Ride History: Dark Rides – Pretzels to Pirates

dark rides

Ride History: Dark Rides – From The Pretzel to Pirates of the Caribbean and the Haunted Mansion!

Ever wonder about the term dark rides? Or how simple rides like the Laff-in-the-Dark evolved into the Pirates of the Caribbean and the Haunted Mansion?

dark rides

Check out my new series: Park-O-Pedia, featuring a brief introduction to the invention of  dark rides with Leon Cassidy and Marvin Rempfer of the Pretzel Amusement Company.  Like most inventions, the dark ride was born out of financial necessity. Most dark rides have evolved from the Old Mill flume rides or the Laff-in-the-Dark attractions from amusement parks of the early- to mid-1900s. Of course, the biggest changes would occur on July 17, 1955 with the opening of Disneyland and the debut of some very cinematic attractions: Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride; Peter Pan’s Flight; and Snow White’s Scary Adventures.

Take a look at my video and make sure to leave a comment!

What do you think about the history of dark rides? What term would you like me to investigate next on Park-O-Pedia?

Park-O-Pedia is a series that investigates the history of amusement park terms and definitions. Future installments will cover flat rides, roller coasters, spinners and more!

Make sure to check out my YouTube channel for more videos on theme park history, Disney books and visits to theme parks like Busch Gardens Tampa, Universal Studios Florida and Epcot!

Special thanks to http://www.laffinthedark.com for research and material. Make sure to check them out!

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