The Safari |
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Statistics: Manufacturer: Gould Manufacturing |
Located in the African section of the park, The Safari is one of Worlds of Fun's shortest-lived rides, operating only six seasons from 1973 until 1978. Safari, like Le Taxitour allowed guests to ride in a self-propelled 2-seater "safari jeep", which were manufactured by Gould Manufacturing of Winnipeg, Canada. As riders drove down their Safari path they would come across various fiberglass African animals, and various "gag" scenes including quick sand and "yield right of way to ant eaters". Due to its isolated nature, many riders would jump out of their jeep, which caused problems with ride safety and which in the end spelled the end for The Safari.
Some of the more interesting stories dealing with The Safari are not so much about the ride but the effects The Safari had on the park after its removal, in fact even today The Safari is not entirely gone. In 1979, The Zulu, a ride that still operates in the park replaced The Safari but continues to this day to use the same station. Safari Jeeps would exit the station and head under the train tracks and circle around the area that is now Prowler Plaza before returning to the station. The cars themselves didn't entirely vanish either, urban legend tells us that most were buried under Parking Lot K (because it wasn't original), a few survived topside, including at least one known to call Hunt Midwest Subtropolis home even today.