Cliff's Amusement Park
Cliff's Amusement Park is a family-oriented amusement and water park in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Cliff's Amusement Park is an amusement and water park in Albuquerque, New Mexico, serving families and visitors with rides, attractions, games, food, and seasonal entertainment. The park traces its origins to 1959, when husband-and-wife founders Cliff and Zella Hammond established a small children's attraction called Uncle Cliff's Kiddieland. The original concept focused on rides and activities for young children, but the business later evolved as it moved locations and broadened its audience. After operating at its initial site for several years, the park faced opposition from nearby residents, who organized a petition seeking its closure. It subsequently moved for a short period to Little Beavertown in Tijeras Canyon outside Albuquerque. In 1963, the attraction relocated to its present Albuquerque location. At that point it adopted the name Uncle Cliff's Familyland, signaling a wider family audience rather than a narrowly child-focused format. The Hammond family remained central to the park's operation. In 1974, the founders' daughter and her husband took over management responsibilities. During the 1980s, the name changed again to Uncle Cliff's Amusement Park, reflecting the park's expansion toward entertainment for visitors of different ages. The current Cliff's Amusement Park identity represents the mature form of that family-operated regional attraction. The park's offering includes approximately 25 rides, alongside food service and midway-style games. Its attractions span roller coasters, thrill rides, family rides, and children's rides. It also includes WaterMania, a water-park area that extends the venue's appeal beyond traditional amusement-park rides. One of its most notable attractions is the New Mexico Rattler, a wooden roller coaster and the only wooden coaster in New Mexico. The coaster is also described as the final coaster designed by Custom Coasters International, giving the park a distinctive place in regional roller-coaster history. Cliff's Amusement Park is primarily a destination brand rather than a packaged-goods or nationally distributed consumer brand. Its value proposition is based on in-person recreation, family leisure, repeat local visitation, and seasonal tourism. The park's Albuquerque location makes it a recognizable entertainment venue in New Mexico, while its combination of children's attractions, family rides, thrill rides, a wooden coaster, water attractions, food, and games allows it to serve several age groups within one site. Cliff Hammond died in 2013. The park did not operate during the 2020 season because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but it resumed operations the following year. Publicly available reference material does not identify a current corporate parent, listed entity, ticker, or current executive leadership roster. The park is therefore best characterized as an active regional amusement and water-park brand with a multigenerational operating history rooted in the Hammond family.
History
Cliff's Amusement Park began in 1959, when Cliff and Zella Hammond opened a small children's amusement attraction named Uncle Cliff's Kiddieland. The early park was designed primarily for younger visitors and represented a modest, family-founded entertainment business rather than a large commercial resort. After several years at its first location, the park encountered opposition from surrounding residents. Neighbors organized a petition seeking to have the attraction shut down, and the business subsequently relocated for a short period to Little Beavertown in Tijeras Canyon, outside Albuquerque. In 1963, the park moved to its present location in Albuquerque. The relocation was accompanied by a new identity, Uncle Cliff's Familyland, which reflected a broadened focus on family entertainment. The business remained associated with the Hammond family as it developed from a children's park into a more varied amusement destination. In 1974, Cliff and Zella Hammond's daughter and her husband began managing park operations. Their involvement continued the family role in the day-to-day development of the attraction. During the 1980s, the park changed its name again to Uncle Cliff's Amusement Park. The new name expressed a further shift in positioning: the venue was no longer intended only for young children or general family outings, but also for amusement experiences suitable for visitors of different ages. Over time, the attraction expanded its mix of rides and recreational facilities and became known as Cliff's Amusement Park. The present park combines conventional amusement-park attractions with a water-park component. Reference material describes approximately 25 rides, including roller coasters, thrill rides, family rides, and children's rides, as well as food and games. WaterMania provides water-based recreation within the broader park complex. The New Mexico Rattler is a central point of distinction. It is identified as the only wooden roller coaster in New Mexico and as the final coaster designed by Custom Coasters International. This attraction gives the park significance beyond its local family-entertainment role, particularly for roller-coaster enthusiasts and regional tourism. Cliff Hammond died in 2013. The available historical account does not identify a subsequent corporate owner or provide a complete current leadership roster. Like many seasonal amusement businesses, the park's operating history was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. It did not operate in 2020, then returned in 2021. The park remains an active Albuquerque amusement and water-park brand, with a history spanning children's entertainment, family recreation, thrill rides, and water attractions.
