Niagara Amusement Park & Splash World (formerly Fantasy Island, Two Flags Over Niagara Fun Park, and Martin's Fantasy Island) was an 85 acre (34 ha) amusement park in Grand Island, New York near Niagara Falls. It featured an amusement park and a water park. The park was founded by Lawrence Grant. At time of closing it was owned by Store Capital and operated by IB Parks & Entertainment. It operated somewhat infrequently from 1961 to 2025.
History Fantasy Island, Inc. (1961–1981)
Fantasy Island was founded by real estate developer Lawrence Grant, and opened on July 1, 1961. It was planned by co-financier and local jeweler Gerald Birzon, with buildings designed by Milton Milstein & Associates. The ownership group was formed under the name Fantasy Land, Inc. before changing soon after to Fantasy Island, Inc. The group had originally planned to call the park Fantasy Land, but changed the name for legal reasons after discovering there was an area of Disneyland called Fantasyland.
Upon opening, the park occupied only of land that was divided into five themed areas: Action Town, Animal Kingdom, Garden of Fables, Indian Village and Western Town. Action Town featured amusement rides, Animal Kingdom featured a petting zoo, Garden of Fables featured explorable recreations of fairy tale scenes, Indian Village featured Native American dancers, and Western Town featured a live Wild West show.
To promote the park, WGRz aired a live weekly television program on Saturday mornings from 1961 to 1962 titled Fantasy Island Show, featuring the park's characters and puppeteers performing for an all-children live studio audience. The show's host and protagonist was Buckskin Joe, portrayed by park general manager Clyde "Buddy" Farnan.
A 2,500-seat outdoor arena was constructed in 1965 for French lion tamer Jean "Tarzan" Zerbini's circus. Actor Jim Carrey grew up in nearby Ontario and would vacation at Fantasy Island, citing Zerbini's show as a fond memory.
The park was expanded to in 1974 to make room for more thrilling rides and to broaden the park's appeal.
Citing the 1979 oil crisis and rising cost of gasoline, the park reported a 62% drop in profits during the 1979 season. The park was put up for sale that same year.
After dwindling attendance stemming from Western New York's Rust Belt economic decline, Fantasy Island, Inc. declared bankruptcy and the park did not operate for the 1982 season.
Charles R. Wood Enterprises (1982–1989)
The park was acquired out of bankruptcy in November 1982 by Charles R. Wood Enterprises, headed by Charles Wood, founder of Great Escape in Queensbury, New York.
A water park called Water World was added in 1984. Wood also installed an 800-seat picnic pavilion that was previously used at the 1982 World's Fair.
Arto Monaco was commissioned to redesign Garden of Fables, constructing a castle with a moat that was encircled by a horse-drawn carriage he had previously built for Land of Makebelieve.
International Broadcasting Corporation (1989–1992)
Wood sold the park to International Broadcasting Corporation (IBC) in April 1989 for $36 million. As part of the deal, Wood would remain the chief executive officer of the park, and his son-in-law, Tom Wages, was retained as general manager.
Following the 1989 closure of nearby Crystal Beach Park, that park's famed The Comet roller coaster was purchased by Charles Wood at auction in October 1989 for $210,000, disassembled, and stored indefinitely at Fantasy Island.
In June 1990, Michael Murach was paralyzed from the head down while performing a high diving act at the park when he slipped on a diving board during a comedy act and fell 20 feet (6 m), hitting his head on the edge of the concrete pool. Years later, Murach was awarded damages of $58.6 million after a jury found International Broadcasting Corporation 100% liable for his injury. The end of the diving board was not installed at a proper distance away from the edge of the pool to prevent such an incident from occurring.
In August 1991, 14-year-old Kenneth Margerum fell to his death from the park's Ferris wheel after his seat dropped from its axle. It was revealed that the park operators routinely removed one or two seats from the ride each day to prevent the ride from moving around in high winds during off-hours. Each time the ride opened, the seats were bolted back onto the frame of the ride. Investigators found that only one side of the victim's seat had been bolted properly, causing Margerum's seat to drop from its axle, subsequently leading to his death.
Charles R. Wood Enterprises (1992–1994)
Charles Wood reacquired the park in October 1992 for $14 million when International Broadcasting Corporation went bankrupt. In his second stint of ownership, Wood changed the park's name to Two Flags Over Niagara Fun Park.
Martin's Shows (1994–2016)
Martin DiPietro, owner of Martin's Shows, purchased the park and renamed it Martin's Fantasy Island in January 1994. Charles Wood took the stored The Comet roller coaster and reassembled it at Great Escape later that year. DiPietro would install his own roller coaster named Silver Comet in 1999, inspired by the original.
Store Capital (2016–2021) Apex Parks Group
Martin DiPietro sold the park's land to Store Capital in May 2016, and Apex Parks Group began leasing the property from Store Capital that same month. The park returned to its original name of Fantasy Island.
Reports surfaced in 2018 and 2019 that the general condition of the park had deteriorated, with many attractions not operational due to mechanical failure and understaffing.
