Joyland Amusement Park, Lubbock, TX

The amusement park that bears the name Joyland has been around since the 1940's. It began life as the Mackenzie Park Playground because of its location. Thousands of people have been to the park throughout the years. However, it started to decline in the 1960's as did the area the park was situated in. The Dean family decided in 1973 to purchase the park even though it needed a lot of refurbishing. They began with just thirteen rides and have expanded to more than thirty. The Dean family stills owns the park and they continue to add water and thrill rides to the park.

Joyland Amusement Park has limited opening times as early as March; however, the main season runs from June through August. Limited opening times happen again in September. In the off season the park opens at 2:00 pm and during the summer it can be open from 2:00 pm to 10:00 pm depending on the day of the week.

Parking is free at the park and general admission is four dollars a person. General admission gets guests into the park only. Babies that are under a year old are admitted free with a paying adult, except on Monday evenings in the summer. Armbands or tickets are necessary to ride the rides. Most rides need one ticket with the exception of the Dare Devil Drop which needs two. Tickets purchased are two dollars each or ten for fifteen dollars. The best deal is for an armband that charges $17.50 per person from 2:00 pm to closing on Saturday and Sunday. Weeknights the charge for an armband is $12.50 per person from 7:00 pm to closing. Joyland does offer specials during their season and visitors can find out about them on the internet at their web site.

The park is designed to have rides for the whole family that include: a train that takes everyone around the park, the carousel which was built in the 1900's, the skyride that gives families a bird's eye view of the amusement park and Mackenzie Park, and the final family ride is the bumper cars. These classics are still a favorite.

Rides that are perfect for the little ones are staples such as the helicopters, big trucks, whip and sky fighters. This airplane ride has the plane lifted off the platform for the entire ride and the plane can go forward or backward.

Older children and adults will find thrills on the Dare Devil Drop, Space Shuttle, Galaxi Coaster, Rock-O-Plane, Scrambler, Musik Express, Mad Mouse, Spider, Tilt-A-Whirl, Trabant, Roll-O-Plane and the Paratrooper. Guests can cool off from the hot Texas weather with the Wild River Log Flume, Vortex Water Coaster, and Big Splash.

If guests get hungry at Joyland they can eat at the concessions. The menu features hamburgers, cheeseburgers, pizza, hot dogs, corn dogs, mini corn dogs, Frito pie, French fries, cheese fries, chili cheese fries, nachos, macho nachos, and soft drinks. Popcorn, funnel cakes, cotton candy, ice cream cones, shakes, floats, snow cones and cookies are also offered. A kid's meal can also be purchased with mini corn dogs, French fries, pickle and soft drink.