i grew up in South Florida and clearly remember Atlantis. Enjoyed going there. I remember always being excited to see it from the highway on the drive from Miami to Ft. Lauderdale.

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Yesss!

[@darrenkennedy5990]

I loved this place one of the best went there often. It is now more or less an outlet mall This was much closer than wet n wild in Orlando and Disney didn’t yet have water parks and universal didn’t even exist. Only other option was the Rapids watermark in West Palm Beach which at that time only had 4 slides if I recall right

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

A shame it didn’t last!

[@thatevangarcia]

🎶Ride the rapids have some fun ride the rapids everyone!🎶

[@nette2179]

Thanks for posting this! I was just telling my water slide obsessed 8 year old about this place. I grew up in Fort Lauderdale and loved going there over the years. I thought it was the coolest place ever. The last time I was there was 1991- right before it closed. And its funny how just a few years later I was going to the movies at a theater built on that site. 🤣 Great memories of this and Grand Prix.

[@thegerm574]

I remember going to Six Flags Atlantis. I was very young 5 or 6. At the time we lived in hialeah Florida. All I remember is the wave pool and walking around the water park area.

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Glad you went!

[@jasoncaruso9189]

My grandparents owning owning a condo in Dania I’ve visited Atlantis often throughout the 80s. So glad to have experienced this wonderful park

[@phillytattoomatt215]

Man I have such great memories of six flags Atlantis!! What an incredible water park this was!! I used to live in Mirimar in browsed county, and this water park was always the highlite of my young life! Thanks for the memories!

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Where would you like to go next on Expedition Extinct? Follow me on Instagram and Twitter for updates on what is coming. twitter.com/expthemepark & instagram.com/expeditionthemepark

[@alexgeorge501]

DisneyQuest: Indoor Interactive Theme Park

[@magical86]

Very similar story to a local park of mine, Beach Waterpark in Ohio, about ten minutes from Kings Island. Lasted a lot longer, but now it’s abandoned and hurts me every time I pass it on the highway. Used to work there, miss it :(

[@radiorox0112]

Try Pirates World that was near Atlantis. :-) I went to Atlantis in 1992 before it closed as a school trip. So many times we would drive past it and I would beg my folks to take me. It was a great park, lots of fun. Miami/Ft.Lauderdale need a waterpark like it. Rumor was it Schlitterbahn was coming down this way but that's another story. :-/

[@ThemeParkLyfeStyle]

There was also another park in that area from the 60. Pirates cove or something but that was before my time

[@brandoncarroll5023]

Kiddyland in melrose park,il

[@larsvontrash]

I remember my mom taking my brother and I there when we were little! We were ‘80s babies from miami. there was a little fudge shop at the entrance of the park.

[@debbiezipoli3768]

Wow, brings back memories. I used to go there almost regularly, it was right up the right from me. I always felt if they opened when the "snow birds" were down from norther states and Canada, they may have lasted longer.

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Yeah a odd choice really

[@rolfathan]

I'm very amused by the concept that rain would make people feel like not going to a water park to.... get wet.

[@mikaelj90]

Great job as usual! Those ads are a hoot. I don't think a "family friendly" theme park could do ads like that today.

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Thank you

[@getintothewildwithjeffruma8777]

Seems like it was a very nice water park. After watching a lot of these stories one thing I see as being a consistent issue is how many partners come together in business deals like this. Always seems to cause problems in the end unfortunately. Great video 👍

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Yeppppp

[@DeniseFaraday]

I moved to South Florida in 1991 from NYC and was vaguely familiar about the water park. After Andrew, the eventual demolition of the water park, and its conversion to Oakwood Plaza, I visit OP more often than I would've if Atlantis was still there. ROFL

[@butterbook]

I thought I was going to drown the first time I went into the wave pool....was trying to get the lifeguards attention....never looked my way...:) The wave pool was beyond intense when it first opened!

[@NormaWills]

I lived in Hollywood not far from here. We used to go almost every weekend during the school year and frequently during the summer. I remember seeing some great concerts here as well, including Rick Astley, Billy Ocean and many others.

[@echosofverture]

I went here as a kid, it was amazing!

[@wadefinch2664]

I use to sneak in this place by climbing around the fence by the lake side of the park. =D

[@joehartman8138]

My grandfather took me to this park a few times when I was young. It was a great time.

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

glad you got to go!

[@catthompson3427]

Pure 80s nostalgia, I love it! ❤️

[@nm4130]

I'm so glad someone finally made a video on Atlantis. I only went once before they closed but I always remember seeing the ads on tv and wanting to go since I was a little kid..

