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Funtown Splashtown USA

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Funtown Splashtown USA is a family-owned amusement and water park in Saco, Maine.

Last updated August 25, 2026

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Overview

Funtown Splashtown USA is a family-owned amusement park and water park in Saco, Maine. The business developed from a cluster of small recreational and food-service attractions established by members of the Cormier and Dallaire families. Its early roots date to 1960, when Ken Cormier and his wife, Violet, opened the Marvel Drive-In beside a miniature-golf course operated by Ken's brother-in-law, Andre Dallaire. Dallaire had installed the miniature-golf course the previous year, creating the first foundation for a larger leisure destination. The property expanded incrementally during the 1960s. Dallaire added a go-kart track in 1963, while Cormier introduced batting cages in 1964 and an archery range in 1967. Kiddie rides and carnival-style attractions, including SkySlides and Swinging Gyms, were added over the following years. In 1967, Cormier and Dallaire formalized their partnership and established Funtown USA. The park subsequently broadened its ride portfolio with attractions such as the Zipper, bumper cars, and a Bayern Kurve ride known as Luv Machine. A major transition occurred in 1996, when Cormier acquired the remaining Dallaire interest. The property was renamed Funtown Splashtown USA after a water park was added, combining the established amusement-park operation with a separate family water-play proposition. The combined name reflects the two principal operating areas: Funtown's rides and attractions, and Splashtown's slides, water-play structures, and related aquatic features. The amusement park's notable attractions include the wooden roller coaster Excalibur, the Thunder Falls log flume, the Dragon's Descent drop tower, and the Astrosphere indoor Scrambler. Thunder Falls has been described as New England's longest and tallest log flume, while Dragon's Descent is a 220-foot drop tower. Astrosphere is distinguished by an indoor setting, a laser-light presentation, and music associated with the ride experience. These attractions complement a broader mix of family rides, thrill rides, and traditional amusement-park offerings. Splashtown has also expanded in stages. For the 2007 season, the water park was doubled in size and gained the Tornado and Mammoth water slides. A further expansion in 2012 added six more water slides. Pirate's Paradise, an interactive water-play area, is among the water park's principal family attractions. The brand's positioning is regional and family-oriented rather than national or luxury-focused. It offers a single-destination day-trip experience combining rides, roller coasters, classic amusement attractions, water slides, and children's activities. The park is primarily associated with seasonal leisure travel in Maine and the wider New England market. It remains privately held and family-owned, and no public-market listing or separately reported financial information is identified in the supplied reference material.

History

Funtown Splashtown USA grew from a family-operated collection of small recreational businesses in Saco, Maine. In 1960, Ken Cormier and his wife, Violet, opened the Marvel Drive-In beside a miniature-golf course owned by Cormier's brother-in-law, Andre Dallaire. Dallaire had installed the golf course in 1959, establishing the first attraction at the property. Dallaire expanded the site with a go-kart track in 1963. Cormier followed with batting cages in 1964 and an archery range in 1967. During the next several years, the family added kiddie rides and carnival-style attractions, including SkySlides and Swinging Gyms. These additions gradually changed the property from a group of individual amusements into a more integrated family entertainment destination. Cormier and Dallaire formalized their collaboration in 1967 by forming a partnership and establishing Funtown USA. The park continued to develop its traditional amusement offering, adding attractions such as the Zipper, bumper cars, and a Bayern Kurve ride called Luv Machine. Its operating model combined family rides and classic midway-style attractions with larger thrill experiences. In 1996, Cormier bought out the remaining Dallaire interest. The business was renamed Funtown Splashtown USA when a water park was added to the property. This change created two linked but distinct experiences: Funtown, centered on rides and amusement attractions, and Splashtown, centered on water slides and interactive aquatic play. The park's later identity has been shaped by a mixture of signature attractions and staged capital additions. Funtown features Excalibur, a wooden roller coaster; Thunder Falls, a major log flume; Dragon's Descent, a 220-foot drop tower; and Astrosphere, an indoor Scrambler with a laser-light show and music. Splashtown includes Pirate's Paradise, a large interactive water-play structure. The water park was doubled in size for the 2007 season, when Tornado and Mammoth were added. In 2012, six more water slides were introduced. Today, the brand is a seasonal, family-owned regional destination serving visitors from Maine and the wider New England area. Its differentiation comes from the breadth of the combined site: guests can access conventional amusement rides, thrill attractions, roller coasters, children's entertainment, water slides, and interactive water play within one park operation. The available reference material does not identify a corporate parent, public listing, current executive roster, or separately disclosed financial results.

