Canada's Wonderland facts for kids
| Previously known as Paramount Canada's Wonderland (1993–2006) | |
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| Location | Vaughan, Ontario, Canada |
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| Coordinates | 43°50′30″N 79°32′35″W / 43.84167°N 79.54306°W |
| Opened | 23 May 1981 |
| Owner | Six Flags |
| Former owners |
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| Park president |
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| Slogan | "For the fun of it" |
| Operating season | May – Early January |
| Attendance | 3,768,000 (2022) |
| Area | 331 acres (134 ha) |
| Attractions | |
| Total | 68 |
| Roller coasters | 18 |
| Water rides | 2 |
Canada's Wonderland, once known as Paramount Canada's Wonderland, is a huge 330-acre (130 ha) amusement park. It is located in Vaughan, Ontario, near Toronto, Canada. The park first opened in 1981. It was the first big theme park in Canada and is still the country's largest. Six Flags has owned and operated the park since July 1, 2024, after merging with the previous owner, Cedar Fair. In 2019, Canada's Wonderland was the most visited seasonal amusement park in North America. It welcomed about 3.9 million guests that year. The park still holds this record, with around 3.8 million visitors in 2022.
The park usually opens from late April or early May until Labour Day. It then opens on special dates until early January. Fun events happen all season long. These include Halloween Haunt, WinterFest, and festivals like Celebration Canada.
Canada's Wonderland has 18 roller coasters as of January 2026. This ties it for the second-most roller coasters at any amusement park in the world. It shares this record with Six Flags Magic Mountain and Cedar Point. A Twenty acres (8.1 ha) water park called Splash Works is also part of Canada's Wonderland. It has been the only amusement park in Ontario with wooden roller coasters since Crystal Beach Park closed in 1989. It is also the only park in Ontario with roller coasters that have inversions, since Marineland of Canada closed its rides in 2024.
Contents
Park History
Early Amusement Parks in Toronto
Before Canada's Wonderland, the Toronto area did not have a big seasonal amusement park with roller coasters. Toronto once had three amusement parks with roller coasters. Sunnyside Amusement Park closed in the 1950s. Scarboro Beach and Hanlan's Point amusement parks both closed in the 1920s.
Planning Canada's Wonderland
In 1972, the Taft Broadcasting Company first suggested building a 330-acre (130 ha) theme park. They chose a small village called Maple, which is now part of Vaughan, Ontario. Maple was picked because it was close to Toronto and major highways.
Other groups also thought about building a theme park in the Toronto area. Even Walt Disney considered it before choosing Florida for Walt Disney World Resort. He decided against Toronto mainly because of the city's seasonal weather. He felt the operating season would be too short to make enough money.
Some people were against building the park. They worried about increased traffic and noise. To help, Taft Broadcasting added a landscaped hill around the park. They also changed the look of the large parking lot. Taft Broadcasting even flew some opponents to Kings Island, one of their other parks, to show them how positive a theme park could be for a community.
A big concern was that an American theme park might bring too much American culture to Canada. To address this, Taft planned a section called Frontier Canada. This area would celebrate Canada's history. Instead of a replica Eiffel Tower, like their other parks, Canada's Wonderland built a huge mountain. This mountain, called Wonder Mountain, became the park's main feature. It had a large waterfall and paths inside.
Building and Opening the Park
Construction for Canada's Wonderland began on June 13, 1979. It continued until early 1981. Many Canadian companies helped with the design and engineering. Building Wonder Mountain alone involved a dozen local companies.
Two years later, on May 23, 1981, the park officially opened. The opening ceremony was spectacular. It included 10,000 helium balloons, 13 parachutists, and 350 white doves. Four children poured water from different parts of Canada into the park's fountain. Hockey superstar Wayne Gretzky also helped raise the Canadian flag. About 12,000 guests visited the park on its first day. The park cost $120 million to build.
Kings Entertainment and Paramount Years
During the 1980s, Kings Entertainment Company operated the park. In 1993, Paramount Pictures bought the park completely. They renamed it Paramount Canada's Wonderland. After Viacom bought Paramount in 1994, the park started featuring Nickelodeon cartoon characters. This helped attract more families with young children.
Many changes happened in the next ten years. In 1996, Splash Works expanded. It added a new water slide, a wave pool, and a children's water playground. In 1998, the park added KidZville, an area for infants and young children. In 1999, Splash Works expanded again with raft rides.
Paramount also added references to their movies in the park. This included movie props and a film-themed merchandise store. Some rides were renamed after Paramount films.
In 2001, a new area called Zoom Zone was added within KidZville. It included three new rides: Silver Streak (a family roller coaster), Blast Off, and Jumpin' Jet. In 2002, the park introduced Action Zone. This new area replaced the Exposition of 1890. It included existing rides and added the Psyclone ride. Splash Works also received its third upgrade. It added a children's water playground called Splash Island.
