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Ripley's Believe It or Not! Museum Attraction Type: Exhibit Location: Park Motor/Venture/Comfort Inn, Niagara Falls, Ontario Year(s) Operational: 1963-Present Designer(s): Ripley's Studios, Costello Productions Postcard from opening year in 1963 In 1963, an edition was put on to Welland Securities' Park Motor Inn bringing the structure right to Clifton Hill. This included more rooms, a gift shop and cafe (where Kelsey's has been since the 90s), The Yard pub (became the Rathskeller Pub in the late 60s, then Rumors Nightclub in the 80s, now divided up into multiple things like the relocated Kelsey's bathrooms and Zombie Attack) and the Ripley's Believe It or Not! Museum downstairs. Ripley's leased the space from Welland Securities (present day HOCO), making it Welland Securities' first attraction technically, even if they didn't run or own it. It was the second attraction in the Ripley company's popular chain of "Odditoriums", predated only by the original St. Augustine, Florida location. The museum would be a mixture of a sideshow, wax museum, and science exhibit showcasing strange, unique, or exotic "believe it or not" facts. It's wax figures and elaborate displays were created by the art department at Ripley's International, who provided fantastic theming and environments to accompany the oddities on display. There was a wide variety featured within including strange artifacts (and replicas of them), unique works of art, interactive scientific dioramas, and illusions. The building was packed, touting over 550 exhibits. Some of these included a replica of the Lincoln Memorial built out of 10,000 Lincoln pennies, Japanese swords amongst other items in an Oriental Room, the burial of a fly, the world's smallest violin, a shrunken head, the tree that spouted water, and recreations of various headstones in an elaborate graveyard scene. There was also a guitar, fiddle, and bicycle made out of matchsticks, as well as a replica of the fictional medieval torture device the "Iron Maiden" which guests could stand in (although it didn't do any impaling.) Some of the wax exhibits included Liu Ch'ung The Double-Eyed Man, Robert Ripley himself in a Ripley Room, The Woman Who Flew, The Man With a Hole in His Head, and the tomb of Chang T'ung the Human Candlestick who's mummified body served as a candle holder for 261 years. Re-creation of the Tomb of Chang T'ung as seen on this mid-60's brochure cover. 1963 postcard of the Lincoln Memorial model built entirely out of Lincoln pennies. The attraction was instantly successful and was one of the first in the area, drastically contributing to not only the growth of Clifton Hill and it's character, but also to the growth of the Ripley company who would go on to turn the museums into a global chain after the Niagara location's success. It wasn't the first attraction on The Hill however with that title going to Tussaud's in 1959, and the Antique Auto Museum had opened around the corner on Falls Ave. in 1962. That being said, it did wonders for building Clifton Hill's unique charm, and was the second attraction on The Hill and the first considerably up it, with Tussaud's being located at the bottom and Ripley's at the very top. This greatly improved traffic up The Hill, as tourists who wanted to experience the museum were now traversing the entire street to see the attraction even if they weren't guests in any of the motels along it. A 1964 T.V. episode of the John Bradshaw Show on Hamilton's CHCH-TV showcased many of the scenes and displays in the museum, but like many of the television episodes, specials and commercials related to most attractions discussed on this site, the episode remains lost media. Due to the age of the episode it will likely never be found, as that was long before home off-air recordings existed and many TV stations (especially small local ones) erased and re-used their tapes at that time, as it was before historical preservation was thought about. The Graveyard, 1963. The Oriental Room (Left) and Robert Ripley himself (Right) in 1963. Exhibits were constantly updated, but major changes came in the early-70s to keep up with more attention-grabbing attractions that had popped up like The House of Frankenstein and Castle Dracula. These updates included a disorienting walk-through vortex tunnel, builder of the Great Wall of China Chin Shih Huang Ti, an ancestor skull from New Guinea, a "Catacombs" section, the animated candy machine used in the film Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and several more detailed wax displays like Little Jack Homer and the "babes in the woods". A "floating tap" illusion fountain was also constructed in the attraction's lobby at this time and designed by local artist Derek Costello, who may have done more work for the attraction as well including some of the wax figures listed above. A large billboard-style neon sign was also placed on the building's roof in 1974. Little Jack Homer, mid 70's. A somewhat embarrassing incident for the Ripley company occurred in 1980 when a visitor to the Niagara museum successfully solved a block puzzle he had seen at the museum after two years and four months. The museum had touted that it would take "all the people on the Earth working day and night for a million years" for the blocks to be arranged in every possible combination, however the guest in question, who was a math teacher, proved otherwise. After his calculations were confirmed by computer, the display, which was featured in every Ripley's location at the time, had to be promptly removed from all of them. The 80's would see further updates as the Ripley's brand became more known for their attractions than the source books and T.V. show that inspired them. The building was remodeled in 1985 when Rumors Nightclub replaced the Rathskeller pub upstairs and the upstairs windows were removed. The new sign for the attraction, which would be added in addition to the pre-existing rooftop billboard, would appear to be running through the corner of the building. These unique facades would become a staple of the Ripley's Odditoriums all over the world. The lobby would also now feature an animatronic robot at a "broken pipe" fountain. The fountain reused elements of the floating tap, and the robot may have ironically been another piece by Costello, although this isn't confirmed. One large shred of evidence in that direction however is it's resemblance to the fully programmable T-100 Terminator he later built in his garage for Halloween, but that's another story for another time. Lady Elizabeth Raleigh presents her (ex)husband's head in the Catacombs, 1977. Top Left: The "Floating Tap" before the addition of the junkyard robot. Above: The re-themed fountain with the towering robot. Bottom Left: The remodeled attraction with Rumours Nightclub above. Moving in a more "world record" direction, the museum did away with some of the cultural artifacts and replicas as the world became more connected, and certain items no longer held the exotic allure they once did. While still containing several of those elements to this day, the museum began to move more in the direction of "world's smallest", "world's largest", "world's only" sort of displays. Strange taxidermy also became a staple of the attraction such as the legendary "Fiji Mermaids" the chain became known for, and the "Two Headed Calf" which became somewhat of a mascot for the Niagara location. A shooting gallery was also added inside the actual attraction, and a large arcade replaced most of the gift shop. Owner of the Ripley's company Jim Pattison along with the mayor attended the official ribbon cutting for the remodeled attraction on June 10th, 1987. The 1987 ribbon cutting for the updated attraction. The mysterious "Fiji Mermaid" in the early 2000's. Ripley's, who owned Tussaud's by that time and had moved the Ripley's International art department to above that attraction, even got up to some cross-promotion when a figure of O.J. Simpson (promoted as "The Greatest Running-Back of All Time!") was placed in Ripley's next to a plaque discussing his sports records. This was of course complete with a large sign reading "Wax figure courtesy of Louis Tussaud's English Wax Museum. Before leaving Niagara Falls be sure to visit this... WORLD FAMOUS ATTRACTION." And then, in somehow even larger text: "DOWN THE HILL." This scene probably aged about as well as milk, and was (understandably) removed in the early-90s for obvious reasons. Perhaps it would have been better suited for a "Believe Him or Not" museum. The horribly aged O.J. exhibit in 1977. Above and beside: Shots of the arcade in 1999. The attraction was extensively remodeled again in November/December of 2003 and into spring 2004, debuting in time for the tourist season that same year. The billboard sign on the roof installed in 1974 was removed, as was the sign through the building's corner. The facade would now be a massive replica of the Empire State Building turned on its side, with the antenna atop the building extending out over the street. A giant fiberglass King Kong was now standing on the structure, and a sideways helicopter with spinning blades was sitting on a landing pad. A sign resembling the original billboard formerly upright on the building's roof was placed sideways at the top of the toppled Empire State Building. The remodel also saw the edition of an animatronic worker climbing a rope up and down the side of the building. Also added were many comically destressed fiberglass characters hanging off, and even upturned cars and soil at the far side of the building where the toppled skyscraper's uprooted foundation would be. One of the pillars in the lobby's entrance was even disguised as a crushed phone booth the building had fallen on. With the new update also came the removal of the arcade in favor of the "Wax Zone" counter selling wax casts of customer's hands. Above: Removal of the iconic sign in 2003. Top right: The attraction 2002 before the remodel. Bottom right: The totally changed building following the extensive the remodel as seen in the early 2010's The animatronic lobby band, 2010. The impressive new facade was accompanied by a completely overhauled interior focusing more on interactivity and education. Many of the wax displays and darker areas (both thematically and literally) were removed at this time. The lobby robot would eventually be removed in 2010 while the fountain would remain. Instead of the robot, the lobby would now feature an animatronic show of sideshow performers singing current pop songs, located at the front facing the road into Comfort Inn (formerly Park Motor Hotel.) This new show (of admittedly debatable tastefulness) would feature the Three-Legged Man (loosely based on Francesco Lentini) on banjo, The World's Smallest Man (based on world's then-smallest man Chandra Bahadur Dangi) playing the bars of his cage, and a depiction of a woman of the Myanmar Padaung Tribe playing her neck extension bracket like a xylophone. The museum would close at the end of the 2015 season (after the attached Comfort Inn/former Park Motor Hotel had been torn down), and reopened on May 20th, 2016. The new version of the attraction would be modernized even further inside and out, and gone was the questionably-ethical animatronic band in the lobby (which had seen better days in recent years anyway) in favor of a much more Ripley's-esque display. The new animatronics, located in the front window facing Clifton Hill, are an elderly man in a replica of a vintage coin-operated car ride name the (self-aware) "Sonic Animatronic Flyer", with a large snail on the hood. His friend, an equally-elderly turtle standing on a nearby crate, holds a fan and blows wind in the man's face, as if to give him the sensation of speed. The random, sarcastic, zany nature of the display perfectly encapsulates the spirit of the Ripley's brand. The Sonic Animatronic Flyer that inhabits the lobby today. The facade was also repainted at the time, and the side facing Clifton Hill extensively remolded since Rumors Nightclub had been removed in 2015. The former stairs up to it were now gone, and the space formerly home to the bar was now home to Kelsey's new bathrooms and Zombie Attack, both of which are accessed from elsewhere. This allowed for the first floor of the building to expand to where the stairs had previously sat, this being the front window the new animatronics are displayed in. The fountain in the lobby was removed, however. The remodel also saw the removal of the wax hand casting counter in exchange for a re-expanded gift shop. The attraction as it's appeared since the removal of Rumours upstairs in 2015. An attraction like Ripley's is bound to change constantly as world records are set and broken, what's shocking or entertaining changes, and what's considered taboo becomes no longer (or becomes too taboo to continue to display.) Despite all the changes, updates, and remodels over the years, Ripley's continues to be one of Clifton Hill's most popular attractions. It paved the way for Clifton Hill's wacky personality, and other than Tussaud's (which Ripley's also owns) is currently the only other member of Niagara's sixth decade club of attractions who have been entertaining guests for over 60 years. It's also still in it's original location whereas Tussaud's has since moved to Victoria Ave., making it the oldest Niagara attraction in its original location and the oldest on Clifton Hill, Believe It... or Not.

Themed Restaurants, Bars, and Stores Niagara Region Themed dining and retail can come in a wide variety of both themes and levels of theming. While most stores and restaurants from the 80's-early 2000's had some sort of unique decoration and style, a truly "themed" dining or shopping experience is defined as one where the theming goes beyond just simple decor, being the core identity and draw. These themed establishments are immersive experiences, with themes ranging from popular brands to the depths of the jungle. Animatronic arcade/pizza restaurants are not listed on this page as they are technically Family Entertainment Centres containing several attractions, and can instead be found here . Boston Pizza Clifton Hill (and Sports Zone) - Niagara Falls Beefeater/Coachlight Restaurant (and Jolly Brewer)/Ruby Tuesday's - Honeymoon City Motel/Travelodge, Niagara Falls Coca-Cola Store - Falls Ave. Complex, Niagara Falls Fun Factory - Movieland Wax Museum, Niagara Falls Hard Rock Cafe - Falls Ave. Complex, Niagara Falls Harley Davidson Store - Niagara Falls Hershey's Chocolate World - Falls Ave. Complex, Niagara Falls Julio's Pizza and Spaghetti Factory Plant One - St. Catherines Julio's Pizza and Spaghetti Factory Plant Two - St. Catherines MGM Studios Store - MGM Studios Plaza, Falls Ave. Complex, Niagara Falls Mr. Fantastic's Candy Laboratory - Marvel Superheroes Adventure City, Niagara Falls Planet Hollywood - Falls Ave. Complex, Niagara Falls Rainforest Cafe - Falls Ave. Complex, Niagara Falls Terrace Cafe/Kelsey's Clifton Hill - Park Motor/Venture/Comfort Inn, Niagara Falls Turf 'n Surf - Niagara Falls WWE Niagara Falls - Falls Ave. Complex, Niagara Falls The Yard/Rathskeller Pub/Rumors Nightclub - Park Motor/Venture/Comfort Inn, Niagara Falls Greater Toronto Area The Disney Store - Eaton Centre, Toronto The Disney Store - Fairview Mall, North York (Toronto) The Disney Store - Scarborough Town Centre, Scarborough (Toronto) The Disney Store - Square One Shopping Centre, Mississauga The Disney Store - Vaughn Mills, Vaughn The Disney Store - Yorkdale Shopping Centre, North York (Toronto) Frankie Tomatto's - Markham Hard Rock Cafe - Toronto Lime Rickey's - Eaton Centre, Toronto Lime Rickey's - Sussex Centre, Mississauga Lime Rickey's - Yonge/Eglington, Toronto The Old Spaghetti Factory - Toronto The Organ Grinder - Toronto Planet Hollywood - Toronto Rainforest Cafe - Scarborough Town Centre, Scarborough (Toronto) Rainforest Cafe - Yorkdale Mall, North York (Toronto) Ontario - Other Areas The Disney Store - Georgian Mall, Barrie The Disney Store - Lime Ridge Mall, Hamilton The Disney Store - Masonville Place, London The Disney Store - Rideau Centre, Ottawa The Disney Store - Upper Canada Mall, Newmarket Hard Rock Cafe - Ottawa Alberta Cafe Orleans - Bourbon Street, West Edmonton Mall, Edmonton The Disney Store - CrossIron Mills, Rocky View The Disney Store - Kingsway Mall, Edmonton The Disney Store - Market Mall, Calgary The Disney Store - South Centre Mall, Calgary The Disney Store - West Edmonton Mall, Edmonton Fantasyland Nightclub - West Edmonton Mall, Edmonton The Fossil Shop - Drumheller Hard Rock Cafe - Bourbon Street, West Edmonton Mall, Edmonton Hard Rock Cafe - Calgary Julio's Barrio - Calgary Julio's Barrio (82nd Ave. NW location) - Edmonton Julio's Barrio (WEM location) - Bourbon Street, West Edmonton Mall, Edmonton Jungle Jim's - Bourbon Street, West Edmonton Mall, Edmonton The Old Spaghetti Factory - Bourbon Street, West Edmonton Mall, Edmonton Planet Hollywood - West Edmonton Mall, Edmonton Manitoba and Saskatchewan The Disney Store - Polo Park Mall, Winnipeg, MB British Columbia (and Northern Canada) The Disney Store - Guildford Town Centre, Surrey The Disney Store - Metropolis at Metrotown, Burnaby The Disney Store - Pacific Centre, Vancouver Hard Rock Cafe - Hard Rock Casino, Coquitlam Hard Rock Cafe - Vancouver Hard Rock Cafe - Victoria Hard Rock Cafe - Whistler Planet Hollywood - Vancouver Rainforest Cafe - Metropolis at Metrotown, Burnaby White Spot Dinersaurus - Bedrock City/Dinotown, Chilliwack Quebec Hard Rock Cafe - Montreal Planet Hollywood - Montreal

British Columbia (and Northern Canada) This page specifically covers British Columbia, however the Northern provinces of Yukon and the Northwest Territories are included on this page as well due to their extremely small number of attractions. All attractions are/were located in B.C. unless otherwise stated. Amusement and Theme Parks Bedrock City/Dinotown - Chilliwack Bedrock City - Kelowna Cultus Lake Adventure Park - Cultus Lake Dyck's Dinosaur Park - Maple Ridge Fantasy Gardens/Fantasy Garden World - Richmond Happyland/Playland at the PNE - Vancouver Rattlesnake Canyon - Osoyoos Arcades, Mini Golf and F.E.C.s The Adventure Zone - Granville Island Kids Market, Vancouver Ballie Bear Amusement - Parker Place Mall, Richmond Bear Creek Park Mini Golf - Bear Creek Park, Surrey Bonker's - Vancouver Bumble Bee - Scott Rd., Surrey Captain George's - Springer/Lougheed, Burnaby Central City Fun Park - Surrey Choice Billiards - Surrey CHQ - Metrotown Mall, Burnaby Chuck E. Cheese's - Langley Crossing Shopping Centre, Langley Chuck E. Cheese's Pizza Time Theater - Burnaby Circus Circus (Circuit Circus?) - Vancouver City Centre Park Mini Golf - City Centre Park, Victoria Coin City Arcade - Vancouver Creston Mini Golf - Creston Cue's Game Room - Penticton The Den Arcade - Robson St., Vancouver District Billiards - Kelowna Doc's Golf Centre - Penticton East End Billiards - Vancouver Electrafun - Cameron St., Burnaby Energyplex Entertainment Centre - Kelowna eSpot - Richmond Family Adventure Zone - Whistler The Family Fun Centre - Kingsway St., Burnaby Flintstone Mini Golf - Bedrock City, Kelowna Flintstone/Dinotown Mini Golf - Bedrock City/Dinotown, Chilliwack Fraser Valley Billiards - Abbotsford The Fun Centre - Harewood Mall, Nanaimo The Fun Factor Centre - Kamloops Funtasia Family Fun Park - Fairmont Hot Springs The Games Room - Victoria Giggle Ridge Mini Golf - Cultus Lake Adventure Park, Cultus Lake The Goose - Yates St., Victoria Gull's - Yates St., Victoria Hi-Knoll Driving Range & Minigolf - Surrey House of Pool - New Westminster (Burnaby) Huggie Bear's Pizza Circus - Hillside/Quadra, Victoria James Street Billiards - Duncan James Street Game Room - Nanaimo Johnny Zee's - Capitol 6, Victoria Johnny Zee's - Esquimalt (Victoria) Johnny Zee's - Langford (Victoria) Johnny Zee's/Hugo's/King Kade - Shelbourne St., Victoria Johnny Zee's - University Heights Mall, Victoria Jonhhy Zee's - Station Square Metrotown, Burnaby Kamloops Billiard Club - Kamloops Kelowna Driving Range and Mini Golf - Kelowna Ladner Arcade - Vancouver Laser Illusions - - Brentwood Town Centre/The Amazing Brentwood, Burnaby Laser Illusions - Richmond Centre, Richmond Lester's - Kingsway St., Burnaby Lion's Lair - Vancouver LocoLanding Adventure Park - Penticton Long Beach Golf Course Mini Putt - Long Beach Golf Course, Tofino Lord Nelson's Arcade - Lansdowne Centre, Richmond Lukie's Mini Golf - Sicamour Master Billiards - Coquitlam Marsten Billiards & Snooker Club - Vancouver Metro Cafe Billiards - Vancouver McArthur Island Mini Golf - McArthur Island Park, Kamloops Mini Golf - Christina Lake Miracle Beach Adventure Golf - Black Creek Movieland Arcade - Granville St., Vancouver Mr. Tubbs Ice Cream Parlor - Tillicum Rd., Victoria Pacific Adventure Golf - Vancouver Paradise Mini Golf and Fun Park - Parksville Pacific Pool and Snooker Club - Surrey Peacock Billiards - Victoria Pie in the Sky - Kingsway St., Burnaby Play Abby - Abbotsford Playdium - Metropolis at Metrotown, Burnaby Playland Arcade/Fun Centre - Playland at the PNE, Vancouver Porter Creek Billiards - Whitehorse, Yukon Putters Mini Golf Course - Powell River Q1 Billiards - Richmond Quazar's - Government St., Victoria Raceway Go-Karts & Mini Golf - Prince George Rack & Rally Social Club - Port Alberni Rattles nake Canyon Arcade - Rattles nake Canyon, Osoyoos Rattlesnake Canyon Mini Golf - Rattles nake Canyon, Osoyoos Riptide Lagoon Adventure Golf - Parksville Rollerland - Vancouver Roll 'N Stones Fun Centre - Penticton Rusty's Sports Lounge - Kelowna Salmon Arm Go-Karts & Mini-Golf - Canoe Salmon Arm Waterslides Mini Golf - Salmon Arm Scandia Golf & Games - Kelowna Scotch Creek Family Fun Centre - Scotch Creek Sneaky Pete's Pool Cafe - Vancouver Soho Bar & Billiards - Vancouver Star Snooker Club - Richmond Strike Zone Mini Golf - Strike Zone Bowling & Mini Golf Centre, Prince George Stargate 5 - Richmond Square Mall/Richmond Centre, Richmond Sweet Escape Mini Golf - Playland at the PNE, Vancouver Top 147 Snooker - Richmond West Coast Mini Putt - Richmond Wizard's Castle - Richmond Square Mall/Richmond Centre, Richmond Wizard's Castle - Rutherford Village, Nanaimo Wonderland/Castle Fun Park - Abbotsford Arcade (Name Unknown) - Craigflower/Dominion, Victoria Arcade (Name Unknown) - Douglas/Boleskine, Victoria Arcade (Name Unknown) - Northbrook Mall/Brooks Landing, Nanaimo Dark Attractions, Wax Museums and Exhibits Gastown Wax Museum - Vancouver Glass House - Playland at the PNE, Vancouver Haunted House - Playland at the PNE, Vancouver Haunted Mansion - Playland at the PNE, Vancouver Jurassic Exhibit - Bedrock City/Dinotown, Chilliwack Royal London Wax Museum - Victoria Specialty Hotels and Gift Shops Theatres, Bowling Alleys and Miscellaneous Best Western Coquitlam Inn - Coquitlam Alder Alley - Aldergrove Beaver Valley Lanes - Fruitvale Big Country Lanes - 100 Mile House Black Diamond Bowl & Billiards - Prince George Brechin Lanes - Nainamo Canyon Lanes - Boston Bar Capri Valley Lanes - Capri Centre, Kelowna Cariboo Bowl - Williams Lake Castle Bowl - Castlegar Chillibowl Lanes and Pool Hall - Chilliwack Codes Country Lanes - Courtenay Commodore Lanes - Vancouver Copperhill Lanes - Princeton CR Bowling - Campbell River Dell Lanes - Surrey Duncan Drive-In - Duncan Duncan Lanes Bowling Centre - Duncan Falcon Lanes - Kamloops Galaxy Bowl - Abbotsford Glenmerry Bowl - Trail Golden Bowling - Golden Grandview Recreations/Grandview Lanes - Vancouver Kingpin Bowling Centre - Yellowknife, Northwest Territories Kingpin Lounge - Hope King Pins Bowling - North Vancouver (Vancouver) Kobau Lanes - Osoyoos Lakeside Bowling - Salmon Arm Langford Lanes - Langford Laser City Fun Centre - Victoria Laserdome Plus - North Vancouver (Vancouver) Legacy Drive-In - Victoria Lincoln Lanes - Vernon Mackenzie Bowling - Mackenzie McCurdy Bowling Centre - Kelowna Merrit Bowling Centre - Merrit Miracle Lanes - Sidney Park Drive-In Theatre - Prince George Pinheads Bowling - Grand Forks Planet Lazer - Kelowna Planet Lazer - New Westminster (Burnaby) Planet Lazer - Richmond Planet Lazer - Surrey Pleasant Valley Plaza - Houston PoCo Bowl - Port Coquitlam (Coquitlam) Rev Bowling Lanes - Quesnel Revs Bowling - Burnaby Revs Maple Ridge - Maple Ridge Rainbow Lanes - Port Alberni Romano's Runaway Lanes - Creston Sandcastle Bowl - Surrey Scottsdale Bowling Lanes - Surrey SilverCity Riverport Cinemas - Richmond SilverCity Victoria Cinemas - Victoria Smithers Bowl - Smithers Splitsville Nanaimo - Nanaimo Splitsville Riverport - Richmond Stardust Roller Rink - Richmond Starlight Drive-In Theatre - Enderby Strike Zone Bowling - Strike Zone Bowling & Mini Golf Centre Sunset Lanes - Parksville Terrace Bowling Centre - Terrace Twilight Drive-In Theatre - Langley Township Valley Alley Bowling Centre - Invermere Village Lanes Fun Centre - Chase West Kelowna Lanes (and Whiski Jack's Pins & Pints) - Kelowna Zone Bowling - Coquitlam Themed Restaurants, Bars and Stores The Disney Store - Guildford Town Centre, Surrey The Disney Store - Metropolis at Metrotown, Burnaby The Disney Store - Pacific Centre, Vancouver Hard Rock Cafe - Hard Rock Casino, Coquitlam Hard Rock Cafe - Vancouver Hard Rock Cafe - Victoria Hard Rock Cafe - Whistler Planet Hollywood - Vancouver Rainforest Cafe - Metropolis at Metrotown, Burnaby White Spot Dinersaurus - Bedrock City/Dinotown, Chilliwack Water Parks and Attractions Big Splash Water Slide Park - Tsawwassen Bridal Falls Waterpark - Bridal Falls Chilliwack Landing Leisure Centre - Chilliwack Cultus Lake Waterpark - Cultus Lake H20 Adventure Centre - Kelowna Salmon Arm Waterslides - Salmon Arm Splashdown Vernon - Vernon

External Links and Resources Here you'll find links to various other websites containing information, photographs and videos on the amusement industry in Canada and abroad. While some this information is also available here, many of these sites offer a compelling different look or angle into the specific niche they fill. Access Niagara - A blog dedicated to the more day-to-day happenings in Niagara's tourism industry. While not dedicated specifically to attractions, they are often discussed here. Arcade Heroes - News site following updates in the classic arcade gaming world, including updates and closures to historic arcades and amusement centres. Best Edmonton Mall - A website dedicated to the history of Canada's largest shopping and amusement centre. Matthew Dutczak has done some incredible research to create this phenomenal site. Bill Tracy Project - Website dedicated to American dark ride legend Bill Tracy, which also chronicles some of his projects here in Canada. Tons of great information on his props and story can be found here. Canadian Coaster Enthusiasts - A great history and database website focusing on the history of roller coasters in Canada. Many of the rides and parks discussed on this site predate parks we talk about here at Canadian Amusement History, so if you're a history buff, be sure to give this site a visit. Classic Arcade Game Locations - This massive online database is a user-submitted list of locations of physically-playable classic arcade machines across North America. This site features not only arcades, but also one-off machines that have managed to hang on in the corners of pizza parlours and laundromats through the years. Dark Ride Archive - A Facebook page and YouTube channel documenting the history of both permanent haunted attractions and temporary Halloween haunts. Creator Adam Lee's incredible archival work covers both the U.S. and Canada, and was he was incredibly generous by providing images and media for Canadian Amusement History. Please consider supporting his project. Laff in the Dark - Named after the early mass-produced dark ride of the same name, this website features several articles and resources on dark ride history specifically. Niagara Falls Public Library - The Niagara Falls Public Library and their incredible archives have been by far one of the largest resources in the creation of this website, please consider browsing their collections, which date back much farther than the information you'll find discussed here, or donating if you're able. Pinball Map - A crowdsourced map of Pinball machines at a variety of locations across the world. It currently consists of over 40,000 machines across almost 10,000 locations. Retrontario - Archival website focused on preserving Ontario-specific media. This incredible website's creators have put an amazing amount of time and effort into it, with most of their content coming from tapes and materials they found themselves in the attics and storage rooms of donators. Roller Coaster Database - A global archive of former and current roller coasters, their histories, locations, and dates of opening/closure. ShowbizPizza.com - Named after the American chain of Family Entertainment Centres of the same name, this site is an archive of animatronic shows in various F.E.C.s, restaurants, amusement parks and more.

Lost Media This section attempts to list, archive and track down pieces of media related to the Canadian amusement industry. "Lost Media" is any type of media confirmed to once exist, but is no longer available to the general public on the internet, in accessible archives, public libraries, or any other openly accessible resource. This section lists our most wanted pieces of media for our archives, most of which are extremely obscure and not discussed anywhere in other amusement and lost media communities on the internet. Castle Dracula Radio Spot - Castle Dracula (Lost radio commercials for U.S. l ocations, mid-late 1970s) Castle Dracula T.V. Commercial(s) - Castle Dracula (Lost television commercials for U.S. locations, mid-late 1970s) Coaster Chaos - FX Ride Theater (Lost edit of "Funhouse Express" ride film with additional footage, 2010) Country Hound Jamboree - Magic Harbour (Lost showtapes/footage of Waxattract-built animatronic show for U.S. park) Crystal Ball Projection Video - Castle Dracula (Lost film used to create special effect, 1974) Dracula Face Projection Video - Castle Dracula (Lost film used as projected face for figure in U.S. location, 1975) Captain Andy's Rivertown Revue - Boblo Island Amusement Park (Partially lost showtapes/footage of animatronic show) Captain Carnival Commercial - Captain Carnival Pizza Theatre (Lost commercial for family entertainment centre, 1983) Captain Carnival Show - Captain Carnival Pizza Theatre (Lost showtapes/footage of animatronic show) "Cat in the Hat" Ride Film (Existence Unconfirmed) - Extreme Movie Ride 4D, MGM Studios Plaza (Lost motion ride film, 2002) "Country Jamboree" - Crystal Beach Amusement Park (Lost showtapes/footage of animatronic show) Ghostblasters Attraction Trailer - Ghostblasters, Great Canadian Midway (Partially lost advertisement for ride) Good Times Jamboree - Pyramid Place (Lost showtapes/footage of animatronic show, 1979) Good Times Jamboree Cartoon - Pyramid Place (Lost animated preshow film, 1979) Harry Houdini "Talking Head" Projection Video - Houdini Hall of Fame (Partially lost film used to create special effect) Hillbilly Bear Jamboree - Maple Leaf Village (Lost showtapes/footage of animatronic show, 1982) The Hot Air Fantasy - Marineland (Partially lost showtapes/footage of animatronic show, mid-late 1980's) "Ice Cave" Projection Video - Louis Tussaud's Wax Museum (Partially lost film used to create special effect) John Bradshaw Show Ripley's Episode - Ripley's Believe it or Not! Museum (Lost television showcase of the attraction, 1964) Marineland Promotional "Sailor Seal" Video - Various locations (Partially lost advertisement used in promotional stands) Marineland "Sailor Seal" Show - Various locations (Partially lost showtapes/footage of animatronic used in promotional stands) Meet Mr. Lincoln - Maple Leaf Village (Lost showtapes/footage of animatronic show, 1984) Monster Mash - Castle Dracula (Lost showtapes/footage of animatronic show, 1974) Monster Mash Projection Film - Castle Dracula (Lost film used as projection effect in U.S. location, 1975) MGM Multi-Media Films - MGM Great Movie Journey, MGM Studios Plaza (Lost presentation films from attraction, 2003) Robots of Mars 3D Adventure - FX Ride Theatre, Great Canadian Midway (Partially lost motion ride film, 2005)

Screamers (Top Level Location)/ Haunted Asylum/Screaming Tunnels Attraction Type: Haunted Attraction Location: Niagara Falls, Ontario Years Operational: 1985-1996 (Maple Leaf Village location), 1996-2013 (Victoria Ave. location), 2013-2015 (as Haunted Asylum), 2015-2018 (as Screaming Tunnels) Designer(s): ?, Distortions Unlimited Screamers was a walk through haunted house attraction which first opened in the mall portion of Maple Leaf Village in 1985, being located on the top floor across from Shaboom's Diner/Pool Hall. The attraction had deeper roots however, being started by an ex-employee of the similar Nightmares haunted house owned by Bobber Gibbs, who had opened his attraction in the mall in 1984 after two years of owning the Haunted House at Prudhomme's Landing in nearby Lincoln, ON. Screamers opened the following year after the owner had a dispute with Gibbs, and the two attractions would be in constant competition for the entire lifespan of Screamers. The attraction's original slogan even directly one-upped Nightmares, with the tagline being "Screamers... Where nightmares become reality!" Screamers in Maple Leaf Village, 1995. The attraction would be a mix of live actors, fun house style mazes and floor tricks, animatronic props, and illusions. While the focus was more on the rooms and actors rather than the scenes and props such as other attractions like The House of Frankenstein and Castle Dracula , it was still carefully crafted and of high quality, bringing in props from professional prop studios, a practice many haunted attractions wouldn't begin for nearly a decade. Much like Nightmares, the attraction was nearly pitch-black, with red lights high on the wall near the ceiling acting as guide for guests journeying from room to room. A favorite (or least favorite, depending how you look at it) among guests was "Tony the Tongue", an unseen entity which would lick your face, an element the attraction had borrowed from Nightmares' "Tommy the Tongue". Tony was in reality a wet sponge on a pole which employees would poke guests faces with in the pitch blackness, accompanied by a licking sound effect. Other elements included a dead-end room which guests would be trapped in for 10 minutes before the door to the next room opened, a giant Mack truck which would chase you down the hall in a shrinking room, and a live actor with a chainsaw nicknamed "Chainsaw Charlie." Much like Nightmares before it, the live actors actually touched guests, with zero warning or waiver, which was incredibly unexpected. This was at a time where the caution-to-the-wind spooky houses touching guests was becoming a thing of the past, but the trendy "you must sign a waiver" system many modern haunts implement wasn't a thing yet. This resulted in an incredibly intense experience, especially when combined with clever planning, timing and psychological elements behind it. The attraction did well in the mall alongside Nightmares, even into the mid 90's as the mall declined around them. By then Nightmares