Bell's Phantasmagoria Dark Ride P.8

In June of 2006, a microburst caused severe damage, not only to the Phantasmagoria ride as it blew off parts of the facade but also the Ferris Wheel and other rides. This was the first blow to the park, and while horrible, the next was the dagger in the heart. Read on.

Bell's was part of the yearly fair, and while they had put in expensive permanent rides such as the Zingo coaster and White Lightnin’ Log Flume, they still had to pay rent to the fair board. Unfortunately, evolving circumstances eventually caused the amusement park to be compelled to vacate the fairgrounds by June 2007, including the removal of all rides, equipment and buildings.

In talking to Bob Bell Jr. recently, he said that the city residents and friends and other business acquaintances all showed up for months with power tools and large construction pieces to help both remove all the rides and anything else they could salvage with the intention that it would all be used in a new development. Bob explained that a local developer was going to build a 120 acre mixed use area, with shopping and dining up front and a new Bell's park on the back end on 40+ acres.

So instead of an auction of the park on-site, which Bob quipped would have made him a millionaire, huge costs were incurred putting everything into storage including the Phantasmagoria props, track, ride vehicles and even the spinning barrel. Zingo was even taken down and stored for a future rebuild

New artwork was even made for the grand return of the dark ride! Sadly though, the developer pulled out at the last minute causing the Bell's family to seek out a plan B. Storage was so expensive that rides were sold off one by one until there was but a handful left. Numerous attempts were made to relocate the park over the years but as of this writing, it still hasn’t come to fruition. Phantasmagoria died a horrible death along with the park, but is still fondly remembered by those who visited this gem of a family-owned amusement park.

The “Scarieeeeee House” still lives in the memories of those who rode the ride.

Special Thanks to: Bob Bell Jr., Robbie Bell, Kyle Wood, Kirk Demarais, and Scott Martin
Photos by Kirk Demarais, Todd Knowlton, P. R. Hensley, Kyle J. Wood