In 2005, the park started Fearfest. This was a Halloween event with haunted house attractions. Many thrill rides stayed open during the event. For example, the Thunder Run was re-themed as the "Haunted" Thunder Run. In 2006, the park added Spooktacular, a Halloween event for children. Fearfest was later renamed Halloween Haunt, and Spooktacular became Camp Spooky.
Cedar Fair Era
On May 14, 2006, Cedar Fair announced it would buy five Paramount theme parks. This included Canada's Wonderland. CBS Corporation (the owner at the time) said amusement parks did not fit its new business plan. The sale was completed on June 30, 2006.
After the sale, Cedar Fair removed "Paramount" from the park's name. In January 2007, the park returned to its original name, Canada's Wonderland. The 2007 season was a time of change. Movie-themed rides were renamed because Cedar Fair did not own the rights to Paramount films. By 2008, all Paramount logos were removed. In August 2007, Fearfest became Halloween Haunt. Spooktacular became Camp Spooky. The park also extended its regular season until the last weekend in October.
On May 4, 2008, Canada's Wonderland opened Behemoth. This Bolliger & Mabillard hypercoaster was the tallest and fastest roller coaster in Canada at the time. It stood 230 feet (70 m) tall and reached speeds of 124 kilometres per hour (77 mph). On July 19, 2009, stunt performer Nik Wallenda walked on a tightrope from Medieval Faire to Wonder Mountain.
For the 2010 season, Planet Snoopy opened. This area re-themed "The Happy Land of Hanna-Barbera" and "Nickelodeon Central." It brought Canada's Wonderland in line with other Cedar Fair parks. The area was themed to the Peanuts comics. It included three new children's rides: Lucy's Tugboat, Peanuts 500, and Snoopy's Revolution.
In 2011, Canada's Wonderland opened WindSeeker. This 301-foot-tall (92 m) tower-swing ride was the tallest in the park until Leviathan opened. The park also launched the Starlight Spectacular show. This nightly light and sound show celebrated the park's 30th anniversary. It featured 16 million different colors and 300,000 LED lights.
In 2012, Leviathan opened. This Bolliger & Mabillard giga coaster broke Canadian records set by Behemoth. It became the tallest and fastest roller coaster in Canada. Leviathan helped spread out visitors in the park. It was part of a "roller coaster renaissance" to attract guests with bigger and faster rides. Canada's Wonderland also opened the Dinosaurs Alive! dinosaur exhibit in Planet Snoopy.
On May 27, 2012, Canada's Wonderland hosted the Run For Vaughan. This event raised money for the planned Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital. On August 30, 2013, the park announced Wonder Mountain's Guardian. This 4-D interactive dark ride/roller coaster opened in May 2014. The park also announced that SkyRider would close on Labour Day, 2014. SkyRider was later moved to Italy.
For the 2015 season, Splash Works added two new attractions. Typhoon and Splash Station were relocated from Ontario Place. SlingShot also opened in 2015. This extra-cost attraction launched riders nearly 300 feet (91 m) in the air. In 2016, two new flat rides were added: Skyhawk and Flying Eagles. Virtual reality (VR) headsets were also added to Thunder Run for an extra fee.
On August 26, 2016, Canada's Wonderland announced Soaring Timbers for the 2017 season. This Mondial Inferno ride was the first of its kind in North America. Splash Works also expanded with Muskoka Plunge. This 59-foot (20 m) tall waterslide complex featured four "trap-door" speed slides.
On August 16, 2017, Flying Canoes was announced for 2018. This interactive family ride let riders control their flight in two-person canoes. Lumberjack, a thrill ride by Zamperla, also opened in 2018. It took guests 75 feet (23 m) high on two swinging axe-themed pendulums. Splash Island pool was also expanded and renamed Lakeside Lagoon.
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On August 15, 2018, Canada's Wonderland announced Yukon Striker. This B&M Dive Coaster opened on May 3, 2019. It featured a 245-foot-tall (75 m) drop into an underwater tunnel. It reached a top speed of 130 kilometres per hour (81 mph). Upon opening, it was the tallest, fastest, and longest dive coaster in the world. It also had four inversions, more than any other dive coaster. The park also announced Frontier Canada, a gold-rush-themed area. Winterfest was also announced as a holiday event. Dinosaurs Alive! closed on October 28, 2018.
On February 4, 2019, the park announced that Orbiter would not open for the 2019 season. The attraction was later removed. On August 14, 2019, two new attractions were announced for the 2020 season. Beagle Brigade Airfield, a children's ride, and Mountain Bay Cliffs for Splash Works. Both opened in 2021.
On November 22, 2019, WinterFest debuted. This holiday event featured five million LED lights on trees and buildings. The lake on International Street became a skating rink called Snow Flake Lake.
On June 16, 2022, Canada's Wonderland announced Lazy Bear Lodge. This became the park's largest dining facility. It featured seating for over 500 guests and a Canadian-inspired BBQ menu. The restaurant opened on September 17, 2022.