had opened three (or two depending on how you look at it) more attractions in the mall. The first of these had been Nightmares Part II, which was just a separate-ticket addition to the original. The second was Nightmares the Black Journey, a horror themed obstacle course, and the final was Nightmares Fore, an indoor horror themed mini golf. Despite the overwhelming presence Nightmares held in the mall, Screamers continued to do well, even opening a second attraction in Maple Leaf Village themselves in 1995. This would be facing the former amusement park at the back of the mall, now facing the parking lot that replaced the park. Since the space formerly faced the park and was originally part of it rather than the mall (despite being located in the mall building), it had formerly been the park's haunted attraction, which had a variety of re-themes over the years. It began as Showboat, (possibly) became the short-lived Creep Show attraction, then became the Haunted House, then became the Mysterious Mansion, finally becoming the second Screamers in 1995 after the park had closed the previous year. The space later home to the second Screamers as the Mysterious Mansion in the mid 80's (top) and 1987 (bottom). The plaza wrapping up construction before Screamers moved in. Very little is known about this attraction, however the speculation is that it was essentially a sister attraction to the original, a practice Screamers would implement again in the future with Creatures of the Night (more on that later.) The entire Maple Leaf Village mall would close in 1996, rendering the Maple Leaf Village complex itself entirely no more to make way for Casino Niagara. Screamers would move up to Victoria Ave., following in the footsteps of Nightmares who had done so five years earlier when the writing on the wall was clear for the mall (and Maple Leaf Village as a whole), after the closure of the complex's amusement park. It's not clear what props and elements from the second Screamers would be recycled for the new location, but the majority of the original location's contents would make the move. While Nightmares operated on Victoria Ave. between Clifton Hill and Bender St. in the building formerly home to the original Castle Dracula, Screamers would be located on Victoria Ave. the in other direction, between Clifton Hill and Ferry Rd. It was now located in a strip plaza constructed the same year on the former site of a portion of Jungleland Mini Golf/Tivoli Miniature Golf. Screamers on Victoria Ave., early 2000's. Now with the tagline "Screamers House of Horrors", the attraction would sever it's references to Nightmares, but the competition would grow ever stronger. While Nightmares had combined elements of all its attractions into one super-attraction in the massive Victoria Ave. building and started gaining global fame, the smaller Screamers was located in the much more highly trafficked area of the two, creating a sort of balance between the attractions. They were also very different in ethos, while Nightmares was almost entirely focused psychological horror and phobias, and Screamers ever more focused on props and movie magic. The lobby especially was themed to the maximum with props from Distortions Unlimited and references to slasher movies, including a graveyard scene, a coffin and a variety of ghosts and demons suspended from the ceiling. There was even a small gift shop/head shop in the lobby, something Nightmares also featured. Original graveyard scene in 1999. The tombstone to the right appears to be honoring the late wrestler Owen Hart. Entrance, Chicken Exit, and camera feed on the T.V. monitor showing the live reactions of guests inside. Merchandise and ticket counter, 1999. Prop suspended from the ceiling. Shortly after opening, a small sequel attraction would open next door in a space formerly occupied by a souvenir store. It would be named the "Torture Chamber", and be a similar attraction that was more focused on claustrophobia. Screamers would once again attempt the concept of a sister attraction in 1998, when it opened Creatures of the Night further down Victoria Ave. at the other end of the same plaza, right at the bend where it becomes Ferry Rd. It had the same basis of "follow the red lights", but leaned even further into the props and scenery than Screamers, resulting in many scenes containing then-modern, high tech props. Despite it being one of the furthest attractions in the Clifton Hill district from the heart of the area, being the furthest East attraction from Clifton Hill which was still technically located in the district, it managed to perform well as a more visual sequel to Screamers and the Torture Chamber. The same year the owners opened "Dino Rampage 4D", a motion theatre attraction beside Screamers. Joint brochure for Dino Rampage and the Torture Chamber, early 2000's. Creatures did so well infact that the owners actually saw it fit to open a third (fourth if you count the Torture Chamber as seperate from Screamers) haunted attraction in the area at the top of The Hill, this time located on Centre St., the street which Clifton Hill becomes up past Victoria Ave. This attraction would open in 2000 and be known as Horror Manor, located in a nearly century old building. The first floor would be home to the "Chambers of Terror" walk through, consisting of similar fare to the other attractions in the Screamers chain and even including a walk through vortex tunnel named the "Black Hole". The top floor, which was formerly apartments, was converted into the "Zombie Zoo", a horror themed nightclub catering mainly to the goth, punk, metal and new wave crowds. Creatures of the Night (left) and Horror Manor (right) in the early 2000's. Between the Screamers chain of attractions, the Criminals Hall of Fame, Rockworld/Rock Legends Wax Museum, Nightmares, Alien Encounter (later Classic Iron Motorcycle Museum), and the many smoke shops, head shops, t-shirt stores and gag gift stores that perhaps weren't suited for the heart of family friendly Clifton Hill, a bit of a thematically darker, more teenage and young adult-oriented district at the top of The Hill had emerged. The major artery for this sort of sub-district was Victoria Ave. between Clifton Hill and the Ferry Rd. bend, and was what the street was known for in the late 90's to mid 2000's. The Screamers chain was no doubt the center of all this, and was integral in keeping Victoria Ave. and the surrounding area at the top of The Hill relevant as the generation of attractions which first occupied the street in the 70's had all since closed (with the exception of the Criminals Hall of Fame.) Screamers would even receive an updated lobby in the early 2000's with repainted walls and more detailed props. Screamers and Dino Rampage at the height of their popularity, early 2000's. Updated lobby, early 2000's. In the mid 2000's, the amusement industry began taking major turns, felt especially in tourist destinations like Niagara Falls. While these wouldn't really come to a head until the 2010's, with five attractions (again, seven counting the Torture Chamber and Zombie Zoo as separate experiences from the attractions they were housed in) the Screamers chain would begin to be affected as soon as the industry's turning point began. The similarities between Screamers, Creatures, and Horror Manor couldn't have helped either in causing an over-saturation, with Horror Manor closing first in 2005, making it the first attraction of many in the area to close in this time period. Creatures would follow a year later in 2006, while Dino Rampage remained operating until 2011, leaving Screamers (now with the Torture Chamber absorbed into part of the main attraction) the sole attraction left in the Screamers portfolio. It would be presumably sold in 2013 when all the Screamers signage, references and merchandise was removed, and the attraction renamed Haunted Asylum. The interior would change very little however, retaining most of the features of Screamers. The case would be the same when the attraction was renamed again (with another possible ownership change occurring) in 2015 to Screaming Tunnels Haunted Playground, a reference to the internationally infamous tunnel of the same name elsewhere in the city of Niagara Falls which is alleged to be haunted. The gift shop was replaced with a zombie themed paintball shooting range facing the street. The attraction would finally close for good in 2018, ending 33 years of at least some version Screamers operating. The attraction as the Haunted Asylum. The much less themed Screaming Tunnels. The former Screamers space on Victoria Ave. today, divided into fast food joints. While the attraction never hit the level of notoriety with the general public that some of it's peers like Castle Dracula or Nightmares have, it's nearly worshipped among fans of haunted attractions. It was a truly intense experience that was the best offering for the niche it was trying to fill, being more direct than the drawn-out and sometimes implied terror of Nightmares, yet still more psychological than any of the other attractions in the area. It's also remembered fondly by fans of horror and slasher movies, due to it's incorporation of movie themed scenery and live actors portraying horror characters. It was constantly rated among the scariest haunted attractions in Niagara time and time again, and terrified at least hundreds of thousands in it's lifespan.

Amusement and Theme Parks Niagara Region Many don't realize that amusement parks and theme parks are actually two different things. A theme park is themed to one or several subjects, and may or may not contain any actual rides. An amusement park however always contains rides, but has either little or no theming. With several evolving into one another over the years, both are listed on this page for convenience. Canadia - Niagara Falls Crystal Beach Amusement Park - Crystal Beach Indian Village - Niagara Falls Maple Leaf Village - Niagara Falls Marineland - Niagara Falls Prudhomme's Landing - Lincoln Pyramid Place - Niagara Falls Skylon Indoor Amusement Park - Niagara Falls Storybook Land - Niagara Falls Tivoli Miniature World/Miniature Golf - Lincoln (Later moved to Niagara Falls) Tower View Amusement Park - Niagara Falls Greater Toronto Area Canada's Wonderland - Vaughn Centreville Amusement Park - Toronto Cullen Gardens and Miniature Village - Whitby Fantasy Fair - Woodbine Centre, Etobicoke (Toronto) Ontario Place - Toronto Sunnyside Amusement Park - Toronto Lake Huron and Georgian Bay Castle Village Enchanted Kingdom - Balm Beach/Midland Dinosaur Valley - Wasaga Beach Grand Bend Amusement Park - Grand Bend Playland Park - Wasaga Beach Sauble Beach Fun World - Sauble Beach Ontario - Other Areas Boblo Island Amusement Park - Amherstburg Santa's Village - Bracebridge Storybook Gardens - London Storyland - Renfrew Wild Zone - Wheels Inn, Chatham Alberta Barney's Adventure Park - Drumheller Calaway Park - Calgary Fantasyland/Galaxyland - West Edmonton Mall, Edmonton Funland Amusement Park - Drumheller Heritage Park - Calgary 1920s Midway & Exhibition - Fort Edmonton Park, Edmonton Whitemud Amusement Park - Edmonton Manitoba and Saskatchewan Kiddieland - Regina, SK Playland - Grand Marais, MB Sunset Park - Regina, SK Tinkertown Family Fun Park - Springfield (Winnipeg), MB British Columbia (and Northern Canada) Bedrock City/Dinotown - Chilliwack Bedrock City - Kelowna Cultus Lake Adventure Park - Cultus Lake Dyck's Dinosaur Park - Maple Ridge Fantasy Gardens/Fantasy Garden World - Richmond Happyland/Playland at the PNE - Vancouver Rattlesnake Canyon - Osoyoos Quebec Belmont Park - Montreal La Ronde - Montreal Mega Parc - Galeries de la Capitale, Quebec City Le Village du Pere Noel (The Village of Father Christmas/Santa's Village) - Val-David Atlantic Canada (East of Quebec) Atlantic Playland/Atlantic Splash Adventure - Lucasville, NS Axtion - St. John's, NL Crystal Palace - Champlain Place, Moncton, NB Magic Mountain - Magnetic Hill (Moncton), NB Magic Valley Fun Park - Greenhill, NS Rainbow Valley - Cavendish Beach, P.E.I. Sandspit Cavendish Beach - Cavendish Beach, P.E.I. Shining Waters Family Fun Park - Hunter River (Cavendish Beach), P.E.I. Upper Clements Park(s) - Upper Clements, NS

