Pacific Ocean Park - Attractions

Attractions

Among a standard complement of carnival-style attractions and rides were the following:

• Westinghouse Enchanted Forest/USS Nautilus Submarine Exhibit featured a 150-foot (46 m)-long model of the atomic reactor section of a submarine.
• House of Tomorrow was themed like similar "looks at the future" featured at Disneyland and the World's Fair. Elektro, the talking and smoking robot from the 1939 World's Fair, was a prominent display.
• Sea Circus was included in the basic attraction price. Performing dolphins and sea lions played to audiences of 2000 at a time. After the show, visitors could feed seals in the Seal Pool.
• Diving Bells in which passengers were submerged into a large tank via hydraulic pistons. An underwater view of the tank was visible through the portholes. The ride was manufactured by Martine and this was their dual Maritime Diving Bells. Another such ride also existed in single fashion at the Long Beach Nupike and also Coney Island Astroland. The thrill of the ride occurred when the bell was allowed to "surface". When the hydraulic pressure holding the bell down was released the bell would shoot back up to the surface in dramatic fashion.
• Ocean Skyway built by Von Roll were bubble-shaped gondolas suspended 75 feet (23 m) above the surface of the ocean. Passengers were treated to a one-half mile (800 m) trip out to sea and back.
• Union 76 Ocean Highway was similar to Disneyland's Autopia attraction. Visitors could drive miniature, gasoline-powered automobiles on a simulated highway.
• Flight to Mars was an audio-visual presentation that simulated a trip to Mars.
• Flying Carpet was a ride themed around Tales of the Arabian Nights. "Flying carpets" suspended on an overhead track took visitors over an Arabian-themed diorama.
• Mirror Maze was a standard funhouse attraction.
• Davy Jones' Locker was another funhouse with a nautical theme.
• Flying Dutchman was a dark ride similar in theme to Disneyland's Pirates of the Caribbean but without the animatronic figures.
• Deepest Deep simulated a voyage via submarine. Unlike Disneyland's Submarine Voyage attraction, "Deepest Deep" took place above water.
• Round the World in 80 Turns was an unusual combination of travelogue and thrill ride. Tub-like ride vehicles whipped sharply to the right and left to show travel scenes from around the world. The attraction was closed in the middle of the park's second season due to complaints of nausea and neck and back pain.
• Safari Dark Ride was an interactive children's ride in which riders in miniature Jeeps used an electronic rifle to "hunt" animals in the African jungle.
• Mystery Island Banana Train Ride Considered by many to Pacific Ocean Park's best ride, passengers were treated to a trip aboard a tropical banana plantation train complete with a simulated volcano and simulated earthquakes.
• Sea Serpent Roller Coaster was a wooden, 1926 Hi-Boy roller coaster from the original pier.
• Mahi Mahi was a massive tower ( Stantzel Strat-O-Liner ) with long arms that were turning around and people sat in something resembling a jet It sat 8 passengers. Originally 6 rides were manufactured none exists today.
• Whirl Pool was a centrifuge that pinned riders to the walls as the floor slowly lowered beneath them. This ride was essentially a themed Chance Rotor Ride.
• Mr. Dolphin was another original pier attraction.
• Flying Fish was a miniature roller coaster made by Carlos and Ramigosi. It was the first steel mouse coaster design in the USA.
• Carousel was the 1926-vintage Looff carousel from the original pier.
• Fisherman's Cove and the International Promenade were shopping, dining and souvenir areas which featured a number of good, international restaurants.
• King Neptunes Courtyard A beautiful walk under the ocean to view King Neptunes' lair.
• Mrs.Squid also known as "The Ahuna Thrill Ride" was an Eyerly Dual Tub Octopus ride with a squid decor in the center. The ride had a total of 16 tubs each able to carry 2 adult passengers.
• Mr. Octopus A Standard Eyerly Octopus ride with 8 tubs.

By January 5, 1959, Pacific Ocean Park had attracted 1,190,000 visitors. Although plans were made to add four new attractions, only two were completed at a cost of $2,000,000. They were:

• Space Wheels were a unique pair of double Ferris wheels. They were manufactured by Chance Morgan Rides and were known as the Velare Spacewheels. Only one such ride continues to exist.
• Fun Forest was a new children's area with mazes and slides along with helicopter, boat, monorail and covered wagon rides.