Episode 797: Amusement Park Disasters (Volume 2) - Theme Parks | Forensic Files

Hey weirdos. I'm Ash. And I'm Elena. And this is Morbid. This is morbid. Morbidito.
>> This is going to be a morbid one for sure. Is it? >> It is. What are you doing? Amusement
park disasters part two. Baby, >> she takes us here again. She takes us here again. I remember last time I went
to Disney and I posted, everyone was like, "Damn, didn't you say you were never getting on another roller coaster
again?" >> I was like, "No, I trust Disney." >> Uh, the Okay, >> no. No, don't look at me like that. She
just had the smugg look on her big red head. >> We're doing theme parks today. >> You're doing theme parks?
>> Not just amusement parks. >> Oh, goodness. I haven't I haven't been to I I mean it'll be a while I think
before I go back to Disney cuz I was like just there. >> Yeah. >> So, >> um for sure that's See, you know what my
thing talk to me. >> I'm realizing more and more that I >> and this is not everybody's bag
obviously. >> I'm just like um a little [ __ ] when it comes to like not wanting to die. Uh, so
I am not one of those people who seeks >> risk >> in any way, shape, or form. And I'm okay
admitting that. I know that probably makes me a little boring, and that's fine. >> I don't think it necessarily makes you
boring. I think >> you're exciting in different ways. >> I think Well, I try to be, but I'm
certainly boring in that way. I think because I when I say don't seek out risk, I don't seek out risk in any way.
If something is risky, >> it's a no for me. >> I know. That's where we've always
differed. >> Yeah, we differ violently in that. >> My god, I was risky business as a
younger. >> I've never been a risky business person. I've always had a really healthy uh
maybe unhealthy at times respect for the uh for my mortality. >> Your chart in general though, like and
it makes so much sense because even just like even just looking at your big three, you are a Capricorn sun. So, you
are so rooted to this earth, you don't want to go. >> Yeah. No, >> you are a Virgo uh rising, so the older
you get, even less likely you are to seek that out. And then you're a Cancer >> uh moon, so you're like
>> like you're good where you are. >> You know what I mean? Like you like your home,
>> you like your things, you like your creature comforts. >> I like my routines. like my Yeah, that's
how that >> And also like you're not I mean you're a goat, you're a crab. >> I forget what represents Virgo.
>> A virgin. >> There you go. Not willing to change. >> Stubborn and unwilling to change.
>> Yeah, >> that's me. >> And it's I think finally I've realized like like I'm like, "All right, yeah,
that's just who I am." Cuz I've always been like, I know, I just don't like it and I don't know why and blah blah blah.
And then I was finally like I don't I swear you hit a certain age and you're just like oh yeah [ __ ] it. Like cuz I
was just like oh yeah that's just I'm boring and that's okay. >> I don't think you should say it like
that though cuz I don't think you are boring. >> I'm just not risky. >> You're not a thrillseker. I think that's
what you need to say. >> That's what it is. >> You're not a thrillseker. >> I have absolut When I tell you that not
one cell in my body feels like I need any kind of thrill. I can't stress it enough. Well, no, no,
that's not true. That's not true at all. >> That No, but like to seek out thrills. I
feel like I have thrills. >> You see, but you seek out a different kind of thrill is the thing. Like I do I
personally I really do think you require thrills because you love a haunted house.
>> Yeah. >> And you love a scary movie in and of itself is a thrill. It's just a
different kind of thrill. I don't >> I think you don't need like life-threatening thrills.
>> No, I absolutely do not. And I think some people like I also think like you're a very like
what is the word pragmatic like that's the word analytical like I think you think of the risks and the
>> payoff for me is big >> and I don't think necessarily everybody is as analytical as you or as pragmatic
when it comes to those things. So they're it's not that they need like a like they're not like I would love to
have a life-threatening experience. People are just a little freer with with how they feel.
>> That's how I feel like I'm >> which is not a bad thing. That's the thing. >> No, I don't think it is either. I think
we're just different. >> I think this makes me understand the other side of it a little better
>> once I understand cuz I understand my point of view a little better because for so long I've been like I don't
understand why you want to do these things. And I still don't like I can't like >> put myself in that place to understand
it. But I can sit there and look at my point of view and go, "Well, it's just the complete opposite point of view."
And that's also valid. >> It is valid. Yeah, of course. Whatever you want to do with your body as long as
you're not harming somebody else is valid. So like, [ __ ] anybody who's going to give you a hard time.
>> Exactly. >> But are are we talking about like thrill rides right now specifically?
>> Things that are that are risky business. >> See, I think a lot of people, myself
included, just are like, "Oh, that'll be so much fun." And people do that all the
time. Like what's the likelihood of anything going wrong? Whereas you actually think about like data and like
probability and like you're getting out your marbles from like fifth grade when we learned about probability.
>> Your thought is oh what's the likelihood that anything could go wrong? My point
of view is there's so much likelihood that something could go wrong. There is likelihood
>> period right? >> Like yours is like what's the likelihood? I'm like there is though.
Period. And >> so it's like those are two, it's so funny like the different ways of
thinking. >> What are the odds? And you're like, there are odds. >> And I'm like, well, the odds exist.
>> You're like, what if they're not in my favor? >> Which is crazy. >> See, I also just think Well, and I think
having kids has a lot to do with this, too. >> Like I think I've always >> I think you've gotten even I and I think
that's probably why you're even more comfortable like with the way you are now, though, because you're like, well,
I have kids and I'm not going to do be different with humans. But I do wonder if I'll
feel different cuz like even when we go to the beach like if like we go on like a friend's like boat or something like
that like you don't want them tubing or like >> like you don't enjoy that and I'm always
like oh like what it's fine I'll go with them and I know that makes you feel better.
>> Yeah. Which like which like I do. So like cuz I know that that'll be taken as
like Elena doesn't let her kids do anything. >> I go with them and it's great. >> Um I what she what Ash is saying is like
I don't love it. I don't watch them doing it and be like, "Wow, how free and exciting." My nervous
system feels like I'm being hunted for sports during the whole thing. >> I'm always glad I did it because they
had fun and whatever. But like I don't enjoy watching people I love do risky things.
>> Yeah. No, you don't. like I it's I'm I'm strange and >> but I don't I don't necessarily think
you are because I think a lot of times when people become moms they they do change like
>> oh yeah >> their >> their views on a lot of that stuff. So I wonder cuz like 2 years ago I'd be like
come on Elena like it's fine >> but like the older that I get and like maybe the closer I get to having kids
I'm like I wonder if I'll feel that way and I think I might >> it might change it a little. It might it
might not change it a lot. It might not you know. >> Yeah. Who knows? >> But even like your fear of flying, I
know that got so much worse after you had kids. >> And I know I've heard of a lot of other
people like that happening to them >> cuz I'm not afraid of flying at all. >> Yeah.
>> You feel like you have like >> I always you always have something to lose obviously, but you you feel like
>> it's even bigger. >> It's just an inconceivable amount to lose when you add kids to the
>> equation. It's interesting, >> you know? So >> So that's how we feel about things.
>> Yeah. I just I thought it was interesting because some I always go into this being like [ __ ] this and which
like I still say [ __ ] this but >> see and I go into this and I'm like >> you're like ruin it for I just don't
want you to talk about a ride I've been on. >> Uh I don't think I will. >> Okay.