[@alexlubbers1589]

my grandfather visited Homestead after Andrew hit, and he said that he couldn't figure out where he was as every home, street sign, and tree was leveled and obliterated. The most striking thing he remembers is seeing into the 2nd story of a destroyed home, all exterior walls and roof removed, with the owner nailing his daughter's door back into place.

[@Wendish1971]

I worked at AstroWorld and remember seeing the marketing for Atlantis. It was the 2nd time I had heard mention of Hollywood, Florida (the 1st being Hollywood Squares Florida in the 80's).

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Nice!!

[@jimmymelendez1836]

Man, you really took me back with The Never-Ending Story music. Haven't heard it in a long time.

[@AlexDavidSanchez]

I watch your channel all of the time, and this video was great! I grew up in Miami, and went to Atlantis: The Water Kingdom and Grand Prix: Race-o-rama all the time! That sub was sold to Boomers (which used to be across the street; post Atlantis) and I'm so curious as to what happened to it!

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Thank you so much!

[@shaggytallboy4982]

I wonder what happened to that thing too

[@EllenVee]

Omg I remember this park! I was super young, but my family would take weekly trips to Miami from Fort Lauderdale and we always drove past it. 😢

[@christyw5322]

So many memories as a child season passes was a must.

[@kevinkthedj]

I love that these stories are ones I would never be aware of but adore the research on display here

[@mcb187]

Wonder how that mall is doing now. With online shopping, and the insane amount of shopping centers that opened from the 50s to the 90s in the us, most are dead/dying.

[@shaggytallboy4982]

It never was a mall. It was just a shopping center that had a Kmart and a Home Depot. It also has a movie theater and a Dave & Busters that are still there as far as I know

[@melissajensen3166]

I love learning about other theme parks around. Great job on the history and research you put into these videos. Very cool. Thank you.

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Thank you so much

[@michaeltaylor1603]

I worked at the now defunct AstroWorld. There was a US map in front of the Astro Needle (gyro tower) All of the 6 Flags parks incl. Power Plant & AutoWorld were on there. So was Atlantis. I have a press kit for the park Always wanted to visit it. Will you do a video of Hanna Barbara Land (Spring, TX) it turned into Splash Town & has twice been owned by Six Flags. Houston also had Fame City Water Works around the same time in the mid 80's. AstroWorld's water park opened in 83 as well. On that corner b4 the water park opened had a gas station for guests visiting AW.

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

It’s in my list to do actually!

[@JEdwardBanasikJr]

@@ExpeditionThemePark If you can find enough info on Fame City that would be a great story. I remember a lot of Astroworld employees jumped ship to go work at Fame City back when I worked there 84-86'.

[@Angelacito]

Awwwww I loved Atlantis when I was a kid, this brought back so many memories 😢

[@jackiewignall8186]

As a kid, I always thought it was weird it closed because everyone loved it for its local and affordability compared to the orlando water parks. The south Florida area has been missing a water park since then and there have been many plans trying to bring a water park back

[@TonyGearSolid]

I never thought I'd see a video for something from my childhood, but here it is. I was fairly young when Atlantis closed (I was 8/9 years old), but I don't remember ever hearing that the closure was due to Hurricane Andrew, so I don't think it was a secret to locals on what exactly was going on. I do remember some of the attractions always being shut down for no apparent reason, there was a water maze that had two parts (wet and dry) and the dry maze felt like it was never open, eventually the entire thing was closed off. So I think maybe there was something more going on behind the scenes, but again I was a child at the time, so what the hell would've I known. Gran Prix stuck around for quite some time after tho, it was later rebranded as Boomers sometime in the very late 90s/early 2000s and completely shut down in the mid 2010s, but that was kind of a long time coming I suppose.

[@charlottestreet3301]

When you seid that when you went when you seid that there was something more going on behind the scenes. What do you mean by that.

[@georgeascunce3142]

I remember the commercials when I was kid . Never had a chance to go there but man south florida has nothing to offer

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Sad really

[@daba6866]

I worked at Atlantis Water Kingdom. I was certified as a lifeguard and worked the bumper boats. I remember playing in the wave pool and watching the water ski shows. I also got to watch a couple of the music concerts - all for free of course!

[@robbie5984]

One of the most slept on channels by far. Never upsets and is always dope. Godspeed boooiiiii. 🙅‍♂️

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Appreciate that

[@steveniglesias2508]

I loved that place as a kid... They had a water maze that was actually my favorite thing to do there.

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Oh yeah!

[@deeacosta2734]

Loved this place as a kid.

[@zakweyland422]

Thank you for another fantastic video. 21:37 I hear Rain In New York 😁 Love that song

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Thank you!

[@jodicaryn]

OMG I loved this place as a kid. Was so bummed when it went away!

