Lost For Over 30 Years, The World's First Art Amusement Park Has Come To Southern California
By Natasha Kayes|Published January 22, 2024
×
Natasha Kayes
Author
I was born and raised in sunny Southern California and will never tire of the West Coast, although I spent several years living in Southeast Asia, about as far from California as you can get. Wherever I am in the world, I love straying from the beaten path, experiencing local life, and discovering hidden gems - camera in hand. The beach is my happy place and when I am not there (or writing), you will usually find me baking, watching movies, and cuddling my pugs. I have traveled around the country and around the world, and it never, ever gets old. Being able to combine my passion for travel and my love of writing is nothing short of a dream.
With so many fun, interesting, and unique attractions in Southern California, there is quite literally never a shortage of things to see and do. We have several famous amusement parks, but the one I just learned about is unlike anything I (or anyone else in the last 37 years, for that matter) have seen. It’s called Luna Luna: Forgotten Fantasy and it is a fascinating, historic art display in Los Angeles. You are going to want to see this!
It all started with an Austrian artist named André Heller, known for his incredible multimedia creations. In 1987, he began a wildly ambitious project in a park in Hamburg, Germany.
For some 10 years, Heller had scoured the world to find artists to contribute to his grand endeavor, finding them everywhere from New York City to Paris.
Heller named his fantasyland Luna Luna. This was the world’s first-ever art amusement park, a functional collection of once-in-a-lifetime original artworks that came to life in the form of thrilling rides, carnival games, and fascinating art installations.
As at any fairground, guests of all ages were welcomed to ride merry-go-rounds, a Ferris wheel, flying swings, and many more, crafted by over 30 different artists, each with a unique creative vision.
Artists like the famous surrealist, Salvador Dali, created immersive and interactive pieces like this funhouse pavilion named “Dalidom.” There were stilt walkers, mimes, fire breathers, and other theatrical performers who wandered through Luna Luna, interacting and entertaining the crowds.
Heller had intended for Luna Luna to tour the world, but by the end of the summer, the park closed. The project came under new ownership, and due to a series of events and legal issues, the artworks were locked away in 44 shipping containers, becoming a well-kept secret that was all but lost and forgotten.
Over three decades passed before, in 2022, Luna Luna was rescued and slated for a resurrection of sorts.
The one-of-a-kind art amusement park has been given a new life in a massive Los Angeles warehouse, with forgotten relics being found and attractions being restored to their former glory for visitors to marvel at once again.
Luna Luna: Forgotten Fantasy will be displayed for a limited time (it ends in March) with most of the original pieces on display, including the two park attractions created by André Heller himself, Dream Station (pictured here) - which housed a cafe - and Wedding Chapel.
Get a glimpse of Luna Luna then and now in this cool video:
While visitors to the showcase of Luna Luna will not be able to board the rides, you can still enjoy a fascinating journey to the past and get a taste of what this nearly 40-year-old festival was like when it first opened. For more information and tickets to this rare opportunity, visit the Luna Luna: Forgotten Fantasy website. Will you be touring this historic art park in Los Angeles? If you are planning to head to LA and need a place to stay, this historic art house is a perfect complement to the experience!
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