>> I'm pretty sure. >> All right. >> I guess we'll see. You know, do we have business that we need to say?
>> Like buy tickets to Radio City Music Hall. >> Yeah. Buy tickets to Radio Saturday, you
guys. The 27th. Like it's coming up so quickly. There's still so much to figure out and we're like stressed but we're
also so excited. getting the butterflies. >> But we have a really good show for you.
>> Oh, and we announced ours. >> By the time you listen to this, you will know that the special guest is the one
and only Jonathan Manes. >> JBN. >> Like, we also just have the perfect segment planned with him.
>> It is going to be >> glorious. It's going to be hilarious and I can't wait. >> I can't wait.
>> So, there's only a few tickets left. >> Yeah, there's not many. >> So, snatch them up. And um I also posted
about um the Butcher Legacy tour that's happening in August. That's going to be fun. But but get your tickets to some
stops on that because I'll be letting you guys know any updates. There might be some updates to that and all that fun
stuff. >> Um and pre-order the Butcher Legacy >> and we're going to try to get her to fly
soon. >> Yeah, I'll try to get to cuz I know >> she is really trying. We talked about it
this morning. >> I had such a moment cuz I I was seeing you guys be like, "Come to the South.
come to, you know, come to Louisiana, like come to California, come here, come. >> And I was like, I want to
>> and I and I want to see you and I want to come sign your books and like do all
that fun stuff. >> And I will. >> Yeah. >> I'm going to I'm trying to make it more
of a priority to like fight through the fear. >> I think you need to get hypnotized. I
really do. >> I feel I'm going to try it. I'll try anything to get on >> somebody. Anybody know anything?
>> I want to go to Scotland. That's the next big thing I want to do. >> We have to get to Scotland. Scotland is
calling me. So I feel like >> I want to pet a Highland girl. >> That's I just >> And I do realize that I can do that
here. >> But I want to do it in Scotland. Please. >> I just need to land in Scotland because
I feel like the second I step on that soil, I'm going to burst into tears. >> Yeah, probably.
>> I feel like that's where I'm supposed to be >> and then maybe never come back.
>> Then we'll just stay in Scotland. >> Just Rosie O'Donnell it. >> So yeah, there you go.
>> She went to Ireland and it's just like >> see you. >> But yeah, so I'll figure that out.
Everybody, >> everybody in the club going to Scotland. >> I mean, they have been [ __ ] taking
over Boston. >> I know. It's been sick. >> Let me tell you, any Scottish listeners,
we could not be happier to have you. Could not. Boston is trying to figure out a way.
>> I was just going to say >> to have Scotland come back every year. >> Yeah. Our governor is literally working
on it. >> Like literally trying to figure out a way to entice you to come back every
year cuz you have healed us in a way that I can't describe. >> Yeah. Um, so we love you.
>> Let's work on that. >> We love you guys a lot. So, >> let's split some haggus.
>> Let's Let's get to it, shall we? >> I'm nervous for this one. >> This one's crazy. Um, so you said you
should be. >> This is wild. >> Let's Let's start with um with Walt Disney, shall we?
>> You [ __ ] Uh by the time Walt Disney conceived the idea of just you know a massive park where you know parents and
childrens can play together in the world that was modeled by his like after his creations.
>> Yes. >> Amusement parks or at least something like amusement parks were definitely
already part of the landscape around the world. >> But what Disney had in mind was
something way more elaborate than like Coney Island or Knottberry Farm when it finally opened in July 1955. The rides
and attractions Disneyland had to offer were definitely a far cry from the hyper
modern rides that were in parks today that we know. >> The early rides included the Disneyland
Railroad, which was a scaledown version of a locomotive that carried passengers to various parts of the park,
>> which they still have. >> Yeah, there you go. Junior Autotopia, a miniature car racetrack that operated on
a rail. and the Astrojets, a rocket themed spinning ride that lifted passengers into the air to simulate
flying. >> And they still have that too in Tomorrowland. >> Wow. >> It's not called the same thing. It's
called something else. >> Well, the park also included boat rides, a movie theater, animatronic shows, and
the centerpiece of the park, a replica of Sleeping Beauty's castle. >> Gorgeous. Now, the construction of the
castle alone created a significant amount of dirt and debris, obviously. But rather than just like haul it away,
the engineers at Disneyland were like, "Wait a minute. We could use this stuff to build other features in the park."
And in the years that followed, the dirt from the excavation of the castle site was gathered together into a massive
mountain used to hide one of the pylons of the Disneyland skyway. >> Oh. >> They initially named the massive pile
Holiday Hill and then it was Lookout Mountain. And finally, after many design elements and details were added, it
became the Matter Horn. Oh [ __ ] Named after the mountain in the European. >> I've never been on the Matter Horn.
>> The Matter Horn is a big pile of dirt. Uh with that mountain complete in 1956,
Walt Disney got a new idea for a new ride. This one would be designed to simulate a toboggan ride through a snowy
mountain environment. It was like a combination between a roller coaster and a dark ride. The Matterhorn Bobsleds
quickly became one of the park's most popular rides when it opened in 1959. It was also the world's first tubular
roller coaster. They're called tubular >> Hollywood. >> Uh which allowed passengers to go
through tunnels and holes in the mountains exterior, like interior, rather than stay on a singular open air
track. Now, the first major safety incident at Disneyland occurred in 1964 on the Matterhorn.
>> Long, long ago. It was a little before 11 p.m. on May 15th when 15-year-old Mark Maples boarded the sled with his
friends Doug Gibbs and Gary Payne. Mark was in the middle seat with his friend seated in front of and behind him. The
bob sled had reached the top level of the track at the top of the mountain and was just about to begin the steepest
descent when Mark was thrown violently from the sled head first and landed beside the lower track. Oh. Now, when
the ride reached the terminal and the accident was reported, park attendants refused to believe the story and assumed
the boys were joking. >> I'm sorry, what? >> Yeah. It was only when the two girls
riding in the car behind them confirmed the story that they rushed to find Mark in the tunnel and called paramedics.
>> Jesus. >> When they found him, he was unconscious. He was bleeding from several wounds. He
was taken to nearby Palm Harbor Hospital, but he never regained consciousness and died from his injuries
4 days later. >> Oh, that's awful. >> He was only 15. >> Yeah. >> When Mark's friends, Doug and Gary, were
interviewed, they both claimed they had no idea what caused Mark to be thrown from the sled. Gary said, "I was looking
up, heard a noise, looked down, and recognized Mark's sweater as he was falling out of the side."
>> Oh my god. >> Doug Gibbs was kind of like in a similar vein. He said, "I felt him bump into me,
but there was no way to tell what he was doing. It's a bumpy ride. According to witnesses, it appeared that Mark quote
stood up on the ride when it was about onethird of the way down the course. >> Okay.
>> In standing up, Mark's head hit the one of the concrete beams on the ceiling of
the tunnel, >> knocking him out of the sled and causing severe head injuries. >> Yeah.
>> Which were obviously exacerbated when he landed head first on the walkway beside
the track. The official response from Disneyland executives stood in direct conflict to the theory that Mark was
thrown from the sled. In their statement, Disneyland said Mark quote unbuckled his seat seat belt and stood
up then fell out. >> Okay, that's what the witnesses are saying. >> Okay. >> Now, on the day of Mark's death, the
Orange County coroner, James Bisner, opened an investigation to determine the circumstances of the boy's death and
whether Disneyland execs could be held responsible. The first step in his investigation was a visit to the park
and he actually rode the Matter Horn himself. >> Wow, that was brave. >> I That would suck. Imagine if I as a
