Worlds of Fun
Worlds of Fun is a 325-acre amusement park in Kansas City, Missouri, featuring seven roller coasters, dozens of thrill and family rides, international-themed areas inspired by global cultures, and the adjacent Oceans of Fun water park.[1] Founded by Kansas City businessmen Lamar Hunt and Jack Steadman through Hunt's Mid-America Enterprises, the park opened on May 26, 1973, with an initial investment of $20 million and was designed as a family entertainment destination drawing inspiration from the novel and film Around the World in Eighty Days.[2][3][4][5] Originally spanning 235 acres, it has expanded over the decades to include themed zones such as Africa, Asia, and Europa, with iconic attractions like the wooden Timber Wolf roller coaster (opened 1989) and the hypercoaster Mamba (opened 1998).[6][7][8] Acquired by Cedar Fair Entertainment Company in 1995, the park underwent significant upgrades, including the addition of the Prowler wooden coaster in 2009 and the reimagined Zambezi Zinger hybrid coaster in 2023.[9][10] In 2024, Cedar Fair merged with Six Flags Entertainment Corporation, making Worlds of Fun part of the newly formed entity under the Six Flags brand, which continues to invest in enhancements like the 2025 Africa section transformation.[6][11] The park remains a key Midwest attraction, drawing millions annually with seasonal events, live entertainment, and accommodations at the on-site Worlds of Fun Village campground.[1][12]History
Founding and early development
Worlds of Fun was founded by Kansas City businessmen Lamar Hunt, owner of the Kansas City Chiefs, and Jack Steadman, the team's general manager, through Hunt's company Mid-America Enterprises.[2] The idea for the park originated with Steadman following a family visit to Disneyland, where he envisioned creating a similar family entertainment center in Kansas City; Hunt approved the concept and tasked Steadman with its development.[6] The project was publicly announced in 1971 as a major tourism booster for the region.[13] Construction began in November 1971 on 235 acres of land in the bluffs above the Missouri River in Kansas City, Missouri, under the general contracting of J.E. Dunn Construction Company.[2] The park was designed by Jack Steadman & Associates and themed around Jules Verne's novel Around the World in Eighty Days, aiming to transport visitors through diverse global cultures via immersive "worlds."[6] The development cost $20.5 million and involved rapid progress, reaching 20% completion by summer 1972.[6] The park opened to the public on May 26, 1973, with opening ceremonies featuring fireworks, balloons, marching bands, and events aboard the Mark Twain Riverboat.[6] At launch, Worlds of Fun offered 25 rides and attractions, highlighted by the Orient Express wooden roller coaster, the Pharaoh's Fury scrambler, and the Leaning Tower drop ride.[6] Initial themed areas included Africa, with African wildlife motifs; Europa, evoking European villages and castles; and Americana, representing early American frontier life.[6] The first season drew strong crowds, establishing the park as a key regional draw.[14]Ownership and operational changes
Worlds of Fun was originally developed and owned by Lamar Hunt's Mid-America Enterprises, which made a significant operational decision in 1982 by opening the adjacent Oceans of Fun water park to enhance overall attendance and diversify attractions.[15] This addition, which debuted on May 22, 1982,[16] as the world's largest water park at the time, was integrated into the park's operations and helped solidify its position as a year-round entertainment destination under Hunt Midwest Enterprises, the successor entity.[17] In 1995, Hunt Midwest Enterprises sold Worlds of Fun and Oceans of Fun to Cedar Fair, L.P., for $40 million, marking a major shift in ownership and bringing the park into a larger regional amusement park portfolio.[9] Under Cedar Fair's management, the park underwent operational alignments, including standardized ticket pricing structures and shared marketing strategies that aligned it with properties like Cedar Point, while maintaining its unique Kansas City identity.[2] On July 1, 2024, Cedar Fair completed a merger of equals with Six Flags Entertainment Corporation, forming the new Six Flags Entertainment Corporation and placing Worlds of Fun under this expanded ownership structure that now oversees 42 amusement parks across North America.[18] Post-merger, operational impacts included the introduction of a unified All Park Passport add-on for season passes, allowing broader access across the combined network of parks starting in 2025, alongside minor branding adjustments such as updated corporate logos while preserving individual park names and themes.[19] These changes aimed to streamline guest experiences and boost cross-promotion without altering core operational models at properties like Worlds of Fun.[20]Major expansions and renovations
