30 vintage photos of shuttered Orlando theme park Circus World

In 1974, a new theme park called Circus World Showcase opened its doors in Haines City, not far down I-4 from Walt Disney World. (photo via mouseplanet.com)

The idea for Circus World was originally conceived by the Feld Bros., who at the time owned Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey circus (via floridamemory.com)

The new theme park was supposed to be a preview center and amusement park where the circus could spend the winter. When the Feld Bros. sold the circus empire to toy company Mattel in the early 1970s, they sold the Circus World concept with it. (via floridamemory.com)

Brother Irvin Feld's original concept for the park was grand – it even included a design for a 19-story tall hotel that would be shaped like a circus elephant. The hotel was never built, but Circus World did have a lot of elephants, including this baby one performing during a show. (via floridamemory.com).

There are also lion tamers and other Big Top-type performances (via floridamemory.com).

And rides, like this one called the Center Ring. (via floridamemory.com)

Circus World also had the best wooden roller coasters. This one was the Florida Hurricane. (via floridamemory.com)

Michael Jackson was said to have loved Circus World (via circus4youth.org)

Every time he came to the area, he visited. Here he is riding the Roaring Tiger coaster with director John Landis. (via jimhillmedia.com)

As the years wore on, Circus World expanded to include a Great Western Stampede and other spectacles. (via floridamemory.com)

Here's the Barnum City Depot (via floridamemory.com)

Of course, there was face painting. Done by clowns. (via floridamemory.com)

And fire eaters. (via floridamemory.com)

There was even a flaming high diver. (via floridamemory.com)

And, of course, elephant rides. (via floridamemory.com)

There were polar bears, too. We can't imagine that they liked the Florida heat very much. So they probably spent a lot of time in this pool. (via floridamemory.com)

They had their own show. (via floridamemory.com)

No circus theme park would be complete without clowns. Circus World had a Wonderful World of Clowns show ... (via floridamemory.com)

... which featured this motley crew, among others. (via floridamemory.com)

Mattel tried expanding Circus World over the years, adding more rides and attractions. (via floridamemory.com)