326:
44:
232:
Circus World
Showcase, its preview center, had its groundbreaking on April 26, 1973 with building contractor Mercury Construction Company of Haines City. The showcase was due to open in December 1973 when Mattel placed Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus Combined Shows Inc., including the
228:
as a project of
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, in September 1972. Plans included a 19 story elephant-shaped hotel and Barnum City, a state-of-the-art residential community. These items and some of the other items were never built, but the plans did not change until after Mattel sold
703:
Mattel Inc. said that it had sold
Ringling Brothers-Barnum & Bailey Combined Shows Inc. for $ 22.8 million to a family that had owned the circus and has been in its management for 26 years. Two members of the family, Irvin Feld and his son, Kenneth, said that the deal included the circus, Ice
251:
Attendance had declined for five straight years when Mattel agreed to sell the park to Jim
Monaghan in 1983. The sale was finalized in 1984. Monaghan nicknamed the park Thrill City USA and made his objective to have the park be a world-class theme park. He added nine major European-built thrill
241:, Venture Out placed the purchase deal back into negotiations, and the opening of the whole complex was moved to an early 1976. Early added rides included Zoomerang in 1977 and The Roaring Tiger in 1978. Attendance peaked in 1979 at 1.3 million. In 1980, the theme park made a profit.
316:
Under Mattel, then some under
Monaghan, Funways Holidays also noted the park attendance was hurt by lagging in cleanliness, value and food. Also, constant staff turnover, ticket discounting, marketing errors and swift policy changes were issues.
263:
in late 1982. With most tourists taking a full four days visiting
Central Florida, Disney World added Epcot to its passes, resulting in three days being filled, thus tourists usually only had one day to visit other venues and usually selected
753:
849:
822:
313:. Circus World was never successful, as its standard carnival-type rides were no match for Disney's state-of-the-art attractions, and its location was out of the way relative to Disney World.
611:"Circus World's New Rides Something To Scream About Circus World, Near Orlando, Is Trying To Build Its Reputation As A Thrill-seeker's Theme Park. Here's A Connoisseur's Guide To The Action"
722:
610:
650:
789:
425:
Wiener
Looping - A launched shuttle coaster manufactured by Schwarzkopf that was relocated from a theme park in Austria and is currently operating at Selva Mágica in Mexico
237:
recreational subsidiary, agreed to buy the combined shows in
January 1974, and the opening was further pushed back to 1975. While the Circus World Showcase opened on
519:
857:
761:
434:- Later known as The Flying Daredevil, this was a looping steel shuttle coaster with a top speed of 45 miles per hour (72 km/h) The coaster was moved to
1451:
1068:
213:
354:
Big Top - A 27,000-square-foot (2,500 m2) building designed to look like a circus tent that featured restaurants, gift shops, a illusion show and an
279:
In
February 1985, Circus World started putting vintage objects and exhibits up for auction with Guernsey's auction house, including a 1921 original
1112:
730:
618:
572:
545:
492:
658:
72:
941:
209:
138:
1446:
1466:
1456:
888:
797:
1476:
1471:
1461:
438:
in
Indiana where it operated as Afterburner until the park's closure in 2008. It remained SBNO until it was demolished in 2017.
1324:
1105:
680:
1037:
435:
325:
1098:
248:
and other parties in 1982, but kept the park, further expanding it with shows, rides, and a new roller coaster.
1164:
918:
329:
One of the antique Barnum and Bailey train cars that housed a display of circus memorabilia from Circus World.
1238:
1139:
1390:
1309:
1304:
462:
422:- Designed for kids, riders sit in wicker chairs suspended a hub and spin until forces pushes them outward.
520:"Remembering Circus World, the theme park that forced Disney World to step up its game in the early 1970s"
409:
Schlittenfahrt - A Matterhorn suspended trackless sleigh ride that travels over water speedily in an oval.
1319:
979:
290:. These items did not add to the park's draw of attendees per Monaghan. The park made a profit in 1985.
