Park Profile
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exotic animals. Some they can pet and feed. One of our main attractions is the bear feeding that happens four times a day. Guests can watch one of the zookeepers interact and feed the baby bears their bottles. The brown bears are fed four times a day. Visitors will discover two macaws that are about 35 to 40 years old named Paco and Skittles that like to interact and talk to them. Other animals include deer, kangaroos, and porcupines.
Christmas gifts For refreshments, visitors will find a variety of deli sandwiches, pizza and more at Mrs. Clause’s Kitchen, burgers, hot dogs, fries, nachos, and hot pretzels at the Depot Diner, funnel cakes at Kris Kringles, and snow cones at Whitebeard’s Lake. More than 60 varieties of Jelly Belly jelly beans are available, plus custom made in-house fudge, and candies, lots of candies, jams and relishes and many other take-home items. Gift shops, including Santa’s Christmas Gift Shop,
Fun Park & Zoo by television in Southern Virginia and Northern Florida. However, our guests come from all over the United States, Canada, and different countries around the world. Marketing is done through billboards, brochures, and local businesses. Most of their guests learn of the park by word of mouth, passed down from generation to generation. As the children grow up and have children of their own, they end up bringing their children and eventually, their grandchildren. It’s a very family oriented park geared toward children mostly from ages one through 12.”
Bear feeding
There are rides, of course, nine in all. The park’s first rides opened in 1973. They have what is described as the “World Famous” Rudicoaster. Operating since 1989, it is a custom continuouslypowered steel coaster from Zamperla with a reindeer at the front of the five-car 20-passenger train. There is also a 1950s era “Big Eli” Ferris wheel, first operated at New York’s Coney Island, then in nearby but now defunct Frontierland, that arrived in 1983. Guests will find an antique three-row Herschell carousel built in the 1930s, and paddle boats from 1952 that they can take out on Whitebeard’s Lake and feed the Koi and watch the Ringtail Lemurs or Capuchin Monkeys in their island environments. Children will find a circular B&H Umbrella ride from the 1940s, a Herschell kiddie boat ride built in 1952, 1956-built helicopters, ‘50s-built Everly Midge-O-Racer, and a 1963-built Chance C.P. Huntington Train number 16 that circles the park with short stops at each end. Visitors can ride as much as they like. From Skee-ball to pick-up-ducks, and air-hockey to basketball, an arcade houses many games. Santa, the park’s most popular attraction, is in his house daily for visiting and picture taking. Children will be excited to visit Santa, where they will receive their own “good conduct diploma.”
The Magic Show at the Jingle Bell Theater is staged four times daily. Kids can also be a part of the magic show.
The Park cares for more than 20 different species of SPRING PART 2 2021 55
Frosty’s Shirt Shop, The Magic Store, and Rudi’s Zoo Emporium are stuffed full with an array of gifts, collectibles, and souvenirs. There are all kinds of toys and fun for the little ones, jewelry, Christmas items and many interesting knick knacks for the adults. Santa’s Land employs about ten employees that work through the year. During the season, they require about 30 to 40 additional individuals. Lyons has some grand plans for the park’s future.
“We have been seriously considering putting in a leisure waterpark out by Whitebeard’s Lake,” he concludes. “It would have waterslides, a hot tub for the parents to enjoy and relax in, a very shallow pool for the young ones, a pad with spouting jets of water that shoot up from below, and a lazy river that encompasses the whole waterpark. We are even planning to have a concession stand with cold refreshments for guests’ enjoyment. It would open up a whole new attraction that is very popular in the summer time with our type clientele, kind of a two parks in one sort of deal. I’m considering the idea of a new and interactive, hands on technological game room for the children. It would offer either virtual reality or laser tag type of fast paced entertainment.
Santa’s House
Guests can watch with a big smile as their children discover the perfectly charming red log cabin with the bright green roof. Santa’s House is quietly nestled under the evergreen pines where old Saint Nicholas spends his days leading up to the big night. Through the red and green doors, kids are greeted by Mrs. Claus with her husband sitting by the fireplace behind her. While visiting with Santa, played for years by Clayton Smith, the kids receive a “good conduct diploma” to encourage their continued good behavior leading to Santa’s visit on Christmas Eve.
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