This made me cry. My family went to the grand canyon in 1975. We stopped at the Bedrock theme park. It was an epically insane month long summer vacation trip. My mom. my grandfather, my 3 brothers and me (the bratty sister) in 1/4 ton pick up with a canopy shell. No A/C in the back and forced to ride on the wheel well. I hated every moment. Now, all these year later, I'm the only one left. I miss them all and choose to remember the good things. The Flintstone's park visit is one of those memories. Thanks for the memories.
I went to the Arizona park in 2015 and it was wild. We were the only people in the diner and the park. Being all alone in the middle of a desert on a gray, cold January day surrounded by decaying Flintstones decor was quite the experience. Imagine all the quiet and solitude of a hike combined with the feeling of exploring the Fallout New Vegas map. My friend did crawl through the snake. He regretted it instantly.
What I find bizarre is that, out of all these parks, none of them had a bowling ally or a working recreation of the Bedrock drive-in theatre. I would think those would be two obvious choices when creating a Flintstones theme park.
I think the one in BC had like lil kid bowling one with like foam rock pins. But real bowling alleys are expensive, especially custom Flintstones ones. And the video showed they had a theatre at the theme parks Dakota and nevada, the problem with drive ins is they only work at night when it's dark, and I imagine almost all of their visitors who were passing were in the day. So an indoor theatre makes more sense.
My family used to stay almost exclusively at kitschy themed campgrounds while traveling in the 2000's and early 2010's and they never stop being fun. America needs to bring kitsch and tackiness back in a fun, big way.
Won’t happen. What made the kitsch and tackiness fun was that it wasn’t intentional. It was just people sharing wacky and unusual interests that they were passionate about, and that love was what made those things so fun and their interests to interesting to the rest of us. I hate how it’s all become corporate now. And also, people would need to be willing to take road trips more. I personally so-two years ago, a 6,636.5-mile solo trip. Last year, a 2,500-mile trip with my daughter. Didn’t get a chance this year, but next year, I’ve got one already in the planning. I go to places like Paris a time or two a year as well, but damn, there’s nothing like getting in the car with a vague sense of where I’m going, and seeing what I can find along the way.
The death of kitsch has never made sense, life isn’t all mean to be a boring sanitized corporate grey. The argument is it tells people what to expect from one location to the next (take McDonald’s for example) but not every experience needs to be the same old same old and it’s disappointing we’re in an era where that’s the leading idea. Kitsch might be silly but it’s also fun and quirky in the best way and that always appeals to people.
Visited the AZ park several times as a kid. The one thing you can’t see in pictures is how HOT everything is because cement absorbs heat. It was super fun being a little kid running around to each building after a long road trip and getting lightly burned by each sculpture when you tried to take a picture next to them
I was wondering about that. I only went to AZ in the last four years and remember avoiding being outside at all 😭 why would people wanna camp in the state
Same. I remember it as a kid. Even back then i thought it was sparse and disappointing. I forgot about how everything was just hot concrete. I remember begging my grandparents to get out of there and just get back on the road.
I’m from Australia and we travelled to America in 1975. I was 5 years old and remember going to the park. We spent a couple of days exploring the Grand Canyon then we saw the park while driving past. I have a heap of great photos. We were there for only a couple of hours and as a 5 year old I thought The Flinstones were real! Much better time to be a kid than now. That is for sure. Seeing this video brought back so many great memories.
My family visited the one in South Dakota back in the late 90's. I remember thinking it was the greatest thing ever as a kid. This video brought back some memories.
That warms my heart that they decided to keep what they could from the original attraction. With so many greedy developers they don’t care about anything but money. Nice to see a different approach.
I passed the Arizona one when driving up to the Grand Canyon. It was really run down, the paint was faded, everything was dusty. But it was great to experience an old school "Route 66"-like attraction. Glad the new owners decided to keep this piece of history.
As a Dutch person the news of a Flintstones Themepark in the Netherlands was new to me, so I had to look it up. Apparently, there was a small 'Bedrock City' at the Pier of Scheveningen (near the Hague) at the Childerns play area called Schateiland (Treasure Island). This was in 1965, where you could drive around in the stone age vehicles and there were Fred and Barney figures. Some remember them being animatronics, but I could only find pictures of people in suits and still standing figurines. This park was only open for the 1965 summer season.
Hi Sam. I went to Kelowna Bedrock City with family in late '70's and 1988 while on vacation. While on a trip to Kelowna area in 1997 it was closed, went again in 1998 if I remember correctly, it was demolished. I remember while there in 1988, it had mini-golf, movie theatre, canoe ride, and characters walking around. Drove past the Arizona location back in 2016 on our way to and from the Grand Canyon. Thank you for the Memories. 👋🏻🇨🇦
Nice! Bedrock City in Kelowna was a family vacation staple. I remember a family trip with a stop there in the 80s like you. I eventually moved to Kelowna and my eldest got to enjoy it also. We heard that 1997 would be the last season so I made sure my youngest, who was only 2 weeks old, would get her shot at a visit (not like she'd remember but pics count lol). It was a bittersweet last visit.
I think it's amazing that the new owners kept Bedrock as apart of their experience. There was a theme park I used to go to called Storyland; the road it was built on is still named after it. It was so freaky, being out in the forests of Ontario and having this whole theme park based on story book characters. It felt like you were far away from civilization and in a weird fantasy storybook world. Now, it's a glamp ground and all the items were auctioned off. I feel like if they kept parts of its history, it would be nice, but I'm not even sure if they did. Gotta cherish these places while they last.
Holy Crap…..Storyland! Every year, we would go on a school trip. Then again in summer when relatives would come and visit. We just had to show it off lmao! Good times❤️
I grew up within walking distance of Storyland. My siblings and I were always one of the 1st visitors every year on opening day. It never lost it's magic over the years. So sad that everything was auctioned off when the park was sold.
I remember being so happy to hear that the new owners had seen what the place meant to people and decided to keep it. I've know about it for several decades of my life and was sad when the original closed. I really want to see one of them before its gone too, and even with it looking run down I'd really enjoy it. Hell I'd offer to help paint it if they let volunteers do that, it's worth keeping it looking nice.
This is pure nostalgia for me. I grew up in Rapid City, SD and we would often make our way down to Custer and we went to Bedrock City several times. I was very young, but I do remember watching the cartoons in that little building.
