Greetings family and friends, today's Rambling is about a unique theme park that unsuccessfully attempted to benefit from nearby Disneyland and Knott's Berry Farm. Do you remember the Japanese Village and Deer Park? Bill
Embedded Files
Theme Park Ramblings
JAPANESE VILLAGE AND DEER PARK
Competing for tourist dollars with nearby Disneyland and Knott’s
Berry Farm, the Japanese Village and Deer Park had a troubled
run of just ten years. Allen Parkinson, owner of Movieland Wax
Museum and inspired by a successful deer park in Nara, Japan,
created an attractive tranquil oasis in 1967 on thirty two acres of
prime real estate adjacent to the busy Santa Ana Freeway in
Buena Park. Beginning in the early 1900’s Southern California’s
Orange County hosted popular alligator and ostrich farms, several
beach amusement parks and an Africa themes safari park, so
building a deer park and sea theater attraction for the millions of
people visiting nearby Disneyland and Knott’s seemed like a slam
dunk. Parkinson’s unique park featured koi ponds,extensive
gardens, pearl divers, a tea house, martial art and animal shows,
and the main attraction of three hundred deer imported from
Japan. Parkinson promoted his entertainment complex as the
‘Largest Cultural and Recreational Center of the Western
Hemisphere and America’s Only Authentic Deer Park”.
Unfortunately even with a huge investment, prime location, tireless
promotion, and an entertaining whale and dolphin show, karate
exhibitions Japanese dancing performances, tea ceremonies
clever bird shows,and unique shops and food options he was
unable to lure enough guests from Walt Disney’s park just a couple
exits down the freeway, to offset increasing costs and declining
attendance. A combination ticket to Movieland Wax Museum failed
to make a difference and after five years Parkinson sold his dream
to a business investment firm, who in turn, resold the property to
theme park giant Six Flags. Sadly in 1975 an outbreak of
tuberculosis among the deer population resulted in the destruction
of the entire herd, and the temporary closing of the park.
Downsized and re-themed “Enchanted Village” by animal trainer
Ralph Helfer, the park reopened for two short years featuring an
innovative hands-on style of visitor interaction with a wide array of
animals from tarantulas to giraffes. By 1977 park attendance
wasn’t covering the cost of daily operations or the maintenance of
hundreds of animals, and the park closed permanently only to be
replaced by a business park and and ultimately by an off ramp
from Interstate 5. Bill 11/23
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse