Fun Spot America Theme Parks

Fun Spot America Theme Parks is an amusement-park company founded by John Arie Sr. and rooted in the family-entertainment-center business that he began in Orlando in 1979. The company operates destination-oriented parks in Central Florida, with locations in Orlando and Kissimmee, and has also operated a park in Fayetteville, Georgia, outside Atlanta. Its parks combine roller coasters, go-kart tracks, flat rides, children’s attractions, arcades, food outlets, and large thrill attractions such as Skycoasters. The company’s origins lie in Fun ’n Wheels, a family entertainment center opened by Arie near Orlando’s International Drive tourist corridor. The original site emphasized go-kart racing and added water slides, miniature golf, bumper vehicles, a Ferris wheel, and arcade entertainment. A second Fun ’n Wheels park opened in Kissimmee in 1988. Both locations were subsequently sold to Pleasurama USA, and Arie continued managing them for a period under the sale arrangement. After the end of a non-compete period, he relaunched the concept under the Fun Spot America name, first opening parks in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and Virginia Beach, Virginia, before returning to Orlando. The present network took shape with the opening of Fun Spot America Orlando on December 24, 1997. The park was designed as a compact action-oriented attraction close to the International Drive tourism district and featured an elevated, multi-level go-kart track, a Ferris wheel, arcade facilities, and other rides. The Orlando park later underwent a major expansion. After purchasing adjacent land and researching amusement parks and roller coasters across the United States, Fun Spot invested approximately $25 million in an expansion that more than tripled the park’s size. The project added the wooden roller coaster White Lightning, the suspended family coaster Freedom Flyer, additional thrill rides, a larger go-kart facility, food-service space, parking, restrooms, and a prominent Skycoaster. The enlarged park was presented as Fun Spot America Orlando in 2013. Fun Spot expanded its Central Florida presence through the acquisition of the Skycoaster site beside Old Town in Kissimmee. The company developed the surrounding property into a larger amusement park, now known as Fun Spot America Kissimmee. That park is organized around a lagoon and is recognized for its very tall Skycoaster, multi-level go-kart tracks, family and thrill rides, arcade facilities, and roller coasters. The park’s coaster inventory has included rides relocated from other Florida attractions, including the Wild Mouse coaster formerly known as Galaxy Spin at Cypress Gardens and the Power Trip coaster, later known as Rockstar Coaster. In 2015, Fun Spot partnered with Gatorland to open Gator Spot at the Orlando park. The attraction extended Gatorland’s wildlife-entertainment presence into the International Drive area and offered encounters involving alligators, including photography, feeding, and supervised holding experiences. Fun Spot later expanded beyond Florida by acquiring the former Fun Junction USA property in Fayetteville, Georgia, and opening Fun Spot America Atlanta in 2017. Reference material reports that the Atlanta park was announced for permanent closure on August 2, 2026; the operating status and effective closure date should be checked against current company communications. The brand’s positioning centers on accessible, family-oriented amusement rather than a large destination resort model. Its parks are generally compact, admission structures can be oriented around individual rides or park access, and the attraction mix is deliberately broad: children’s rides, family coasters, go-karts, arcades, flat rides, food, and high-intensity attractions coexist within the same properties. The company has also differentiated itself through proprietary or distinctive elevated go-kart-track concepts and through a willingness to reuse or relocate attractions from closed parks. Fu…