I live in Pennsylvania but my dad was from SD. We would visit my grandparents and other family there every summer growing up. They lived right in Rapid City, so we spent lots of time at Mt Rushmore, Sturgis, every campground around, Dinosaur Park on top of the mountain just outside of Rapid City... anything they could entertain us kids with. I think I remember a small park in Rapid City that was story book themed too...
I grew up in Rapid City too. I also remember a small roller coaster in Custer in the 80's. Having driven by the AZ one, it is kind of out there in the middle of nowhere. The hiway that cuts to Flagstaff from there is cool though.
We went to that park when we visited South Dakota a couple of times. My kids loved it, and then later we took my granddaughter and she loved it, too. They didn’t even really know much about the Flintstones cartoon, either.
Jellystone Park was a similar concept to the campground. Except maybe a bit more appropriate as a campground since it was centered around a Hanna-Barbera property that takes place in a national park. Also, thank you for mentioning King's Dominion, since I know they had Flintstones themed attractions when it was under Paramount's ownership.
My little family went to the Arizona location last October. While it could use some paint, we had a lot of fun exploring the park, going down the slide (and through the snake ;D ), and watching the bird show! My girls loved it and we want to go back again. Thank you for sharing the history of this fun little park!
I went to the original South Dakota location in 1969. This video brought up a lot of fun memories! I was seven years old and we were driving back home to San Diego from our families farm in Wisconsin. My dad was started driving and wanted to stop for a break. And a few minutes later, I saw the sign for bedrock city and asked my dad if we could take our break there. We took a break there until the next day😂 I remember my favorite thing I did there was go down Dino slide about 100 times😂
This is crazy! when I saw this video I thought "Hey, I remember having a crazy dream about a Flintstones-themed Dino park." to my shock what I assumed was remembering a cold medicine-induced fever dream from when I was a toddler turned out to be memories of "Dino Town" in BC. This brought back so many memories! By the time I was there, it was "Dino Town" and I remember seeing "legally distinct" Flintstones like statues, play structures and theming (they had just re-painted most things so it was still obviously the Flintstones but different enough so that Dino Town couldn't get sued.)
I was just a toddler when I went there. My siblings will tell you it was a horrible trip because my parents (pretty newly married 3 years or so) caught like cats and dogs back then. And even though they fought the whole car ride north to BC, I was happy and laughing all the way up so my siblings said I was the only good thing about the trip. I see pics in our family photo albums but that's all I remember. Lol
It’s nice that this story has a happy ending more or less. Hopefully the one remaining park will stay open for the foreseeable future, and maintain its history.
Oh my god this park! This park [the Arizona one in specific] is literally my favorite place in the world. I have so many photos over the years from me going to this park-last time I went I befriended the White Necked Raven there, Gracie. She's a complete baby and I adore her, she even outright gifted me one of her feathers [via passing it through the bars for me to get]. This place is so unbelievably special to me and I'm so happy to see a video on it!
When growing up, we vacationed to the Black Hills a few times. I remember Bedrock City exciting me more than Christmas morning! I was the happiest 8 year old boy in the world!
I remember going to Bedrock City here in BC back as a kid in the 80s. It was such a fun visit with lots to do! Great memories! The lower mainland was very disappointed when it closed. Dino City tried, but it was never the same. I think they replaced it with a waterslide park or RV park.
I moved to AZ in 2017 and when my friend wanted to visit the Grand Canyon, we passed by and did a double-take at this place. We weren't sure what to expect and were very confused as to why there was a random place like this in the desert, but we paid the fee (maybe $8?) and looked around. It was wild. It was just us and maybe 1 other couple there and it was very strange haha but I still have my pictures and we did NOT go through the snake because of my actual fear of snakes nor do I think we actually thought we could. It was a fun kitschy stop and don't regret it! This was very cool seeing the history and actually explains why it's there. Great video!
Speaking of roadside attractions, I was driving x country with my then teenage daughter and I excitedly woke her up at 3am to see the world's largest ball of twine and she threw a shoe at me. I took it as a polite, no thank you Dad, I'd rather sleep. 😂
@sonic23233 I grew up in Pennsylvania, but my dad's family is from South Dakota, so every summer we would drive across the US to SD to visit. 2 adults and 3 kids in a 80's Chevy Blazer for a week. We stopped at so many roadside attractions over the years..
When we helped move a friend cross country we stopped off to see that. We drove up and down the street 3 times looking for a building before we realised that it was just sitting on the side of the road. We also went to the Geographical Centre of the USA, Carhenge and the Garden of Eden. There are some great, weird things out there.
When I was a little kid we used to go to BedRock City in AZ. I loved it so much. It was so much fun as a kid and we would always get Bronto burgers and flintstone pops. The bronto slide was always so iconic as a kid. It was never anything fancy but when you're 3 or 4 years old it was the coolest thing in the area.
Calaway Park in Alberta is western Canada's largest amusement park. The name was changed from Flintstone Fun Park to Calaway Park before it opened in 1982. It had licensed Flintstones themed attractions, roller coaster, petting zoo, cinema and costumed characters. The park had financial problems and dropped the H-B licensing after a few seasons.
I visited the south Dakota location in the 80s as a kid. I then visited the Arizona park in 2014 as part of my son's college graduation vacation along route 66. We ate breakfast at Fred's diner then walked around the park for a bit. It was mostly empty, but still entertaining.
I don't think I've ever been this early. I do think the buildings look terrible but tbh I find that old run down almost playground type look to be really charming and nostalgic
I distinctly remember being on a family road trip in Arizona the early 2000s and getting a glimpse of this park as we drove by. As a kid I assumed it was abandoned because it sure looked that way. Never knew anything about it until now. Great coverage of the story!
Thank you so much for this video. I went to the South Dakota park as a kid in the early 1980s and seeing some of the stuff brought back some very old memories. Too bad how the park was allowed to die the way it did, but knowing that the Arizona park is still there makes me feel a little bit better. Excellent work!
Thank you for this. I always assumed the parks went out of business because of declining interest, sad to hear they probably could have survived if they could keep the license.
