Kart Gardens or Kart World? It seems that those who owned this Calgary business weren’t even sure themselves. A sign in front lists BOTH names. No matter I guess. What ever it was called, it’s now closed and the site is quickly falling into disrepair. You’ll hear no screaming kids nor screaming go-karts, no laughter, no squeals of joy – only the sounds of passing cars, the occasional train and the click, click of our camera. Join us as we have some fun checking out what’s left of this operation.
I have not been able to find exactly when this business started but I have memories of passing by the place in the early 1990s and it was in business then. At that time it operated under the name Kart Gardens International. When the new owners took over, when ever that happened, they changed it to Kart World, but did not bother to alter the sign out by the road.
In addition to go-karts, they offered a games room, laser tag, mini golf, something called “Euro Bungee” and a small snack bar serving all manner of “gourmet” fare. You know, hot dogs, burgers, popcorn and big icy cokes. Five star eating!
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It appears in the last few years of operation, the business was not well maintained and looking online one can find numerous complaints about how broke down and neglected the place was. You hear customers speak of out of order games, gross biffies, badly running karts, stinky helmets (!), indifferent or uncaring staff, wild out of control kids (I guess that’s their parent’s fault) and an overall state of decay and uncleanliness.
I think the owner’s limped through 2013, hoping to get what ever they could out it, knowing very well that things were falling apart so fast that their time was limited and this would be their last year. They closed at the end of the season have not reopened. As of the writing of this report, the company website is still up and claims the venue will still be open in spring 2014. Whoops, they’re a little late!
This “glowing” review found online sums it up pretty well… ”Went to Kart World today. First of all they had a flood and the laser tag or washrooms were not working – not mentioned on their website. So they had porta-potties that patrons could use that were absolutely disgusting – the waste was nearly to the top and there were flies and larvae and other crawling things in the waste – absolute health hazard. Needless to say, my son or I couldn’t use them. Kart World is run by teenage kids who really don’t care about safety and customer service. Avoid this place, it just has a general feel that not much money is invested in it to the detriment of safety and cleanliness. I guess the car that was parked outside the main entrance with 2 flat tires and that had obviously been sitting there for some time should have given me a clue!”
Kart World, or was that Gardens, I can’t keep it straight, is located in a light industrial area in south-central Calgary and this sort-of out of the way location, no doubt, did not help things in regards to business. Busy MacLeod Trail is only a block or so away, but since the track can’t be seen from it, they could not rely on spontaneous business from families driving by. Also, visually the surrounding area was not that appealing. Who wants to look at a power substation, big power lines, tire shops and passing trains. Wait…I like trains. It’s a great spot! Perfect!
At one time, there was a second go-kart track up near the airport that also operated under the name Kart Gardens International. I assumed they were connected at the time.
Let’s take a tour of the place…
Peering inside the main building we can see it’s completely empty (and dirty). Okay, let’s move on to the “golf course”. As a mini golf aficionado, this one strikes me as rather..well…lame. The holes are too simple, the whole execution is amateurish, and where the hell is the windmill shot?! That’s a mini golf staple!
Good mini golf courses are built INTO the landscape and not simply plopped onto a concrete slab like they did here. This course was built from a pre-made kit. I found the manufacturer online.
Rules of exploration: show respect, don’t trespass and take only pictures.
Working our way around the complex, we pass a couple abandoned karts on the kiddy track. Looking at the main track I think back to the days when the karts would scream past (or maybe putt-putt past given the lack of maintenance they received). Now it’s all quiet. More go-karts, full sized ones this time, can be seen in back. Even from this position I can see most are in rough shape.
A sign on an overpass warms drivers not to bump. Back when I karted (admittedly a long time ago) that was the most fun part of the race. There was no protective bumpers surrounding the vehicles back then, nor guide rails on the track. Go-karts lost something when they started worrying too much about safety.
From this position, one can see the pit area where karts were worked on or rather cannibalized to keep others running. Pick and Pull for go-karts. The whole place from this angle looks like a dump. There are old tires everywhere, ripped up tarps and lots of junk.
We did not see the “Euro Bungee” mentioned earlier. I looked it up – basically you jumped on a trampoline while wearing a bungee suspended harness. This allowed you to bounce higher and safely do flips and the like. At one time, I understand there were bumper boats here, although where they were in relation to everything else and when they operated is not known. Chime in if you know.
I wonder what will happen to the land now that the business has closed. Will someone attempt to resurrect the Kart World “brand” or will the land be redeveloped? Given Calgary’s hot real estate market, the latter is likely.
The former Kart World mascot “Speed Bunny”, now among the ranks of the unemployed, made a brief appearance on our visit. I guess he’s got no where else to go.