On February 19, 2020, following reports that Apex Parks Group had put the park's rides up for sale, the company confirmed that the park had permanently closed. A settlement was reached with the Attorney General's office to refund customers that had purchased 2020 season passes.
IB Parks & Entertainment (2021–present) Gene Staples, owner of IB Parks & Entertainment, entered a long-term agreement to lease the property from Store Capital in May 2021. IB Parks & Entertainment also owns and operates Clementon Park and Splash World and Indiana Beach. The park was renamed Niagara Amusement Park & Splash World, and reopened in August 2021. The 2021 season featured only the water park, as rides were refurbished and reinstalled in the dry park. The full park reopened for the 2022 season.
In mid-April 2026, management of the park indicated that they were "working through some logistics" in regard to that season's opening after failing to post job openings or offer season passes by April. It was announced on April 30, 2026, that the park would not open for the 2026 season, citing low attendance and revenue levels.
Rides and attractions at time of closure
Roller coasters
Name Picture Opened Manufacturer Notes Silver Comet May 1, 1999 Custom Coasters International A hybrid wooden roller coaster inspired by The Comet The Serpent August 27, 2024 S.D.C. A Galaxi coaster that previously operated at Noble Park Funland (1987–1988), LeSourdsville Lake Amusement Park (1989–2002), and Kokomo's Family Fun Center (2009–2019). The Serpent arrived at the park in pieces in 2022. It did not open to the public until 2024.
Rides
Name Opened Manufacturer Type Notes Amazing Flying Machine 2022 Majestic Manufacturing Flying Scooters Previously traveled with Wade Shows. Replaced Mind Warp before being relocated to the former Flight site for the 2024 season. Antique Autos 1961 Arrow Huss, Gould Manufacturing Antique cars Formerly known as Antique Cars and Crankshaft Cruisers Auto Carousel 1963 Hennecke Carousel A children's carousel with automobile-themed rider vehiclesBalloonsUnknownZamperlaBalloon Race Circus 2008 Sartori RidesSpinning children's ride Dodgem Bumper Cars1989Majestic ManufacturingBumper cars Drop Zone 2015 SBF Visa Group Drop tower (Drop'n Twist) A 20-foot (6 m) children's drop tower that replaced Jack and the Beanstalk. Formerly known as Rapunzel! Rapunzel!. The Flying Witch 2025 Pinfari Dark ride A multi-story tracked dark ride through haunted house scenes with old-school props and scene displays. It previously operated at Playland from 1971 to 2021. Grand Ole Carousel 1961 Theel CarouselFormerly known as Grande Carousel Giant Wheel 1994 Chance Rides Ferris wheel Replaced the Astro Wheel and was formerly known as Gondola Wheel Gunslinger 2022 Eli Bridge Company Scrambler Formerly known as Baltidora at La Feria de Chapultepec Hot Rod Crusin 1961 Allan Herschell Company Miniature car ride Spinning children's ride featuring hot rod-inspired ride vehicles Iron Horse Train 1961 Allan Herschell Company Miniature railway Utilizes a train which previously operated at Beaver Island State Park for a spare engine and cars Niagara Helicopter Tours 1961 Allan Herschell CompanyRed Baron Spinning children's ride featuring helicopter-shaped ride vehicles Pony Carts 2024 Allan Herschell Company Spinning children's ridePlanes and Copters2022UnknownSpinning children's ride Scooter 2023 Majestic Manufacturing Bumper cars Previously traveled with Bates Brothers Amusement Company Ships Ahoy 1961 Allan Herschell CompanySpinning children's boat ride Steel Colt 1983 Zamperla Miniature train ride Sea Dragon 2024 Chance Rides Pirate ship Previously operated at Santa's Village Amusement & Water Park from 2011 to 2022 Tilt-A-Whirl 2024 Sellner Manufacturing Tilt-A-Whirl Replacing the park's previous Tilt-A-Whirl that operated from 1992 to 2019. This Tilt-A-Whirl was acquired from Joyland Amusement Park.Whirly Swings2025ZamperlaMiniature swing ride
Splash World attractions Name Opened Closed Manufacturer Type Notes Cannon Bowl 2006 Operating ProSlide Technology Bowl water slide (CannonBOWL) Dinosaur Pool 1980s OperatingUnknown Children's pool Double Dare Falls 1984 Operating Technetic Industries Water slide Formerly known as Raging Rapids Dragster Drench 2012 Operating ProSlide Technology Racing water slide (RACER) Lazy River 1990 Operating Unknown Lazy river Formerly known as Splash Creek Surf Hill 1987 Operating ProSlide Technology Children's water slide
Attractions out of operation Niagara Amusement Park & Splash World owned a large collection of attractions that were in varying states of construction or storage. Listed below are rides which were out of operation at the time of the park's closure. Most of these attractions were relocated from other parks, but never opened to the public at Niagara Amusement Park & Splash World following the park's 2021 reopening. The Comet and a drop tower named Strike-U-Up were briefly in storage at the park as well, but have since been removed and were never constructed. Additionally, a kiddie coaster named Miner Mike was briefly set up on the property, but it never opened to the public, and it was eventually removed.