“CitizenKanedoesAdventureland.“--TheWashingtonPostTheoutlandish,hilarious,terrifying,andalmostimpossible-to-believestoryofthelegendary,dangerousamusementparkwheremillionswereentertainedandalmostasmanybruisesweresustained,toldthroughtheeyesofthefounder’sson.Oftencalled“AccidentPark,““ClassActionPark,“or“TractionPark,“ActionParkwasanAmericanicon.Entertainingmorethanamillionpeopleayearinthe1980s,theNewJersey-basedamusementplaylandplacednolimitsondangerorfun,amonumenttotheanything-goesspiritoftheerathatleftguestsincontroloftheirownadventures--sometimeswithtragicresults.Thoughitcloseditsdoorsin1996afternearlytwentyyears,ithasremainedasubjectofconstantfascinationeversince,anestablishmentcompletelyanathematoourmoderncultureofrulesandsafety.ActionParkisthefirst-everunvarnishedlookatthehistoryofthisDIYDisneyland,asseenthroughtheeyesofAndyMulvihill,thesonofthepark’sidiosyncraticfounder,GeneMulvihill.FromhisearlydaystestingprecariousridestoworkinghiswayuptochieflifeguardoftheinfamousWavePooltolaterhelpingrunthewholepark,Andy’sstoryisequalpartshilariousandmoving,chroniclingthelifeanddeathofauniquelyAmericanattraction,awetandwild1980sadolescence,andason’sstruggletounderstandhisfather’squixoticquesttobecometheWaltDisneyofNewJersey.PackinginalloftheexcitementofadayatActionPark,thisisdestinedtobeoneofthemostunforgettablememoirsoftheyear.
