More amusement on the horizon

The Adventuredome at Circus Circus opened in 1993 with four attractions.

As of February 2009, it had 25 attractions.

What a difference 16 years makes.

Detractors said a theme park couldn't survive on the Strip, even in family-friendly Circus Circus. On Jan. 1, 2009, the park hit 50 million visitors.

Starting in 2001, the park began averaging 4 million visitors a year. In 2002, the Adventuredome had its best year, recording 4.5 million visitors, making it the park with the 11th highest visitorship in the country, according to the magazine Amusement Business. The park ranked higher than SeaWorld and Six Flags Valencia that year, says Circus Circus' Tom Nolan, director of the theme park.

In the beginning, operators thought they "had a product that would meet the needs of guests and tourists," Nolan says.

Tourists and locals alike were excited because the Adventuredome -- called Grand Slam Canyon in the beginning -- was the first of its kind in Las Vegas. It opened with a dinosaur theme featuring the Canyon Blaster, the Twist and Shout Water Raft ride, Rim Runner and Hot Shots Lazer Tag, now called Lazer Blast.

However, Nolan says, "when we opened we didn't have what the people wanted. Right away, we realized we needed to add more."

In spring of 1994, the park was closed while a midway and some family-friendly rides such as bumper cars, a swinging ship, a mini roller coaster, an airplane ride and a mini Ferris wheel were added. The Twist and Shout didn't make it through the remodel.

Hotel officials seemed to be working with the right formula at that point, Nolan says. Every couple of years, as space came available, a ride or two was added.

Laser tag was extremely popular, and they added a rock wall, a trendy attraction for the mid-1990s. Miniature golf was put into an unused space in the park, but "it was a concern to have golf balls inside a glass building," Nolan says.

Those fears were unfounded. To date, the park hasn't had a golf ball incident.

Through visitor surveys and by keeping up with the latest amusement developments in the industry, management decided to add some dynamic thrill rides. The Inverter, a ride that spins people upside down, was added in 1999. A couple of years later, Chaos came to the Adventuredome, followed by the Frog Hopper and then the Slingshot.

In 2007, the immensely popular 3-D IMAX theater underwent a change. One theater was remodeled and made into a 4-D theater. The seats always moved and gave viewers the feeling that they were taking part in films such as "Funhouse Express." The 4-D theater added another element to it; now the seats vibrated, leg ticklers were added along with high-wind and bubble effects, Nolan says.

Disk'O, the park's newest ride, was added in the 4-D theater in 2007. It's similar to the Gravitron but riders are pointed outward, instead. It spins around and the floor drops out from underneath, Nolan says.

Currently, it's competing with Rim Runner for the favorite ride.

Throughout the park's history, management has removed only one ride: the Twist and Shout.

It was so large, it had to be removed to make way for new rides, Nolan says.

What's on the horizon? Lots, Nolan promises. As soon as the economy improves. They always keep a wish list of rides, he says.

Right now, he's looking at a roller coaster where riders dangle their legs.

Contact reporter Sonya Padgett at spadgett@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-4564.