Bell's Amusement Park facts for kids
| Location | Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S. |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 36°08′04″N 95°55′52″W / 36.13444°N 95.93111°W ACoordinates: Extra unexpected parameters |
| Status | closed |
| Opened | 1951 |
| Closed | 2006 |
| Owner | Robert Bell |
| Operating season | March through September |
| Attractions | |
| Total | 17 |
| Roller coasters | 1 John Allen Wooden Out-and-Back |
| Water rides | 1 log flume, 2 water slides |
Bell's Amusement Park was a popular amusement park in Tulsa, Oklahoma. It was located at Expo Square, which is part of the Tulsa State Fairgrounds. The park was open for 55 years, from 1951 until it closed in 2006. Bell's was especially famous for its big wooden roller coaster called Zingo. This exciting ride was designed by John C. Allen and built between 1966 and 1968.
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Park History
Robert Bell, the park's founder, started small. In 1948, he built a miniature train around his house in Tulsa. He also ran children's rides at a local drive-in theater. In March 1951, he officially opened Bell's Amusement Park at the Fairgrounds. It began with just a few rides, like a three-car train and a Shetland pony ride.
The park's first ride for older kids and adults was a bumper car ride, added in 1955. Two years later, in 1957, a Tilt-A-Whirl ride and a miniature golf course were built. Over the years, Bell's Amusement Park grew into a large family-owned park. It eventually had many different rides and attractions for everyone to enjoy.
Why Did Bell's Amusement Park Close?
At the end of the 2006 season, the park had to leave its spot at Expo Square. The county decided not to renew Bell's lease. They said the park's business plans were not strong enough. However, the park owners said that 2006 was one of their best years ever. They even had plans to make the park bigger.
Bell's Amusement Park paid a lot of money to Expo Square over the years. In 2006 alone, they paid $135,000. Since 1951, the total was about $12.5 million. After Bell's closed, the Tulsa State Fair saw fewer visitors in 2007. Ticket sales for the fair's midway also dropped a lot. Some vendors believed that losing Bell's Amusement Park was the reason for this decline.
Attempts to Reopen the Park
After closing, Bell's Amusement Park announced plans to move to a new location. However, the rides stayed in a warehouse for a long time. Different places in Northeast Oklahoma were considered for a new home. But, the park was never rebuilt in those spots.
In 2010, there was a new idea to bring the park back in Coweta, Oklahoma. This was in Wagoner County, Oklahoma. Robbie Bell, a member of the Bell family, signed a long-term lease with the county. This plan needed voters to approve a small tax increase to help pay for building the park. However, county officials later decided to remove the plan from the ballot. They were worried if it would be good for the county's money.
In 2012, the Bell family set up a few rides at a flea market in West Tulsa. By 2013, more rides had been added. Robby Bell III, Robert Bell's grandson, said he wanted to keep fixing up more of the old rides.
In 2019, the official Facebook page for Bell’s Amusement Park shared exciting news. They announced plans for the park to return soon! They said the new location would be announced in the fall. Robby Bell said they couldn't share many details yet. He explained that they would only announce things when everything was ready. He added, "One thing that is certain is we're putting it back up, it's just a question of where."
Wildcat Coaster Incident
On April 20, 1997, a serious incident happened on the Wildcat roller coaster. There was a mechanical problem. A car near the top of a hill rolled backward and crashed into another car. Several people were hurt in the accident. After this, the Wildcat coaster was taken apart. It was later moved to Jolly Roger Amusement Park in Ocean City, Maryland. There, it operated for one year under the name "Avalanche."
