Landscaping Throughout the Seasons at Amusement Parks

Introduction

This week on Art of Amusement Parks, we are going to take a look at landscaping throughout the seasons at amusement parks. The park in discussion this week will be Canada’s Wonderland.

The Seasons of Change

As we know, there are four distinct seasons in North America in some of the Northern and Western hemispheres. These seasons consist of Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter. To some amusement park enthusiasts, there are only two seasons. Those seasons are roller coaster riding season and the off-season (when the park is closed)! Joking aside, the landscape at amusement parks truly transforms in front of visitors’ eyes as the seasons change. First, let us take a look at the season of Spring, the time of year amusement parks come alive.

Early in the season, the Floral Canadian flag hasn't arrived yet. In place are some beautiful annuals.

Springtime at Canada's Wonderland

Preseason events begin by starting off with bank days and media days.  The operations of the rides do not only indicate that Spring is here! The vegetation found throughout the landscape at Canada's Wonderland does as well. If you have ever entered the park prior to late May or early June, you will notice a difference. The major difference you will incur is that the iconic Canadian flag floral arrangement is not there. In its place is a beautiful arrangement of various annuals that stays until the arrival of the Canadian Flag in late May.

A view of an empty International Street at Canada's Wonderland on a day in June.

Budding of the Trees

As we venture throughout Canada’s Wonderland in the Spring, you will come to notice the lack of shade. You may also notice how easy it is to see across the park. Although there are some coniferous trees such as spruce and pine throughout the park. At this time of the year, the deciduous trees are only starting to bud. This allows for the park’s landscape to appear and feel somewhat empty, while retaining its true beauty. Visitors can experience the view as they walk around the park and catch a few rides in the warm and fresh Spring air. The lack of leaves on the trees also allows for some quite interesting shots. These shots would not be able to be captured other times of the year.

As the trees are budding and creating leaves, Vortex can easily be seen from along the White Water Canyon to Action Zone path.

A Summer of Fun

As Canada’s Wonderland approaches the month of June, the trees begin to fill in and create shade. The floral Canadian Flag at the front of International Street makes an appearance for another season. Prior to the Summer season, the work of the grounds maintenance and landscaping teams at Canada’s Wonderland kicks into high gear.

Effectiveness of the Landscapers

Many floral arrangements throughout the park are quickly installed. These floral arrangements can delight the hundreds of thousands of visitors as they are attractively placed alongside queue lines, walking paths, and even some of the park’s most thrilling attractions! The summer months truly display the beauty of Canada’s Wonderland. As we venture into Summer, the crowds along with the hot temperatures begin to arrive. These hot temperatures can sometimes wreak havoc on flowers, shrubs, and trees. But, the landscaping team at Canada’s Wonderland has been able to perfect the art of keeping some of the most important landscaping features alive during these usually boiling months.

The flowers in the flowerbed in Action Zone keep their beauty in the sweltering heat of the summer.

The End of Summer and the Terror to Follow

Once the summer begins to wind down in late August, the school children are about to return back to classes.  There’s a hint of landscaping change that is about to come.  This change of the landscape makes Canada’s Wonderland extremely popular during the Fall months, especially on weekend nights. Before we get to that frightening time of the season, let us look at the hint as to what’s to come.

The Terrorizing Transformation Begins

In late August, Canada’s Wonderland begins to announce that the most chilling part of the season is to come. With this announcement comes the installation of the Halloween Haunt house at the front of the park on International Street. The Halloween Haunt house displays as to what visitors should expect when they venture to the park on those cool October weekend nights. Also in late August and early September, the Halloween Haunt hearse rolls into town, attracting the attention of many park visitors. This is only the beginning on the landscaping transformation that the park experiences in the Fall season.

A sneak peek as to what is yet to come later in the season.

Spook-tacular Landscaping

Once late September rolls around, so does the extensive landscaping and theming of Canada’s Wonderland’s Halloween Haunt. For the remainder of the season, Canada’s Wonderland’s landscape is transformed into possibly the most terrifying landscape visitors’ can experience. Prior to the start of Halloween Haunt, Whitewater Canyon is closed down for the season and transforms into the terrifying maze of Corn Stalkers.

The entrance to Medieval Faire is all covered up with netting and skeletons.

A skeleton taking a sip of wine from a staircase on International Street.

Halloween Haunt Landscape

Once October hits the rest of the park, ghoulish and spine-tingling creatures begin to appear throughout the park. These horrifying creatures are found hanging from lamp posts, lurking in the bushes and flowerbeds, as well as the ponds and streams around the park. Other mazes and attractions also appear around the park, waiting for those daring to step inside on cold weekend nights in October. Where the floral Canadian flag sits is where the major Halloween haunt display sits. It transforms into a haunting graveyard filled with an abundance of blood-drooling demons, mauled bodies, and spiders larger than life! This spook-tacular display sure gets visitors into the mood for Halloween during the day and at night.

Here is the horrid looking but, friendly ogre that resides in the stream nearby the entrance to Medieval Faire during Halloween Haunt.

One of the many ghouls that lurk over visitors in the Fall at Canada's Wonderland.

The Halloween Haunt graveyard is set up where the floral Canadian flag usually resides.

A closer look at the graveyard on International Street at Canada's Wonderland.

Another graveyard is set up within the Action Zone section of the park for Halloween Haunt nearby Time Warp.

Daytime Fall Beauty

Aside from the extreme horrors and scares that visitors can experience during the months of late September and October, there is a less scary side to the landscape at Canada’s Wonderland. As the temperature becomes cool and crisp, the colours of the leaves on the trees begin to transform. The tree leaves make way to a dazzling display of shades consisting of reds and yellows. This transformation of the trees creates for some picture perfect opportunities as visitors roam the park.

A panorama view looking from the Action Zone and White Water path in front of Splash Works.

Festive Fun for the Young Ones

There is another less terrifying experience for the younger visitors of Canada’s Wonderland during the month of October. Planet Snoopy and Kidzville transform into Camp Spooky. Changing the landscape of these sections reflects the festivities of the season. Camp Spooky excites the youngest of visitors as the landscape features children-friendly Halloween decorations found throughout the two sections of the park. Camp Spooky is only a daytime attraction for visitors during weekends of October.

The End of A Season

Finally, once Halloween Haunt finishes horrifying visitors for the season in late October, the dismantling of the horrifying scenery occurs. This marks the end of a season at Canada’s Wonderland. Throughout the Winter, the park sits idle bracing the cold and snow, while park staff and executives prepare for another season of thrills and excitement. I hope you enjoyed looking at the landscaping throughout the seasons at amusement parks, in particular at Canada’s Wonderland! Next week, we are going to look at the paths at amusement parks! This sure will be a landscaping feature you do not want to miss! Until next time, be sure to check out CoasterCircuits’ video below of what fun there you can have at Canada’s Wonderland in October!