Buzz
Action Park, situated in New Jersey, emerged as one of the earliest water parks during the unregulated 1980s. Many of its rides were experimental, as water attractions were still in their infancy and lacked proper safety regulations. This lack of oversight allowed the park to operate with minimal restrictions, even on its non-water rides. These attractions often prioritized thrills over safety, earning a reputation for being perilous. Combined with intoxicated visitors, indifferent (and sometimes impaired) teenage staff, and an overall culture of carelessness, the park became notorious for frequent accidents and injuries.
10. The Cannonball Loop
Certain combinations are inherently incompatible. While loops and roller coasters complement each other perfectly, waterslides and loops are a match made in disaster. Unfortunately, the creators of Action Park seemed oblivious to this fact (and possibly to engineering principles altogether) when they designed the infamous flagship of recklessness, known as “The Cannonball Loop.”
This attraction was precisely what its name suggests: a waterslide featuring a loop at its conclusion. Despite the apparent physical impossibility of successfully navigating it, the slide operated at Action Park—albeit briefly. After just a month, authorities shut it down, likely due to its status as one of the most absurdly dangerous rides ever conceived.
Every aspect of the Cannonball Loop posed a safety risk. Riders frequently failed to complete the loop, prompting the installation of an escape hatch at its base. Even those who succeeded often suffered injuries, including bruises, nosebleeds, and head trauma. Some riders lacked sufficient momentum to remain on the loop’s downward curve, plummeting 3 meters (10 feet). To mitigate this, staff sprayed riders with water to boost their speed.
Additional hazards included sand and dirt accumulating at the loop’s base, causing painful abrasions as riders sped through. The ride concluded not with a pool but a hard rubber mat, unceremoniously ejecting survivors. Legend has it that crash test dummies used in initial trials emerged dismembered. Park employees were reportedly offered $100 to test the ride themselves. Although closed, the slide remained intact until the park’s ownership changed in 1996, standing as a grim reminder of Action Park’s perilous reputation.
9. Aqua Scoot
In the competition for “materials unsuitable for slides,” Aqua Scoot undoubtedly takes the crown. This attraction was constructed entirely from metal rollers, similar to those found in airport baggage systems. Participants sat on plastic sleds and slid down the rollers into a shallow pool. The pool’s depth was a mere 30 centimeters (12 inches), with the intention that the sled would glide across the water’s surface upon impact.
However, several issues plagued this ride. Proper positioning on the sled was crucial for it to skim the water. If riders were misaligned, the sled either sank or plunged nose-first, hurling them face-first into the shallow pool, often causing cuts and bruises. Additionally, the metal rollers posed a pinching hazard, as they were never designed for such use. Collisions between riders were also common, as the narrow design led to frequent clashes with others exiting the slide.
8. The ‘Grave Pool’
The “Grave Pool” earned its ominous nickname from Action Park’s wave pool, one of the earliest of its kind. Classified as a pool under state regulations, the park only needed to maintain clean water and provide lifeguards. A minimum of 12 guards were always on duty, sometimes increasing to 20. On peak weekends, lifeguards performed up to 30 rescues, a stark contrast to the typical one or two rescues per season at other pools.
Three of the park’s six fatalities occurred in the wave pool due to drownings. Accidents and near-drownings were frequent, caused by the pool’s design—featuring excessively high and prolonged waves—and the fact that many visitors were city dwellers with limited swimming experience. Additionally, the freshwater waves lacked the buoyancy of ocean waves, catching many off guard.
7. Tarzan Swing
The Tarzan Swing seemed like a decent concept in theory. It featured a 6-meter (20 ft) cable suspended from a steel arch above a deep pool. Guests would leap from a platform, swing over the pool, and release into the water. However, the design had significant flaws. The pool was fed by a natural spring, making the water icy cold—much colder than elsewhere in the park. This led to one of Action Park’s rare non-wave pool fatalities: a man suffered a heart attack after plunging into the frigid water, likely due to thermal shock.
The pool’s far side was bordered by a natural embankment, well within the swing’s range. To “address” this, the park placed a thin foam mat over the lower part of the embankment, supposedly ensuring no one would get hurt by hitting the bank—though this solution was far from effective.
Another major flaw was the zip line’s design, which looped back toward the starting point, putting riders in full view of the waiting crowd. Many riders, realizing they had an audience, attempted risky stunts like backflips, shouted profanities, or even exposed themselves to onlookers. Despite its dangers, the Tarzan Swing remains operational to this day.
