Some places become special not because we visited them many times, but because of the memories we created there.

For our family, Star City was one of those places.

Located in the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) Complex in Pasay City, Metro Manila, Star City was once one of the country’s well-known amusement parks, offering rides and attractions for children, teenagers, and adults.

During its years of operation, the park featured attractions such as the Giant Star Wheel, Grand Carousel, Viking, Star Frisbee, horror houses, kiddie rides, and Snow World, among many others. It also had indoor attractions, making it possible for visitors to enjoy parts of the park even when the weather wasn’t cooperating.

Sadly, Star City was severely damaged by a fire on October 2, 2019, which resulted in the park’s closure.

For us, that made our one and only visit even more memorable.

As I look back at our experience, I’m grateful that my family had the chance to enjoy Star City before the fire changed its story.

So, here’s a little trip down memory lane.

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Our First and Last Visit to Star City

My father works at a hospital that celebrates a special Family Day every year, usually around October.

On October 23, 2016, the hospital organized its Family Day celebration at Star City.

The timing was perfect because I was also on vacation leave from Dubai, and it was my first time visiting the park. For some reason, I had never had the chance to go there before.

We traveled from our home in Pasig City to Pasay and arrived at around 7 or 8 in the morning.

Since many families were also attending the event, there was already a long queue outside the park.

For some people, waiting in a long line is frustrating.

For us?

It was an opportunity to take lots and lots of pictures! 😂

Outside Star City

Our entrance was free because the Family Day event was sponsored by my father’s company.

After entering, we collected our tags and tokens and joined the crowd.

And there were a lot of people!

Children, teenagers, parents, grandparents… you name it.

Everyone looked excited to try the rides and spend the day with their families.

Of course, the popularity of the park also meant that almost every major ride had a long queue.

But once we got inside, we were ready for the adventure.

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A Park Full of Rides and Attractions

During its years of operation, Star City had more than 30 rides and attractions.

Some of the popular ones included:

• Grand Carousel
• Annex Carousel
• Happy Swing
• Magic Forest Ride
• Red Baron
• Super TeleCombat
• Dragon Express
• Wacky Worm
• Pirate Adventure
• Giant Star Wheel
• Gabi ng Lagim
• Dungeon of Terror
• Bump Car Smash
• Viking
• Zyklon Loop
• Star Flyer
• Wild River / Jungle Splash
• Snow World

There were also indoor kiddie rides, playgrounds, themed attractions, and other family-friendly activities.

So where did we go first?

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First Stop: Pirate Adventure

We decided to start with Pirate Adventure.

It reminded me of the pirate-themed attractions you would see in movies, so naturally, I was curious.

Maybe we’d meet Jack Sparrow inside. 😂

The ride took us through a pirate-themed setting with different displays and scenes while we traveled by boat.

It was fun and entertaining, especially for a first ride.

And yes, by the time we finished, the queue outside had become even longer.

But don’t worry.

The wait was worth it!

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Next Stop: Snow World

Next, we headed to Snow World, one of the attractions I was particularly excited to experience.

Coming from the Philippines and living in Dubai, being surrounded by an indoor snowy environment was definitely something different.

Snow World featured a winter-themed setting with ice sculptures, an igloo, a Christmas display, and a long ice slide.

It was very cold inside.

I remember being surprised by how quickly the cold got to us.

Visitors could borrow jackets for the attraction, especially for children, but I’d still recommend wearing appropriate warm clothing if visiting an attraction like this.

Even with all the layers, we couldn’t stay inside for too long.

And let’s not forget our poor cameras!

They were also not particularly happy with the sudden change in temperature. 😂

Snow World

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Indoor Attractions and Kiddie Rides

One thing I liked about Star City was that not everything required you to be outside.

The park had indoor kiddie rides, themed attractions, and play areas, making it possible for families to continue enjoying themselves even when the weather was unpleasant.

One of the attractions we saw was the Teacup ride, which looked especially fun for children.

For families with young kids, these gentler rides offered a nice break from the more intense attractions.

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And Then Came the Extreme Rides…

Now, let me make something clear.

I am NOT a fan of extreme rides.

Neither are most of my family members. 😂

But apparently, that didn’t stop us from trying one.