John Arie Sr. entered the family-entertainment business in 1979, when he opened Fun ’n Wheels near Orlando’s International Drive tourist corridor. The original three-acre site was centered on go-kart racing and developed into a broader action park with three go-kart tracks, a water slide, miniature golf, bumper cars, bumper boats, a Ferris wheel, and an arcade. Its combination of wet and dry attractions helped establish the operating model that later informed Fun Spot. A second Fun ’n Wheels location opened in Kissimmee in 1988. The two parks were sold soon afterward to Pleasurama USA, a subsidiary of the British company Pleasurama PLC. Arie remained involved in management under a transitional agreement, but the buyer’s attention shifted toward its Hard Rock Cafe interests. The former Fun ’n Wheels sites eventually ceased operating, with both permanently closed by 2002. Arie launched a new chain under the Fun Spot America name in 1990, opening a park in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and another in Virginia Beach, Virginia, in 1992. Both parks closed by 1998 as Arie redirected his attention toward the Orlando market. Once the contractual non-compete period connected with the earlier sale had ended, he returned to Orlando and opened Fun Spot America on December 24, 1997. The new park occupied approximately 4.7 acres and featured a three-level elevated go-kart track, a Ferris wheel, an arcade, and other compact amusement attractions. The Orlando operation expanded substantially after Fun Spot purchased approximately ten adjoining acres in 2010. During 2011, the company studied amusement parks and roller coasters around the United States before selecting attractions and beginning construction in 2012. The resulting project, reported at approximately $25 million, more than tripled the park’s size. It introduced White Lightning, a wooden out-and-back coaster; Freedom Flyer, a suspended family coaster; a major Skycoaster; additional thrill rides; a larger multi-level go-kart track; a food court; a new ticketing area; expanded parking; and upgraded guest facilities. The expanded property was relaunched as Fun Spot America Orlando in June 2013. Fun Spot’s Kissimmee operation developed from a 2004 acquisition of the site containing the world’s tallest Skycoaster at that time. The company subsequently developed roughly nine acres around the attraction into a full amusement park, which opened in 2007 under the Fun Spot USA name and was later renamed Fun Spot America Kissimmee. The park’s circular layout around a lagoon accommodates go-kart tracks, flat rides, an arcade and children’s area, roller coasters, and the Skycoaster. A major coaster addition arrived in 2011, when the Power Trip Coaster opened; it was later known as Rockstar Coaster. The park also received a relocated Wild Mouse coaster from Cypress Gardens after that park closed. In May 2015, Fun Spot and Gatorland opened Gator Spot at the Orlando property. The partnership created a smaller Gatorland-branded attraction near International Drive, with supervised alligator encounters and visitor photography. Fun Spot subsequently acquired the former Fun Junction USA property in Fayetteville, Georgia, and opened Fun Spot America Atlanta in 2017. Reference material states that closure of the Atlanta property was announced for August 2, 2026; because that date is future-dated or otherwise requires current confirmation, the company’s present geographic footprint should be checked against official sources. Across its history, Fun Spot has emphasized dense, mixed-use amusement environments rather than large resort complexes. Its parks combine rides, go-karts, arcades, food, and family attractions, with signature experiences such as elevated kart tracks and Skycoasters providing differentiation. The company received the 2012 IAAPA Brass Ring Award for Top Family Entertainment Center in North America.

1. 2017Atlanta-area location opens

   Fun Spot opens a park in Fayetteville, Georgia, on the former Fun Junction USA site.

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2. 2015Gator Spot opens

   Fun Spot and Gatorland open a jointly developed alligator-encounter attraction at the Orlando park.

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3. 2013Expanded Fun Spot America Orlando reopens

   The Orlando park reopens after a major expansion featuring White Lightning, Freedom Flyer, a Skycoaster, and additional facilities.

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4. 2012Major Orlando expansion receives industry recognition

   Construction begins on the Orlando expansion, and Fun Spot receives IAAPA’s Brass Ring Award for Top Family Entertainment Center in North America.

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5. 2011Power Trip Coaster opens

   Fun Spot adds its first major roller coaster at Kissimmee; the ride later becomes known as Rockstar Coaster.

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6. 2007Kissimmee amusement park opens

   The company develops the surrounding Kissimmee property into a larger amusement park.

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7. 2004Kissimmee Skycoaster site acquired

   Fun Spot purchases the Skycoaster site beside Old Town in Kissimmee.

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8. 1997Fun Spot returns to Orlando

   Fun Spot America opens a new Orlando park on December 24.

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9. 1992Virginia Beach location opens

   The chain adds a second location in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

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10. 1990Fun Spot America chain begins

    Arie opens a Fun Spot America location in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

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11. 1988Second Fun ’n Wheels location opens in Kissimmee

    A second Fun ’n Wheels park opens in Kissimmee before both parks are sold to Pleasurama USA.

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12. 1979First Fun ’n Wheels family entertainment center opens

    John Arie Sr. opens a go-kart-centered family entertainment center near Orlando’s International Drive corridor.

