Random True Story Of Action Park, New Jersey's Deadliest Theme Park (12 items)

• 

  (#9) Their Insurance Company Was A Front Based In The Cayman Islands

  In 1984, Action Park CEO Gene Mulvihill pleaded guilty to setting up a fake company in the Cayman Islands, which functioned as a front to insure the park when legit companies would not. Mulvihill faced a fine of $300,000 and had to sell the park in a plea deal, which he never did.

  This wasn't the only scheme the park used to circumvent insurance policies and safety restrictions. There was an on-site infirmary to handle minor scrapes, bumps, and bruises - which, in reality, was a method to prevent patrons from going to hospitals, as these institutions require written reports of such incidents. The park also hid the number of injuries or incidents in the Tidal Wave Pool by classifying it as a swimming pool, which meant they were only legally responsible for cleaning the water and having lifeguards on duty.
• 

  (#8) The Town Needed To Purchase More Ambulances To Handle All The Injuries

  Action Park earned plenty of nicknames by visitors and employees alike - from "Traction Park" to "Class Action Park" - because of the implied danger and Mad Max-esque environment created at the resort. The town of Vernon, NJ, the park's location, allegedly had to purchase more ambulances to manage the multitudes of injuries at Action Park.

  During the summer, aroughly 10 people suffered injuries per day.
• 

  (#10) Ride Operators Were Mostly Teens And College Students

  As if the litany of broken bones, lacerations, and decapitated dummies weren't bad enough, Action Park often employed underaged workers to supervise rides and administer basic first aid procedures without training. Employees in uniform would often join guests by going on rides for fun during their shifts.

  Occasionally, staff members would also sneak off to well-known hiding spots where they could get drunk or stoned while on the job.
• 

  (#11) Alcohol Was Widely Available, Even For Minors

  In keeping with Action Park's reputation as a wild place, plenty of patrons spent trips getting drunk from the numerous beer stands scattered across the park. Parents would let their kids run wild while they enjoyed some beers, and the underaged park attendants rarely checked ID, so they might have sold alcohol to patrons below the legal drinking age.

  The rules were lax regarding alcohol consumption, which isn't too shocking considering the legacy Action Park had established in regard to rider safety.
• 

  (#2) The Alpine Slide Caused Dozens Of Fractures And Head Injuries

   

  A post shared by Dr. D & Rocky (@2guysfromjersey) on Oct 8, 2017 at 8:56am PDT

   

  No ride embodies Action Park's philosophy better than the Alpine Slide. Former park-goers consider bruises and road rashes caused by wiping out on the concrete chute badges of honor. On the Alpine Slide, riders would climb aboard a tiny sled and launch themselves down a concrete track.

  There weren't any safeguards against injury when people were barreling down the Alpine Slide; in theory, riders could control their sleds using a handbrake, but those were usually broken. One employee said the sleds had two speeds: "slow" and "death awaits." From 1984 to 1985, there were 14 fractures and 26 head injuries reported, and countless more unrecorded minor scrapes.
• 

  (#1) So Many People Died In The Wave Pool, It Earned A Grim Nickname

  The Tidal Wave Pool quickly became a prominent attraction at Action Park. As one of the first wave pools of its kind in the US, it was a huge hit from day one. Instead of filling the wave pool with salt water to make swimmers more buoyant, Action Park used fresh water in the pool, which made it hard for even strong swimmers to navigate the over-three-foot-tall waves. Allegedly, rescuers had to save nearly 100 people on its opening day.

  Due to the intense waves and dangerous conditions, 12 lifeguards manned the pool daily, and - on busy days - they had to save an average of 20 to 30 patrons from drowning. For reference, the typical lifeguard ends up saving two or three people over the course of an entire summer at a regular pool.

  Despite the heightened lifeguard presence, three people drowned in the wave pool between 1982 and 1987, earning it the nickname "The Grave Pool." 

New Random Displays    Display All By Ranking