What Happened to Calgary's Flintstone Fun Park? (or The History of Calaway Park) Best Edmonton Mall

[@devonopdendries7722]

The strange prehistoric architecture of the buildings totally makes sense now! I didn't actually know about the Flintstones thing and i grew up in Alberta and went there a few times as a kid. Awesome video

[@fatebreakerproductions]

Well that explains the dinosaur/caveman aesthetic they got in all the buildings and the main tower. (Also 1:13 - it's so weird seeing the Tower as the tallest building downtown)

[@reececooper3796]

Hahah yes I think it was the angle it was taken!

[@Logie420Bear]

I had been there plenty of times as a kid while it was the flintstones theme so much fun. Went last year and it brings back the memories cause of all the buildings still being like that. Love your videos!

[@kingb8163]

I’ve been to calaway a few dozen times. Had no idea of any of the history like this! This explains all the designs and colours!

[@fauberthoude]

calgarian and amusement park enthusiast here, i'm really looking forward to this video! calaway park's history is quite often overlooked, but there's some really interesting aspects to it!

[@420greatestqueen]

I remember when I was very young when Calaway Park had the Flintstones. I thought the characters walking around were really Fred, Wilma, Barney and Betty. I tried talking to them and asking questions, but they'd just wave and nod. I was disappointed. I was very little. Then one summer the Flintstones disappeared. Like you said in the video, the look was still there but no Fred. Their houses you could look through were bare but still there. That's about the time new rides starting being added. Great to know what happened. Thanks.

[@shaynes.9773]

I would have to look back in family photo albums, but I am fairly certain I was at Calaway Park for that opening year. I remember leading up to the summer there was TV adverts and pamphlets to drum up interest in the Park. So, for summer vacation my parents made it one of the attractions to stop at. We were going from Edmonton to Red Deer, Sylvan Lake, Calaway Park, Calgary Zoo and ending in Banff National Park over a week road trip. I remember that not all of Calaway was fully operational and being disappointed. I remember the Log Rollercaster and an Animatronic Stage show being open, but not much else yet. But there was very little Flintstones about anything-- certainly not as much as the advertising was showing. There wasn't any of the costumed characters walking around to greet kids or very many attractions operational. I remember the most fun thing for me was the gift shop that I got a fiber-optic flashlight. I wish that the Park would have been running with full features when I was there. From your video, it sounds like there was a lot of struggles getting Calaway Park going, which no doubt was why that first summer it was hardly operational.

[@gummythrone6992]

I used to go to Calaway Park a bunch in the summer time from the age of 3 to around age 10 and my god the amount of memories I have there is insane. My dad would always take me into the candy shop by the fish catching game and let me pick out one treat. Growing up going to the park also was cool because I got to go on more and more rides as I got older. I still have the photo of me and my dad going on the roller coaster together. The memories bring nostalgia and I want to visit again in the future to see what’s changed in recent times.

[@stickynorth]

I loved the Flintstone's theming as a kid who grew up with annual trips to both Calaway Park and Galaxyland... Just not the same without it!

[@back3rman]

I remember when it was like this! There are still buildings onsite that are from this era. Love the channel!

[@mdemars0606]

I went there when I was a kid and saw the Flintstone stuff. I got my Mom on the loop coaster. She didnt realized it went upside down till we were at the front of the line..... Swore at me the whole ride! LOL still one of my fondest fun memories of trips with my parents.

[@jayrod0084]

Born in '84 and had no idea about this. Unreal. With a 4-6 month operating season, it's a surprise they even made it past receivership. Great work, you have earned a new subscriber!

[@laylachisom8996]

I remember this place when I was 8 or 9 in 1998 Loved it so many memories !!!

[@Blendeture]

This looks great, I'm really looking forward to this. I just finished binge reading on this very subject for my own personal interest. Now you have this all ready for me! Cool coincidence.

[@403punk3]

Man, as a kid growing up in Calgary and going to Calaway I always wondered why there was flintstone like buildings and now I know. Thanx!

[@elizabethmajor1820]

Chilliwack BC had a flintstone park too but it closed in the mid90s. It was one of the last remaining flintstone parks in North America

[@alanialuvzu]

I thought there was one in Kelowna or Vernon... I know I went to the one in Calgary, but went to one in BC too as a kid. (But didn’t think I ever went to Chilliwack)

[@reneekowalski949]

Elizabeth Major now its cult as lake park isn't it?

[@reneekowalski949]

I too went to one I think my plaque says Kelowna

[@elizabethmajor1820]

In the mid90s it became Dinotown on the same site and closed in 2010, my understanding from Wikipedia is that it became a show Dinotown live and then in 2014 moved to Cultus Lake as part of Cultus Lake Adventure Park. Since this is a west Edmonton mall channel- it’s worth noting that the designers of Cultus lake adventure park are the same designers who did the Cosmoland, the mini golf course and other attractions at WEM.

