User:Wkln/Scandia (theme parks)

Scandia is a brand name of Scandinavian-themed family amusement centers in California founded in the late 1970s by a joint partnership of three Northern California families, with each founder operating their own location. . Although each location shares a common origin and a similar name, nearly each location is currently owned and operated by different companies. All locations are adjacent to a major freeway, and include attractions such as an arcade, bumper boats, batting cages, miniature golf, and a go-kart track. The locations in Sacramento and Victorville also include an attraction called "Scandia Screamer"; a 168-foot (51 m)-tall rotating thrill ride.

Locations

• Scandia Family Fun Center

  Rohnert Park, California,

• Scandia Fun Center

  Sacramento, California (formerly Scandia Sports Center)

  Victorville, California

• Scandia Golfland (formerly Scandia Family Center)

  Fairfield, California

Former locations

• Scandia Amusement Park

  Ontario, California

  Las Vegas, Nevada

History

See also: Golfland

Under the name Scandia Sports, Inc., the first location was opened by Tony Larson in 1977 at 5070 Hillsdale Boulevaard, in Sacramento In 1979, Gert Jensen opened the second location at 4300 Central Place, in Fairfield.. Jensen opened another location in Rohnert Park, while Larson opened locations in Las Vegas in 1984, Victorville in 1986, and Ontario in 1992. The latter was the only location to include a full amusement park, including two roller coasters, called the "Scandia Screamer" and "Little Screamer", along with twelve other amusement rides.

In March 2005, the Opus Group announced a high-rise development project called Opus Las Vegas to be built on the property the Las Vegas location was occupying. Scandia agreed to delay the initial escrow closing date of May 2005, so that final costs for the new project could be completed. As part of the agreement, the location would remain open through the summer, its busiest period. The park closed permanently on September 6, 2005.

On March 26, 2007, noise complaints from neighboring residents caused Scandia Fun Center in Sacramento to implement a "No-Shrieking" policy for riders on the Scandia Screamer. On August 30, 2011, a crane carrying the same ride collapsed onto the batting cages during maintenance, injuring two people. An investigation concluded that workers did not know the weight of the ride was too heavy for the crane that was used to move it.

The Fairfield location filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2010, emerging from it in 2012; it was later acquired by Golfland and renamed Scandia Golfland.

In April 2018, the Victorville location acquired an amusement park slide from Neverland Ranch and added it to the park as "Thriller".

The Ontario location was sold in February 2019 to an unknown buyer, who stated they'd re-purpose the property for other uses. Some of the attractions would be moved to the Victorville location while others, including the Miler Big Coaster, have been listed for sale.

External links

• Scandia Family Fun Center; Rohnert Park
• Scandia Golfland; Fairfield
• Scandia Fun Center; Sacramento and Victorville