On August 11, 2022, two new attractions were announced for the 2023 season. Tundra Twister, a unique flat ride from Mondial, opened on June 3, 2023. Snoopy's Racing Railway, a family launch coaster, opened on May 18, 2023. It was the park's 18th roller coaster.
On August 10, 2023, the park announced Moosehorn Falls. This new waterslide for Splash Works opened in August 2024. It features six-person rafts and a 42-foot (13 m) wall. On February 8, 2024, Canada's Wonderland announced that Xtreme Skyflyer permanently shut down for the 2024 season. This closure made way for future park expansion.
COVID-19 Pandemic
Restrictions from the Government of Ontario during the COVID-19 pandemic caused the park to close for the 2020 season. This also led to the cancellation of Halloween Haunt and Winterfest events that year. The park tried to reopen in May 2021 but was delayed until July 5. Guests needed to make online reservations to visit during the shortened 2021 season. Season passes from 2020 and 2021 were extended to include part of the 2022 season. Beagle Brigade Airfield and Mountain Bay Cliffs had their openings moved to the 2021 season.
Due to the pandemic, the 2020 and 2021 Toronto's Santa Claus Parade was pre-recorded at Canada's Wonderland. It was broadcast on TV with no spectators. From March 29, 2021, until summer 2021, Canada's Wonderland served as a drive-in mass COVID-19 vaccination site.
Six Flags Era
On July 1, 2024, Cedar Fair merged with Six Flags. The new Six Flags Entertainment Corporation took over Canada's Wonderland.
On August 8, 2024, the park announced AlpenFury. This Premier Rides launched coaster opened on July 12, 2025. It is 1,000 metres (3,300 feet) long and features a 50-metre (160-foot) launch from Wonder Mountain at 115 kilometres per hour (71 mph). It has nine inversions, a record for a launched roller coaster in North America. The International Festival section of the park was renamed Alpenfest to match the new ride. Time Warp closed permanently at the end of the 2024 season and was removed.
Attractions
| Thrill rating (out of 5) |
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| 1 (low) 2 (mild) 3 (moderate) 4 (high) 5 (aggressive) |
Roller Coasters
| Name | Year opened | Manufacturer | Location | Description | Thrill rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AlpenFury | 2025 | Premier Rides | Alpenfest | An LSM launched roller coaster with nine inversions. It holds the record for most inversions on a launched roller coaster. | 5 |
| Backlot Stunt Coaster | 2005 | Premier Rides | Action Zone | A family LIM-launched roller coaster based on the 2003 film The Italian Job. It was formerly known as The Italian Job: Stunt Track (2005–2007). | 4 |
| Behemoth | 2008 | Bolliger & Mabillard | Action Zone | A steel hypercoaster with a maximum height of 70 metres (230 feet) and speeds of 124 km/h (77 mph). It features a unique "V" shaped seating arrangement. | 5 |
| DareDeviler | 1995 | Vekoma | Grande World Expo | Canada's first inverted roller coaster and a Suspended Looping Coaster (SLC). It was formerly known as Top Gun (1995–2007) and Flight Deck (2008-2025). | 5 |
| Dragon Fyre | 1981 | Arrow Dynamics | Medieval Faire | A steel looping roller coaster with four inversions. It was one of the original coasters when the park opened in 1981. It features unique counter-clockwise corkscrews. | 5 |
| Ghoster Coaster | 1981 | Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters | Planet Snoopy | A junior wooden roller coaster and one of the park's three wooden coasters. It was one of the original five coasters from 1981. It was formerly known as Scooby's Gasping Ghoster Coaster (1981–2009). | 4 |
| Leviathan | 2012 | Bolliger & Mabillard | Medieval Faire | The first giga coaster from Bolliger & Mabillard. It is the tallest and fastest roller coaster in Canada. | 5 |
| Mighty Canadian Minebuster | 1981 | Canada's Wonderland/The Gravity Group | Frontier Canada | A wooden roller coaster, one of the original five from 1981. It is modeled after The Shooting Star coaster. It was retracked by The Gravity Group in 2025 and 2026. | 5 |
| Silver Streak | 2001 | Vekoma | KidZville | A family inverted roller coaster and one of the first of its kind from Vekoma. | 4 |
| Snoopy's Racing Railway | 2023 | ART Engineering | Planet Snoopy | A family launched roller coaster with twists and small drops. Trains reach 50 km/h (31 mph). | 4 |
| Taxi Jam | 1998 | E&F Miler Industries | KidZville | A kiddie roller coaster that opened with KidZville in 1998. It makes two passes on its short track. | 2 |
| The Bat | 1987 | Vekoma | Medieval Faire | A Boomerang roller coaster model from Vekoma. | 5 |
| The Fly | 1999 | Mack Rides | Alpenfest | A Wild Mouse roller coaster with single cars that travel up to 56 km/h (35 mph). | 4 |
| Thunder Run | 1986 | Mack Rides | Alpenfest | A partially-enclosed steel roller coaster built inside Wonder Mountain. | 4 |
| Vortex | 1991 | Arrow Dynamics | Frontier Canada | A suspended roller coaster with a terrain layout. It shares Wonder Mountain with Thunder Run and Wonder Mountain's Guardian. | 4 |
| Wilde Beast | 1981 | Curtis D. Summers / Taft Broadcasting |
Medieval Faire | A wooden roller coaster, one of the five original coasters from 1981. It is modeled after the Wildcat coaster. | 4 |
| Wonder Mountain's Guardian | 2014 | Triotech / ART Engineering |
Alpenfest | A 4D interactive dark ride roller coaster inside Wonder Mountain. It has one of the largest drop tracks in the world. | 4 |
| Yukon Striker | 2019 | Bolliger & Mabillard | Frontier Canada | A B&M Dive Coaster that opened as the tallest, fastest, and longest of its kind in the world. | 5 |
Park Grounds
Canada's Wonderland is located in Maple, a neighborhood in Vaughan. The park is east of Highway 400. It is about 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) north of Highway 401. When the park first opened, it was mostly surrounded by farms. Now, it is surrounded by homes and shopping areas.
