Grand Prix Tampa Fun Center Closes Permanently
A long-time center of fun for the Tampa area has seen its last days as it closed permanently on August 1, 2022. Q105 was there for the grand opening.
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Photo by Clemens Bilan/Getty Images for HISTORY GermanyIt opened as Malibu Grand Prix the year I first moved to Tampa. With a race track and video games, it was the place to go for fun.
Grand Prix Tampa was previously known as Malibu Grand Prix or Castle Golf & Games. It featured the go-kart tracks, which I've driven plenty of times. I smelled a lot of fumes and burned a lot of rubber!
They once had a pool for bumper boats, but that was filled in for an additional track. The property also hosted two mini golf courses, batting cages and game rooms. It had its ups and downs over more than 40 years.
Now, developers have purchased the property for over $8 million. That leaves the area without a beloved place for recreation. They plan to build apartments on the site. Grand Prix Tampa's website has a message thanking their fans.
Q105 was there for the grand opening
We knew from the start we'd be having fun here for years to come. We certainly never wanted it to end.
Here's the Q105 crew from 1978 packed in a car at Malibu Grand Prix when it opened in 1978.<br>(Image courtesy of Mason Dixon)
It wasn't JUST for kids
There was even a bar so they could try to attract USF students. Okay, they had soda for the younger fans.
Did you ever try to hit a fastball?
It was a great place to spend a day outside playing mini golf
With two separate 18 hole courses, you could alternate each time you visited.
