Ah, Circus World. For those who grew up in or visited Central Florida in the 1970s and 80s, the intersection of I-4 and US 27 holds some very specific, red-and-white-striped memories. Before the landscape was dominated by mega-resorts and strip malls, it was home to a theme park that tried to bring the “Greatest Show on Earth” to a permanent address.
Here is a look back at the grand vision, the rides, and the ultimate fate of Florida’s lost circus park:
The Grand Vision and Opening (1974)
Originally conceived in 1972 by Irvin Feld, head of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, the park was meant to be the ultimate winter headquarters for the circus, complete with a clown college and a residential community called “Barnum City.” There were even early blueprints for a 19-story hotel shaped like a giant elephant.
While the massive elephant hotel never materialized, the Circus World Showcase officially opened its doors on February 21, 1974. Its most iconic structure was the “Big Top”—a 27,000-square-foot building designed to look like a massive circus tent, which housed an illusion show and a six-story IMAX theater (a massive novelty for the era).
Interactive Thrills and Roller Coasters
Circus World wasn’t just about watching the circus; it was about joining it. The park was famous for its interactive experiences, where visitors could get strapped into safety harnesses and actually try their hand at walking the tightrope or swinging on the flying trapeze.
As the years went on, ownership changed hands (from the Feld family to toymaker Mattel, and later to developer Jim Monaghan), and standard amusement park thrills were added to compete with the heavyweights in Orlando:
- The Roaring Tiger: Later known as the Florida Hurricane, this was a classic, sprawling wooden roller coaster that stood as the park’s main attraction. It was famously a favorite of Michael Jackson, who reportedly rode it multiple times during his visits.
- Zoomerang: Added in 1977, this steel coaster brought modern, upside-down looping thrills to the park.
- 1001 Nights: A massive, swinging pendulum ride that loomed over the midway.
- Animal Encounters: The park featured a massive elephant barn, elephant rides, a petting zoo, and live animal performances, including tigers and polar bears.
The Final Bow and What Replaced It
Despite its unique charm, Circus World struggled to turn a consistent profit. The standard carnival-style rides and fragmented themes had a hard time competing with Disney’s polished, state-of-the-art storytelling just a few exits up the interstate.
In May 1986, the park was sold to the publishing company Harcourt Brace Jovanovich (HBJ), which already owned SeaWorld and Cypress Gardens. HBJ quickly decided the circus theme wasn’t viable and permanently closed the park on May 10, 1986.
They gutted and rethemed the property, reopening it on Valentine’s Day 1987 as Boardwalk and Baseball, an attraction that uniquely combined a vintage seaside amusement park aesthetic with a working minor league baseball stadium. Unfortunately, Boardwalk and Baseball also struggled to pull crowds and struck out for good in January 1990.
The Site Today
If you drive past the intersection of I-4 and US 27 in Haines City today, you won’t find any remnants of the Big Top, the Roaring Tiger, or the Boardwalk. The land was eventually cleared, paved over, and redeveloped into Posner Park, a sprawling outdoor shopping and residential complex.
Did you ever get a chance to visit Circus World?