Like Kings Island and Kings Dominion, Canada’s Wonderland has an International street with an anchor at the end of it. KI and KD have a replica of the Eiffel Tower while Wonderland went with a mountain rather than a tower. I would have loved to been a fly on the wall when the discussion around Wonderland's anchor was decided. "No lets do a mountain this time we already have two towers".  For those of you who don’t know Taft was a 50% partner when Canada’s Wonderland was built in 1981.

When Wonder Mountain first opened in 1981 it really served the same function as the Kings Towers… you were able to walk up ramps to the top and observe the rest of the park. You were also able to walk behind the water falls. I do believe that the washrooms that are in the mountain have always been there. The mountain also serves as some type of cooling system for the rest of the park.  Some people think that the mountain represents the mountain in the Paramount Logo. But Wonder Mountain was designed before Paramount was in the picture. I believe it is a replica of some mountain in Africa but, not quite sure.

At the current location of  “The Fly” once stood an electric powered coaster called “Blauer  Enzian” and in 1986 it was moved inside the mountain and renamed Thunder Run.  Today Thunder Run continues to be a very popular family attraction.  Thunder Run’s loading platform and queue affords the guest a very good view of  Medieval Faire and the International Festival themed sections of the park.  It was also the perfect picture taking spot for the Bayern Curve now the current location of Klockwerks.

Wonder Mountain was not done adding attractions.  In 1991 Arrow Dynamics was contracted to build a suspended coaster named Vortex.  The back of the mountain would be used to house the lift hill and serve as the first drop.  The coaster track from the lift and first drop both cross over the pathways at the back of the mountain.  This is the only location in the park were coaster track crosses over a pathway.   At the top of Vortex’s lift gives you a false sense of security because you are only a few feet from the top of the mountain.  But as soon as train does its short turn around the bottom of your world falls out as your tossed over the side of Wonder Mountain.  This is a very different experience than the one you get while riding Vortex’s sister coaster Top Gun at PKI. Of course I am bias and I like Wonderland’s.

Fast Forward to year 2000 and touted by park as their 20^th anniversary... really only their 20^th season and “The Eruption “ infrastructure is placed on Wonder Mountain.  The Eruption a fire works extravaganza blasted off the mountain every summer evening in 2000. The Eruption was so well received that it has returned for 2001 and 2002 but only for two weeks at the end of August.  Dare I say that the Eruption is second to none.

When did the walking up on the mountain discontinue? I am not quite sure.  When Vortex was installed in 1991 maybe.  I just know in 1996 for our first visit you could see clues that you could once walk on the mountain.  The entrance ramps to mountain have long since been taken out.  You can notice some of walkways when you are at the top while riding Vortex.

That my friends is what I know about the history of PCW’s Wonder Mountain.  I personally prefer Wonder Mountain over an Eiffel Tower.  I think it looks much more impressive.  Another question that pops into my head is why Canada’s Wonderland choose that name and was not called King’s Wonderland? Topic for a future post.

Regards,
Kevin Reid

-Original Posted on URC's North American Discussion message board June 18, 2002.