FUN ZONE NEWPORT SERIES

NOTE: Ocean Motion, Happy Swing, Coconut Climb Closed Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday Edward Abbott would be so pleased.Ĭontributed by Celeste Dennerline, Historian of Balboa Island Museum Newport Beach.

With the recent purchase of the property by long-time Newport Beach residents, the Pyle family, there is renewed excitement and anticipation for a reimagined, fun experience at the Fun Zone that will entertain locals for decades to come. Since 2013, the property was held by Explore Ocean, which merged with the Discovery Science Center in 2016. The 75-year Merry-Go-Round lease expired in 2011 and now thrills children at Bishop’s Pumpkin Farm in Wheatland, CA.

FUN ZONE NEWPORT SERIES

After a series of owners and operators, the Newport Harbor Nautical Museum purchased the property in 2005 to showcase nautical displays and ship models. Jordan Wank owned the Fun Zone in 1985, at which time he bulldozed the area and constructed the buildings we see today. In 1948, Anderson purchased the property from Lewis and continued the operation until 1972. Anderson owned and operated the Ferris Wheel and Merry-Go-Round, while Harold Hannaford did the same for the kiddy rides and arcade. Anderson cleared the area and constructed the precursor to the Fun Zone we know today. In 1906, “East Newport” was renamed “Balboa” when it incorporated with the Newport Beach Township (at McFadden’s Wharf) to become the City of Newport Beach.įast forward to 1936 when Al Anderson leased the property from, the boatyard owner, Fred Lewis. The Pavilion, Balboa Pier, and Balboa Hotel were all constructed at that time to meet the tourists’ needs and help local promoters sell available lots. The tourist trade gradually grew and then exploded when the Red Car tracks reached “East Newport” in 1906. Later, Abbott’s Landing was the site of the first pleasure sailboats in the bay.

Well water was prevalent at the time and the trees flourished when he began “planting” a shark in each tree well. Abbott brought mainland soil over to plant the first trees on the spit. Known as Abbott’s Landing, he ran pleasure rides on his paddlewheel steamer, “The Last Chance,” built cottages for overnight stays, and polished shells to sell inland. Along with his wife, sister, and brother-in-law, he built a shack and the first pleasure dock in the bay. Under the California Tidelands Act, he purchased the land for $1 an acre. In 1892, just thirty years after the spit was completely formed by the Santa Ana River, Edward Abbott purchased the area (from today’s 9th Street to just beyond Main St.). Without exception, the Fun Zone area has always been fun.

Fun zone newport