The south dakota version will always have a soft spot in my heart. I visited it three times in my life- when I was four, nine, and eighteen. By the time I was 18, it was shut down for good. However, we were still able to snoop around the property. Imagine my surprise when we found a naked band left behind lol. Super creepy but it meant a lot to me, even though I am from gen z. There is something magical about it
The GRANDest theme park in history, wish I can still go there with my DAD. The restored HIGH QUALITY clips of this FLEENSTONES theme park are wonderful! RIP Bedrock City
I haven't been following SiIva for years yet hearing the Flintstones theme threw me for a loop all over again. Especially when the channel intro theme started then transitioned into FLEENSTOHNS.
Oh man, best expedition yet! I was part of a Boy Scout Troop, and we stayed at the Flintstones campgrounds on two different camping trips as our main location. I have such great memories of it, and the majority of us paid to enter the parks and truly enjoyed them for the weirdness they were. Unironically. Really. When I was married my wife and I camped at the South Dakota one and a huge storm blew in and we literally had to pick up the tent and throw it in the trunk with all our stuff in it and then sleep in the car as it nearly blew away with us in it. We still woke up the next morning and stopped at the park before we left.
The Flinstones piano music MADE this! Oh my gosh, I don't think I've watched an episode since I was a kid, but the nostalgia from that music just took me right back!
I grew up in Billings, Montana, and we went to the South Dakota location in the late 80s and early 90s pretty frequently. Bedrock City and Storybook Island, as well. My mom stole a putter from their mini-golf course. I'm frankly still not sure why she did it because it wasn't branded with "Bedrock City" in any way. It was just a cheap, generic, mini-golf putter, but she randomly decided that was going to be her souvenir. 🤷♂️ No clue. Anyway, beautiful work, as always! I've been a subscriber for years, but I especially appreciated this retrospective. There is nothing for hundreds of miles around where I grew up, and it is very rare to see someone highlight a place where I actually spent time as a kid. That said, your video is more fun than the park ever actually was, but it kinda didn't matter because someone was actually trying. There really is nothing out there, especially for kids. Disney, Six Flags, Universal, these places are too far for lower income kids growing up in that part of the country to ever experience, and it was just nice to have something. Both water parks I grew up going to are now demolished. One of the malls that had a massive, cozy, free play place for kids right in the center is just entirely gone. The whole mall, all of it. Gone. Kids are losing places designed for them to form core memories, and it's a cultural loss.
If I may ask, when you went to Storybook Island, was that before or after they refurbished it and repaired the run-down and fading buildings and character figures? I was there a couple times in the mid '70s and it was a little seedy looking (and I heard that it closed down for awhile but was reopened after the refurbishment).
@jacklow9611 This would have been around 1989. I remember not being very impressed with their offerings, but I also don't recall anything being run down, so it must have been after. I remember the Wizard of Oz statues more than anything.
As a little kid, who lived in the Vancouver region, I remember visiting the Flintstone Park in British Columbia in Chiliwack BC, about 45 min drive outside the city. For a kid back then only about 4 years old, it was pretty cool, but at 4, nothing much in life compared to it. 40 years later, the place was long closed down. Nostalgia....
I actually went to the Arizona one in... 2022(could have been 2021). It was interesting. Its a couple of rundown houses, a werid volcano, with a track around it(i presumed it used to have those pedal kart things, but me and my brothers just ran around it, racing each other) and then slide. It was an experience. And if your in the area, i would recommend it
The first park in SD was near Dinosaur Park. The park has “life size” dinosaur sculptures. I worked at Dinosaur Hill toy store in NYC. The owner had named the shop in honour of her Dakota memories.
There's a mini golf course in Phuket which is called "dino park mini-golf" and it's set up like the Flintstones. They even have a artificial volcano that "erupts" every now and then, plus they have a restaurant with a Flintstone themed menu, plus the staff are dressed up in full Flintstobe styled outfits...so too is the restaurant. I had a bronto burger (double beef) with a cactus cola (beer). MMMmmmm. 😋
WOW !!! I never knew any of this. The Flintstones has been my favorite cartoon for more than fifty years. Thanks for sharing this video with the public.
When I was a kid we visited the North Dakota park on our trip to Mount Rushmore. We stayed at the camp site and visited the park. It was a grand time for me as a kid, and quite memorable. Thanks for making the vid, this was very member berry.
I went to the South Dakota park in 1977 as a little kid. They had 1 or 2 Flintstone cars driving around there, as well as a rubber tired train ride. I remember the playground being a lot of fun.
I remember visiting the Kelowna, British Columbia location when I was a kid. I loved it. It's probably my strongest memory from my childhood trip to BC.
I went to the Flintstones park in Kelowna in the mid 90s! It was pretty run down by then and empty, but it was next to a waterpark (which was awesome) so we wandered over when we were done having fun. We still have photos of it somewhere. I remember the concrete houses had lots of spiderwebs lol.
I was at the arizona location in February of 2020. I cant even put into words how surreal and strange it was. I loved it so very much!!! So excited to see this episode
I grew up near the park in Custer SD and it was a lot of fun in the 90s, I was really sad when I found out that it was closed a few years ago and I wouldn't be able to take my own kids to it.
There was place called Flintstone Village in Chilawack BC, Canada. Just across the border. It was heavily advertised and a staple summer activity in the region. It was fun, log boats peddle cars and mini golf were highlights.
I appreciate this episode. I got to talk to my Dad about it and his family did visit the Black Hills location back when it would have been more new! He had nostalgia for it and I had fun telling him about other locations. Thank you so much for this episode!
I remember the South Dakota park, about 1968. We were on a trip from Oregon to see the Black Hills, we had been on the road a few days. I loved it and ended up in the snake. Mom started saying it was time to go, but I did not want to. She would come to one end of the snake; I would go to the other. She was not happy when she finally got me out.
Jacob the Carpetbagger recently did a walkaround on the grounds of the original South Dakota park on his channel. The big Dino is still visible from the road and the train is still there, SBNO. But other than that, its barren.
It's a must stop on the way to the Grand Canyon National Park (South Rim). I went with my family several years ago before the pandemic. My kids had the whole park to themselves. It was old, it was run down, and my daughter has never seen the Flintstones before. But my kids really enjoyed themselves.