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A compact, family-oriented amusement-park operator combining affordable and accessible entertainment with distinctive go-kart tracks, roller coasters, thrill rides, and Central Florida tourist attractions.

• White LightningWooden roller coaster2013

  A wooden out-and-back roller coaster at Fun Spot America Orlando and one of the park’s signature attractions. It was added as part of the major Orlando expansion completed in 2013.

• Freedom FlyerSuspended family roller coaster2013

  A suspended family coaster introduced at Orlando during the 2013 expansion. It broadens the park’s coaster offering beyond the more intense thrill rides while retaining a distinctive suspended ride format.

• SkycoasterThrill attraction

  A large pendulum-style thrill attraction and a defining feature of Fun Spot America Kissimmee. The company acquired the Kissimmee property around an existing Skycoaster site and developed a larger park around it.

• Rockstar CoasterRoller coaster2011

  The Kissimmee roller coaster formerly known as the Power Trip Coaster. It was introduced in 2011 as Fun Spot’s first major roller coaster at the Kissimmee park.

• Gator SpotWildlife attraction2015

  A partnership attraction created with Gatorland at Fun Spot America Orlando. It provides supervised alligator encounters, visitor photography, and feeding experiences, and includes the leucistic alligator known as Bouya.

• Multi-level go-kart tracksGo-kart attraction1997

  Elevated and multi-level go-kart tracks are central to Fun Spot’s identity. The Orlando park introduced a patented three-level design, while both Orlando and Kissimmee use go-kart racing as a major recurring attraction.

• 2017Expansion into the Atlanta regionM&A

  Fun Spot pursued geographic expansion beyond its Florida properties by acquiring the former Fun Junction USA site in Fayetteville, Georgia.

  What changed. The company opened Fun Spot America Atlanta on the acquired property.

  Aftermath. The company operated a third location in the Atlanta metropolitan area; reference material later reported an announced closure for August 2, 2026.

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• 2015Partnership with GatorlandStrategy

  Gatorland sought to extend its wildlife-entertainment brand into the International Drive tourist area.

  What changed. Fun Spot collaborated with Gatorland to open Gator Spot at the Orlando park.

  Aftermath. The partnership added a wildlife-oriented attraction to Fun Spot’s amusement-park mix and gave Gatorland a presence closer to major Orlando tourist traffic.

  Attraction investment. $1 million (2015)

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• 2013Launch of expanded Fun Spot America OrlandoProduct launch

  The original Orlando park required additional capacity and a stronger attraction lineup for the International Drive tourism market.

  What changed. Fun Spot added White Lightning, Freedom Flyer, a Skycoaster, more thrill rides, a larger go-kart track, food service, parking, and guest facilities.

  Aftermath. The property reopened as a substantially larger park and established roller coasters and thrill attractions as central parts of the Orlando offering.

  Expansion investment. $25 million (2013)

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• 2010Acquire adjacent Orlando expansion landStrategy

  Fun Spot sought to transform its compact Orlando park into a larger attraction capable of supporting major roller coasters and additional guest facilities.

  What changed. The company purchased approximately ten acres of vacant land beside the existing Orlando property and undertook research into amusement parks and roller coasters before planning the expansion.

  Aftermath. The decision led to the approximately $25 million expansion completed in 2013 and more than tripled the park’s size.

  Expansion investment. $25 million (2013 expansion)

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• 2026Fun Spot America Atlanta closure announced

  Reference material reports that the Fayetteville park was announced for permanent closure on August 2, 2026. The final operating status should be verified using a current official announcement.

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• 2017Fun Spot America opens Atlanta-area park

  Fun Spot opened a park in Fayetteville, Georgia, after acquiring the former Fun Junction USA property.

  Product launchM&A
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• 2015Fun Spot and Gatorland open Gator Spot

  Fun Spot America Orlando and Gatorland launched a jointly developed attraction offering alligator encounters in the International Drive tourist district.

  Product launchM&A
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• 2013Fun Spot America Orlando completes major expansion

  The Orlando park reopened after an approximately $25 million expansion that added land, White Lightning, Freedom Flyer, a Skycoaster, additional rides, go-kart facilities, food service, parking, and guest amenities.

  Product launch
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1. Fun Spot America Theme Parks