Edaville Family Theme Park Auctioning Off Rides This Wednesday

CARVER (WBSM) — As Edaville Family Theme Park prepares for its new life as King Richard’s Faire moves onto its grounds, the park will auction off its rides this coming Wednesday.

On April 30, Norton of Michigan Auctioneers will conduct an auction of 24 rides, a tri-level soft play area, a six-gun shooting gallery and about 20 animatronic dinosaurs. The auction will be held at 10:30 a.m. on the Edaville property.

Why Is Edaville Auctioning Off Its Rides?

Edaville as we know it appears to be no more. WBSM broke the news back in March that the new owners of King Richard’s Faire had purchased Edaville and plan to move the faire to the park property following a dispute with its current landlord. Space needs to be made to build a new Renaissance village where the theme park now stands.

READ MORE: King Richard's Faire Will Relocate to Edaville as Theme Park Downsizes

What Will Become of Edaville?

In a press release earlier this month, King Richard’s Faire said that Edaville will undergo a “transformation” but continue its annual Festival of Lights at Christmas. This aligns with a previous plan laid out by former owner Jon Delli Priscoli to turn the park into a Christmas-only attraction.

READ MORE: King Richard's Faire, Edaville to Undergo "Transformation"

“Edaville will also experience a transformation, bringing new enchantment for guests but also continuing its tradition of Christmas and holiday light magic in December,” the release stated. “Edaville will add exciting entertainment, and delicious foods and beverage options, as well as expand its festive holiday marketplace.”

It appears that Edaville will continue its train rides around the park during the Festival of Lights, but the rest of the vintage railroad apparatus around the park has been moved to Delli Priscoli’s Grafton & Upton Railroad.

READ MORE: Vintage Railroad Apparatus Moved From Edaville

What Edaville Rides Are Up for Bid?

Basically, everything. Iconic Edaville rides like the 1953 “Big Eli” ferris wheel and the 1962 Eli Scrambler (in this writer’s opinion, the best version of the Scrambler ever) are on the block, as well as two rides from 1964: the Astronaut and the Jolly Caterpillar.

Generations of children rode on those four rides and brought their children and even their grandchildren to do the same.

Others include the 1986 Chance Carousel, and three rides from the 1990s: the 1990 Flying Turtles, the 1994 Bone Shaker and the 1988 Clown Train. The 2006 Balloon Drop, one of the highest rides in the park outside of Big Eli, also is up for bid.

READ MORE: See the Brochure for the Edaville Ride Auction

Also in the auction are the rides built in 2015 that were previously part of Thomas Land, and then after Delli Priscoli stated that Thomas Land would not reopen, were reimagined as the Alpine Village, paying homage to Edaville founder Ellis D. Atwood and his cranberry company.

The tri-level play area, shooting gallery, and a couple of rides that were never erected at Edaville (pirate ships and a pirate-themed “dark” ride) will also be on the auction block, as well as all of the animatronic dinosaurs that were part of Edaville's defunct Dino Land area.

How Do I Bid on Edaville Rides?

Those wishing to buy must be registered with Norton of Michigan Auctioneers. If you have not already registered, you can bring a letter of guarantee during the preview hours Tuesday, April 29 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. or beginning at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday.

How Long Do Buyers Have to Remove the Rides from Edaville?

Rides will have to be removed following the auction, up until 6 p.m. on Wednesday or on Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Buyers of large rides will have until May 15. All items must be removed by May 15.