In 1982, Worlds of Fun expanded its offerings with the opening of Oceans of Fun, a 60-acre water park built on adjacent land to celebrate the park's approaching 10th anniversary.[16] The water park debuted on May 22, 1982, initially operating as a separately ticketed attraction before being integrated into combined admission packages in later years.[21] The addition of the Mamba hypercoaster in 1998 marked a significant enhancement to the park's thrill ride portfolio, introducing one of the tallest and fastest coasters in the world at the time with a 205-foot drop.[22] Designed by Steve Okamoto and built by D.H. Morgan Manufacturing, it opened on April 18, 1998, and helped solidify Worlds of Fun's reputation for high-speed attractions.[23] In 2009, the park introduced the Prowler, a wooden roller coaster manufactured by Great Coasters International, located in the Africa section to leverage the natural terrain for an immersive experience.[24] Opening on May 2, 2009, at a cost of $8 million, it was named the Best New Ride in the World by Amusement Today and expanded family-friendly thrill options in the themed area.[25] Planet Snoopy, the park's Peanuts-themed children's area originally established in 2011 by retheming the former Camp Snoopy, received further enhancements in 2019, including the conversion of the Peanuts Playhouse into Pigpen's Petting Farm to boost interactive family experiences.[26] This update added live animal interactions and reinforced the area's focus on young visitors with over 20 attractions. The 2023 season brought the debut of the reimagined Zambezi Zinger, a Great Coasters International wooden roller coaster in the Africa section, honoring the original 1970s ride while introducing modern elements like a spiral lift hill.[27] It opened to the public on June 19, 2023,) as part of the park's 50th anniversary celebrations, featuring 2,428 feet of track and speeds up to 45 mph.[28] For the 2025 season, Worlds of Fun undertook major renovations in the Africa section, including enclosing the Zambezi Zinger's lift hill for enhanced theming, structural upgrades to the Prowler coaster, and a refreshed color scheme across buildings and landscapes to revitalize the area's visual appeal.[29] Additionally, the Timber Wolf wooden coaster was placed in storage, with potential retracking planned for 2026 to address maintenance needs.[30] These changes, supported by ongoing investments under Six Flags ownership following the 2024 merger, aim to maintain the park's competitive edge.[31]Current attractions and areas
Roller coasters
Worlds of Fun features eight roller coasters as of 2025, including seven thrill coasters and one family coaster, spanning wooden, steel, inverted, hyper, and hybrid designs. These attractions are distributed across various themed areas, contributing to the park's reputation for diverse thrill experiences.[32][7] The following table lists the current roller coasters:| Name | Type | Manufacturer | Opened | Height (ft) | Top Speed (mph) | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boomerang | Steel boomerang | Vekoma | 2000 | 118 | 47 | Africa |
| Cosmic Coaster | Steel kiddie | Chance Rides | 2015 | 12 | 10 | Planet Snoopy |
| Mamba | Steel hypercoaster | Intamin | 1998 | 205 | 75 | Africa |
| Patriot | Steel inverted | Bolliger & Mabillard | 2006 | 98 | 65 | Americana |
| Prowler | Wooden twister | Great Coasters International | 2009 | 102 | 51 | Africa |
| Spinning Dragons | Steel spinning wild mouse | Gerstlauer | 2004 | 45 | 23 | East Asia |
| Timber Wolf | Wooden | Dinn Corporation | 1989 | 117 | 53 | Wild West |
| Zambezi Zinger | Hybrid wood/steel | Rocky Mountain Construction | 2023 | 113 | 50 | Africa |