like if I was like the medical examiner and I had to go ride a roller coaster, too. I'd be like, I don't want to do
that. >> No, >> don't make me do that. >> And especially after seeing a poor young
man who died from his injuries on that ride. >> Yeah. Now, after completing the ride,
Bisner determined, quote, "The boy, if strapped in, couldn't have fallen out." >> Okay. In addition to riding the sled
himself, Bisner had two employees about Mark's size sit in one of the sleds and attempt to stand or free themselves from
the sled without unbuckling the belt. Neither of them was able to do it. >> Okay.
>> Now, according to Mark's friends, nothing seemed out of the ordinary while they waited in line to board the ride,
and Mark gave no indication that he was planning to do anything reckless. >> Yeah. But in the days that followed, the
deputy coroner, Eugene Miller, reported receiving multiple phone calls, quote, which have indicated the accident
resulted from a hazing. When asked about a potential hazing, Doug and Gary did admit that they were
part of what they referred to as a quote boy social club. >> Ew. >> Called Fidious, I think it is. Okay.
>> And two weeks earlier, they'd invited Mark to join, but he declined the invitation.
>> Okay. Both denied any involvement in a hazing that or any other night. >> Okay.
>> Now, after the brief investigation, James Bryner concluded Mark Maple's death was quote purely accidental
>> and a coroner's inquest was ruled out. >> Okay. In their statement to the public,
the coroner's office said, quote, "They found that Maples and two young companions had been engaged in so-called
horse play, such as shoving each other, shouting at people, crowding ahead of others in in the line, and that no proof
has been found that it is part of any club initiation." >> Okay. >> Their conclusion was that one of the
boys unbuckled the safety belt, quote, for no explainable reason, which ultimately led to Maple's tragic death.
>> That's horrible. So, it was simply just >> horse play gone wrong. >> Now, Mark Maple's death was just the
first of several incidents in which park goers were injured or killed as a result
of failing to follow the rules of the park. In fact, in the years that followed, there were several bizarre
incidents, including park attendees not only violating the park rules, but also violating the law in order to like
impress their friends or like achieve some sort of like social status or something else. right
>> now. On June 18th, 1966, Disneyland held an allight graduation party for the graduating class of a
local high school. >> Oh, wow. >> The plan was for the park to close to the public at 11:00 p.m. but remain open
the rest of the night for the graduating seniors. Can you imagine that? >> I'm like, I feel like they would not do
that now. >> Oh, no. I don't think they would. >> Yeah. >> And this was 1966. Knowing that the party would be off
limits to anyone outside the class of seniors in the chaperones, but still wanting to join his friends for the
party, 19-year-old Thomas Cleveland hatched a plan to sneak into the park and join the group, assuming no one was
going to notice that he graduated the year before that. >> Okay. >> Now, around 9:20 p.m., Cleveland scaled
the 16 ft fence at the northern edge of the park. Dedication. >> Yeah. then climbed one of the pylons in
order to get onto the tracks of the Montreal, which was the train that carries visitors to and from various
parts of the park. >> Yeah, it's unclear what his plan was beyond that. I guess we can speculate
that he was planning to walk the length of the tracks until he reached an area where his friends were gathered. I guess
whatever the plan was, it was quickly interrupted when Thomas was spotted by two security guards who shouted, "Get
down. Jump. Get off of there." Yeah, >> it must not have occurred to Thomas that
the Montreal would still be on operation as long as the park was open or somebody was in there
>> because as soon as the guards yelled, he seemed to realize the danger he was in.
>> But rather than jump to the ground below, he fell to the fiberglass canopy between the tracks and tried to conceal
himself from sight. Just as he did that, the Montreal rounded the corner at about
25 mph and struck him. Oh my god. >> He was killed instantly. >> Yeah. >> The driver of the Montreal, Dallas
Baker, never saw him on the tracks, but he did say he quote felt a bump after hitting him.
>> Now, the coroner's office determined that Thomas Cleveland's death from crush
injuries were was it was purely accidental and Disneyland was not held responsible in any way.
>> No. That said, the coroner's report did mention that just after Thomas was struck by a train, guards saw quote, "wo
other youths who had not scaled the Disneyland fence running from the area." They were never identified, and they
were presumed to just be additional friends of the graduating class. Now, Thomas Cleveland wasn't the only person
who suffered serious consequences for trying to sneak into the park undetected. In June 1973,
7 years after Cleveland's tragic death, 18-year-old Bogdan Delerat and his 10-year-old brother Dorian attempted to
stay in the park overnight by swimming across the Rivers of America and hiding on Tom Sawyer's Island.
>> Oh god, I just think of alligators or crocodiles. >> Well, and it's located in like that
man-made river. Now, in the evening of June 22nd, Bogdan and Dorian took the ferry across to Tom Sawyer's Island and
hid from park security until after the park closed. Okay, so they were on the island.
>> Once they were certain the park was closed and assumed everyone had left for the night, they entered the water and
started swimming across to reach the shore. It appears that they probably misjudged the distance from the shore to
the island because it's pretty far. >> Yeah. Uh because not long after they entered the water, Dorian became
exhausted and told his brother he couldn't swim any further. >> Um I it's so sad. In order in order to
help him, Bogdan told his brother to put his arms around his neck and he would carry him across.
>> Oh, unfortunately, >> it became clear that his brother's weight was too much to carry, and he too
became tired. Around 1000 p.m. that evening, security officers heard Dorian's cries for help and took a boat
out to find where it was coming from. It didn't take long for them to find Dorian, who'd managed to stay afloat by
just like treading water, like doggy paddling essentially. But Bogdan was nowhere to be found. When they returned
to shore, park security called Anaheim Fire and Rescue for help. And the following morning, just before 6:00
a.m., Bogdan's body was discovered, quote, lodged in the rapid section of the river.
>> He had drowned at some point during the night. >> Oh, that's so sad. Now, while incidents
like these are very rare, obviously they did continue to happen at the park. And
in 1984, for example, two drunk visitors stole a maintenance boat and took it for
a ride on the Rivers of America. >> Hello. >> Not long after leaving the dock, the
boat hit a rock and one of the men was thrown overboard. >> By the time his friend was able to get
back to shore to help him, his friend is had drowned. >> Oh man. Following the drowning death of
the man who stole the boat, Disneyland managed to avoid serious accidents and deaths for nearly 15 years. And when the
death next death did occur, it was not the result of recklessness, but of negligence on behalf of the park.
>> Oh no. >> On December 24th, 1998. >> Oh. Uh, Luan F. Dawson and his wife Leo Twi Vuang visit were visiting Disneyland
with their young son and were excited to go on the Colombia which was a replica of an 18th century tall ship that was
described as quote one of the park's tamest rides. As the boat approached the dock, Luon and the other visitors waited
in line while an employee threw the mooring line around one of the ship's cleats, which is the metal bar where the
line is tied. >> Mhm. >> Before the boat had stopped moving. Now, with the line tied securely to the dock,
the weight of the ship pulling in the other direction because it was still moving. It had not stopped
>> was too much strain on the cleat, and the bolts holding it down sheared off. No longer bolted to the ship, the 8 lb
12-in iron cleat went flying in the direction of the crowd with tremendous force.
>> The cleat hit Park employee Christine Carpenter in the leg first, shattering her foot and breaking her ankle. Oh my
god. >> Then flew into the crowd, striking Leu in the face and Luan in the head.
