Located just outside of Haines City, Florida, about a 35-minute drive from Walt Disney World, Circus World was a captivating center of entertainment that sparked the imagination of guests from near and far. Its inception in the early 1970s, under the ownership of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey, aimed to pay homage to the enchanting and grandeur universe of the circus. Nevertheless, this endeavor faced its share of hurdles. This piece will guide you through the timeline of Circus World, encompassing its challenges in the face of competition, its eventual rebirth as Boardwalk and Baseball, and its eventual closure.
The Birth of Circus World
Circus World came into existence from the innovative vision of Irvin Feld, whose family owned the iconic Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus at the time. Feld aimed to create a winter headquarters for the famous circus while also capitalizing on the burgeoning theme park industry that Walt Disney World had ignited in the area. This led to the birth of Circus World.
With its grand opening in 1974, Circus World featured an IMAX theater, an array of circus historical exhibits, and a 27,000-square-foot building shaped to emulate a circus tent. Initially named the Circus World Showcase, this destination served as a preview center, designed to offer a glimpse into a larger, more ambitious theme park concept that sought to combine the excitement of circus spectacles and rides with an array of other entertainment offerings. Critics suggest that due to insufficient funds, the owners were unable to finance this grand venture on their own. Consequently, the Showcase was intended more as a means to draw in investors who could help realize the full vision of the project.
Expanded Attractions and Features
In the years that followed, a variety of new attractions were introduced, including exhibits, performances, a carousel, a wooden roller coaster, a Ferris wheel, and a venue for the premiere show titled “The Day The Circus Came To Town.”
The Feld organization eventually offloaded Ringling Bros., including Circus World, to Mattel, who installed attractions such as the Roaring Tiger wooden roller coaster, the Flying Daredevil shuttle loop, a Wild West spectacle, various carnival rides, and an assortment of animal exhibits into Circus World by 1982. But by 1984, Mattel ended up selling the park at the modest price of $10 million to a developer by the name of Jim Monaghan.
Under the direction of Jim Monaghan, the park saw some improvements and the introduction of new rides, including a towering Ferris wheel and the Wiener Looping Coaster. However, by 1986, in a move to capitalize on his investment, Monaghan sold Circus World to the expanding empire of publisher Harcourt Brace Jovanovich. This company was rapidly purchasing attractions across Florida, with acquisitions such as SeaWorld, Stars Hall of Fame, and Cypress Gardens to its name.
The Transformation into Boardwalk and Baseball
In an effort to rebrand and boost dwindling visitor numbers, Harcourt Brace Jovanovich invested a substantial $25 million in overhauling Circus World. They chose to close the park in 1986 and infuse it with the classic charm of American boardwalks blended with the thrill of baseball, giving rise to Boardwalk and Baseball, which opened its gates in 1987. This renovation swept away much of Circus World’s original identity, making way for new features such as a baseball stadium, multiple smaller baseball fields, a clubhouse, practice fields, and a condensed Baseball Hall of Fame. Moreover, Boardwalk and Baseball introduced both revamped and entirely new rides, highlighted by The Grand Rapids water ride, which boasted impressive length and height.
The Park’s Final Chapter
Despite various enhancements and the undeniable allure of the park, it struggled to attract larger audiences, particularly with formidable competitors like Walt Disney World nearby and its location just outside the primary tourist corridor. However, the ultimate downfall of Boardwalk and Baseball wasn’t due to a lack of attendance. It was the financial turmoil stemming from a hostile takeover bid by its owner, Harcourt Brace Jovanovich. Although the takeover was thwarted, it left the company with a staggering debt in the billions, forcing it to divest its theme park assets. This led to the sale of Boardwalk and Baseball to Busch Entertainment in September 1989, which already operated the Busch Gardens theme park in Tampa, FL. A mere months later, in January 1990, the park was shuttered. While the majority of the site was razed, the stadium and the IMAX theater from the Circus World era remained. In 2008, what was once a vibrant theme park was transformed into Posner Park, a shopping center hosting numerous large retailers, which effectively erased the last remnants of this once-popular entertainment venue.
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