H.R. No. 100
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The 70th anniversary of Wonderland Amusement Park in
Amarillo in 2021 offers a welcome opportunity to pay tribute to its
proud legacy of providing wholesome family entertainment to the
young at heart of all ages; and
WHEREAS, In the early 1950s, Paul and Alethea Roads moved
from San Angelo to Amarillo to fulfill their dream of starting an
amusement park; with help from the City of Amarillo Parks and
Recreation Department, they opened what was then known as Kiddie
Land on August 12, 1951; all three original rides, the Hershell
Kiddie Boat Ride, the Lil' Dipper Roller Coaster, and the Kiddie Car
Ride, were built by Mr. Roads; and
WHEREAS, Despite the immediate success of the park, Mr. Roads
continued to work a day job at Amarillo Air Force Base, but after a
decade, he was able to devote himself to the park full-time; in
1969, the couple added several new rides, including bumper cars,
and renamed the business Wonderland Amusement Park; over the years,
many new rides were added, including the popular Fantastic Journey,
hand-built by Mr. Roads; and
WHEREAS, Today Wonderland attracts more than 200,000
visitors a year with such exciting rides as the Texas Tornado, the
Rattlesnake River, the Pipeline Plunge, and the Fiesta Swing, as
well as a merry-go-round and a scenic train ride; the park also
features arcade games and a miniature golf course; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Roads passed away in 2003, and Mrs. Roads died
in 2016, but the business remains in the family; it is currently run
by the couple's daughter and son-in-law, Paula and Paul Borchardt,
who have developed the business into the third-largest amusement
park in the Lone Star State; the Borchardts are assisted by their
daughter, Rebecca Parker, a certified public accountant who serves
as the park's controller and whose children have also worked at the
park, representing the fourth generation of the family to
contribute to the business; and
WHEREAS, For seven decades, Wonderland Amusement Park has
been both a successful family enterprise and one of the iconic
destinations for family fun in Amarillo, and it is a pleasure to pay
tribute to a beloved Texas Panhandle institution on this milestone
occasion; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas
Legislature, 2nd Called Session, hereby commemorate the 70th
anniversary of Wonderland Amusement Park and extend to all those
associated with the park sincere best wishes for continued success;
and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for the park as an expression of high regard by the Texas
House of Representatives.
Price
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 100 was adopted by the House on August
30, 2021, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House