Latest news with #Adventureland
Daily Mirror
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Disneyland celebrates 70 years of magic - from napkin sketch to global icon
Walt Disney unveiled his ambitious plan to the world for a theme park unlike any other 70 years ago as Disneyland opened its gate in Anaheim, California, 70 years ago today It began with a dream and a sketch on a napkin. Seventy years ago today, Walt Disney unveiled his audacious vision to the world - a theme park unlike any other, a place where fantasy met reality, and children and adults alike could escape into storybook worlds. On July 17, 1955, Disneyland opened its gates in Anaheim, California, becoming known as 'the happiest place on earth'. Walt Disney, already an icon thanks to Mickey Mouse and Snow White, stood proudly alongside the park's creators in Los Angeles in 1954, poring over blueprints and pointing to pencil-drawn dreams. In one photo, he is seen waving a baton over sketches of Fantasyland, Adventureland, and Tomorrowland. By the following summer, the dream was ready to become reality. On Opening Day, Disneyland welcomed a capacity crowd of 28,000 guests, though the day was famously chaotic. The weather was scorching, the drinks ran dry, and a plumber's strike meant either drinking fountains or toilets - Disney chose toilets. But none of that mattered to the crowd or to Disney. Beaming Walt rode down Main Street in a horse-drawn carriage flanked by two children, waving to visitors and passing the Frontier Trading Post. Just around the corner, actress Adelle August played the role of Esmeralda, the fortune teller, adding to the carnival-like celebration. Among the star-studded guests that day was actor and future US President Ronald Reagan, who joined fellow Hollywood figures in christening the park. A photo from the time captures him smiling in the sunshine, just hours before Cinderella's horse-drawn coach glided past visitors during the Opening Day Parade. The rides that day included the gleaming white Mark Twain Riverboat churning through the manmade waters of Frontierland. From the air, Disneyland looked compact at just 160 acres but set alight with ambition. An aerial photo taken in 1955 reveals the park nestled among orange groves and flat farmland, far from the sprawl of present-day Anaheim. Inside the gates, guests sipped on sarsaparilla and cherry phosphate at The Parlour on Main Street, while treating themselves to parfaits and 'Lover's Delight' ice cream sundaes. Over the decades, Disneyland would grow and evolve, with Space Mountain, Pirates of the Caribbean and the Haunted Mansion joining the roster of attractions. But its heart never changed from Disney's dream of a place where 'age relives fond memories of the past… and youth may savour the challenge and promise of the future.' A poignant image from the 1960s captures him on the lawn before the Magic Kingdom's castle, sitting with his grandson, not as a tycoon but like any other grandfather at the park. Behind them, Sleeping Beauty's Castle is seen, which today remains the enduring symbol of a park that became a cultural cornerstone. Today, Disneyland's influence stretches far beyond Anaheim, with Disney parks on three continents. But it's that original vision that continues to define the magic. As Walt Disney once said: 'Disneyland will never be completed. It will continue to grow as long as there is imagination left in the world.'
