Star City, Manila
An indoor-oriented amusement park and entertainment complex in Pasay, Metro Manila, Philippines.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
Star City is an amusement park and entertainment complex located in the reclaimed area of the Cultural Center of the Philippines Complex in Pasay, Metro Manila, part of the wider Bay City development. The park occupies approximately 35,000 square metres and is operated through Star Parks Corporation, a subsidiary of Elizalde Holdings Corporation, the holding company associated with the FJE Group of Companies. The attraction developed from the Toys and Gift Fair, a Christmas trade exhibition first organized in 1976 by the Philippine Center for International Trade and Exhibit, commonly known as PhilCite. The fair was established as a seasonal exhibition, but under the direction of Fred Elizalde it gradually evolved during the 1990s into a more permanent amusement destination. Star City was formally established on February 23, 1991. In the late 1990s, the former PhilCite building was demolished and replaced with facilities designed specifically to accommodate indoor rides and attractions. Before its major 2019 fire, Star City was known for combining indoor, air-conditioned attractions with outdoor rides. Approximately 70 percent of its facilities were covered and air-conditioned, a feature that helped distinguish the park in the Philippine market by providing an amusement destination less dependent on weather conditions. At the time, the park had more than 30 rides and attractions and reportedly welcomed about 1.5 million visitors annually. Its attractions included family rides, thrill rides, themed dark rides, carnival-style attractions, an ice and snow facility, and a large Ferris wheel. The complex also incorporated the Aliw and Star Theaters, which together provided 2,125 seats, as well as facilities connected with Manila Broadcasting Company, now associated with MBC Media Group. Star City promoted several attractions as Philippine firsts or national-scale features. These included the Zyklon Loop, described as a 360-degree-loop roller coaster; Jungle Splash, a water log ride formerly known as Wild River; the Star Flyer inverted roller coaster; and Snow World, a permanent ice entertainment area with ice sculptures, a snow-play zone, and a long ice slide. The Giant Star Wheel, with 32 air-conditioned gondolas seating up to six people each, was also promoted as the tallest Ferris wheel in the Philippines around 2012, although published accounts differ on whether its height was 60 or 62.5 metres. On October 2, 2019, a major fire destroyed roughly 80 percent of the main Star City building. More than 30 rides and attractions were housed in the affected structure, and at least 25 were damaged, including Gabi ng Lagim, Dungeon of Terror, Bump Car Smash, and Snow World. Most of the outdoor area, including the Star Flyer and Star Frisbee, was reported to have escaped the worst of the fire. The incident forced the complete closure of the park and ended its pre-fire operating configuration. Publicly reported early estimates of the damage varied widely, and no single verified figure is recorded here. Star City announced plans to return after the fire, but reconstruction and reopening were delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic. A social-media teaser in December 2021 indicated that reopening preparations were under way. A January 14, 2022 reopening date was postponed amid an increase in Metro Manila COVID-19 cases associated with the Omicron variant. The park eventually reopened on February 24, 2022. Its long-term operating position is affected by the reported expiration of the Elizalde family's property lease in 2026 and possible government plans to sell the underlying state property. The park remains an active Philippine leisure and entertainment brand, although its future site arrangements and post-fire attraction mix require continuing verification.
History
Star City's origins lie in the Toys and Gift Fair, a Christmas trade exhibition first organized in 1976 by the Philippine Center for International Trade and Exhibit. The exhibition initially functioned as a seasonal commercial event, but it gradually acquired entertainment elements. Under Fred Elizalde's direction in the 1990s, the fair developed into a more permanent amusement operation. Star City was established on February 23, 1991. The park was built in the Cultural Center of the Philippines Complex in Pasay's reclaimed Bay City area. During the late 1990s, the former PhilCite building on the site was demolished and replaced with a purpose-built facility for indoor rides. This development gave Star City a distinctive operating model in the Philippine amusement market: much of the park was enclosed and air-conditioned, allowing rides and attractions to operate in a controlled environment while outdoor facilities provided larger thrill rides and sightseeing attractions. Before 2019, the park had more than 30 rides and attractions and reportedly received approximately 1.5 million visitors per year. Its offering ranged from family and carnival rides to themed attractions, water rides, roller coasters, and ice entertainment. Star City also formed part of a broader entertainment complex that included the Aliw and Star Theaters, with a combined capacity of 2,125 seats, and facilities associated with Manila Broadcasting Company. The park became known for several large or distinctive attractions. The Zyklon Loop was presented as a 360-degree-loop roller coaster, while Jungle Splash, formerly called Wild River, was a log-flume-style water ride. Snow World offered an indoor ice environment with ice sculptures, snow play, and a long ice slide. The Star Flyer, opened in 2007, was marketed as the Philippines' first inverted roller coaster. The Giant Star Wheel featured 32 air-conditioned gondolas, each designed to accommodate up to six people, and was described in 2012 as the country's tallest Ferris wheel, although sources differ over its exact height. Star City experienced several serious ride-related incidents. In 2006, a 13-year-old visitor died after falling from Wild River, prompting a temporary suspension ordered by the Pasay City engineering office. In 2009, a man died after falling from the Star Flyer, which was temporarily closed. The Star Flyer later experienced an electrical malfunction in 2018 that left about ten riders stopped on the track for approximately 15 minutes. Another fatality was reported in July 2018 after a man fell from the Giant Star Wheel. On October 2, 2019, fire caused extensive destruction. Approximately 80 percent of the main building was affected, damaging at least 25 attractions, including Gabi ng Lagim, Dungeon of Terror, Bump Car Smash, and Snow World. Outdoor rides such as the Star Flyer and Star Frisbee were reported to have been largely spared. The fire forced the park to cease operations while reconstruction took place. A return was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic. In December 2021, the park's social-media accounts issued a reopening teaser, but a planned January 14, 2022 reopening was postponed during an increase in Metro Manila cases linked to the Omicron variant. Star City ultimately reopened on February 24, 2022. Its future is also connected to the reported 2026 expiry of the Elizalde family's lease and possible government plans to sell the underlying property, making the long-term site arrangement an unresolved issue.
