Walls and Fences at Amusement Parks

Introduction

This week on Art of Amusement Parks, we are going to look at a landscaping feature that often goes unrecognized. It is ever so subtle but just as important as they can keep us safe from harm and injury, or just act as a divider. The feature of discussion this week are walls and fences. Canada’s Wonderland will be the park of focus this week.

Dragon Fire and Leviathan on a warm October day. Notice the purple wooden fence that is beside a gate that is normally closed.

The Walls and Fences at Canada's Wonderland

As mentioned above, walls and fences can keep us safe from injury and harm. They can also act as a simple divider, either giving us privacy or acting as just a way to keep the crowds from walking aimlessly. As you will come to discover, walls and fences are a part of the landscape and can greatly beautify it when used appropriately and effectively. This time around, we’re going to give a reverse tour of the park. So, let’s begin by starting in Planet Snoopy and Kidzville.

The Whimsical Walls and Fences of Planet Snoopy

When you arrive at Planet Snoopy, the largest children’s section of the park, you will come to notice the bridge that crosses over the stream. It isn’t just any bridge but a small bridge with an arch that has a stone walls running alongside it. The stone walls feature stones which present a vast array of pastel colours, generating excitement within the youngest of visitors as they walk under the rainbow arch. Once across the bridge, the wonderful array of pastel colours does not end there. It continues along the miniature steel rail fences that line the paths within Planet Snoopy which sport the colours of purple and red pastel colours. The miniature steel fences are highly appealing and add to the landscape by giving it a sense of energy and excitement.

Passing Through The Graveyard to Ghoster Coaster

When you venture towards Ghoster Coaster, Canada’s Wonderland’s family wooden roller coaster, the smallest of visitors experience a slight sense of terror. This is caused by the surrounding scenery and landscaping involving a graveyard, including the wooden picket fence that weaves throughout Ghoster Coaster’s queue line. The short picket fences are almost like the ones in the older horror films as one approaches an abandoned house. On an interesting note, Ghoster Coaster’s queue line originally featured a steel rod fence that was removed sometime after the 2013 season. It is presumed that it was bent out of shape due to the constant climbing of children over the years. So, a newer and just as attractive picket fence took its place.

Ghoster Coaster at Canada's Wonderland. Along the path below, you can see the picket fences.

The Nostalgia of Kidzville

When we make our way over to Kidzville, the miniature steel rod fences continue, keeping the little ones out of trouble. These fences also host the pastel colours as seen in Planet Snoopy, creating a child-friendly experience. The miniature steel rod fences also give a sense of nostalgia in combination with the cedar trees that line the paths within Kidzville nearby Planet Snoopy. As we make our way throughout the rest of Kidzville the fences become taller as we approach the White Water Canyon section of the park.

Behind Flying Eagles, you can see the bright red, pastel colour fences that are found throughout Kidzville and Planet Snoopy at Canada's Wonderland.

Wood Everywhere

Once visitors arrive in the White Water Canyon section, they will immediately notice wooden rail fences that line the paths. The rail fences are highly effective in White Water Canyon as they reflect the days of an old logging town. The wooden rail fences also present visitors with a rustic feel and a slight sense of abandonment alongside the forested area as they approach the main water ride, White Water Canyon. White Water Canyon is also home to some tall dark-green wooden fences, nearby the washrooms in White water Canyon.

A view of a food booth along the White Water Canyon-Action Zone path. Log rail fences are in abundance in and around the White Water Canyon section.

Taste of Bavaria

Now, we’re making a turn and heading up the path into International Festival. The wooden rail fences continue their way into International Festival along the path leading nearby Vortex. International Festival is quite a delight to the eyes as a couple of the rides have painted fences with beautiful notches of true Bavarian style. In front of the entrance to Thunder Run, there are some basic but effective post fences with a chain running along the posts. These post chain fences also run along the bushes that grow alongside Wonder Mountain.

A view of Shockwave in operation at Canada's Wonderland. Note the red Bavarian styled fence nearby.

Entering Action Zone

As we make our way across the bridge in front of Wonder Mountain and down the path towards the entrance, you will notice the eye-catching entrance of Action Zone. The entrance consists of white concrete pillars on both sides of the entrance with black metal decorative railings. The black metal decorative railings  attach to the wooden fence that runs along behind the buildings on International Street. Connecting from the concrete pillars leading into Action Zone are white wooden fences. These wooden fences liven up the landscape at the park especially with the placement of the shrubs in front.

My brother Scott and my college friend Phil walking into Action Zone from International Street at Canada's Wonderland.

The Old World Charm

Action Zone was originally known as The Grande World Exposition of 1890 from 1981 until 2001. It was rejuvenated as Action Zone in 2002 as a plethora of new thrills made their way in, replacing some of  the much loved attractions. Action Zone still has some fences that represent old World charm. One of these fences acts as a privacy screen for those eating on the patio at the Backlot Café. The beautiful lattice fence was rebuilt for the 2016 season, replacing the one that was well-weathered.

The newly constructed Backlot Cafe patio walls within Action Zone at Canada's Wonderland.

Decorative Fences of Action Zone

Throughout the remainder of Action Zone, you can find black metal fence railings lining the rides and queue paths. Taller black metal railing fences can be found around Kingswood Music Theatre. You can also find singular chain metal post fences that mostly serve as a decorative piece around the flowerbeds.  Also, visitors waiting in line for Time Warp will notice the old, rustic looking wooden fence. The wooden fence acts as a part of the landscape and also hides the service roads behind. Now, let us make our final stop of this tour where the walls and fences are arguably the most decorative at Canada's Wonderland.

Land of Knights

As we venture across International Street, we come to Medieval Faire. It is a section themed around the days of the medieval era. The main entrance to Medieval Faire is very decorative and livens up the landscape as it features a castle drawbridge. Convincing castle spires sit-atop the castle drawbridge entrance. Along both sides of the castle drawbridge are authentic looking castle walls that greatly compliment the castle drawbridge entrance.

Canada's Wonderland's first Oktoberfest Event during September 2016 in the Medieval Faire courtyard. The notched castle wall is in the background.

Arthur's Bay Stone Wall

Once further inside Medieval Faire, visitors can discover even more eye-appealing walls that replicate the glory medieval days. A beautiful authentic looking medieval –made wall surrounds Arthur’s Bay. The low wall surrounding Arthur’s Bay is made of stone and looks like a castle wall. It has the notches, along with chains hanging between the notches. The low stone wall also allows visitors to view the diving show without any obstructions. One of the most appealing features along the stone wall around Arthur’s Bay is a miniature lookout. This miniature lookout is located along the wall nearby The Rage. It perfectly complements the medieval theming found throughout the section.

The Rage and Arthur's Bay at Canada's Wonderland. The miniature look out can be seen to the left of The Rage.

Conclusion

With that, our tour of walls and fences found at Canada’s Wonderland comes to an end. I hope you enjoyed looking at the subtle, yet stunning aspect of the landscape at amusement parks. Next week’s blog post will be a surprise so, stay tuned for hints on our Facebook and Twitter accounts! In the meantime, be sure to check out 2016 photos of the beautiful landscape at Canada’s Wonderland thanks to CoasterCircuits.