Action Park 1983 - You will come to know fear.

Mar 26, 2026 11:32 PM

newnhb

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This enclosed, near-vertical water slide with a 360-degree loop opened around May 28, 1983. It was so dangerous that employees were reportedly paid $100 to test it. As for the rest of the park, watch Darwin's law of natural selection in action. Either prove your worth or you may not make it out the exit again.

The Alpine Slide: A 2,700-foot concrete and fiberglass track where riders used poorly maintained sleds. In 1980, it had already caused the park's first fatality.

The Tidal Wave Pool: Known as "The Grave Pool," it required 12 lifeguards on duty at all times who often performed up to 60 rescues on a single busy weekend.

The Kayak Experience: This ride featured live underwater electric fans to create rapids; it was permanently closed just a year earlier, in 1982, after a guest was electrocuted.

Battle Action Tanks: A Motorworld attraction where guests could shoot tennis balls at high speed each other from tanks, often resulting in significant injuries.

I first tried bungee jumping here and participated in American Gladiators.

2 months ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

The TEETH SLIDE!!!!!

5 months ago | Likes 10 Dislikes 0

I worked there for many years, both summer and winter. All of the lore is true. Good times!

5 months ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Defunctland has a good piece on the history of Action Park, with contemporary photos, videos, and media reports (and yes that place sounded filled with scary thrills): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=flkW-ceNvck

5 months ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Any two New Jersey people can bond over Action Park like a plane crash they both survived.

5 months ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

5 months ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 0

I loved Action Park.
I wasn't local and never heard about the deaths and injuries until years later.

5 months ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Yeah. That's the one they found teeth embedded in after a few people got spit out cut up.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Action_Park

5 months ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDHqfhyCbbM Action Park 80's Live Action and Cannonball loop 1980 recordings
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKWJpFEJw9M Action Park Commercial

5 months ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

5 months ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

We called it "Traction Park". A very easy place to get really badly hurt

5 months ago | Likes 9 Dislikes 0

I heard it called “Class-Action Park”

5 months ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

“Near vertical” is apparently 45 degrees

5 months ago | Likes 11 Dislikes 0

Apparently they had to adjust it later than this photo to make it much steeper so to generate more speed to stop as were passengers getting stuck in the loop...

5 months ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

There was a near vertical water slide up the hill.
The first section had netting to keep you near the slide, as you would lose contact for the first section...

5 months ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

5 months ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Class Action Park 2020 https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11015214/

5 months ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 0

Came here to post this! Such a great docu-flick!

5 months ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

It’s worth watching! The amount of people who went/worked there and ended up doing comedy is pretty telling.

5 months ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 0