Reflections of Pop Culture & Life's Challenges: Road Trips Down Memory Lane – Defunct Amusement Attractions & Places Of Interest On The West Coast

Posted on May 31, 2009 by coolrain44 | Edit

With summer now officially upon us, the wonderful memories of past summer road trips and stops along the way come to mind. My goal here was to briefly reflect on those that are no longer in existence – or in other words – now defunct. I simply wanted to acknowledge these closed, lost, and abandoned places of enjoyment from our youth. These include but are not limited to theme parks, amusement parks, roadside attractions, super parks, off-the-wall eye-catchers, cheesy tourist traps, museums, water parks, etc. They all offer one thing in common – Pleasant childhood memories of growing up in times that are so very different than they are today. Now that the parks are closed, all we have left are our memories to share with others who

Lion Country Safari

can relate. So here begins just a small amount of recollected fun places and locations from family vacations and short excursions of years past – mostly in California but also several in Oregon, Washington, Nevada and Arizona – By no means is this complete – but just a good beginning on that stroll down that path called ‘memory lane’ none-the-less…The years listed following the location are the opening and closing years of the attraction (if known). To make listings easier to find, they are listed alphabetically. Please feel free to comment, update, or to add your own input. Enjoy

24 Hour Church Of Elvis – Portland, OR (1985-2002)
Africa USA – Soledad Canyon/Los Angeles, CA (1962-1969)
Alameda Naval Air Station – Alameda, CA (1936-1997)
Alpine Slide @ Boreal Ridge Ski Area (Donner Summit) – Truckee, CA
Alpine Slide @ Grouse Mountain – North Vancouver, BC, Canada
Altamont Speedway (Rolling Stones Concert 1969) – Altamont Pass, CA (1966-????)
Amusement City (?) – Lincoln City, OR
Antelope Valley Raceway (Palmdale International Raceway) (Drag Strip) – Palmdale, CA (1964-1980)
Ascot Park (famous dirt racetrack) – Gardena, CA (1932-1990)
The Astrodome – Houston, TX (1965-2000)
AstroWorld (theme park) – Houston, TX (1968-2005)
Aztec Bowl (stadium) – San Diego, CA (1936-1966)
Balboa Fun Zone (Balboa Peninsula) – Newport Beach, CA (1936-1972) & (1986-2006)
Bandon Cheese Factory – Bandon, OR (early 1900’s-2002)
Bay Meadows (Horseracing Track) – San Mateo, CA (1934-2008)
Bedrock City/Flinstone’s Park – Chilliwack, BC, Canada (????-1994)
Bedrock City/Flinstone’s Park – Kelowna, BC, Canada (????-1998)
Blue Lagoon Water Park – Vacaville, CA
Busch Gardens
Busch Gardens – Van Nuys/Los Angeles, CA (1966-1979)
California Alligator Farm – Buena Park (1953-1986)
Castle Air Force Base (Air Museum) – Atwater, CA (1941-1995)
Circle Star Theatre (revolving concert stage) – San Carlos, CA (196?-1993)
Crazy Horse Campground & Waterslide (1st waterslide in CA) – Shingle Springs, CA
Deerland Park (deer park) – Klamath Falls, OR
Dennis The Menace Park (original) – Monterey, CA
Doggie Diner (huge dog head sign) multiple San Francisco locations
Edmonds Field (Sacramento Solons-PCL) – Sacramento, CA (1949-1964)
Enchanted Village – Buena Park, CA (1976-1977)
The Engine House (huge train store with operating trains) – Sunnyvale, CA
Farrell’s Ice Cream Parlour (best ice cream variety ever) – 130 locations (1963-1990)
The Fillmore (famous auditorium/concert hall) – San Francisco, CA (196?-1989)
Fillmore West (famous concert hall) – San Francisco, CA (1968-1989)
Fort Ord (US Army Base) – Monterey Bay (1917-1994)
Fossil Cabin – Medicine Bow, WY (1932-1974)
