History

The Eclipse Today Will be Viewable by a Billion People, but in 2045 You’ll Be Able to See One at Busch Gardens, LEGOLAND, Universal, Disney and Wild Adventures

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Paths of major eclipses in the USA over the next century (courtesy of Statista)

Today (August 12, 2026) a major eclipse will span across 3 continents and be viewable by a billion people. The path of totality will sweep across parts of Greenland, Iceland, Spain, and northern Russia, while millions in North America and Europe will see a partial eclipse. After it’s done it will be time to prepare for the next one here in the United States scheduled for August 12, 2045. The 2045 total eclipse will hit some huge theme parks including Disney, SeaWorld, Universal, Busch Gardens, LEGOLAND Florida and Wild Adventures. In 2045 these parks will be looking at around 5 minutes of “totality” meaning you could have several coaster cycles complete afternoon darkness! Wild Adventures gets a double dose of eclipses as there will be another total eclipse in Valdosta, Georgia on March 30, 2052, just 7 years later, that’s like winning the celestial lottery!

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The Story Behind the Iconic Pink Whale at Great Escape

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The Pink Whale at Six Flags Great Escape (now Enchanted Parks) is an iconic picture spot at the theme park. No doubt thousands of kids and families have their picture taken with it each season. The pink whale originated in 1954 when the park was known as Storytown USA. Charley Wood built the amusement park in Queensbury, New York, near Lake George and the Adirondacks. It would eventually be sold to Premier Parks, the Six Flags and now Enchanted Parks. Mr. Wood originally built it as a biblical “Jonah and the whale” display (you could argue Jonah had a “great escape”), but today a Moby Dick poem is on a sign beside it (see below). The whale was temporarily removed in 2005, but fan outcry brought it back. The whale is quickly approaching its 75th birthday, meaning it’s probably on its 3rd or 4th generation of families by now and hopefully will remain there for years to come.

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Did you Know Some Disney Characters Have Middle Names Like Donald “Fauntleroy” Duck?

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Donald Duck in Disney World Parade

Disney is known for its iconic cartoon characters. Chief among them is Mickey Mouse, but on the next tier with his own meet and greet is Donald Duck. However , did you know Donald Duck had the middle name Fauntleroy? His middle name was first revealed on his military draft card in the 1942 cartoon Donald Gets Drafted made during the heart of World War II. This was an interesting blend of cartoon and current events for sure!

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The Best Six Flags Dark Ride is Monster Mansion at Six Flags Over Georgia

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Monster Mansion is also an opening day attraction at Six Flags Over Georgia in 1967. It was formerly known as Tales Of The Okefenokee (1967–1980) and Monster Plantation (1981–2008) and now it’s Monster Mansion. There’s a ton of history here and even connections to Disney. This was the first “dark ride” at Six Flags Over Georgia and most reviews claim it is the best in the whole Six Flags chain or any regional theme park. It is also a source of original characters for meet and greets and some cool merchandise for the park. So let’s dive into what makes Monster Mansion at Six Flags Over Georgia so special and it’s evolution that continues today.

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The Former Spirit Airlines Flight Academy at Wannado City and Airline Attractions at Theme Parks

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Spirit Airlines is now part of history and for many people it offered cheap transportation to their favorite theme parks. However, did you know there once was a Spirit Airlines attraction at a theme park? Spirit Airlines was part of Wannado City, a career-focused theme park that opened in 2004 inside the Sawgrass Mills mall in Sunrise, Florida. Guests could explore a plane fuselage painted in Spirit colors/logo (the older gray/black scheme as opposed to the later iconic yellow planes). The attraction was called Spirit Airlines Flight Academy and was interactive allowing guest to operate a flight simulator!

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Dollywood Renovates Trains for 2026 to Run on Oil Instead of Coal

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For the 2026 season Dollywood is making a change to one of its oldest and most popular rides, the Dollywood Express steam trains. Both of Dollywood’s engines are being converted to run on oil instead of coal. This is for the comfort and safety of patrons, but also eliminates the risk of an errant cinder causing a fire in dry seasons. Dollywood has two engines, No. 192, named Klondike Katie, and No. 70, known as Cinderella (which ironically will no longer have cinders). Both these World War II engines actually previously ran on oil, but were converted to coal before being acquired by Dollywood. So the renovation will return the locomotives to closer to how they were historically without impacting the experience for riders.

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Downtown Atlanta Amusement Park History: From the Site of Ponce de Leon Amusement Company 100 Years Ago “Springs” Skyline Park Today

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Ponce de Leon Amusement Company
Skyline Park
Skyline Park (Courtesy of Slater Hospitality)

Back in the mid 1800’s and early 1900’s there was a popular tourist destination called Ponce de Leon Springs near downtown Atlanta. It was seen more like a local spa with the mineral content of the water thought to provide health benefits. In January 1903, 47 acres of the land surrounding the spring was purchased by the future Ponce de Leon Amusement Company. Construction quickly started on a theater, a carousel and a casino. The owners tried to mimic Coney Island by building a ping pong parlor, a gravity railroad (precursor to our modern roller coasters), a Ferris wheel and a penny arcade and the park soon became known as “the Coney Island of Atlanta”. It only lasted to the 1920’s, but fast forward 100 years and remarkably on the same site today you’ll find Skyline Park, a modern carnival-style rooftop amusement park!

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Atlanta’s American Adventures: The Now Largely Vacant Building Next to White Water Once Was a Herschend Park

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If you visit Six Flags White Water you’ll notice a large building sharing the parking lot that appears largely vacant. This building was actually part of American Adventures, something akin to a large family entertainment center or small amusement park that operated until 2010. This park has a really interesting history, having been owned by more than one theme park brand. The property is now used for training, HR, storage and the employee cafeteria, but at one time there were numerous rides here and even a small roller coaster. White Water is very much a “water park in the woods” and American Adventure was similar as in the forest between that building and the water park once sat a pretty amazing little amusement park called American Adventures.

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