Yesterday, we did a final video tour of Pleasure Island.  Today we'll post some pics of the Island and talk about some of it's history.

Speaking of history, let's start off with the "historical plaque" at the front entrance to Pleasure Island, near the ticket booths.  According to Wade Simpson, on Jim Hill Media, Pleasure Island originally opened with plaques all over the Island, so guests could piece together a history of Merriweather Pleasure.

Unfortunately, with all the changes the Island went through, over time, many of the plaques disappeared, documentation was lost, and cast members left the Disney Company.  However, the plaque at the front entrance of Pleasure Island still remains.  The following details the contents of that plaque.

PLEASURE ISLAND
Founded 1911

An unverifiable, anecdotal, purely subjective, theoretical alleged purported history. Also, ersatz.

A living monument to "the wise fool, the mad visionary, the scoundrel, the scalawag, and the seeker of enjoyment", Merriweather Adam Pleasure, who purchased the island in 1911.

Pleasure's profitable canvas manufacturing/sail fabricating empire, founded on this site, provided him with the capital to indulge his lifelong interest in the exotic, the experimental, and the unexplainable.

Known as the Grand Funmeister, Pleasure disappeared during his 1941 circumnavigation of the Antarctic. His sons, Henry and Stewart, took over the island and the Pleasure enterprises. Their mismanagement led to bankruptcy in 1955; Hurricane Connie hit that same year, and Pleasure Island was abandoned.

In 1987, Archaeologists uncovered the site and its remains, and a large scale reclamation project was begun. In 1989, the new Pleasure Island was re-opened and dedicated to the legacy of Merriweather Adam Pleasure: "Fun for all, and All for fun!"

Placed here by the Pleasure Island Histerical Society.

As mentioned above, you enter Pleasure Island by purchasing tickets from the two ticket booths at the front entrance.  The "ticket booth" are actually train cars remodeled to look like a ticket booth.  We all know how much Walt liked trains.

You are immediately greeted by a huge map of the Island and directional signs, as well as rules and regulations for the Island.  You are then off on your adventure through the Island in search of "Fun for All!"

You can see more of the pictures on our Pleasure Island set at Flicker by clicking the link, below.

This past weekend, Pleasure Island gave it's final "last call" as Disney closed the doors on the attraction to make room for a different type of entertainment/dining venue.  Many long-time Disney and Pleasure Island fans were sad to see the property go, especially the Adventurer's Club, that had it's own petition to keep the fan favorite open.

We visited the attraction just before closing to take one last look at the clubs for everyone to enjoy.  We also took a lot of photos that we will add to a future post.  Here is our video of the "last call."  Enjoy!