Polaris Development Separates New Karting Complex From Former Magic Mountain Site
Municipal records place the historic amusement park at 8350 Lyra Drive under Carvana ownership, while Supercharged Entertainment builds one mile north at 9300 Lyra Drive.
Construction is underway along Lyra Drive in Polaris, where Supercharged Entertainment broke ground on a 125,000-square-foot indoor karting and arcade complex at 9300 Lyra Drive in Polaris. The multi-level indoor venue represents the latest high-tech entertainment concept planned for northern Columbus.
Long before there was this new development, there was Magic Mountain.
For more than four decades, the Magic Mountain name defined family recreation across Central Ohio. Decades before electric indoor supertracks and corporate entertainment districts took over the suburbs, the colorful park grounds were where local kids drove their first motorized laps, celebrated youth sports victories, and carried reams of paper tickets straight to the prize counter.
Two Hubs Across Four Decades
The story of Magic Mountain in Columbus spanned two locations and thousands of family celebrations.
The journey began on the East Side, where the park first opened in 1981 along 5890 Scarborough Blvd, Columbus. For decades, Magic Mountain East operated as a regional destination for weekend outings, school field trips, and youth sports team celebrations. For countless families, after long days at Berliner Sports Park grinding through travel baseball tournaments, Magic Mountain East served as the reward waiting on the other side, with teammates piling into the car to trade the ballfield for the hum of the go-kart track.
In the late 1990s, the brand expanded north to meet the booming suburban growth around Interstate 71. The Magic Mountain Polaris location, a staple in its own right for 23 years, shuttered back in 2021. Operating at 8350 Lyra Drive, the northern park featured its own towering miniature golf waterfalls, banked kart tracks, and buzzing game floor, welcoming motorists just off Polaris Parkway long before the surrounding corridor filled with sprawling retail centers.
The Magic Mountain Experience
What made Magic Mountain special was not cutting-edge virtual reality, but the tangible, energetic charm of classic amusement.
Generations of visitors remember the park as the backdrop for birthday parties, post-youth-sports-tournament celebrations, first dates, and chaotic family outings. The miniature golf courses were anchored by whimsical stone mountains and storybook castles, where cascading waterfalls provided the soundtrack to friendly family rivalries.
On the outdoor track, young drivers gripped the steering wheels of gas-powered go-karts, navigating hairpin turns while trying to overtake cousins and classmates. Inside the arcade, the constant chime of coin slots and redemption games created an unmistakable buzz. Children fed tokens into machines with absolutely zero strategy, watching ticket dispensers spit out paper ribbons that were carefully draped around shoulders before being surrendered for plastic trinkets, sticky hands, and oversized stuffed animals.
Even as entertainment options shifted toward screen-heavy digital formats, Magic Mountain remained committed to community traditions, hosting annual Easter egg hunts on its putting greens and partnering with local schools and civic groups.
An Era Comes to a Close
The physical presence of the brand in Central Ohio ended in recent years as redevelopment reshaped suburban commercial corridors.
After the Polaris location closed in 2021, online auto retailer Carvana purchased 8350 Lyra Dr. for $6.2 million to make way for a customer delivery center, ending outdoor amusement at the site.
Then, in mid-2026, after 45 years of go-karts, mini-golf, and more arcade tokens than anyone could ever count, Magic Mountain Fun Center East announced it was closing its doors. The ownership announced on social media that Sunday, July 5, 2026 will be its last day.
Reflecting on the park's closing, owner Hank Woodburn looked back on the decades spent serving local families.
Columbus lost a go-kart fixture when Magic Mountain East closed in July after decades on the East Side, bringing an official close to both chapters of the Magic Mountain era. While modern complexes like Supercharged Entertainment bring a new generation of entertainment to Polaris, Central Ohioans will long remember the hum of the old engines, the castle on the hill, and the simple joy of an afternoon at Magic Mountain.
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Construction is underway along Lyra Drive in Polaris, where Supercharged Entertainment broke ground on a 125,000-square-foot indoor karting and arcade complex at 9300 Lyra Drive in Polaris. The multi-level indoor venue represents the latest high-tech entertainment concept planned for northern Columbus.
Long before there was this new development, there was Magic Mountain.
For more than four decades, the Magic Mountain name defined family recreation across Central Ohio. Decades before electric indoor supertracks and corporate entertainment districts took over the suburbs, the colorful park grounds were where local kids drove their first motorized laps, celebrated youth sports victories, and carried reams of paper tickets straight to the prize counter.
Two Hubs Across Four Decades
The story of Magic Mountain in Columbus spanned two locations and thousands of family celebrations.
The journey began on the East Side, where the park first opened in 1981 along 5890 Scarborough Blvd, Columbus. For decades, Magic Mountain East operated as a regional destination for weekend outings, school field trips, and youth sports team celebrations. For countless families, after long days at Berliner Sports Park grinding through travel baseball tournaments, Magic Mountain East served as the reward waiting on the other side, with teammates piling into the car to trade the ballfield for the hum of the go-kart track.
In the late 1990s, the brand expanded north to meet the booming suburban growth around Interstate 71. The Magic Mountain Polaris location, a staple in its own right for 23 years, shuttered back in 2021. Operating at 8350 Lyra Drive, the northern park featured its own towering miniature golf waterfalls, banked kart tracks, and buzzing game floor, welcoming motorists just off Polaris Parkway long before the surrounding corridor filled with sprawling retail centers.
The Magic Mountain Experience
What made Magic Mountain special was not cutting-edge virtual reality, but the tangible, energetic charm of classic amusement.
