Books on theme parks and park design
Our mission is to produce fine books that celebrate the rich heritage of the theme park industry. Some of these are historical, such as Imagineering an American Dreamscape and Kings Island: A Ride Through Time. Others are a visual walk through the years, such as Kings Island: A Photographic Journey. More are on the way that feature the designers of themed experiences. If you represent a park or have expertise in this industry, contact us about sharing your own story. Meantime, enjoy reading!
Adventures of a Theme Park Designer
This is the story of discovery and adventure about two guys who wanted to design theme parks, but didn't work at any of the major design companies. So, they just went ahead and did it, teaching themselves from the ground up!
Follow their journey as Rick shares his stories, revealing tricks of the trade, behind-the-scenes secrets, and the occasional mistakes made along the way. It's a tale of learning as they went, encountering challenging, humorous, and even dangerous situations along the road of a career that's spanned four decades...and still counting!
IMAGINEERING AN AMERICAN DREAMSCAPE
America’s regional theme parks owe their existence to the magical land Walt built in Anaheim. There were a few false starts, but in 1961 Angus Wynne opened Six Flags Over Texas, triggering a tidal wave of Disneyland-lites over the next twenty years.
This book tells their stories—where they came from, how they got started, and how they’ve changed over the decades. Some of the stories you may have heard. Most you probably haven’t, and it’s a fascinating tale to tell.
Kings Island: A Photographic Journey
Take a walk down memory lane with this big, beautiful coffee table book full of photographs, concept art, and blueprints from Kings Island.
Kings Island: A Ride Through Time
In 1972, one of America’s most beloved theme parks swung open its gates for the first time. Kings Island was the latest in the post-Disneyland boom, and it was big, beautiful, and instantly successful. Who could forget their first sight of the magnificent Eiffel Tower after passing through the turnstiles? Or the colorful flags flying proudly over the Royal Fountain? Now nearly fifty years later, the park is as amazing and grand as ever. Read the story behind this magical playground and how it has changed over time. Filled with personal recollections of park officials who were there, Kings Island: A Ride Through Time offers a first-hand account that is as fascinating as the attractions we’ve loved all our lives.