Circus World - Anyone remember this park?

[silvio]

I was wondering if there is anyone old enough to remember Circus World....I have been there in 1982, when I was 5, and I am not sure what year it has closed. I have great memories of that park. At that time, the only major theme parks in Orlando were Magic Kingdom and Sea World

 

[nkjzmom]

Yep, I do. I grew up in FL and visited Circus World many times. We loved to have our faces painted but would always fall asleep in the car on the way home and then wake up looking like some creatures from a horror flick. They had a great movie too, riding the motorcycle on the tightwire and riding a roller coaster...my dad had to leave that one.

 

[WDSearcher]

I was there as a teenager, vacationing with family. We still have a tin tray with Circus World pictures on it, and two Circus World drink glasses that we bought there.

We also have memorabilia from "Boardwalk & Baseball", which followed Circus World in that same location!

 

[tinkerbellmagic]

I remember passing Circus World in Aug 1983 when we were lost on the highway, so it was still around that year.

Tink

 

[diswedwish]

I was there when I was 5 - I always wondered what year it closed...

 

[tltjet]

I was there too! My parents have video of us riding on the elepfant. I thought I was the only one to remember this park.

 

[Billmel]

I remember this park also.....For some reason I remember the way the floors went up and down, like little hills, they scared me when I was little and they were painted red....someone please tell me I'm not losing my mind. I used to have nightmares about those floors for some reason when I was little that I couldn't climb up and kept sliding down away from my parents....yeah I know "weird". Does anyone else remember this???? I also remember the roller coaster, it looked huge to a little kid...

 

[MyGoofy26]

Yep! Certainly remembered it. We went there every trip until it closed (and once when it was Boardwalks and Baseballs) Rode the elephant too! Mom still talks about how I wanted to ride and she was sure after waiting in line that I'd chicken out (I was only 4 I think) but I just took off running to climb up onto the elephant as soon as it was our turn.

Carrie

 

[OhMari]

There is a Circus World in Baraboo Wisconsin. Maybe they brought all equipment up here. It was about that time when it opened in Baraboo.

Actually Circus World was always in Baraboo. Ringling Brothers made Baraboo their summer home, since Florida was so hot in the summer. You should see some of the homes the Brothers lived in.

There are no rides, but they have 3 daily circus's and it is also a large museum. Plus it has a great archive library that many UW Madison students attend and for the public during certain times of the year.

 

[laceemouse]

When I was a senior in High School, attending a small school near Pensacola, our band took a trip to Orlando. We marched in the Disney parade (there was only the MK at the time) and did a few other local atrractions including Circus World. I am not sure when it closed, but I did have my face painted and then a button made of me with a painted face that I kept for years! I am sorry I no longer have it, my kids would get a kick out of it. I guess as Disney got bigger, other parks just got shut out. Kinda sad

 

[mikeymars]

Yes, I recall walking into the below for a half day or so visit in mid-august 1984.

Memories?

- A relatively impressive western-themed riding show held in a big corral theater. Don't remember much of the show itself, but after it ended, some of the performers stayed out in the corral so people could take pictures. I still have one I took, a close-up of an absolutely gorgeous young blond rider on her beautiful Palomino.

- Also remember riding in the front seat of "the Roaring Tiger" a large but rather docile wooden rollercoaster.

Other than that, everything else is fuzzy....other then hearing that it was sold a year later to an interest that changed it into a baseball-themed park (Boardwalk and Baseball), which never did very well and eventually went under in 1990.

After the park closed, the rides were dismantled and sold. All that was left on the site were the grey, hulking remains of the big top/IMAX theater, the crumbling remains of a baseball stadium and lots and lots of weeds.

In late 2003, the entire site was bulldozed, supposedly in preparation for the development of a retail/condo/office complex.

Just what Florida needs.

 

[Ted and Holly]

I have never been there but I drive by the site all the time.

Here is some info on Circus World.

And subsequently Boardwalk and Baseball.

That site is under major construction since around 2003 and is going to be Posner Park, a $500 million development including condos, shops, restaurants, and office space.

Here is some info on Posner Park.

Ted

 

[thotfulspot]

I remember Circus World! My brother and father and I went there once, I don't even know how many years ago. I clearly remember participating in a magic show, seeing a sword swallower and a fire breather, and I have a vague memory of a funhouse. My Dad got his face painted like a clown, and the button of that was on the toe of his Christmas stocking for years. Late that night, he went to the airport to pick up my mother, and figured that there wouldn't be too many people around due to the hour. As it turns out, the place was packed, and to hear him tell the story, EVERYONE turned to stare at him.