>> Oh >> yeah. Park employees immediately called emergency services and the injured were
taken to the hospital for treatment. All three had suffered serious injuries. Leo
had extensive damage to her face that caused nerve damage and paralysis. >> Oh my god.
>> But Luans were way more severe. Uh, in addition to the blunt force injuries to
his skull, the impact caused severe brain injuries and injuries to the blood vessels in his head. Dr. Richard Kim
told a reporter a few days later that the injuries were both together made it unlikely he could survive.
>> Yeah. >> By the time he arrived at UC Irvine Medical Center, Luan was already brain
dead. He was placed on life support in order to give family time to come to the hospital and say goodbye, and support
was ended 11 hours later. The same day Leo had extensive surgery to repair the cuts to the right side of her face,
which mind you is Christmas Day. >> Yeah, >> that just occurred to me because they
were waiting on December 24th in line and the next day, >> Christmas, >> their family has to come say goodbye to
him. >> Yeah. >> Oh my god, that poor [ __ ] family. >> It's horrific. And in the months after
that, Leo would have several more surgeries, but it was unlikely she would ever regain full control over the right
side of her face again. >> Wow. And following the death, the coroner's office began an investigation,
and an investigation was also open by the Anaheim Police Department. In their official statement, Disney officials
released a pretty vague statement clearly intending to avoid, you know, incriminating language of any kind. They
said, "We're checking the Colombia's mechanical and structural components." And that was it. In the coroner's
investigation, Deputy Coroner Richard Mali uh determined that the accident had been caused by the Disney worker's
failure to follow proper procedure with regard to the ship's docking. Menali wrote in the report, "The normal
procedure when the ship is coming in too fast is to not secure the moing line." >> Makes sense. Um, instead Carpenter
should have waited for the captain to overshoot the dock and slowly reverse into position at the dock.
>> Right, that makes sense. >> Because she didn't know the captain was planning to overshoot, she threw the
mooring line around the cleat too soon and the tension on the rope essentially created a high velocity projectile that
was fired into the crowd. >> Yeah. >> The police investigation into the accident also revealed somewhat
troubling aspects to the park's approach to such incidents. Rather than being taken directly to the scene of the
accident when a detective arrived at the park, he was taken to a conference room
where he waited for quote a considerable time before being met by a park official. By the time he was taken to
the accident site, the entire scene had been cleaned up by park staff and anything that could be collected was
gone. >> Well, that's not good. A few days later, the debris from the accident site, which
included the broken cleat that hit everybody and two teeth, >> were located in a dumpster and turned
over to investigators. >> Oh, that's [ __ ] up. >> By the end of the week, the Anaheim
Police Department did conclude that there was no attempt to destroy evidence or impede the investigation. Um,
Lieutenant John Heridan said, "We determined that Disneyland didn't clean it up to destroy evidence of criminal
conduct. They cleaned it up in my opinion because it was unsightly. >> Yeah. >> Which like that probably was the reason.
>> Yeah. >> More like morally is it is it probably put it away to like give to investigators. You know, don't throw it
in a dumpster. >> 2 years after the accident, Leo and her family settled with Disney, but the
terms are not made public. >> Though it's not nearly as popular. We're moving away from Disneyland now, don't
worry. Uh though it's not nearly as popular well known as Disneyland, California's Great America Amusement
Park has been a heavily attended park since it opened in the mid1 1970s. >> I've never been there.
>> Like Disneyland and many other parks, they've had their fair share of tragic accidents over the years. Developed by
the Marriott Corporation and open to the public in the spring of 1976, Great America was just trying to capitalize on
the growing popularity of amusement parks and compete with the parks like Disneyland in California and Kings
Island in Ohio. >> Although it never really reached that level of popularity, Marriott did
successfully open a second park less than two months later and eventually both were sold to Six Flags. Ah, now
among the park's most popular rides was Willard's Whizzer, a speed racer model steel roller coaster with a height of 70
ft and a stop and a top speed of 45 mph. >> Okay. >> Despite being the park's biggest and
most popular attraction, the Whizzer had a myriad of problems from the start. Among the biggest issues was the ride's
braking system. >> Oh. Which would occasionally fail to engage as quickly or fully as necessary.
>> Wow. and trains would sometimes bump into one another at the terminal. That feels like a big deal.
>> Feels like a big one. Between the opening of the ride in 1976 and an evaluation in 1979, it was found that
the malfunctions had resulted in 11 reported incidents of injury, but the extent of those injur in injuries was
not detailed. Hm. >> The first fatality occurred on March 29th, 1980. >> Under similar circumstances to those
known to be problems on the Wizard. >> That afternoon, 13-year-old Kyle Foss waited in line with friends. And when
the car train pulled up to the terminal, he and the other passengers were given the go-ahad to climb on board. Just as
Kyle was climbing onto the last car in the train, a second train pulled into the station. Although it was only
traveling between 3 and 6 miles hour, when the second train struck the first, the velocity and weight of the train was
enough to knock Kyle off balance, and he fell between the two crane trains and was crushed to duck.
>> Oh my god. Of the six passengers already seated in the train, three were ejected
from the ride and landed in a pond. >> Oh my god. >> The thought of being ejected from a
roller coaster is one of the scariest things. That's what keeps me off roller coasters to be honest.
>> I have to tell you like nothing bad happened to me by any means, but the Veloca Coaster at Universal goes so
[ __ ] fast and you go over water and you're like upside down and it's just I thought I was a cool cool girl who could
do cool cool roller coasters. I can't [ __ ] handle that one anymore because the thought of being ejected into a cool
cool pond. >> No, >> no, no. >> No. >> I can't see. That's my problem. I can't. The the possibility is there, so I'm
out. >> I can't really fuss with water near rides. It's It's a no. >> Which like you would think like the
thought of like plummeting to the ground is much worse, which like obviously it is, but something about like a ride that
goes like through the water or like something like that. >> Well, it's like a plane. People on a
plane, they say they're more scared to fly over the ocean. >> Yeah. >> Than land when like in reality, which
one would landing? Yeah. >> It's just something about water. Yeah, we all know we're not supposed to really
be in it. >> No, I know that's the thing. >> Like we know it somewhere in ourselves.
>> It's true. >> But so in their response to this tragedy, officials from Great America
were surprisingly tur. Uh after confirming the death, the park released an official statement to the press that
read simply, quote, "In order to avoid possible conflicting information, unnecessary speculation, and any further
confusion, we will not have any further comment at this time." Oh, whether they wanted it to or not, speculation quickly
followed. I was >> going to say, and many started to blame the ride's braking system for the
accident. Speaking on the condition of anonymity, one park employee told a reporter, quote, "Two systems had to
break down for this to occur. The odds against that must be astronomical." Yeah, I would think so. After a
two-month investigation into the cause of Kyle's death, the park reported that quote, "Nothing was was wrong with the
Wizard, and none of its systems had malfunctioned." >> Not true, though. >> Despite that, vice president of the
park, J. Robert Schultz, went on to say, quote, "A false electrical signal made the Wizards safe safety system think it
was holding a train in an automatic braking system at almost the same moment the real train signaled that it was
