|
Places, Earth |
|
State Parks, Historic Sites, and Museums need your help.Places Earth recently encountered closed state parks in Arizona and California is threatening to close all state parks. The story is similar throughout the country. Places Earth urges everyone to support these vital and important public resources any way you can. Please find a worthy local or distant historic site or museum that is in financial danger and donate your treasure, time, and talent. Write to your governor and other elected officials telling them to find a way to keep these parks open. It will be your loss. Public Service Announcement |
| Back | Los Angeles County Main Page |
Busch Gardens, Van Nuys, California
All photographs taken by Kenneth A. Larson. All rights reserved. © 2003 - 2010.|
Many years ago, the San Fernando Valley had its own theme park. While the Busch Company still operates several other Busch Gardens, the Van Nuys Bush Gardens closed some years ago. All that remains today is the bridge over the railroad tracks that once connected the original gardens to the five acre expansion that included a log ride and other rides. At it's peak, it was a major tourist attraction, complete with an aviary, boat rides, free beer, and a monorail tour of the brewery facility. When it first opened, if was free but following the expansion, there was a mominal fee. Busch Gardens and Bird Sanctuary operated for several years as a free promotional attraction. There was an attempt to make it more into a small theme park when five acres were added on the other side of the SP RR tracks. For various reasons, the theme park aspect did not operate long. The Gardens continued in their original mode for a few more years before closing. Busch Gardens was closed about 1979 to make way for an expansion to the brewery. There was also a problem with Newcastle disease sweeping through Southern California (just as it is doing now in Spring of 2003) which killed many of the birds.There may have been other factors. John McCullough tells me, "Busch Gardens in Van Nuys California was closed at the end of the Calendar Year of 1976 due to increasing insurance & operating costs." Christian Voegele tells me that he was playing piano there when it closed in December of 1976, but that it continued operating a short time as a smaller attraction. All these photos were taken by me in 1977 and 1978. I bought my first camera in 1976 so I have no earlier photos. |
 The biggest lake. |
 Waterfall. |
 Waterway. |
 Waterway. |
 Waterfall. |
 Bird show. |
 Monorail station. Not the Brewery Tour, but a second monorail inside the park and connecting to the 5 acre addition. This photo was taken after the Theme Park aspect closed. |
 Bumper Cars after closing of the theme park aspect of the Gardens. |
 Bar-B-Q food stand. |
 Special event - RC boat club. |
 Special event - RC boat club. |
 Bridge connecting the original site to the five acre expansion. The green horizontal is the monorail track, the pedestrian bridge is the grey beyond. |
 Bridge today. Only the concrete and steel pedestrian bridge remains. There is no longer an approach ramp on either side, so it can't be used and I can find no trace of the monorail track. |
 As it looks today. Just a place to load trucks. |
|
|
|
| Los Angeles County Main Page |
This page last updated: Sunday, 17-Feb-2008 21:49:38 CST
| Note: This is not the official site for any of the places shown in Places Earth. Places Earth is not responsible for accuracy of the information. Hours of operations, prices, exhibits, and sometimes locations are subject to change without notice. |
|
This web site started because of my love for Architecture and interest in History. This web site is for your benefit and I make no profit on it. I don't allow paid advertising. This site is supported primarily from my regular paycheck as a Set Designer and there haven' been many this year. My wife sells Gold Canyon products at www.valleygirlcandles.com and I sell art at www.klimages.com. A non-tax deductable donation to help cover the cost of operating this web site may be made to Kesign Design Consulting through PayPal ... | ||
 Valley Girl Candles |
|
Valley Girl Candles |
 |
This site maintained by Kenneth A. Larson. Copyright © 2004 - 2010, Kenneth A. Larson. All Rights Reserved. Website content including photographic and graphic images may not be redistributed for use on another website. |
| This site is a non-commercial alternative to my commercial design portfolio site. This site's only purpose is for your enjoyment. There is no advertising and I make no profit. If you are in the need of a designer, please check my commercial site www.kesigndesign.com. |
|
|
Home | Contact | Road Trips | Sales | Space | USA Ken Larson | K L Images | Mission Trail Today | U. S. Mission Trail | Kesign Design Consulting |
|
|