And so ends our tour. Calgary is now down one family fun place but given that it was driven (get it, driven) into the ground, I doubt anyone will miss it. We know you are out there people and anyone who has some Kart World (or Gardens) experiences they’d like to share with us, you are welcome to comment below.
This post is very old but I’ll fill in a few of the blanks. I started with KGI (Kart Gardens International) when they first opened and stayed for almost 7 years. I rode my bmx on the dirt while they were building it. KGI was at the airport and some years later, Kart World opened off McLeod Trail. After the original owner of KGI sold, two brothers ran the place and eventually bought Kart World. The sign in the photo is from the airport location. In the early days, my future father-in-law was the mechanic, my future wife worked the snack bar and my brother was my fellow track rat. Lots of great memories.
I used to work at the track back in the 1990s it was super fun I was actually the one who designed the kids kart track in the capital letter B that it was till the place closed
No that was a different one, which I think was also called Kart World. Or something like that. I think the two may have been connected at some point, but am not completely sure.
Kart World started as FunWest Kart Track in 1984 which was the same year that Kart Gardens by the airport opened. The Calgary Kart Racing Club used this facility for a couple events before the bridges were put in many years later. For serious kart racing the club found the facility a little too small, so most of the club racing took place at Kart Gardens from then on. It is a shame to see the facility in such disrepair but nothing lasts forever and now there are electric powered rental karts at Speeders. The Calgary Kart Racing Club has built a new facility in Strathmore.
I loved taking my kids here every year. Despite the disrepair, it always put a smile on my kids faces! From the unpredictable kart performance and handling to the awkward lazer tag, it was always a blast… old school fun. Like an old rollercoaster that threw you from side to side and literally made you fear for your safety (which is a lot of fun!) Instead of today’s perfectly enginered coaster that glide smoothly around a looping track while strapped in like baby’s car seat. (Which is kinda lame)
I agree, I sort of miss the old way when things were a little more edgy, raw, and let’s face it, dangerous. Once they started putting those full round bumpers on the karts, you know the ones that enclosed the wheels and guided you from going off track via an edge rail, I sort of lost interest. Rubbing tires with a passing opponent was both thrilling and scary. You’d lock wheels and start spinning out of control with huge plumes of smoke coming off your tires, your destination a strategically placed tire pile. You’d hang on tight, pray to God, dam near pee you pants, and then crash. It was like a scene from the Road Warrior movies.
What a shame how it ended so sadly. I remember going there as a kid (and as an adult!) and wondering about what the name actually was. Thanks for documenting it for posterity!
We used to do something called the "pointless challenge" 🤪 and miss those days. It was so much silly fun and often frustrating as heck. In these we'd invite people to send in random photos of obscure locations, but not give any information, and then we'd track where it was and shoot something similar.
Most of these came from old family collections, as was the case here. Anyone up to resurrecting the series?
In hindsight, why didn't we pose someone in our shot?
Pointless: “Devoid of meaning (or) senseless” Merriam-Webster.
If you like what we do and want to support this ongoing project (12 years now), go here: https://www.BIGDoer.com/help-the-society/ Thanks to Connie for making this post possible.
Exploring history with Off the Beaten Path with Chris & Connie. Photo: ca1970 and 2014. Posted by Connie.
Captured on a cold, cold day many years ago. We've been passing this old house for decades and it's little changed in that time. At some point we expect to drive by and it'll be gone.
Exploring history with Off the Beaten Path with Chris & Connie. Photo: 2017. Posted by Connie.
When retired old railway cars usually get cut up for scrap. Sometimes, however, they find their way into the hands of the general public or whomever. Flat cars make good bridges, and boxcars can be transformed into storage buildings and the like. Case in point here. We see them used like this often enough and in this case, it's part of a corral.
Incidentally, this boxcar dates from 1950 and this was found by tracing the old road number, which is still visible.
Exploring history with Off the Beaten Path with Chris & Connie. Photo: 2017. Posted by Connie.
This central Alberta racetrack was never a commercial operation but instead just a fun place for car enthusiasts in the area to get together. Early '70s or thereabouts and it only lasted a few years. Even thought it's been abandoned for that long, there is no doubt what was here.
You know we like the the obscure stuff and this one fits the bill perfectly. Found by accident while backroad cruising and the history comes thanks to local car guy Mike.
Exploring history with Off the Beaten Path with Chris & Connie. Photo: 2022. Posted by Connie.
On top of little Myrtle Mountain in the Kimberley (BC) Nature Park.
