CoasterFanatic Posted November 17, 2005 Share Posted November 17, 2005 http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/homepage/abox/article_770117.php End of the game for Stanton's Hobby City This 10-acre stretch along Beach Boulevard is where reptile enthusiasts, doll lovers, coin collectors and car model aficionados found an unlikely niche. Hobby City opened 50 years ago as the second theme park in Orange County near Knott's Berry Farm and catered to people looking for specialized doodads and old-fashioned charm. It was the vision of Bea DeArmond and her husband, Jay, who converted a 3-acre chicken ranch into a mini-city filled with odds and ends. Their children and grandchildren followed in the footsteps of the entrepreneurs. They designed and built Adventure City, a theme park for young children, in the mid-'90s. Now, after decades of being an Orange County landmark, the family is calling it quits. The land is being sold to a developer, which has plans to build condominiums. Hobby City could close in about a year. "It's time for us to play on the weekends. We've been entertaining people for so many years and you think, 'We want to be entertained,'." said Allan Ansdell, one of the park's owners. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robbalvey Posted November 17, 2005 Share Posted November 17, 2005 Well, being that's a quote from Allen, I'd say it sure sounds like the place is a gonner! I remember going for Tree Top Racers media day and that coaster was supposed to be the one that "put the park on the map." Never seemed to work. It's too bad, it was a nice little place, but I was always kind of shocked that it survived down the road from Knott's. --Robb "Personally, I think I've had better days at Adventure City than Knott's!" Alvey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoasterFanatic Posted November 17, 2005 Author Share Posted November 17, 2005 Dave and I went during Solace 2004 and I found it to be a nice little kids park. It looked like they were doing pretty good with the whole Birthday Party scene they had going. Guess in the end that it just wasn't worth the work. Most of all, I will miss Ted the Train Operator! // Now that the park is closing, I would like to boast the Freeway Coaster to be a top ten caliber ride! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BiCoastal Kid Posted November 17, 2005 Share Posted November 17, 2005 How sad! I went to Hobby City before it even had Adventure City! All it had was the train ride! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ebl Posted November 17, 2005 Share Posted November 17, 2005 I'm glad I finally went and rode both coasters there, especially the Tree Top Racers. That was really a lot of fun, in my opinion. And I rode its twin at Wonderland in Amarillo last spring. Too many of these small parks are being lost, but it's no surprise. The land is far too valuable to keep a small amusement park that really doesn't exactly pack in the crowds. This is more or less what happened to drive-in movie theaters. Eric Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YoshiFan Posted November 17, 2005 Share Posted November 17, 2005 I hope Tree Top Racers is saved. I have never been to the park but I have been on a clone of the ride at Playland in Ocean City, NJ and it was a fun ride. Some of those hills even gave some air time. And since I think there were only 5 of them made, it would be a shame to lose one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CreativeForce Posted November 17, 2005 Share Posted November 17, 2005 Looks like I finally have an excuse to get out there and ride. Maybe we can have a semi-offical TPR meet and take over the park one of these weekends? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BelizeIt Posted November 18, 2005 Share Posted November 18, 2005 I use to live in Huntington Beach, so I visited this park years ago. (Stanton is just North of Huntington Beach) It Doesn't Surprise me that they Decided to Close this Park and Sell out to Developers. Once the Orginal Owners like Bea DeArmond passed away, (She used to live on site) The Current Owners or Family Members will Receive a Hugh amount of Money for the 10 acres of Prime Orange County Real Estate. Bring on the Condos!!! I Read in the O.C. Register that the land was Orginally Purchased in 1955, for $25,000, But will Now Sell for Several Million Dollars per Acre! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
What Now Posted November 18, 2005 Share Posted November 18, 2005 Beach Blvd. isn't going to be the same. I used to go to Hobby City ocaisionally as a kid. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeezus Juice Posted November 20, 2005 Share Posted November 20, 2005 Great, now I can final get that dream condo across the street from the junkyard and indoor swapmeet! Ohh! I hope they design the place in the Santa Ana decco style, pink stucco with exposed chicken wire! Don "I'm getting kinda misty eyed!" Garrison Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BarryH Posted November 20, 2005 Share Posted November 20, 2005 I hope Adventure City doesn't close. For what it had, it was pretty neat. Treetop Racers is one of the best wild mouse coasters I've ever ridden. The Freeway Coaster had the branch headchopper o' doom. Best of all, ACErs could get in for $6 a head! I was wearing my Florida Coaster Club t-shirt and they gave me the discounted admission too. Who wants to buy a condo now? There's prime locations in the former spots of Miracle Strip Amusement Park, SF Astroworld, and now Adventure City! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Incinerator Tuesdays Posted November 20, 2005 Share Posted November 20, 2005 Awww man, I havn't gone on Tree Top Racers yet! Ah wells, at least I got to ride the freeway coaster Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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