Your home parks.......... years ago.
I live right down the street from Nantasket Beach, home of the former Paragon Park. Although I never went there, I have seen pictures of the "Giant Coaster" which is now located at Six Flags America as The Wild One. It looked like a great seaside amusement park. I wish I had visited. Anyway, they tore the park down to build condos which are not doing very well right now. The carousel still exists, but I will never ride that again since the music now comes from Bose speakers instead of the original organ, and the controls are fully electronic. What a shame!
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E.J.
Webmaster: Theme Park New England
http://tpne.8m.com
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E.J.
Webmaster: Theme Park New England
http://tpne.8m.com
Before I moved my homepark was Adventureland in Des Moines. Things that I can remember changing is...
-The Inverter currently sits where the old Galaxi Super Screamer (my first coaster) was.
-The Underground replaced a halfway decent high dive show that they had.
-Sky Ride is still ticking (Thank God. I love those)
-Some of the game buildings from the other park in Des Moines (Riverview) and made that into Dragon Island where the OD Hopkins looper sits.
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Randy Hutchinson
You build it, I'll ride it...eventually
-The Inverter currently sits where the old Galaxi Super Screamer (my first coaster) was.
-The Underground replaced a halfway decent high dive show that they had.
-Sky Ride is still ticking (Thank God. I love those)
-Some of the game buildings from the other park in Des Moines (Riverview) and made that into Dragon Island where the OD Hopkins looper sits.
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Randy Hutchinson
You build it, I'll ride it...eventually
My park used to contain Ultra Twister, Shockwave, and Lightning Loops. Ultra Twister got moved to Astroworld as did Shockwave, which is now called Batman: The Escape. One half of Lightning Loops was moved to SFA where it was called the Python, and the other half got moved to somewhere...Elitch Gardens I think.
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Parks for 2000: CP, Great Escape, Great Adventure, SFA, Islands of Adventure, Kennywood
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Parks for 2000: CP, Great Escape, Great Adventure, SFA, Islands of Adventure, Kennywood
Jeff said:
"I have great memories of the Frontier Lift and Sky Slide at Cedar Point. The park has changed so much since the Disco era.
"
Hey, remember when the Frontier Lift was the ONLY way to get to frontier town?! I also have fond memories of the old Western Cruise. The boat ride made me really sad this year, being a shadow of its former self. I don't think I want to ride it again in that state. Back before Iron Dragon was put in it was twice as long if not more, with lots of (then) really impressive animatronics. I remember it being a BIG attraction! While we have gained Mantis, Iron Dragon, and MF, we are losing one of the few rides CP has to offer to adult non riders.
-Peabody
(Who would honestly take MF over the Western cruise any day!)
Thanx for the info, Silver. My home park is SDC, too. I know about the rides, but it's interesting to see some of the historical stuff. Years back when I was in grade school NW Arkansas' home park was Dogpatch USA. It was by no means a major park, but it had some rides. I don't know the details or specs or even what the rides were besides the basic carnival flat stuff. Dogpatch might still exist for all I know, but I haven't heard of it in a long time. Does anyone know any more about this place?
My home park is SFGAm. I have a whole bunch of information about the park's history.
$3 million was spent on landscaping prior to the park's opening on May 29th, 1976.
The Colombia Carousel was the most expensive carousel ever built.
The American Eagle contains 1.36 million board-feet of lumber, 130,000 bolts, 15 tons of nails, and 9,000 gallons of white paint.
In 1976, the dolphins Nemo and Neptune were the pride of Great America's "Enchanted Island Revue." They performed daily in a specially constructed aquatic environment in Wilderness Theatre. When animal shows became old hat, high dive shows took their place. Today the Wilderness Theatre is used primarily for special events and concerts. The pool is hidden beneath the stage.
Great America was one of the first parks to introduce IMAX technoligy.
Sky Trek Tower was shipped to the U.S. in 3 pieces from Europe.
In it's early years of operation, Great America hosted the "The Circus Fantastic" in it's Grandstand Pavilion. The show Featured aerialists, tightrope walkers, jugglers, clowns, and an elephant... wich caused quite a stir when it escaped and walked down Washington Street, wich borders the park. Today the Grandstand Pavilion white circus tent is the entrance and shade structure for the American Eagle queue line.
The Iron Wolf was used as the roller coaster in the movie "Richie Rich."
The Southwest Territory was the largest single expansion in the park's history. Ironically, it sits on the very piece of land set aside as"The Great Southwest" in the Marriott Corporation's original plans for the property.
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Nolan
NATBEETLE@aol.com
$3 million was spent on landscaping prior to the park's opening on May 29th, 1976.
The Colombia Carousel was the most expensive carousel ever built.