I've got a deeply ingrained memory from the late 90's when I was like 5-6, back when my family and I went cross country from Washington state to Pennsylvania. It was the most incredible sunset I've ever seen, brilliant magentas and blues all across the sky, and in the distance vivid purple lightning bolting across the sky. It's less of a memory I can freely recall, but more of an impression and fleeting images. I vaguely remember the surroundings, but I remember *something* about a Flintstone's attraction being a key piece of it. It might not have been there, but it definitely was in a desert-y area. Knowing me, at the very least I might have been having a temper tantrum that we didn't go to the Flintstone's park at that time. Considering the route from WA to PA, I guess it could have been either park, if my parents took a detour to the Grand Canyon. This video hasn't quite unlocked that core memory, but it definitely dislodged a tiny bit of it. So I'm glad little things like this that only existed in ethereal memories get a focus. Up until now, I figured I might have dreamed it all up.
Rest assured that there is absolutely crazy lightning in the Black Hills, Rapid City is actually a well known place for studying lightning and other weather phenomenon. It's most likely the South Dakota park as I-90 passes through Rapid City, PA and Washington state - a detour to the grand canyon would be literally thousands of miles further.
@@gentronseven Yeah that seems likely. I took a look on Google Maps and while it's not quite a dead-ringer to what I have in my head, it's definitely close. I think I might have thought it was the desert, because I saw what looked like big mesas and stuff in the distance, and there was one super close to the road where we stopped. Looking around the area I can see some of those geological features, so it's probably the right ballpark, but now I'm trying to find that spot we stopped at. Now I'm sure it's out there. Thanks for the tip.
I went to the original Flintstone park in the eighties. Bedrock City in South Dakota. I loved it. I remember being tiny and feeling like we were inside their house.
We have a Yogi Bear campsite in Glen, New Hampshire, and it is still going strong to this day. I remember staying there as a child. I wonder if its related somehow
Yogi bear and his buddy Boo bear (if I remember correctly) were different characters who had their own show. They taught children about fire safety and such. Those campsites used to be more plentiful and were great ones way back when. Haven't seen one in years so you're lucky.
Been watching you for ages, and this one was very interesting! Keep up the good work! 👍 (Also, can you make a documentary about the abandoned ‘Disney’ theme park called Nara Dreamland? It’s got an interesting story!)
Went to the South Dakota park as a young kid and it was really cool for me. Family still has placemats from there I believe. The. 20 foot Dino as you come into Custer still exists too. Can see him popping out of the trees. Saw him went we went to Mount Rushmore last year
What Expedition would you like to see next?
The Wizarding World Of Harry Potter!
Expoland
Mexico's Reino Aventura. The park with the Nintendo tie-in
Bubbleworks/the gruffalo would be an interesting video
Valhalla at Blackpool Pleasure Beach
This made me cry. My family went to the grand canyon in 1975. We stopped at the Bedrock theme park. It was an epically insane month long summer vacation trip. My mom. my grandfather, my 3 brothers and me (the bratty sister) in 1/4 ton pick up with a canopy shell. No A/C in the back and forced to ride on the wheel well. I hated every moment.
Now, all these year later, I'm the only one left. I miss them all and choose to remember the good things. The Flintstone's park visit is one of those memories.
Thanks for the memories.
Great memories, thank you for sharing 🙏🏾😊💯
"the only one left" man that line hit hard. may they all rest in peace.
@@nevercommentnotevenonce9334 The last one left line came out of nowhere and got me not gunna lie. Damn
Me too. I've been to the Grand Canyon.
@@daveotuwa5596 The Grand Canyon and the painted desert we stops we made on that trip too.
I went to the Arizona park in 2015 and it was wild. We were the only people in the diner and the park. Being all alone in the middle of a desert on a gray, cold January day surrounded by decaying Flintstones decor was quite the experience. Imagine all the quiet and solitude of a hike combined with the feeling of exploring the Fallout New Vegas map.
My friend did crawl through the snake. He regretted it instantly.
I have been there in 1991 and we were all alone there
But we had fun taking funny pictures
I can't imagine that being someone's entire child hood lol
Oh please tell us the aftermath of the snake. 😂
@@SuperCosmicMutantSquid he got half way through and began to shout "eeeeew, it's wet in here"
@CaptainGrackle 😂 Thank you !
I seldom get to laugh, but THAT is just hysterical !
I love the way you included the family’s story! It makes it so compelling
Hope you enjoyed!
What I find bizarre is that, out of all these parks, none of them had a bowling ally or a working recreation of the Bedrock drive-in theatre. I would think those would be two obvious choices when creating a Flintstones theme park.
This💯
@@stellarjuju8788 Thank you.
*alley
💯
I think the one in BC had like lil kid bowling one with like foam rock pins. But real bowling alleys are expensive, especially custom Flintstones ones. And the video showed they had a theatre at the theme parks Dakota and nevada, the problem with drive ins is they only work at night when it's dark, and I imagine almost all of their visitors who were passing were in the day. So an indoor theatre makes more sense.
My family used to stay almost exclusively at kitschy themed campgrounds while traveling in the 2000's and early 2010's and they never stop being fun. America needs to bring kitsch and tackiness back in a fun, big way.
Won’t happen. What made the kitsch and tackiness fun was that it wasn’t intentional. It was just people sharing wacky and unusual interests that they were passionate about, and that love was what made those things so fun and their interests to interesting to the rest of us. I hate how it’s all become corporate now.
And also, people would need to be willing to take road trips more. I personally so-two years ago, a 6,636.5-mile solo trip. Last year, a 2,500-mile trip with my daughter. Didn’t get a chance this year, but next year, I’ve got one already in the planning. I go to places like Paris a time or two a year as well, but damn, there’s nothing like getting in the car with a vague sense of where I’m going, and seeing what I can find along the way.
Actually we need much much much less pointless crap.
@@fastinradfordableI’d say “you must be fun at parties,” but we can all tell you never get invited to any.
The death of kitsch has never made sense, life isn’t all mean to be a boring sanitized corporate grey. The argument is it tells people what to expect from one location to the next (take McDonald’s for example) but not every experience needs to be the same old same old and it’s disappointing we’re in an era where that’s the leading idea. Kitsch might be silly but it’s also fun and quirky in the best way and that always appeals to people.
Did you have big fun Vanessa?