1395:
1380:
1263:
1258:
1200:
391:- later known as The Roaring Tiger, this was a wooden coaster that served as the park's main attraction
1278:
351:
Circus - a show with attendee participation as visitors can try the flying trapeze in a safety harness
1375:
1329:
1159:
294:
153:
1058:
205:
65:
1190:
1169:
1032:
269:
400:
Para Tower - a three-person gondola drops along tower with a parachute and is for small children
301:) on May 10, 1986. Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, which had just bought several parks including the
1420:
1400:
1350:
1243:
1220:
431:
310:
273:
177:
309:, had a new idea for the area and closed the park at opening time that day to rebuild it into
212:, and was intended additionally to be the circus's winter headquarters as well as to have the
1283:
958:
1385:
1334:
197:
193:
57:
8:
1210:
338:
in 1991, where it operated as El Dorado until the park's closure 2007, then relocated to
287:
255:
According to Funways Holidays, Circus World developed a big problem with the opening of
1410:
1079:
1073:
927:
911:
685:
651:"Making Circus World Property A Winner Observers: Hbj Skilled At Enlivening Properties"
1415:
1299:
1273:
1182:
256:
1268:
1215:
1149:
690:
388:
265:
1365:
1248:
306:
1355:
1253:
1195:
1121:
339:
280:
885:
at Florida's Lost Tourist Attractions (source of information for this article)
1440:
1405:
1154:
951:
904:
298:
87:
74:
1015:
1008:
395:
283:
201:
1425:
1370:
1090:
1003:
974:
946:
335:
43:
1230:
998:
419:
245:
225:
224:
Circus World plans, which did not change by opening, were announced by
189:
1314:
1205:
896:
882:
469:. Vol. 67, no. 126. New York Times Company. pp. 1A, 3A
552:. Vol. 67, no. 64. New York Times Company. pp. 1A, 7A
302:
234:
1125:
210:
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus Combined Shows Inc.
139:
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus Combined Shows Inc.
823:"30 vintage photos of shuttered Orlando theme park Circus World"
1042:
704:
Follies, Holiday on Ice and the new Walt Disney's World on Ice.
144:
334:
1001 Nights - A swinging pendulum ride. The ride was moved to
1144:
260:
355:
238:
125:
115:
856:. Tribune Publishing. Orlando Sentinel. Archived from
850:"Amusement Parks Upstage Each Other For Coaster Crowd"
617:. Tribune Publishing. Orlando Sentinel. Archived from
1069:
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Clown College
579:. Vol. 67, no. 126. New York Times Company
233:
park, up for sale. Venture Out in America, Inc., a
214:
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Clown College
499:. Vol. 67, no. 99. New York Times Company
244:Mattel sold the circus back to its previous owner,
30:
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus World
208:interchange. It was originally a property of the
544:Brown, Lonnie; Fiero, Peter (December 19, 1973).
415:Tom Thumb Circus - an area featuring kiddie rides
1438:
790:"Circus World To Sell Vintage Objects, Exhibits"
412:The Ranger - a ship-like swing ride that rotates
754:"Repeat Visitors Boost Small-attraction Crowds"
48:View of the big tent at Circus World theme park
1452:Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus
1106:
942:Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus
912:
787:
1120:
1113:
1099:
919:
905:
788:Hubbard Burns, Diane (February 15, 1985).
543:
493:"Gulf Oil Subsidiary To Buy Circus World"
783:
781:
779:
324:
16:Amusement park in Florida, United States
847:
751:
720:
716:
714:
712:
648:
608:
604:
602:
600:
598:
596:
594:
1439:
926:
342:in 2009 before it was removed in 2011.
1094:
900:
817:
815:
776:
570:
490:
486:
484:
460:
456:
454:
452:
1325:Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex
947:Ice Follies And Holiday on Ice, Inc.
796:. Tribune Publishing. Archived from
760:. Tribune Publishing. Archived from
752:Vaughan, Vicki (December 14, 1987).
709:
657:. tribune Publishing. Archived from
644:
642:
640:
638:
636:
591:
517:
293:Monaghan sold the park for stock to
13:
1447:Defunct amusement parks in Florida
812:
571:Fiero, Peter (February 21, 1974).
511:
481:
461:Fiero, Peter (February 21, 1974).
449:
200:, on the south-east corner of the
14:
1488:
1467:1986 disestablishments in Florida
876:
633:
537:
491:Fiero, Peter (January 23, 1974).
436:Fun Spot Amusement Park & Zoo
376:Clown-A-Lot Children's Playground
1038:Center for Elephant Conservation
829:. August 20, 2013. pp. 7–33
681:"Feld Family Buys Ringling Bros"
358:theater with a six-story screen.
42:
1457:History of Polk County, Florida
841:
745:
721:Vaughan, Vicki (May 14, 1986).
649:Vaughan, Vicki (May 19, 1986).
1477:Amusement parks closed in 1986
1472:Amusement parks opened in 1974
1462:1974 establishments in Florida
1165:Universal Islands of Adventure
848:Gilbert, Paul (May 12, 1985).
827:Orlando Weekly Photo Galleries
723:"Circus World Sold And Closed"
673:
609:Gilbert, Paul (May 12, 1985).
