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Land of Fun: The Story of an Old-Fashioned Amusement Park for the Ages
A feel-good story of a timeless amusement park and how the Fasnacht family that owns it has created unforgettable summer memories for generations since 1962.
Readers will discover the old-school values of Al Fasnacht, who
at 90 has, with his family – four generations who have worked at
Funland – created a Rehoboth Beach institution by focusing on
the customer experience rather than profits. This book transports
readers from today’s “me” generation to a simpler time
where the priority was to make people happy by providing safe
and affordable fun for the entire family.
Readers will discover the old-school values of Al Fasnacht, who
at 90 has, with his family – four generations who have worked at
Funland – created a Rehoboth Beach institution by focusing on
the customer experience rather than profits. This book transports
readers from today’s “me” generation to a simpler time
where the priority was to make people happy by providing safe
and affordable fun for the entire family.
- GenresNonfiction
143 pages, Paperback
Published April 30, 2019
About the author
Chris Lindsley
1 book4 followersChris Lindsley has 35 years of writing and editing experience. He served as editor of a national sports magazine for kids (KidSports), and a consumer health newsletter with a subscription of more than 2.5 million. His work has appeared in the Washington Post and many other publications.
Chris’s first book is Land of Fun: The Story of an Amusement Park for the Ages. The book is part history and part memoir, based on his six summers operating rides and games at Funland in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. Those summers taught him more about life, hard work, ethics and customer service than any job he’s had before or since.
He lives in Takoma Park, Maryland, with his wife and two children.
You can reach Chris with your comments and questions at clindsley@starpower.net.
Chris’s first book is Land of Fun: The Story of an Amusement Park for the Ages. The book is part history and part memoir, based on his six summers operating rides and games at Funland in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. Those summers taught him more about life, hard work, ethics and customer service than any job he’s had before or since.
He lives in Takoma Park, Maryland, with his wife and two children.
You can reach Chris with your comments and questions at clindsley@starpower.net.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
August 21, 2019
Very sweet book - a true testimonial to the Funland and the Fasnacht family. If you have ever been to Funland, you will appreciate these stories - a cute peak into the behind-the-scenes life on the famous local amusement park and it's family. Will also bring back fun family memories - from the old to the new rides to all of the fun games.
June 13, 2019
At a quaint summer beach destination in Delaware, dubbed the “Nations Summer Capital” for all the Washingtonians who vacation there, lives a small. Family-owned amusement park that has called Rehoboth Beach home since 1962. This is not just any amusement park; its owners place a premium on affordable family fun for all ages. In a beach resort known for multiple generations of families gathering for summer vacation every year, this park with a most appropriate name – Funland – is a throwback to an earlier time when parks were a gathering place for many and where people went to have a good time. Add to the mix that Funland has five rides it has operated since John F Kennedy was President, that customers routinely comment on how safe they feel and the family memories and sense of nostalgia the park creates, and you have a place a former Rehoboth mayor calls “indispensable” for the niche it provides for families with young kids. This is the story of an old-fashioned amusement park for the ages and the family that owns it.
The author spent well over two years interviewing well over 100 people – Funland customers, former employees, town officials and business owners, people in the amusement park industry and more and he even worked there for six summers himself operating rides and games so he really brings a breadth of knowledge to this subject. I especially enjoyed learning about the Fasnacht family that has owned the park all these years and how they were able to successfully operate it even as they transition to the fourth generation of ownership. I was surprised to learn that the Haunted Mansion is always ranked in the top 10 of the members of the Dark Attraction and Funhouse Enthusiasts, a list that also includes Disneyland, Walt Disney World and Universal Studio.
There were many other stories and facts that were fascinating…some even unbelievable. The book opens with the origins of the park and provides a list of the games and rides over the years as well as ticket prices and gives a glimpse of all that goes into providing the prizes. I do wish there was more on the Bumper Cars (my other favorite besides the Flying Cages which has a chapter of its own), the staff (although there is a chapter devoted to them) and some facts on attendance. Other than that, I think the author does a great job bringing this story to life. I, myself, went there as a teenager and brought my son there year after year and now he has his own children that enjoy the park and I get to enjoy it through their eyes. This truly is a land of fun. This summer I need to check out that Haunted Mansion again!
The author spent well over two years interviewing well over 100 people – Funland customers, former employees, town officials and business owners, people in the amusement park industry and more and he even worked there for six summers himself operating rides and games so he really brings a breadth of knowledge to this subject. I especially enjoyed learning about the Fasnacht family that has owned the park all these years and how they were able to successfully operate it even as they transition to the fourth generation of ownership. I was surprised to learn that the Haunted Mansion is always ranked in the top 10 of the members of the Dark Attraction and Funhouse Enthusiasts, a list that also includes Disneyland, Walt Disney World and Universal Studio.
There were many other stories and facts that were fascinating…some even unbelievable. The book opens with the origins of the park and provides a list of the games and rides over the years as well as ticket prices and gives a glimpse of all that goes into providing the prizes. I do wish there was more on the Bumper Cars (my other favorite besides the Flying Cages which has a chapter of its own), the staff (although there is a chapter devoted to them) and some facts on attendance. Other than that, I think the author does a great job bringing this story to life. I, myself, went there as a teenager and brought my son there year after year and now he has his own children that enjoy the park and I get to enjoy it through their eyes. This truly is a land of fun. This summer I need to check out that Haunted Mansion again!
May 31, 2020
An insightful and “fun” look at the inner workings and family that has made Funland a yearly destination for Rehoboth Beach visitors. If you love Rehoboth and Funland, you’ll enjoy all the insider intel and behind the scenes peaks.
June 25, 2019
An interesting book about the history and the family behind a place that I have been visiting for years. Definitely a feel good beach read. A big THANK YOU to the Fasnacht family!
January 17, 2023
This book definitely captures the nostalgia and happy tone of Funland. There are *strong* focuses on the park's multi-generational ride experience, low prices, wonderful friendly owner, and the family-friendly, nostalgic atmosphere. So much focus that it at times felt quite redundant.
Overall, where I had expected a history book, I got a book that was first and foremost trying to capture the feeling of Funland. Which it did pretty well, in addition to it's section on the park's origins, and random little info nuggets sprinkled in throughout.
If you have history or nostalgia with Funland, you will love this book. For those on the more curious side, it's still a great book, with random facts that I personally enjoyed learning, but it might feel a bit repetitive at times.
Overall, where I had expected a history book, I got a book that was first and foremost trying to capture the feeling of Funland. Which it did pretty well, in addition to it's section on the park's origins, and random little info nuggets sprinkled in throughout.
If you have history or nostalgia with Funland, you will love this book. For those on the more curious side, it's still a great book, with random facts that I personally enjoyed learning, but it might feel a bit repetitive at times.
May 5, 2023
What a sweet book!! I love that I have a connection to this place, especially now that I’ve gotten to know the Fasnacht family and their values and work ethic through reading this book. It makes me wish I and my children could have worked there during summers. The “My Funland Story” at the end of each chapter was something to look forward to. My story would mention that my husband and I would call it Cryland one year because our kids left having tantrums, but that didn’t keep us from returning every year since. What a great place, business and family!
May 19, 2020
We love Funland. The writing is just ok in this book, but it was interesting looking behind the scenes at one of our favorite summer places.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews