Canada’s Wonderland opened in May 1981 in Vaughan, Ontario, just north of Toronto, becoming the first major theme park in Canada. Built by Taft Broadcasting Company and Great-West Life Assurance, the park debuted with an opening ceremony that featured a young Wayne Gretzky, and it has remained the country’s largest theme park ever since.
Spanning 330 acres plus the 20-acre Splash Works water park, Canada’s Wonderland now packs in 68 attractions, including 18 roller coasters, tying it for second-most coasters at any amusement park in the world. Ownership has passed from Taft to Paramount Parks, then Cedar Fair, and most recently to Six Flags Entertainment Corporation following its 2024 merger with Cedar Fair.
Stats at a Glance
- Location: Vaughan, Ontario, Canada
- Opened: May 1981
- Owner: Six Flags Entertainment Corporation
- Size: 330 acres (plus 20-acre Splash Works)
- Roller Coasters: 18 (tied for 2nd-most worldwide)
- Total Attractions: 68
- Tallest Coaster: Leviathan – 306 ft (93.3 m)
- 2022 Attendance: About 3.8 million guests
The Ride Experience
The park’s marquee attraction is Leviathan, a Bolliger & Mabillard giga coaster that opened in 2012, reaching 306 feet (93.3 m) tall and 92 mph (148 km/h) across 5,486 feet (1,672 m) of track — the tallest and fastest coaster in Canada. In 2025, the park added AlpenFury, a Premier Rides Sky Rocket launch coaster billed as having the most inversions (nine) of any launch coaster in the world, alongside claims to being Canada’s tallest, fastest, and longest launch coaster.
Unlike many sister Six Flags and former Cedar Fair parks that use an Eiffel Tower replica as a visual anchor, Canada’s Wonderland is centered on Wonder Mountain, a landmark structure that has defined the park’s skyline since opening day.
A Canadian Amusement Landmark
Since its 1981 debut, Canada’s Wonderland has changed hands several times, moving from Taft Broadcasting to Paramount Parks in 1993, then to Cedar Fair in 2006, and finally to Six Flags Entertainment Corporation after the 2024 Six Flags-Cedar Fair merger. Through every ownership change, it has kept its status as the country’s largest and most visited seasonal amusement park.
In 2022, the park drew an estimated 3.8 million guests, making it the most-visited seasonal amusement park in North America that year, a testament to its decades-long role as one of the region’s top family destinations.
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Canada’s Wonderland FAQs
When did Canada’s Wonderland open?
Canada’s Wonderland opened to the public in May 1981 in Vaughan, Ontario, becoming the first major theme park in Canada.
What is the tallest ride at Canada’s Wonderland?
Leviathan, a Bolliger & Mabillard giga coaster standing 306 feet (93.3 m) tall, is the tallest and fastest roller coaster at the park and in Canada.
Who owns Canada’s Wonderland?
Canada’s Wonderland is owned by Six Flags Entertainment Corporation, following the 2024 merger between Six Flags and Cedar Fair, its previous owner.
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Photo: Enoch Leung from Canada / CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.