Century Flyer facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Century Flyer
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 Location in Arkansas
Location in the United States
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| Location | 150 E. Siebenmorgen Rd. Conway, Arkansas |
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| Built | c. 1955 |
| Architect | National Amusement Devices |
| NRHP reference No. | 10000284 |
| Added to NRHP | May 28, 2010 |
The Century Flyer is a cool, small train that was first built as an exciting ride for an amusement park. It's located in Conway, Arkansas, at a special place called the Conway Human Development Center. This center helps people with developmental disabilities. The train runs on a track that is 2 ft (610 mm) wide.
Contents
The Century Flyer's Story
How the Train Was Built
This fun train was made in the early 1950s by a company called National Amusement Devices. This company was famous for building parts for roller coasters and other amusement park rides. They made several Century Flyer trains for parks all over the country. This specific train was sold to a place called "Funland" at Burns Park in North Little Rock, Arkansas in 1957.
A New Home for the Train
In 1959, the train and its tracks found a new home. A group of local professional women bought them. They then gave the train to the Conway Human Development Center. Back then, it was known as the Arkansas Children's Colony. The train was meant to be a special treat for the people living there. About one third of a mile of track was laid, and two small bridges were built for the train.
Getting the Train Back on Track
Over many years, the Century Flyer train and its tracks started to wear out. They needed a lot of repair work. Luckily, the Central Arkansas Model Railroad Club stepped in to help. They volunteered their time and skills to fix up the train and its tracks. Thanks to them, the Century Flyer could run again!
A Historic Ride
The Century Flyer is very special. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This is a list of important historical places in the United States. The train is on this list because it's one of the few Century Flyer trains still working today. It's a great example of the rides built by National Amusement Devices.