[@randomness75]

Awesome! My parents would drop us off while they went to hollywood beach. My brother and I were 10 and 11. We had season passes and would be dropped off every weekend, it was a BLAST! Now that im older and married, my wife and I shop at some of the stores at Oakwood plaza. Blast from the past. Thank you!!!

[@Raptor-kc9vh]

growing up in Boca visited this site from opening until end f 89 season when i moved. unfortunately, we just didn't have cameras like nowadays to capture this place. open season had the 3 body slides on left side of tower (usually only had 1 of the 3 open), with triple drop and thunderbolt" the speed slide" at center of main tower. Tripple drop had a turn at the end for a few seasons until they made it a straight slide. Inner tube slides added to right side of main tower few years later. the fully enclosed slide didn't last long, think someone got hurt on it. and it remain not in use until finally torn down. When Six Flags fully branded the park, it did have an enterprise, Matterhorn, pirate ship, and open roof model Himalaya "which i never saw operating. never lol. also had kids rides, jr swing, red baron. play area. and i think another ride. really was a great part of growing up in the days wish i had more stuff from it outside memories. This park really was ahead of its time.

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

it really was!

[@Chunks76]

Sam!! Thank you for getting around to this. Atlantis is where I spent my years as a kid. It was the most disappointing thing and Oakwood Plaza is the worst!! Again BIG THANK YOU!!!

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Thank you!!

[@shaggytallboy4982]

That plaza was never something I would call nice and now it's a dump of a place

[@kristiburgos5581]

LOVE THIS!! I grew up in south Florida and frequently went here as a kid thanks for this!!!

[@c.c.griffin7159]

So many memories between Atlantis and CB Smith. I was devastated when Oakwood Plaza arrived. Atlantis was amazing for all of us kids!!!

[@deeconstruction8163]

I loved that place! I wasn't big enough for most of the slides but I loved the wave pool and the arcade was the best I had ever seen! I'll also always remember that that was where I had Nerds candy for the first time.

[@wlovins0]

I remember going there when I was a kid. I have not though about this park in years, but always had a warm spot for it, Rapids waterpark in West Palm, Beach, and Grand Prix Race-a-rama in Dania. Sadly, on more than one occasion, the place was either almost empty or it was raining when we got there. Still, it makes up some of my favourite memories from S Florida. I didn't realize the sub was sold to Grand Prix. Thank you for reminding me of so many good memories.

[@MonsterFlame1]

I didn't even know about this former park until today. That's crazy!

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Aha I’m not surprise

[@kathywitt728]

Great video! I remember going there around ‘83-‘84…a must-do if you lived in SoFla!

[@Rin_ThePixie]

Expedition Extinct just might be my favorite series of yours, though all of them are top notch!

[@eshif3953]

Some of the best and one of the worst memories I've had were spent there! Thank you for making this video ❤️

[@sitten1115]

These videos are so great. I would love to see something covering some of the old closed rides from Six Flags Great Escape (and Splashwater Kingdom). Especially from before it was bought by Six flags. Honestly i just want to be able to see stuff to jog my childhood memories of the park, but I dont know how to research these things. I know things have changed a lot though.

[@hohohope8]

It's a shame I was born a year after Hurricane Andrew! I would've loved to experience this since it's so close to home!

[@nisha9541]

Mannnn that’s craZy I was little but I do remember this place was fun as hell

[@kristiansvalland4595]

My family had a second home in Hollywood beach (native New Yorker here) and whenever we were down there, I remember my dad taking me and my friends to this place. We were sooooo sad when it was closed down

[@descent815]

M I remember growing up as a kid and couldn’t wait for summer break and going to Six Flags Atlantis. That was my stomping ground through elementary school and middle school.

[@southamcaballero]

Great memories and great times! Some of my best, while growing up. Thanks so much for the upload! I hope one day they bring back a water park to South Florida. A few years ago, they were talking about some place called Pegasus Water Park in Hallandale, but that never came to be. Let's all pray for it!

[@matta5958]

Went there as a kid. It was a great little water park.

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Yeah!

[@crono3]

So awesome to see a video on this park! I grew up with season passes to Atlantis every summer and had a blast… it was such a shame it got sold to build just another boring shopping center. Thanks for putting this together… it’s so hard to find any photos or videos of Atlantis these days.

[@BigSteve561]

This place has never left my memories. Only Six Flags I will ever know.

[@charizaro2]

Thanks for making this video! My family went to this park occasionally before I was born, and after it was gone, we ended up driving all the way to Rapids Water Park near Palm Beach from Fort Lauderdale. Used to go see movies there in the outlet that took over the space… Very strange driving into it knowing it used to be a water park.

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Thank you for watching!