Visited the AZ park several times as a kid. The one thing you can’t see in pictures is how HOT everything is because cement absorbs heat. It was super fun being a little kid running around to each building after a long road trip and getting lightly burned by each sculpture when you tried to take a picture next to them
I was wondering about that. I only went to AZ in the last four years and remember avoiding being outside at all 😭 why would people wanna camp in the state
Same. I remember it as a kid. Even back then i thought it was sparse and disappointing. I forgot about how everything was just hot concrete. I remember begging my grandparents to get out of there and just get back on the road.
Those bold sensory details are so important to making good memories I swear 😂
yes cement absorbs heat - plus YOU'RE IN ARIZONA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Pues ya bien alguien que aspira a ser películas algún día tomaré ese lugar como escenario
Much respect to the new ranch for keeping the history intact
Agree 100%, and as I commented earlier, rather unique in this day and age.
I’m from Australia and we travelled to America in 1975. I was 5 years old and remember going to the park. We spent a couple of days exploring the Grand Canyon then we saw the park while driving past. I have a heap of great photos. We were there for only a couple of hours and as a 5 year old I thought The Flinstones were real! Much better time to be a kid than now. That is for sure. Seeing this video brought back so many great memories.
Never has the Expedition Extinct logo been more appropriate.
@@rasmusdegn9690 yummy
Literally
Took me a minute Hehe 🙂
@@seanlavoie2 yummy
What an endearing story. I have never been a huge fan of the Flintstones but it is nice to see a rare happy ending for these old attractions.
My family visited the one in South Dakota back in the late 90's. I remember thinking it was the greatest thing ever as a kid. This video brought back some memories.
That warms my heart that they decided to keep what they could from the original attraction. With so many greedy developers they don’t care about anything but money. Nice to see a different approach.
I passed the Arizona one when driving up to the Grand Canyon. It was really run down, the paint was faded, everything was dusty. But it was great to experience an old school "Route 66"-like attraction. Glad the new owners decided to keep this piece of history.
As a Dutch person the news of a Flintstones Themepark in the Netherlands was new to me, so I had to look it up. Apparently, there was a small 'Bedrock City' at the Pier of Scheveningen (near the Hague) at the Childerns play area called Schateiland (Treasure Island). This was in 1965, where you could drive around in the stone age vehicles and there were Fred and Barney figures. Some remember them being animatronics, but I could only find pictures of people in suits and still standing figurines. This park was only open for the 1965 summer season.
Hi Sam. I went to Kelowna Bedrock City with family in late '70's and 1988 while on vacation. While on a trip to Kelowna area in 1997 it was closed, went again in 1998 if I remember correctly, it was demolished. I remember while there in 1988, it had mini-golf, movie theatre, canoe ride, and characters walking around. Drove past the Arizona location back in 2016 on our way to and from the Grand Canyon. Thank you for the Memories. 👋🏻🇨🇦
It was demolished, but you escaped, because you were much too important to be captured.
@@annoyed707 "That stoopid, stooopid Good-lookink!"
Nice! Bedrock City in Kelowna was a family vacation staple. I remember a family trip with a stop there in the 80s like you. I eventually moved to Kelowna and my eldest got to enjoy it also. We heard that 1997 would be the last season so I made sure my youngest, who was only 2 weeks old, would get her shot at a visit (not like she'd remember but pics count lol). It was a bittersweet last visit.
I think it's amazing that the new owners kept Bedrock as apart of their experience. There was a theme park I used to go to called Storyland; the road it was built on is still named after it. It was so freaky, being out in the forests of Ontario and having this whole theme park based on story book characters. It felt like you were far away from civilization and in a weird fantasy storybook world. Now, it's a glamp ground and all the items were auctioned off. I feel like if they kept parts of its history, it would be nice, but I'm not even sure if they did. Gotta cherish these places while they last.
Omg, Storyland! That's an Ottawa Valley memory.
Sounds like a more expensive version of a park named Fairyland in Oakland, California.
Holy Crap…..Storyland! Every year, we would go on a school trip. Then again in summer when relatives would come and visit. We just had to show it off lmao! Good times❤️
I grew up within walking distance of Storyland. My siblings and I were always one of the 1st visitors every year on opening day. It never lost it's magic over the years. So sad that everything was auctioned off when the park was sold.
@@LssnLrnd Or Enchanted Forest in Oregon (7 miles south of Salem, on I5)
I remember being so happy to hear that the new owners had seen what the place meant to people and decided to keep it. I've know about it for several decades of my life and was sad when the original closed. I really want to see one of them before its gone too, and even with it looking run down I'd really enjoy it. Hell I'd offer to help paint it if they let volunteers do that, it's worth keeping it looking nice.
This is pure nostalgia for me. I grew up in Rapid City, SD and we would often make our way down to Custer and we went to Bedrock City several times. I was very young, but I do remember watching the cartoons in that little building.
I live in Pennsylvania but my dad was from SD. We would visit my grandparents and other family there every summer growing up. They lived right in Rapid City, so we spent lots of time at Mt Rushmore, Sturgis, every campground around, Dinosaur Park on top of the mountain just outside of Rapid City... anything they could entertain us kids with. I think I remember a small park in Rapid City that was story book themed too...
I grew up in Rapid City too. I also remember a small roller coaster in Custer in the 80's.
Having driven by the AZ one, it is kind of out there in the middle of nowhere. The hiway that cuts to Flagstaff from there is cool though.
@@erikaswanson7072 yeah, storybook island, it's still there, it's pretty great considering it's free.
Me too, I was sad when I found out the park closed. My kids would have loved it
We went to that park when we visited South Dakota a couple of times. My kids loved it, and then later we took my granddaughter and she loved it, too. They didn’t even really know much about the Flintstones cartoon, either.
Jellystone Park was a similar concept to the campground. Except maybe a bit more appropriate as a campground since it was centered around a Hanna-Barbera property that takes place in a national park.
Also, thank you for mentioning King's Dominion, since I know they had Flintstones themed attractions when it was under Paramount's ownership.
Those still exist! There's one in Woodstock, NB. It's kind of a trip to see little kids suddenly become OBSESSED with Yogi Bear after visiting.
There's also one outside of St. Louis, MO.
Yes, remember ike a Yogi Bear campground in Illinois.I still remember doing this when little and not going in the pool because it is yellow😂 ew.
Seeing a huge metal slide in the desert makes my ass hurt from memories of big metal slides at school in Florida
Trust me, I'm from Indiana and I know the pain. All we had was metal slides and there's nothing like Indiana summers and blazing hot metal.
