MEMORIES OF GROWING UP IN WICHITA

 Enjoying the rides at Kiddieland.  It had a small roller coaster for the younger kids, and a larger one for the older kids.  It was next door to the Meadowlark and Twin Drive In Theaters.  Our family had great times there, watching the movies and eating popcorn and drinking sodas   In those days there were several drive-ins all over town  The land that Kiddieland and the double drive-ins were on were sold, and both venues were torn down.  The Wichita Mall and Georgetown Assisted Living are there now.  That left Joyland to be the main amusement park.  It had great rides, like The Paratrooper, Bumper Cars, Cups and Saucers, Tilt-A-Whirl, The Scrambler,Wacky Shack, Ferris Wheel, Carousel, and the Arcade.  Plus a big, tall, wooden roller coaster.  There was also an area further back that had all kinds of rides for little kids.  There was an Old West Town Main Street and had fake gunfights at different times.  There was a nice park area to sit and eat or just enjoy nature.  You could get all kinds of goodies at the concession stands.  They had great Cotton Candy, and several flavors of Shoestring Licorice.

A small train ran around the perimeter of the park amd everyone could ride.  And there was a spooky looking automated clown that played the organ.  We'd go there sometimes on July 4th, KFDI Listener Appreciation Days, Boeing and Cessna Employee Family Days(Dad worked at Cessna, and my friend's Dad at Boeing), and of course school fun nights.

Back then, our parents could drop us off at a movie theater or the mall and pick us up later without worrying we'd be killed or kidnapped.  I remember my friend and I going to the Crest Theatre and seeing the ORIGINAL "True Grit" with John Wayne, Glen Campbell, and Kim Darby.  I believe John Wayne won an Oscar as Best Actor for that part.  We could walk to the store or park without fear.  When we trick or treated, we went with our friends and each parenr took turns going with us.  We never had to x-ray or have our candy checked for poison, pills. or razor blades.

You could go to Watson Park and ride their little train, ride the pedal boats, or fish.  There was a small zoo at Riverside Park.  Now, most of these places are gone.  The people that owned Joyland retired, and no one wanted to buy and operate it.  It eventually deteriorated, and even with a padlocked fence around it, people broke in and stole bits and pieces.  Vagrants would set fire to some of the buildings.  They finally tore down the roller coaster frame.  Nothing left,  Sad.

Good days, fun times--wouldn't trade 'em for anything.      .