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
NASCAR Cup Series drivers take to Iowa Speedway for Goodyear tire test ahead of Iowa Corn 350
NEWTON, Iowa — Despite the gloomy weather on Tuesday, NASCAR Cup Series drivers were able to get some laps in at the Iowa Speedway. Kyle Busch, Austin Cindric, and Chase Briscoe were at the speedway for the Goodyear Tire Test ahead of the Iowa Corn 350 in August. The test helps Goodyear collect data to decide the types of tires needed to perform the best on the track. And while conditions on Tuesday were far from what they'll be in August, drivers were still eager to hit the pavement. Iowa small business owners asking for relief in tariff war 'I feel like the things that we kinda learned so far are what tires not to bring back and race here, as we found one that just really, really wasn't conducive or comfortable to drive as a driver,' said NASCAR Cup Series Driver Kyle Busch. Last year, the Iowa Speedway underwent a partial repave of the track's four turns, with Cup drivers last year saying that the change added some additional challenges to the race. On Tuesday, drivers echoed those concerns during the tire test. 'It's kind of wild how much the color has changed since we were here last time. It was like jet black, and now it's like you almost don't even know it was repaved. But I would say that the grip levels are still fairly similar,' said NASCAR Cup Series Driver Austin Cindric. 'It's really tough when you come to, especially a fresh repave, because getting the rubber laid down is part of the process, and today it was one of those things where it was kind of challenging. You get here and it's super slick, it's almost like we're driving on ice,' said NASCAR Cup Series Driver Chase Briscoe. Despite the repave, each driver stated how they are excited to see the Cup Series return to the Iowa Speedway on August 3. Iowa News: NASCAR Cup Series drivers take to Iowa Speedway for Goodyear tire test ahead of Iowa Corn 350 Change of venue granted for embattled Madison County Treasurer, upcoming trial moved to Boone County Rain totals, lingering smoke, and the forecast Iowa small business owners asking for relief in tariff war Adventureland's former owner settles lawsuit over 11-year-old's drowning Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
New York Post
04-06-2025
- General
- New York Post
Iowa amusement park's former owner settles lawsuit over 11-year-old's drowning
An Iowa amusement park's former operator has agreed to pay an undisclosed amount to settle a lawsuit filed by the family of an 11-year-old boy who drowned on a water ride in 2021. A company that previously owned Adventureland park in the Des Moines suburb of Altoona, along with its former CEO and three managers, reached a settlement with the family of Michael Jaramillo on Sunday. Jury selection had been scheduled to start Monday for a trial over the lawsuit brought by the family. The settlement terms are confidential. 4 Michael Jaramillo drowned during a freak accident at Adventureland in 2021. ABC News Michael Jaramillo, his parents, two brothers and another family member were strapped into a 1,700-pound raft on the Raging River ride on July 3, 2021, when it flipped over. All six hit their heads on the surface under the water, but Michael Jaramillo and one of his brothers could not get out of their seatbelts and were trapped, head-down, underwater for about 10 minutes, according to the family. The lawsuit alleged that for years, Adventureland failed to properly maintain and repair its rides, including the Raging River. It also said the park continued to operate the water ride on the day of the accident despite reports of serious problems. The park's former owner, Adventure Lands of America, former CEO Michael Krantz, and the three managers, denied that the ride had been operated improperly or insufficiently supervised. 4 David and Sabrina Jaramillo filed the lawsuit against the amusement park, alleging Adventureland failed to properly maintain and repair its rides, including the Raging River. ABC News 4 First responders outside the water park portion of Adventureland after the 2021 drowning. ABC News But Fred Dorr, an attorney for the family, said Tuesday that their lawyers believe they built a strong case that the park and its employees were responsible. 'Imagine the terror going on in those kids' minds,' Dorr said. 'And then you turn to the jury and say, 'What's that worth, to watch your child die like that?' An attorney for Adventure Lands of America did not immediately return a telephone message seeking comment Tuesday. However, in answering the lawsuit, the defendants said the accident resulted from 'a series of unexpected and intended factors' and that, in the 38 years the ride operated before the accident, no raft had overturned. 4 The park's former owner, Adventure Lands of America, former CEO Michael Krantz, and the three managers, denied that the ride had been operated improperly or insufficiently supervised. AP Krantz is a member of a Des Moines-area family that began operating Adventureland in the 1970s and sold it and other affiliated assets months after the accident to the subsidiary of an international amusement park company based in Spain. In March, Herschend, a company based in the Atlanta area, purchased the Spanish company's US properties, including Adventureland. Herschend operates the Dollywood theme park in Tennessee and Silver Dollar City near Branson, Missouri.