564:
320:
216:and its museum located there.
150:Jim Monaghan (1983–1986)
1:
546:"Mattel Selling Circus World"
518:Hill, Jim (August 28, 2012).
442:
297:(now Harcourt, a division of
1391:Miracle Strip Amusement Park
1310:Fun Spot America Theme Parks
889:History of Amusement Parks:
7:
1320:Give Kids the World Village
980:AMA Supercross Championship
573:"Cicus World Sale Still On"
385:Great Western Stampede show
252:rides and six youth rides.
10:
1493:
1396:Miracle Strip at Pier Park
1381:Green Meadows Petting Farm
1140:Disney's Hollywood Studios
219:
1343:
1292:
1229:
1181:
1160:Universal Studios Florida
1132:
1051:
1025:
988:
967:
934:
428:Wonderful World of Clowns
345:Barnum City Train Station
295:Harcourt Brace Jovanovich
171:
163:
154:Harcourt Brace Jovanovich
131:
121:
111:
103:
64:
53:
41:
24:
1264:Disney's Typhoon Lagoon
1259:Disney's Blizzard Beach
1201:Disney's Animal Kingdom
1191:Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
1170:Universal Epic Universe
1033:Disney Theatrical Group
1376:Disney's River Country
1351:Boardwalk and Baseball
1221:ZooTampa at Lowry Park
330:
311:Boardwalk and Baseball
178:Boardwalk and Baseball
1284:Universal Volcano Bay
959:Marvel Universe Live!
328:
33:Circus World Showcase
1386:Holy Land Experience
1335:Weeki Wachee Springs
1173:(under construction)
194:Haines City, Florida
58:Haines City, Florida
26:Previously known as
1421:Wet 'n Wild Orlando
1269:Legoland Water Park
1211:Lion Country Safari
1074:Siegfried & Roy
276:over Circus World.
88:28.2314°N 81.6432°W
84: /
21:
1411:Six Flags Atlantis
1183:Animal theme parks
1080:Sesame Street Live
928:Feld Entertainment
733:on August 23, 2015
686:The New York Times
331:
19:
1434:
1433:
1416:Six Gun Territory
1300:Adventure Landing
1274:Rapids Water Park
1174:
1088:
1087:
968:Feld Motor Sports
257:Walt Disney World
239:February 21, 1974
183:
182:
147:(1982–1983)
141:(1974–1982)
116:February 21, 1974
93:28.2314; -81.6432
1484:
1279:Shipwreck Island
1239:Adventure Island
1216:SeaWorld Orlando
1172:
1150:Legoland Florida
1115:
1108:
1101:
1092:
1091:
921:
914:
907:
898:
897:
870:
869:
867:
865:
860:on July 17, 2018
845:
839:
838:
836:
834:
819:
810:
809:
807:
805:
785:
774:
773:
771:
769:
764:on July 17, 2018
749:
743:
742:
740:
738:
729:. Archived from
718:
707:
706:
700:
698:
693:. March 19, 1982
691:Associated Press
677:
671:
670:
668:
666:
661:on July 21, 2018
655:Orlando Sentinel
646:
631:
630:
628:
626:
621:on July 17, 2018
606:
589:
588:
586:
584:
568:
562:
561:
559:
557:
541:
535:
534:
532:
530:
515:
509:
508:
506:
504:
488:
479:
478:
476:
474:
458:
373:Circus Pavillion
240:
174:
127:
117:
99:
98:
96:
95:
94:
89:
85:
82:
81:
80:
77:
46:
22:
18:
1492:
1491:
1487:
1486:
1485:
1483:
1482:
1481:
1437:
1436:
1435:
1430:
1366:Cypress Gardens
1339:
1288:
1225:
1177:
1128:
1119:
1089:
1084:
1047:
1021:
1009:Roy M. Hofheinz
984:
963:
930:
925:
879:
874:
873:
863:
861:
846:
842:
832:
830:
821:
820:
813:
803:
801:
786:
777:
767:
765:
750:
746:
736:
734:
719:
710:
696:
694:
679:
678:
674:
664:
662:
647:
634:
624:
622:
607:
592:
582:
580:
577:Lakeland Ledger
569:
565:
555:
553:
550:Lakeland Ledger
542:
538:
528:
526:
516:
512:
502:
500:
497:Lakeland Ledger
489:
482:
472:
470:
467:Lakeland Ledger
463:"Hurry, Hurry!"