The park is 1.5 kilometres (0.93 mi) north of the Vaughan Mills shopping center. It is also 5.5 kilometres (3.4 mi) north of the Toronto subway's Vaughan Metropolitan Centre station. The park has two public entrances and one entrance for staff and deliveries.
Themed Areas
The park has several fun themed areas. The five original sections were International Street, Medieval Faire, Grande World Exposition of 1890, Alpenfest, and the Happyland of Hanna-Barbera. The Happyland of Hanna-Barbera has since been divided into children's areas. Current areas include Splash Works (1992), Action Zone (2002), and two children's areas: Kidzville (1998) and Planet Snoopy (2010). In 2019, the park added Frontier Canada. This gold-rush-themed section was originally planned for the park's opening in 1981.
Action Zone
Action Zone was created in 2002. It was first a part of the Grande World Exposition of 1890 section. In 2009, the entire Grande Exposition section was renamed Action Zone. In 2019, the park split Action Zone into two parts. The eastern part went back to its original name, The Grande Exposition of 1890.
| Ride | Year opened | Manufacturer | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Backlot Stunt Coaster | 2005 | Premier Rides | A family LIM-launched roller coaster based on the 2003 film The Italian Job. Riders launch into a parking garage and dodge police cars. It was originally known as The Italian Job: Stunt Track (2005–2007). |
| Behemoth | 2008 | Bolliger & Mabillard | A steel hypercoaster and the park's fifteenth roller coaster. It has a maximum height of 70 metres (230 feet) and a maximum speed of 124 km/h (77 mph). |
| Psyclone | 2002 | Mondial | This ride features 40 seats that rotate from a central pendulum. The ride reaches a maximum arc angle of 120 degrees. |
| Skyhawk | 2016 | Gerstlauer | A Gerstlauer Sky Roller. Riders control their flight as their car spins 41 metres (135 feet) in the air. It was the first ride of its kind in North America. |
| Sledge Hammer | 2003 | HUSS | A HUSS Giant Jumper prototype. It is currently the only ride of its kind in the world. |
| SlingShot | 2015 | Funtime | A pay-per-use slingshot that launches riders nearly 91.5 metres (300 feet) into the air. |
| WindSeeker | 2011 | Mondial | A swing ride with two-person swings. They slowly rotate and go up a 91.8-metre (301-foot) tower. At the top, speeds increase to 48 kilometres per hour (30 mph). |
Frontier Canada
Frontier Canada is the newest themed section of the park. It opened for the 2019 season. This area brings together most of the park's Canadian-themed rides. It is designed like a boom town from the Klondike Gold Rush. Much of its look comes from Dawson City, Yukon.
| Ride | Year opened | Manufacturer | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flying Canoes | 2018 | Preston & Barbieri | A canoe-themed interactive family ride. Riders control their flight in two-person flying canoes. |
| Lumberjack | 2018 | Zamperla | A Hawk 48 ride that takes guests on two swinging pendulums. They rotate 360 degrees and reach heights of 23 metres (75 feet). |
| Mighty Canadian Minebuster | 1981 | Curtis D. Summers/Taft Broadcasting | A wooden roller coaster. It was one of the five original roller coasters from 1981. It is the longest single-tracked wooden coaster in Canada. |
| Soaring Timbers | 2017 | Mondial | A Mondial Inferno ride. It features two free-rotating gondolas that reach heights of 20 metres (65 feet). |
| Timberwolf Falls | 1989 | Hopkins Rides | A "shoot the chutes" water ride. Riders plunge down a 15-metre (50-foot) drop into a pool of water. |
| Tundra Twister | 2023 | Mondial | A Mondial Avalanche ride. It features two rotating gondola arms that freely rotate. The ride's base spins 360 degrees at heights of 47 metres (155 feet) and speeds of 75 kilometres per hour (47 mph). |
| Vortex | 1991 | Arrow Dynamics | A steel suspended roller coaster. It was Canada's first suspended roller coaster. The ride takes place over open water behind Wonder Mountain. |
| White Water Canyon | 1984 | Intamin | A river rapids style water ride. Riders go through a wooded forest with rapids and waterfalls. It was the first new attraction added after the park opened. |
| Yukon Striker | 2019 | Bolliger & Mabillard | A B&M Dive Coaster with four inversions. It has a height of 68 metres (225 feet) and a top speed of 130 kilometres per hour (81 mph). It was the tallest, fastest, and longest dive coaster in the world when it opened. |
Grande World Expo
The Grande World Exposition of 1890 is one of Wonderland's original themed areas. It looks like a late 19th-century world's fair. It focuses on African and Asian themes. Restaurants and washrooms used to match this theme. There is also an arcade area called Crystal Palace Arcade.
