12 votes

What if you bought a small amusement park for $250k CAD ($219k USD)?

In my province, there's a little old amusement park that's up for sale at that price.

Attractions include a Go-Kart track with 14 two-seater karts, an 18-hole mini golf course, a space train ride, a batting cage, & a bumper car ride with ten cars

Owners can live on-site in a 2-bedroom apartment

What would you do if you lived at your own mini amusement park?

(I'm not affiliated in any way to this listing, I just live in the same province and like to browse real estate listings for fun)

12 comments

  1. [2]
    krellor
    Link
    The first and most pressing thing would be to hire body guards to protect me from my wife. After that I'd probably try and figure out why I wanted a depreciating asset that can only make money if...

    The first and most pressing thing would be to hire body guards to protect me from my wife.

    After that I'd probably try and figure out why I wanted a depreciating asset that can only make money if I spend more money and take on all sorts of potential liability for injuries, negligence, etc.

    Assuming none of these are actual concerns, probably nothing as I must have won the lottery and I'll be spending the next 5 years on national geographic cruises around the world with my wife.

    22 votes
    1. first-must-burn
      Link Parent
      This is too funny, and too true, as most truly funny things are.

      The first and most pressing thing would be to hire body guards to protect me from my wife.

      This is too funny, and too true, as most truly funny things are.

      10 votes
  2. scherlock
    Link
    Well, I think I'd get pretty good at mini golf, karting and hitting baseballs. In all seriousness, I probably rent it out for private parties, you get the whole park, have at it. No staff, less...

    Well, I think I'd get pretty good at mini golf, karting and hitting baseballs. In all seriousness, I probably rent it out for private parties, you get the whole park, have at it. No staff, less maintenance.

    7 votes
  3. [4]
    FishFingus
    Link
    All I can think of is, "Go-Karts with two seats? They make those? I've never seen one, are they side-by-side or tandem seating? And also why?"

    All I can think of is, "Go-Karts with two seats? They make those? I've never seen one, are they side-by-side or tandem seating? And also why?"

    6 votes
    1. [3]
      vord
      (edited )
      Link Parent
      So the kid can ride, but not neccessarily drive, while parent races around the track. My young one would love it.

      So the kid can ride, but not neccessarily drive, while parent races around the track.

      My young one would love it.

      5 votes
      1. [2]
        FishFingus
        Link Parent
        Oh...I guess that makes sense. Child FishFingus would've probably just felt ripped off. :c

        Oh...I guess that makes sense. Child FishFingus would've probably just felt ripped off. :c

        1 vote
        1. vord
          Link Parent
          My young one would not be able to reach the pedals, also should probably not be in a gokart yet lol.

          My young one would not be able to reach the pedals, also should probably not be in a gokart yet lol.

  4. rosco
    Link
    This feels like a Blank Check moment. But if I did endulge... That go-kart track is immediately becoming a pump track. It would be amazing to step out my door onto the pump track any time I...

    This feels like a Blank Check moment. But if I did endulge...

    That go-kart track is immediately becoming a pump track. It would be amazing to step out my door onto the pump track any time I wanted. Meeting delayed? Pump track. Dinner baking for 20 minutes? Pump track.

    Bumper cars get pulled and I repurpose the frame of the building for a greenhouse. It has slight creepy vibes as is and what could be better than a greenhouse in canada. It's big enough I could even get small fruit trees. I'd probably go lemon, lime, orange, peach, apricot, pomegranate, and a few olive trees if they fit.

    I'm not sure what I'd do with the batting cages, mini-golf, or space train yet. Honestly, this project is sounding like a lot of work ;)

    6 votes
  5. [4]
    AugustusFerdinand
    Link
    Unaffiliated with ReMax, just wanted to drop a link that doesn't ask for registration to view the photos:...

    Unaffiliated with ReMax, just wanted to drop a link that doesn't ask for registration to view the photos: https://www.remaxnova.com/commercial/lower-south-river-real-estate/4220-highway-4-lower-south-river-mls-202424203

    I like most things with an engine, so I'd keep the Go Kart track for myself (sell off the carts and bumper cars to fund a couple of good, higher speed karts), turn the bumper car arena into a skating rink for my wife (you would not believe the number of houses we looked at that got the comment "We could turn the basement into a skating rink" if the basement was unfinished. Same if there were multiple large garages on the property). Keep the mini golf course as I grew up with a mini golf course in my paternal grandfather's back yard and to this day it's the only thing about golf I like. Ditch the batting cages, sound barrier and fence in the whole property, turn the main building into a house, turn the apartment into a guest house, and live out the fantasies of my 14 year old self.

    2 votes
    1. [3]
      chocobean
      Link Parent
      Oh, thanks for the link! I forgot I signed up for the site ages ago. That's so fun that your wife would like a skating rink! Complete with a mini Zamboni? The ceiling of a basement rink would need...

      Oh, thanks for the link! I forgot I signed up for the site ages ago.

      That's so fun that your wife would like a skating rink! Complete with a mini Zamboni? The ceiling of a basement rink would need to be sufficiently high though eh? Indoor pool properties are probably your best bet.

      @rosco also mentioned using the bumper car rack for bikes and it sounds really fun.

      I would love to be able to invite friends to a personal amusement park. Making food seems like too much effort, we would order in carnival junk foods.

      3 votes
      1. [2]
        AugustusFerdinand
        Link Parent
        Specificity on my part helps: A roller skating rink. Although the thought of a tiny basement zamboni is humorous, so thanks for that mental image.

        Specificity on my part helps: A roller skating rink.
        Although the thought of a tiny basement zamboni is humorous, so thanks for that mental image.

        3 votes
        1. chocobean
          Link Parent
          oh gee that makes way more sense lol much much easier to have roller skating in the basement than to deal with wet issues for ice : )

          oh gee that makes way more sense lol much much easier to have roller skating in the basement than to deal with wet issues for ice : )

          1 vote