coming into the same braking system." So that's a problem. >> The specifics of the explanation are
like a little difficult to follow. >> They are, >> but essentially when the system realized
it had made a mistake, it released the braking system to clear out this fake train that it thought was there exactly
as the real train was coming into the station. The fluke caused the system to be opened right when the real t train
pulled into the station. >> Mhm. Although the braking system did catch the mistake, it only managed to
slow the train down before it hit the car where Kyle was climbing into. Right. >> The entire accident unfolded in like
less than 3 seconds. >> Wow. >> In the aftermath of Kyle's death, the ride underwent several upgrades to its
safety systems and seat belts were added to the cars. >> I feel like seat belts should always be
cars. >> Kyle's parents filed suit against Marriott asking $1 million in damages.
The result of that suit is unknown. >> Okay. >> With the exception of an accidental
drowning at the water park in 1989, Great America managed to avoid any catastrophes for almost two decades.
>> Wow. >> Until a bizarre accident put them back in the spotlight in 1998. >> Now, around 2:30 p.m. on September 7th,
25-year-old Hector Mendoza, his wife of two months, and his brother-in-law rode the Top Gun roller coaster, now called
Flight Deck. >> Okay. During this this experience, Hector's baseball cap was blown off his
head and landed somewhere on the ground below. After getting off the ride, the three decided to retrieve the hat. So,
they either climbed or otherwise got past the security fence around the perimeter of the ride, either ignoring
or possibly not understanding the sign, ordering visitors to stay out. >> Okay. The area would have been dangerous
regardless of the model of the ride, but as an inverted roller coaster in where like passengers hang from the rail and
the seats, the danger was much greater here. >> Y >> it didn't take long for Hector to find
his hat, but just as he went to pick it up, the coaster came around the corner. >> And Hector was struck in the head by the
dangling foot of a passenger. The force of the blow killed Hector and it also broke the passenger's leg.
>> Oh my god. Holy [ __ ] The day after the incident, park inspectors tested the ride and
determined that Top Gun quote in no way malfunctioned or experienced any other problems. A spokesperson Tim Shannod
told reporters this was a case of somebody that had entered an area off limits to park guests. We aren't
entirely sure how Mr. Mendoza got into the area, but he went through a clearly marked gate and over a 6-ft locked fence
marked with bright red warning signs. That's according to them. >> Sure. Now, although the situation seems
straightforward, Hector's family described things differently. A lawyer speaking on behalf of the family said,
quote, "The gate in the fence was either open or wide enough to go through very easily. There was no climbing or jumping
on the fence." >> Okay. The discrepancy started a public dispute between the family and the great
in Great America. In response to their claims, Shannod gave another public statement explaining, "Two of our
employees were the first to respond to the incident, and the first thing they had to do to get to the victim was
unlock the gate." In fact, the investigation by Santa Clara police backed up his version of events. Uh,
Sergeant Anton Mor said the first maintenance person tried to unlock the gate, but didn't have the right key.
They had to wait for the second maintenance person to arrive. Oh, >> okay. What's bizarre, cuz I'm sure you're
like, where's the bizarre part about this? >> It's very sad. >> A week after the accident, it was
reported that the man everyone had identified as Hector Mendoza was not who he seemed to be. The identification had
been made based on interviews with the family and the man's documents found in his wallet. However, they turned out to
be fraudulent, and the real Hector Mendoza was alive and living in Mexico. >> What? The man who died at Great America
was eventually identified through fingerprints as Suarez Robels. >> What? Following the identification, his
body was released to his family who returned to bury him. >> What? >> Isn't that just what?
>> So like the family fighting and saying like no like the gate was open. >> I don't know what became of that.
>> Was a man who's who was alive? >> I suppose. So >> what? Yeah. Isn't that just bizarre?
>> Yeah. >> But it's like >> I didn't know where you were going with that. >> Yeah. And I feel bad for the the woman
whose leg hit this person as well. Like obviously I hear I feel horrible about the person who died.
>> Yeah. Duh. >> Suarez. But I feel like uh the person whose foot leg hit his head and he died
>> and then her leg broke in the process. So it's like to have to deal with all of
that, the emotional and physical toll of all of that, >> right? >> The whole thing is just bizarre and sad.
You're like, "Holy [ __ ] >> that's so weird." >> And so avoidable. You're like, "Oh, I
wish somebody had stopped them." >> Yeah, I know. That's the thing. >> Like, oh, it's just a really wild one.
>> Yeah, that's wild. For sure. Now, the operators of Great America had been fortunate to experience a very large gap
between the deaths of Kyle Foss and of Suarez Robels. The next tragedy, though, occurred less than a year later. And
this time, it wasn't the result of any kind of like reckless behavior. >> Okay. On the afternoon of August 22nd,
1999, 12-year-old Joshua Smurfett and his family were winding down their visit to
Great America when they decided to ride Drop Zone. It's a freef fall to like tower ride where riders are taken to the
top of a 224 ft tower and then dropped. Those are like some of my favorite rides. Could not pay me.
>> I love those rides. After settling into the four seat coach, the ride attendant
checked the seal safety harness on each rider and confirmed they were all locked
in place. Then the car began its ascent to the top of the tower. When the car reached the 207 ft mark, it began its
first big drop, at which point Joshua slipped out of the seat and fell 20 stories to the ground below.
>> Oh my god. >> As his family watched in horror from the waiting area. According to spokesperson Tim Shenod,
the harness was checked and locked before the coach started. We simply don't know what happened. That's not
settling. That said, he did acknowledge that Joshua was among the last of the riders that afternoon as the ride was
being taken out of commission for what they referred to as an unrelated maintenance problem
>> uh >> with one of the other cars. >> Okay. >> He said there is absolutely no way it
could have contributed to the accident. >> Okay. M during a monthsl long investigation into the incident, it was
determined that the ride had not malfunctioned during the ascent or descent and they determined there was no
problem with the safety harness itself. But then how did he fall out of the [ __ ] ride? Unfortunately, for all the
things the investigation ruled out, experts were unable to identify how Joshua had managed to fall out of that
safety bar. Still, the investigation did raise serious concerns about potential violations that could have contributed
to his death. Among other things, the 900page incident report describes quote poor training procedures and other
potential problems at the park. One of those problems was that the ride attendant working the drop zone that day
was 14 years old. >> Oh my god. What? >> Yes. And the other attendant who checked
the safety harness was 16. >> No. Like I'm sorry I'm not putting my life >> years old
and 14y old. >> And obviously like people riding have no idea. Like how are you supposed to know?
You're not going to be like excuse me how old are you? >> How old are you? Like that's
>> holy [ __ ] that is that would send me I'd be like and we're not riding that ride.
Like if I if I knew >> the safety harness was not found to be malfunctioning but was it secured
properly? We don't know >> is the question. Oh, that's wow. >> Oh, and he's 12 years old.
>> And his family watched that. >> These these are so awful. >> In response to her son's death, Joshua's
mother, Tammy, said she had no plans to sue the park. Nor did she believe that they were solely responsible. She later
said, "All I can say is treasure every moment with your child because you never know when you might lose him." Oh.
Joshua's father did not rule out a civil suit. He said, "I'd like to see this report before I speak about it." But he,
