Canada’s Wonderland: 40+ Years of Thrills, Chills, and Groundbreaking Innovations
A Look at the park’s unique rides, record-breaking rollercoasters, and creative seasonal events
Today will be the last post for Canadian Innovation Month and I’m writing about Canada’s Wonderland.
Why?
Because I’m here sitting in the park’s parking lot listening to people scream on some massive rollercoasters, waiting for my daughter and her friend to come out to grab some lunch (and get warmed up in the car) and marveling at this iconic attraction.
Canada’s Wonder What?
Canada’s Wonderland is a 330-acre theme park located in Vaughn, ON and it’s been operating since 1981.
It’s changed a lot over the years, in new and innovative ways to stay viable and keep park-goers swarming back each season.
The Park’s More Memorable Innovations.
Wonder Mountain (1981).
This artificial mountain has been the innovative centrepiece design for the park since its opening day.
Unlike other parks that used Eiffel Tower replicas, or world fair type structures and models, Wonder Mountain helped create a unique Canadian identity for Wonderland.
To keep the focus on the mountain, high divers perform shows over its waterfalls each summer. And rides that go into and over the mountain, have been added since it was first built.
You can't visit the park without snapping a selfie or family group photo in front of it!
Thunder Run (1986).
Originally built as the "Blauer Enzian" in 1981, this rollercoaster was innovatively relocated inside Wonder Mountain in 1986.
That allowed park operators to extend the track while integrating it into the park's iconic centrepiece.
The Guardian (2014).
This ride combined a roller coaster with an interactive 4D dark ride experience, featuring digital screens and a "digital dark" technology.
Riders use laser guns to shoot targets on screens while their car rolls along the coaster track.
The guardian created a unique hybrid attraction. And like Thunder Mountain, it too is partly housed within Wonder Mountain.
Virtual Reality on Thunder Run (2016).
Canada's Wonderland was among the first parks to implement VR technology on an existing roller coaster.
The 360-degree 3D VR experience synchronized with the coaster's movements, transforming the ride into a dragon-themed adventure.
Yukon Striker (2019).
This dive coaster broke several world records upon opening, including being the tallest (75m) (245 feet), fastest (130 km/h) (80mph), and longest 1,105 m (3,625 feet) dive coaster.
It also featured the first vertical loop on a dive coaster.
Frontier Canada (2019).
Although delayed for decades, the opening of this area fulfilled the original promise of Canadian theming, innovatively integrating multiple attractions into a unique gold-rush-themed experience.
It does make you think about what the gold rush days must’ve been like in our country’s not-so-distant past.
Leviathan (2012).
At the time of its opening, this was one of the tallest and fastest roller coasters in the world, with a height of 93.3 m (306 feet) and a top speed of 148 km/h (92 mph).
WinterFest (2019).
This event transformed the summer park into a winter destination too, innovatively extending the park's operating season and creating new experiences.
This innovation, helped Wonderland save the Toronto Santa Claus Parade! In 2020 and 2021, due to the pandemic restrictions, the Toronto Santa Claus Parade could not be held as a public event on the streets of downtown Toronto.
But instead of cancelling the parade, the organizers pivoted to a pre-recorded, broadcast-only format.
Canada's Wonderland served as the filming location for these special editions of the parade and featured over 25 floats that were lit up under the spectacular lights of Winterfest at the park.
Tundra Twister (2023).
Described as a first-of-its-kind flat ride, it features rotating gondola arms and 360-degree spins, offering a unique thrill experience.
It could be a good alternative for people who aren’t that fond of rollercoasters.
Sustainability Initiatives.
In recent years, the park has innovated in environmental practices, implementing measures to reduce plastic waste, improve energy efficiency, and conserve water.
The park has replaced polypropylene plastic straws with compostable PLA straws and now use wooden stir sticks instead of plastic ones.
A pond near the Behemoth roller coaster also acts as a stormwater retention area, supplying irrigation water across the park.
Halloween Haunt (2007).
This annual fall scarefest is Canada's Wonderland's premier Halloween event that transforms the theme park into a "scream park" filled with haunted attractions and horror-themed experiences.
It's the reason my daughter, her friend, and I are here on a chilly autumn day. It features:
6-7 haunted mazes, including new ones added each year like "Demons of the Deep" for 2024.
7 themed scare zones throughout the park.
Hundreds of costumed "monsters" roaming the park.
Thrill rides operating in the dark.
And you can't forget the Halloween-themed shows like "Vampire Disco", "Freak Show", and "Inferno."
Name and Branding Changes.
In 1992, Paramount purchased full ownership of the park and rebranded it as “Paramount Canada’s Wonderland.”
As new owners they used the park to help advertise some of their movies by incorporating them into rides.
My favourite of this era was the “Days of Thunder” ride that made you feel like you were riding along with Cole Trickle as he rubbed between rivals and the wall to earn the checkered flag.
In 2006, Cedar Fair acquired Wonderland from Paramount and began removing all references to Paramount products and restored the park’s name to “Canada’s Wonderland.”
Steadily since then, rides, themes, and attractions have been adapted to fit with the Cedar Fair branding used throughout the company’s many theme parks.
Under Cedar Fair’s ownership, the Wondeland started to really push the boundaries of what could be done when building a rllercoaster and the rides biggest and fastest rides have been constructed since Cedar Fair’s acquisition.
Did you know? Canada’s Wonderland is the only major Theme Park in North America to still use wooden rollercoasters. The park has 3.
Innovative, Yes. Without Criticism, No.
I have to acknowledge that I live a pretty privileged life. I realize that the high costs of Canada’s Wonderland makes it unaffordable for some.
It’s tiered-pricing system is also controversial because it gives people willing to pay more the ability to cut the line and get ahead of the common folk (like my daughter and I).
Personally, I get annoyed standing in line, waiting for an hour or more, just to watch people get premium access and hop on and off 3 or 4 times while my line doesn’t move a meter.
I also realize that the park isn’t perfect and that there have been crimes and injuries that have occurred there.
In no means do I mean to gloss over any of those facts.
Canada’s Wonderland has the Wow Factor Many People Enjoy.
Wonderland can be a great time. Especially the Halloween Haunt.
And love it or loathe it, the park’s innovations over the years make it a notable Canadian attraction.
Thanks for reading!
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And then have a rad rest of your day!
Sources and Links Used to Research this Story.
Canada's Wonderland Official Website.
Canada's Wonderland Blog - Earth Day Post.
https://www.canadaswonderland.com/blog/2021/april-2021/canadas-wonderland-earth-dayCanada's Wonderland Blog - 40th Anniversary Post.
https://www.canadaswonderland.com/blog/2021/may-2021/celebrating-40-years-of-fun-at-canadas-wonderlandExplore Things To Do - Canada's Wonderland 2024 Article.
https://explorethingstodo.ca/things-to-do/toronto/canadas-wonderland-2024-new-rides-family-passes-and-a-journey-through-history/Wikipedia - Canada's Wonderland.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canada's_WonderlandWikipedia - Toronto Santa Claus Parade.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toronto_Santa_Claus_ParadeCanada Newswire - The Sustainable Agave Company Partnership.
https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/the-sustainable-agave-company-partners-with-canada-s-wonderland-and-six-flags-la-ronde--859108157.html
I used to love Wonderland when I was a kid, the Days of Thunder ride was iconic, so was the Italian Job and Top Gun ones, I was sad to return and see it wasn't Paramount owned or branded anymore :(