Wagner's Wham Park - Nottingham

Purpose / Function

Wagner's Wham Park is a large scale theme park located in southern Nottingham, New York along the Nottingham River. It is the last Wagner's Wham Park location still operating, and location of several famous rides, scenery items, and mascots brought over from other Wagner's parks.
The park is aimed at all ages, with activities for young children and adults alike. Locally, it is well known for its contributions to local business, tourism, and partnerships with Nottingham's education system as well as a source of stable jobs throughout the year. Teenagers and young adults in the city oftentimes are able to find seasonal or full time employment with the park, and are incentivized by its training programs, courses, and track to lifelong careers.

Alterations

As the last operating Wagner theme park, the Nottingham location has been greatly expanded to house assets, rides, games, and utilities from other locations due to both its continued success and prosperity, as well as local support. Following the shutdown and closure of the Sacramento location in 17,824, the Nottingham location acquired their Whalom's Whale Ride, Whalecome sign and ticket booth, and various games for the arcade. Closure of Wham Park's Niagra, Jacksonville, Springfield, and Ohio locations through the 17,900s saw additions of multiple assets, all of which were brought to the Nottingham location by 18,012.
Following substantial donations made by Victor Valentine I for the park's contributions to the community, a plaque was added on the 'Whalecome' sign's base, thanking the Valentine family. Victor I stated following the plaque's unveiling that he donated to the park due to his longtime love of it, and family's seasonal trips year after year, wishing it to continue long into the future.

Architecture

Due to the original Wham Park's being located along shorelines and boardwalks, the Nottingham location has inherited its nautical theming, with most buildings and rides themed after sea creatures, ships, or aquatic plants.

Rides

Whalom's Whale Ride- A teacup style ride with large seating booths shaped like the park's mascot, Whalom. The ride is a water ride, with riders being splashed by the ride's movements through a large pool. It is only operation during the summertime due to temperature constraints. Riders are encouraged to buy bathing suits on location emblazoned with the park's mascot, and riders under 10 are given foam sailor's caps as part of the ride.
Little Duckies- A lazy river through the perimeter of the park, allowing guests to get on and off at several designated points through the park. Operation all year, due to the water being kept heated, but is only in operation during daylight hours. Each entry point also features a 'Duck Pond' with lilypad styled seating platforms, changing rooms, a snack bar, and shop for flotation devices themed after ducks and geese.
Kraken- An octopus style ride, themed after the infamous kraken legend.
Aurora Winds Coaster- Originally from the Niagra location, relocated and rebuilt at Nottingham in 18,012. The Aurora Wind as its more commonly called is a wooden track rollercoaster with a maximum speed of 40 mph and top height of 82 feet. It is considered to be a much more gentle and beginner friendly rollercoaster, and prime attraction among younger guests looking for easy thrills.
Fillbie Comet- Originally from the Springfield location. A steel track coaster, with a top height of 208 feet and featuring multiple loops, helixes, and track changes with a splashdown prior to its exit track. The second drop of the Fillbie Comet goes underneath the Aurora Wind's ascent climb, A much more intermediate coaster than the Aurora Wind, the rollercoaster's popularity is primarily with teenagers and adults.
Nottingham Wharf Ferris Wheel- From the now defunct Nottingham Wharf park, deconstructed in 19,348 and relocated to the Wham Park the following year. Although a rebrand and refurbishment of the ferris wheel was proposed, it was ultimately rejected, and has kept its original design with the only changes being to update its infrastructure in line with modern safety and construction standards.
Trolleys- Connected to the city's own trolley system is one within the park itself, allowing for guests to enter and leave the park as they wish and provides transport for staff following their shifts. Trolleys that run after hours do not permit visitors to the park after closing, and maintain their routes solely for staff purposes and leaving guests. Some claim that it was one of these trolleys in The Cursed Trolley urban legend.

