Boardwalk Fun Park
| Boardwalk Family Fun Park | |
|---|---|
 Interactive map of Boardwalk Family Fun Park | |
| Location | Grand Prairie, Texas, United States |
| Coordinates | 32°45′40″N 96°59′49″W / 32.761°N 96.997°W |
| Opened | July 1982 |
| Closed | November 1992 |
| Previous names | White Water Grand Prairie (1982-1985) |
| Status | Defunct[[]] |
| Area | 28-acre (110,000 m2)[1] 24-acre (97,000 m2) (as White Water)[2] |
| Water slides | 15 rides & 1 roller coaster water slides |
Boardwalk Fun Park was a 28-acre (110,000 m2) amusement park located in northeast Grand Prairie, Texas near the intersection of Belt Line Road and Interstate 30. It was originally a water park.
History
[edit]The park was originally built and developed in 1982 by Herschend Family Entertainment Corporation as "White Water" in the Grand Prairie Entertainment district[3], along with Lion Country Safari and the Palace of Wax. [citation needed]
The site was purchased and closed by Wet 'n Wild Inc. at the end of 1985 to reduce competition at their park 5 miles (8.0 km) away in nearby Arlington, Texas.[2][4] The closure was condemned by the city council who were granted a restraining order preventing dismantling of the park.[5][6] The council dropped their attempt to gain control of the park after a task force determined that it would be too expensive.[7]
The park was redeveloped in 1991 and 1992 as Boardwalk Fun Park.[8] The new owners used much of the old infrastructure and rides in the new park.[1] The park suffered delays in construction and ride certifications,[citation needed] and it opened in July 1992. In September 1992, an accident on the park's roller coaster, the Pipeline Express, threw a 12-year-old girl approximately 35 feet (11 m) into an unused pool beneath the ride causing her to slip into a coma and suffer brain trauma.[9][10] The coaster was closed following the accident.[11] The victims parents sued the park for negligence and deceptive trade practices.[12]
The park aimed at reopening for the 1993 season, which did not occur.[11][13] After sitting closed for several years, in 1996 the park's land was purchased by Automotive Investment Group and the infrastructure and rides were removed in April 1997.[14] The Grand Prairie Ford car dealership was constructed on the site in 1999.[15][3]
Rides and attractions
[edit]- Pipeline Express - Bailey Auto Sled
References
[edit]- 1 2 O'Brien, Tim (July 13, 1992). "Boardwalk Family Fun Park set for July 23 premiere". Amusement Business: 17.
- 1 2 Richter, Marice (December 18, 1985). "WHITE WATER WASHED UP? Arlington rival plans to buy 2 theme parks". The Dallas Morning News (Home Final ed.). p. 34A.
- 1 2 Oliva, John (April 12, 2024). "A look at 15 Texas amusement parks that are no more, dating back to 1924". Caller Times. Retrieved April 20, 2025.
- ↑ Ragland, James (January 4, 1986). "Rival Will Shut Down White Water on I-30". The Dallas Morning News (Home Final ed.). p. 33A.
- ↑ Riner, Bobette (February 1, 1986). "Grand Prairie Seeks to Keep Park Open". The Dallas Morning News (Home Final ed.). p. 43A.
- ↑ Ragland, James (February 6, 1986). "Judge Extends Order on White Water". The Dallas Morning News (Home Final ed.). p. 30A.
- ↑ Ragland, James (February 12, 1986). "Grand Prairie Drops Park Effort". The Dallas Morning News (HOME FINAL ed.). pp. 26A.
- ↑ Johnson, Jason B. (December 20, 1991). "Grand Prairie to gain amusement park $10 million project being built at site of facility that closed in '85". The Dallas Morning News (Home Final ed.). p. 33A.
- ↑ Scott, Steve (September 10, 1992). "Park accident still unsolved Investigation of girl's fall from roller coaster continues". The Dallas Morning News (Home Final ed.). p. 31A.
- ↑ "The best Christmas present'/Brain damage victim, 11, recovering after park accident". Houston Chronicle (3 STAR ed.). December 6, 1992. p. 11.
- 1 2 Pierre, Nancy St. (March 9, 1993). "Park to scrap ride on which girl hurt". The Dallas Morning News (Home Final ed.). p. 15A.
- ↑ Michel, Karen Lincoln (April 17, 1993). "Parents sue amusement park Girl suffered brain damage in '92 fall from roller coaster". The Dallas Morning News (Home Final ed.). pp. 40A.
- ↑ Pierre, Nancy St. (June 15, 1993). "GP amusement park still closed High hopes for Boardwalk marred by girl's injury". The Dallas Morning News (Home Final ed.). p. 19A.
- ↑ Chuang, Tamara (April 15, 1997). "GP Ford dealership still on hold". The Dallas Morning News (ARLINGTON MORNING NEWS ed.). p. 2B.
- ↑ Cox, Bob (July 7, 1999). "Work Set to Begin on New Ford Dealership in Grand Prairie, Texas". Fort Worth Star-Telegram.