42 OCTOBER 2018 By Mallory Gleich | Photos: legend-city.com / John Bueker o say that Louis Crandall loved Disneyland was more than a bit of an understatement. In fact, he visited the park so much that it became his dream to build his very own version in his home state of Arizona. Flashback to the 1960s, and Crandall’s dream had become a reality with Legend City Amusement Park. Crandall was a Mesa native who owned Louis Crandall and Associates, a Phoenix advertising agency. After Disneyland opened in 1955, he visited the park multiple times. “He fell completely in love with the whole idea and felt very strongly that Phoenix should have a similar park. Louis made it his mission to bring a Disneyland- style theme park to the Valley. Amazingly, he succeeded,” said John Bueker, author of Legend City and professor at Arizona State University. Crandall gathered a group of Arizona businessmen and formed Legend City, Incorporated. From there, stocks were sold and an allotment of land was purchased on the Phoenix and Tempe border at Washington Street and 56 th Street. The park was situated on 78 acres and construction started in 1961. After 18 months, Legend City officially opened June 29, 1963. More than 28,000 people attended the grand opening, which featured a five-hour groundbreaking ceremony before the park opened. “The original idea was to feature rides and attractions based on famous Arizona legends like the Lost Dutchman Mine,” Bueker said. With this in mind, Crandall split Legend City into six sections, each featuring its own rides and attractions, to mimic the California park he had grown to adore: Gay ‘90s, Boom Town, Ghost Town, Indian Village, Mexican Village and the Modern Era. Boom Town and Ghost Town were the areas where the Arizona legends theme shined brightest. Among the Lost Dutchman Mine ride, there was an old-time saloon, shootouts, bank robberies and a Sheriff’s Office. The Lost Dutchman ride was a fan favorite. Passengers were taken through a mine in actual mining cars where they would witness spooky scenes of skeletons working on the mine, skeleton barbers, collapsing walls and prisoners. The River of Legends, later known as Cochise’s Stronghold, was set in “Apache country” and took passengers on a river boat ride past Apache Indians, cavalrymen, earthquakes and animals that “attacked” the boat. There was also a lagoon where guests could operate “stern wheeler” boats and canoes. Not only were there themed rides at the park, but Arizona’s attempt to bring ‘Disney’ to the desert Papago Buttes Van Buren St. E . W a s h i n g t o n S t . 56th St. P r i e s t D r . Publisher’s Note: Long-time residents will recall Legend City, the old Phoenix amusement park that never lived up to its potential. It’s burned in my memory as a magical place where I spent many warm nights with my friends, playing that old bingo-like game Fascination in the arcade area. This article was a lot of fun to research and I hope readers enjoy the trip down memory lane. Special thanks to Legend City historian John Bueker. See John’s website legend-city.com for more photos and memorabilia. – Greg Bruns, Publisher Legend City founder Louis Crandall at the park entrance on opening day, 1963. Crandall named the 78-acre family amusement park Legend City, as a sort of nod to his own initials.

SOME OF THE RIDES AND UNIQUE AREAS OF THE PARK INCLUDE: (upper left): Merry-Go-Round, Gila Monster roller coaster, and businesses like Pom Pom Hats and Printy’s Sno Cones. (upper right): Boot Hill, Mine Ride and the Ghost Town. (left): Indian Island and Blakely Sports Car Ride. (right): River Ride and Burro Ride. (lower left): Gay ‘90s Village, Sailboat Ride, and Amphitheatre. (lower right): Antique Car Ride, Penny Arcade, Gay ‘90s Golf, and Train Station. Park Map by Disney artist Chic Albertson. [1963]