the a lawyer on behalf of Terry, the father, said, "But I'll say this. If the child were strapped in properly, the
accident wouldn't have taken place. It's a matter of gravity." >> Right. >> Ultimately, they did choose not to sue
Great America. >> Big people. Now, the relatively limited number of accidents and deaths at parks
like Disneyland and Great America and is due in large part to like really high safety standards.
>> Yeah, of course. >> Um, but in the history of amusement parks and theme parks, there's one name
that is so notorious for low standards that the risk of injury associated with part with the park actually became part
of its allure during its 20 years in operation. I've never heard of this. >> Tell me. This is
insane. >> What was it called? >> Oh, I'm going to tell you. >> Okay. In 1976, New Jersey businessman
Eugene Mulvahill was looking for a way to make money during the off season when his Vernon Township, New Jersey ski
resort, Vernon Valley, was closed. Inspired by the success of parks like Disney and Six Flags, he found a new
company called Great American Recreation. And in May 1978, he opened Action Park in Vernon.
I get so many Tik Toks about Action Park. >> Yes. >> Now, Mulvahill's son, Andy Mulvahill,
said before he opened Action Park, he had no experience of any kind running an amusement park. He said, "In contrast to
Disney's carefully conceived Fantasy Lands, my father pieced together a series of ambitious and often
ill-advised attractions on the side of a ski mountain in rural New Jersey that he
had come to own virtually by accident. That's quite a That's a That's a hefty statement.
>> Yeah. At first, the park amounted to little more than a few go-kart tracks, and miniature racing rides, but he
quickly expanded to include water rides, boat rides, and musical shows like those
at larger parks, but on like a smaller budget. >> In almost no time at all, Action Park
grew from a few hundred visitors in its first season to millions in the year or two that followed. Andy said, "We went
from selling off-brand soda and taking out local newspaper ads to getting a Pepsi sponsorship and seeing our logo on
McDonald's tray liners." >> Wow. >> The key to Action Park's notoriety was in Mulva Hill's own theories about
American society in the late 20th century. Andy said, "My father seized upon the idea that we were all tired of
being coddled, of society dictating our behaviors and lecturing us on our vices.
In order to reject that supposed coddling, Eugene embraced risk as part of his brand, which is this is a
nightmare to me. He had like what? He wasn't embracing his risk. He was embracing other people's risk.
>> Is that even allowed when you own an amusement park? >> Well, rather than strap riders into the
boat on a wave pool, visitors would simply have to cling to the raft lest they be thrown from the boat. Likewise,
riders on an alpine slide style ride weren't confined to a track. They could control the speed of their car and its
brakes. >> Wow. >> Of course, with a guiding principle based on increased risk rather than
safety and family fun, it was only a matter of time before someone got hurt. >> Yep.
>> Andy said, "It was not long before our visitors reworked our advertising to better reflect their experience. That
new informal slogan, Action Park, where you're the center of the accident." Oh my god. The first serious accident came
in 1980, just two years into the park's operation. In July, 19-year-old George Larson was riding the alpine sled ride
at the park when about halfway down the slide, he was thrown from the car he was
riding in, rolled down an embankment to landing 25 ft away, and smashing his head on a rock in the ground.
>> Oh my god. When emergency crews arrived a short time later, Larson was unconscious and soon he lapsed into a
coma. He died a few days later on July 16th. >> That's an awful way. >> George Larson's family and friends
contend that the lack safety protocols at the park were entirely responsible for George's death. But Mulvahill, an
Action Park spokespeople, saw it a different way. Spokesperson Wesley Smith told reporters, "This is an action park
where people are doing physical things to themselves. Their situation is not totally in our control.
But Smith went a step further in denying any responsibility, saying the ride didn't injure Larsson. It was a rock 25
ft away that hurt him. >> That same thing could have happened to someone falling off a bicycle. How did
they get insurance for this? She smiled. Now, despite Smith's assertion that George Larson knew the risks of the ride
and had in fact ignored several safety warnings, others at the park were far less convinced it was operator error.
>> Yeah. In an investigation into the accident by the Office of Workplace and Compliance at the State Department of
Labor, investigators spoke to several park employees who had previously voiced concerns about public safety at the
park. And on that slide specifically, one of the summer attendants said, "We knew something would happen. It could
have been any of us. >> Oh my god. >> According to the report, there was no controls over the cart's speed on the
concrete track, and any number of factors, includ including whether the concrete was wet, could affect how the
car performed. None of which was taken into consideration by the park. The park was cited for seven violations of safety
standards, including having no access road for emergency vehicles to arrive. >> You got to be [ __ ] kidding me. But
ultimately, George's death was ruled an accident. Wow. Now, in the weeks and months that followed Larsson's death,
reports of injuries began to pile up. Uh Andy Mulvahill, remember Eugene's son, said they careen down towering water
slides that spit them into shower pools at such velocity that sometimes overshot
and landed them in the dirt, laughing or bleeding, sometimes both. They often lost their grip on swinging ropes and
plunged into the freezing mountain. They emerged from lakes stinking of spilled diesel fuel from the overworked mo
motorboats. >> This is a nightmare. >> Repeat visitors stuff their pockets with band-aids and sported scabs and scars
along their arms and legs. And yet none of those injuries seem to keep people from attending the park.
>> This feels like like an episode of Jackass. >> Yeah. >> Like truly. On the contrary, the rumors
of heightened risk seem to be one of the reasons people were so enthusiastic to come in the first place. Mhm.
>> Then in the summer of 1982, 2 years after George Larson's death, it happened again. In late July, 15-year-old George
Lopez drowned in one of the wave pools. That same week, two men filed civil suits against the park, alleging serious
injuries suffered on a water slide two years earlier. Then in August, 27year-old Nathan Langenthal collapsed
while riding the whitewater kayak experience. Langenthal was rushed to the hospital but was pronounced dead when he
arrived. In a statement to the press, Action Park spokesperson Diane Bochamp said, "There are reports of a possible
electric shock, but no evidence of electrical malfunction has been found at the ride yet." Hello. Despite the park's
repeated denials that Langenthal's death was due to their negligence, the Orange
County, New Jersey coroner determined that Nathan's cause of death was quote heart failure by electrocution.
What the [ __ ] Still, Action Park refused to acknowledge reality, saying they tested all 11 fans that produced
the waves and everything was in perfect working order. >> Something has to be wrong.
>> Yeah. Uh, operations manager Adam Wringler told a reporter, "At this point, there's absolutely no
malfunction. We would say it's not electrocution at this point, >> but like >> there's nothing wrong with the ride.
>> I was like, but the corner literally said that's the cause of death." >> Argue with the coroner.
>> Like, you're an operations manager, >> kooky kooky amusement park with no safety standards, and you're telling the
coroner, you are wrong. >> It's like in Widow's Bay, the doctor that's always just like, "Where did you
go to medical school?" I love that guy. Are you sure it's not an animal wound? Does it look like it could be an animal
wound? No, not to me. I love that. So funny. Watch Widow's Bay, everybody. >> Oh, you gota I watched it all in one
day. >> So good. Um, so yeah, in the state's investigation of the ride, however,
investigators discovered a short circuit in one of the fans. >> Imagine that. >> Action Park said no problems.
