Seattle Center Fun Forest Amusement Park is Closing This Year

The clock is ticking on Fun Forest Amusement Park in the Seattle Center. Fun Forest's lease is up this year, and the park is scheduled to close after Labor Day. Their lease was initially set to expire in 2014, but in a deal with the city of Seattle, Washington it was shortened in exchange for reduced rent.

Fun Forest Amusement Park is located at the base of the towering Space Needle landmark in the sprawling downtown complex known as Seattle Center. Fun Forest was originally part of the 1962 World's Fair. At that time the amusement park was called "Gayway."

The privately owned Fun Forest has 19 rides situated on 5 acres. Roughly half are designed for children, including the Rainbow Chaser steel roller coaster, kiddie Bumper Cars, Merry Go Round, Puff & Dumbo Ride and Mini Pirate Ship. For older guests there's the Windstorm steel roller coaster, the Wild River log ride, the Galleon (a full size swinging pirate ship), a Ferris wheel and several spinning rides.

Fun Forest Amusement Park also has an indoor Entertainment Pavilion which contains a 25' climbing wall, laser tag, bumper cars, carnival-style prize games, the classic Skeeball game, video games, miniature golf, an inflatable castle, inflatable slide and food vendors.

I have fond memories of going to Fun Forest Amusement Park when I lived in Seattle in the late 70s. In those days it was a lively, bright place teeming families, teens, locals and tourists alike. Unfortunately, the years have not been kind to Fun Forest. Now it just seems a bit sad, lame, and empty. I'm not surprised that the city of Seattle wanted to reclaim this prime piece of real estate, and I hope they do something interesting with it.

Admittedly, Fun Forest never really was a place that offered big thrills for serious roller coaster fans like me. The adult roller coaster is not even technically recognized by coaster snobs as one that counts towards your "track record" (i.e., a list of all the roller coasters you've been on). Yet Fun Forest was a neat place to hang out, go on a few rides and pretend you were scared.

Of course, if you're visiting Seattle you should plan to go up in the Space Needle because the views are incredible (on a clear day it really does seem like you can see forever). Since you're already at the Seattle Center for the Space Needle, you might as well check out Fun Forest. Just don't go expecting major thrills or an experience akin to a large amusement park, or you'll be sorely disappointed.

Admission to Fun Forest Amusement Park is free and the rides are pay as you go; most take 2 or 3 ride tickets but the Windstorm roller coaster takes 5 tickets. You can buy single ride tickets or save a little by buying bulk: e.g., 20 tickets for $17 and 40 tickets for $32.

Fun Forest is located in downtown Seattle off Interstate 5. Take the Mercer Street exit (#167) and drive west about one mile. If you can see the Space Needle, then you can easily find Seattle Center.

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Funforest.com

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