After almost three decades of fun, demolition crews are preparing to tear down a beloved Florida theme park co-founded by late NASCAR driver John Andretti
The Andretti Thrill Park, which opened in in Melbourne in 1999, was a longtime favorite for weekend outings, birthday parties and family gatherings with attractions including multiple go‑kart tracks and miniature golf to laser tag arenas, paddle boats, climbing walls and a large video arcade.
Owner Eddie Hamann explained that the decision to shutter the 27-year-old park was based on the aging facility rather than financial difficulties.
“There was no issue with the city, no issue with the county. Sales were still strong. We never lost money here,” Hamann told The Space Coast Rocket last week. “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.”
The 16.7-acre property is set to be redeveloped into 324 apartment units across 11 three-story buildings, with construction expected to start in May 2026 and finish by March 2028, according to a proposal from the NRP Group, People reports.
Hamann said the new development will likely serve Florida Institute of Technology students and local workers, with construction set to begin soon after demolition starts in the next three to four weeks, he said last week.
“With how quickly Melbourne and Palm Bay are growing, housing is one of the biggest needs right now,” he told the outlet, adding, “I’ve shed my tears. Now it’s time to move forward.”
Although the Melbourne location is closing, the company continues to operate 15 Andretti Karting & Games centers, including a flagship location in Orlando, and across states including Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas.
John Andretti, a member of the famed Andretti racing family and a veteran of NASCAR, CART and IMSA competition, died in 2020 after a battle with colorectal cancer. The company honors his legacy by supporting efforts to increase access to colonoscopy screenings for people who might not otherwise be able to afford them.