In 2009, this section became part of Action Zone. In 2019, the eastern part of Action Zone returned to its original name and world's fair theme.
| Ride | Year opened | Manufacturer | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Antique Carrousel | 1981 | Philadelphia Tobogters | A carousel that was originally in Palisades Park, New Jersey. It has 64 original hand-carved horses. |
| The DareDeviler | 1995 | Vekoma | Canada's first inverted roller coaster. It was formerly known as Top Gun (1995–2007) and Flight Deck (2008-2025). |
| Swing of the Century | 1981 | Zierer | A Zierer Wave Swinger 36 model swing ride. It rotates with a wave motion, lifting riders up to 9 metres (30 feet) in the air. It was originally known as Swing of Siam (1981–1989). |
Alpenfest
Alpenfest is in the northeast part of the park. It has rides, midway games, and a mild Alpen theme. This theme was expanded in 2025 when AlpenFury opened.
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| Ride | Year opened | Manufacturer | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| AlpenFury | 2025 | Premier Rides | An LSM launched roller coaster with two launches and nine inversions. It is Canada's tallest, fastest, and longest launch coaster. |
| The Fly | 1999 | Mack Rides | A Wild Mouse roller coaster. The ride starts with a 15-metre (49-foot) drop, then has sharp turns and more drops. |
| Klockwerks | 1981 | HUSS | One of the original rides from 1981. It moved to its current spot in 2001. It was originally known as Klockwurker (1981–1991). |
| Krachenwagen | 1981 | Lusse Bros. | A traditional bumper-car ride. |
| Shockwave | 2001 | Mondial | A Mondial Top Scan ride. It spins around at an angle, and guests are spun at many different angles. |
| Thunder Run | 1986 | Mack Rides | A powered Mack Rides roller coaster located inside Wonder Mountain. |
| Wonder Mountain's Guardian | 2014 | Triotech / ART Engineering | A 4D interactive dark ride roller coaster inside Wonder Mountain. It has the largest freefall drop track in the world. |
International Street
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International Street is the park's entrance area. It is similar to Main Street, U.S.A. at Walt Disney Parks. Both sides of the street have shops and restaurants. Instead of a replica Eiffel Tower, Wonder Mountain is at the end of the street. In the past, shops sold imported goods, and restaurants offered international foods. The buildings are named after different regions like Latin, Scandinavian, Mediterranean, and Alpine.
International Street has hosted many shows:
| Show | Year opened | Year closed | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Snoopy's Symphony of Water | 2014 | N/A | Snoopy conducts the royal fountain in a dazzling spectacle. The park uses the dancing fountain from the nighttime show Starlight Spectacular. |
| Victoria Falls High Divers | 1981 | N/A | Professional divers perform acrobatic dives from a 18-metre (60-foot) platform on Wonder Mountain. |
| Starlight Spectacular | 2011 | N/A | This nightly light and sound show takes place on International Street. It was introduced for the park's 30th birthday. It is now known as "Starlight: Northern Reflections". |
| The Eruption | 1998 | 2001 | A nighttime show with 12-meter (40-foot) flames, smoke, and geysers. It was removed because it was very expensive to produce. |
| Electric Circus (annual) | 1998 | 2001 | Electric Circus was a Canadian live dance music TV program. It came to the park annually until 2001. |
Medieval Faire
The Medieval Faire section has a medieval European theme. This applies to both the setting and the rides. The two original roller coasters, Wilde Beast and Dragon Fyre, use older spellings. Many original attraction names have returned to their older spellings.
The stores, games, and restaurants follow the medieval theme. The castle theatre (Canterbury Theatre) and a pirate show also fit the theme. However, rides like Drop Tower, Riptide, Spinovator, and Speed City Raceway do not have a medieval theme.
