Alex Carson
Theme Parks
People love theme parks. They are fun for the whole family, and they make for a great place to spend the day. There are plenty of theme parks to choose from in the United States. There is one theme park in Arizona that still stands, but sadly, it is abandoned. It was called Bedrock City, and it was dedicated to the hit the ’60s animated series, The Flintstones. A Photographer Explored The Abandoned Flintstones Theme Park – And It’s Filled With Eerie Sights.
The Flintstones
The Flintstones first appeared on TV in September 19600. It aired on ABC and was the first animated series to be seen on prime time TV. It was produced by Hanna-Barbera, who is the same company that created Yogi Bear and Huckleberry Hound. Initially, the show was going to be called The Flagstones. Shortly after the name was chosen, the producers decided that The Flintstones sounded much better.
Based On The Honeymooners
The cartoon is based on The Honeymooners, which was a show about a bus driver in New York, and his wife. It followed the trials and tribulations of married couples in the mid-20th century. It was such a big hit that they were sure that the adult-friendly material could be made a bit more silly and turned into a cartoon for adults, and children today to enjoy. The animated series tackled adult topics like infertility and adoption. Since it was given a primetime slot, its primary sponsor was Winston cigarettes, and the characters on the show starred in the TV commercials.
Aimed Toward Adults
The setting for The Flintstones and The Honeymooners was different. The Honeymooners was set in New York City, and The Flintstones was set in the suburbs. The Flintstones showed how the Flintstones and the Rubbles experience modern situations in the Stone Age, which allowed them to satirize the struggles of the 60s life. This doesn’t sound too much like a children’s cartoon, because initially, it wasn’t. Originally, The Flintstones was created for an adult audience.
Six-Acres
Bedrock City sits on the six-acre site in the Arizona desert. It is located about 30 minutes from the Grand Canyon, and it was the last theme park in America based on The Flintstones. Not only did the park contain Flintstones attractions, but it also included an RV campground and carpark, that is still there today.
The Park
The park is located on the side of the road in the middle of the desert, and the attractions would be familiar to anyone who has ever seen the show. Bedrock City recreated the show’s fictional town, Bedrock, and it contains a salon, post office, and a Brontosaurus slide just like the one in the opening credits. The park first opened in 1972, and it was the only official Flintstones theme park. It opened six years after the show ended, but people loved the show, and it remained popular long after it ended. People loved the “modern Stone Age family,” and they still do today. It has been almost 50 years since the show ended, and people still love it.
Closing the Doors
Sadly, the park closed for good in 2019, four years after it was put up for sale. Despite the fact that the doors are closed, much of Bedrock City still stands today. Because the park is old, and it hasn’t been cared for very well since it was put on the market in 2015, it is a bit run down. Today, the park is an attraction for a different reason. It is a far cry from what it once was, and its ghost town feel is what has drawn people there.
A Live-Action Movie
Although The Flintstones ended decades ago, a live-action movie was made in 1994. It starred John Goodman, Rick Moranis, Elizabeth Perkins, and Rosie O’Donnell. Despite critics slamming the film, a sequel was made in 2000, called The Flintstones In Viva Rock Vegas.
The Theme Park’s Heyday
When the theme park was open, it was a huge hit. Not only could you tour Bedrock, but you could get something to eat at the on-site restaurant, Fred’s Diner. You could orders dishes like Dino Dogs, Bronto Burgers, and Mammoth Milkshakes. Also, the staff at the restaurant was dressed like the Flintstones characters.
Closing the Park
The owners of the park were husband and wife, Francis and Linda Speckles. They decided to close it down in 2019 when there was a decline in the number of visitors. They also had trouble getting staff to work there because of the remote location. Since then, the theme park has been abandoned, and it is now a draw for photographers and people who are interested in abandoned places. It’s sad that the theme park is now abandoned, and you can’t go there to get a Bronto Burger, but it is a huge break for photographers like Sandra Jungling, who loves photographing these types of places.