The ones I grew up with required wax paper...
Grew up in Texas, in the 80's/90's, I'm pretty sure I have scars from slides in the summer.
I actually slid on that very slide recently and it wasnt bad. My ass wasnt on fire🤣
Me 2
My little family went to the Arizona location last October. While it could use some paint, we had a lot of fun exploring the park, going down the slide (and through the snake ;D ), and watching the bird show! My girls loved it and we want to go back again. Thank you for sharing the history of this fun little park!
I went to the original South Dakota location in 1969. This video brought up a lot of fun memories! I was seven years old and we were driving back home to San Diego from our families farm in Wisconsin. My dad was started driving and wanted to stop for a break. And a few minutes later, I saw the sign for bedrock city and asked my dad if we could take our break there. We took a break there until the next day😂
I remember my favorite thing I did there was go down Dino slide about 100 times😂
This is crazy! when I saw this video I thought "Hey, I remember having a crazy dream about a Flintstones-themed Dino park." to my shock what I assumed was remembering a cold medicine-induced fever dream from when I was a toddler turned out to be memories of "Dino Town" in BC. This brought back so many memories! By the time I was there, it was "Dino Town" and I remember seeing "legally distinct" Flintstones like statues, play structures and theming (they had just re-painted most things so it was still obviously the Flintstones but different enough so that Dino Town couldn't get sued.)
I used to go to the same one growing up as we lived not far from Bridal Falls! Never expected to hear the place mentioned in a video
I also went to the BC park when I was a kid and we have photos from the trip
I was just a toddler when I went there. My siblings will tell you it was a horrible trip because my parents (pretty newly married 3 years or so) caught like cats and dogs back then. And even though they fought the whole car ride north to BC, I was happy and laughing all the way up so my siblings said I was the only good thing about the trip. I see pics in our family photo albums but that's all I remember. Lol
"Dino-Town" you speak of was originally Flintstones Village. The name was changed early mid 90's in a last ditch attempt to make it relevant.
Omg the costumes with the black soulless eyes!!! Absolutely terrifying 😮
It’s nice that this story has a happy ending more or less. Hopefully the one remaining park will stay open for the foreseeable future, and maintain its history.
Great episode! You showed respect and heart for pieces of our history left on the roadside
This is episode is certainly of high quality.
If you ask me, it's pretty nice >:]
Yeah. Just recently watched this one with my grand dad and he said that he felt a slam to his face like a jam with a lot of effort they put in
Oh my god this park! This park [the Arizona one in specific] is literally my favorite place in the world. I have so many photos over the years from me going to this park-last time I went I befriended the White Necked Raven there, Gracie. She's a complete baby and I adore her, she even outright gifted me one of her feathers [via passing it through the bars for me to get]. This place is so unbelievably special to me and I'm so happy to see a video on it!
When growing up, we vacationed to the Black Hills a few times. I remember Bedrock City exciting me more than Christmas morning! I was the happiest 8 year old boy in the world!
I remember going to Bedrock City here in BC back as a kid in the 80s. It was such a fun visit with lots to do! Great memories! The lower mainland was very disappointed when it closed. Dino City tried, but it was never the same.
I think they replaced it with a waterslide park or RV park.
It was a water park I went there
I moved to AZ in 2017 and when my friend wanted to visit the Grand Canyon, we passed by and did a double-take at this place. We weren't sure what to expect and were very confused as to why there was a random place like this in the desert, but we paid the fee (maybe $8?) and looked around. It was wild. It was just us and maybe 1 other couple there and it was very strange haha but I still have my pictures and we did NOT go through the snake because of my actual fear of snakes nor do I think we actually thought we could. It was a fun kitschy stop and don't regret it! This was very cool seeing the history and actually explains why it's there. Great video!
Speaking of roadside attractions, I was driving x country with my then teenage daughter and I excitedly woke her up at 3am to see the world's largest ball of twine and she threw a shoe at me. I took it as a polite, no thank you Dad, I'd rather sleep. 😂
I’m sure she appreciates seeing it now 😂
The good thing about living in Pennsylvania is that there are a lot of roadside attractions
@sonic23233 I grew up in Pennsylvania, but my dad's family is from South Dakota, so every summer we would drive across the US to SD to visit. 2 adults and 3 kids in a 80's Chevy Blazer for a week. We stopped at so many roadside attractions over the years..
Oh my god 😂
When we helped move a friend cross country we stopped off to see that. We drove up and down the street 3 times looking for a building before we realised that it was just sitting on the side of the road. We also went to the Geographical Centre of the USA, Carhenge and the Garden of Eden. There are some great, weird things out there.
When I was a little kid we used to go to BedRock City in AZ. I loved it so much. It was so much fun as a kid and we would always get Bronto burgers and flintstone pops. The bronto slide was always so iconic as a kid. It was never anything fancy but when you're 3 or 4 years old it was the coolest thing in the area.
I went to the BC ones back in the day, I recall it being fun. Thanks for the trip down memory lane!
I remember it too. When I was in my early teens it became Dinoland I think because the Hana Barbera license expired.
Calaway Park in Alberta is western Canada's largest amusement park. The name was changed from Flintstone Fun Park to Calaway Park before it opened in 1982. It had licensed Flintstones themed attractions, roller coaster, petting zoo, cinema and costumed characters. The park had financial problems and dropped the H-B licensing after a few seasons.
I visited the south Dakota location in the 80s as a kid. I then visited the Arizona park in 2014 as part of my son's college graduation vacation along route 66. We ate breakfast at Fred's diner then walked around the park for a bit. It was mostly empty, but still entertaining.
I don't think I've ever been this early. I do think the buildings look terrible but tbh I find that old run down almost playground type look to be really charming and nostalgic
I love this channel
Exactly the same
@@ExpeditionThemeParki love this channel
So early they call you Twinkle Toes?
Oh man... I would have loved to visit either location. I never knew about them! Nice video. I subscribed. All good wishes.
I went to the South Dakota park when I was a child during our family's 2 week roadtrip out west, it was fun.
The original!
@@ExpeditionThemePark i wish the uk had a bedrock city
I went there too as a kid! Loved it and insisted to my parents that we go there 😊
I distinctly remember being on a family road trip in Arizona the early 2000s and getting a glimpse of this park as we drove by. As a kid I assumed it was abandoned because it sure looked that way. Never knew anything about it until now. Great coverage of the story!
