Michigan's Adventure facts for kids
| Previously known as Deer Park Deer Park Funland |
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| Location | Muskegon, Michigan, United States |
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| Coordinates | 43°20′51″N 86°16′44″W / 43.34740°N 86.27890°W |
| Status | Operating |
| Opened | 1956 |
| Owner | EPR Properties |
| Operated by | Enchanted Parks |
| General manager | Carson Weingart |
| Slogan | Michigan's Best Amusement Park and Waterpark |
| Operating season | Late May through mid October |
| Attendance | 1,000,000 in 2011 |
| Area | Approx. 250 acres |
| Attractions | |
| Total | 37 |
| Roller coasters | 7 |
| Water rides | 4 |
Michigan's Adventure is a large and exciting amusement park located in Muskegon County, Michigan. It's known as the biggest amusement park in Michigan, offering more than 60 rides, slides, and attractions. The park is currently owned by EPR Properties and managed by Enchanted Parks.
This fun destination also features an outdoor water park called WildWater Adventure. Among its many attractions, Michigan's Adventure boasts seven thrilling roller coasters. These include Shivering Timbers, a famous wooden coaster, and Thunderhawk, a unique suspended looping coaster.
Contents
The Story of Michigan's Adventure
Early Days as Deer Park
Michigan's Adventure first opened in 1956 as Deer Park. It was started by L.R. Beardsley, Dr. E.S. Gillam, Hardin Dey, and Martin Kasichke. Back then, it was a petting zoo with animals like deer, llamas, and ducks. It also had a special area for kids called Storybook Lane. The very first ride, a miniature train called the Deer Park Special, was added in 1958.
In 1968, Roger Jourden bought the park. He started adding more fun attractions, and in 1972, the park's name changed to Deer Park Funland. That year, he brought in popular rides like the Tilt-a-Whirl, a Merry-Go-Round, and a Ferris Wheel. Over the years, more rides were added, including the Scrambler in 1975.
The park's first roller coaster, the Corkscrew, opened in 1979. This was a big step towards becoming a full amusement park! Later, in 1983, the exciting water ride Logger's Run was added. The Sea Dragon, a swinging ship ride, arrived in 1987.
Becoming Michigan's Adventure
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The year 1988 was a big turning point for the park. It got a new name, Michigan's Adventure, and Roger Jourden's daughter, Camille Jourden-Mark, became the general manager. A major new ride that year was the Wolverine Wildcat wooden roller coaster. This was the park's first wooden coaster and a very popular addition.
In 1990, the park opened WildWater Adventure, its very own water park. It started with eight water slides, a wave pool, a children's play area, and a lazy river. This made Michigan's Adventure even more exciting, offering "two parks for the price of one!"
Many other popular rides joined the park in the following years. The Grand Carousel arrived in 1991, and the Flying Trapeze in 1992. In 1994, Zach's Zoomer, a family-friendly wooden coaster, opened. Adventure Falls, a water ride where you "shoot the chutes," was added in 1995.
Shivering Timbers and New Expansions
A huge new wooden roller coaster, Shivering Timbers, began construction in 1997. When it opened in 1998, it quickly became known as one of the best wooden roller coasters in the world! That same year, a storm caused some damage to parts of the park, but it was repaired.
In 1999, Michigan's Adventure started a big expansion plan. A new main entrance was built, and two new roller coasters opened: the Big Dipper (later renamed Woodstock Express) and Mad Mouse. An S&S Frog Hopper ride also joined the fun.
Changes in Ownership
In 2001, Cedar Fair bought Michigan's Adventure. This brought new changes, including the introduction of the beloved Peanuts characters, like Snoopy, to the park. Many new attractions were added, such as RipCord in 2002, which became the park's tallest ride. In 2005, the exciting Funnel of Fear water slide opened. For the park's 50th anniversary in 2006, a new white water rafting ride called Grand Rapids was added.
In 2008, Michigan's Adventure welcomed Thunderhawk, the state's first suspended looping coaster. This thrilling ride was moved from another park that had closed. In 2011, the water park got a new attraction called Beach Party, featuring a giant geyser that shot water 90 feet into the air!
In 2013, the park added Lakeside Gliders, a flying scooter ride where guests could control their own height and spin.
In 2019, the park announced a new Camp Snoopy kids area for 2020, which included five new rides and a family coaster. However, the park was closed that year due to a global health situation. The Camp Snoopy area officially opened in 2021.
In 2022, Michigan's Adventure introduced its first special event, the Tricks and Treats Fall Fest, which extended the park's season into September and October. This event was later discontinued in 2025.
In 2024, Cedar Fair and Six Flags merged to form Six Flags Entertainment Corporation. However, this new company later sold Michigan's Adventure.