[@natashasmashnuk1180]

I wish you had pictures of the Flintstone houses that were at Calaway. I had to visit inside the house, every time I visited.

[@realitycat22]

Wow I didn't know the Log ride was that old, I thought it opened in 2015 as that was frist time I went on it and saw it.

[@BrodyYYC]

Awesome video! Even after working there for 3 seasons I didn't realize what the Flintstones connection was. I remember doing end of season toy inventory since I worked in games and we found a ton of loonies and toonies under the whack-a-mole. I guess the change would fall through the holes where the moles pop up. Must have looked funny to the waitress to see us sitting around the table at Boston Pizza dividing up about $300 worth of change. Pretty sure we bought hockey cards with it lol.

[@BestEdmontonMall]

There are worse ways to spend your loonies!

[@gabriellegawley2404]

I have seasons passes since I live here and my dad told me all bout this!

[@jaymclean3315]

I went to Calaway park back in the early eighties. Although, I don’t quite remember the commercials featuring smoking. Seems like someone added that in. The Grusomes place isn’t animated anymore. That was my favourite walk through.

[@overbanked]

The Winston/Flintstones commercials were played during the Flintstones cartoons back in the sixties.

[@jehadkalaf2886]

I don’t think I’ve ever been more exited for a video😂 being from Calgary this was all I really had because we rarely went to Edmonton but calaway has been my favourite place since I was 3. The more I visit other parks with more to offer the less fun the rides here are but the general vibe there is better to me than any other park. I know ALOT about this park but I’m hoping to learn more😌

[@RufPup]

So many memories!!!!!!! Thank you!!

[@jamesprovost2602]

I went in 96’ it still had that Bed rock look if I recall. Lolz

[@HappyRescuedCats]

Very Interesting! I LOVE Calaway Park but I never knew the history before now! Thanks, great video!!!

[@djteako]

Do you have any more on Calgary history? I'd like to know what happened to the Alpine slide, that used to be at what is now Canada Olympic park. I know the took it out in around 1984, to make room for the bobsled/luge track, but have heard various rumors as to where it was moved to. I can remeber spending a full afternoon there once, as well as many times stopping for a single ride. It was AWESOME!!! Also spent lots of time at Calaway park, as a kid/teen in the 80's to even just pre-covid - taking my own kids there. It was always a great value for your dollar park!

[@tyconnolly]

Haha so weird finding a video about Callaway park hahaha great job though dude

[@FRYSMASH]

I went there a fair bit in the early 2000's and always thought it was so weird that they went for the flintstones aesthetic without actually calling it that. It makes so much more sense now.

[@praireigurl21]

spent many weekends there as a kid with my mom, now it's such a money pit, like it costs sooo much just to get in now, i live on vancouver island now, but i grew up in alberta, so yes i know that costs alot now. that rollercoaster was my fave, i also loved the bumper boats and bumper cars, and i also got sick one time on the strawberry ride (like the tea cups in disneyland) there was also a 3D cinema which was soo cool, and a neat little restaurant next to it (like a sit down in it sort of thing, so when it was super duper hot out, that was the one ait conditioned place)

[@lospolloshermanos69]

I still love calaway! So nostalgic

[@wowcreamy]

This is awesome! Loved seeing buckshot at the start!

[@ColeStudiman]

Seriously love your videos dude, what about making a video on the history of Chiliwack BC’s Bedrock City and the history of Dino Town?

[@jeffco5237]

Thanks Best, great video. Ya I didn't know Calaway Park was still open! They do a lousy job advertising locally and provincially.

[@vinnievee5710]

I remember there being one in Kelowna called Hanna Barbara land. We have some family pictures of it

[@payduhman]

Loved it there when I was a kid. We would go to Kelowna every year and I remember always going to the flint stone park on super hot days lol

[@feferi]

My first thought was why people would want to build an outdoor theme park in Alberta with the extreme weather you guys get there...

[@feferi]

Just Jade Yes, like that time I went camping during the middle of summer and it snowed lol.

[@xwinger15]

Very cool photo at 1:22 showing Bow Valley Square towers 1 & 2 before 3 & 4 were built. It definitely isn’t the tallest building in the curt anymore!

[@superpopov85]

Quedó super padre con la canción del chavo del 8 en el minuto 1:08. It was a really good video as well.

[@christinam5526]

Great Video! I'm sharing this on a facebook page I belong to about Calgary! :)

[@danoveres362]

Growing up in southern Alberta, I remember the Flintstone theme, although I never visited the psrk in that era. Haven't watched the video yet, but I also remember them going eith The Simpsons fir a bit, complete with a Bart up on the central tower thing.

[@ARR0W8l]

Thanks for the video I was looking forward to it for a long time

[@jeremykinnear9786]

I remember thinking the buildings looked like flinstones as a kid, but I had no clue that was because it actually was supposed to be the flinstones!

[@1ksubswithvideos13]

I love Calaway Park 😍

[@TechnokidYT]

Now it all makes sense!

