Changes
Over the years, the park saw several changes. It opened with a rather steep, by 1993 standards, admission charge of $25 for adults that were not guests of the hotel. Over time this fee was reduced in order to better match the caliber of attractions in the park and to increase attendance. Whereas the park opened as a year round attraction, its last few years of operation saw the park open seasonally.
Promotions such as summer nighttime concerts and spring break events were done to draw more crowds with additional attractions such as bungee runs and bounce houses added for those events.
The most popular event ever to be held at the park was "Scream Park". This Halloween themed event ran for a few years during the month of October. This separate admission event included several haunted houses in and around the park's attractions. In fact a few of the park's attractions got in on the fun adding additional scares themselves including special shows created just for the event.
In a move to put some thrills in the park, in 1996, the park added Sky Screamer, a 250-foot-tall skycoaster (76 m). Riders were strapped into harnesses and lifted up a 225-foot (69 m) "launch tower" where they then pulled a ripcord setting into motion a free fall upwards of 70 mph (110 km/h). It was placed over a lagoon that had once been home to a large faux steamboat (a snack bar was its only resident). At the time, it was billed as the world's largest sky coaster. The result was a very tall structure that could be seen from anywhere in the park. At night, it was lighted in the same green color as the hotel tower providing an impressive visual.
Over time the line-up of attractions changed, especially with the expansion of the hotel's pool and convention facilities. These changes also meant the entrance to the park was drastically changed and now involved a lengthy walk from the hotel, making the park seem like a separate entity.
The 40% reduction in area of the park implied the removal of the Backlot River Tour, Deep Earth Exploration, and Manhattan Theatre. Although unaffected by the layout change, The Haunted Mine was also closed.
The Lightning Bolt (which is now located at Granite Park) was relocated outdoors to a former special event space in the northwest corner of the park. The ride was later expanded by Arrow Dynamics to include a second 70-foot-tall lift (21 m) and an extended run over the Grand Canyon Rapids.
For a short while other smaller temporary flat-rides called the park home including a Chance Rides Zipper, Ferris Wheel, and Chaos. None of these attractions stayed very long but did help increase the attractions count.
Another addition to the park came in the form of "Kiddie Island." This was an island created in the lagoon near the base of Sky Screamer. It was home to a variety of small attractions such as a paddle boat river, Red Baron airplane ride, and Carousel.
Read more about this topic: MGM Grand Adventures Theme Park