History of Canada's Wonderland

The park that entertains millions annually, first opened for guests in 1981. 

Following an extensive site selection process by the park’s developers, Taft Broadcasting Company and the Great West Life Assurance Company, Maple (Vaughan) was finally chosen as the ideal location, due to its close proximity to Toronto and 400 series highways.

Initial construction of the park commenced in April 1979. During construction, Canadian companies partnered on the preliminary design and engineering of this massive project that involved 12 architectural and engineering firms and more than 700 trades people. 

Two years later, Canada’s Wonderland was officially opened on May 23, 1981 by then Premier of Ontario, William Davis, during a spectacular ceremony that included 10,000 helium balloons, 13 parachutists, 350 white doves, a pipe band, special guest Wayne Gretzky, and four children representing the Arctic, Pacific, Atlantic, and Great Lakes regions of Canada.

In 1993, Canada's Wonderland was acquired by Paramount Communications Inc., becoming part of its Paramount Parks division. Shortly thereafter, Canada's Wonderland became Paramount Canada's Wonderland, reflecting the park's new association with Paramount Parks. 

On May 14, 2006, it was announced that Cedar Fair Entertainment Co. was interested in acquiring Canada's Wonderland. The acquisition was completed on June 30, 2006. As a result, in early January 2007 the park reverted back to its original name, "Canada's Wonderland.” 

Cedar Fair's dedication to providing the best in family entertainment and guest service has kept guests coming back year after year. Today, with 11 amusement parks, four outdoor water parks, an indoor water park and resort accommodations, Cedar Fair is one of the largest and most successful amusement park operators in the world. 

Each season, Canada's Wonderland has introduced new attractions and features, investing an additional $250 million since the park first opened. 

In 1983, Wonderland built the Kingswood Music Theatre, a state-of-the-art 15,000 seat amphitheatre that has played host to many of the music industry’s major artists. 

In 1992, Canada's Wonderland became two-parks-in-one with the addition of Splash Works, a 20-acre water park. Splash Works boasts Canada’s largest outdoor wave pool and, as of 2020, holds more than 7.9 million litres (2.1 million US gallons) of water across its attractions, including 11 slides, two splash stations, a lazy river and the new cliff jumping attraction, Mountain Bay Cliffs. 

And most notably, throughout the park’s first quarter century of operation, Wonderland introduced some of North America’s most popular ride attractions, including such favourites as Flight Deck, The Fly, Drop Tower, The Bat, Skyrider (1985-2014), Vortex, Psyclone and Silver Streak. Behemoth premiered in 2008 and set the stage for big coaster thrills with a climb to a height of 230 feet (70.1m), followed by an adrenaline pumping 75-degree drop with speeds reaching 125 km/h in 3.9 seconds, and a track length of over 5,300 feet (1,616m). 

In 2012, the park premiered Dinosaurs Alive - a seven-acre dinosaur park, with more than 40 life-sized animatronic dinosaurs. The attraction had its last season in 2018.  

In 2012, the park also unveiled Leviathan, one of the tallest and fastest roller coasters in the world. Riders climb to an astonishing 306 feet (97.7m) followed by an exhilarating 80-degree drop, reaching speeds of 148 km/h. 

2014 set the stage for a thrilling new interactive 4-D dark ride inside the depths of Wonder Mountain, with the introduction of Wonder Mountain’s Guardian. Riders experience stunning 3D effects overlaid with 4-D elements, encountering mythical creatures on a quest that culminates in an ultimate battle with a heart stopping finale that will shock thrill seekers of all ages! 

In 2016, Canada’s Wonderland took guests to new heights with the introduction of Skyhawk and Flying Eagles. Skyhawk riders take control of their own cockpit, showcasing their flying abilities as they maneuver through 360 degree turns, and challenge themselves to engage in multiple inversions 135 feet up in the air. Little pilots can have their own interactive adventure on Flying Eagles as they glide 28 feet above the ground.

Canada’s Wonderland brought two unique and adrenaline-pumping attractions to its park in 2017. Muskoka Plunge, a 60 ft. (18 m) tall waterslide complex featuring four speed slides, had riders feeling the adrenaline rush by stepping into an enclosed launch chamber and plummeting into a high-speed free-fall through S-curves and 360° loops at speeds of approximately 40 km/h. Canada’s Wonderland also introduced Soaring Timbers, a unique ride experience that sends guests spiraling through the sky on two massive rotating and sweeping gondolas. 

The 2018 season saw the addition of two new rides and Lakeside Lagoon, an expansion area in the water park. Lumberjack took guests for a thrilling ride on two swinging axe pendulums, propelling them into the sky with their feet dangling through 360 degree loops. Flying Canoes is an interactive family ride that allows riders to control their journey of flight with the push of a button. And in Lakeside Lagoon, children enjoy a kiddie pool with interactive spray features and family slides. 

The 2019 season brought the largest capital investment in the park’s history since opening, with the addition of Yukon Striker and WinterFest. Featuring a 90-degree drop into an underwater tunnel, Yukon Striker is the world’s longest (3,625ft/ 1,105m), tallest (245ft/ 75m) and fastest dive coaster (130km/h or 80mph). It became the flagship attraction in the new themed section of the park, Frontier Canada – which was a section that was originally planned to be park of the park when it opened, but just never came to be. 

WinterFest debuted in November 2019 and Canada’s Wonderland officially became a four-season amusement park. The immersive, holiday event featured more than five million holiday lights, a skating rink on International Street, more than a dozen live shows and entertainment. 

Canada’s Wonderland remained closed for the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Canada’s Wonderland will celebrate its 40th anniversary in 2021 and debut an attraction called Mountain Bay Cliffs where guests can experience the exhilaration of cliff jumping from a variety of heights into the water below, with the ultimate challenge of conquering the highest peak at seven-and-a-half metres (25 feet). Also coming is Beagle Brigade Airfield, an exciting plane ride for kids.

With more than 200 attractions across approximately 300 acres, including 77 rides, 18 roller coasters, Splash Works, world-class entertainment and special events, Canada's Wonderland is the country’s premier amusement park.