The American Eagle contains 1.36 million board-feet of lumber, 130,000 bolts, 15 tons of nails, and 9,000 gallons of white paint.
In 1976, the dolphins Nemo and Neptune were the pride of Great America's "Enchanted Island Revue." They performed daily in a specially constructed aquatic environment in Wilderness Theatre. When animal shows became old hat, high dive shows took their place. Today the Wilderness Theatre is used primarily for special events and concerts. The pool is hidden beneath the stage.
Great America was one of the first parks to introduce IMAX technoligy.
Sky Trek Tower was shipped to the U.S. in 3 pieces from Europe.
In it's early years of operation, Great America hosted the "The Circus Fantastic" in it's Grandstand Pavilion. The show Featured aerialists, tightrope walkers, jugglers, clowns, and an elephant... wich caused quite a stir when it escaped and walked down Washington Street, wich borders the park. Today the Grandstand Pavilion white circus tent is the entrance and shade structure for the American Eagle queue line.
The Iron Wolf was used as the roller coaster in the movie "Richie Rich."
The Southwest Territory was the largest single expansion in the park's history. Ironically, it sits on the very piece of land set aside as"The Great Southwest" in the Marriott Corporation's original plans for the property.
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Nolan
NATBEETLE@aol.com
I'll take a stab at this with Dorney Park... I usually consider SFGAd my home park, but I see that others have commented on it already, and no one has done Dorney yet.
1) The Thunderhawk was painted a true yellow-gold (close to the Idora Wildcat's yellow color), and the station was an enormous building that was cramped, dark, and humid, but had such a wonderful traditional charm about it.
2) In front of/under the Thunderhawk sat the Journey To The Center Of The Earth, a PTC mill chute with a drop, and next to that was a Traver Circle swing with rockets.
3) Somewhere near the center of the park was the Meteorite, and indoors cuddle-up attraction.
4) The area between Hercules and Wildwater Kingdom was a huge grassy field- no rapids ride or Talon.
I'm sure there are many more things that pre-date my Dorney experiences, which date back to 1990. I mourn some of the changes at this park... it is a nice park now, but only a decade ago it had a nice, traditional feel about it which seems to have been lost completely.
1) The Thunderhawk was painted a true yellow-gold (close to the Idora Wildcat's yellow color), and the station was an enormous building that was cramped, dark, and humid, but had such a wonderful traditional charm about it.
2) In front of/under the Thunderhawk sat the Journey To The Center Of The Earth, a PTC mill chute with a drop, and next to that was a Traver Circle swing with rockets.
3) Somewhere near the center of the park was the Meteorite, and indoors cuddle-up attraction.
4) The area between Hercules and Wildwater Kingdom was a huge grassy field- no rapids ride or Talon.
I'm sure there are many more things that pre-date my Dorney experiences, which date back to 1990. I mourn some of the changes at this park... it is a nice park now, but only a decade ago it had a nice, traditional feel about it which seems to have been lost completely.
Rob Ascough said:
"I'll take a stab at this with Dorney Park... I usually consider SFGAd my home park, but I see that others have commented on it already, and no one has done Dorney yet.
1) The Thunderhawk was painted a true yellow-gold (close to the Idora Wildcat's yellow color), and the station was an enormous building that was cramped, dark, and humid, but had such a wonderful traditional charm about it.
2) In front of/under the Thunderhawk sat the Journey To The Center Of The Earth, a PTC mill chute with a drop, and next to that was a Traver Circle swing with rockets.
3) Somewhere near the center of the park was the Meteorite, and indoors cuddle-up attraction.
4) The area between Hercules and Wildwater Kingdom was a huge grassy field- no rapids ride or Talon.
I'm sure there are many more things that pre-date my Dorney experiences, which date back to 1990. I mourn some of the changes at this park... it is a nice park now, but only a decade ago it had a nice, traditional feel about it which seems to have been lost completely."
Don't forget the Thunderhawk's station also housed bumper cars. The runout to the lift ran along the outside of the bumper car floor and it went into a tunnel.
The Thunderhawk was also originally an out and back. It ran out near where the station to Steel Force is now. It was changed to it current layout several years after it's construction when twisters became more popular.
Dorney Park also had a Wild Mouse back in the 60's as well. I saw a car for sale on ebay and it stated it was from Dorney back then.
Dorney also had the Flying Dutchman roller coaster. I beleive it was a Zyklon model or similar to one. I rode it when I was 8 or 9. It was located near where the giant wheel is now.