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Adventureland's former owner settles lawsuit over 11-year-old's drowning
DES MOINES, Iowa — An Iowa amusement park's former operator has agreed to pay an undisclosed amount to settle a lawsuit filed by the family of an 11-year-old boy who drowned on a water ride in 2021. A company that previously owned Adventureland park in the Des Moines suburb of Altoona, along with its former CEO and three managers, reached a settlement with the family of Michael Jaramillo on Sunday. Jury selection had been scheduled to start Monday for a trial over the lawsuit brought by the family. The settlement terms are confidential. Michael Jaramillo, his parents, two brothers and another family member were strapped into a 1,700-pound (770-kilogram) raft on the Raging River ride on July 3, 2021, when it flipped over. All six hit their heads on the surface under the water, but Michael Jaramillo and one of his brothers could not get out of their seatbelts and were trapped, head-down, underwater for about 10 minutes, according to the family. Julie Stauch announces run for Iowa governor The lawsuit alleged that for years, Adventureland failed to properly maintain and repair its rides, including the Raging River. It also said the park continued to operate the water ride on the day of the accident despite reports of serious problems. The park's former owner, Adventure Lands of America, former CEO Michael Krantz, and the three managers, denied that the ride had been operated improperly or insufficiently supervised. But Fred Dorr, an attorney for the family, said Tuesday that their lawyers believe they built a strong case that the park and its employees were responsible. 'Imagine the terror going on in those kids' minds,' Dorr said. 'And then you turn to the jury and say, 'What's that worth, to watch your child die like that?' An attorney for Adventure Lands of America did not immediately return a telephone message seeking comment Tuesday. However, in answering the lawsuit, the defendants said the accident resulted from 'a series of unexpected and intended factors' and that, in the 38 years the ride operated before the accident, no raft had overturned. Krantz is a member of a Des Moines-area family that began operating Adventureland in the 1970s and sold it and other affiliated assets months after the accident to the subsidiary of an international amusement park company based in Spain. In March, Herschend, a company based in the Atlanta area, purchased the Spanish company's U.S. properties, including Adventureland. Herschend operates the Dollywood theme park in Tennessee and Silver Dollar City near Branson, Missouri. Iowa News: Adventureland's former owner settles lawsuit over 11-year-old's drowning WHO 13 Farm Report: Tuesday, June 3 Julie Stauch announces run for Iowa governor Iowa veteran passes halfway point on Appalachian Trail Newton nonprofit holds fundraiser to install safe haven baby box Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CTV News
03-06-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Iowa amusement park's former owner settles lawsuit over 11-year-old's drowning
An Iowa amusement park's former operator has agreed to pay an undisclosed amount to settle a lawsuit filed by the family of an 11-year-old boy who drowned on a water ride in 2021. A company that previously owned Adventureland park in the Des Moines suburb of Altoona, along with its former CEO and three managers, reached a settlement with the family of Michael Jaramillo on Sunday. Jury selection had been scheduled to start Monday for a trial over the lawsuit brought by the family. The settlement terms are confidential. Michael Jaramillo, his parents, two brothers and another family member were strapped into a 1,700-pound (770-kilogram) raft on the Raging River ride on July 3, 2021, when it flipped over. All six hit their heads on the surface under the water, but Michael Jaramillo and one of his brothers could not get out of their seatbelts and were trapped, head-down, underwater for about 10 minutes, according to the family. The lawsuit alleged that for years, Adventureland failed to properly maintain and repair its rides, including the Raging River. It also said the park continued to operate the water ride on the day of the accident despite reports of serious problems. The park's former owner, Adventure Lands of America, former CEO Michael Krantz, and the three managers, denied that the ride had been operated improperly or insufficiently supervised. But Fred Dorr, an attorney for the family, said Tuesday that their lawyers believe they built a strong case that the park and its employees were responsible. 'Imagine the terror going on in those kids' minds,' Dorr said. 'And then you turn to the jury and say, 'What's that worth, to watch your child die like that?' An attorney for Adventure Lands of America did not immediately return a telephone message seeking comment Tuesday. However, in answering the lawsuit, the defendants said the accident resulted from 'a series of unexpected and intended factors' and that, in the 38 years the ride operated before the accident, no raft had overturned. Krantz is a member of a Des Moines-area family that began operating Adventureland in the 1970s and sold it and other affiliated assets months after the accident to the subsidiary of an international amusement park company based in Spain. In March, Herschend, a company based in the Atlanta area, purchased the Spanish company's U.S. properties, including Adventureland. Herschend operates the Dollywood theme park in Tennessee and Silver Dollar City near Branson, Missouri. John Hanna, The Associated Press
