Trailer for “Class Action Park” (The most dangerous amusement park in the world)
Part of the trailer for “Class Action Park,” a yet-to-be-released documentary about the Action Park water park in Vernon, NJ
Courtesy of Seth Porges
North Jersey residents of a certain age with fond (and painful) memories of Action Park will have a chance to tell their stories at a Hunterdon County gift shop later this week.
Sublime, a Frenchtown store specializing in New Jersey-themed gifts, is hosting a free storytelling event about the infamous Sussex County amusement park at its Bridge Street store on Friday at 7 p.m.
“Join us in telling stories of narrow escapes at Action Park, the water park from hell in Vernon Township, New Jersey, where from 1978 to 1996 countless, often drunken, youths risked their skin for thrills,” the store posted on its Facebook page. “Tell your story. Or just listen and be amazed.”
The event is a precursor to Frenchtown Riverfest, an annual street festival featuring local music, food and vendors over Labor Day weekend. Potential participants of Sublime’s storytime are asked to register on the store’s events page.
Co-hosted by Sublime owner Renée Olson and Action Park “survivor” Eric Fiorito, the evening is the latest ode to Vernon Park, the site currently occupied by Mountain Creek Waterpark, which has been closed for nearly three decades.
History of Action Park
Founded in the 1970s by developer Eugene Mulvihill, the park quickly gained a reputation for attractions that were both thrilling and dangerous. Many visitors left the park with scrapes, head injuries and various broken bones; tragically, several died from injuries sustained on the rides or from drowning.
A new generation learned about the chaos at the park in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. That summer, a book written by Mulvihill’s son Andy was released calling Action Park “America’s Most Dangerous Theme Park,” as well as a documentary about Max called “Class Action Park.” The film’s title refers to one of the park’s popular nicknames and is a nod to the many lawsuits it has faced over the years.
The park was also the inspiration for the 2018 film “Action Point.” In the film, “Jackass” star Johnny Knoxville played the creator of a theme park with subpar safety standards.
The publicity has helped Action Park maintain its cult status in the years since its closure. Sublime discovered this phenomenon firsthand when it began offering merchandise around the park, providing the inspiration for Friday’s storytelling event.
“Visitors to our store are immediately seized by an uncontrollable urge to tell of their scrapes and near misses at the water park considered the most dangerous in the country,” the store wrote on Facebook.
The comments section of Sublime’s post serves as a preview of the event, with several people sharing short stories about their experiences at Action Park.
One commentator recalled losing control on the Alpine Slide, perhaps the park’s most dangerous attraction, and badly scraping the side of his body. Since he was bleeding, he decided to go to the first aid department, where his wounds were not treated optimally.
“A few days later I had to seek medical attention because my arm and hip became infected,” the commenter wrote. “41 years later the scar on my arm is still visible. Was it worth it? Oh yes!”
