Wonderland - Old School Amusement Park - Amarillo, TX

[@stevieterry3321]

I live in Amarillo and it's so cool to see how someone else enjoys the park I have been going to for the past 30 years. The truck that flashes it's lights at the end of the Fantastic Journey used to have the loudest horn. I'm not sure when they stopped

[@BigTexan7]

It gave everyone a heart attack from what I remember!

[@stevieterry3321]

@@BigTexan7 yep. It was my least favorite part about that ride lol

[@stevieterry3321]

@gibberish there's been a full bar since at least the 80s

[@treymatthews5425]

Yea it was super scary my first time threw lmao

[@jasmineaviles9558]

It just broke and nobody wanted to fix it 😂

[@ToxicKittiSP]

Never lived in Amarillo , but my grandma lived close to it so every summer I went here! Always had a blast every time , and even when I got older (14-15) i went on stuff like Texas tornado and the drop tower they had

[@Noakwolf247]

As a native to Amarillo, seeing this video pop up in my feed really shocked me! Awesome video!

[@tomnewman7586]

Same here! I was raised in Amarillo. Live in Canyon.

[@iSprayRice]

IKR! Small city and need more views hehe

[@theshadow9482]

Me too

[@anahigarcia9648]

Fr it's weird too see Amarillo on my feed especially when Amarillo is not big at all or famous

[@Zach-ii7ij]

Ssme

[@MrBROTHERFELDER]

The “Cyclone” is very similar to the old “Wild Mouse” ride. Surprised to still see them considering all the accidents this caused throughout the years. Love this!

[@joshuaedwards5855]

Born and raised in Amarillo!!! I've been going to wonderland ever since I was a little boy and love it!!!

[@Prophet_of_War]

Born and raised in Amarillo (:

[@erinmefford8041]

Jonathan Yarbrough great town I love it here unfortunately me and my mom are moving Saturday to Colorado to be closer to my sister

[@lisapan9387]

Awesome I live here too

[@rileygardner1650]

@@lisapan9387 same :)

[@yellow534]

Bro same

[@karliequynn4279]

Samw

[@keikomanson9603]

I live in Amarillo! Wonderland is my favorite 🤩 I go every year

[@librarianontheloose]

I seriously love the 1950s "any of these rides could kill you at any moment" aesthetic in old amusement parks.

[@badad0166]

Everything looks under-built and sparse on safety. And tired. You would definitely hold on tighter than today's plushly padded rockets.

[@nobaddaystravel6855]

badad0166 we’ve been to this park and yes we definitely held on tighter lol.

[@dedepyle7046]

I have been on those rides my entire life at that Amusement Park and have never had anything go wrong. I'm 52 years old and still go there.

[@djx1479]

I've been to this park also its not as bad as it seems

[@shadowthefox8715]

A lot of the schools in this area use this place as a field trip for 2nd-5th grade 🤷‍♂️ we loved it because of the little thrills we got out of being thrown around 😂

[@claireketterlin7024]

I live in Amarillo! It’s so cool to me that you did a video on Wonderland. I appreciate your video a lot!!

[@carolinelister6479]

That Fantastic Journey is my favorite ride when I was growing up. Some of the stuff has changed inside but not all. The room with the clown before you go outside, used to have orange and green stripes and the outside , had a dip, then go back inside. The circles in the beginning have been there for years and probably still has that weird smell when you first go in

[@corncobness]

Yes! And wasn’t there a man in an electric chair?? The crack of the electricity was alway one of the things that made me jump!

[@Nihyre]

This reminds me of a Roller Coaster Tycoon park. There’s like no theming, just rides placed all around.

[@TECfan1]

You mean...an amusement park? Lol.

[@derrickmagallanes]

the "mouse trap" ride reminds me of RCT1

[@tristinsalazar9082]

Derrick Magallanes I live in Amarillo and the mouse trap has killed 4 people 🤧

[@Joshua-bp9nl]

@@tristinsalazar9082 I know of 1 been here 40 years. Don't know everything though.

[@reginabusboom9776]

Thank you for posting! I worked there for 3 seasons as a teenager. It brought back so many fun memories!!

[@novelynflippo5890]

My hometown! Have been to Wonderland every since I was a little kid. Took my daughter when she was little. Great place for family fun.

[@tomnewman7586]

Thank you so much. It was a trip down memory lane.

