Andretti Thrill Park in Florida closes after 27 years

The popular family theme park will be redeveloped into an apartment complex with over 300 units

Mar. 22, 2026 at 8:07pm

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Andretti Thrill Park, a beloved family theme park co-founded by the late NASCAR driver John Andretti in 1999, has closed down permanently. The 16.7-acre property in Melbourne, Florida will be redeveloped into an apartment complex with over 300 units to meet the high demand for housing in the area. The park's owner, Eddie Hamann, cited the facility's age and maintenance needs as the reasons for the closure, despite the park still performing well financially.

Why it matters

The closure of Andretti Thrill Park is part of a broader trend of popular theme parks disappearing from the landscape as developers see more lucrative opportunities in converting these large parcels of land into real estate projects. This highlights the ongoing tension between preserving community-oriented entertainment venues and the economic pressures of urban development.

The details

Andretti Thrill Park offered a variety of attractions, including five go-kart tracks, 18-hole miniature golf, a laser tag arena, paddle boat rides, a rock wall, the Andretti 360 ride, a drop tower, a train ride, kiddie rides, and the Space Coast's largest video arcade with 150 games. The park had become a popular entertainment venue for local families on the Space Coast. However, the 27-year-old facility required significant maintenance, and the owner decided it was time to look at the property's future potential.

  • Andretti Thrill Park opened in 1999.
  • John Andretti, the co-founder of the park, passed away from colon cancer in 2020.
  • Andretti Thrill Park will close its gates permanently at the end of the 2027 amusement park season.

The players

Andretti Thrill Park

A family-oriented theme park co-founded by the late NASCAR driver John Andretti in 1999, located in Melbourne, Florida.

Eddie Hamann

The co-founder and owner of Andretti Thrill Park.

John Andretti

The late NASCAR driver who co-founded Andretti Thrill Park in 1999. He was the nephew of car-racing legend Mario Andretti.

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What they’re saying

“There was no issue with the city, no issue with the county. Sales were still strong. We never lost money here.”

— Eddie Hamann, Co-Founder and Owner, Andretti Thrill Park

“It's simply that the facility is 27 years old. It requires a lot of maintenance, and it was time to look at what the future holds.”

— Eddie Hamann, Co-Founder and Owner, Andretti Thrill Park

What’s next

The 16.7-acre Andretti Thrill Park property will be redeveloped into an apartment complex with over 300 units to meet the high demand for housing in the Melbourne, Florida area.

The takeaway

The closure of Andretti Thrill Park is a bittersweet example of the ongoing tension between preserving community-oriented entertainment venues and the economic pressures of urban development. As theme parks across the country face similar challenges, this story highlights the need to find a balance between preserving local landmarks and adapting to the changing needs of the community.