459:
450:
445:
370:The Center Ring
323:
307:Cypress Gardens
222:
192:built north of
172:
159:
92:
90:
86:
83:
78:
75:
73:
71:
70:
49:
36:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1490:
1480:
1479:
1474:
1469:
1464:
1459:
1454:
1449:
1432:
1431:
1429:
1428:
1423:
1418:
1413:
1408:
1403:
1398:
1393:
1388:
1383:
1378:
1373:
1368:
1363:
1358:
1353:
1347:
1345:
1341:
1340:
1338:
1337:
1332:
1327:
1322:
1317:
1312:
1307:
1305:Dinosaur World
1302:
1296:
1294:
1290:
1289:
1287:
1286:
1281:
1276:
1271:
1266:
1261:
1256:
1254:Daytona Lagoon
1251:
1246:
1241:
1235:
1233:
1227:
1226:
1224:
1223:
1218:
1213:
1208:
1203:
1198:
1196:Discovery Cove
1193:
1187:
1185:
1179:
1178:
1176:
1175:
1167:
1162:
1157:
1152:
1147:
1142:
1136:
1134:
1130:
1129:
1118:
1117:
1110:
1103:
1095:
1086:
1085:
1083:
1082:
1077:
1071:
1066:
1061:
1055:
1053:
1049:
1048:
1046:
1045:
1040:
1035:
1029:
1027:
1023:
1022:
1020:
1019:
1013:
1012:
1011:
1006:
1001:
992:
990:
986:
985:
983:
982:
977:
971:
969:
965:
964:
962:
961:
956:
955:
954:
944:
938:
936:
932:
931:
924:
923:
916:
909:
901:
895:
894:
886:
878:
877:External links
875:
872:
871:
840:
811:
800:on May 4, 2015
775:
744:
708:
672:
632:
590:
563:
536:
510:
480:
447:
446:
444:
441:
440:
439:
429:
426:
423:
416:
413:
410:
407:
404:
401:
398:
392:
386:
383:
382:Elephant rides
380:
379:Dragon Coaster
377:
374:
371:
368:
365:
362:
359:
352:
346:
343:
340:Kings Dominion
322:
319:
281:Marcus Illions
221:
218:
181:
180:
175:
169:
168:
165:
161:
160:
158:
157:
151:
148:
142:
135:
133:
129:
128:
123:
119:
118:
113:
109:
108:
105:
101:
100:
68:
62:
61:
55:
51:
50:
47:
39:
38:
35:
34:
31:
27:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1489:
1478:
1475:
1473:
1470:
1468:
1465:
1463:
1460:
1458:
1455:
1453:
1450:
1448:
1445:
1444:
1442:
1427:
1424:
1422:
1419:
1417:
1414:
1412:
1409:
1407:
1406:Pirates World
1404:
1402:
1401:Paradise Park
1399:
1397:
1394:
1392:
1389:
1387:
1384:
1382:
1379:
1377:
1374:
1372:
1369:
1367:
1364:
1362:
1359:
1357:
1354:
1352:
1349:
1348:
1346:
1344:Defunct parks
1342:
1336:
1333:
1331:
1328:
1326:
1323:
1321:
1318:
1316:
1313:
1311:
1308:
1306:
1303:
1301:
1298:
1297:
1295:
1291:
1285:
1282:
1280:
1277:
1275:
1272:
1270:
1267:
1265:
1262:
1260:
1257:
1255:
1252:
1250:
1247:
1245:
1242:
1240:
1237:
1236:
1234:
1232:
1228:
1222:
1219:
1217:
1214:
1212:
1209:
1207:
1204:
1202:
1199:
1197:
1194:
1192:
1189:
1188:
1186:
1184:
1180:
1171:
1168:
1166:
1163:
1161:
1158:
1156:
1155:Magic Kingdom
1153:
1151:
1148:
1146:
1143:
1141:
1138:
1137:
1135:
1131:
1127:
1123:
1116:
1111:
1109:
1104:
1102:
1097:
1096:
1093:
1081:
1078:
1075:
1072:
1070:
1067:
1065:
1062:
1060:
1057:
1056:
1054:
1050:
1044:
1041:
1039:
1036:
1034:
1031:
1030:
1028:
1024:
1017:
1014:
1010:
1007:
1005:
1002:
1000:
997:
996:
994:
993:
991:
987:
981:
978:
976:
973:
972:
970:
966:
960:
957:
953:
952:Disney on Ice
950:
949:
948:
945:
943:
940:
939:
937:
933:
929:
922:
917:
915:
910:
908:
903:
902:
899:
893:
892:
887:
884:
881:
880:
859:
855:
851:
844:
828:
824:
818:
816:
799:
795:
791:
784:
782:
780:
763:
759:
755:
748:
732:
728:
724:
717:
715:
713:
705:
692:
688:
687:
682:
676:
660:
656:
652:
645:
643:
641:
639:
637:
620:
616:
612:
605:
603:
601:
599:
597:
595:
578:
574:
567:
551:
547:
540:
525:
524:JimHill Media
521:
514:
498:
494:
487:
485:
468:
464:
457:
455:
453:
448:
437:
433:
430:
427:
424:
421:
417:
414:
411:
408:
405:
402:
399:
397:
393:
390:
389:The Hurricane
387:
384:
381:
378:
375:
372:
369:
366:
363:
360:
357:
353:
350:
347:
344:
341:
337:
333:
332:
327:
318:
314:
312:
308:
304:
300:
299:Reed Elsevier
296:
291:
289:
286:carousel and
285:
282:
277:
275:
271:
270:Busch Gardens
267:
262:
258:
253:
249:
247:
242:
236:
230:
227:
217:
215:
211:
207:
203:
199:
195:
191:
187:
179:
176:
170:
166:
162:
155:
152:
149:
146:
143:
140:
137:
136:
134:
130:
124:
120:
114:
110:
106:
102:
97:
69:
67:
63:
59:
56:
52:
45:
40:
37:
32:
29:
28:
23:
1361:Circus World
1360:
1249:Big Kahuna's
1064:Circus World
1063:
1059:Kaleidoscape
1016:Kenneth Feld
891:Circus World
890:
883:Circus World
862:. Retrieved
858:the original
854:Sun Sentinel
853:
843:
831:. Retrieved
826:
802:. Retrieved
798:the original
794:Sun Sentinel
793:
766:. Retrieved
762:the original
758:Sun Sentinel
757:
747:
735:. Retrieved
731:the original
727:Sun Sentinel
726:
702:
695:. Retrieved
684:
675:
663:. Retrieved
659:the original
654:
623:. Retrieved
619:the original
615:Sun Sentinel
614:
581:. Retrieved
576:
566:
554:. Retrieved
549:
539:
527:. Retrieved
523:
513:
501:. Retrieved
496:
471:. Retrieved
466:
420:Wave Swinger
348:
315:
292:
288:Gargantua II
284:Coney Island
278:
261:Epcot Center
254:
250:
243:
231:
223:
202:Interstate 4
186:Circus World
185:
184:
126:May 12, 1986
25:
20:Circus World
1426:Wild Waters
1371:DisneyQuest
1293:Other parks
1231:Water parks
1133:Theme parks
1122:Theme parks
1004:Israel Feld
975:Monster Jam
406:Santa Maria
403:Petting Zoo
396:Giant Wheel
394:Jumbo, the
361:Bumper Cars
336:Geauga Lake
321:Attractions
274:Wet 'n Wild
198:Polk County
173:Replaced by
91: /
66:Coordinates
1441:Categories
999:Irvin Feld
989:Key people
935:Live shows
443:References
305:parks and
246:Irvin Feld
229:the park.
226:Irvin Feld
190:theme park
79:81°38′36″W
76:28°13′53″N
1315:Icon Park
1206:Gatorland
995:Founders
737:August 4,
583:August 4,
556:August 4,
503:August 4,
473:August 4,
432:Zoomerang
349:Be-a-Star
266:Sea World
1330:Old Town
1244:Aquatica
864:July 16,
833:July 16,
804:July 16,
768:July 16,
697:July 20,
665:July 20,
625:July 16,
529:July 23,
364:Carousel
303:SeaWorld
235:Gulf Oil
54:Location
1356:Boomers
1126:Florida
1052:Defunct
1026:Related
367:Calypso
272:and/or
220:History
107:Defunct
1043:Mattel
188:was a
167:Circus
156:(1986)
145:Mattel
122:Closed
112:Opened
104:Status
60:, U.S.
1145:Epcot
1018:(CEO)
206:US 27
164:Theme
132:Owner
1076:show
866:2018
835:2018
806:2018
770:2018
739:2015
699:2008
667:2018
627:2018
585:2015
558:2015
531:2023
505:2015
475:2015
418:The
356:IMAX
1124:of
259:'s
196:in
1443::
852:.
825:.
814:^
792:.
778:^
756:.
725:.
711:^
701:.
689:.
683:.
653:.
635:^
613:.
593:^
575:.
548:.
522:.
495:.
483:^
465:.
451:^
268:,
1114:e
1107:t
1100:v
920:e
913:t
906:v
868:.
837:.
808:.
772:.
741:.
669:.
629:.
587:.
560:.
533:.
507:.
477:.
204:-
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
