| Bell’s Amusement Park had a had a humble beginning in 1951 with Robert Bell, who had already been building a few of his own kiddie rides and operating them, placed his rides at the Tulsa State Fairgrounds in Oklahoma. Over time his son Bob Bell would begin to both manage and help operate the family business, following in his father's footsteps. |
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Larger rides like a Tilt-A-Whirl, Dodgem, bumper cars and a miniature golf course would soon be added. The park became more and more popular and was part of the Tulsa State Fair for a period of a few weeks each summer.
The family was in a rental agreement with the fair board in order to operate the amusement park. |
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| One of the park’s biggest investments came in 1968 with the addition of the Philadelphia Toboggan Company-designed wooden roller coaster called “Zingo”. This was one of the last PTC -built coasters and the only one built that year. This was coaster number 139, designed by coaster legend John Allen. Its height was over 85 feet with a track length of 2500 feet.
Robert Bell would often take his wife on business trips to seek out and explore possible new attractions and rides for Bell's, while letting son Bob Jr. run the park during these trips. Robert and his wife visited Italy, and having seen a Reverchon Portable Himalaya Ride, bought one to bring back to Bell's. This was one of the few portable models ever imported into the United States.
But the following year, 1970, saw the Bells take a trip to the East Coast where they would ride and explore multiple dark rides in order to make a purchase for the park. Said Bob Bell Jr. in a recent interview with the author: "My dad loved the Tracy stuff compared to the Pretzel rides. He wanted something very shocking for his park's location in the 'Bible Belt' and felt that both Tracy’s stunts and operating system was more in line with his vision." Contracts were signed and construction was to shortly begin. Tulsa would never be the same again!
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