Today, Michigan's Adventure is owned by EPR Properties and operated by Enchanted Parks.
Exciting Rides and Attractions
| Intensity Rating (out of 5) |
|---|
| 1 (low) 2 (mild) 3 (moderate) 4 (high) 5 (aggressive) |
Thrilling Roller Coasters
| Ride | Picture | Opened | Manufacturer | Height Requirement | Description | Thrill Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Corkscrew |  |
1979 | Arrow Dynamics | Over 48" | This steel roller coaster stands 70 feet tall. It reaches speeds of 45 mph and sends riders through two corkscrew loops! The Corkscrew was the very first roller coaster at the park. | 5 |
| Mad Mouse |  |
1999 | Arrow Dynamics | Over 48" or 42" with adult | A steel roller coaster with sharp turns and sudden drops. This "wild mouse" style ride stands 68 feet tall, offering a thrilling experience. | 4 |
| Shivering Timbers |  |
1998 | Custom Coasters International | Over 48" | A massive wooden roller coaster that reaches 125 feet high. It has a 122-foot drop and speeds up to 65 mph! Many consider it one of the best wooden coasters. | 5 |
| Thunderhawk |  |
2008 | Vekoma | Over 52" and below 78" | Michigan's first suspended looping coaster! This inverted steel coaster is 105 feet tall. It drops 86 feet and flips riders upside down 5 times at 50 miles per hour. | 5 |
| Wolverine Wildcat |  |
1988 | Dinn Corporation | Over 48" | This wooden roller coaster starts with a dark tunnel before climbing 85 feet high. It reaches speeds near 55 mph. It was the park's first wooden coaster. | 5 |
| Woodstock Express |  |
1999 | Chance Rides | Over 42" or 36" with adult | A fun, family-friendly steel roller coaster. It stands about 16 feet tall. This coaster was originally called "Big Dipper." | 3 |
| Zach's Zoomer |  |
1994 | Custom Coasters International | Over 46" or 40" with adult | A family-friendly wooden roller coaster named after the owner's grandson, Zach Mark. It's known as an ACE Coaster Classic. | 4 |
Extra Thrills (Upcharge Rides)
| Ride | Opened | Ride type | Height requirement | Notes | Thrill Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RipCord | 2002 | Skycoaster | Over 42" | This exciting ride takes 1-3 people 183 feet into the air. Then it plunges them in a giant pendulum swing! There is an extra charge to ride RipCord. | 5 |
Camp Snoopy Fun
| Ride | Opened | Description | Height requirement | Thrill Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beagle Scout Lookout | 2021 | A fun balloon race ride where you spin around. | Over 42" or with adult | 2 |
| Camp Bus | 2021 | Hop aboard this crazy bus ride that moves up and down. | Over 36" or with adult | 2 |
| Peanuts Trailblazers | 2021 | A Speedway ride where you can pretend to drive. | Over 36" or with adult | 2 |
| Pig Pen's Mud Buggies | 2021 | A bouncy ride that jumps around like a buggy. | Over 36" or with adult | 2 |
Rides for Younger Kids
| Ride | Opened | Description | Height Requirement |
Thrill Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airplanes | 1983 | Little pilots can take a spin in their own biplane. | Between 36" and 54" | 2 |
| Elephants | 1983 | A gentle ride where you fly around in an elephant. | Between 36" and 54" | 2 |
| Frog Hopper | 1999 | Riders bounce up and down on a small tower, like a jumping frog. | Over 36" | 2 |
| Kiddie Cars | 1976 | A fun car ride designed just for younger children. | Under 54" | 1 |
| Motorcycles | 1976 | Kids can ride their own motorcycles around a circular track. | Under 54" | 1 |
| Speed Splashers | 2000 | Little boats spin around a circular pond, making gentle splashes. | No hand-held infants | 1 |
| Winky The Whale | 1995 | Riders sit in whales that splash and move in a circle on a pond. | Over 36" or with adult, no hand-held infants | 1 |
Fun for the Whole Family
| Ride | Opened | Description | Height Requirement |
Thrill Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carousel | 1991 | A classic Carousel with beautiful horses to ride. | Over 42" or with adult | 1 |
| Dodgem | 2002 | Bumper cars where you can bump and spin with friends and family. | Over 48" or 42" with adult | 4 |
| Drummer Boy | 1995 | Riders sit in a spinning drum and can control how much it spins. | Over 36" or with adult, no hand-held infants | 2 |
| Flying Trapeze | 1992 | A classic Swing ride that lifts you high and swings you around. | Over 42" | 3 |
| Giant Gondola Wheel | 1989 | A tall Ferris wheel that offers great views of the park. | Over 48" or with adult, no hand-held infants | 2 |
| Lakeside Gliders | 2013 | On this flying scooter ride, you control your height and how much you spin. | Over 44" or 36" with adult | 3 |
