Alabama Adventure Theme Park

Infobox Amusement park
name = Alabama Adventure Theme Park


location = Bessemer
location2 = Alabama
location3 = United States flagicon|USA
previous_names = "Visionland" - 1998 to 2006
area = 200 acres (81 hectares)
opening_date = May 23, 1998
season = April through September
rides = 28
coasters = 3
water_rides = 6
owner = Adrenaline Family Entertainment
homepage = [http://www.alabamaadventure.com/ official website]

Alabama Adventure is an Alabama theme park, located off Interstate 20/59 in Bessemer, west of Birmingham. It is owned by Adrenaline Family Entertainment which also operates the Clementon Amusement Park in New Jersey.

It is home to Magic City USA Theme Park and Splash Beach Water Park. It includes a children's area called Marvel City and a shopping/food area known as Celebration Street.

Alabama Adventure is the host for such concerts which have included such acts like Jesse McCartney, Aly & AJ, Vanessa Hudgens, Drake Bell, and Raven Symone.

In 2005, the Alabama theme park was visited by approximately 345,000 people, making the park Alabama's second-most popular tourist destination according to the Bureau of Tourism and Travel and trailing only the Birmingham Zoo. In 2006, the number of visitors to Alabama Adventure rose to more than 388,000. It was the winner of Alabama's "2007 Attraction of the Year." [cite news|publisher="Alabama Tourism Department"|date=2007-10-19|url=http://www.800alabama.com/about-alabama/news/press/story.cfm?ID=413|title=Alabama Adventure named Attraction of the Year]

Located nearby is WaterMark Place, a convert|200000|sqft|m2|sing=on outdoor manufacturers' outlet shopping mall.

History

Alabama Adventure was previously known as Visionland. It was built largely as a result of efforts by Fairfield mayor Larry Langford who later became the mayor of Birmingham. Eleven cities came together to form the West Jefferson Amusement and Public Park Authority. With help from the Alabama Legislature, the group borrowed $65 million to build the park. Construction began in March 1997, and the park opened for business on May 23, 1998.

In June 2002, the park filed Chapter 9 bankruptcy. It was purchased and operated by Southland Entertainment Group.

The theme park's name was changed to "Alabama Adventure" in 2006.

On May 15, 2008 Southland Entertainment sold the park to Adrenaline Family Entertainment, a group comprised of former executives of Six Flags. [cite web| url=http://new.yachtchartersmagazine.com/read/568727.htm| title=Alabama Adventure Amusement Park Acquired by Adrenaline Family Entertainment, Inc.| date=May 15, 2008] Southland will concentrate on developing the remaining acerage that it owns adjacent to the park, with plans for hotels, an RV park, and other amenities. [cite news|publisher="Birmingham Business Journal"|date=2008-05-15|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/birmingham/stories/2008/05/12/daily32.html|title=Alabama Adventure sold to Oklahoma company|last=Crawford|first=Cindy F.]

Magic City USA Theme Park Attractions

Roller Coasters

References

External links

* [http://www.alabamaadventure.com/ Alabama Adventure official website]
* [http://www.themeparksonly.com/park.php?park=13 Alabama Adventure at ThemeparksOnly]