Niagara Region Amusement and Theme Parks Canada's most densely populated area for attractions, and for good reason. Located on the side of the border with the best view of one of the seven wonders of the world, the city of Niagara Falls, Ontario as well as the Niagara Region surrounding it has been home to some of the most historically significant amusement attractions not just in the history of Canada, but the entire world. This region's incredible attractions are thanks to the local developers and artists behind them, as well as the countless hospitality staff who keep the region's tourism industry running. Canadia - Niagara Falls Crystal Beach Amusement Park - Crystal Beach Indian Village - Niagara Falls Maple Leaf Village - Niagara Falls Marineland - Niagara Falls Prudhomme's Landing - Lincoln Pyramid Place - Niagara Falls Skylon Indoor Amusement Park - Niagara Falls Storybook Land - Niagara Falls Tivoli Miniature World/Miniature Golf - Lincoln (later moved to Niagara Falls) Tower View Amusement Park - Niagara Falls Arcades, Mini Golf and F.E.C.s Arcadia - Niagara Square Mall, Niagara Falls Casino Niagara Arcade - Casino Niagara, Niagara Falls Cosmic Golf/Galaxy Golf - Niagara Falls Choo Choo Charlie's - St. Catherines Circus World (Clifton Hill location) - Niagara Falls Circus World (Victoria Ave. location) - Niagara Falls Cybermind V.R. Centre - Royal/Panasonic/Minolta Tower Centre, Niagara Falls Cyberport Niagara - Niagara Falls Dave & Busters/Captain Jack's Pirate's Cove/Fun Zone (Clifton Hill location) - Niagara Falls Dazzleland Family Fun Centre - Niagara Falls Dinosaur Park Miniature Golf/Dinosaur Adventure Golf - Niagara Falls Family Fun Arcade - House of Frankenstein, Niagara Falls Fun & Games - Maple Leaf Village, Niagara Falls Fun City - Crystal Beach Amusement Park, Crystal Beach Funland Arcade - House of Frankenstein, Niagara Falls Fun Zone (Fallsview Blvd. location) - Niagara Falls Golf-O-Rama - Niagara Falls Good Times Room - Pyramid Place, Niagara Falls Great Canadian Midway (and Sports Zone) - Niagara Falls Joe's Arcade - Crystal Beach Jungleland Miniature Golf (Stanley Ave. location) - Niagara Falls Jungleland Miniature Golf (Victoria Ave. location) - Niagara Falls King Waldorf's Palace - Marineland, Niagara Falls Leisure Valley Miniature Golf - Niagara-on-the-Lake Maple Leaf Village Family Fun Centre - Maple Leaf Village, Niagara Falls Marvel Superheroes Adventure City/Adventure City - Niagara Falls Niagara Go-Karts - Niagara Falls Nightmares Fore - Maple Leaf Village, Niagara Falls Northern Lights Arcade - Great Wolf Lodge, Niagara Falls Putt Putt/Jungle Putt - Niagara Falls Pro Putt Golfland - Niagara Falls Prudhomme's Landing Arcade - Prudhomme's Landing, Lincoln Prudhomme's Landing Mini Golf - Pru dhomme's Landing, Lincoln Q-balls Billiards Pub - Niagara Falls rCade - Best Western Carin Croft, Niagara Falls Ripley's Arcade - Ripley's Believe It or Not! Museum, Niagara Falls Sam's Amusement Centre - York/Chaplin, St. Catherine's Skylon Family Fun Centre (formerly located in Amusement Park)/Skyquest - Skylon Tower, Niagara Falls Super Putt - Niagara Falls Tower Centre Arcade - Royal/Panasonic/Minolta Tower Centre, Niagara Falls Wacky Wilderness Mini Golf - Great Wolf Lodge, Niagara Falls Wizard's Castle - Seaway Mall, Welland Wizard's Golf - Niagara Falls Arcade (Name Unknown) - Cattell/Willoughby Plaza, Niagara Falls Arcade (Name Unknown) - Crystal Beach Arcade (Name Unknown, separate from above) - Crystal Beach Arcade (Name Unknown) - 5900 Main St., Niagara Falls Arcade (Name Unknown) - National Marine Aquarium of Niagara parking lot, Niagara Falls Arcade (Name Unknown) - Niagara Falls (on Niagara Parkway underneath Rainbow Bridge) Mini Golf (Name Unknown) - National Marine Aquarium of Niagara parking lot, Niagara Falls Go-Kart Track/F.E.C. (Name Unknown) - Niagara Falls (former location of Bridal Path) Dark Attractions, Wax Museums and Exhibits Adventure Into the Unknown - Skylon Indoor Amusement Park, Niagara Falls Alien Encounter - Niagara Falls Antique Auto Museum/Cars of the Greats - Niagara Falls Battle of the Titans - Skylon Tower, Niagara Falls Biblical Wax Museum - Niagara Falls Big Top Amazing Mirror & Laser Maze - Niagara Falls Boris Karloff Wax Museum/"Haunted House" - Niagara Falls Brick City - Niagara Falls Burning Springs Wax Museum - Niagara Falls Canadian Wildlife Exhibit - Niagara Falls Carnival Chaos Hyper Ride - Niagara Falls Classic Iron Motorcycle Museum - Niagara Falls Castle Dracula/Dracula's Haunted Castle - Niagara Falls Circus World (Clifton Hill location) - Niagara Falls Creatures of the Night - Niagara Falls Criminals Hall of Fame Wax Museum - Niagara Falls Crystal Beach Wax Museum/Chambers of Horror - Crystal Beach Amusement Park, Crystal Beach Crystal Caves - Niagara Falls Dare Devil Gallery - Niagara Falls Elvis Presley Museum - Maple Leaf Village (moved to Pyramid Place) , Niagara Falls Evel Knievel Museum - Maple Leaf Village (moved to Victoria Ave.) - Niagara Falls Fantasy Land - Crystal Beach Amusement Park, Crystal Beach The Fun House - Niagara Falls Ghostblasters - Great Canadian Midway, Niagara Falls Guinness World of Records Museum - Niagara Falls Haunted Graveyard of Niagara - (Pyramid Place?), Niagara Falls Haunted Hallways and Screaming Tunnels Torture Chamber - Fun Zone (Fallsview Blvd. location), Niagara Falls Haunted House - Prudhomme's Landing, Lincoln The Haunted House (Clifton Hill) - Niagara Falls Horror Manor Chambers of Terror - Niagara Falls Houdini Magical Hall of Fame - Niagara Falls The House of Frankenstein - Niagara Falls The Incredible Hulk Encounter - Marvel Superheroes Adventure City, Niagara Falls Jolly Roger (same as Pirate's Voyage?)- Crystal Beach Amusement Park, Crystal Beach Laff in the Dark - Crystal Beach Amusement Park, Crystal Beach Lazer Maze - Maple Leaf Village, Niagara Falls Life Museum - Niagara Falls Locomoland - Niagara Falls Louis Tussaud's Wax Museum - Niagara Falls Magic Carpet/Magic Palace - Crystal Beach Amusement Park, Crystal Beach MGM Great Movie Journey - MGM Studios Plaza, Niagara Falls Movieland Wax Museum (Hollywood Wax Museum) - Niagara Falls National Marine Aquarium of Canada - Niagara Falls Niagara Gun Museum - Niagara Falls Nightmares (and Nightmares II) - Maple Leaf Village (moved to Victoria Ave.), Niagara Falls Nightmares III The Black Journey - Maple Leaf Village, Niagara Falls "Ocean World" (same as National Aquarium?) - Exact location unknown Old Mill/Jungleland - Crystal Beach Amusement Park, Crystal Beach Pirate's Cove Wax Museum - Niagara Falls Pirate's Voyage (same as Jolly Roger?) - Crystal Beach Amusement Park, Crystal Beach Playmate Exhibits - Niagara Falls Potvin Miniatures Museum - Niagara Falls Ripley's Believe It or Not! Museum - Niagara Falls Rock Legends Wax Museum - Niagara Falls Royal London Wax Museum - Niagara Falls Screamers (top level location)/Haunted Asylum/Screaming Tunnels - Maple Leaf Village (moved to Victoria Ave.), Niagara Falls Showboat/(Creep Show?)/Mysterious Mansion/Screamers (ground level location) - Maple Leaf Village, Niagara Falls Spacearium/Spaceland/Space Museum - Niagara Falls Spider-Man: The Ultimate Ride/Superheroes Lazer Ride - Marvel Superheroes Adventure City/Adventure City, Niagara Falls Spidey and Friends Funhouse - Marvel Superheroes Adventure City, Niagara Falls Sports Hall of Fame - Niagara Falls That's Incredible! Museum - Maple Leaf Village, Niagara Falls Tower of London Wax Museum - Niagara Falls Wonderful World of Fantasy - Niagara Falls World a Million Years Ago - Skylon Tower, Niagara Falls Specialty Hotels and Gift Shops Americana Conference Resort Spa & Waterpark - Niagara Falls Best Western Carin Croft - Niagara Falls Best Western Fallsview - Niagara Falls Falls Gifts - Park Motor/Venture/Comfort Inn - Niagara Falls (Fantasy) Fudge Factory - Niagara Falls Great Wolf Lodge Niagara Falls - Niagara Falls Hilltop Motel - Niagara Falls Honeymoon City Gift Shop/Niagara Falls Gifts - Honeymoon City Motel/Travelodge, Niagara Falls Honeymoon City Motel/Red Carpet Inn/Travelodge - Niagara Falls Imperial/Vittoria Hotel - Niagara Falls Maple Leaf Village Inn/Skyline Hotel - Maple Leaf Village/Falls Ave. Complex, Niagara Falls Niagara Clifton Gift Shop/Blue Moose Trading Co. - Niagara Clifton Motel/Thriftlodge Niagara Falls Niagara Clifton Motel/Thriftlodge - Niagara Falls Park Motor/Venture/Comfort Inn Clifton Hill - Niagara Falls Pilgrim Hotel - Niagara Falls Prudhomme's Landing Inn - Prudhomme's Landing, Lincoln Quality Courts/Inn Fallsway - Niagara Falls Seagram/Royal/Panasonic/Minolta Tower Centre - Niagara Falls Sheraton Brock/Crowne Plaza Hotel - Falls Ave. Complex, Niagara Falls Sheraton Foxhhead/Sheraton Fallsview Hotel - Falls Ave. Complex, Niagara Falls Theatres, Bowling Alleys and Miscellaneous Bird Kingdom - Niagara Falls Bronto's Adventure Playland - Niagara Falls Cataract Bowl - Niagara Falls Cinema 180 - Crystal Beach Amusement Park, Crystal Beach Cliff Hangers - Niagara Falls Country Jamboree - Crystal Beach Amusement Park, Crystal Beach Daredevil Obstacle Challenge - Marvel Superheroes Adventure City, Niagara Falls Dino Rampage 4D - Niagara Falls Extreme Movie Ride 4D - MGM Studios Plaza, Niagara Falls Fairview Bowling Lanes - St. Catharines FX Ride Theater/Cosmic Coaster/XD Theater - Great Canadian Midway, Niagara Falls Get Lost! Mystery Maze - Niagara Falls Good Times Jamboree/The Dancing Bears - Pyramid Place, Niagara Falls Greg Frewin Theatre - Niagara Falls Hillbilly Bear Jamboree - Maple Leaf Village, Niagara Falls Hot Air Fantasy - Marineland, Niagara Falls IMAX Pyramid - Pyramid Place, Niagara Falls