Thank you so much for this video. I went to the South Dakota park as a kid in the early 1980s and seeing some of the stuff brought back some very old memories. Too bad how the park was allowed to die the way it did, but knowing that the Arizona park is still there makes me feel a little bit better. Excellent work!
Thank you for this. I always assumed the parks went out of business because of declining interest, sad to hear they probably could have survived if they could keep the license.
As a native northern Arizonan this was really neat to watch.
Brought back memories of road trips growing up.
Great Video!
The south dakota version will always have a soft spot in my heart. I visited it three times in my life- when I was four, nine, and eighteen. By the time I was 18, it was shut down for good. However, we were still able to snoop around the property. Imagine my surprise when we found a naked band left behind lol. Super creepy but it meant a lot to me, even though I am from gen z. There is something magical about it
A naked band? Did someone undress the animatronics?
I grew up in bc. I live 20 minutes from the old bedrock park. For years you could see the decaying statues from the road. Lots of good memories.
That must have sucked somewhat. Having to see a place you had so many happy memories left to just fall apart.
The GRANDest theme park in history, wish I can still go there with my DAD. The restored HIGH QUALITY clips of this FLEENSTONES theme park are wonderful! RIP Bedrock City
0:36, Mascot Fred with jeans and shoes on!😅😂
My folks took me to the Bedrock in Custer South Dakota and Dinosaur Park in Rapid City a couple times Great memories
I've listened to so much SiIvaGunner that I can't tell when the Flintstones melody is used to actually mean the Flintstones. This opening was a trip.
I haven't been following SiIva for years yet hearing the Flintstones theme threw me for a loop all over again. Especially when the channel intro theme started then transitioned into FLEENSTOHNS.
The slow emotional Flintstones piano at the end SLAYED me. Grand Dad...
I expected a comment like that
*GRAND! DAD!*
Don't you mean this opening was a rip?
Oh man, best expedition yet! I was part of a Boy Scout Troop, and we stayed at the Flintstones campgrounds on two different camping trips as our main location. I have such great memories of it, and the majority of us paid to enter the parks and truly enjoyed them for the weirdness they were. Unironically. Really.
When I was married my wife and I camped at the South Dakota one and a huge storm blew in and we literally had to pick up the tent and throw it in the trunk with all our stuff in it and then sleep in the car as it nearly blew away with us in it. We still woke up the next morning and stopped at the park before we left.
The Flinstones piano music MADE this! Oh my gosh, I don't think I've watched an episode since I was a kid, but the nostalgia from that music just took me right back!
I grew up in Billings, Montana, and we went to the South Dakota location in the late 80s and early 90s pretty frequently. Bedrock City and Storybook Island, as well.
My mom stole a putter from their mini-golf course. I'm frankly still not sure why she did it because it wasn't branded with "Bedrock City" in any way. It was just a cheap, generic, mini-golf putter, but she randomly decided that was going to be her souvenir. 🤷♂️ No clue.
Anyway, beautiful work, as always! I've been a subscriber for years, but I especially appreciated this retrospective. There is nothing for hundreds of miles around where I grew up, and it is very rare to see someone highlight a place where I actually spent time as a kid. That said, your video is more fun than the park ever actually was, but it kinda didn't matter because someone was actually trying. There really is nothing out there, especially for kids. Disney, Six Flags, Universal, these places are too far for lower income kids growing up in that part of the country to ever experience, and it was just nice to have something. Both water parks I grew up going to are now demolished. One of the malls that had a massive, cozy, free play place for kids right in the center is just entirely gone. The whole mall, all of it. Gone. Kids are losing places designed for them to form core memories, and it's a cultural loss.
If I may ask, when you went to Storybook Island, was that before or after they refurbished it and repaired the run-down and fading buildings and character figures? I was there a couple times in the mid '70s and it was a little seedy looking (and I heard that it closed down for awhile but was reopened after the refurbishment).
@jacklow9611 This would have been around 1989. I remember not being very impressed with their offerings, but I also don't recall anything being run down, so it must have been after. I remember the Wizard of Oz statues more than anything.
As a little kid, who lived in the Vancouver region, I remember visiting the Flintstone Park in British Columbia in Chiliwack BC, about 45 min drive outside the city. For a kid back then only about 4 years old, it was pretty cool, but at 4, nothing much in life compared to it. 40 years later, the place was long closed down. Nostalgia....
what a throwback. I remember going there as a child too.
I actually went to the Arizona one in... 2022(could have been 2021). It was interesting. Its a couple of rundown houses, a werid volcano, with a track around it(i presumed it used to have those pedal kart things, but me and my brothers just ran around it, racing each other) and then slide. It was an experience. And if your in the area, i would recommend it
The first park in SD was near Dinosaur Park. The park has “life size” dinosaur sculptures. I worked at Dinosaur Hill toy store in NYC. The owner had named the shop in honour of her Dakota memories.
Wow. I was not expecting this video to make me so emotional. Good job, dude!
There's a mini golf course in Phuket which is called "dino park mini-golf" and it's set up like the Flintstones. They even have a artificial volcano that "erupts" every now and then, plus they have a restaurant with a Flintstone themed menu, plus the staff are dressed up in full Flintstobe styled outfits...so too is the restaurant.
I had a bronto burger (double beef) with a cactus cola (beer). MMMmmmm. 😋
With the story of the family intertwined with the story of the park made for a very sweet and touching episode. Thank you, that was really lovely.
I didn't know this Flintstones theme park even existed until you uploaded this video.
WOW !!! I never knew any of this. The Flintstones has been my favorite cartoon for more than fifty years. Thanks for sharing this video with the public.
The commentary on your videos always crack me up 😂. Awesome video!
When I was a kid we visited the North Dakota park on our trip to Mount Rushmore. We stayed at the camp site and visited the park. It was a grand time for me as a kid, and quite memorable. Thanks for making the vid, this was very member berry.
I went to the South Dakota park in 1977 as a little kid. They had 1 or 2 Flintstone cars driving around there, as well as a rubber tired train ride. I remember the playground being a lot of fun.
Thank you for making this video.. I really enjoyed it. I love the flintstones and don't travel. God bless and wiil be watching your channel now.
