In Valley History: Parrots in Van Nuys

Forty years ago today, Anheuser-Busch opened Busch Gardens, a $4-million theme park and tropical oasis in Van Nuys. The 17-acre spread included a monorail that snaked around the facility and passed windows that gave passengers a look at stages of the brewing process. There are still remnants of it as you drive by the brewery today, and the parrots can still be heard over the valley. It closed in 1979, although someone has remade it in Roller Coaster Tycoon.