>> Yeah, of course not. >> Although they could not definitively say that was what caused the death, they
acknowledged it was likely what caused the electrocution. I would think. In response to the coroner's report, Eugene
Mulvahill said there was nothing wrong with the ride and he had no marks on him. He probably had some kind of stroke
or something. >> Again, guys, where did you go to medical school? >> A literal coroner whose job is to
determine cause of death by actually looking inside of his body said the cause of death was heart failure by
electrocution. Eugene said, "Nah, >> it's a stroke." >> Nah. >> Do you understand how different heart
failure and a stroke are? >> Yes. Those are two different parts of the body, babe.
>> They sure are. >> Now, despite the near constant injuries to park goers, the popularity of Action
Park continued to grow. Day after day in the park's wave pool, swimmers were pummeled by waves that were stronger
than they should have been for an amusement park. >> Wow. >> Uh Andy Mulvahill said, "When the waves
hit, their force caught our guests unprepared. Powered by the insulation sucking fans, the waves struck with the
same violent menace originally meant to create a mini a series of mini shipwrecks.
What? Yeah. The [ __ ] In fact, if there was any attraction more notorious for causing injuries at the park, it was the
water slides in the wave poolool. In August 1984, 20-year-old Donald Depass drowned when he was quote overcome by
the water after rocketing from a 10- foot high water slide into the pool. >> Holy [ __ ]
>> In response to the death, um, our guy Adam Wrangler there said told reporters
it was quote, "A simple drowning." >> And the lifeguards were adequately trained.
>> Okay. However, several parkgoers were less convinced, including one man who told a reporter the lifeguards on duty,
quote, "Definitely need a little more help." >> That's one thing that you don't want
your lifeguard to need is help. >> Is more help. >> Yeah. >> A few years later, in the summer of
1987, another death occurred when >> they stay open for so long. >> Well, this was when 18-year-old Gre
Gregory Grand Champs drowned in the wave poolool. As always, the park went on the
defensive. uh marketing director Vernon Merritts uh said uh there was no indication that the wave had anything to
do with it, >> but he drowned. >> There's there's actually like a pretty big indication of that. So yeah,
>> when you're drowning in a wave pool. >> Mhm. >> Um yeah, he also uh called the ba the
death a quote basic drowning. Um, yeah. Although they were not held liable for the death, during their investigation,
the prosecutor's office discovered that after being pulled from the pool, lifeguards didn't attempt any
life-saving actions like CPR. >> Aren't they literally trained to do that? >> That's part of their job.
>> Yeah. >> Uh, when asked about that fact, Merritt simply said, quote, "We're not quite
sure he was not resuscitated." >> Okay. >> I'd ask, is everyone okay there? But I
know the answer is absolutely not >> to answer IDK. >> We're not real sure why they didn't try
to save his life. >> Why the >> life guards >> did not attempt to resuscitate his life.
>> Yeah. >> [ __ ] Despite the park's wild popularity, by the late 1980s, state and
local officials had grown kind of tired of the constant complaints, the constant
injuries, and the constant deaths related to activities at Action Park. Andy Mulvahill said, "The state of New
Jersey had never seen anything like it and had little idea how to control it. My father loomed large in the small town
of Vernon, keeping hundreds of people employed and using his political savvy as well as his sometimes questionable
legal means to make sure his passion project remained afloat. >> I love this kid just reading his father.
>> Action Park remained open for 20 years despite injuries being a near hourly occurrence. His his son said
>> 20 years this place was open. >> Finally in 1996, the year Ash Kell came down.
She said, "Shut it down, everybody." >> I said, "I like a safe amusement park." >> Action Park was forced to close,
>> not as a result of accident or death, >> but because the company's creditors forced them into bankruptcy when they
learned that they were not carrying any liability insurance. >> So, that's why you smiled at me when I
asked. I was sitting here being like, "How the [ __ ] would any insurance company sign on to to rep this place?"
>> Exactly. In the years since the park's closure, more information has come to light that
explained, at least in part, some of the problems experienced at Action Park in the 20 years. In addition to limited
testing of new rides, the development of those rides was often undertaken by complete non-experts.
>> Oh, good. >> And they were almost always built on very small shoestring budgets where
corners were constantly being cut. >> Fantastic. >> There was also a serious problem with
training. Many, if not most of the park's employees were just local teenagers who received completely
inadequate training on the operations of the rides, safety protocols, life-saving
techniques. But more than anything else, it was likely the libertine attitude of
the park itself that contributed to the accidents. With a park built on a quote,
"Enter at your own risk ideology, patrons and employees were almost encouraged to behave recklessly."
>> Yeah. without regard for their own safety, much less the safety of anyone around them.
>> Uh Andy Mulvahill said that approach made us national news. The New York Times called our father's creation the
area's most distinctive expression of the amusement park in our age. They also called it a human zoo. Both of things
were true. That's what his son said. >> A human zoo, >> which it kind of is. >> I mean, that's like
>> like you're seeing people at their most base behavior. >> Yeah. Yeah, like truly.
>> Yeah. >> In reflecting on his father's creation and its legacy of risk and chaos, Andy
Mulvahill summed up Action Park like this. It was a place that admitted anyone, misfits to clergymen, rich and
poor, young and old, and told them it was theirs to do with as they pleased. Never again would they have such freedom
in their lives. But the price for its success was sometimes paid by visitors, not all of whom came out alive.
>> Wow. I feel like America kind of feels like action park right now. >> It absolutely does.
>> Yeah, >> that's a absolutely. We are action right now >> and we got to get >> cuz that quote I was just like
>> he was like never again in their lives. I was like ah if they made it this far,
>> they'll they'll see it again. >> Yeah. Life kind of feels like a human zoo. >> That that is um amusement parks part
two. >> Period. Uh >> Wowza. >> Yeah. So those are some crazy rides. >> Well, I'm happy that I've never gone on
any of those rides. >> Nope. >> Um go to Action Park anymore. No, I wouldn't I would not be I would not be
trying to go to Action Park. I don't >> I like safety precautions. >> I like a thrill.
>> I love safety precautions. >> I like a thrill with a safety precaution >> in backing it up
>> place, >> you know? That's that's what I don't love a thrill, but I love safety
precautions. But you like a haunted house scary movie thrill. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> A thrill that does not cause me bodily
harm. >> Yes. Yes. Yes. >> Wow. All right. Well, that was a fun episode. >> Pretty intense.
>> Do I have to get us a fun fact? >> Yeah, I guess I got a goddamn fun fact. >> All right. Cows have regional accents
and they form tight friendships and get depressed if they're separated. >> So cows over here are just being like,
"Mo kid, move [ __ ] get out the way. And then in England they're like, "Moo, [ __ ]
>> Moo, you little swap." >> Moo. >> Yeah, >> I love that. >> I'm obsessed with it. Funny cuz this all
just came full circle. I'd like to pet a Highland cow. >> There you go. >> I cannot do a Scottish accent though. I
am quite Scottish. >> Yeah. >> I've never been able to. >> Never been able to. >> I can really only do British and
southern. >> It's It's a hard one to do. >> I got three accents and that's it. >> All right. We love you. We hope you keep
listening >> and we hope you >> keep >> it weird. >> Weird, but not so weird that you
separate cows and it makes them sad. >> Yeah. >> And then they have to moo in their
different languages >> or have really no safety protocols at a park you open. >> Yeah. Open a safe park if anything.
>> Yeah. Or just don't don't open one. We have enough. >> We have enough. It's fine.