  • 2012

    Additional water slides added

    [1]

    A further expansion added six water slides to the water-park area.

  • 2007

    Major Splashtown expansion

    [1]

    Splashtown doubled in size and added the Tornado and Mammoth water slides.

  • 1996

    Water park added and brand renamed

    [1]

    Cormier acquired the remaining Dallaire interest, added a water park, and renamed the operation Funtown Splashtown USA.

  • 1967

    Funtown USA established

    [1]

    Ken Cormier and Andre Dallaire formed a partnership and established Funtown USA.

  • 1963

    Go-kart track added

    [1]

    Andre Dallaire added a go-kart track behind the miniature-golf course.

  • 1960

    Marvel Drive-In opens

    [1]

    Ken and Violet Cormier opened the Marvel Drive-In next to Dallaire's miniature-golf course.

  • 1959

    Miniature-golf course established

    [1]

    Andre Dallaire installed the miniature-golf course that became the first known recreational attraction at the future park site.

Products and positioning

A family-owned regional amusement and water park offering a broad mix of thrill rides, classic rides, roller coasters, children's attractions, and water-play experiences for Maine and New England day-trip visitors.

  • Amusement park · 1967

    Funtown amusement park

    The Funtown side of the property offers a combination of family rides, children's attractions, classic carnival-style rides, and larger thrill attractions. Its attraction history includes the Zipper, bumper cars, the Bayern Kurve ride Luv Machine, and other rides added as the original recreational site evolved into a full amusement park.

  • Wooden roller coaster

    Excalibur

    Excalibur is the park's wooden roller coaster and one of its principal thrill attractions. It forms part of Funtown's larger collection of rides designed to serve visitors seeking a more substantial amusement-park experience alongside family and children's offerings.

  • Log flume

    Thunder Falls

    Thunder Falls is a major log-flume attraction at Funtown. It has been described in reference material as New England's longest and tallest log flume, giving it a prominent role among the park's signature water-based amusement rides.

  • Drop tower

    Dragon's Descent

    Dragon's Descent is a 220-foot drop tower offering a vertical thrill ride. Its height makes it one of the park's most prominent high-intensity attractions and complements the roller coaster and log-flume offerings.

  • Indoor spinning ride

    Astrosphere

    Astrosphere is an indoor Scrambler-style ride distinguished by a laser-light show and a music presentation featuring Electric Light Orchestra's "Fire on High." The enclosed format and audiovisual effects give it a distinctive identity within the park's ride collection.

  • Water park · 1996

    Splashtown water park

    Splashtown is the water-park component of the combined Funtown Splashtown USA property. It includes water slides, interactive water-play facilities, and attractions intended for both families and visitors seeking aquatic recreation. Its footprint was expanded substantially in 2007 and again in 2012.

  • Interactive water playground

    Pirate's Paradise

    Pirate's Paradise is a large interactive water-play area within Splashtown. It is oriented toward family and younger visitors and provides a structured aquatic experience distinct from the park's larger water slides.

  • Water slides · 2007

    Tornado and Mammoth

    Tornado and Mammoth are water slides added during the major 2007 Splashtown expansion. Their introduction accompanied a reported doubling of the water-park area and broadened the park's slide-based attractions.

Brand decisions

  • 2012

    Add six more water slidesProduct launch

    Background

    Following the 2007 enlargement, the park continued developing Splashtown's aquatic attraction portfolio.

    Action taken

    The water park added six additional water slides.

    Aftermath

    The addition further established Splashtown as a substantial component of the overall Funtown Splashtown USA destination.

  • 2007

    Expand Splashtown and add two slidesProduct launch

    Background

    The water-park component was expanded to increase the scale of the combined destination.

    Action taken

    Splashtown was doubled in size and added the Tornado and Mammoth water slides.

    Aftermath

    The expansion increased the water park's attraction capacity and broadened its appeal beyond the original amusement rides.

  • 1996

    Combine amusement and water-park operationsStrategy

    Background

    After acquiring the remaining Dallaire interest, Ken Cormier added a water park to the established amusement property.

    Action taken

    The business was renamed Funtown Splashtown USA to represent its combined amusement-park and water-park offering.

    Aftermath

    The combined operating concept became the foundation of the brand's current identity and expanded its seasonal family-leisure proposition.

Sources2 sources

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