9/1/1999 In the beginning . . . the construction of Worlds of Fun

September 1, 1999 -- ""Worlds of Fun - Private Property. No Trespassing."" Nobody would think of this sign being posted on Worlds of Fun property where an old dusty road led off a still unfinished I-435. But this sign existed and that dirt road and pile of dirt where at one time all that existed of Worlds of Fun in 1971. Most people when considering Worlds of Funís history start at 1973, the year Worlds of Fun opened. But in actuality, Worlds of Fun started four years before 1973, in 1969. In fact, I could start this with looking at how much Worlds of Fun cost to originally build - 20.5 million dollars, or the fact that for what a fairly nice new car would go for today, say about $15,000 in 1972 bought the great MGM model, the Cotton Blossom.

Nobody knows exactly how Worlds of Fun came about, whether by chance, as a way to make money off the recent economic boom or as a dream. I do not know. What I do know is that it started with an idea, an idea to create a theme park in Kansas City, where at that time a small amusement park named Fairyland only existed. This theme park which to would need a total of 22 boxcar loads of lumber, 3 miles of plumbing and 35 miles of electric wiring to see fulfilled. The idea for Worlds of Fun was simple, combine high tech technology into a worldly theme. Lamar Hunt, the chairman for Midwest Enterprises, states that they selected the name ""Worlds of Fun"" because the new park will bring the adventure, enjoyment, and fun of an international environment to the heart of America. We will relate our rides and attractions to special events, activities and environmental features which are associated with different parts of the world. This should put to rest any argument about the original and finite theme for Worlds of Fun.

This was not meant to be minced words, these ideas and plans where carried out almost to a tee by Randall Duell & Associates. Most of the original creative thought was carried out, including the turn of the century America featuring two of the great inventions that set the American west on fire. A mock up of a giant stern wheeler modeled for the movie hit ""Show Boat,"" the Cotton Blossom, and the great locomotive that powered the west for over 80 years, properly named ""Eli,"" and covering over 6,000 feet of track. Also planned was a flume ride (Viking Voyager which still exists), a 3-masted man-o-war that was originally planned for Americana! The Mamba of its day, the speedracer by Anton Schwartzkopf, a sky ride that would take visitors from the great Copenhagen Scandinavian gardens gliding across the park with a scenic view of the Kansas City Skyline into the turn of the century America. A petting zoo, and Amphitheater (which obviously wouldnít exist until a year after opening in 1974) where also included in the plans. These would be built into creation by J.E. Dunn and Burns and McDonald Engineering Corp.

Other ideas by Randall Duell that never quite made it into Worlds of Fun, one that has made it as a landmark attraction at Six Flags Great America, the Colombian Carousel. The ""Colombian Carousel"" was originally slated to be added to Worlds of Fun and actually these two parks started out very much the same. Also slated that never seemed to make it quite in scheme of the original vision was the living copy of the Copenhagen gardens in Scandinavia, though much of the original foliage is still visible among the park.

In November of 1971, two years after the original conception of the idea of Worlds of Fun in 1969, ground breaking for Worlds of Fun started with the release of the previously chosen symbol of Worlds of Fun, the balloon. The multi-colored balloon symbol of Worlds of Fun was chosen because as Jack Steadman stated, (a chairman of the project) ""it represents fun, adventure and travel reminiscent of the movie ëAround the World in 80 Daysí. These are the things that we want Worlds of Fun to represent"". 3,000 balloons where launched that fateful day in November of 1971. Each balloon released included as an incentive a certificate redeemable for two passports during the first year of operation, which at that time was slated for April 1973.

Technical construction for Worlds of Fun began on May 15, 1972 by J.E. Dunn Construction, with only one year to go before opening 20 high-tech rides and over 60 buildings had to build into creation. The first five structures to go up where the Cotton Blossom foundations buried into one of the several lakes of Worlds of Fun (the actual Cotton Blossom was buried away in crates in the underground caves). Also going up in May where the loading station for the Sky Hi in Scandinavia and Americana, The Victrix in Scandinavia, along with the administrative buildings located outside the park proper. By August of that same year the sky was graced by the 75-foot pylon towers of the Sky Hi ride and by November, the first phase of the construction of Worlds of Fun was near completion. It could be imagined as one walked into the park on the November of the cold brittle winter of '72-'73, as the ships rose out of the asphalt ground surrounded by buildings, theatres and the bright colors luminated against a pure white sky. Even without trees and foliage that would be planted in the spring it existed in pure reality.

The people would come, buy their passports, so by starting their adventure after crossing the gang plank of the ship from ""Around the World in 80 Days"", The USS Henrietta, with naval flags blowing gently in the wind. Once crossing over there is Market Square, straight out of turn of the century America. There will be a live barbershop quartet performing on the keel of the Stern-Wheeler Cotton Blossom just like they did a century ago. To the right the 9th Street Incline, a fun house but still named after Kansas City cable car history when we where second only to San Francisco.

The uncommonly cold winter struck in January and hit the development of Worlds of Fun hard. Unlike its Kansas City predecessors Worlds of Fun was planned as virtual living garden and Kenneth Barrow from Texas along with his landscape crew where hired to take a simple fun park and make it into a fabulous gardenerís delight. However, ankle deep mud and 21 inch deep ice layers slowed the process, but the giant hard maples that crowned the Americana gate, the sycamores, Norway Spruce and the 17 pine oaks that lined around the Cotton Blossom; even the colorful Japanese dogwood found its place in the Orient section and where planted by opening day with the help of jack hammers and a little perservation. The brilliantly planned execution would be seen for years to come. In fact, the number of plants and species used to create the wonderous color display is so numerous it cannot be listed here for sake of space.

Worlds of Fun, minus the flowering rose bushes and several other perennials (that would take a year to mature) where all that where missing when the gates opened on a cloudy May 26, 1973. The 20.5 million-dollar theme park that was originally envisioned in June of í69 as American, European, African, Oriental and Scandinavian opened to the public for the first time with a fanfare. The grand opening held at 10 AM included a parade led by ambassadors of Worlds of Fun, the Le Taxi Tour Taxiís and the Safari Jeeps. The S.S Henrietta was official christened as the official vessel of Worlds of Fun and included a flyover by antique planes. What a day, despite the weather for the Schussboomer to scare a few more people. For normal people to enter from the everyday sun scorched asphalt jungle into a world apart from their own. That from May 26, 1973 on would become an intregal part of Kansas City history to this day. ------