| Scrambler | 1975 | A classic Scrambler ride that spins and twists in different directions. | Over 48" or 36" with adult | 3 |
| Sea Dragon | 1987 | A swinging Pirate ship ride that goes higher and higher. | Over 48" or with adult, no hand-held infants | 3 |
| Swan Boats | 2004 | Enjoy a relaxing paddleboat ride in a swan-shaped boat on the water. | Over 54" or with adult, no hand-held infants | 2 |
| Thunderbolt | 1988 | A classic Matterhorn ride that spins and moves up and down. | Over 46" or 42" with adult | 3 |
| Tilt-A-Whirl | 1996 | A Tilt-A-Whirl ride that spins and tilts in unpredictable ways. | Over 46" or with adult, no hand-held infants | 3 |
| Timbertown Railway | 2002 | Take a relaxing train ride around the park to see the sights. | Over 42" or with adult | 1 |
| Trabant | 1989 | A Trabant ride that spins and lifts you up and down. | Over 42" or with adult, no hand-held infants | 3 |
Splashing Water Rides
| Ride | Opened | Ride Type | Height Requirement | Thrill Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adventure Falls | 1995 | Shoot the Chute water ride with a big splash at the end! | Over 46" | 4 |
| Grand Rapids | 2006 | A thrilling River rapids ride that takes you on a bumpy water adventure. | Over 48" or 42" with adult | 4 |
| HydroBlaster | 2002 | An enclosed water slide where you zoom down in a toboggan. | Over 48" or 42" with adult | 4 |
| Logger's Run | 1983 | A classic Log flume ride with a big drop and splash. | Over 46" or 36" with adult | 4 |
Other Fun Attractions
- Rocky Point Mini Golf: An extra-charge mini golf course located along the lake. It's designed for families and has fun challenges like water hazards.
- Beagle Scout Acres: A playground in the Camp Snoopy area that opened in 2021, perfect for younger adventurers.
WildWater Adventure Water Park
WildWater Adventure is Michigan's Adventure's exciting water park, which opened in 1990. When you buy a ticket to Michigan's Adventure, you get to enjoy both the amusement park and the water park all day long! This is why the park's slogan used to be "2 parks for the price of 1."
Fast Lane System
Fast Lane is a special system at Michigan's Adventure. For an extra fee, visitors get a wristband that lets them use a faster line on 14 of the most popular rides. This means less waiting and more riding!
Park Events and Festivals
- Timberfest: This festival was for roller coaster fans and included early entry and extra ride time. Timberfest ran from 1999 to 2009 and then returned on May 28, 2023, to celebrate Shivering Timbers' 25th anniversary.
- Rock the Coast: This was a mini-festival featuring Christian music that took place in May.
- Tricks and Treats Fall Fest: This family-friendly Halloween event was held in 2023 and 2024, extending the park's season into the fall. It was discontinued in 2025.
Awards and Recognition
- In 2007, Michigan's Adventure won the award for "Tourist Attraction of the Year" in Michigan.
- The Shivering Timbers roller coaster has been ranked among the top 10 wooden roller coasters by Amusement Today since it first opened.
- Both Shivering Timbers and Thunderhawk have been recognized as some of the top 50 coasters in the world by CoasterForce.
Park Logo and Slogans
Park Logo
The first logo for Michigan's Adventure featured a cartoon lion. When Cedar Fair took over the park in 2001, they changed the logo to include Snoopy from Peanuts. Snoopy is a popular character seen at many Cedar Fair parks. The logo was updated a few times to show the park's connection to Cedar Fair and to feature Snoopy.
Park Slogans
- 1956-1972 - "Fun, Fun, FunLand!"
- 1979-1987 (estimated) - "It's the Good Time Place"
- 1991-2009 - "2 Parks For The Price Of 1!"/"Twice the Fun!"
- 2010–2011 - "The Fun And Only!"
- 2012 - "Thrills Connect"
- 2018 - "It's Amazing Here!"
Park Safety and Operations
- The park's Gondola Wheel once had a problem, and firefighters helped guests safely off the ride.
- In 2000, a guest had an accident on Zach's Zoomer and received medical attention.
- In 2001, the Chaos ride stopped unexpectedly with guests on board. Everyone was safely helped off, and an investigation found that some parts needed tightening.
- In 2014, a small amount of a chemical was accidentally released in the WildWater Adventure water park. Some guests felt unwell but recovered quickly after receiving care.
- In 2017, Thunderhawk's safety system stopped the ride for a short time due to a motor issue. No one was hurt.
- In 2021, a train on the Shivering Timbers ride stopped unexpectedly due to rain. It then moved forward slowly, bumping into another train in the station. Everyone was safe, and the ride was closed for repairs before reopening.
