CoasterGallery.com -- Vancouver National Exhibition -- Playland Amusement Park

Playland Amusement Park
Vancouver, British Columbia

The Pacific National Exhibition (PNE) was established in 1910 to showcase British Columbia. PNE operates on a 114-acre site at the City of Vancouver-owned Hastings Park and consists of Playland Amusement Park, its annual 17-day Fair, and year-round rental facilities for concerts, conventions, trade shows, and sporting events. Happyland was the name of the first park here. The military took over the park from 1942 to 1946 and used it for storage, practice, and processing of thousands of Japanese-Canadians. Happyland closed after the 1957 season, but Playland opened that same year in another section of the park. Playland even used many rides and employees from the defunct Happyland.

Playland currently sits on nine acres and has about 30 rides. While the park has had the threat of closure or relocation hanging over it for a few years, the City Council came to an agreement in June 2004 that will allow PNE to stay at its present location indefinitely. This was great timing because the Kettle Creek Mine Train, a Miler Family Coaster, opened that month!

A number of coasters have left Happyland and Playland. Among the most notable are:

Dip The Dips (c. 1915-1925)
Giant Dipper (1925 - 1947) A Prior and Church wood coaster.
Baby Dipper (1928 - 1944) PTC junior coaster. Removed to make room for military encampments during the war.
Super Big Gulp (1972? - 1994?) A Schwarzkopf Jet Star II model.

Coaster

Corkscrew

Wild Mouse