Legoland California first opened its doors on March 20, 1999, bringing amusement park thrills and adventures to the sleepy town of Carlsbad, California, just north of San Diego. There park, as the name implies, is based on Lego-style adventures; plenty of other offerings in the park play on themes expressed by Lego’s other brands, including Duplo, Bionicle, and others. Jointly owned by both The Lego Group (out of Denmark) and the England-based Merlin Entertainment Group (the second largest amusement park operator behind The Walt Disney Company), Legoland California is the third such park to be built. The original Legoland debuted in 1968 outside of Billund, Denmark, followed by the 1996 addition of Legoland Windsor in Berkshire. A fourth Legoland opened in Germany under the name Legoland Deutschland.
The ever-expanding Legoland California is currently divided into nine themed areas. The first themed area, mostly consisting of guests services, shops, and restaurants, is The Beginning. One of the more popular – and original – lands in the park is Miniland USA, where guests can view miniature recreations of famous American landmarks all built out of – you guessed it – Legos! Other themed areas take on the nature of some of Lego’s most famous playsets, including Dino Island, Explore Village, and Pirate Shores. Castle Hill also features a variety of fun and adventures for children of all ages, while Fun Town caters to a younger demographic for the most part. The Imagination Zone features a variety of challenges and attractions, while the newly-opened Land of Adventure takes guests on exotic adventures.
The Beginning – Miniland USA – Dino Island – Explore Village – Pirate Shores – Castle Hill – Fun Town – The Imagination Zone – Land of Adventure
