In Part 1 of the Busch parks we saw how amazingly successful the Tampa brewery tour and gardens was. So good, in fact, that they figured they ought to try it again. They took an existing brewery facility of theirs in Van Nuys, CA and hired Bill Evans (Disneyland’s landscape designer) to convert 17.5 acres of a former cabbage patch into a lush oasis.
That he did, crafting an immersive wonderland of subtropical flora and fauna that whisked you far away from the hustle, bustle, and drabness of Los Angeles’ industrial districts. Opening in May of 1966, the $4 million project featured similar sights and experiences as at their Tampa location. Wander the pathways and take in the sights of the landscaping and birds. Sample the company’s various beverages at the Michelob Terrace and Budweiser Pavilion. But here in California you could also fork over 50 cents and enjoy a 20-minute, leisurely boat ride past Palm Island, through Central Lagoon, and alongside the towering crags of the Gorge. Arrow Development, well-known for their innovative roller coasters and other amusement rides, installed the Skyrail, a suspended monorail that offered an elevated tour of the brewery.
Admission was free, of course, the idea again being that this was to serve as a promotional, branding experience. It worked, mostly, for awhile, but by 1970 the company decided it had no choice but to begin charging admission in order to handle rising operational expenses and necessary expansion. This occurred first in Tampa, along with a major $12.6 million expansion of the park. Los Angeles followed suit in 1972, charging $2.75 after adding five acres across the railroad tracks. Busch tried another major upgrade in 1975, adding Old St. Louis and a monorail that toured around the park.
It didn’t work. Rides, workers, and insurance was too much for the mediocre attendance they attracted. They gave up on the park as a gated amusement area, converting the property back to a promotional facility. Busch Bird Sanctuary staggered onward another two years before hitting the end of the road. Busch needed to expand the brewery, and as someone quipped along the way, a “bird in the hand wasn’t worth a Bud in the can.” The park was bulldozed for the $250 million plant expansion. The only remnant these days is the bridge over the train tracks, cut off on each end. Probably millions of Californians have driven past wondering what the bridge to (and from) nowhere is all about.
Here are several vintage newspaper ads and photos. For more history of the Busch parks (and all the other regional theme parks) check out Imagineering an American Dreamscape.
