There are two fantastic amusement parks in Oregon, with longstanding histories of offering fun-filled diversions for visitors and locals alike. The first, of course, is Disneyland, which has been running since Anaheim, California, in the 1940s. This Park now hosts numerous themed areas, including Cars Land, Space Mountain, and fireworks, making it a tourist favorite in Portland and Gresham. Enchanted Forest is located in Salem, Oregon, in 1971, and is one of the earliest theme parks of the modern era. Today, it is still one of Oregon’s best family attractions.
When both of these popular amusement parks in Oregon close: you can count on the same operators to open a new park in the area. Ripley’s Believe It Or Not, now known as World’s tallest indoor roller coaster, will reopen to the public this May. Another well-loved classic is the Midway, which was demolished last year at the hands of a fanatic collector. Both of these parks will be back this summer with brand new attractions.
While it’s impossible to give an exhaustive tour of all of Oregon’s best attractions: we will focus on the state’s top attraction, the Portland-Eugene Capital Region’s Mt. Hood High School, better known simply as the MHS. The school features several famous attractions, including the Orbeez line of beads, the Nitro Train track, as well as its own version of the Harry Potter roller coaster. The Orbeez line, which is made up of almost nine thousand beads, is designed to look like your traditional beach bead when they are filled with air, releasing colorful bubbles when they are flattened, allowing the rider to travel along an express track through a tunnel system.
Besides offering multiple rides, Portland – Eugene has a number of other options for those who wish to spend their vacation at this gorgeous amusement park. Among the best features is its Wizarding World of Harry Potter attraction, which features three themed areas: Diagon Alley, the Hogwarts Express, and the Hogsmeade station. Those attending the park will be treated to a guided tour of the grounds by a professional wizard, just as they would a visit to the actual Harry Potter book and movies. The shows at the WDW site also include the Halliway Suspension Bridge, which allows visitors to dangle upside down from the top of the suspension bridge and walk around the top in a spiral motion. For those who enjoy playing practical jokes on fellow travelers, the Islands of Adventure is where you’ll be allowed to do just that.
While the amusement park options are impressive: it’s hard not to feel at home when visiting one of the parks in Oregon. Of course, that’s true of both the Islands of Adventure and the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, which makes sense given the fact that there are so many similarities between the two parks. Both offer elaborate roller coasters, as well as lots of rides based on stories from J.K. Rowling’s books and the Harry Potter movie series. Both also feature thrilling new rides on the new Tomorrowland Express. If you want to try something daring or innovative, the Cars Land is where you’ll want to be. With more than twice as many flips and turns as the Disney Cars ride at the Florida park, the Cars Land at Disneyland in Oregon really does feel like it’s set in the future.
Those looking for a little bit of culture: along with their fun-filled vacations can visit the Portland amusement parks in Oregon. The most notable of these parks is the Sea World, which offers live animals such as bel dolphins, manatees, and sea turtles. There are also shows at the Crystal Caves and the Corbett National Wildlife Refuge, which are great family-friendly experiences at these two Oregon theme parks.
As you may have expected, you don’t have to leave the states to enjoy Oregon theme parks, especially when you’re planning a trip around the West Coast.