- 2021
Operations resume
[1]Cliff's Amusement Park returns to operation after the 2020 closure.
- 2020
Season suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic
[1]The park does not operate during the 2020 season because of the pandemic.
- 2013
Cliff Hammond dies
[1]Founder Cliff Hammond dies after the park has become an established regional amusement destination.
- 1980
The park adopts the Uncle Cliff's Amusement Park name
[1]During the 1980s, the business changes its name to reflect a broader amusement offering for visitors of all ages.
- 1974
The next Hammond generation begins managing the park
[1]The founders' daughter and her husband assume management responsibilities.
- 1963
Relocation to the present Albuquerque site
[1]The attraction moves to its current Albuquerque location and adopts the name Uncle Cliff's Familyland.
- 1959
Uncle Cliff's Kiddieland opens
[1]Cliff and Zella Hammond establish a small children's amusement park, creating the business that later becomes Cliff's Amusement Park.
The park relocates to Little Beavertown
[1]Following a petition by neighbors at the original site, the park moves temporarily to Little Beavertown in Tijeras Canyon outside Albuquerque.
Products and positioning
A regional, family-oriented amusement and water park combining children's entertainment, family rides, thrill attractions, food, games, and distinctive New Mexico roller-coaster heritage.
Wooden roller coaster
New Mexico Rattler
A wooden roller coaster at Cliff's Amusement Park and the only wooden coaster in New Mexico according to the referenced account. It is also described as the final coaster designed by Custom Coasters International, making it the park's most distinctive named ride and an attraction with significance for coaster enthusiasts.
Water park
WaterMania
The park's water-attraction area, providing aquatic recreation alongside its traditional amusement rides. WaterMania broadens the venue's seasonal appeal and supports the park's positioning as both an amusement park and water park.
Amusement-park attractions
Amusement rides
The park offers a broad ride portfolio described as approximately 25 rides, divided across roller coasters, thrill rides, family rides, and children's rides. The mix enables the venue to serve young children, families, and visitors seeking more intense attractions.
Park services
Food and games
Food service and games complement the ride portfolio and form part of the traditional amusement-park experience offered at Cliff's Amusement Park.
Brand decisions
2020
Temporary operating suspension during the pandemicOtherBackground
The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the park's seasonal operations.
Action taken
Cliff's Amusement Park did not operate during the 2020 season.
Aftermath
The park resumed operations in 2021.
1980
Expansion toward all-ages amusementStrategyBackground
The attraction had developed beyond its original children's-park concept and needed an identity that represented a wider ride and entertainment mix.
Action taken
During the 1980s, the business changed its name to Uncle Cliff's Amusement Park.
Aftermath
The name change reflected the park's broader positioning for visitors of different ages.
1963
Relocation and repositioning as Uncle Cliff's FamilylandStrategyBackground
The original park faced a petition from nearby residents seeking its closure, after which the business moved temporarily and then relocated to its present Albuquerque site.
Action taken
The Hammond family moved the attraction to Albuquerque in 1963 and changed its name from Uncle Cliff's Kiddieland to Uncle Cliff's Familyland.
Aftermath
The move established the park at its long-term location and supported a broader family-entertainment identity.
Recent events
- 2021
Cliff's Amusement Park resumes operations after the 2020 closure[1]
Other
The park returned to operation in 2021 after being closed for the 2020 season.
- 2020
Cliff's Amusement Park closes for the 2020 season because of the COVID-19 pandemic[1]
Other
The park did not operate during 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic, representing a temporary interruption to its seasonal operations.
Sources2 sources
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