Fairyland Park facts for kids
The Skyrocket roller coaster at Fairyland Park
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| Location | Kansas City, Missouri, U.S. |
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| Coordinates | 38°59′26.0″N 94°33′25.3″W / 38.990556°N 94.557028°W |
| Status | Closed |
| Opened | 1923 |
| Closed | 1977 |
| Owner | The Brancato family (1923–1977) |
| Attractions | |
| Roller coasters | 3 (at peak) |
Fairyland Park was a popular amusement park in Kansas City, Missouri. It was located at 7501 Prospect Avenue. The park opened in 1923 and closed its doors in 1977. It closed because fewer people were visiting and a big storm caused a lot of damage.
The park was started by Salvatore “Sam” Brancato. He was an immigrant from Sicily who came to the United States in 1896. Sam first worked as a blacksmith, then ran a grocery store. Later, he bought land and opened Fairyland Park in 1923. His family owned and ran the park until it closed in 1977. This was one year after Sam passed away.
For many years, the park only allowed certain groups of people to visit. But in 1964, after peaceful protests, Fairyland Park opened its doors to everyone. The park always tried to keep its ticket prices low. By 1971, it only cost 25 cents to get in.
A big storm hit the park in late 1977. Some people said it was a strong wind storm, while others called it a tornado. The storm caused a lot of damage. This, along with a newer park called Worlds of Fun opening nearby, led Fairyland Park to close for good.
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Fun Rides and Attractions at Fairyland Park
During the 1950s and 1960s, Fairyland Park had many exciting rides. It had three different roller coasters for thrill-seekers. There was also a very tall Ferris wheel, which was eight stories high. The park even had a large swimming pool, which was twice the size of an Olympic pool. This pool closed in the late 1950s.
Other fun attractions included bumper cars and a shooting range. At one time, there was even a petting zoo where visitors could see animals. Sam Brancato loved to see children happy. He bought a smaller park called "Kiddeland" and moved its rides to Fairyland.
The Wildcat Roller Coaster
In 1967, the Brancato family built a new roller coaster called The Wildcat. This was after someone tried to burn down their old wooden roller coaster. The Wildcat became the park's biggest and most popular ride. It helped Fairyland Park stay competitive with newer parks.
Fairyland Park tried many ways to attract visitors. They advertised with slogans like "Where 'Fun' is Still Affordable." They kept their admission price at 50 cents, while Worlds of Fun charged five dollars, plus parking fees. The park also hosted summer concerts with popular bands like REO, Dr. Hook, and Blue Oyster Cult.
Why Fairyland Park Closed
Even with all their efforts, fewer and fewer people visited Fairyland Park. The park suffered major storm damage in the winter of 1977–1978. Because of this damage and the low attendance, the park never reopened.
Some people wondered if the storm truly destroyed the park. They thought the owners might have just used it as a reason to close. After the park shut down, the Brancato family tried to use the land for other things. They thought about opening a swap meet or even a zoo. But none of these ideas worked out, and the park never entertained guests again.
What Happened After the Park Closed
Fairyland Park remained closed from 1978. The old rides and buildings stayed there as ruins until 1998. In 1989, The Wildcat roller coaster was taken apart. It had been sitting abandoned for 11 years. The pieces were moved to Frontier City amusement park, where the roller coaster was rebuilt and opened to the public. There is a small sign at Frontier City that tells the history of the ride.
The rest of the park's land was finally developed in the early 2000s. The last of the old park remains were removed in 2004. As of 2008, the land is still called 'Fairyland Park' on Google Maps. The original park area was bordered by Prospect Avenue, 75th Street, 77th Street, and Indiana Avenue.
A large part of the property was bought by Alphapointe Association for the Blind. They built their main office there at 7501 Prospect Avenue. The city of Kansas City also bought 7.5 acres of the park's land. They plan to build a new police station there.
During the 1990s, a highway called Bruce R. Watkins Drive (U.S. Route 71) was built right through the middle of where the park used to be. Satchel Paige Elementary School is now located on what was once Fairyland Park land, east of U.S. Route 71.
- Fairyland Park at the Roller Coaster DataBase