[@masteryoshi87]

This video was fun. I still want to see everything there is to know about the Turbo Ride under the Mind Bender. Please!

[@CarolineChiasson]

Awesome vid!

[@BestEdmontonMall]

Well thanks! :)

[@StonyRob1]

Would love to see a follow up to the Flintstone Park in Kelowna. Great video.

[@jaredmonson7205]

This is the one I always went too

[@oqulomusic1675]

Hey you should do a video on Lillo's Music on whyte ave, theyre western canadas oldest music shop and theyre closing at the end of the year due to my grandparents retiring. I used to work there, im their grandson. I basically grew up there. They have tons and tons of archives of photos of back in the day and everything, so it would be easy to compile something together quite easily. The store is currently open too so you could go in and get some videos and pictures and interviews and tours etc. I can help line that up if youd like? 🙂

[@johndoe568]

Ahh yes Calaway park. I was there on opening day 1982 and my family had season passes for 2 years after that. The roller coaster, shoot the shoots log ride all antiquated by today's standards. They had a stage show and an early i-max concept theater. I still have the stuffed Yogi Bear I won somewhere. Problem was it's way out of the city compared to Heritage Park, the Stampede and other attractions like Bonzi waterslide off Mcleod and Heritage

[@MrZics]

Shoot the Chutes isn't there anymore. They replaced it with a new log ride a few years back

[@johndoe568]

I would love Best Edmonton Mall to do both Northland and North hill malls in Calgary. Both have seen better days but I have great memories of both

[@khunopie9159]

A new BEM Production! Yabba Daba Dooooo says I!

[@aidan.unrjgrtghhurhkigh912]

Nice video keep up the amazing entertaining content

[@DeL-sm8bl]

This is so awesome

[@kenryu364]

I stopped by there today

[@BestEdmontonMall]

Disneyland 2.0: Calaway Park

[@Momsonkay]

Best Edmonton Mall you make me happy :)

[@kingchris-xt9lf]

isnt the PNE bigger then calaway park

[@bryan89wr]

Playland is also much older too.

[@lionelfrantztabmc]

Can’t wait

[@ShawnWigginsKafka]

Loved it!!

[@ahockeyplayer]

We get yearly passes at calaway park every year

[@blibbertibs]

1:08 what song is that????

[@rainstorm9787]

My childhood

[@CoryTheRaven]

I loved the Flintstones growing up in the 80's, due in no small part to Calaway Park and Bedrock City in Kelowna. Fast forward to the early 2000's and I'm dating an 18 year old who worked there. I was telling her about how I remember the Flintstones theme. She replied that they only had the theme in, like, the first two years. Like, before she was born. Yep. Then she called me a cradle robber, but kept dating me anyways, so ayyyyy... I also moved out to Springbank for grades 8-12 (early-mid 90's) and I'm not really shocked that those people were always horrible killjoys. Worst years of my life.

[@jkl_916]

is it just me or the commercials seemed a lot better then they do now

[@m1lkkywxys931]

How do I remember this but I was born in 2008? ;-; I’m scared 😂

[@kellypeeps01]

I remember when the contractors blockaded it due to a lack of payment.

[@DoswarePictures]

Well, since no one else has done it, I guess I will. GRAND DAD?!? FLEENSTONES?!?

[@user-hb7rd9wu2n]

There’s pictures in an old photo album of my mum there’s when she was about 10

[@pjsparkleho]

we are here

[@JennRenae]

Here I am, asking the important question: What flavour would you have instead of vanilla?

[@BestEdmontonMall]

Nothing! Just chocolate and strawberry! But if I have to pick... extra chocolate.

[@jennacampbell7]

wow whattt!!!

[@overbanked]

No offense to Calaway Park, but it's pretty dismal when the star attraction of the park is a 37 year old Arrow double corkscrew.

[@victoriamcmillin3348]

They should kept the Flintstones

[@julianhudson7811]

GRAND DAD!!! FLEENSTONES???

[@BloodyIron]

Neat!

[@Followlostonline]

I peed my pants at Calaway Park when I was a child.. I believe the way my father handled the incident to be the catalyst which led to my parents divorce a few short years later

[@Kenxobii]

i work there

[@Killercat4661]

More

[@Followlostonline]

I peed my pants at Calaway Park when I was a kid. I was waiting for the old fashioned car ride and was standing first next in line. I never did get to ride in those god damned cars... Calaway Park is stupid.

[@TheMatsushitaMan]

Lmao

[@katrynadoborznyski6109]

ok wtf calaway park is still running it didnt go into receiever ship get your facts straight

[@BestEdmontonMall]

Did you... watch the video?

[@dylanwilliams5230]

🚬🚬🚬

[@Josh01815]

You kept switching from west Ed malls to this flintstones park in the beginning. Then you go ..wait what was I saying?...can you just focus on the main thing..the flintstones park...🙄

[@BestEdmontonMall]

It's how I sometimes structure my content. Thanks for the feedback, but I'm good.