[@kaiphouchane3880]

So weird how I’ve been watching your vids because KZbin recommends them to me and now you are in my home town

[@eastonstocker6110]

Came here my entire life, great memories. Threw up on the Rainbow, got scared on the fantastic Journey as a little kid

[@cm21961]

Wow you're in my hometown! Awesome

[@erinmefford8041]

cm21961 he even went to jack Sizemore travelland museum before this

[@cm21961]

Yes he did, yes he did. Kind of makes me reminisce back home Amarillo . Are you from there?

[@erinmefford8041]

cm21961 yes for now me and my mom are moving to Colorado to be closer to my sister Saturday

[@cm21961]

@@erinmefford8041 have you lived there long in AMA?

[@lisapan9387]

I wonder if they still open during this pandemic...

[@OutdoorsWithShawn]

Best thing about the small amusement parks is the classic and one-off rides that you'll never see anywhere else.

[@vv9600]

Thanks for sharing this! I lived near the area growing up and went here at least once a summer. I even had nightmares from the Fantastic Journey when I was little. Tip- if you ever find yourself in Texas and wanting to ride the cyclone, go ahead and put on a neck brace beforehand 😂😂

[@steph5208]

Grew up going there, worked there and still love Wonderland. I am glad you got to experience a part of Amarillo's history.

[@shaylynnfulkerson5116]

I live in Amarillo! We used to go to Wonderland at least once or twice every summer. We'd ride our favorites first then go try new ones. It's one of the best things about Amarillo, Texas.

[@felseyjr71]

I have lived in Amarillo since I was born. 53 years. I haven't been to wonderland in a good while, but just watching this video so much has changed from the last time I went.

[@Allie14Xoxo]

Maaaan, my childhood amusement park, being from Amarillo it’s great to see that park through a different perspective. been watching the channel for a while and it’s nice to see what the Fantastic Journey looks like again 😂

[@cstoner421620]

Do you remember the bus horn going off or is that just me

[@erinmefford8041]

Allison Renee remember when the himilayin went backwards and forwards

[@BigTexan7]

It used to blare and it was loud.

[@cstoner421620]

@@erinmefford8041 good I was starting to think I found my Mandela effect

[@anicholeRL9861]

I used to love these rides so much! Everything looks much older now. I didn’t see the Pipeline Plunge. Is that still there? It isn’t as old as the other rides I don’t think.

[@davidcook5705]

I went to Wonderland many times when I was a kid. Had a lot of fun there.

[@Dr170]

A very merry unbirthday to you, Mr. Bagger!

[@tabasco9477]

I live here in Amarillo and been there quite a few times. In the fanatic journey there used to be a spinning tunnel inside. I'm sad it hasn't been working lately though. I went last month lol

[@tazzmaniadevil7963]

Love wonderland born and raised and still live in Amarillo texas

[@jessebrantley8851]

The Cyclone Coaster came from Funtown Amusement park in Atlanta that closed in the 1960's. I rode it one time then.

[@carolynmadewell4302]

I lived in Amarillo for a lot of years. Every Sunday after church and a wonderful dinner at Grandmothers we would go to Wonderland park. Just great memories. This was in the 50’s and next to Thompson Park which had a swimming pool where we took swim lessons. Thank you for some great memories. So glad you liked it!

[@amaris594]

Fantastic journey looks almost exactly like whacky shack at waldameer. Especially the exterior, almost identical.

[@braxed]

I grew up in Borger (small town north of Amarillo), and I would spend my birthdays at Wonderland. At the end of the Fantastic Journey ride, I remember that bus/truck blaring its horn when the headlights come on, which makes it more startling. Great memories. Thanks for the vid.

[@chrisschott8841]

Dude, I love your videos and want you to make them for years to come. So, please, wear a mask.

[@jonathanfortenberry1581]

Welcome to amarillo texas. One fact i thought i would share is that our city has a contract with wonderland not allowing any other amusement parks or water parks.

[@rileygardner1650]

Seriously? We need a water park in Amarillo too😂

[@lexysalas6070]

Is that why splash got shut down?

[@jonathanfortenberry1581]

@@lexysalas6070 yes. After splash shutdown wonderland is the only remaining park. The contract they signed with amarillo is a 100 year lease/contractual agreement. Kind of like with westgate mall, that is also a 100 year lease.

[@tishawb93]

Lived in Amarillo my whole life. Wonderland was always fun! Should have ridden the Himalaya! The city is about build a 7-8 million dollar water park right next to wonderland. Using “emergency” funds to do it too.

