Marking 40 years since Canada's Wonderland first opened its gates
Grace Peacock
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Forty years ago this weekend the gates swung open on a brand new amusement park in the middle of farmland in Maple, Ontario. Media called it “a world of fantasy” and “Canada’s own magic kingdom.” It was like no attraction ever seen before in this country and the advertising campaign leading up to opening day promised “The dream comes true May 23.”
After two years of construction, Canada’s Wonderland opened on that day in 1981 and by all accounts, it was a fantasyland.
Guests who first stepped foot on the cobblestone of International Street were welcomed by fountains, the smells of fresh funnel cake, a 150-foot tall Wonder Mountain with cascading waterfall and the architecture and flavours of Latin, Mediterranean, Scandinavian and Alpine countries from around the world.
Beyond this thoroughfare, guests would find 30 rides, including five roller coasters, four additional themed areas, many more international flavours, strolling performers and live entertainment including a swashbuckling acrobatic spectacle on a pirate ship and a dolphin and sea lion show.
In the moment, guests likely didn’t know the significance of their experience – that they were the first of millions to explore the beautifully landscaped pathways, giggle or shriek on a coaster or kiddie ride and create memories that would last them a lifetime. It was frivolous fun, an escape, a thrill, an adventure among knights and fair maidens, jesters and clowns, and Scooby-Doo and Fred Flintstone. Though some things have changed these past four decades, the heart and soul of Canada’s Wonderland – that which drives its associates and brings smiles to the faces of our guests – has not. The park has been and will continue to be, a place for fun and memory-making.
We may not be able to celebrate the 40th anniversary this weekend the way we’d like, but we’re also not losing sight of the significance of the occasion. Canada’s Wonderland plays a part in the lives of so many, as a summer family tradition, a first workplace, a teenage hangout, an exciting date-out or, just a place to escape the ordinary, everyday world. It’s become engrained in the Canadian identity. Who hasn’t been to, or at least heard of the park? This place means something to people. And speaking on behalf of its associates, we’re very proud that it does.
So here’s a bit of a reflection on the park’s journey in 40 years and the kind of memories we’d like to celebrate. And the best place to start, of course, is usually at the beginning….
WHERE IT ALL STARTED
Opening day back in 1981 was a rare scorcher for the month of May, according to media reports, with temperatures reaching a high of 27 degrees. A team of female associates in white frilly jumpers sold Canada’s Wonderland balloons just inside the gate and roving musicians in colourful costumes greeted guests by the now-iconic floral Canadian flag garden bed.
The official opening ceremony was attended by then-Premier Bill Davis, who flew in by helicopter to the park’s helipad. There were speeches by the park’s dignitaries and Davis told the crowd he believed Canada’s Wonderland signified a greater opportunity than simple amusement.
“While there are differences in this great country… Canadians from coast to coast can get together to have fun, share experiences and have a greater understanding of each other’s way of life,” he said.
Davis then hit the switch to unleash Wonder Mountain’s waterfall. One media account noted it “was quite spectacular as the water tumbled from the mountain peak, the park’s fountains were brought to life and thousands of coloured balloons and hundreds of white doves were released into the blue summer sky.”
The occasion featured the Fort York Guard, the All-Canadian Pipe Band and in the skies, The Canadian Reds, an aerial acrobatic team. Twelve parachutists sailed down behind the mountain, each trailing a provincial or territorial flag, and Cathy Cox, a Canadian champion skydiver sailed the Canadian Flag to a landing on the International Street bridge. Even hockey legend Wayne Gretzky was on hand to assist Nany Kralovic, the Easter Seals Tammy, run the flag up the pole.
Guests could explore five themed areas in the park: International Street, Medieval Faire with its Canterbury Theatre castle, pirate ship, and Dragon Fyre roller coaster; Grand World Exposition of 1890 with a bandstand, the Crystal Palace Arcade, Ginza Gardens restaurant and Zumba Flume log ride; International Festival with Klockwerks, Krachenwagen and the pathway over Wonder Mountain; and the Happyland of Hanna-Barbera over the rainbow bridge to the Flintstone’s Bedrock, Saltwater Circus, the Ghoster Coaster, the Woodland Theatre and Character Carousel. Frontier Canada was initially proposed as a sixth area, but was postponed to 1983 and then indefinitely delayed until it opened in 2019 along with its centrepiece attraction Yukon Striker.