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2000 stats: 135 coasters in 26 parks
Not Too Shabby For A Summer
Darien Lake: I remember when the big draw was the huge ferris wheel! And of course the viper. The first 2 seasons the Predator operated (90, 91) they used to do this thing at night where using flares i think, it would look like the wooden coaster was going up in flames! The first time I saw it I thought it really was on fire! (of course i was 10 years old too hehe). This ended in 92 when "Laserlight Fantasy started) the first year they had the laser show it was over an hour long and was right in the middle of the midway! Its so sad about the Predator these days! 2000 season was its 10th birthday. Nobody cared..including the park seeing as how it hasnt been maintained. 2000 season I believe was Darien Lake's 20th season as an amusement park, but nothing was mentioned about that either, oh well..~A :)
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Welcome Back Raptor Riders how was your ride?
My home park is Darien Lake. As a kid I remember that it started out as a small water park with a few slides and a couple of rides. It was originally called Darien Lake fun country.
From 1987-1989, I worked at Darien Lake as a Lifeguard, this job put me through college. This is when the Lake was still open for swimming. The park was then owned by funtime. The amphitheater was were all the concerts were held (now the home of laserlight fantasy.) I had a great time working there, and made a lot of friends.
Also as a kid I remember going to Crystal Beach to enjoy the comet. Those were the good old days.
From 1987-1989, I worked at Darien Lake as a Lifeguard, this job put me through college. This is when the Lake was still open for swimming. The park was then owned by funtime. The amphitheater was were all the concerts were held (now the home of laserlight fantasy.) I had a great time working there, and made a lot of friends.
Also as a kid I remember going to Crystal Beach to enjoy the comet. Those were the good old days.
1) I found a map if anyone would like it of the 1982 season of the park. It had 2 sky things that took you to opposite ends of the park
SFGAm's original skyride was the Delta Flyer. It went from where the entrance to Shockwave is to near Iron Wolf. The Funnel Cake stand by Iron Wolf was actually the station for this skyride.
The second skyride was called the Southern Cross and was a round trip ride only - There was no exit at the vacant land that eventually became Southwest Territory. At least one of the support towers still exist as a light tower.
it had another car track, and it is just strange.
The other car ride was where Roaring Rapids is now.
Mike
Finally, some to prove that I am not crazy or imagining things (at least in response to the SkyRides at SFGAm). I keep insisting every year that there was at least one there from SHockwave's area to BugsBunny's waffle cones between IW and Eagle.
Whoo-hoo! I was right! (Tap-dancing on my desk!)
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"It's Deja Vu all over again." - Yogi Berra
Whoo-hoo! I was right! (Tap-dancing on my desk!)
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"It's Deja Vu all over again." - Yogi Berra
My homepark also SFgadv.I remember when lightening loops,freefall,Rolling thunder and the runaway train were the only thrill rides.I rode my very first coaster there which was called wildcat way back in 1978,lol.That was removed in the early 80's.I remember the bobsled and,when they first put in the parachute ride which is still the tallest point in the park and,amazingly still standing.Lightening loops was my very first looping coaster and i have to say i miss the launch and even the many flights of stairs you went up to reach the platform.Greatadventureaddict,Ultra Twister was where viper is and,Lightening loops stood where batman the ride is :)If you are interested in the history of the park let me know and i'll pass you a good link.
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Rickyswmn
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Rickyswmn
GreatAdventureAddict said:
"my home park is, obviously sfgadv. I remember when lighting loops was over kinda by where viper is. But that girl got killed so they shut it down 2 years later. Then there was ultra twister but Texas stole that one from us...:)
"
Well how many times were you there years ago? You have your locations wrong..sorry to interject:)
Lightning Loops was where movie town is today..in fact they re-did the food shop that was facing it.
Ultra Twister was where Viper is now..
The Sarejevo bobsled ride was where scream machine is today.
Shockwave (the first stand up) was next to the building where they have the houdini escape
There also was a ride called Sidewinder which was like a scrambler and that was where Bugs Bunny Land is today
There used to be another smaller ferris wheel where Batman and Robin:The Chiller now stands..
The Looping Starship was next to musik express originally
M.A.B Movie Simulator was where the Blackbeard train is today
They brought back the spider which used to be next to the main carousel
And they actually had Rolling Thunder going backwards called Red-NUF Miller..hell of a name!
Some of the original names of rides were The Parachute Perch( now Edwards AFB Jump Tower)..
USA Looping Starship..The Enterprise(now Spin Meister) the Hell-Hole (now Taz Twister) Mexican Hat (now whatever they call the thing),The Wave Swinger, The Yum-Yum Palace, The Scrambler, FREEFALL ( now stuntman's freefall..and now they have a ride called Freefall which NEVER RUNS)
Geez..I feel really old now..lol
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Coaster Chic
http://pub45.ezboard.com/bcoasteraddicts
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