Magic Landing's Final Remains

Magic Landing closed its doors to the public in 1988. After several attempts to re-open the park over the course of 5 years, the park went under, and was locked out by the landlords, making the park a time capsule. I entered the park on May 15th 2005 to catalogue what is left of a park that was so fresh to the community, but was forgotten just as fast.



The entrance lies silent now. The flagpole used to welcome the park patrons with old glory and light airy music was pumped through the overhead PA system, filling the park with whimsy and fun. This was also what people saw when they left. The retaining wall behind the pole was also the bridge for the train to travel.



The board walk's buildings remain standing, however, it doesn't look like they have weathered time too well. All entrances are boarded up and either nailed or screwed shut, keeping people out, and all the history of the park in. Nothing seems to be welcoming in the park.



This empty spot is where the Ferris wheel once stood. When erected, it could be seen from the park 10 miles away. From the top of the wheel, you could see at least 20 miles in any direction. Dismantled a long time ago, only the snack shops in front, and in back of the entrance locations remain (see photo below).





This is the entrance to the children's area. I remember coming to the park and coming into this area with my parents. My brother and sister would go off on their own, but I remember a vast majority of my time in the park was though this area.



This is just a pathetic, sad image. So cheerful, so joyous, yet hasn't seen a child in over 15 years.



This is all that remains of one of two rides left standing in the park. The floor of the bumper car's arena is buckled and no longer smooth, the electric rack at the top has been removed and is just an empty plenum. Leaves roost in the corners of the building, and a dead, eerie silence. I was too young to ride these, but would sit on the sides with my parents watching my brother and sister ram each other in the cars. I remember the sounds of the midway clattering in back of the ride.



The buildings are all sealed, locked and unwelcome. The midway is silent, all but for leaves blowing around, or the occasional wood support falling. All the games are gone, just buildings remain.



Moving towards the back of the park, you can see that the paths become difficult to navigate. Almost all of the trees in the park are dead & fallen on paths and structures left standing. Dried from lack of water, they fell because of the strong winds that rack the city every year. This area is where the ill-fated ride the Wildcat stood.



This is one of the stages that used to be a part of the parks entertainment venues. The front grassy area is now a dirt patch with weeds and the occasional jackrabbit. Parts of the old Tom Sawyer's Mill ride can be seen on stage. The water ride itself sits to the left of the picture.



Old Tom Sawyer's Mill water rides cement foundation and parts of the ride still stand. The boards still were able to hold weight on them, but just barely. All of the rest of the Fiberglas parts of the ride rest outside the parks gates on the other side of the park.



Magic Landing used to be home to a 36" gauge steam locomotive that circled the park. The train is in storage, along with the passenger coaches, but the train stations still stand.



I would stand on this platform with my parent's and eagerly wait for the train to come, knowing that we would be riding a real, authentic train as many times as we wanted. This picture is heartbreaking for me, knowing the train will never come back to the station hurts.



One of the last memories of the park was of this water tower & oil tank for the train.



This is a rare, treasured piece of El Paso's history. El Paso used to have a golf park called Castle Park, and inside was this animatronic trio who would sing a medley every 15 minutes or so. When Castle Park closed, Magic Landing's owners bought the animatronics and placed them inside one of the restaurants to entertain the children. They now rest silent again, now they have a creepy air to them, their oils and lubricants spewing out of them like the life blood seeped from them. They are silent, and voices now forgotten. Their music, lost to history.

I have a lot more photographs to share. At least for now, people can look at the park in its sad condition & remember their own great memories that they might have long forgotten.



Hungry anyone?