The beloved amusement park Funland made its return this summer, following years of renovation and restoration.
The park had been privately owned until 2019, when the city purchased it and placed it under the direction and care of the Idaho Falls Zoo.
David Pennock, the executive director of the zoo, said they couldn’t be prouder of the effort to restore Funland.
“Idaho Falls needs to know Funland is up and going full blast,” he said. “We're eager to host our community in eastern Idaho to come enjoy Funland and have a day of fun and family entertainment just like you remember.”
Pennock said the park is unique due to the nostalgia it provides to the area. The park first opened in 1947, so many locals have fond memories of riding the attractions, including the carousel, the octopus, the train, the airplanes and the Ferris wheel.
“It's such a treasured part of the community,” Pennock said. “It’s a rich connection for eastern Idahoans.”
In addition to the nostalgia it brings, Pennock said Funland is also a historic gem.
The airplanes at Funland are made with fuselages that came from old World War II bombers, and the carousel is one of the two oldest carousels that remain running in their original spot when they were first new.
The log hut where guests can purchase tickets was originally built in the 1930s to provide jobs for Americans during the Great Depression.
“Funland is dripping with history and stories of who we are as Americans,” Pennock said.
One of the changes that occurred from the restoration included taking down the electrical lines and running them underground for a neater look. Some of the smaller attractions were moved to make way for an open plaza.
“Most importantly, all rides have been gone over with fine tooth comb,” Pennock said. “Every bolt has been inspected, parts replaced, paint redone, so they’re in tip-top condition and ready to run for another 75 years.”
Funland’s restoration was a result of community effort, with volunteers donating their time and energy to the project.
Dana Kirkham, chair of the restoration committee, said she’s worked on community projects before and that this one was one of the most difficult campaigns due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the formidable task of restoring an amusement park.
Thankfully, Kirkham said, the community rallied to get Funland open and running again.
“For all raising funds, it wasn’t done in large donations,” she said. “It was our community giving $1, $5 or $10 at a time. I saw how much it meant to a lot of people in the community. It was significant to see people just give what they could to preserve and restore the park.”
Kirkham said she was inspired by the volunteer committee’s effort during the campaign.
“I’m always astounded at the time and effort and energy people will commit to what they care about,” she said. “The committee [was] just incredible and relentless. They brainstormed ideas and raised money and did physical labor of planting flowers and cleaning the park. It reminds me how good people are.”
The final phase of Funland's restoration will include a new miniature golf course and some changes to the log hut, which will have a cafe for guests to go inside. Pennock said they’re hoping those features will be completed by next summer.