Canterbury Theatre hosted ice shows from 2006 to 2011. It hosted Cirque Ambiente in 2012 and 2013.
| Ride | Year opened | Manufacturer | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dragon Fyre | 1981 | Arrow Dynamics | A steel looping roller coaster with four inversions. It was one of the five original roller coasters from 1981. It has unique counter-clockwise corkscrews. It was once known as Dragon Fire (1997–2018). |
| Drop Tower | 1997 | Intamin | A drop tower ride. All former Paramount Parks have a similar ride. It was originally known as 'Drop Zone: Stunt Tower' (1997–2007). |
| Leviathan | 2012 | Bolliger & Mabillard | Bolliger & Mabillard's first giga coaster. Leviathan is the tallest and fastest roller coaster in Canada. |
| Riptide | 2000 | Mondial | A Mondial Splashover Top Spin. It was originally known as Cliffhanger (2000–2007). |
| Spinovator | 1981 | Heinrich Mack GMBH & Co | A Mack Calypso Teacups ride. It was originally known as Quixote's Kettles (1981–1997). |
| The Bat | 1987 | Vekoma | A Vekoma Boomerang roller coaster. It was the seventh roller coaster added to the park. |
| Viking's Rage | 1981 | HUSS | A HUSS swinging ship ride in Arthur's Baye. It was once known as The Rage (1997–2018). |
| Wilde Beast | 1981 | Curtis D. Summers/Taft Broadcasting | A wooden roller coaster. It was one of the five original roller coasters from 1981. It is modeled after the Wildcat coaster. It was originally known as Wilde Beast (1981–1996) and Wild Beast (1997–2018). |
| Wilde Knight Mares | 1981 | HUSS | Riders are lifted 15 metres (49 feet) in the air while spinning. This gives riders a mix of weightlessness and high g-forces. It is one of the last operating rides of its kind. It was once named Night Mares (1997–2018). |
Children's Areas
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Canada's Wonderland currently has two children's areas: KidZville and Planet Snoopy. A third area, Zoom Zone, is part of KidZville.
The children's areas were originally themed as The Happyland of Hanna-Barbera. In 1993, the Smurf area became Kids Kingdom, which then became KidZville in 1998. In 2003, Bedrock became Nickelodeon Central. In 2010, Nickelodeon Central and Hanna Barbera Land were replaced by Planet Snoopy. This area is themed after the comic strip Peanuts.
The Zoom Zone subsection of KidZville was created in 2001. It included Silver Streak, Blast Off, and Jumpin' Jet.
The first ride incident in the park's history happened on August 23, 2003. The Jimmy Neutron Brainwasher (now Woodstock Whirlybirds) had a problem. Three children were taken to the hospital as a precaution.
Rides in these children's areas include:
| Ride | Manufacturer | Location | Year opened |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blast Off! | S&S Worldwide | KidZville | 2001 |
| Flying Eagles | Larson International | KidZville | 2016 |
| Frequent Flyers | Bradley & Kaye | KidZville | 1981 |
| Jokey's Jalopies | Bradley & Kaye | KidZville | 1981 |
| Jumpin' Jet | Zamperla | KidZville | 2001 |
| KidZville Station | Mack Rides | KidZville | 1981 |
| Maple Park Treehouse | KidZville | 1993 | |
| Silver Streak | Vekoma | KidZville | 2001 |
| Sugar Shack | Zamperla | KidZville | 1998 |
| Swing Time | Zamperla | KidZville | 1998 |
| Taxi Jam | E&F Miler Industries | KidZville | 1998 |
| Treetop Adventure | Caripro Amusement Technology | KidZville | 1998 |
| Beagle Brigade Airfield | Zamperla | Planet Snoopy | 2021 |
| Boo Blasters on Boo Hill | Sally Corporation | Planet Snoopy | 2000 |
| Character Carrousel | Chance Rides | Planet Snoopy | 1981 |
| Ghoster Coaster | Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters | Planet Snoopy | 1981 |
| Joe Cool's Dodgem School | Lusse Brothers Incorporated | Planet Snoopy | 1981 |
| Lucy's Tugboat | Zamperla | Planet Snoopy | 2010 |
| Peanuts 500 | Zamperla | Planet Snoopy | 2010 |
| The Pumpkin Patch | SBF Visa Group | Planet Snoopy | 2003 |
| Sally's Love Buggies | Preston & Barbieri | Planet Snoopy | 2003 |
| Snoopy vs Red Baron | Bradley & Kaye | Planet Snoopy | 1981 |
| Snoopy's Racing Railway | ART Engineering | Planet Snoopy | 2023 |
| Snoopy's Revolution | Zamperla | Planet Snoopy | 2010 |
| Snoopy's Space Race | Intamin | Planet Snoopy | 1981 |
| Swan Lake | Bradley & Kaye | Planet Snoopy | 1981 |
| Woodstock Whirlybirds | SBF Visa Group | Planet Snoopy | 2003 |
Splash Works
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Opened in 1992, Splash Works is a 20-acre (10 ha) water park. It has Whitewater Bay, Canada's largest outdoor wave pool, and 16 water slides. It is included with park admission and is open from late May to early September.
