Pirates World
| Location | Dania, Florida, United States |
|---|---|
| Owner | Recreation Corporation of America |
| Opened | 1967 |
| Closed | 1975 |
| Area | 78 acres (0.32 km2) |
| Rides | |
| Total | 15+ |
| Roller coasters | 2 |
| Water rides | 2 (log flume & pirate ship) |
Pirates World was a 100-acre (0.40 km2) pirate-themed amusement park in Dania, Florida that opened April 8, 1967. Developed by Recreation Corporation of America, it was located on the north side of Sheridan Street between US 1 and A1A. Steely Dan played there on May 25, 1974.
Pirates World was successful in its early years, but in 1971 Walt Disney World opened in Florida, which took much business away from the theme park. By 1973 it was in bankruptcy and finally closed its doors in 1975.Norman Kaufman, a venturing carnival rides owner back in Coney Island, bought some of the steeplechase's fiberglass horses and eventually gave one of them to the "Coney Island, USA" museum more than 20 years later. The fate of the others is unknown.
In 1978, a biblical theme park was to have been developed on the site, but that fell through. The land was sold, zoned residential and condominiums were built over the last traces of the park.
The park featured "The Crows Nest" observation tower, which had originally "been the Belgian Aerial Tower at the 1964/1965 New York World's Fair". This structure "was bought second hand after the fair" and transported to the site, where it was re-erected. It consisted of a central post from which was suspended four metal cages by cables, designed "to carry several standing passengers." "To balance the structure, two [cages] would be in the air while two were being loaded on the ground," and the cages would be raised and lowered simultaneously.
Another feature was the pirate ship ride - an actual life-sized pirate ship. The ship, piloted by park personnel, cruised along a "river" through a barrage of cannon fire and "enemy" pirates shooting at the ship, while the pirates that were aboard the ship were firing back at them, protecting their passengers from harm.
There were amusement park games owned and run by Cindy and Joe Dickman along with the petting zoo and seal pond. Members of the Miami Dolphins played the Football Toss. There was also a shooting gallery. The games at Pirates World were a Hi-Striker, Tip the Cats, Tic Tac Toe, ring toss, Football Toss, Can Can and a Watergun game. The petting zoo had an elephant (in 1972 there were deer instead as the elephant had grown too large for the enclosure) and a seal pond where one could feed fish to the seals.
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