Attractions

The Whalefall Haunted Hallow- A night time haunted house attraction, featuring a rotating cast of animatronics, seasonal themes, and stories as well as its own gift shop. The building is located in a large warehouse with modular building sets that can be added or removed as needed and are often changed while in operation to create a dizzying experience and sense of movement to its famous 'shipwreck' scene at the start, in which groups of guests are separated by cast into smaller groups and shuffled along different routes through its maze. During wintertime, admission to the Haunted Hallow is free, as it is one of few large scale attractions with consistent heating. Night time visits of the Haunted Hallow fall strictly more into horror, barring entry to individuals younger than 16, and are frequently in promotion with horror and slasher films.
The main attraction of the Whalefall Haunted Hallow is its massive sea serpent animatronic, which near the end of the attraction's run, will burst through the wall and ceiling of its climax scene room and attempt to 'eat' the guests, before being carried off by a whale. It has, on numerous occasions, been accidentally set on fire by startled dragons and had to close for repairs. Local legend states that if one manages to stay in the attraction after midnight, you can see the spirits of guests who died in such fires, though no fatalities were ever reported.
Archie's Arcade- A large indoor arcade themed after a secondary mascot of the park, Archie the Anchovy. It features a roller rink with rental skates, a large games room with connected shop to buy copies of the games hosted, a milkshake bar, numerous prize games, and several arcade cabinets from other locations as well as local now closed arcades. The arcade is connected to several smaller eateries within the park and also hosts a small karaoke bar.
Finnegan's Fishing Tourney- A local fishing supply store that has since become affiliated with the park, and operates along the shores of the Nottingham River. The fishing store operates all year, but each season will host a fishing tourney for all ages in the river with prizes from the park itself, such as seasonal or yearly passes, coupons, Whalom themed fishing gear, and tickets to the local aquarium. In 19,497 the store launched it's own mascot, Finnegan, though abandoned its use in the 19,500s due to low popularity. The mascot was sold to the park for Finnegan's Fish Fry, though branded Finnegan fly fishing equipment is still sold.
Whale of a Tale Theater- A local movie theater bought by the park in the 19,020s and expanded to also include live shows. Twice a month hosts performances by the Nottingham High School's theater club. Similar to the Milkshake Bar, notorious among youth as being a very popular and generic location for first dates. The theater also operates independently of the park after hours, during which times it oftentimes show more graphic films not appropriate for youth such as horror and slasher flicks, drag shows, and serves alcoholic beverages.
Mini-put Golf- A relatively standard mini-golf course, primarily aimed at the youth.
Ollie's Otter Oasis- A fall and winter attraction in the waterpark section featuring an artificial hot spring, sauna, and heated pool. Proceeds from the attraction benefit river and sea otter conservation.

Eateries and Shops

Finnegan's Fish Fry- A small restaurant within the park serving fish and chips, sandwiches, locally caught trout and bluegill, and an array of fried foods. Uses the mascot of the fishing store by the same name, Finnegan the Flying Fish.
The Milkshake Bar- Located within the arcade, serving milkshakes and small snacks. Popular primarily with children and young teens with some notoriety among the youth as being "where everyone in Nottingham has their first date".
Green Dot Coffee- A local coffeeshop franchise that has opened a location within the park. Although locals note this location is much more expensive than ones outside the park, it remains open and is primarily used by the park's staff and one of few locations open both before and after the rest of the park for their benefit. Seasonally serves drinks and pastries themed after park mascots, with lattes decorated with wafer cookies or latte art.
Nolan's- A nautical themed bar and grill primarily aimed at young and older adults that hosts large parties, live music, and a large cylindrical jellyfish aquarium in its bar. Known for its array of cocktails, steaks, and array of grilled kebabs.
Coraline Candies- A coral themed candy shop serving an array of sugary treats shaped like sea life, coral, and tropical fish. Extremely popular with youth due to their 'build your own reef' bags, which allow customers to pick up to two pounds of candy for a low price. Partnered with several local shops and offers training courses on working with sugar based treats and confections, and with Nottingham High School's culinary program.

Tourism

The park receives a great deal of seasonal tourism as the last Wagner's Wham Park in operation from locals and enthusiasts of the brand alike, and is considered an affordable day trip for the whole family outside of travel costs. Due to this, the park often offers packages in conjunction with local hotels and motels to offer large discounts during their peak summer season, as well as seasonal and yearly passes that greatly decrease the cost of tickets.
Among locals, the park is quite beloved due to incredible nostalgia, especially among longer lived races such as vampires and omnia, who are frequent visitors. Locally, the park has earned a bit of infamy of 'not being allowed to close' due to such a strong love of it. When its own closure was proposed in 19,239 with the rest of the Wham Park brand, the city of Nottingham donated large sums of money to keep the park afloat both through official channels and personal donations by residents. A similar closure was proposed in 19,272, there were reportedly several serious offers made to buy out the park entirely to keep it running and in operation. It is rumored that the park was indeed bought out some time in the 19,300s by Nottingham's parks and recreation department, following large scale price changes allowing free access to youth during daylight hours, several large additions, as well as an overhaul of the park's infrastructure.
Due to its age, there are a number of local urban legends and myths about the park as being haunted in some way after dark or during the off season that are primarily spread among teenagers and young adults that frequently boost tourism following surges in the paranormal genre. A video game loosely based on the park named Whaletail Park also saw a surge in popularity in 19,872 for leaning into the paranormal legends and horror genre, being a short lived hit for its parody.

Founding Date

17,281

Alternative Names

Wham Park Nottingham

Type

Theme park / Entertainment complex

Parent Location

Nottingham, New York