Italpark

Italpark was an amusement park in Argentina that operated in Buenos Aires from 1960 until its definitive closure in 1990. The park occupied a prominent site at the intersection of Avenida del Libertador and Callao, in the Recoleta area, where Parque Thays is now located. During its operating life, Italpark became a recognizable part of the city's leisure landscape and was associated with the development of large-scale amusement attractions in the Argentine capital. The park opened in 1960 in connection with celebrations marking the 150th anniversary of the May Revolution. Its location in Buenos Aires placed it within reach of a large urban population and made it a notable recreational destination for residents and visitors. The available historical account describes Italpark as a Buenos Aires landmark during its roughly thirty years of existence, although detailed information about its ownership, management structure, individual attractions, financial performance, and marketing activities is not established by the supplied sources. Italpark's history ended after a fatal accident on 29 July 1990. A wagon on the Matter Horn ride broke, killing 15-year-old Roxana Celia Alaimo and seriously injuring her friend Karina Benítez. Four months later, Buenos Aires mayor Carlos Grosso ordered the park's definitive closure as a consequence of the tragedy. The closure made Italpark a significant example of the safety and regulatory risks associated with amusement-park operations, while also ending a venue that had been part of Buenos Aires popular culture for three decades. The former Italpark site is now associated with Parque Thays. Because the available reference material is limited, information about the park's founders, corporate ownership, product portfolio, executives, operating economics, and later corporate activities remains unavailable.

Italpark was established in Buenos Aires in 1960 as part of the celebrations for the 150th anniversary of the May Revolution. The park was located at the intersection of Avenida del Libertador and Callao in the Recoleta neighbourhood. Its site is now occupied by Parque Thays. The location placed the attraction within a prominent and densely populated part of the Argentine capital, helping it become a visible element of the city's recreational life. Over approximately thirty years, Italpark operated as a major urban amusement park. The available historical record characterizes it as a landmark of Buenos Aires, but does not provide a complete catalogue of its rides, details of its commercial organization, or information about its ownership and management. The park's known attractions included the Matter Horn ride, which later became central to the circumstances surrounding its closure. On 29 July 1990, one of the Matter Horn ride's wagons broke. The incident killed Roxana Celia Alaimo, who was 15 years old, and severely wounded her friend Karina Benítez. The accident brought the park's safety record and continued operation into question. Four months later, Buenos Aires mayor Carlos Grosso ordered the definitive closure of Italpark as a consequence of the tragedy. The closure ended Italpark's three-decade presence in Buenos Aires. Its former location subsequently became the site of Parque Thays. Beyond the documented opening, operation, accident, and closure, the supplied sources do not establish further corporate history, successor ownership, rebranding, or a continuing commercial operation under the Italpark name.

• 1990

  Fatal Matter Horn accident

  [1]Italparken.wikipedia.org

  A wagon on the Matter Horn ride broke on 29 July, killing 15-year-old Roxana Celia Alaimo and seriously injuring Karina Benítez.

• 1990

  Definitive closure

  [1]Italparken.wikipedia.org

  Four months after the Matter Horn accident, Buenos Aires mayor Carlos Grosso ordered Italpark's permanent closure.

• 1960

  Italpark opens in Buenos Aires

  [1]Italparken.wikipedia.org

  Italpark opened at the site now associated with Parque Thays, in the Recoleta area of Buenos Aires, in connection with commemorations of the 150th anniversary of the May Revolution.

A major urban amusement park and Buenos Aires leisure landmark during the second half of the twentieth century.

• Amusement attractions · 1960

  Amusement park rides

  Italpark's core offering consisted of amusement-park attractions serving visitors in Buenos Aires. The available reference identifies the Matter Horn as one of its rides but does not provide a complete historical inventory of the park's attractions.

• Amusement ride

  Matter Horn

  The Matter Horn was an Italpark ride involved in the fatal accident of 29 July 1990, when one of its wagons broke. The incident killed one visitor and severely injured another, becoming the immediate event associated with the park's eventual closure.

• 1990

  Matter Horn ride tragedy

  On 29 July 1990, a wagon on the Matter Horn ride broke, killing 15-year-old Roxana Celia Alaimo and severely injuring Karina Benítez. The incident was followed four months later by the mayor's order for Italpark's definitive closure.

  Source

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• 1990

  Municipal order to close Italpark permanentlyOther

  Background

  The decision followed the fatal Matter Horn ride accident of 29 July 1990, in which one visitor died and another was severely injured.

  Action taken

  Buenos Aires mayor Carlos Grosso ordered the definitive closure of the amusement park four months after the accident.

  Aftermath

  Italpark ceased operating after approximately thirty years, and its former site later became associated with Parque Thays.

  Source

1. 1Italparken.wikipedia.org