When brothers, Irvin and Israel Feld, sold Ringling Brothers & Bailey Circus to Mattel toy company in 1971, the sale included the proposed "Circus World" theme park. The original idea seems to have included a new winter quarters for the circus (traditionally located in the Venice/Sarasota area) as well as the elaborate theme park.

Ground breaking ceremonies for Circus World "Advance Showcase" were held on Thursday, April 26, 1973, on the southeast corner of the US 27 and Interstate 4 junction, about 10 miles north of Haines City and 14 miles west of new Disney World complex, in an unincorporated area that was dubbed "Barnum City". Mercury Construction Company of Haines City was contracted to do the initial construction.

Mattel Inc. had two consecutive bad years (1971-1972) and borrowed heavily from banks during 1973 to stay in business. To raise cash Mattel was forced to sell its only money making subsidiary, that being, the recently acquired Ringling Brothers, Barnum and Bailey. In December 1973, Mattel announced its intention to sell the subsidiary to an un-named major U.S. industrial corporation. The following month, a subsidiary of Gulf Oil Corporation (Venture Out in America) signed a letter of intent to purchase Circus World and the Ringling Brothers, Barnum and Bailey Combined Shows. Circus World immediately began hiring employees through it's temporary employment office at the Holiday Inn across the highway from the theme park site.

On February 21, 1974, the original "Circus World Showcase" opened with only two completed structures: a steel and concrete replica of a gigantic red and white striped circus tent (containing a six story high IMAX theater, a circus museum, a miniature version of the proposed theme park, and concessions) and an antique carrousel. An estimated crowd of 4,000 persons attended the Grand Opening. Although part of the original plan, construction of a 19 story tall replica of a bejeweled elephant was put on hold.

In March 1974, Gulf Oil Corporation backed out of the Ringling Brothers/Circus World purchase. It was rumored that officers of Gulf Oil were embrassed by the extravagant purchase in the middle of a national energy crisis. At almost the same time, Mattel Inc. was sued for violation of securities laws and fraud by three former stockholders in a suit that alleged Mattel and six of its officers had made untrue statements connected with the takeover of Ringling Brothers, Barnum and Bailey Combined Shows back in 1971. Two months later Mattel announced that no further money would be spent on the Circus World attraction. (Keep that thought in mind)

But, in typical corporate fashion, since the park was losing money and no one would buy it -- they expanded. During October of 1975, operations at Circus World are suspended and Mattel announced that the facility will be closed for 5 months in order to undergo a $3 million expansion.

On April 3, 1976 an expanded Circus World re-opened with several new shows under the "Big Top" -- including an illusion show ("Bamboozle"), a puppet show ("Razzle Dazzle"), and a booth where park guests could have clown make-up applied. In another area, the new guest "participation" show allowed park guests to fly on the trapeze or walk the tight-wire. Near the front entrance, a beautiful antique carousel was installed under a giant gazebo and a 1,500 seat live circus pavilion was built to house the live circus show itself. There was a midway style games arcade, a new entrance gate, and a new restaurant.

In December 1976, Mattel announced it's first major expansion of the theme park. Plans included a 360 degree looping thrill ride called the "Zoomerang", a children's play area featuring a man-made lake, expansion of the Participation Circus, a petting zoo, and a display of circus memorabilia housed in antique Barnum and Bailey train cars. The expansion was completed in December of 1976 and doubled the size of the attraction.

At the beginning of 1978, a second major expansion of the park was announced. Plans included a giant roller coaster to be known as the "Roaring Tiger" (the name was later changed to "The Florida Hurricane"), a turn-of-the-century railroad depot with ten historic train cars, a major new food pavilion, an expanded midway, and a recreation area for group activities. This expansion would again double the size of the attraction.

By August 1980, the park had undergone yet another expansion and now included a Wild West Show (in it's own large rodeo style arena), a diving show, a Giant Ferris Wheel (110 foot in diameter), several exotic animal displays including an elephant barn (touted to be "The World's Largest") and, if one had the insane desire to do so, there were even elephant rides.

By March 1982, Mattel had grown weary of the circus thing and sold the Ringling Brothers, Barnum and Bailey Combined Shows back to Irving Feld, the original owner. They sought a seperate buyer for the Circus World attraction.

Park Operations employee, Amy Holtzclaw and “Jelly Bean”

In early 1984, Mattel sold "Circus World", at great financial loss, to Arizona developer, James Monaghan, for about $10 million dollars. Mattel had let the park's assets deteriorate considerably and Monaghan set out to renovate the entire place. Monaghan was probably the first owner to actually like the place and the park schedule that the attendants passed out at the entrance had a nice warm message from him [CLICK HERE] on the back, explaining how he had just bought the park, and what his plans were for it. He completely restored all of the existing rides and added extensive landscaping. Among the new additions he added to the park were: a Vekoma Para Tower, a Weiner Looping (European Hi-Roller designed by Schwarzkopf), a new roller coaster (that was never finished), a short lived Alvin and the Chipmunks show and a large outdoor Bar-B-Q restaurant (the Carousel Cookout), that was located under the large gazebo that had formerly housed the antique carousel. Monaghan sold the carousel to a New Jersey concern, because of the abuse it was suffering. The guests and children just had no comprehension of the historic worth and monetary value of that vintage piece of machinery.

The main attraction at the park (outside the huge midway) was still the Circus Spectacular show - staged twice daily in the 2500 seat pavilion arena. Still following in the traditions of the "Greatest Show on Earth" it was a gala extaveganza of flying trapeze artists, aerialists, acrobats, cyclists, twirling show girls, lions, tigers, elephants, dogs, chipanzees, and clowns galore. There was the traditional circus parade and of course the circus band. Although somewhat smaller than in the Barnum days (only about 5 or 6 musicians) it was still rich in the sound and style of the circus bands of old. Although only a few of the acts actually called Circus World home, there was a wide variety of professional circus performers (who usually just wanted to stay in one place for a few weeks) that would contract with the park and from week to week the show could change. The show was always fun to watch when all was going well and often even more exciting when things were not going as planned. Stories abound.

The second major attraction was the Great Western Stampede, loosely based on the old wild west circus shows, it featured trick riding cowboys and cowgirls, a western shootout, and more clowns. It was usually exciting and hilarious. It was also staged twice a day (weather permitting) in the large outdoor 2000 seat arena.

The Big Top (the huge tent looking structure near the park's entrance) still housed the IMAX theater (a 600 seat theater with it's 6 story high screen) and the Illusion Circus (a magic show hosted by the clowns). There was also the Be-A-Star circus (an audience participation show) located in the lower park as well as Kiddy Corner with rides for the small fry.

It was decided that a country/bluegrass show would be the perfect attraction to draw the crowds exiting from the main "Circus Spectacular" show in the circus pavilion, to the Bar-B-Q Cookout area under the carousel gazebo. And so enters -- the Dizzy Rambler Band.

In early 1986, Circus World was sold to textbook publishers Harcourt, Brace and Jovanovich, who brought an end to the park's circus theme. Although Circus World lost money during the whole of it's existence -- it was still one of the most unique and unusual of all the Central Florida theme parks. It had (if you will) more soul than all the rest combined. It was truly a "one of a kind".

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THANKS: Most of the early historical information (the Mattel years) contained on this page is courtesy of the
Polk County Historical and Genealogical Library - Bartow, FL