Tunnel of love (amusement ride)

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The Tunnel of Love is a type of amusement ride commonly found at carnivals and amusement parks. It is similar to a dark ride in that riders are taken (usually by boat) through dark passages, in this case in pairs. There are two major themes: a relaxing romantic ride encouraging the couple to cuddle, or a spooky horror ride encouraging the couple to cling to one another. The darkness provides a degree of privacy in which the couple can kiss or engage in other brief physical intimacy. The frightening variety also offered a socially acceptable "excuse" for the physical contact.

Although they were popular in the early 20th century, with the development of other socially acceptable opportunities and less stigma for unmarried couples to engage in physical contact, these rides have become less common.

In the 1928 film, The Crowd, a tunnel of love is featured in which the sides are voyeuristically pulled down at a place where couples are likely to be kissing.

The Tunnel of Love was a favorite source of amusing scenes in Hanna-Barbera television series such as The Flintstones, The Jetsons, and Scooby-Doo, among others.

The Tunnel of Love has also been used in Disney cartoons, mainly a jealous Donald Duck storming the tunnel by foot and ruining the ride for a rival suitor and Daisy Duck.

The Tunnel of Love was also spoofed by Gary Larson in his usual ludicrous The Far Side where he suggests there is also a Tunnel of Non-Communication, where couples act aloof throughout the whole ride, or a Tunnel of Mosquitoes.

An example of the one of these is "Dinosaur" at Animal Kingdom in "Walt Disney World" in Florida.