I remember visiting the Kelowna, British Columbia location when I was a kid. I loved it. It's probably my strongest memory from my childhood trip to BC.
Kelowna? There was another one there too? I went to the one in Chilliwack as a kid myself.
I went to the kelowna one in the mid eighties as a kid😊
This was one of your best episodes. Really heart-warming. Thanks!
I went to the Flintstones park in Kelowna in the mid 90s! It was pretty run down by then and empty, but it was next to a waterpark (which was awesome) so we wandered over when we were done having fun. We still have photos of it somewhere. I remember the concrete houses had lots of spiderwebs lol.
I was at the arizona location in February of 2020. I cant even put into words how surreal and strange it was. I loved it so very much!!! So excited to see this episode
I went to both of the BC locations as a kid
That’s awesome do you remember which you like more?
what a surpassingly bittersweet story for a flinstones park! great video, as always 💜
I grew up near the park in Custer SD and it was a lot of fun in the 90s, I was really sad when I found out that it was closed a few years ago and I wouldn't be able to take my own kids to it.
Being from Wyoming, I visited Flintstone Land many times! Great memories!
There was place called Flintstone Village in Chilawack BC, Canada. Just across the border. It was heavily advertised and a staple summer activity in the region. It was fun, log boats peddle cars and mini golf were highlights.
I appreciate this episode. I got to talk to my Dad about it and his family did visit the Black Hills location back when it would have been more new! He had nostalgia for it and I had fun telling him about other locations. Thank you so much for this episode!
Its nice the Raptor Ranch people kept some of the old buildings.
Welcome back!
I missed your videos.
I remember the South Dakota park, about 1968. We were on a trip from Oregon to see the Black Hills, we had been on the road a few days. I loved it and ended up in the snake. Mom started saying it was time to go, but I did not want to. She would come to one end of the snake; I would go to the other. She was not happy when she finally got me out.
What a fascinating story.
I always enjoy the story of abandoned theme parks.
The Flintstones were based on the show The Honeymooners.
I had a Flintstone phone as a kid. Loved that show.😊
That was a wonderful video. It’s nice to be able to look back with happiness at times gone by.
0:30 This Music Is So Funky. Thanks Mate. PS I'm A Huge Fan Of The Flintstones. X❤🇦🇺🇺🇲🇬🇧
Ive been to Bedrock city in Custer S.D. twice. This was in 91 and 92. It was a fun place and vast, plenty of room for kids to play.
Jacob the Carpetbagger recently did a walkaround on the grounds of the original South Dakota park on his channel. The big Dino is still visible from the road and the train is still there, SBNO. But other than that, its barren.
It's a must stop on the way to the Grand Canyon National Park (South Rim). I went with my family several years ago before the pandemic. My kids had the whole park to themselves. It was old, it was run down, and my daughter has never seen the Flintstones before. But my kids really enjoyed themselves.
When I was a child in the early 70s, my mom had a small coin purse from Bedrock. I don't know what ever happened to it, but I remember it vividly.
I remember going to the park few times in the late 80's as a kid growing up in the Vancouver area. Great memories. Thanks for this episode.
This channel only uploads high quality expeditions
I try!
@@ExpeditionThemePark But always successfully!
I visited a few years ago and thought it was pretty cool. Glad you and Jackie got to see it.
I've got a deeply ingrained memory from the late 90's when I was like 5-6, back when my family and I went cross country from Washington state to Pennsylvania. It was the most incredible sunset I've ever seen, brilliant magentas and blues all across the sky, and in the distance vivid purple lightning bolting across the sky. It's less of a memory I can freely recall, but more of an impression and fleeting images. I vaguely remember the surroundings, but I remember *something* about a Flintstone's attraction being a key piece of it. It might not have been there, but it definitely was in a desert-y area. Knowing me, at the very least I might have been having a temper tantrum that we didn't go to the Flintstone's park at that time. Considering the route from WA to PA, I guess it could have been either park, if my parents took a detour to the Grand Canyon.
This video hasn't quite unlocked that core memory, but it definitely dislodged a tiny bit of it. So I'm glad little things like this that only existed in ethereal memories get a focus. Up until now, I figured I might have dreamed it all up.
Rest assured that there is absolutely crazy lightning in the Black Hills, Rapid City is actually a well known place for studying lightning and other weather phenomenon. It's most likely the South Dakota park as I-90 passes through Rapid City, PA and Washington state - a detour to the grand canyon would be literally thousands of miles further.
@@gentronseven Yeah that seems likely. I took a look on Google Maps and while it's not quite a dead-ringer to what I have in my head, it's definitely close. I think I might have thought it was the desert, because I saw what looked like big mesas and stuff in the distance, and there was one super close to the road where we stopped.
Looking around the area I can see some of those geological features, so it's probably the right ballpark, but now I'm trying to find that spot we stopped at. Now I'm sure it's out there.
Thanks for the tip.
Incredible story-telling Sam. Thank you
I've never visited, but this is so nostalgic
I went to the original Flintstone park in the eighties. Bedrock City in South Dakota. I loved it. I remember being tiny and feeling like we were inside their house.
We have a Yogi Bear campsite in Glen, New Hampshire, and it is still going strong to this day. I remember staying there as a child. I wonder if its related somehow
I keep seeing adds for that place, honestly astonished it's still running
Yogi bear and his buddy Boo bear (if I remember correctly) were different characters who had their own show. They taught children about fire safety and such. Those campsites used to be more plentiful and were great ones way back when. Haven't seen one in years so you're lucky.
@@RainySunday21you're thinking of Smokey, fire safety was his thing. Yogi was all about the picnic baskets.
Cool! I thought for sure all of them would get demolished
They just couldn't bear to tear it down?
That's the kind of sentiment that America needs more of.
Been watching you for ages, and this one was very interesting! Keep up the good work! 👍
(Also, can you make a documentary about the abandoned ‘Disney’ theme park called Nara Dreamland? It’s got an interesting story!)
That intro is so awesome! I love it. ❤ I *will* have a grand 'ol time. 😂
Thank you!
Went to the South Dakota park as a young kid and it was really cool for me. Family still has placemats from there I believe. The. 20 foot Dino as you come into Custer still exists too. Can see him popping out of the trees. Saw him went we went to Mount Rushmore last year
There was a Flintstones park in BC Canada back in the 1970, and 80's