Castle Fun Park
{{Short description|Amusement park in British Columbia}}
{{infobox amusement park
| name = Castle Fun Park
| location = Abbotsford
| location2 = British Columbia
| location3 = Canada
| theme = castle; medieval architecture
| opening_date = 1989, July
| previous_names = Wonderland Amusement Park (1989-1998)
| homepage = https://castlefunpark.com/
| status = Operating
| coordinates = {{Coord|49.0221|-122.1324|type:landmark_region:CA-BC ||display=inline,title}}
}}
Castle Fun Park is an amusement park located in Abbotsford, British Columbia, by the Trans-Canada Highway.{{Cite web |last=Yau |first=Pamela J. |date=2023-10-10 |title=Castle Fun Park's Beloved Underwater Mini-Golf Course Reopens |url=https://604now.com/castle-fun-parks-underwater-mini-golf-course-reopens/ |access-date=2023-11-10 |website=604 Now |language=en-CA}} The park is built like a castle resembling medieval architecture and includes many attractions and arcade games. The park is currently run by the Wiebe family.
History
In 1988, Hank and Doreen Wiebe started construction for an amusement park on their recently purchased land in Abbotsford, and in July 1989 they opened it with the name "Wonderland Amusement Park".{{Cite web |title=Hank Wiebe |url=https://www.abbynews.com/obituaries/hank-wiebe-1835650 |access-date=2023-11-09 |website=The Abbotsford News |language=en}} The park's buildings resembled medieval architecture. In 1998, they had to change the park's name into "Castle Fun Park" due to a name infringement of another amusement park in Ontario. Today, the park is operated still by the Wiebe family and have since added many new attractions and rides.{{Cite web |last=Gill |first=Meagan |date=2017-03-30 |title=The History Of Abbotsford's Magical Castle Fun Park |url=https://604now.com/abbotsford-castle-fun-park/ |access-date=2023-11-09 |website=604 Now |language=en-CA}}
2021 Flooding
On November 15, 2021, the entire park was flooded and was closed shortly after.{{Cite web |date=2022-01-28 |title=VIDEO: Abbotsford's Castle Fun Park begins rebuilding after flooding |url=https://www.theprogress.com/trending-now/video-abbotsfords-castle-fun-park-begins-rebuilding-after-flooding-1925181 |access-date=2023-11-10 |website=The Chilliwack Progress |language=en}} Despite the flood, the park's social media stayed "optimistic," posting on their Facebook on November 18, four days after the initial flooding, saying "...[we'll] keep coming back to faith, optimism, and even moments of laughter."{{Cite web |date=2022-07-02 |title=Abbotsford's Castle Fun Park reopens after flood damage repaired |url=https://bc.ctvnews.ca/abbotsford-s-castle-fun-park-reopens-after-flood-damage-repaired-1.5972051 |access-date=2023-11-09 |website=British Columbia |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2021-11-21 |title=Owners of Abbotsford's Castle Fun Park find a funny side to recent flooding |url=https://www.vancouverisawesome.com/bc-news/owners-of-abbotsfords-castle-fun-park-find-a-funny-side-to-recent-flooding-4781155 |access-date=2023-11-09 |website=Vancouver Is Awesome |language=en}} In the same post, they stated that they were aiming for a reopening in early spring. On January 26, they posted a video on their Instagram showing the ruined state the park was in while still showing signs for the proposed reopening in early spring.{{Cite web |date=2022-02-01 |title=Abbotsford's Castle Fun Park announces possible reopening by summer (VIDEO) |url=https://www.vancouverisawesome.com/bc-news/abbotsfords-castle-fun-park-announces-possible-reopening-by-summer-video-5017885 |access-date=2023-11-09 |website=Vancouver Is Awesome |language=en}}
On Canada Day 2022, the park was officially reopened.{{Cite web |title=Castle Fun Park in Abbotsford reopens after 2021 floods {{!}} CityNews Vancouver |url=https://vancouver.citynews.ca/2022/07/03/castle-fun-park-reopens-2021-floods/ |access-date=2023-11-09 |website=vancouver.citynews.ca}}
Attractions
- Go Karts
- Laser Tag
- Arcade (including more than 200 arcade games){{Cite web |title=Attractions {{!}} Castle Fun Park - Abbotsford, BC Canada |url=https://castlefunpark.com/attractions/ |access-date=2023-11-09 |website=Castle Fun Park |language=en-US}}
- Bowling
- Wonder Farm Kid Zone – a part of the park with a variety of mini-rides made for children
- Bumper Cars
- Driving Range
- Shooting Gallery
- Typhoon – an immersive arcade ride
- Two indoor and one outdoor mini golf courses, including:{{Cite web |date=2023-10-03 |title=Abbotsford's Castle Fun Park re-opens mini-golf course |url=https://www.theprogress.com/news/abbotsfords-castle-fun-park-re-opens-mini-golf-course-4994379 |access-date=2023-11-10 |website=The Chilliwack Progress |language=en}}
- Underwater Adventure Golf – an underwater-themed course which was revamped after the 2021 flood
- Jungle Adventure Golf – a jungle-themed mini-golf
- An additional mini golf course called "Secret Garden Adventure Golf" was announced on the park's Instagram on February 3, 2023, and is currently under construction and being designed by the Imagination Corporation{{Cite web |date=2023-02-08 |title=Abbotsford's Castle Fun Park announces new Secret Garden mini-golf course |url=https://www.abbynews.com/news/abbotsfords-castle-fun-park-announces-new-secret-garden-mini-golf-course-1833142 |access-date=2023-11-10 |website=The Abbotsford News |language=en}}
- Animal Crackers / Jungle Jamboree (1989-2025){{Cite web |title=Instagram |url=https://www.instagram.com/reel/DJABxFRTa0h/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== |access-date=2025-04-30 |website=www.instagram.com}} – an animatronic stage show of anthropomorphic, musical animals developed by Creative Presentations, Inc. of Schaumburg, Illinois on three stages consisting of:{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?si=svo98ZGcAKk9t6a4&v=cs6mb3veYAI&feature=youtu.be |title=CASTLE FUN PARK SHOW: Jungle Jamboree Animatronic Band [4K] |date=2020-01-05 |last=Exit Thru the Gift Shop |access-date=2025-04-30 |via=YouTube}}{{Cite web |title=The Animal Crackers Band |url=https://www.youtube.com/@AnimalCrackersBand |access-date=2025-04-30 |website=YouTube |language=en}}
- Bob Wire and the B.O.Y.S. – a guitarist coyote with three prairie dogs (Butch, Oakley, and Yancy)
- The Ape-Ology's – trio band of monkeys featuring Elsworth (chimp) on piano, Putnam (orangutan) on drums, and Albert (ape) on guitar
- Patty Pachyderm and Mortimer D. Mouse – a comedic duo consisting of an elephant pianist and heckler mouse