Jeff's Bowl-O-Rama - Welland Legend Niagara/Great White Water Picture Show - Pyramid Place, Niagara Falls Meet Mr. Lincoln - Maple Leaf Village, Niagara Falls Niagara's Fury - Table Rock Centre, Niagara Falls Niagara Serpentarium - Niagara Falls Parkway Social - St. Catharines Piledriver - WWE Niagara Falls, Niagara Falls Pink Panther Balloon Ride - MGM Studios Plaza, Niagara Falls Pla-Mor Bowling Lanes - St. Catherines Skylon Roller Rink - Skylon Tower, Niagara Falls Skyway Drive-In - Fonthill Space Spiral Tower - Niagara Falls Strike! Rock 'N Bowl - Niagara Falls Waltzing Waters - Niagara Falls Zombie Attack - Niagara Falls Theatre (Name Unknown) - National Marine Aquarium of Canada parking lot, Niagara Falls Themed Restaurants, Bars and Stores Boston Pizza Clifton Hill (and Sports Zone) - Great Canadian Midway, Niagara Falls Beefeater/Coachlight Restaurant (and Jolly Brewer)/Ruby Tuesday's - Honeymoon City Motel/Travelodge, Niagara Falls Coca-Cola Store - Falls Ave. Complex, Niagara Falls Fun Factory - Movieland Wax Museum, Niagara Falls Hard Rock Cafe - Falls Ave. Complex, Niagara Falls Harley Davidson Store - Niagara Clifton Motel/Thriftlodge, Niagara Falls Hershey's Chocolate World - Falls Ave. Complex, Niagara Falls Julio's Pizza and Spaghetti Factory Plant One - St. Catherines Julio's Pizza and Spaghetti Factory Plant Two - St. Catherines MGM Studios Store - MGM Studios Plaza, Falls Ave. Complex, Niagara Falls Mr. Fantastic's Candy Laboratory - Marvel Superheroes Adventure City, Niagara Falls Planet Hollywood - Falls Ave. Complex, Niagara Falls Rainforest Cafe - Falls Ave. Complex, Niagara Falls Terrace Cafe/Kelsey's Clifton Hill - Park Motor/Venture/Comfort Inn, Niagara Falls Turf 'n Surf - Niagara Falls WWE Niagara Falls - Falls Ave. Complex, Niagara Falls The Yard/Rathskeller Pub/Rumors Nightclub - Park Motor/Venture/Comfort Inn, Niagara Falls Water Parks and Attractions Americana Indoor Water Park - Americana Conference Resort Spa & Waterpark, Niagara Falls Fallsview Indoor Water Park - Falls Ave. Complex, Niagara Falls Great Wolf Lodge Water Park - Great Wolf Lodge Niagara Falls, Niagara Falls Wet 'n Wild - Prudhomme's Landing, Lincoln White Water/Typhoon Lagoon - Niagara Falls

Ontario - Other Areas This page contains all Ontario attractions not located in the Niagara Region, G.T.A., or on the shores of Lake Huron. Among the many towns and cities' attractions found on this page are those in Ottawa, London, Hamilton, Kitchener/Waterloo, Windsor, Newmarket and many more. Amusement and Theme Parks Boblo Island Amusement Park - Amherstburg Santa's Village - Bracebridge Storybook Gardens - London Storyland - Renfrew Wild Zone - Wheels Inn, Chatham Arcades, Mini Golf and F.E.C.s Ace Arcade - Clarence St., London Admirals Cup - Masonville Place, London Adventure Village - Hamilton Arcade Room - Coronet Motor Hotel, Kitchener/Waterloo Bad's Amusements - Oro Medonte Balacade - Bala Barrie Billiards - Barrie Bayfield Mall Games (Mall run game area)- Bayfield Mall, Barrie Bernie's Arcade - Charles St., Kitchener/Waterloo Big Wigs Billiards - Newmarket Bingemans Funworx Kitchener/Waterloo Blackbird Falls Putting Course - The Marshes Golf Club, Ottawa Bopper's - Windsor Broken Cue - Bank St., Ottawa Caddy Shack - Bloomfield Captain Carnival's - London Captain Carnival's - Windsor The Casino - King St./Hughson St. N., Hamilton Chuck E. Cheese's - Newmarket Coboconk Go-Karts & Mini-Putt - Coboconk Coco Club - Dunlop St., Barrie The Cove - University Shops Plaza, Kitchener/Waterloo Crystal Palace - King William/Walnut, Hamilton Crystal Palace - Wyndham/Quebec, Guelph Dooly's - Gladwin Crescent, Ottawa Downtown - St. Paul St., Thunder Bay Duffer's by the Bay - Barrie Duffer's Mini Golf - Duffer's Golf Centre, Barrie Dunlop/Alliance Billiards - Dunlop/Ferndale, Barrie East Park - London Electric Flipper - West St., Orillia Elmvale Flea Market Arcade - Elmvale Flea Market, Elmvale Evergreen Golf - Washago Fast Eddy's - Windsor Fat Lee's Scoop and Putt - Bonville Fire Button Arcade - Richmond/Woodroffe, Ottawa Fire Button Arcade - St. Joseph's Blvd., Orleans (Ottawa) Flynn's Arcade - King St., Kitchener/Waterloo Flynn's Arcade - University Shops Plaza, Kitchener/Waterloo Front Row McGinnis - Kitchener/Waterloo 4 Wheelies Roller Skating Center - Ottawa Fun & Games - Eastgate Square Shopping Centre, Stoney Creek (Hamilton) Fun & Games - Norfolk Mall, Tilsonburg Fun & Games - Tilsonburg Gateway Centre, Tilsonburg Fun & Games - Tilsonburg Town Centre, Tilsonburg Fun Land - Boblo Island Amusement Park, Amherstburg The Games - Eastgate Square Shopping Centre, Hamilton The Games - Lime Ridge Mall, Hamilton The Gamesroom - Rideau/Vanier, Ottawa Gateway Billiards - Second Ave. West, North Bay Golden Castle Games - Thunder Bay Happy Man Arcade - Dunlop St., Barrie Happy Man Arcade - Main St., North Bay Imperial Arcade/The Gamesroom - Bank St./Gloucester, Ottawa In Play - Newmarket It's a Small World - Midhurst JD's Billiards - Bell Farm Rd., Barrie The Junction - Windsor Jungle Mini Golf - Wild Zone, Chatham Jungle Quest Mini Golf - Nottawasaga Inn and Resort, Alliston King Arthur's Court - Merivale Rd., Ottawa King Arthur's Court - Rideau/Dalhousie, Ottawa Kozlov Shopping Centre Games (Mall run game area) - Kozlov Shopping Centre, Barrie Little Critters/In Play - Barrie Little Joe's/Bayfield Family Amusements/Cybercity/Technogames/Playquest - Bayfield Mall, Barrie Little Joe's - Market Mall, Sault St. Marie Little Joe's - New Sudbury Shopping Centre, Sudbury Little Joe's - Northgate Shopping Centre, North Bay Little Joe's - Stanley Park Mall, Kitchener/Waterloo Little Joe's/EJ's - Station Mall, Sault St. Marie Mer Bleue Miniputt & Batting Cages - Orleans Microplay - Towers/Food City Plaza, Barrie Mini Golf Gardens - Ottawa Mini Putt Hawkesbury - Hawkesbury Mister Arcade - Bank/Alta Vista, Ottawa Muskoka Store Mini Golf - Muskoka Store, Muskoka Northern Adventure Mini Putt - Cardinal Golf Club, Newmarket 1Up Games - King St., Hamilton The Palace - King St., Hamilton Pappa's Billiards - George St., Peterborough Park Play Micro Golf - Belleville Pop's Place Mini Golf and Arcade - Turkey Point Putting Edge - Barrie Putting Edge - Nepean (Ottawa) Putt N' Blast - Kingston Quarry Links Championship - Kingston Expert Tees, Kingston Retro Planet - Mapleview/Veteran's, Barrie Rideau Arcade - George/Dalhousie, Ottawa Rideau Arcade - Rideau St., Ottawa Rideau Arcade - Rideau/Ottawa Regional Rd., Ottawa Roller Skating Place - Orillia R.O.N.'s Virtual World - Thunder Bay Sandbaggerz Driving Range & Mini Putt - Port Perry Smuggler's Alley - Dundas St., London South Baymouth Ferry Terminal Games (Terminal run game area) - South Baymouth Space World - Lansdown Place Mall, Peterborough Splitsville - Guelph Splitsville - Hamilton Sports & Leisure Dome - Nottawasaga Inn Resort, Alliston Tee Burg Golf Academy - Tilsonburg 1000 Island Mini Golf - Thousand Islands Timber Creek Mini Golf & Fun Centre - Whitchurch-Stouffville Tommy's Arcade - Tommy's Variety, Kitchener/Waterloo Tommy's Arcade (Unrelated to above) - Mississauga St., Orillia Top Hat Billiards - Orillia Top Hat - Wellington Plaza, Barrie Tour D'Orleans - Place d'Orleans, Orleans (Ottawa) Towne Billiards - Mary/Dunlop, Barrie Tropical Mini Golf and Games - Hamilton Video Odyssey/VG's Arcade - Mary/Dunlop, Barrie Wally World - London Western World - George St., Peterborough Wild Zone Arcade - Wild Zone, Chatham The Wiz - White Oakes Mall, London The Wizard - Bank/Slater, Ottawa The Wizard - Bayshore Shopping Centre, Ottawa The Wizard - Blair St., Ottawa The Wizard - Shopper's City East, Gloucester (Ottawa) The Wizard - Shopper's City West, Ottawa Wizard's - Dundas St., London Wizard's Castle - Center Mall, Hamilton Wizard's Castle - Conestoga Mall, Kitchener/Waterloo Wizard's Castle - Dundas St., London Wizard's Castle - Kozlov Shopping Centre, Barrie Zapper's - King St., Kitchener/Waterloo Zapper's 2 - King St., Kitchener/Waterloo Arcade (Name Unknown) - Adelaide Rd, Mount Brydges Arcade (Name Unknown) - Argyle Mall, London Arcade (Name Unknown) - Bank/Heron, Ottawa Arcade (Name Unknown) - Bayview/Little Plaza, Barrie Arcade (Name Unknown) - Billings Bridge Shopping Centre, Ottawa Arcade (Name Unknown) - Carleton University Centre, Ottawa Arcade (Name Unknown) - Gloucester Centre, Gloucester (Ottawa) Arcade (Name Unknown) - Hamilton Rd., Dorchester Arcade (Name Unknown) - Jackson Square, Hamilton Arcade (Name Unknown) - York Town Square, Newmarket Arcade (Name Unknown) - Orillia Square Mall, Orillia Arcade (Name Unknown) - Place Centrum, Orleans (Ottawa) Arcade (Name Unknown) - Rideau/Dalhousie (Above Rideau Theatre), Ottawa Arcade (Name Unknown) - St. Laurent/Pleasant Park, Ottawa Arcade (Name Unknown) - Waterloo Town Square, Kitchener/Waterloo Arcade (Name Unknown, Existence Unconfirmed) - 320 Bayfield St. Plaza, Barrie Mini Golf (Name Unknown) - Bayfield St., Barrie Dark Attractions, Wax Museums and Exhibits Flight to Mars - Boblo Island Amusement Park, Amherstburg Phantom Express - Boblo Island Amusement Park, Amherstburg Thousand Islands Haunted House - Thousand Islands Specialty Hotels and Gift Shops Lamplighter Inn - London French River Trading Post - French River Muskoka Store - Muskoka Nottawasaga Inn Resort - Alliston Wheels Inn - Chatham Theatres, Bowling Alleys and Miscellaneous AMF Frederick Lanes - Kitchener/Waterloo Ajax 5 Pin Bowling Centre - Ajax Bowlerama - Brookfield Plaza, Peterborough Bowlerama - Chatham Bowlerama - Guelph Bowlerama - Stoney Creek (Hamilton) Bowlerama - Wellington Plaza (later moved to Bayfield Mall), Barrie Bowlerama/C&D Lanes - Woodstock Bowlerama/Echo Bowl - Brantford Bowling on Broadway - Orangeville Captain Andy's River Towne Revue - Boblo Island Amusement Park, Amhurstberg Coldwater Bowling Centre - Coldwater Fleetway - London Hanover Drive-In - Hanover Haunted Theatre - Boblo Island Amusement Park, Amhurstberg Huntsville Bowl - Huntsville Kempview Bowl - Barrie Kingpin Bowlounge - Bingemans Funworx, Kitchener/Waterloo Lakeview Bowl - Market Plaza, Peterborough Leisure Bowling Lanes - Oshawa Lindsay Twin Drive-In - Lindsay Mario's Bowl - Thunder Bay Merivale Bowling Centre - Nepean (Ottawa) Mountain Lanes - Hamilton Muskoka Bowl - Muskoka Muskoka Drive-In - Muskoka Mustang Drive-In - Guelph Mustang Drive-In - London North Crest Lanes - Sault St. Marie Orillia Bowl/Rock n Bowl - Orillia Orleans Bowling Centre (and Striker's Billiards) - Orleans (Ottawa) Oxford Drive-In - Woodstock Partners Billiards and Bowling - North Bay Plaza Bowl - Sudbury Port Elmsey Drive-In - Perth Riverbowl & Billiards - Burk's Falls Skylight Drive-In - Pembroke Skyway Bowl - Hamilton Springwater Lanes - Elmvale Stardust Drive-In - Newmarket Starlight Drive-In - Hamilton Stellar Lanes - Newmarket Strike Point Bowling Centre - Lindsay Sunset Drive-In - Oro Medonte Tri-Town Bowling Lanes - Haileybury Underground Bowl - Bradford University Lanes - Dundas (Hamilton) UxBowl/Parish Lanes - Uxbridge West Park Bowling - Ottawa Themed Restaurants, Bars and Stores The Disney Store - Georgian Mall, Barrie The Disney Store - Lime Ridge Mall, Hamilton The Disney Store - Masonville Place, London The Disney Store - Rideau Centre, Ottawa The Disney Store - Upper Canada Mall, Newmarket Hard Rock Cafe - Ottawa La Casa de Madre - Wheels Inn, Chatham Water Parks and Attractions Bingemans Big Splash - Bingemans Funworx, Kitchener/Waterloo Calypso Theme Waterpark - Gagnon East Park Water Park/Wally World at East Park - East Park, London Loose Moose/Splash Canyon - Midhurst Wally World Water Park - London Wild Waterworks - Hamilton

