Upper Clements Parks facts for kids
.jpg)
The pond near the centre of Upper Clements Parks
|
|
| Location | Upper Clements |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 44°42′10.34″N 65°34′8.49″W / 44.7028722°N 65.5690250°W |
| Opened | 1989 |
| Closed | 2019 |
| Attractions | |
| Water rides | Waterslide Flume Ride Wading Pool Bumper Boats |
| Website | upperclements.ca (Inactive) |
Upper Clements Parks was a fun seasonal theme park in Upper Clements, Nova Scotia, Canada. A non-profit group called The Upper Clements Parks Society owned and ran it. The park had two main parts: Upper Clements Theme Park and Upper Clements Adventure Park.
Upper Clements Parks was open every day from early June until the end of September. It offered a wooden roller coaster, a water coaster, and over 40 other rides and attractions for visitors to enjoy.
Contents
Park History
Upper Clements Park first opened its doors in 1989. The province built it, costing about $23 million.
Early Years and New Management
In 1993, there were talks about closing the park. A group of local businesses wanted to run it. However, a group of 16 business people from Hong Kong took over instead. They were called Amsdale Resources Management. They leased the park for three years. These business people were worried about the 1997 transfer of Hong Kong from British to Chinese rule. Investing in the park was a way for them to move to Canada.
Amsdale made many changes, and fewer people visited the park. The number of visitors dropped from 90,000 to 70,000 each year. Also, a tunnel that connected the theme park and the wildlife park was closed.
The Hanse Society Takes Over
In 1996, the park looked for new operators again. The same local businesses from Annapolis Valley, now called the Hanse Society, made another offer. They got a 10-year lease in 1997. When they arrived, they found the park in poor condition. Many buildings were falling apart, and items were missing.
The government helped the park with money. It received $1.37 million in 1998 and another $1 million in 2003. The tunnel connecting the theme park and the wildlife park reopened in 2000. Under the new management, attendance grew to 100,000 visitors in 2006. The park even started making a profit of almost $200,000 each year.
Park Ownership and Importance
In 2007, the non-profit Hanse Society (Upper Clements Parks Society) bought the theme park for $1 million. The province also paid $1.3 million for park improvements. By 2007, the society announced the park had no debt. The park manager, Gregg Gaul, said Upper Clements created 200 direct jobs and 200 indirect jobs. He also noted that it helped the local economy a lot.
Park Features
The Theme Park had more than 30 different rides and attractions. In 2012, a new "Adventure Park" opened. It replaced the old wildlife park. The Adventure Park featured two ziplines and 14 bridges for exciting adventures.
The park's friendly mascot was named Clementine. She had two friends: Clarence the train engineer and Captain Kid Ryerson the pirate.
Images for kids
-
Ride station for the park's antique car ride, in front of the park's log flume.
.jpg)