My sister and I decided to ride the Zyklon Loop, a roller coaster featuring a 360-degree loop.

Once.

Yes…

Only once. 😆

Honestly, I can’t even remember exactly how long the ride felt.

It may have lasted only a few minutes, but when you’re sitting on a roller coaster wondering if you’re going to survive, it feels like forever.

The experience was absolutely terrifying.

My father said he felt like his blood pressure had gone up.

My mother said she thought she was about to faint.

My youngest sister simply closed her eyes for most of the ride.

And my other sister?

She screamed almost the entire time.

As for me, I was just trying to survive. 😂

Yet when the ride finally ended, we looked at each other and thought:

“That was actually fun!”

Would I do it again?

Probably not.

At least not anytime soon. 😂

Sometimes, facing your fears once is enough.

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The Viking

We also saw the famous Viking ride during our visit.

It was one of those attractions that looked both exciting and terrifying at the same time.

I wasn’t brave enough to try everything, but it was still fun watching other people enjoy the rides.

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Food Break!

Of course, no amusement park adventure is complete without food.

Star City had several fast-food outlets and places where visitors could grab something to eat.

After walking around, waiting in lines, and surviving the rides, having something to eat was definitely necessary.

Because let’s be honest…

You can’t fight fear on an empty stomach. 😂

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Spending the Day With Family

What I remember most about Star City isn’t actually a specific ride.

It’s the fact that we were all together.

My father, mother, sisters, and I were able to spend the day laughing, taking pictures, trying rides, eating, and simply enjoying each other’s company.

My siblings and mother had actually visited Star City before during school field trips, but this was my first time—and my father’s first time as well.

That made our visit especially meaningful.

We didn’t know that a few years later, the park would be badly damaged by a fire.

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The Fire That Changed Star City

On October 2, 2019, Star City was hit by a major fire that caused extensive damage to the amusement park.

The incident led to the closure of the park and put an end, at least temporarily, to a place that had created countless childhood and family memories for many Filipinos.

Looking back at our 2016 visit now, our pictures have become much more than ordinary vacation photos.

They’re reminders of a place that was once full of laughter, colorful lights, exciting rides, and families spending time together.

And that’s why I wanted to write about it.

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Looking Back

I’m grateful that we were able to experience Star City before the fire.

At the time, we didn’t know we were creating memories that would later become part of the park’s history.

We were simply a family enjoying Family Day.

We stood in long lines.

We took silly photos.

We got scared on roller coasters.

We froze inside Snow World.

We ate fast food.

We laughed.

And then we went home tired but happy.

That’s what I love about old travel memories.

You don’t always realize their value while they’re happening.

Sometimes, it takes years for you to look back and think:

“I’m really glad we did that.”

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Final Thoughts

Star City may have been just an amusement park, but for our family, it became part of a very special memory.

Our visit was filled with excitement, laughter, fear, food, photographs, and plenty of family bonding.

And although we called this post “Our First and Last Visit,” I still hope the story of Star City continues in one form or another.

Because places may close, buildings may change, and rides may disappear—but the memories people made there can remain forever.

“The best thing about memories is making them.”

“This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”
— Psalm 118:24

Sometimes, we don’t know that an ordinary family outing will someday become a treasured memory.

That’s exactly how I feel about our day at Star City.

At the time, we were simply enjoying ourselves.

Now, every photograph takes me back to that sunny October morning—to the long lines, the rides, the laughter, and the people I love.

And perhaps that’s the real magic of traveling and spending time together.

The places may disappear, but the memories stay. ❤️

So, thank you, Star City, for giving our family one unforgettable day.

Have you ever visited Star City? What was your favorite ride or attraction? I’d love to hear your memories too!

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Note: The attraction list, facilities, and Star City experience described in this article are based on your 2016 visit and historical sources. They should not be interpreted as current park information.

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Sources

1. https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1172794/in-the-know-star-city-history
2. https://www.cnn.ph/news/2019/10/3/Star-City-ceases-operations.html
3. https://www.starcity.com.ph/
4. https://www.facebook.com/StarCityPhilippines/

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Originally Published: October 14, 2020
Updated: August 2026