Gold Reef City

Gold Reef City is a theme park and casino complex built on the site of an old gold mine, ostensibly recreating the gold rush period in Johannesburg.

History

Located in the Ormonde district of Johannesburg, Gold Reef City occupies the 12-hectare site of a 19th Century goldmine.

Founded in 1987 by Ben Schutte and the Krok Brothers, Gold Reef City started life as a mine tour, but the rides soon followed. Schutte’s background as a travelling showman meant the park presented a useful place to put his rides and attractions when they were off the road, and he remains a shareholder in its parent company, Gold Reef Resorts. The Gold Reef City Casino opened in 2001, and a part of the deal Gold Reef Resorts agreed to build an Apartheid Museum on land adjoining the theme park.

Performance venues

Besides its casino, the Apartheid Museum and a multitude of other entertainment facilities, the park is home to two specific venues catering for theatre and film:

The Lyric Theatre[1]

A luxuriously styled 1100-seat theatre, reminiscent of the opulence of the world's great opera houses with its plush fittings and rich atmosphere. Also referred to as The Lyric the venue presents Broadway and West End productions, local and international musicians, ballet, comedy and so on.

movies@ Gold Reef City[2]

A Victorian train station-themed cinema complex of six venues, offering Hollywood and Bollywood blockbuster movies and as well as local films.

The Hippodrome

For several years, the park was also home to a venue called the Hippodrome which was used for circus acts and other entertainments. In 2017, this venue was converted into a indoor trampoline park called Jump City.

Productions staged there include:

1987: Cinderella