Generations of visitors remember the park as the backdrop for birthday parties, post-youth-sports-tournament celebrations, first dates, and chaotic family outings. The miniature golf courses were anchored by whimsical stone mountains and storybook castles, where cascading waterfalls provided the soundtrack to friendly family rivalries.
On the outdoor track, young drivers gripped the steering wheels of gas-powered go-karts, navigating hairpin turns while trying to overtake cousins and classmates. Inside the arcade, the constant chime of coin slots and redemption games created an unmistakable buzz. Children fed tokens into machines with absolutely zero strategy, watching ticket dispensers spit out paper ribbons that were carefully draped around shoulders before being surrendered for plastic trinkets, sticky hands, and oversized stuffed animals.
Even as entertainment options shifted toward screen-heavy digital formats, Magic Mountain remained committed to community traditions, hosting annual Easter egg hunts on its putting greens and partnering with local schools and civic groups.
An Era Comes to a Close
The physical presence of the brand in Central Ohio ended in recent years as redevelopment reshaped suburban commercial corridors.
After the Polaris location closed in 2021, online auto retailer Carvana purchased 8350 Lyra Dr. for $6.2 million to make way for a customer delivery center, ending outdoor amusement at the site.
Then, in mid-2026, after 45 years of go-karts, mini-golf, and more arcade tokens than anyone could ever count, Magic Mountain Fun Center East announced it was closing its doors. The ownership announced on social media that Sunday, July 5, 2026 will be its last day.
Reflecting on the park's closing, owner Hank Woodburn looked back on the decades spent serving local families.
Columbus lost a go-kart fixture when Magic Mountain East closed in July after decades on the East Side, bringing an official close to both chapters of the Magic Mountain era. While modern complexes like Supercharged Entertainment bring a new generation of entertainment to Polaris, Central Ohioans will long remember the hum of the old engines, the castle on the hill, and the simple joy of an afternoon at Magic Mountain.
How we know this
The sources and records behind this story, with the facts they support.
https://www.columbusnavigator.com/the-worlds-largest-indoor-go-kart-track-polaris/
Supporting evidence (2)
Construction is underway along Lyra Drive in Polaris, where Supercharged Entertainment broke ground on a 125,000-square-foot indoor karting and arcade complex at 9300 Lyra Drive in Polaris.
Read supporting passage
Supercharged Entertainment broke ground Wednesday on a 125,000-square-foot indoor karting and arcade complex at 9300 Lyra Drive in Polaris
Columbus lost a go-kart fixture when Magic Mountain East closed in July after decades on the East Side, bringing an official close to both chapters of the Magic Mountain era.
Read supporting passage
Columbus lost a go-kart fixture when Magic Mountain East closed in July after decades on the East Side.
https://stepoutcolumbus.com/so-long-magic-mountain-a-columbus-childhood-staple-is-closing-for-good/
Supporting evidence (9)
The journey began on the East Side, where the park first opened in 1981 along 5890 Scarborough Blvd, Columbus.
Read supporting passage
The park first opened in 1981, and over four-plus decades it became a cornerstone of Columbus family life.
The journey began on the East Side, where the park first opened in 1981 along 5890 Scarborough Blvd, Columbus.
Read supporting passage
5890 Scarborough Blvd, Columbus
For countless families, after long days at Berliner Sports Park grinding through travel baseball tournaments, Magic Mountain East served as the reward waiting on the other side, with teammates piling into the car to trade the ballfield for the hum of the go-kart track.
Read supporting passage
After long days at Berliner Sports Park grinding through travel baseball tournaments, I personally remember Magic Mountain East being the reward waiting on the other side.
The Magic Mountain Polaris location, a staple in its own right for 23 years, shuttered back in 2021.
Read supporting passage
The Magic Mountain Polaris location, a staple in its own right for 23 years, shuttered back in 2021, and now the East location follows.
Generations of visitors remember the park as the backdrop for birthday parties, post-youth-sports-tournament celebrations, first dates, and chaotic family outings.
Read supporting passage
It was the backdrop for birthday parties, post-youth-sports-tournament celebrations, first dates, and the kind of chaotic family outings that somehow always ended up being the best memories.
Children fed tokens into machines with absolutely zero strategy, watching ticket dispensers spit out paper ribbons that were carefully draped around shoulders before being surrendered for plastic trinkets, sticky hands, and oversized stuffed animals.
Read supporting passage
feeding quarters into the arcade machines with absolutely zero strategy
Then, in mid-2026, after 45 years of go-karts, mini-golf, and more arcade tokens than anyone could ever count, Magic Mountain Fun Center East announced it was closing its doors.
Read supporting passage
After 45 years of go-karts, mini-golf, and more arcade tokens than anyone could ever count, Magic Mountain Fun Center East is closing its doors.
The ownership announced on social media that Sunday, July 5, 2026 will be its last day.
Read supporting passage
Sunday, July 5, 2026 will be its last day.
“It has truly been a privilege to bring fun, laughter, and lifelong memories to so many families throughout the years.
Read supporting passage
“It has truly been a privilege to bring fun, laughter, and lifelong memories to so many families throughout the years. From birthday parties and family outings to our annual Easter Egg Hunts on the mini golf course and countless community events, we’ve cherished every opportunity to give back and be part of so many special moments.”
Supporting evidence (1)
After the Polaris location closed in 2021, online auto retailer Carvana purchased 8350 Lyra Dr. for $6.2 million to make way for a customer delivery center, ending outdoor amusement at the site.
Read supporting passage
In 2022, online auto retailer Carvana purchased 8350 Lyra Dr. for $6.2 million, replacing the defunct Magic Mountain location.