Desertworld

Desertworld, formerly known as Golden Lasso Theme Park, was a wild west-themed amusement park in Santa Fe, New Mexico, that opened in 1977. Developed by New Mexico film company, Golden Nugget Studios. When the film company went bankrupt in 1983, Memphis Entertainment Company purchased the park; the name was changed to Desertworld in 1984. When the company went bankrupt in early 1996, the park would never reopen for the 1996 season.

Development
In 1975, Golden Nugget Studios began to have plans to build an amusement park that was Wild West theme.

The park was going to be located in Santa Fe, New Mexico; they liked the idea.

In late 1976, they began construction of a new amusement park. But during the construction of the new park, they were having financial troubles, and they needed more money so they could continue building, advertising, and then adding promos at the end of the company's movie trailers.

In early 1977, they finally finished construction of the park. And it was set to open the park on June 1st of that year.

Operation under Golden Nugget Studios (1977-1983)
When it opened in the summer of 1977, Golden Lasso Theme Park featured seven roller coasters


 * Corkscrew, an Arrow Dynamics Corkscrew coaster that operated until 1992,
 * Golden Lasso Loop, a Schwarzkopf Shuttle Loop coaster, which was later renamed to New Mexico Screamin',
 * Gold Rush, an Schiff Wild Mouse that formerly operated at West Point Park as Wild Mouse which operated until 1989,
 * Jet Star, a Schwarzkopf Jet Star coaster, which was later turned into an enclosed coaster as Nightmare Tornado
 * The Wild Horse Chase, an Arrow Dynamics Steeplechase model with Steeplechase Ride (Steeplechase Park) layout,
 * Viper, an William Cobb wooden coaster has a same layout as Rocky Glen's Million Dollar Coaster, and
 * Wildcat, a Schwarzkopf Wildcat coaster operated until 1979.

The park's other attractions on opening day were:

In 1978, Golden Bug opened.
 * Golden Wheels, an Intamin Giant Triple Wheel ride which was later renamed to Desert Wheel,
 * Paratrooper, an Hrubetz Lifting Paratrooper,
 * Flying Bobs, an Matterhorn flat ride,
 * Monster, an Eyerly Aircraft Company flat ride,
 * Lasso Twister, an Scrambler flat ride and,
 * Golden Flume, an Arrow Log Flume ride.

In 1979, Wildcat closed.

In 1980, Galaxi opened.

In 1981, Toboggan opened.

In 1982, Rotor opened.

In late 1983, The Golden Lasso Theme Park closed and was put up for sale.

Memphis Entertainment Company era (1984-1995)
In 1984, a few months after Golden Nugget Studios went bankrupt, Memphis Entertainment Company purchased the park and renamed it Desertworld.

In the same year, The Wild Horse Chase closed.

In 1985, Coal Mine Drop and Desert Bobsled were both opened.

In 1989, Gold Rush closed.

In 1990, Turbulence opened.

In 1992, Wowser Land was opened along with Beatrice’s House, Wowser’s House, and Linda Lovely’s House. In the same year, Corkscrew closed.

In 1993, Thundereagle opened.

In 1994, Thundereagle Jr. opened.

In 1995, Enterprise opened.

On September 4, the park closed for the season. It would be the last day of the park's operation ever.

Demise
In 1996, due to M.E. Company going out of business, it was announced that the park would not reopen for that season and would be permanently closed, with a slated demolition date of Summer 1996. Despite attempts to save the park by fans adding the Save Desertworld website, and even holding a Save Desertworld rally. However, those plans never worked out, so the park began to be demolished in August of 1996. By 1997, most of the park, with the exception of Viper, had been demolished (Viper would be demolished in February of 2001). The park is now occupied by a housing development. Most of the rides were relocated to Carwardine Parks and Premier Parks (now Six Flags) properties, except for three rides - Galaxi, Desert Wheel and Rotor, which were all demolished in late 1996. Carwardine Parks tried to save the park by buying the park but it was already too late, the park will be gone, But they did bring Thundereagle Jr. and relocated to the new upcoming amusement park, Desertworld Theme and Water Park under the new name, Thundereagle II Jr. making it a only old Desertworld coaster still operating to this day.

Former restaurants

 * Desert Steakhouse (formerly Lasso Steakhouse) (1977-1995; table service)
 * Baskin - Robbins (formerly known as Wild West Ice Cream) (1977-1995; quick service)
 * McDonald's (1984-1995; fast food)
 * Saloon (formerly known as Golden Lasso Saloon) (1977-1995; table service)

Kiddie rides
TBA

Map
TBA

Gallery
see Desertworld/Gallery

Incidents
TBA

Trivia

 * When the Golden Lasso Loop was changed to New Mexico Screamin', They added a tunnel on the launch section of the coaster.
 * Originally, the park operators wanted to build a water park named "DesertWater Park", which was located near the end of the park. It was announced to be scheduled to open in the summer of 96; however, their plans never came to fruition as M. E. Company went bankrupt in early 1996.
 * From 1977 to 1983, Golden Nugget Studios added a promo for Golden Lasso Theme Park at the end of their films until the company went bankrupt.
 * In 1983, the park began to have plans for a new haunted house attraction based on the 1982 movie that Golden Nugget Studios distributed, Monster House. However, those plans never happened because Golden Nugget Studios, which owned and operated the park, went bankrupt in late of the same year.