- 2026
Reported lease-expiry horizon
[1]The Elizalde family's reported lease on the property is due to expire, subject to any renewal or changes in government property policy.
- 2022
Star City reopens
[1]Following reconstruction and pandemic-related delays, the amusement park reopens on February 24.
- 2019
Major fire closes the park
[1]A fire on October 2 severely damages the main building and forces all park operations to stop.
- 2012
Giant Star Wheel promoted as the Philippines' tallest
[1]The Giant Star Wheel is described as the country's tallest Ferris wheel, although published accounts differ on its exact height.
- 2007
Star Flyer opens
[1]The inverted roller coaster Star Flyer opens and is promoted as the first attraction of its type in the Philippines.
- 1991
Star City is established
[1]The former trade-fair concept develops into Star City as an amusement park on February 23.
- 1990
Purpose-built indoor park facilities developed
[1]During the 1990s, the former PhilCite building is replaced with facilities designed for Star City's indoor rides and attractions.
- 1976
Toys and Gift Fair begins
[1]The seasonal Toys and Gift Fair, the predecessor of Star City, is first organized by the Philippine Center for International Trade and Exhibit.
Products and positioning
A large-scale, family-oriented Philippine amusement park emphasizing indoor, air-conditioned entertainment alongside outdoor thrill rides and theater facilities.
Inverted roller coaster · 2007
Star Flyer
An outdoor inverted roller coaster opened in 2007. Riders travel beneath the track, and the attraction was marketed as the first inverted coaster in the Philippines. It was among the outdoor facilities reported to have been largely spared by the 2019 fire.
Ferris wheel
Giant Star Wheel
A large Ferris wheel with 32 air-conditioned gondolas, each capable of seating up to six people. It was promoted around 2012 as the tallest Ferris wheel in the Philippines, although sources give different measurements for its height.
Indoor ice attraction
Snow World
A permanent indoor ice-entertainment facility featuring ice carvings, a snow-play area, and a long ice slide. Snow World was one of the attractions damaged in the 2019 fire.
Roller coaster
Zyklon Loop
A roller coaster identified with a 360-degree loop and promoted as one of Star City's notable thrill attractions before the 2019 fire.
Water ride
Jungle Splash
A log-flume-style water attraction formerly known as Wild River. The ride was associated with a fatal incident in 2006 and was one of the park's recognized water attractions.
Theater and live entertainment
Aliw and Star Theaters
Theater facilities located within the broader Star City complex. Together, the Aliw and Star Theaters provide a reported combined seating capacity of 2,125 and extend the complex beyond rides into stage and live entertainment.
Brand decisions
2022
Reopen after fire reconstructionStrategyBackground
The 2019 fire destroyed much of the main building and forced the park to remain closed while repairs and reconstruction proceeded. The COVID-19 pandemic caused additional delays.
Action taken
Management announced a return to operations, first indicating a January 2022 reopening and then postponing it during an Omicron-related increase in Metro Manila cases. The park ultimately reopened on February 24, 2022.
Aftermath
Star City resumed operations, but the post-reopening attraction lineup and the long-term effect of the reported 2026 lease expiry require further documentation.
Recent events
- 2022
Star City delays planned reopening amid Omicron wave[1]
Other
A planned January reopening was postponed after an increase in COVID-19 cases in Metro Manila. The park later reopened on February 24, 2022.
- 2022
Star City reopens after fire-related closure[1]
Other
Star City resumed operations following reconstruction and delays associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.
- 2019
Fire severely damages Star City[1]
Other
A major fire on October 2 destroyed approximately 80 percent of the main building, damaging at least 25 rides and attractions and forcing the park to close.
- 2018
Star Flyer experiences electrical malfunction[1]
Other
An electrical malfunction stopped approximately ten riders on the Star Flyer in the middle of its suspended track for around 15 minutes.
- 2018
Fatal fall from Giant Star Wheel reported[1]
Other
A man died after falling from the top of the Giant Star Wheel on July 8, 2018.
- 2009
Star Flyer temporarily closes after fatal fall[1]
Other
The Star Flyer was temporarily taken out of service after a man fell approximately 15 metres from the ride and died.
- 2006
Thirteen-year-old patron dies on Wild River ride[1]
Other
A 13-year-old visitor died after falling from the Wild River attraction, later known as Jungle Splash. Pasay authorities ordered a temporary suspension of park operations after the incident.
Sources2 sources
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