6. The Kayak Experience
The Kayak Experience was one of the milder attractions at Action Park. Participants used individual kayaks to navigate a mostly straight course, with underwater fans creating artificial rapids. The primary concern was the kayak tipping over, requiring riders to exit and right it. However, there was also the grim possibility of electrocution.
During the ride’s final days, a young man’s kayak overturned. As he stepped out to flip it back, he came into contact with exposed wiring from one of the fans, resulting in a fatal electric shock. Two family members nearby also suffered shocks but survived. The coroner’s report cited cardiac arrest from electrocution as the cause of death, though Action Park denied any fault. An investigation found no regulatory violations, though regulations were minimal at the time.
Following the tragedy, Action Park drained the Kayak Experience and permanently closed it, citing that guests would “always be intimidated by it.” This decision was puzzling, given the park’s insistence that the ride was not to blame for the fatality.
5. Gladiator Jousting
For several years, Action Park hosted an obstacle course and jousting competitions inspired by the TV show American Gladiator. In the jousting segment, guests faced off against a “gladiator” (typically a muscular park employee) on a 1-meter (3 ft) wet, slippery metal pedestal, attempting to knock them into the pool below. Success meant advancing to face “the Titan,” an even larger gladiator on a 2-meter (6 ft) pedestal. The entire spectacle was staged before an audience, catering to their thirst for excitement.
The park didn’t recruit gladiators from its existing staff. Instead, they scouted local gyms for the strongest individuals and instructed them to go all out. An announcer provided commentary, often mocking guests who were outmatched by the gladiators, adding to the humiliation.
4. Surf Hill
You’ve likely encountered a ride similar to Surf Hill at nearly every water park. It featured a large waterslide divided into multiple lanes, where riders raced each other on mats to the bottom. As one of the earliest versions of this slide, it had its share of flaws. The lane dividers were too low, making it easy to cross into another lane. The seventh lane had a steeper drop, often launching riders into the air. Park employees often gathered at the cafe below, knowing they’d witness frequent wipeouts or lost swimwear.
At the slide’s end, riders faced a dilemma. Unlike modern versions with long runouts to slow down, this one had a water-filled basin with a curved, padded wall. Going too slow meant dropping into the basin, with the mat hitting your face. Going too fast sent you up the wall, only to fall backward into the water.
3. Tank Tag
On the surface, Tank Tag appeared to be harmless fun for Action Park visitors, but for the staff, it was the most dreaded assignment in the entire park.
The ride resembled bumper cars, but instead of cars, participants drove small tanks equipped with tennis ball cannons. Spectators could pay to operate additional cannons mounted around the perimeter, firing tennis balls at the tanks.
Occasionally, a tank would break down, forcing an employee to enter the arena to restart it. Despite numerous warning signs, these unarmed and unprotected workers became instant targets, bombarded with tennis balls. It was a uniquely stressful workplace.
2. The Alpine Slide
The Alpine Slide is another strong entry in the “why would anyone think this is a good idea for a slide?” category. This luge-style ride featured a track made of fiberglass and concrete. Riders used small plastic carts to speed down the hill, with brakes intended to control their velocity. However, the brakes were notoriously unreliable, making it difficult to prevent the carts from derailing—a challenge many riders couldn’t overcome.
This attraction caused countless injuries, including cuts, scrapes, bruises, and lacerations, leaving many children in tears. The number of people who wiped out on this ride is staggering. The problem was exacerbated by the fact that Action Park is a water park, and many riders attempted the slide wearing only bathing suits, leading to even more painful outcomes.
The Alpine Slide also marked the site of the park’s first fatality when an employee’s cart derailed, struck a hay bale (ironically placed for safety), and ejected him. He fell down an embankment, hitting his head on a rock, which proved fatal.
The slide’s extensive track required riders to use a ski lift to reach the top, which passed directly over the slide. This led to frequent incidents of guests on the lift spitting or shouting insults at those below. Despite its dangers, it was the park’s most popular attraction, with one official even calling it “the safest ride there is.” The Alpine Slide was eventually dismantled when the park changed ownership, though its path remains visible beneath the lift.
1. Geronimo Falls
Geronimo Falls was Action Park’s version of speed slides, but with a twist: its slope was much steeper than modern speed slides. The initial section was enclosed to prevent riders from flying off at the top, ensuring they stayed on the slide. A metal bar allowed guests to hang over the edge before dropping onto the slide—a practice likely unsanctioned but common. Riders could hit speeds of nearly 100 kilometers per hour (60 mph) on their descent.
After the park changed hands, Geronimo Falls was dismantled and replaced with a gentler green speed slide named H2 Oh No!, featuring a less extreme incline.
