Magic LandingMagic Landing was a theme park located in El Paso, Texas, operating from 1984 to 1988. Magic Landing was one of two amusement parks operating in El Paso during the 1980s, the other being Western Playland. Reportedly the park was built on a budget of $10,000,000. Magic Landing was planned to open on memorial day 1984 but was pushed back to July 4, 1984. When the park opened admission was free because the rides weren't ready to operate. A crowd of about 30,000 were in attendance. The park included the Old Galveston Railway, a 3 ft (914 mm) narrow-gauge[1] railroad within the park. The Locomotive was a replica from the 1850s designed for 200 passengers. The park had bought several items from a defunct arcade named Castle Park Arcade. These included Arcade Machines and props from the golf course as well as animatronics[2] that would play in the Bijou Theater an Amphitheatre with six stages. During Magic Landing's brief run, rumors of various incidents were circulated, but one confirmed incident caused the park's attendance numbers to fall over the next three years and may have led to its closure. In the summer of 1985, Frank Guzman Jr, an 18-year-old male employee, was killed at the park.[3] He was asked by a patron to retrieve his baseball hat for him from off the roller coaster track. The teenager climbed up the track and rested his arm on the active part of the track. Within a few minutes, the roller coaster went down the track and cut his arm off. After an hour on the track, the young man was rushed to William Beaumont Army Medical Center and died three hours later. This recounting of events was contested by Franks family and other sources. A lawsuit was filed against the park and was later settled. This incident made many people nickname the park "Tragic Landing". In 1988, Magic Landing closed to the public mid-season due to low attendance and problems obtaining the $1 million insurance policy required by the state. The park was reportedly placed for sale but was never sold. (The high insurance rate stemmed from the above-mentioned roller coaster death.) There were attempts to reopen the park for the proceeding 5 years but they failed. Since its closing, Magic Landing's buildings have stood out in the El Paso desert, many of them falling apart, for over 20 years. (The rides, though, only remained until the early to mid-1990s.) In 2009, by the county's request, the remaining buildings and rubble on the property were demolished due to multiple incidents of vandalism and arson over the previous few years. CFI Trucking now uses the land as a lot for their trailers. The frame for the sign and the bases for the ticket booths are among the only remnants of the park. Western Playland, El Paso's only other amusement park, has since been relocated to Sunland Park, New Mexico. Attractions
Notable AppearancesGuitarist Charlie Sexton performed in 1986 at Magic Landing[8] Kickboxer Cliff "Magic" Thomas was at the park on July 26th, 1987 for a meet & greet. MediaThe Herrera Family Collection, no. 9 - Magic Landing (1985)[9] References
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