If you’ve ever driven I-10 between Phoenix and Tucson, you may have noticed some strange cage-like objects sitting on top of tall poles near Eloy.
They look like giant birdcages—or possibly where Arizona keeps tourists who complain about the heat.
But those “cages” are actually remnants of an amusement park that never opened.
In 1995, a businessman named Richard Songer purchased land near Eloy and announced plans for Family Fun World. His ambitious desert attraction was supposed to include amusement rides, a racetrack, a drive-through zoo, water attractions, picnic areas and even a concert venue.
A large sign promised drivers:
“Coming Soon: Family Fun World!”
To attract attention, Songer placed several colorful gondolas on tall poles around the property where they could easily be seen from the freeway.
The gondolas had once been part of The Galaxy, a massive double Ferris wheel that operated at California’s Magic Mountain during the 1970s. The ride had two rotating wheels mounted on a giant arm, carrying passengers as high as approximately 100 feet.
Unfortunately, Family Fun World ran out of money before the dream could become reality. Some small events were held on the property, but the amusement park itself never officially opened. Much of the equipment was auctioned in 2001, and most of the unusual sculptures and vehicles eventually disappeared.
However, a few of those mysterious gondola-topped poles still appear to be standing near I-10 Exit 208.
One of them even made the news in August 2021 when a semitruck veered off I-10 and crashed into it. The pole reportedly stopped the truck from traveling any farther—giving Family Fun World what may have been its first genuinely useful attraction, about 25 years after it was supposed to open.
So, the next time you’re driving past Eloy and someone asks about the strange cages in the desert, you can tell them they’re the remains of Arizona’s greatest amusement park…
That nobody ever got to visit.
Have a great afternoon,
Joy, Jen, Kim, Kathy, Coloradas, Maxfield, Dr Shriner and Dr Ring
Google reviews help local practices like ours more than ads ever could.
If you’ve had a positive experience, we’d be grateful for a quick review.
Share your experience here → https://g.page/r/CZlXqQigGDIZEBM/review