Tower of London Wax Museum Attraction Type: Wax Museum Location: Darling Motel, Niagara Falls, Ontario Year(s) Operational: May-September 26, 1976 Designer(s): Waxattract , Universal Android The Tower of London Wax Museum was perhaps one of (if not) Niagara's shortest lived attractions. That being said, it sits in a uniquely important spot in history due to being closely intertwined with both the House of Frankenstein and Castle Dracula in unique ways. It opened in late spring of 1976, purchasing a portion of the collection of the former Royal London Wax Museum on Falls Ave., which had closed in 1975. The Royal London was a Waxattract -built attraction co-owned between Waxattract's Robert Dunham and the Iannuzelli family, who owned the Hilltop Motel that they would commission Dunham to build the House of Frankenstein atop less than a year after the Royal London opened. The Royal London had also featured figures and scenery from local artist Bruce Randall and his Universal Android company as well. The attraction's sign, 1976. (Top): The building later home to the Tower of London as it appeared before the museum. (Bottom): The building being remodeled into a castle for the new attraction. (Right): The royal stagecoach in the attraction's front window, 1976. The Tower of London would utilize the circa 1925 building at the front of the Darling Motel plot on Clifton Hill. The building had housed a restaurant on the main floor as well as the motel offices (and cabin court offices before that) on the second since it's construction. The basement had later been dug out to add a gift shop below. The motel was formerly owned by the Reinhardt family, but was purchased by the Cade family in 1976. It's unknown how much of the structure was used for the new wax museum. The basement gift shop remained, and the restaurant was removed for the entire first floor to become museum space, however if any museum existed in the former motel offices upstairs and the offices relocated remains a mystery. Even if it did occupy two floors, the collection in the museum likely wasn't the entire contents of the Royal London, as the space that attraction occupied had been much larger. The building was remodeled to feature a castle facade, complete with turrets and archways. On September 26th, 1976, just a few months after the attraction opened, flames were seen coming from the side of the building in an alleyway between it and the Niagara Clifton Motel, which was promptly evacuated. Shortly after the flames erupted at 1 A.M., a large explosion blew the front window of the attraction out completely, sending broken glass sailing across the street. Fire Sgt. Raymond Crown remarked that "It was a good thing nobody was walking past or they would have been killed." One firefighter even had to be hospitalized and taken off the scene on a stretcher for smoke inhalation while battling the blaze. During the fire, firefighters also apparently had to fight off local teenagers who kept trying to dart in the front window to steal fake jewels off the figures in the lobby. Imagine running into a building engulfed in flames to steal a plastic crown jewel? The power of realistic figure design I suppose. Flames shot 25 feet into the air in a two-alarm fire that completely gutted the building, however the firefighters' quick response prevented the historic 1925 building's structure from being lost. (Left): A firefighter gets removed from the scene of the blaze on a stretcher. (Right): The Queen peers with melancholy from her once-royal, now smoldering stagecoach in the aftermath of the fire. Astonishingly, the structure could be saved, and after the fire was put out, the building was boarded up and left abandoned for the remainder of the year and into early 1977. The fire was deemed extremely suspicious, with detectives heavily hinting the explosion which accelerated the fire was the deliberate result of some sort of propellant, however nothing ever publically materialized of this. Damage was estimated at $250,000, with $150,000 of that coming from the contents alone. The owners said they were insured and initially said they planned to rebuild, but unsurprisingly, they eventually decided to sell the land instead. Take all that information as you will and come to your own conclusions, but there are rumors floating out there. Even more surprising than the structure's survival is the survival of the plywood castle facade and towers. It was this that would serve as the basis for Castle Dracula's iconic castle facade once the attraction would move there in 1977 from it's original home on Victoria Ave. It was when Castle Dracula moved in that the Darling Motel closed. What remained of the motel's historic cabins were demolished, so all that was left was the two story motel building running along the back of the property, and the former Tower of London building at the front of the property facing Clifton Hill. A new structure was built connecting the two in the middle, to create one long two story building running from the front to the back of the property. This can be clearly seen from satellite images as well as from the Skywheel looking down. The castle being remodeled in early 1977. The fact that Castle Dracula's bones date back to 1925 is shocking enough, but when coupled with the fact that the building has survived a raging fire as well, it becomes downright unbelievable. There's a poetic irony to the building being filled with relocated Waxattract figures from a defunct nearby attraction during the Tower of London's short run, and the exact same thing happening again when the building was resurrected as Castle Dracula, the Waxattract figures from the original incarnation of that attraction being relocated there. We can only hope the building, (which has finally received a renovation after years of neglect due to Castle Dracula's new owners), lasts for a second century. The castle as it appears today, no longer home to the Queen, but to the Count.

Waltzing Waters Attraction Type: Dancing Fountain/Lightshow Location: Niagara Falls, Ontario Years Operational: 1962-2000 Designer(s): Robert Dunham/Waxattract Waltzing Waters was a dancing fountain that was synchronized to music, and even lights at night. It opened in 1963 when Arthur White purchased the neighboring Burning Springs building and overhauled it as the Burning Springs Wax Museum . In addition to the museum, he built Waltzing Waters between it and the neighboring Seagram Tower . Guests would pay admission to enter the viewing area for the large outdoor fountain, which required an operator at a switchboard to control. The Seagram complex in 1962 before the wax museum moved into the old Burning Spring building. The blue Waltzing Waters pool can be seen in the middle. The fountain was lightyears ahead of it's time, and at a time when computers were in their infancy. It was built by Robert Dunham, creative genius who would go on to make major advancements in the world of special effects, animatronics, and haunted attractions with his Waxattract company. Dunham was a painter who had recently opened Fantasy Land, his first amusement attraction, at the nearby Crystal Beach Amusement Park. Waltzing Waters however would be his first attraction in Niagara Falls proper, and first commission for an amusement attraction owned by another party. The fountain at the bottom-middle in this 1965 image. The cut out area on the right side of the fountain is the control booth, which the pool surrounded on three sides. It's unknown how exactly the show itself changed year-to-year, but the fountain would expand in 1971. With the switchboard operating system, the show could in theory be different every time, or customizable to whatever song was currently being played. A similar switchboard setup could later be found in the Lightshow rooms of Dunham's international chain of Castle Dracula attractions. The Waltzing Waters switchboard operator in 1972 was Werner Maetzke, as evidenced by a newspaper article from July of that year. The same article states that the $150,000 switchboard he's pictured sitting at was brought in from West Germany the year prior, hinting that the attraction's technology was updated in 1971 as well. Werner Maetzke, the show's maestro, at the updated controls in 1971. The much larger fountain after it's expansion in 1971, pictured here in the 1980's. The show was free for the 1972 and 1973 seasons, being changed to $1 admission for adults (free for children) in 1974. A combination ticket was also offered that included White's Burning Springs Wax Museum and National Marine Aquarium of Canada , which set guests back $3.95. it's unknown at what point it became free again, but late-70s newspaper advertisements promote it being free by at least 1978 and offering three shows nightly. It's unknown if it ever reverted to an admission ticket afterwards. Above and below: series of postcards from the early 70s when the neighboring tower was named the "Royal Inn Tower", and the complex the "Royal Centre." These postcards show just how vibrant and impressive the fountain was, yet likely still don't do it justice. The fountain was on land leased to White from the Seagram (later Royal Heritage) Tower, which White eventually became owner of (and therefore Waltzing Waters entirety) in 1970, renaming it the Royal Inn Tower (later Panasonic Tower.) The Tower would be sold again along with the Burning Springs Wax Museum and National Marine Aquarium of Canada in 1976 to Japanese businessman Takeshi Shimizu, and from him to the Bolus family who owned the land the attractions were on in 1981. White however would retain ownership of the fountain through all this until 1992, when it was auctioned off. The old Burning Springs building next door, which had most recently housed the Dare Devil Gallery, was demolished the same year. The fountain would be bought by an unknown buyer and continue to run in it's original spot until 1995, when it was moved across the street to make way for the Marriott Falls View. It lasted in its new home until 2000. It's unknown if anyone bought the equipment for the fountain or where it went, and the attraction ended up being demolished and disappeared from the Niagara attraction landscape for good. The fountain and Panasonic Tower, 1970's.