| Ride | Year opened | Manufacturer | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barracuda Blaster | 2002 | ProSlide Technology | A bowl slide that leads into the Lazy River. |
| Lakeside Lagoon | 2018 | N/A | A kid's splash area with a zero-depth pool, new children's slides, and a Canadian theme. It replaced the Splash Island Kid's Pool. |
| Lazy River | 1992 | Water Technology | A 400 metres (1,310 ft) lazy river. |
| Moosehorn Falls | 2024 | WhiteWater West | A Boomerango-style waterslide with six-person rafts. It features drops and turns before a large drop into a 42-foot (13 m) wall. |
| Mountain Bay Cliffs | 2021 | N/A | A cliff-jumping style attraction with platforms of various heights. The highest platform is 7.5 metres (25 ft). |
| Muskoka Plunge | 2017 | SplashTacular | A 18-metre-tall (60-foot) waterslide complex with four "trap-door" speed slides. |
| Riptide Racer | 2002 | ProSlide Technology | A Multi-lane racer water slide. |
| Splash Island Waterways | 1990s | ProSlide Technology | A tube slide for adults and children. |
| Splash Station | 2015 | Unknown | A children's interactive play area with two slides, water sprays, and a tipping bucket. It was relocated from Ontario Place. |
| Super Soaker | 1999 | ProSlide Technology | A family raft water slide. |
| The Black Hole | 1996 | ProSlide Technology | Two four-story enclosed water slides. |
| The Plunge | 1999 | ProSlide Technology | A three-seater raft ride with free-fall plunges in three drops. |
| The Pump House | 1999 | Specialized Component Supply Co. | A children's play area. |
| Typhoon | 2015 | ProSlide Technology | Two partially enclosed tube slides with funnels. They were relocated from Ontario Place. |
| Whirl Winds | 1992 | ProSlide Technology | Two open-air water slides. |
| White Water Bay | 1996 | Aquatic Amusements Associates Ltd. | A wave pool. It is the largest outdoor wave pool in Canada. |
Priority Queuing
Fast Lane is Canada's Wonderland's two-line system since 2012. It is also used at other Six Flags parks. For an extra cost, visitors get a wristband. This lets them skip the regular line and enter the Fast Lane. This means purchasers can go to the front of the line on 21 popular attractions without waiting. In 2013, Fast Lane Plus was introduced. It allowed access to two more attractions (now four, including Yukon Striker and AlpenFury). A limited number of these passes are sold each day.
Boarding Pass for Guests with Disabilities
Guests with restricted mobility or cognitive impairments receive special boarding passes. Ride operators give them wait times similar to the regular line. These guests enter at the ride's exit. Boarding passes are not valid for extra-cost attractions like SlingShot. Lazy River is the only Splash Works attraction that accepts boarding passes.
Timeline of Major Attractions
Today, Canada's Wonderland has over 200 attractions, including games. It has over 60 thrill rides. The park holds Canadian records, such as having the most roller coasters (17). The park covers 134 hectares (330 acres) of land. It features an artificial mountain as its central point. In the southwest, an 20-acre (8 ha) waterpark called Splash Works has over 7,570,000 litres (2,000,000 US gal) of heated water. It also has Canada's largest outdoor wave pool and 16 water slides.
In 1983, Canada's Wonderland added the Kingswood Music Theatre. This 15,000-seat amphitheater has hosted many concerts.
Major Attractions by Year
Current name in (parentheses) *Additions to Splash Works are italicized
- 1981: Park opened with:
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- Antique Carrousel, Balloon Race (Frequent Flyers), Bayern's Curve, Bedrock Dock, Blauer Enzian, Dragon Fyre, Flintstone's Flyboys, Ghoster Coaster, Great Whale of China, Happy Landing (Swan Lake), Hot Rock Raceway, Klockwerks, Krachenwagen, Mighty Canadian Minebuster, Pharaoh's Eye, Wilde Beast, Quixote's Kettles (Spinovator), Scooby Choo (KidZville Station), Shiva's Fury (The Fury), Sol-Loco (Orbiter), Swings of the Century, Wilde Knightmares (Night Mares), Viking's Rage, Wonder Tour, and Zumba Flume.
