Fun 'n Wheels
Fun 'n Wheels has closed. This page covers its history and the rides it had.
- Location
- Orlando, Florida
- Opened
- 1979
- Closed
- Yes, year unknown
- Rides listed
- 2
Fun 'n Wheels was a family entertainment park in Orlando, Florida, set back from the northeast corner of International Drive and Sand Lake Road, with its entrance on Sand Lake Road. It has closed.
History
John Arie Sr. opened Fun 'n Wheels in 1979. Go-kart racing was its main attraction, and its name was inspired by the nearby Wet 'n Wild water park. The 3-acre park grew into what it billed as the world's first themed action park, with three go-kart tracks, water slides including the 40-foot Raging Riptide, an arcade, miniature golf, bumper cars, bumper boats and a 55-foot Ferris wheel. RCDB lists one former roller coaster at the park, called Black Hole.
Arie opened a second Fun 'n Wheels in Kissimmee in 1988. That year he sold both parks to Pleasurama USA, a subsidiary of the London company Pleasurama PLC, and he managed them under contract until 1991. Both Fun 'n Wheels parks had closed permanently by 2002.
After a non-compete clause from the sale ran out, Arie returned and opened Fun Spot on International Drive in December 1997, close to the original Fun 'n Wheels site. That business grew into Fun Spot America, which runs parks in Orlando and Kissimmee.
Sources
- rcdb.com/5684.htm (Defunct park at 6739 West Sand Lake Road, Orlando, set back from the northeast corner of International Drive and Sand Lake Road with its entrance on Sand Lake Road; created by John Arie Sr.; second location at 3711 West Vine Street, Kissimmee, 1988; both sold 1988, managed by Arie until 1991; defunct coaster Black Hole.)
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fun_Spot_America_Theme_Parks (Opened 1979 by John Arie Sr. near I-Drive; 3 acres; name inspired by Wet 'n Wild; billed as 'world's first themed action park'; Raging Riptide 40-foot slide, three go-kart tracks, arcade, mini golf, bumper cars, bumper boats, 55-foot Ferris wheel; Kissimmee location 1988; sale to Pleasurama USA; managed through 1991; both closed by 2002; Fun Spot opened December 24, 1997 after the non-compete expired.)
- fun-spot.com/about (Fun Spot's own history: John Arie Sr. opened the original Fun N Wheels on International Drive in 1979, a second in Kissimmee in 1988, sold both in 1988 and managed them until 1991.)
Rides at Fun 'n Wheels
Tallest first. Open a ride for its full stats and our write-up, or compare rides across every park.
| Ride | Type | Height | Top speed | Inversions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zoomerang | Steel Shuttle Loop | 56 ft | 45 mph | 1 |
| Runaway Train | Steel | 43 ft | 31 mph | 0 |