If you grew up in Ontario during the ’90s, there’s a good chance your weekends or summer road trips were filled with a special kind of magic—quirky attractions, offbeat roadside stops, and theme parks that didn’t need big budgets to feel unforgettable. While many of these places have faded into memory (or become ghost town legends), they helped shape the golden era of family fun across the province.

Let’s rewind the VHS and take a nostalgic tour of some once-beloved Ontario attractions that made the ’90s extra memorable.

1. African Lion Safari’s Wacky Neighbours

While African Lion Safari is still going strong near Cambridge, the surrounding area used to be filled with quirky counterparts trying to cash in on the zoo buzz. There were mini roadside petting zoos, off-brand “jungle” exhibits, and souvenir shops with cardboard lions and questionable animatronics. They’re long gone now, but at one point, this stretch of Highway 8 was a full-on DIY safari strip.

2. Fantasy Island (Yes, The One Near Niagara)

Right across the border in Grand Island, NY, Fantasy Island was a beloved add-on to any Niagara-area trip. For many Ontario families, it was closer and more affordable than Canada's Wonderland. From its wild west shows to the iconic log flume and kiddie coaster, this park had charm in spades. It closed, reopened, and closed again—but for ’90s kids, it was a classic.

3. Ontario Place Before the Rides Vanished

Before its closure and slow rebirth as a multi-use waterfront space, Ontario Place was a playground of imagination. Think: bumper boats, a water park with an epic waterslide tower, and the iconic Cinesphere experience that made school field trips feel like Hollywood. It was once one of the crown jewels of Ontario attractions, and though redevelopment is ongoing, many still miss its original vibe.

4. Dinosaur Valley Mini Golf in Sudbury

Still technically around—but undeniably frozen in a ’90s time capsule—Dinosaur Valley Mini Golf is one of those roadside stops that lives rent-free in the minds of Ontarians who visited during childhood. Giant dinosaur statues, wacky sculptures, and hole layouts that seemed inspired by a fever dream made this a must-stop on any northern Ontario road trip.

5. Storybook Gardens’ Original Era

Storybook Gardens in London is still open, but the ’90s version had a very specific aesthetic—think giant Humpty Dumpty statues, medieval castles, and a petting zoo that felt like it was run by nursery rhyme characters. Today, it’s more of a polished urban park, but for kids of the ’90s, the old-school version felt like stepping into a fairytale drawn by someone with access to too much papier-mâché.

6. Crystal Beach Amusement Park (RIP)

Though it officially closed in 1989, the legacy of Crystal Beach echoed well into the early ’90s. Many families still visited the beach itself or took nostalgic detours past the former grounds. The Comet roller coaster was legendary, and even decades later, Crystal Beach remains one of the most talked-about "lost" Ontario attractions.

7. The Big Apple (and Every Oversized Roadside Statue)

While The Big Apple in Colborne is still baking pies and turning heads, its ’90s heyday was when roadside attractions ruled supreme. Every drive seemed to feature a stop at a giant fruit, moose, trout, or goose. These oversize statues weren’t just pit stops—they were photo ops, snack breaks, and memory makers that added character to cross-province trips.

Why It All Mattered

These forgotten or reimagined Ontario attractions may no longer pack the same crowds or even exist, but they remind us of a time when travel didn’t need to be fancy. A picnic, a weird sculpture, or a slightly terrifying animatronic bear was enough to make the day feel epic. And in a way, these spots helped define what family adventures in Ontario were all about.

So the next time you find yourself on an Ontario road trip, keep your eyes peeled—you never know when you'll stumble across a forgotten gem with big ’90s energy.