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Canada's Wonderland: This Is What The Park Looked Like When It First Opened

LOOK: This Is What Canada's Wonderland Looked Like When It First Opened
Kristy Woudstra
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Just north of Toronto, in Vaughan, Ont., stands a rather large (and fake) mountain that has been the symbol of Canada's Wonderland since the park first opened in 1981.

No matter which rides go up (or are taken down), Wonder Mountain remains at the centre of Canada's largest amusement park. However, the 379-acre park has changed a lot in other ways since it first opened on May 23, 1981.

Just take a look at these photos from way back when:

This Is What Canada's Wonderland Looked Like When It First Opened
Wonder Mountain(01 of12)
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The construction of Canada's Wonderland began in April of 1979, two years before the park opened. (credit:Facebook)
Park Entrance(02 of12)
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This photo of the park entrance was taken on June 8, 1981. On opening day just a few weeks before, about 12,000 people came through the gates. During the ceremony, Ontario Premier, Bill Davis, made a speech, Wayne Gretzky helped hoist the Canadian flag, 10,000 helium balloons and 350 white doves were released, 13 parachutists descended and four children represented the Arctic, Pacific, Atlantic and Great Lakes regions. (credit:Facebook/City of Toronto Archives)
1981 Park Map(03 of12)
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Taft Communications were the first owners. They brought with them Hanna-Barbera animation studio, which is why Scooby-Doo, the Flinstones and the Smurfs roamed the park. (credit:Facebook)
Zumba Flume(04 of12)
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Original rides included: the Dragon Fyre, Wilde Knight Mares, the Mighty Canadian Mine Buster, Wild Beast, Zumba Flume (seen here), the Rage (a swinging ship), Ghoster Coaster and Thunder Run. (credit:Facebook)
Spinovator(05 of12)
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Spinovator is also one of the original rides. It used to be called Quixote’s Kettles. (credit:Facebook)
Children's Area(06 of12)
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The children's area was called "The Happyland of Hanna-Barbera." (credit:Facebook)
Happyland(07 of12)
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Happyland included three main areas: Yogi's Woods (which became Smurf's Village in 1984), Bedrock and Scoobyville. (credit:Reddit)
(08 of12)
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(credit:Tumblr)
Poster 1981(09 of12)
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Besides Happyland, visitors could explore Medieval Faire and International Street. (credit:Facebook)
Wonder Mountain(10 of12)
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Until the 1990s, visitors could walk to the top of Wonder Mountain. (credit:Facebook)
Kingswood Music Theatre(11 of12)
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In 1983, Wonderland built the Kingswood Music Theatre, which seats 15,000. (credit:Facebook)
Musical Acts(12 of12)
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Just check out these musical acts from 1985. (credit:Facebook)

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