The New Jersey amusement park so dangerous it bought the town extra ambulances

Between 1978 and 1996, a water park in northern New Jersey operated under a simple philosophy: let the guests control the action, and accept that some of them would get hurt. Action Park in Vernon Township delivered on both promises with remarkable consistency.

Founded by Eugene Mulvihill as a way to make money from his ski resort during summer months, Action Park grew into a 250-acre collection of 75 rides where visitors could drive their own go-karts, control their own speed on alpine slides, and discover firsthand why certain water attractions probably shouldn't exist. The park featured the Cannonball Loop, a water slide with a complete vertical loop that reportedly required test dummies before anyone would try it. Employees allegedly received $100 if they'd test new rides.

At least six people died at Action Park. Local healthcare workers nicknamed it "Traction Park," "Accident Park," and "Class Action Park." The director of a nearby emergency room said staff treated five to ten park injuries on busy days. Eventually, Action Park purchased extra ambulances for the township to handle the patient volume.

The park's problems extended beyond ride design. Staff were often teenagers, sometimes intoxicated alongside the guests who had access to on-site alcohol. State regulators largely looked the other way despite repeated violations. When lawsuits mounted, Mulvihill's company created its own unauthorized insurance company — a scheme that led to a 110-count grand jury indictment and guilty pleas on insurance fraud charges.

Action Park closed in 1996 and reopened two years later as Mountain Creek Waterpark, significantly toned down.

Previously:
• 'Class Action Park' tells the tale of the most Gen X theme park ever
• Action Park was the most dangerous amusement park in the world
• WATCH: Slide for 1/3 of a mile on world's longest waterslide
• Watch this wild video of children being thrown high in the air as they ride a poorly designed giant slide
• It's back: looping water slide returns to New Jersey