[@mdlcrochet]

Wrong it does not have that contract. I have dug into it for a college assignment and that contract does not exist. People just think that because there is nothing else here. The actual agreement they have with them is the land and that is it.

[@UnpersonDoublethink]

Fantastic Journey has a LOT of similarities to Phantasmagoria - a dark ride from the now demolished Bells Amusement Park in Tulsa Edit: I found a website detailing the history of the ride and apparently Bells collaborated on this ... 😭 nice to know my fave ride has a sibling alive and well

[@oatfist]

I was thinking the exact same thing. I was wondering if they bought it from Bells.

[@stickyfluff347]

@@RabidRaeBeez lol. I remember the bus. HOOOONNNK!!! About scared the hair off my head.

[@natedallas6238]

I grew up going to Bell’s and thought the same thing when I saw Fantastic Journey!

[@edsmith7485]

Bill Tracy designed whacky shack design haunted house. One at Joyland in Wichita back in the day.

[@DJ-Krimson-Steele]

A fun note. At the very end of the Fantastic Journey, the bus used to have a loud horn blare as the final jump scare, before the ride ends. When I was a kid, it used to be a school bus with a skeleton driving. The headlights would flash, and then the horn would blare. Thanks for the video. This is a nice nostalgic ride through memory lane.

[@pretzelrides3748]

The Dark Ride was a Bill Tracey installation and a very common facade that the Pretzel Ride Company built during Traceys tenure there. Lake Winnie still uses the fiberglass cars and track from Traceys design. The Castle facade was very commonly used in a great many defunct Jersey shore rides too.

[@saguaro2231]

wow, nice background info Pretzel...thank you!

[@TheAmerz1]

You should make videos! I came here for some facts!

[@harleyrider1205]

I love these old school parks!!

[@scottrousseau496]

The painting in the Journey ride is pretty awesome. What a fun little park!

[@jmorgan5252]

The old school carousel is incredible! Great video Jacob

[@rosettaquartz5072]

As a tall kid i too touched the branches with my feet, losing a flip flop to the rooftop. Very nostalgic! 10/10

[@mcwatersd]

I can see why you liked this park. They let you on the Ferris wheel alone. Actually it does seem to be a lovely family park . The dark ride was really cool. Thanks for taking us along. Keep Safe❤Keep Well❤

[@AdventureswithBeck]

What an awesome little place! These types of parks are my favorite because they just have so much character.

[@Izzy_Edward]

These old school amusement parks have a special charm.

[@janiworthen]

Traveling through Amarillo once, we saw as far as the gate to the park. (It was closed when we were exploring the town.) Thank you for sharing. Fun video!

[@oldskoolraver1079]

These old parks and rides should be protected. They are so unique. I'd rather visit this than some six flags

[@thrashpandaentertainment7013]

This place is sooooo undermaintained. Half the rides get shut down weekly for "technical issues"

[@rileygardner1650]

Oh believe me it is not as fun as it seems. Rides break down constantly

[@paulwright9516]

The cost is almost as high!

[@walnut_raisin2621]

Trust me m8, way cooler oldstyle amusement parks our there. This one is pretty jank and gets boring after a couple hours. More of a one time visit- and hopefully not the last park you visit. The rides are pretty shoddy

[@tannerjackson6780]

Those witches rocking used to be a guy being electrocuted in an electric chair.

[@TheLonghairedfreeq]

Fantastic journey takes me back to the old phantasmagoria from bells amusement park in Tulsa, OK.

[@kristajones5067]

On the fantastic journey ride, a long time ago probably 30 years when you go to second floor it used to be a large dip, and then go right back up. Like a roller coaster. Just thought I'd throw that in.

[@camdeezzy]

That truck at the end of the fantastic journey used to honk at you. It was awesome

[@brooklynngreer0803]

I live in Amarillo and I can definitely say I have only been on the fantastic journey 3 times lol

[@mz7715]

I bet you had a lot of fun , sorry hi how are you?

[@royalrealm13]

I just started working there about a week ago! I glad you visited. Also I believe the Skyrider is a monorail not a rollercoaster.

