Last Updated on September 1, 2025 by Matt Staff
The 1970s were a golden era for amusement parks, and a bit of the wild west. Rules were looser, safety wasn´t always the top priority, and attractions often reflected the anything-goes attitude of the time. Take a look back at these 15 unusual things 1970s amusement parks allowed.
1. Minimal safety restraints
Lap bars were optional, seatbelts were rare, and in some cases, a simple rope was all that kept you in your seat. The thrill was real, and so was the risk. The less you were strapped down, the more “authentic” the thrill.
2. Smoking everywhere
Guests puffed away in ride lines, on benches, and even on slow-moving attractions. It wasn´t unusual to see a cloud of cigarette smoke drifting over the carousel. A faint haze drifted across the carousel as parents lit up without a second thought. The smell of popcorn mixed with tobacco was just “part of the park experience”.
3. Animal exhibits with no barriers
Lions, bears, and exotic birds were sometimes kept in open or barely fenced enclosures. Feeding the animals, by hand, was encouraged in some parks. Children could feed popcorn to crocodiles as their parents snapped photos. Today, the thought alone is enough to make any zookeeper shudder.
4. Questionable costumed characters
Before corporate mascots were strictly regulated, many characters were homemade costumes with crooked eyes, drooping fur, and a vaguely unsettling aura. Oversized heads wobbled, eyes pointed in opposite directions, and fur matted in the summer heat. Kids either ran toward them or screamed in terror; there was no middle ground.
5. No height restrictions
If you could climb into the seat, you could ride. Toddlers were often spotted on rides that would give modern safety inspectors nightmares. Parents sometimes climbed in with them, wedged into cars built for one. For some kids, their first coaster was also their scariest.
6. No barriers or security
Fences were minimal, and guests could wander into off-limits areas without anyone stopping them. In some parks, security staff were practically nonexistent. Curious guests wandered behind rides or into maintenance sheds without a second glance from employees.
7. Kids playing games
Carnival games weren´t just for adults; kids could play (and sometimes win prizes) without much supervision, often using equipment that wasn´t exactly child-safe. Winning a giant stuffed animal felt like a triumph, even if the game´s sharp edges and heavy equipment would raise eyebrows today.
8. Dangerous activities
Some attractions seemed designed to test your pain tolerance, from climbing tall ropes to holding on in airless chambers. Guests climbed swaying rope towers, raced across slick balance beams, or locked themselves in airless glass boxes for “how long can you last?” challenges.
9. Kids were allowed to ride alligators
Yes, you read that right, some parks let children sit astride live alligators for a photo op. The reptiles´ mouths were sometimes taped shut…sometimes not. It was the ultimate combination of adorable and absurdly risky.
10. Outlandish shows
Stage shows often included performers with unique physical traits, billed as “curiosities”, in acts that would be considered exploitative today. They shared the spotlight with jugglers, magicians, and acrobats, often to packed audiences. Today, these shows are a reminder of how entertainment once blurred into a sideshow ethics.
11. Very real, dangerous shows
Some live demonstrations, like stunt driving, high dives, or staged “explosions”, were performed frighteningly close to the crowd. Explosions boomed within feet of the audience, cars flipped in choreographed crashes, and divers leapt from dizzying heights into shallow pools. Guests felt the heat of the flames and the rush of wind from passing stunts.
12. Physical challenges
Guests could test their strength or agility in games that involved swinging sledgehammers, climbing unstable towers, or navigating obstacle courses made of metal and concrete. The equipment was made of solid metal or hard concrete, with no padding in sight. Winners strutted away with oversized plush toys; losers often left with bruised shins.
13. Unfunctional bumpers
Bumper cars often sparked dangerously, and steering wheels were more for decoration than control. Collisions were inevitable and often painful. Steering was a gamble, and more often than not, the car went wherever it pleased.
14. Games under construction
Parks didn´t always close off areas being built or repaired. Guests might stroll right past open tools, loose boards, and half-finished rides. Yellow tape wasn´t a thing; guests could stroll past workers hammering, sawing, or welding in plain sight. Half-finished rides loomed nearby, their skeletons of wood and steel ready to explore if you dared.
15. Real haunted houses
Some “haunted” attractions were just dimly lit plywood mazes with live actors and real hazards like dangling wires and uneven floors. Live actors grabbed your arm, wires dangled from the ceiling, and uneven floors kept you on edge.
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The 1970s amusement park experience was a mix of thrill, chaos, and charm. While safety and regulations have changed the game, these memories remind us of a time when fun felt a little more dangerous, and a lot more unpredictable. If you loved this, check out 20 Vintage Photos of America’s National Parks (1870-1920), and 15 Classic American Roadside Attractions That Are Still Open.