Since the late nineteenth century, amusement parks have been providing countless hours of enjoyment for people all around the world. Often driven by the latest technology and advances in mechanical engineering, the thrill rides at parks like Disney Land, Great America, and other independent parks offer a controlled environment to experience terror and excitement.

While these rides, and the parks in general, are very safe and held to strict safety standards, there are times when the unthinkable happens—a cable snaps, a safety harness breaks—and the once safe ride becomes a nightmare for passengers. Far more often than not, tragic amusement park accidents are the result of human foolishness or, far less often, operator error. But other times, they are a bizarre fluke; a one in a million mechanical problem no one saw coming. Either way, the results can be shocking, horrifying, and even deadly.

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

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References

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Cowritten by Alaina Urquhart, Ash Kelley & Dave White (Since 10/2022) Produced & Edited by Mikie Sirois (Since 2023) Research by Dave White (Since 10/2022), Alaina Urquhart & Ash Kelley Listener Correspondence & Collaboration by Debra Lally Listener Tale Video Edited by Aidan McElman (Since 6/2025) Listener Tale Theme Music licensed from https://www.purple-planet.com Main Theme: Matti Paalanen — Trick or Treat — Provided by Jamendo Ad Music: Title: Artist: BlueJay Studio — Spooky Waltz — Provided by Jamendo

Brief Summary

Hosts Ash and Elena discuss amusement park disasters, focusing on tragic incidents at Disneyland and the notorious Action Park.

Key points

Theme Parks and Risk. Ash and Elena discuss their differing views on risk and thrill-seeking, revealing personal insights.
Disneyland's Early Attractions. A look back at Disneyland's original rides and the innovative ideas behind them.
The Matterhorn Incident. A tragic accident on the Matterhorn ride leads to a deeper investigation into safety at Disneyland.
Mark Maple's Tragic Death. A boy's horse play leads to a tragic accident at Disneyland.
Thomas Cleveland's Fatal Attempt. A young man sneaks into Disneyland and meets a tragic end.
Luan Dawson's Accident. A tragic incident at Disneyland leads to severe injuries and a death.

Episode highlights

Episode quotes

It's just an inconceivable amount to lose when you add kids to the equation.

Ash reflecting on the fear of losing loved ones after becoming a parent.

7:46WatchJun 22, 2026

Tension

75/ 100High tension

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