[@ayyeeyoobull]

I love Amarillo Texas I moved here from PA 2 years ago and wouldn’t trade it

[@ayyeeyoobull]

I loooove old school wonderland

[@michtm7118]

Been in Amarillo for a little over a year and its a friendly place

[@toniebranch3084]

This was nifty to see on my feed. Amarillo is my hometown and finally moved a couple of months ago. Not many KZbinrs show Amarillo so thank you! Also I'm a little surprised at the end of the haunted house there is usually a LOUD honk that never stops. I hated it for years 🤣 Be sure to check out route 66, Palo duro, and some of the local restaurants! And Cadillac ranch isn't bad, we now have some more business downtown so that would be good to check out as well. For the Cadillac ranch take some spray paint cans and you are good to go!

[@arcanian14]

seeing that damn bus at the end flash its lights gave me PTSD, the horn on that thing was like a train horn. Also the Himalaya use to be really awesome when it went backwards, they stopped doing that after someone fell out if i remember correctly.

[@JesusOrtiz-ow7zu]

Also they used to play badass Rock music went a couple weeks back they were playing Katy Perry messed up the whole ride for me

[@57Banjoman]

Takes me back to a lost time-thanks, Jacob!

[@kimberlyshalaby1134]

This was a family fun filled Amusement park with all kind of rides for all ages. Very inviting!

[@kaysmith1666]

I sure do miss going there I remember going with my parents love and enjoyed it

[@Cold417]

Doesn't look like it's changed much in 20 years, except for the addition of that micro-monorail thing. It was always nice going in the evenings/night because it had more of a carnival feel than a huge theme park. Plus the Texas heat during the day isn't too enjoyable.

[@lisapan9387]

I like the mini golf ⛳️

[@angelamessenger4621]

It actually has, there is a whole section in the back of the park with newer rides and attractions.

[@elizabthharris6741]

That is a great park!! Love the big slide and little blue roller coaster. And mini golf! And the scrambler!,

[@kristinabeam5181]

It’s a Wacky Shack Dark ride.There used to be several parks very similar to this one all throughout the south. Bell’s amusement park in Tulsa ( it was in the Expo center right by the golden driller ) was very similar and there was a park like this in Memphis Tennessee next to the Liberty Bell Stadium. A lot of these kind of parks no longer exist. I see they have added a few more modern rides which is awesome!!

[@amyyoshikawa7698]

Hi Jacob awesome vlog at Amarillo, Texas and the fun vintage rides. Stay well and safe👍🏻

[@army300tj]

Born and raised in Amarillo. Welcome and enjoy!!

[@terrymartin6500]

I went to wonderland yesterday july 17th 2021 and this amusement park is fun.the rattlesnake river is fun and the fantastic journey is dark and fun.

[@ltrich50]

Fantastic Journey is a dead ringer for Phantasmagoria at the old Bells Amusement Park in Tulsa.

[@X-Gen-001]

Man what a classic gem. I hope that place is always in business. It's like a functioning museum. I'm guessing it's priced very reasonably too especially compared with today's modern amusement parks where you have to sell a vital organ to show your family a fun time.

[@dankincaid6142]

Enjoyed your vlog, nice to look things that times past.

[@TracyT5150]

Thank you for bring back some child hood memories ♥️

[@lmtoad1397]

I loved this. Reminded me so much of the old Pavilion park in Myrtle Beach. It even has the Rainbow ride! I'll have to head to Amarillo at some point.

[@larryirwin3161]

Carpetbaggar, My Dad went there all the time and so did my brothers Jerry Irwin,Randy Irwin and my younger Sister Karen Irwin and of coarse Myself back in the early 1970's with numerous Nieces and Nephews at Wonderland Amusement inside Thompson Park in Amarillo Texas.. I sure do miss that place since I've gotten much Older but I do still have an 81-year Old Uncle that lives on Soncy Road in Amarillo Texas.. Thank You for sharing this my friend..

[@davidstorey226]

Thank you so much for traveling to all of these tourist stops. My family would travel in our trailer every summer across America in the late 60’s early 70’s. As a kid I loved all of these stops. It’s great to know there’s still some of them out there. As a kid I lived for these and Stuckey’s. I think Stuckey’s is long gone.😢. David Storey

[@TheRamblingG]

A badger meets a white rabbit and go down the rabbit hole and thru the looking glass to wonderful wonderland :)

[@seanconnell7272]

Those are some childhood memories right there. And fun fact they change the fantastic journey ever year they put different things and different places. And they bus at the end used to have this loud horn that would go off when the light turn on. Last thing great content and glad to see you enjoyed wonderland

[@TheKurtsPlaceChannel]

Very nice video. I miss being allowed riding the Ferris Wheels alone by myself. That alone is really special .Thanks for posting and have a nice day too.

