Upper Clements Parks was a seasonal
theme park
An amusement park is a park that features various attractions, such as rides and games, and events for entertainment purposes. A theme park is a type of amusement park that bases its structures and attractions around a central theme, often fea ...
located in
Upper Clements,
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is a Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada, located on its east coast. It is one of the three Maritime Canada, Maritime provinces and Population of Canada by province and territory, most populous province in Atlan ...
,
Canada
Canada is a country in North America. Its Provinces and territories of Canada, ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, making it the world's List of coun ...
owned and operated by a non profit community group, The Upper Clements Parks Society. It was composed of two parks; Upper Clements Theme Park and Upper Clements Adventure Park.
Upper Clements Parks was open daily from the beginning of June until the end of September. The park had a wooden coaster and a
water coaster and over 40 rides and attractions.
History
Upper Clements Park was built by the province and opened in 1989 at a cost of $23 million.
In 1993, in response to rumours that the park might be doomed to closure, a group of local businesses made a bid to run the park. However, a group of 16 businessmen from
Hong Kong
Hong Kong)., Legally Hong Kong, China in international treaties and organizations. is a special administrative region of China. With 7.5 million residents in a territory, Hong Kong is the fourth most densely populated region in the wor ...
, under the name Amsdale Resources Management, were awarded a three-year lease instead. The Amsdale businessmen were motivated by fears surrounding the impending 1997
handover of Hong Kong
The handover of Hong Kong from the United Kingdom to the People's Republic of China was at midnight on 1 July 1997. This event ended 156 years of British rule in the former colony, which began in 1841.
Hong Kong was established as a specia ...
from British to Chinese sovereignty, and their $500,000 investment in the park was a way to enter Canada through an immigration program centred on entrepreneurship. Amsdale made numerous cuts and annual attendance dropped from 90,000 to 70,000.
[ The tunnel connecting the theme park and the wildlife park was also closed at this time.][
Notably, ]CFB Cornwallis
Canadian Forces Base Cornwallis (also CFB Cornwallis) is a former Canadian Forces Base located in Deep Brook, Nova Scotia, Deep Brook, Nova Scotia.
It is situated in the western part of Annapolis County, Nova Scotia, Annapolis County on the sou ...
, the nearby Canadian Forces base
A Canadian Forces base or CFB () is a military installation of the Canadian Armed Forces. For a facility to qualify as a Canadian Forces base, it must station one or more major units (e.g., army regiments, navy ships, air force wings).
Minor i ...
, was decommissioned in 1995, markedly reducing the area population and potential for visitors to the park formerly generated by regularly scheduled recruit graduation ceremonies. Due to the closure, Royal Canadian Sea Cadet
The Royal Canadian Sea Cadets (RCSC; ) is a Canadian national youth program sponsored by the Canadian Armed Forces and the civilian Navy League of Canada. Administered by the Canadian Forces, the program is funded through the Department of Natio ...
summer training operations at CSTC HMCS Acadia also gradually reduced its presence until its closure in 2021. The cadet summer camp had provided a reliable audience of over 1,000 cadets and staff per year, as in addition to family excursions, cadet course schedules included at least one visit to the park.
Another advertisement for expressions of interest in the park was issued in 1996, and the same group of Annapolis Valley businesses, calling themselves the Hanse Society (after the Hanseatic League
The Hanseatic League was a Middle Ages, medieval commercial and defensive network of merchant guilds and market towns in Central Europe, Central and Northern Europe, Northern Europe. Growing from a few Northern Germany, North German towns in the ...
), made a second bid for which there was no competition. They were awarded a 10-year lease in 1997.[ The new operators had to cut the locks to enter the premises.][ By this time, the park was "ravaged by neglect" with crumbling buildings and numerous missing inventory.][ The park received $1.37 million in funding from the government in 1998, and a further $1 million in 2003.][
In 2007, the theme park was purchased by the non-profit Hanse Society (Upper Clements Parks Society) for $1 million, with the province paying $1.3 million for capital improvements and to fund the transition.][ In 2007, the society declared the park debt-free.][ The manager Gregg Gaul stated that Upper Clements generated 200 direct and 200 indirect jobs, and that it drives the local economy.][
The park eventually closed after the 2019 season due to falling visitor numbers and a need for significant repairs.][ The intention was to build a $62M boarding school under the ]Gordonstoun
Gordonstoun School ( ) is an elite co-educational Private school (United Kingdom), private school for boarding and day pupils in Moray, Scotland. Two generations of British royalty were educated at Gordonstoun, including Prince Philip, Duke of Ed ...
name. [
]
Description
The Theme Park featured over 30 rides and attractions. In 2012, a new "Adventure Park" was opened, replacing the wildlife park, and featured 2 ziplines and 14 bridges.[
]
References
External links
* {{official website, http://upperclements.com/
Nova Scotia.com
Upper Clements Parks
o
Guide-O-Parc.com
Defunct amusement parks in Canada
Buildings and structures in Annapolis County, Nova Scotia
Tourist attractions in Annapolis County, Nova Scotia
1989 establishments in Nova Scotia
Amusement parks opened in 1989
2019 disestablishments in Nova Scotia
Modern ruins
Amusement parks closed in 2019