Louis Tussaud's Wax Museum Attraction Type: Wax Museum Location: Niagara Falls, Ontario Year(s) Operational: 1959-2001 (Clifton Hill location), 2005-Present (Victoria Ave. location) Designer(s): Stubergh-Keller/Ripley's Wax Studios, Louis Tussaud's Waxworks, Deroy & Associates, Waxattract By the 1950s, it had become clear that using Clifton Hill as a series of budget, away from The Falls tourist camps wasn't nearly as lucrative as the land could potentially be. Welland Securities had opened the Quality Inn Fallsway where Dinosaur Adventure Golf now sits in 1955, and the Park Motor Inn where Niagara Speedway now is in 1956. The Clifton Inn had also torn down it's old structure and built anew as the Pilgrim Hotel. Darling Cabins had torn down most of their cabins to make way for a low-rise motel building and rebranded as the Darling Motel. Change was afoot in the wake of Marilyn Monroe's breakthrough film "Niagara" in 1953, both cementing The Falls as a honeymoon destination and creating further general interest in visiting the city. Architects McPhit & Kelly's original 1925 sketch of the Clifton Hill side of the Foxhead Hotel, 1925. Tussaud's in the former section of the Foxhead, opening year. In 1959, Clifton Hill's first amusement attraction came onto the scene, Louis Tussaud's Wax Museum, located in a former section of the Foxhead Hotel that was just up Clifton Hill from the main building. The first floor, second floor and basement would become the museum with the third floor remaining the accounting offices for the neighboring hotel. The story behind the museum's early ownership and licensing is a bit hazy. It was an officially licensed franchise of the original Louis Tussaud's Wax Museum in Blackpool Beach, England, who also had their own art department dating back to the titular member of the Tussaud family in the late 19th century. That being said, the story goes that most of the Niagara museum's detailed figures were designed by Stubergh-Keller Wax Models, of Niagara Falls, NY who also owned the attraction. There's evidence to support both Louis Tussaud's and Stubergh-Keller studios contributing to the museum since day one, suggesting that perhaps Stubergh-Keller owned the museum but licensed the Tussaud's name, with Stubergh-Keller producing more work for the attraction simply due to it being much closer to home. The background and set design however was originally provided by Deroy & Associates of Toronto. The Foxhead and the museum in 1960. Guests were greeted with impressive displays before even entering the lobby. The attraction's sign would be a 22ft tall rotating Louis Tussaud himself, adorned in vibrant, colourful neon. There was also massive billboard-esque neon signage on the roof reading "Louis Tussaud Wax Museum." The signs were created and leased to the attraction by Pattison Signs, a large corporation who specializes in signs and billboards to this day. A figure of daredevil Charles Blondin was also suspended across Clifton Hill from the attraction to a pole across the street, actually appearing to be crossing over the road as if it were the Niagara Gorge. Though the figure was static and didn't move or cross the wire, this was still incredibly impressive for the time, and remains an incredibly unique feature today. Looking up Clifton Hill towards Blondin and the iconic sign, mid 1960's. 1960's advertisement showing only a handful of the royalty on display. Originally upon entering the museum, guests would see a depiction of Robert Cavalier De La Salle and Louis Hennepin overlooking The Falls, as their record of it is one of the earliest found. Next was a figure of Madame Marie Tussaud herself, the famed 17th and 18th century wax artist. Marie Tussaud is who the popular global chain of historic Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum attractions is based off, Louis Tussaud was her great grandson and the two chains share zero relation. One could argue the Louis Tussaud's chain may have been trying to get a slice of that pie, as "Stubergh-Keller Wax Museum" (as the Niagara location perhaps more accurately should have been called) doesn't have quite the same ring to it, despite the studio's artwork being gorgeous all the same. Other original scenes included Beethoven, Gandhi, Nikita Khrushchev (then premier of the U.S.S.R.), Joan of Arc, Mark Antony, Robin Hood and Friar Tuck, Winston Churchill, Cleopatra, Christopher Columbus, Niagara daredevil Red Hill Jr., and the assassination of Lincoln. The "Hall of Kings" was popular, featuring Henry VII, George III, Charles I (and VII), Edward VII, William III, Queen Victoria, and Queen Elizabeth I (and II) among others. Lincoln assassination, 1960's. Red Hill Jr., 1960's. Construction of the Robin Hood scene in June 1959. In this image from left to right, architect William Cartmel Jr., manager of Louis Tussaud's England William Cartmel Sr., and set designer Derek Deroy. Completed Robin Hood scene, 1960's The finale of the museum was the dim, dark Chambers of Horror in the basement. It included depictions of fictional monsters like Dracula and Frankenstein's Monster, and things loosely based on history like the "Streetsville Ghouls" or the "Compte De Lorge." The real show however were the real torture and execution methods showcased in the museum. These included the "Algerian Hook", a scalping scene, the "Cell of Little Ease", the "Woman in the Iron Cage", and burning of the eyes. While there was no motion featured in the figures and the gore wasn't as intense as it would be in later years (more on that later), it was still unlike anything most people had seen at the time, especially at that level of realism. Early scenes from the original Chamber of Horrors. From left to right: Entrance to the area, an incredible Count Dracula figure sculpted by Ron Booker of Stubergh Wax Models, and Frankenstein's Monster courtesy of Timothy Randall of Waxipedia. Tussaud's next to the rebuilt Foxhead, early 70s. The attraction was a smash hit, and kicked off the future of Clifton Hill, becoming Niagara's must visit location second only to The Falls itself. It opened the tourism floodgates further, and by 1960, all the cabin courts in the area had been demolished to make way for new motels, hotels, restaurants, and souvenir stores. In 1964 the Foxhead Hotel officially rebranded as the Sheraton Foxhead, demolishing the original structure and building a high-rise hotel in its place, but leaving the part of the building housing Tussaud's the same as the English Tudor style matched the theme of the museum. When the second wax museum in The Falls, the Burning Springs Wax Museum opened in the Fallsview district in 1963, Tussaud's attempted to sue the attraction for the giant words "Wax Museum" painted on the side of the building overlooking the busy Queen Victoria Park below, arguing it was knowingly causing confusion over which wax museum was Niagara's original. The case was obviously thrown out, as Tussaud's didn't have monopoly over the term Wax Museum (and the chain had even somewhat stolen their own Tussaud family name themselves.) Tussaud's losing the case (unknowingly then) forever changed the path of the Niagara Falls tourism industry. By the end of the 60s, there were six other wax museums/oddity museums with wax figures in the Clifton Hill area, with two more over in the Fallsview district. To stay above this new competition, change was necessary. Things would be shuffled around often to remain relevant and keep up to date. In 1964, the local Niagara Falls Women's Institute petitioned to get a figure of local hero Laura Secord placed in the museum. The museum accepted whole-heartedly, and the figure was one of the ones confirmed to have been sculpted by Louis Tussaud's wax studios back in England by 45 different artists. The figure was sent to Tussaud's in Niagara, and unveiled first to members of the Women's Institute who made the figure possible. The death of Lee Harvey Oswald was added as one of the museum's first scenes, and a "Hall of Assinated Leaders" later in the attraction. Marie Tussaud was eventually made the museum's first figure upon entering, and Charles VII the second. Whoever the current Canadian Prime Minister or U.S. President was also got a figure in the attraction during their time in office. Waxattract , Robert Dunham's company which was still in its infancy at the time, was also commissioned to create certain figures and displays for the attraction between the late 60s and early 70s after the success of his impressive Boris Karloff Wax Museum. Museum guide Phyllis Reese presenting the Laura Secord figure to reporter A. E. Huggens, and Wilfred Stewart of the Women's Institute who made it possible. Sidewalk advertisements outfront the museum, 1964. A fire broke out in the attraction the morning of February 16th, 1967 which destroyed the Streetsville Ghouls scene in the Chamber of Horrors. The flames were extinguished by the attraction's sprinkler system which also automatically notified fire crews, and limited the damage to the one scene. The attraction was extremely lucky, sprinkler systems wouldn't be mandatory in commercial businesses for nearly another 50 years, and their foresight paid off. If it were not for the sprinkler system, the attraction would have likely been lost, and clicking around on this site you'll find several other wax museums and attractions both in Niagara Falls (and abroad) weren't so lucky. The damage capped out at a relatively low $4,000, and was theorized by fire crews to have been started by a lit cigarette butt tossed into the scene (a usual culprit), however the fire alarm was tripped at 4:53 A.M. while the building was empty, so if that was the case it must have certainly been a slow, smoldering start. Many different displays would grace Tussaud's front window over the years, however perhaps it's most memorable would be added at this time to keep the attraction eye-catching. In 1970, local artist and engineer Derek Costello created a moving riser platform for the front window, which was decorated using Stubergh-Keller figures depicting the moon landing and set to music. This scene was later moved inside. A booth offering horoscope readings was constructed along the sidewalk and attached to the front of the building in the late-70s. It eventually became a discount photo developer in the late-80s and expanded in the early-90s, but was eventually later removed when Tussaud's got a new facade coinciding with the Sheraton next door remodeling in 1997. The discount photo booth and building facade in the late 80s. Ripley's International had bought out Stubergh-Keller Wax Studios back in 1970, and therefore the museum with it. This provides further evidence that the original Tussaud's in England had no stake in the attraction at all and simply licensed the name/provided some of the early figures. Ripley's eventually moved the Stubergh-Keller studios to the former Sheraton Foxhead accounting offices on the third floor of the attraction's building later in the decade. The 80s would understandably be a turbulent time for the attraction, with figures being shuffled around, refreshed and switched out constantly partially due to the ease of the studios being located in the same building. A 1982 Niagara Falls Review article talks about Ron Booker, one of the wax artists employed on the third floor, being interviewed for an episode of an unnamed U.S. morning show hosted by film critic Steve Reid. At the time Booker was working on a figure of Princess Diana destined for the Ripley's-owned Louis Tussaud's location in Copenhagen. Footage of this T.V. episode has yet to surface and remains lost media, but would be a fantastic glimpse into both the original Tussaud's and the legendary waxworks above it. The attraction underwent a massive overhaul in 1991 which debuted in June of that year, adding more pop culture figures in exchange for many of the remaining historical figures. Other historical scenes were updated such as a new Hall of Presidents, or new higher-tech ones added such as a projection effect in an ice cave showcasing indigenous peoples' story of Niagara Falls. The real update however, came to the Chamber of Horrors. The Ice Cave projection, 1991. Gone were the tamer fiction displays like Frankenstein's Monster and the Streetsville Ghouls, and in their place was a bloody, gory, pulls-no-puches torture chamber, completely historically accurate as well just in case guests wanted to try and brush it off as fiction. Several of the more brutal scenes that already existed were retained and updated to be more detailed, turning the basement into an extremely gruesome torture chamber that still haunts the minds of those who experienced it. While still featuring no animation other than a switch-activated electric chair and a shaking wooden trunk with screams emanating from it, the eerie atmosphere of the basement coupled with the Gregorian chanting that echoed through the halls added to the area's creep factor. The scenes were also particularly brutal, including updated eyeball torture and Algerian Hook scenes, the rack, flaying alive, starving prisoners, and a variety of severed heads that had met brutal ends, all in stunning realism. Local artist Bruce Randall, who had been employed by Stubergh-Keller in the 60's and rejoined them when they moved the studio to the Canadian side, was an integral part of the remodel. Above: Torture scenes seen in photos courtesy of Timothy Randall (son of artist Bruce Randall) of Waxipedia, who grew up running freely in the halls of the museum below his father's office. Top left: the original eyeball torture before the remodel. Bottom left: the much more graphic updated eyeball torture after the remodel. Above: The gruesome Algerian Hook. Another part of the remodel would be updates to the exterior, as the lease with Pattinson Signs ended. Local sign shop Signatures Signs would be asked by Tussaud's to rebuild the signage from scratch using only photographs of the old sign for reference. They did a fantastic job on making it identical to the original, and the giant neon Tussaud remains at Tussaud's current location. The rooftop billboard signage however would not be remade identical and would now be updated. While still reading "Louis Tussaud's Waxworks", the sign now had an updated font resembling the attraction's logo, and was on a black background to stand out more over the steel grid board used formerly. The same updated logo was also placed below the giant neon Tussaud. Ripley's International art department on the third floor would eventually be moved down to Florida in the 90's. While some materials were saved, many of the department's archives dating back to the Stubergh-Keller days were destroyed. The attraction meanwhile would remain popular until 2001, when the lease would be up with the Sheraton Foxhead Left: Jeff Wallis of Signature Signs installing neon on the new iconic cavalier, 1991. Right: The original Clifton Hill location in it's final days in the early 2000's. Sheraton didn't give Ripley's the option to renew the lease, as they had plans to completely revitalize the area around the Sheraton Foxhead and Sheraton Brock into the Falls Ave. entertainment complex in order to stay relevant with other major developments in the area. The original Tussaud's closed after nearly 42 years on The Hill, and the almost century old building originally part of the first Foxhead Hotel was essentially completely demolished. Very little of the structure was saved, and the building later home to the Extreme Movie Ride 4D and the MGM Great Movie Journey was built in it's place. Today the building is home to Niagara Distillery and BBQ (while the 4D Ride remains in the basement.) Niagara Distillery in place of the former location of the museum, late 2010s. The museum would rise again however after a four year hiatus in 2005, now reopening on Victoria Ave. in a former restaurant. It wasn't the first attraction in the space however, as the building was briefly home to the Wonderful World of Fantasy from 1974-1981. The old signage would be retained from the Clifton Hill location, as well as Blondin now crossing over Victoria Ave. The new location would be two floors rather than three, but in a much larger building. The new attraction would retain very little of the original collection, and while some figures would make a re-appearance, the majority would replaced with new scenes comprised of the computer-created figures (wax content debatable) that Ripley's uses in present day. Very few of the original figures from Stubergh-Keller and Louis Tussaud's studios remain, being mostly relegated to the historical figures on the balcony above the lobby. The museum, Blondin, and neon Tussaud relocated to Victoria Ave,, early 2010's. The Chamber of Horrors would now be more inspired by pop culture and fiction, and feature an animatronic zombie in a chair created by Lifeformations at the entrance to the area. The new building originally resembled the original style of the old Foxhead Hotel section the original museum occupied, but it was repainted in the mid-2010's to be more eye catching and given new lighting. It remains Canada's largest wax museum to this day, and while quite different than it's original form, Niagara's first amusement attraction is now entertaining it's sixth decade of visitors. The historic museum as it appears today.