[@JustCause951]

The mousetrap is a really fun coaster. And the way the cars are designed on the cyclone you feel like you're about to fall of the track and then it jerks around those turns. And then theres the big boy, the texas tornado. Really good local amusement park.

[@Justanotherfan2]

Been there many of times as a young kid. So fun seeing rids I’ve ridden over 25 years ago still there! :)

[@wichitarichard]

Wow! That definitely is a wacky shack! The facade of it reminds me of the defunct one back home. RIP Joyland.

[@padenalbin1124]

Fantastic journey scared me as a kid.

[@garyevans3421]

I live 2 hours from Amarillo and get my tv from stations there, so I am aware of Wonderland Park. Just never been there. It’s got more than I would’ve guessed. Glad you enjoyed your visit!

[@eratime2686]

I live in the wonderful town of Amarillo and I went to wonderland yesterday

[@briannarobertson9621]

I was born and raised in Amarillo for a little bit and every summer my grandparents took me to wonderland. So many fun memories but what I didn’t enjoy was the cyclone coaster cos I’d come off of it with a sore back and bruised arms and legs and they made me go double seated with my sisters which made everything more painful for me but other than that I loved it and the food was really good

[@frostythecat9811]

I also live in Amarillo

[@erinmefford8041]

Era same till Saturday lol unfortunately me and my mom are moving to evergreen Colorado where my sister lives

[@Pharmtec8489]

Fantastic journey had the exact same layout (not the scare points) as the haunted dark ride at the old amusement park Miracle Strip in Panama City Florida. I guess that build was common, and easily customizable. Man, the nostalgia. I can smell it

[@melissawinstead8701]

Awesome park! Watching you ride the coasters cracks me up lol

[@jasecarr8572]

lol why did I watch this I can just go there

[@Stormy_Skye22]

Same. Lol

[@rogerwilliams4742]

Yeah, I stopped the video. I will just go. Lol!

[@ju_2076]

No cap 😂

[@pell6825]

I love your classic carnival expeditions. :)

[@jasmineaviles9558]

Makes me miss working there 🥴😂 I loved working the fantaz and the train

[@lolasanchez2232]

Cool video I haven’t been since I was a child and hiding behind my sisters back on the dark ride! Fun fact the last part where you see the truck that flashes it’s lights , it use to blare a loud crazy horn ! Gave you me a heart attack every time haha, it’s questionable why it’s removed! Being a native still thanks for inspiring my next date night! Love your videos

[@karenstraw7301]

The Dark Ride was Definitely my Favorite. I Really Love the Old Classic Style Theme Park Great Video Really Enjoyed Watching this

[@Stormy_Skye22]

Haha, I was born here. This is a trip to watch. Lol

[@ViciousAlienKlown]

I live in Amarillo and this is a nice little park.

[@maureensalcido105]

Oh yooh were in my hometown i love wonderland as many times as i go lol will never get old

[@paulwright9516]

I'm from Amarillo. I am disappointed that the grand finale on fantastic journey did not work. The bus is supposed to honk an air horn and scare the crap out of you! It must be broken. Happy you had a good time!

[@robertnewberry5108]

Always welcome to come back to my neck of the woods

[@islandofmisfittrains5114]

As a train guy, that is always the first ride to go on when you go to an amusement park

[@lumpmaster.x8765]

You should go to Joyland in Lubbock Texas as well. Very cool rides there as well

[@larryreedpath3621]

Congratulations on 300 thousand subscribers Jacob!!

[@jsmalls9575]

This is in my hometown. It was a pretty big deal in the summer. You’d get a hand-stamp and ride everything. For a few extra bucks you could go through the haunted house, which we would do so we could make out in a dark ride. Our folks dropped us off and we roamed free for a whole Saturday. It seems so very small now.

[@gibberish7186]

Reminds me when I went there, it was completely great but at the Texas Tornado, there was only a seatbelt to hang on to so I was terrified lol

[@tayveagarcia8769]

I live in canyon I have been watching your videos for a long time I’m so shook I love wonderland my childhood

[@bag_lady557]

My hometown! 🥰

[@ricardogrueso8180]

I lived in amarillo for two years back around 2011 and I NEVER went or heard about here, we were always at Splash Amarillo !