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- 1982: Kings Courtyard (The Courtyard)
- 1983: Kingswood Music Theatre
- 1984: White Water Canyon, Smurf Forest (until the 1990s)
- 1985: SkyRider
- 1986: Thunder Run
- 1987: The Bat
- 1988: Racing Rivers
- 1989: Timberwolf Falls
- 1990: Jet Scream
- 1991: Vortex
- 1992: Splash Works: Whirl Winds, Body Blast, Splash Island Kiddy Slides
- 1993: Kid's Kingdom play area (later renovated and renamed Maple Park Treehouse)
- 1994: "Days of Thunder" – Motion Simulator Movie Ride (Action Theatre)
- 1995: Top Gun (DareDeviler)
- 1996: Xtreme Skyflyer, Speed City Raceway; Splash Works: Wave Pool (White Water Bay), The Pump House, Black Hole
- 1997: Drop Zone: Stunt Tower (later renamed Drop Tower)
- 1998: KidZville, James Bond – "License To Thrill" (feature at Action Theatre), Taxi Jam, The Edge Climbing Wall
- 1999: The Fly; Splash Works: Super Soaker and The Plunge; "Dino Island II: Escape from Dino Island 3D" (feature at Action Theatre)
- 2000: Cliffhanger (Later renamed Riptide), Scooby-Doo's Haunted Mansion (Boo Blasters on Boo Hill)
- 2001: Shockwave; Zoom Zone (new kids area) including: Silver Streak, Blast Off and Jumpin' Jet; "Stan Lee's 7th Portal 3D" (feature at the Action Theatre)
- 2002: Psyclone; Splash Works: Riptide Racer, Barracuda Blaster and Kids Sprayground
- 2003: Sledge Hammer, Nickelodeon Central (replacing Bedrock), "Warrior of the Dawn" (in Action Theatre), "SpongeBob SquarePants 3-D" (feature in Action Theatre), Launch Pad (trampolines; requires separate fee)
- 2004: Tomb Raider: The Ride (later renamed Time Warp)
- 2005: Italian Job: Stunt Track (later renamed Backlot Stunt Coaster)
- 2006: "The Funtastic World of Hanna-Barbera" (feature at the Action Theatre), Nickelodeon Celebration Parade, Hollywood Stunt Spectacular
- 2007: Coasters 50s Diner, International Marketplace Buffet, Picnic Pavilion
- 2008: Behemoth
- 2010: Planet Snoopy (New Rides: Lucy's Tugboat, Peanuts 500, Snoopy's Revolution)
- 2011: WindSeeker, Starlight Spectacular
- 2012: Leviathan, Dinosaurs Alive!, Starlight Spectacular, "Dinosaurs: Giants of Patagonia 3D" (feature at the Action Theatre), Fast Lane
- 2013: "Monsters of the Deep 3D" (feature at the Action Theatre)
- 2014: Wonder Mountain's Guardian
- 2015: SlingShot, Splash Works: Typhoon and Splash Station, VIP Cabanas
- 2016: Flying Eagles and Skyhawk, "Robinson Crusoe 3D" (feature at the Action Theatre), "Stars of the Peking Acrobats" (show at Wonderland Theatre), VR on Thunder Run
- 2017: Soaring Timbers, "Our Canada" (feature at the Action Theatre), Cirque Canadien (show at Canterbury Theatre), Splash Works: Muskoka Plunge
- 2018: Lumberjack, Flying Canoes, Splash Works: Lakeside Lagoon
- 2019: Yukon Striker, Frontier Canada and WinterFest. Orbiter and Dinosaurs Alive! were removed.
- 2021: Beagle Brigade Airfield, Splash Works: Mountain Bay Cliffs
- 2022: Lazy Bear Lodge (Multi-level rustic lodge-restaurant), International Food Festivals
- 2023: Tundra Twister, Snoopy's Racing Railway
- 2024: Splash Works: Moosehorn Falls. Xtreme Skyflyer and Time Warp were removed.
- 2025: AlpenFury
Attendance
| Year | Attendance | Rank | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 2,970,000 | 20th | |
| 2001 | N/A | N/A | |
| 2002 | N/A | N/A | |
| 2003 | 2,620,000 | 21st | |
| 2004 | N/A | N/A | |
| 2005 | 3,600,000 | 14th | |
| 2006 | 3,230,000 | 14th | |
| 2007 | 3,250,000 | 14th | |
| 2008 | 3,380,000 | 14th | |
| 2009 | 3,160,000 | 14th | |
| 2010 | 3,380,000 | 14th | |
| 2011 | 3,481,000 | 14th | |
| 2012 | 3,655,000 | 13th | |
| 2013 | 3,582,000 | 14th | |
| 2014 | 3,546,000 | 14th | |
| 2015 | 3,617,000 | 13th | |
| 2016 | 3,723,000 | 13th | |
| 2017 | 3,760,000 | 13th | |
| 2018 | 3,798,000 | 13th | |
| 2019 | 3,950,000 | 13th | |
| 2020 | 0 | N/A | |
| 2021 | 587,000 | N/A | |
| 2022 | 3,768,000 | 13th | |
| 2023 | 3,232,000 | 18th |
Park Logos
The park was known as Canada's Wonderland from 1981. In 1994, when Paramount Pictures bought it, the name changed to Paramount Canada's Wonderland. This was a common practice for Paramount Parks.
In 2003, Viacom updated the Paramount Parks logo. This included Wonderland's logo. In 2006, CBS Corporation sold its theme parks to Cedar Fair. Cedar Fair removed "Paramount" from the names, and the parks returned to their original names. Canada's Wonderland adopted a Cedar Fair logo and typeface. This logo and typeface have been kept even after Cedar Fair merged with Six Flags in 2024.
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1981–1993
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1994–2003
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2003–2006
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2007–present
See Also
- Incidents at Canada's Wonderland
- List of amusement parks in the Americas
- List of amusement park rankings
