Rainbow's End (theme park)

Rainbow's End
Slogan Fun On Demand
Location Manukau Central, Auckland, New Zealand
Coordinates 36°59′38″S 174°53′02″E / 36.994°S 174.884°E / -36.994; 174.884Coordinates: 36°59′38″S 174°53′02″E / 36.994°S 174.884°E / -36.994; 174.884
Owner Rainbow's End Theme Park Limited
Opened December 1982; 33 years ago
Operating season Year-round (except Christmas Day)
Area 9.3 ha (23 acres)
Rides
Total 21
Water rides 2
Website www.rainbowsend.co.nz

Rainbow's End is a 9.3 hectares (23 acres) theme park in Manukau Central, Auckland, New Zealand. Rainbow's End includes the main theme park and also Kidz Kingdom, a family entertainment center for children 8 years and under.[1] The park, owned by Rangatira Limited,[2] is currently New Zealand's largest theme park and currently employs between 50 and 200 staff both full-time and part-time depending on the time of year.

History

Opened in 1982 on the site of a former skate park, the park extended its lease in 2010 for another 24 years, after 5 years of discussions with the former Manukau City Council, though it will have to reduce its size by 0.4 ha from 9.3 ha to allow for new construction at the nearby law courts (being compensated for the land lost). The agreement with the Council also commits the company to re-invest $3 million every three years into new rides or upgrades.

Ride History [3]
1982- Park opens with the Bumper Boats, Mini Golf, Can Am Cars, Mirage Cars and video games.
1983- Cinema 180, Pirate Ship, Maze and the indoor play area open.
1984- Log Flume and Dodgems open
1985- Kiddies Cars and Space Shuttle Zim Zam Zoo Playground open
1986- Coca-Cola Corkscrew Coaster opens
1992- Motion Master opens
1993- Family Karts replace Mirage Cars
1995- Gold Rush opens
1996- Car wash Convoy opens
1997- Castle Land open with Dragons Flight rollercoaster and Carousel (Known as Cadbury Land Castle until 2012)
1998- Log Flume set on fire by arsonists in June. Ride reconstructed and rethemed before reopening as the Enchanted Forest Log Flume
2001- Fear Fall opens
2004- Power Surge and Jumpin' Star open
2008- Ferris wheel inside the Cadbury Land castle is closed after the death of a maintenance worker after they got caught in the ride mechanism
2009- Invader opens
2012- Dragons Flight is removed from Castle Land. Castle Land closes and the new Kidz Kingdom outdoor covered area is opened on Boxing Day 2012[4] with 3 new rides: The Choco Express, Surf n Swing and Magic Bikes.[5] Happy Feet replaces Journey to the Centre of the Earth in the Motion Master.
2013- The indoor section of Kidz Kingdom opens which includes The Fortress of Fun, Enzo's Country Raceway and the Small Talk Cafe as well as interactive activities for smaller children.[6]
2014- Stratosfear, a Discovery Revolution ride from Zamperla, opened on 17 April. Unlike most Discoverys this version sends riders upside down, one of only 4 of them in the world that do so.[6]
2015- After 32 years of operation, Rainbow's End closed and demolished their Cinema 180. This was the last of its kind in the world. The park announced on their website that they will be building a new ride around its area in the future.
2016- The Dodgems ride is completely refurbished including all new cars and 1950s drive in theme.[7]

Current Rides and attractions

Its main attraction is New Zealand's only Corkscrew Roller Coaster. A new ride, called Stratosfear, opened on 17 April 2014. Stratosfear is one of only 4 on the planet. It is located near the Fear Fall and Family Karts.

Accidents

On 10 February 1990 Thomas Wayne Hemi, 19 years old, fell from a bungy jump at the park. The jump master, Jason John Collett, failed to secure the bungy cord to Hemi's feet. Hemi initially survived the fall, but subsequently died from his injuries. Collett was later found guilty of manslaughter after evidence was presented that both men had smoked cannabis prior to the jump. He was granted mercy - on recommendation from the jury - and was sentenced to 200 hours of community service.[8]

On 21 June 1998 at 3:30pm a fire struck the Log Flume ride. Over 75% of the ride was destroyed and two offenders were arrested. After that, the Log Flume was reconstructed and re-themed.

On 2 February 2008, Michael Ross Stuart, a 21-year-old park worker died while carrying out maintenance work on a ferris wheel, located in the Cadbury Land Dream Castle attraction. The worker became trapped between one of the carriages and the frame of the ride, and had to be cut free by firefighters, but died at the scene. The accident, which occurred before the park opened for the day, caused the park to be closed down for two days because of "unforeseen circumstances". Stuart had been working at the park since 2005.[9][10]

On 10 November 2012, A woman got trapped on the log flume ride. Firefighters were called to the theme park to free the woman and had to cut up parts of the ride to get her free. A fire service spokesman said it was unclear how the woman became trapped. She was taken by ambulance to Middlemore Hospital with minor injuries.[11]

On 5 January 2015 a blown thermostat caused the corkscrew coaster train to be stuck at the top of its lift hill for approximately 15 minutes due to its automatic cutoff system. Staff managed to return the train to its station and no injuries were reported. The ride was closed down for 2 days for repairs before reopening.

Gallery

References

  1. ↑ http://rainbowsend.co.nz/rides/categories/kidz-kingdom#intro
  2. ↑ http://rangatira.co.nz/Rainbow%27s+End
  3. ↑ http://www.rainbowsend.co.nz
  4. ↑ http://www.ausleisure.co.nz/default.asp?PageID=&ReleaseID=7395&Display=True
  5. ↑ http://rainbowsend.co.nz/rides/kidz-kingdom
  6. 1 2 3 http://rainbowsend.co.nz/rides/ride-information
  7. ↑ https://www.facebook.com/RainbowsEndNZ/posts/10153433964037851
  8. ↑ England and Herefordshire - Revisit. "History of sentenced adventure operators - National News". TVNZ. Retrieved 28 September 2013.
  9. ↑ Martin Johnston (10 February 2008). "Police name man killed at Rainbow's End". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 10 September 2011.
  10. ↑ Martin Johnston (11 February 2008). "Theme park stays shut after tragedy". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 10 September 2011.
  11. ↑ "Rainbow's End Ride Injures Woman - national". Stuff.co.nz. 10 November 2012. Retrieved 28 September 2013.

External links

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