Frontier Village – San Jose, CA (1961-1980)
Fun Junction – Grand Junction, CO (1954-2004)
Gayway Park (on the pier) – Seaside, OR (1950s-1980s)
George Air Force Base – Victorville, CA (1941-1992)
Gilmore Field (Hollywood Stars-PCL) – Los Angeles, CA (1939-1957)
Gilmore Stadium – Los Angeles, CA (1934-1952)
Grauman’s Chinese Theatre (original) – Hollywood, CA (1927-????)
Griffith Park Zoo (Old Los Angeles Zoo) Ruins (1930s-1960s)
Guinness World Records Museum@Fishermans Wharf – San Francisco, CA
Hamilton Air Force Base – Novato, CA (1929-1974)
Hangman’s Tree – Placerville, CA
Happy Hollow Park & Zoo – San Jose, CA (1961-2008)
Harrah’s Automobile Museum (Original) – Sparks, NV
Haunted Gold Mine (Fisherman’s Wharf) – San Francisco, CA
Hershey’s Chocolate Factory (tour) – Oakdale, CA (1965-2008)
Hill Country (Antique Auto/Plane Museum) – Morgan Hill, CA
Historic Belmont Park – San Diego, CA (1925-1976)
Hobbiton USA – Phillipsville, CA
Hollywood Palace/Playhouse – Hollywood, CA (1927-1978)
Indian Forest – Florence, OR
J’s Amusement Park – Guerneville, CA (19??-2003)
Japanese Village & Deer Park – Buena Park, CA (19??-1975)
Jantzen Beach Amusement Park – Portland, OR (1928-1970)
Jungle Island – Buena Park, CA
Kezar Stadium (original) (Golden Gate Park) – San Francisco, CA (1925-1989)
The Kingdome – Seattle, WA (1976-2000)
Lake Delores/Rock-A-Hoola Water Park – Newberry Springs, CA (1962-2004)
Lane Field (San Diego Padres-PCL) – San Diego, CA (1936-1957)
Legend City – Phoenix/Tempe, AZ (1963-1983)
Lion Country Safari – Irvine, CA (1970-1984)
Little Indy 500 Go-Karts – Milpitas, CA (1970s-1980s)
Longacres Race Track (horse racing) – Renton, WA (1933-1992)
Los Angeles Alligator Farm – Lincoln Heights/Los Angeles (1907-1953)
Los Angeles Ostrich Farm – Lincoln Heights/Los Angeles
Los Angeles County Raceway (Palmdale Dragstrip) (NHRA Drag Racing) (1980-2007)
The Lost Flea Market – San Jose, CA
Lost World/Tree Circus – Scotts Valley, CA (1947-1975)
Malibu Grand Prix (U-Drive Raceway) – Fresno, CA (1977-1997)
Malibu Grand Prix (U-Drive Raceway) – Oakland, CA (1970s-1990s)
Mammoth Orange Drive-In (giant orange structure featuring fast food/fruit stand/best orange drinks) [forerunner of the Orange Julius chain] (Hwy 99) – Fairmead/Chowchilla
Marine World/Africa USA – Redwood City, CA (1968-1986)
Marineland Of The Pacific – Rancho Palos Verdes, CA (1954-1987)
Marriott’s Great America – Santa Clara, CA (1976-1984)
Mather Air Force Base – Rancho Cordova, CA (1918-1993)
McClellan Air Force Base – North Highlands, CA (1935-2001)
MGM Grand Adventures Theme Park – Paradise/Las Vegas, NV (1993-2000)
Midway Drive-In & Swap Meet – Kent, WA (1940-2005)
Mile High Stadium/Bears Stadium – Denver, CO (1948-2001)
Milpitas Water Slides – Milpitas, CA (1970’s – 1980’s?)
The Mine Shaft (large 2 story miniature golf-arcade-tanks-gokarts) – Rancho Cordova, CA
Moffett Field Naval Air Station (huge twin hangars) – Sunnyvale/Mountain View, CA
Morrison Planetarium@Golden Gate Park (original) , San Francisco, CA (1952-??)
Movie World Cars of the Stars/Planes of Fame Museum – Buena Park, CA
Movieland of the Air Museum – Orange County (John Wayne) Airport
Movieland Wax Museum/Cars of the Stars – Buena Park, CA (1962-1984)
Natatorium Park – Spokane, WA (1920-1968)
NBC Burbank Studio Tours – Burbank, CA (closing this year)
Never Never Land@Point Defiance Park – Tacoma, WA (1964-2001)
Newport Harbor Buffalo Ranch – Corona Del Mar, CA (1955-1959)
The Nut Tree (amusement park/train ride/toy store/restaurant) – Vacaville, CA(1921-1996)
Oakland Indoor Midget Race Track – Oakland, CA (1940s-1950s)
Oakland Speedway – San Leandro, CA (1931-19??)