There's some good wilderness fun to be had here and nice views as you can see, but the real reason we came is mining history. The whole area near the ski hill was extensively worked over a century ago and we were looking for evidence of this. We didn't find much in the area searched, but it's a big chunk of property and we hope to return to cover more ground again soon. Of all the subjects we cover, mining related is a favourite.
Still, it was a good hike and that can't be bad. Look to the comments for more info 👇.
Exploring nature and history with Off the Beaten Path with Chris & Connie. Photo: 2022. Posted by Connie.
It's a strange curiosity in south Kananaskis, there on a hillside and we have no idea who created it. We asked around and no one's completely sure about its history. In the past it showed the Canada 100 logo from 1967 but in 2017 someone changed it to reflect the country's 150th.
That's our friend Emily from DanOCan.com having a look.
Exploring history with Off the Beaten Path with Chris & Connie. Photo: 2017. Posted by Connie.
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This post is very old but I’ll fill in a few of the blanks. I started with KGI (Kart Gardens International) when they first opened and stayed for almost 7 years. I rode my bmx on the dirt while they were building it. KGI was at the airport and some years later, Kart World opened off McLeod Trail. After the original owner of KGI sold, two brothers ran the place and eventually bought Kart World. The sign in the photo is from the airport location. In the early days, my future father-in-law was the mechanic, my future wife worked the snack bar and my brother was my fellow track rat. Lots of great memories.
We have posts going back over a decade now. Yes. we’re old! All those family connections – that’s such a cool story. Thanks for commenting.
I used to work at the track back in the 1990s it was super fun I was actually the one who designed the kids kart track in the capital letter B that it was till the place closed
That was your handy work? How cool!
All that is left now is the track and a few old tires. I think underneath the bridge might be used by the homeless.
Hmm, interesting. I wonder what’s in store for the land? Suspect it’ll be redeveloped at some time.
City leased land .. i believe condos are going up on it
Ah, condos. A bit surprising given the semi-industrial location, but still there’s demand I guess.
Wow. I used to manage way back!! It was awesome!!!
So cool! I bet it was a fun place to work when it was happening.
I wonder how the old cheif chiniki kart track is doing, have they redeveloped that spot yet?
The place has fallen into disrepair. Badly. Not much left. We pass by it all the time.
Was this the one by the airport and country hills? I remember going to one growing up in that area.
No that was a different one, which I think was also called Kart World. Or something like that. I think the two may have been connected at some point, but am not completely sure.
Airport was KGI (Kart Gardens International) and the McLeod trail location was Kart World.
Thanks for clearing that up.
Thanks for sharing! I really enjoy these posts.
And as long as there’s a breath in us, we’ll keep them coming!
This place is no longer open? What a shame, it was a fun little place!
Sad, but it’s closed.
Kart World started as FunWest Kart Track in 1984 which was the same year that Kart Gardens by the airport opened. The Calgary Kart Racing Club used this facility for a couple events before the bridges were put in many years later. For serious kart racing the club found the facility a little too small, so most of the club racing took place at Kart Gardens from then on. It is a shame to see the facility in such disrepair but nothing lasts forever and now there are electric powered rental karts at Speeders. The Calgary Kart Racing Club has built a new facility in Strathmore.
John Kwong
President
CKRC
Very interesting John! Thanks for sharing.
I loved taking my kids here every year. Despite the disrepair, it always put a smile on my kids faces! From the unpredictable kart performance and handling to the awkward lazer tag, it was always a blast… old school fun. Like an old rollercoaster that threw you from side to side and literally made you fear for your safety (which is a lot of fun!) Instead of today’s perfectly enginered coaster that glide smoothly around a looping track while strapped in like baby’s car seat. (Which is kinda lame)
Kartworld,…or Kart Gardens… you will be missed.
I agree, I sort of miss the old way when things were a little more edgy, raw, and let’s face it, dangerous. Once they started putting those full round bumpers on the karts, you know the ones that enclosed the wheels and guided you from going off track via an edge rail, I sort of lost interest. Rubbing tires with a passing opponent was both thrilling and scary. You’d lock wheels and start spinning out of control with huge plumes of smoke coming off your tires, your destination a strategically placed tire pile. You’d hang on tight, pray to God, dam near pee you pants, and then crash. It was like a scene from the Road Warrior movies.
What a shame how it ended so sadly. I remember going there as a kid (and as an adult!) and wondering about what the name actually was. Thanks for documenting it for posterity!
Seeing it in such a state of disrepair was sort of sad. So much fun, now no fun.
Omg, is this just off of MacLeod Trail?
Yes, not far off it.
I drive by here all the time, not far from my place, didn’t realize it was closed now… Might drive by tonight just for the heck of it…
Shoot it while you can.