In 1983, instead of Frontier Canada, the park opened Kingswood Music Theatre, an open-air, 15,000-seat amphitheatre. Anne Murray was the opening act and was followed by Donna Summer, Shirley Bassey, Eric Clapton, Bryan Adams, and Bette Midler, and many others, later that summer. Kingswood went on to host hundreds of the music industry’s major artists as well as concert series like Energy 108’s Energy Rush and Z103.5’s Summer Rush, Wonder Jam and various cultural festivals.
Depending on your age, you’ll likely have fondness for a different time period in Canada’s Wonderland history. Many remain true to the original early days, when you could walk behind the falls, explore pathways on top of the mountain or get blue Smurf ice cream. Others claim loyalty to the days of Paramount ownership, when Klingons and Vulcans roamed the mainstreet and every other ride was named for a Tom Cruise movie.
When Splash Works was built in 1992 and expanded to 20 acres in 1996, it ushered in a whole new generation of water park fans who couldn’t wait to jump in Lazy River or rip down one of the speed slides. Others only recall the children’s area when it was Nickelodeon Central with rides themed to Dora the Explorer and the Rugrats.
This unwavering sentiment is less likely a devotion to an amusement park era than it is a devotion to a person’s most cherished memories. That kind of emotional attachment is something we celebrate, regardless of what decade, experience or ride created it.
And do guests ever love their rides. They give them nicknames like “Levi” for Leviathan. They will defend them furiously in arguments as to which ride is better. They’ll hold in their hearts a special place for their first roller coaster or first upside-down coaster. And they mourn the loss of rides when they have to be retired. We see the emotion pour into the comment section of social media posts whenever we share an old photo of SkyRider, the stand-up roller coaster that was removed in 2014.
Today’s guests may come to define their time at the park enjoying rides that push the thrill envelope and break records, like roller coasters Leviathan (tallest and fastest in Canada) and Yukon Striker (longest, tallest and fastest dive coaster in the world), while still getting the best of the classics. Twenty of the 30 original rides still exist today, including the five original roller coasters: Dragon Fyre, Minebuster, Wilde Beast, Ghoster Coaster and Thunder Run (known in 1981 as Blaur Enzian).
Or perhaps they’ll recall growing up with Snoopy, Charlie Brown and the Peanuts gang in Planet Snoopy and KidZville. Canada’s Wonderland also has more entertainment offerings than ever before, with exciting cirque-style performances in Canterbury Theatre, the Flying Frontenacs in Arthur’s Baye, the classic divers off Wonder Mountain and a whole host of food festivals and summer events like Celebration Canada and KidZfest featuring Marvel superheroes. Or maybe new best memories are being made during the fall at Camp Spooky, with the kids running around in costumes and trick-or-treating between rides and snacking on seasonal dessert favourites like Pumpkin Spice Funnel Cake.
Halloween Haunt, of course, is an event on a whole other level. It started as Fearfest in 2005 and is the premier Halloween attraction in Ontario with hundreds of monsters roaming the park, freaky mazes and creepy, themed scare zones. The décor, the atmosphere – it all allows us to immerse guests in a Halloween world for an experience they don’t soon forget.
The park’s newest event, WinterFest, is another example of immersive entertainment. One that takes the guest to a magical, holiday place with millions of lights, Christmas trees, live shows, strolling performers and delectable festive foods and desserts. When it debuted in 2019, Canada’s Wonderland became a four-season amusement park. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews and we expect it will quickly become a holiday tradition for many families.
So whether you’re a former guest or associate, a Season Passholder who comes every summer or a new park fan who just discovered there’s so much more than just rides at this park – you all have a special place in the history of Canada’s Wonderland. It’s your laughter, your screams of joy and your amusement that bring significance to this anniversary milestone.
Thank you all for an amazing 40 years of fun. We can’t wait to see you again very soon.
Interested in more Canada's Wonderland History?
Check these links out:
Canada's Wonderland Attractions and Rides Timeline
The History of Canada's Wonderland
10 fun rides and attractions that used to exist at Canada's Wonderland
Canada's Wonderland reveals old artistic renderings of its original rides
Remembering the Bedrock Aquarium at Wonderland
Take a trip back in time with these Canada's Wonderland postcards