Oakwood Lake Resort/Manteca Waterslides – Manteca, CA (1974-2004)
Oaks Park Stadium (Oakland Oaks-PCL) – Oakland, CA (1913-1956)
Old MacDonald’s Farm@Knotts Berry Farm – Buena Park, CA (????-1969)
Old MacDonald’s Farm – Mission Viejo, CA (1969-????)
Old Vegas/Westworld – Henderson, NV
Ontario Motor Speedway – Ontario, CA (1970-1981)
Pacific Ocean Park (POP) – Santa Monica, CA (1958-1967)
Pan Pacific Auditorium – Fairfax District/Los Angeles (1935-1972)
Pat Derby’s Famous Animal Stars/Wildcats – Leggett, CA (1970s-??)
Pharaoh’s Lost Kingdom – Redlands, CA (1994-2006)
The Pike/Nu-Pike – Long Beach, CA (1902-1979)
Pixieland – Otis/Lincoln City, OR (1969-1975)
Pizza Time Theater (Chuck E Cheese) (original location) – San Jose, CA (Town & Country Village)
Playland (large indoor ticket redemption center + kiddie rides) – Roseville, CA
Playland (same as above) – Clovis, CA
Playland – Shoreline/Seattle, WA (1930-1961)
Playland At The Beach – San Francisco, CA (1926-1972)
Pollardville Palace Saloon & Ghost Town – Stockton, CA (1944-2006)
Ponderosa Ranch (Bonanza TV Show) – Incline Village, NV (1967-2004)
Portland Ice Arena – Portland, OR (1914-195?)
The Presidio (US Army Base) (fort, cannons, WWII relics) – San Francisco, CA (1776-1994)
Prospector Hill (miniature golf/batting cages/water shooter) – Auburn, CA
Q-Zar Lazer Tag – several locations
Riverside International Raceway – Riverside, CA (1957-1989)
San Jose Speedway – San Jose, CA (1967-1999)
Santa Claus Lane (huge Santa head) (toy store/restaurant/shops) – Carpinteria, CA
Santafair, Federal Way, WA (1960s-1970s)
Santa’s Village – Santa Cruz/Scotts Valley, CA (1957-1979)
Santa’s Village – Lake Arrowhead/Skyforest, CA (1955-1998)
Sea Gulch – Seal Rock, OR
Seals Stadium – San Francisco (1931-1959)
Seattle Center Coliseum/Washington State Pavilion – Seattle, WA (1962-1994)
Spirit Lake Lodge @ Spirit Lake – Mount St. Helens, WA (lost forever after the volcanic eruption in May, 1980)
Spokane Coliseum – Spokane, WA (1954-1995)
Squaw Valley Ice Arena – Squaw Valley/North Lake Tahoe (1959-1983)
Stone Age Park – Langlois, OR
Storyeum @ Gastown (underground village) – Vancouver, BC, Canada (2004-2006)
Tacoma Ice Palace – Tacoma, WA
Tahoe Amusement Park – South Lake Tahoe, CA (1968-????)
Tanforan Racetrack – San Bruno, CA (1899-1964)
Teapot Dome Service Station – Zillah, WA (1922-????)
The Thing (original location) – Dragoon, AZ (1950-1965)
Thrill-Ville USA -Turner/Salem, OR (1971-2007)
Under Sea Gardens (originally on a barge) – Crescent City, CA (1964-1985)
Wawona Drive-Thru Tree – Yosemite National Park, CA (1881-1969)
Wax Museum At Fisherman’s Wharf – San Francisco, CA (1963-1998)
Westgate Park (stadium) – Mission Valley/San Diego (1958-1967)
Wet-N-Wild Water Park – Las Vegas, NV (1985-2004)
Windsor Water Works – Windsor, CA
Winterland (Ice Rink/Ballroom/Arena/famous concert hall) – San Francisco, CA (1928-1979)
Woodland Deer Park – Cave Junction, OR
The Wooz (Labyrinth & Fun Park) – Vacaville, CA (1988-199?)
Yakima Meadows (Horse Racing) – Yakima, WA (1961-1998)
Yosemite “Firefall” – Yosemite National Park, CA (1880’s-1968)
Zzyzx Mineral Springs & Health Spa – Zzyzx, CA (1944-1974)

Pacific Ocean Park ~ Santa Monica, California (1958-1967)

Here’s a link to another awesome site for remembering Disney attractions of the past http://www.yesterland.com/

More links below for Marineland, Frontier Village, Santa’s Village & Great America, Playland At The Beach, Oaks Amusement Park, Jantzen Beach, Pixieland, Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, Yosemite Firefall and others.

http://www.marinelandofthepacific.org/