Joyland Amusement Park
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| Private | |
| Industry | Amusement Park |
| Founded | 1940s (as Mackenzie Park Playground) |
| Headquarters | 500 Canyon Lake Drive, Lubbock, Texas United States |
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Key people
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David Dean, CEO |
Joyland Amusement Park was a beloved family-owned theme park in Lubbock, Texas. It was a place where families could enjoy thrilling rides and classic attractions. The park was located inside Lubbock's Mackenzie Park and usually opened from March to September each year. It was known for its fun atmosphere and a variety of rides for all ages.
Contents
Park History
The park first opened in the 1940s with the name "Mackenzie Park Playground." In 1973, the Dean family bought the park. They changed its name to Joyland Amusement Park. At that time, it had 13 rides. Over the years, Joyland grew, offering many different ways to pay, like tickets for each ride or a single price for unlimited fun.
On September 12, 2022, the Dean family announced that Joyland would not open again. They planned to sell the park's rides and equipment if a new owner wasn't found by October 1, 2022. On October 21, 2022, it seemed like new buyers, Jim and Kai Evans with Daryl and Stephanie Holland, would take over. However, on January 10, 2023, it was announced that these buyers had changed their minds. The park's rides and equipment were then sold off.
Park Layout and Features
Joyland Amusement Park had a fun layout with a main path called a midway. To help guests stay cool in Lubbock's hot, dry weather, many parts of the midway had water sprayers overhead. The park offered several water rides, exciting roller coasters, and rides perfect for families.
A park train ran from one end of Joyland to the other. It had stations near the kiddie rides and at the far end of the park. There was also a sky ride, which was like a chairlift system. Both the train and the sky ride gave riders a great view of the entire park.
Exciting Rides at Joyland
Joyland Amusement Park featured about 30 rides, including three exciting roller coasters. Near the park entrance, there was a beautiful old-fashioned carousel with classic advertisements. Other popular rides included a Trabant, a Scrambler, and classic bumper cars.
Roller Coasters
| Name | Opened | Manufacturer | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Galaxi |
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S.D.C. | A classic steel roller coaster model. It was moved to Joyland in 1989 from another park. |
| Dragon Wagon |
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Wisdom | A fun roller coaster shaped like a dragon, great for younger riders. |
| Sand Storm |
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Cavazza Diego | A smaller, thrilling Blizzard model roller coaster. |
Thrill Rides
| Name | Opened | Manufacturer | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| The X-Factor Extreme |
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KMG | A pendulum ride that swings high and spins, offering different experiences each time. |
| Grizzly |
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Wisdom | An exciting Genesis ride. |
| Dare Devil Drop |
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Larson/ARM Rides | A tall drop tower that stands 140 feet high, giving riders a thrilling freefall sensation. |
| Musik Express |
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Mack Rides | A fast-paced spinning ride with music. |
| Roll-O-Plane |
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Eyerly | A ride that spins and flips riders upside down. |
| Rock-O-Plane |
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Eyerly | Similar to the Roll-O-Plane, offering spins and inversions. |
| Scrambler |
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Eli Bridge Co. | A classic ride where cars spin and rotate in different directions. |
| Space Shuttle |
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Morgan | A large swinging ship ride themed like a space shuttle. |
| Spider |
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Eyerly | A ride with multiple arms that spin and lift riders. |
| Tilt-A-Whirl |
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Sellner Manufacturing | A traditional ride where cars spin and tilt unpredictably. |
| Trabant |
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Chance Manufacturing | A spinning ride that tilts and rotates. |
Family Rides
| Name | Opened | Manufacturer | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dizzy Dragons |
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SBF Visa Group | A fun spinning ride with dragon-themed cars. |
| Carousel |
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C.W. Parker Co | A beautiful classic carousel, originally built in 1902. |
| Bumper Cars |
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Pinfari | A classic ride where you can bump into other cars. |
| Skyride |
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Hopkins Rides | A chairlift ride offering scenic views of the park. |
| Train |
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Crown Metal Products | A relaxing train ride around the park. |
Kiddie Rides
| Name | Opened | Manufacturer | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rock-It-Express |
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Ramagosa | A spinning ride for younger children, similar to the Musik Express. |
| Antique Cars |
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Arrow Dynamics | A gentle track ride with old-fashioned cars. |
| Big Trucks |
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Visa International | A track ride where kids can drive fire truck-themed vehicles. |
| Boats |
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Ramagosa | A gentle boat ride. |
| Helicopters |
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Molina & Son's | A ride where kids can pretend to fly helicopters. |
| Sky Fighters |
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Allan Herschell Company | A plane ride that goes in circles. |
| Whip |
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Allan Herschell Company | A classic whip ride for kids. |
More About Joyland's Rides
The Galaxi was a steel roller coaster made by S.D.C.. It was moved to Joyland in 1989. The Little Coaster was replaced by a Wisdom Dragon Coaster in 2016. Another junior coaster, Dipsy Doodle, was also replaced by the Wisdom Dragon Coaster in 2016.
Joyland had planned to add a roller coaster called Greezed Lightnin' in 2006. However, the ground where it was supposed to go was not stable. Because of this, the installation was canceled, and the ride was later removed and scrapped by 2019.
In 2008, Joyland added the Dare Devil Drop, a 140-foot tall drop tower. A fifteen-year-old named Wesley Orr won a contest to name this exciting ride. In 2018, the park introduced The X-Factor Extreme, a pendulum ride that swung riders in a wide arc while spinning them. Finally, in 2019, the Sand Storm roller coaster was installed, adding another thrill to the park.
