Theme park to close rollercoaster forever after 'last hurrah' - opened in 1959

Theme park to close rollercoaster forever after 'last hurrah' - opened in 1959 A beloved rollercoaster has taken its final riders after nearly seven decades of operation. The Mad Mouse at Arnolds Park Amusement Park in Iowa, US, officially retired on Wednesday, July 29, bringing an end to the attraction's remarkable 67-year history. The theme park paid tribute to the classic ride in a Facebook post, thanking it for the “laughs, thrills and memories” it had provided generations of visitors. “Over the years, this classic ride has created countless memories for generations of guests and kept our maintenance team busy with plenty of repairs along the way,” park officials wrote. “Thank you, Mad Mouse, for the ride.” The rollercoaster first opened in 1959 at Bell's Amusement Park in Tulsa, Oklahoma, before being moved to Joyland Amusement Park in Lubbock, Texas, in 1976. Arnolds Park acquired the ride in 2019, giving it what CEO Jon Pausley described as a “last hurrah”. The compact coaster became known for its sharp hairpin turns and intense thrills, with Pausley saying riders tended to either love it and ride repeatedly or decide once was enough. But keeping the ageing attraction running had become increasingly difficult. Natural wear and tear meant the Mad Mouse required frequent repairs, maintenance and welding. Each welding job also required inspection and certification, sometimes forcing the ride to close for several days. Park bosses ultimately decided that the ride's footprint and frequent downtime no longer made sense during its short, 100-day operating season. As the attraction is dismantled, at least one of its cars will be preserved at the Arnolds Park Museum. Other parts will be sent to Little Amerricka Amusement Park in Wisconsin, home to the last remaining Mad Mouse of its type. The ride's removal will make way for a new attraction scheduled to open at Arnolds Park in 2027.