need I say more with my screen name, lol.
Besides being just one of 5 (soon to be 6) seaside woodies left in the USA, Swamp Fox was my first major coaster (first rode in 1968) and is very sentimental to me. I've always loved this coaster and glad to see it mentioned here.
And you are correct tek, it doesn't get the recognition it deserves as a classic coaster. Heck, the darn things nearly 45 years old, withstood countless tropical storms, hurricanes (Hugo nearly destroyed it) and who can forget the tornado/waterspout that came ashore just 1/2 block from the coaster in 2001. The ole lady's been through a lot!
But best of all, the park owners have not sold out to the greedy developers who have tried unsuccessfully in years past to buy the property for condo/hotel development. Go ride it staticman! Night rides can be quite fun, especially when there's a good seabreeze blowing inland. Whoaaa on that third hill!
Last two trips to Myrtle were "blow-thrus" without sufficient time to visit FK - one was specifically a last-chance visit to Pavilion before its demise, and the other was a blast-thru of the remnants of HRP (barely DBA as FMP as the time).
My recollection is that Swampy was one of, if not THE most aggressive of the John Allen rides. Should be noted I never got to ride the masterpeice at the original Elitch's. But the aggressive ride, as mentioned at night, with the salt air....Swampy is pretty spectacular.
Yea, I will agree with pretty much all of these posts. I finally got to ride it this past summer on vacation for the first time, and was really surprised by it, since I wasn't expecting much at all. And fortunately for me, I didn't get to the park until really late, so my rides were only at night. Family Kingdom itself is a neat little park, for a permanent carnival. I know Robb Alvey ripped it pretty bad on his video one year, but I found the place very neat and clean, and a very welcoming atmosphere.
Will definitely be going to back to MB next year, as it is way cheaper than Va Beach (which is sad, since I live in Virginia lol). So definitely some more Swamp Fox rides in store :)
What's to rip? I thought the park was really nice, especially for kids; solid number of kiddie rides distributed all throughout, which made it fun for us adults as we didn't have to spend all our time in one area. I also loved how the antique car ride snaked around underneath Swamp Fox's turnaround.
He complained that it was Ghetto and the park was dirty and built over an old parking lot. Granted, the side where the kiddie rides are was expanded into the parking lot, but I've never thought of the park as Ghetto or dirty.
They probably just wouldn't let him film POV, lol.
Edit: Speaking of ghetto, my grammar and spelling needed fixin'
Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened.
swampfoxer said:
Besides being just one of 5 (soon to be 6) seaside woodies left in the USA,
I can only think of 4:
Swamp Fox
Great White at Morey's
Giant Dipper SCBB
Giant Dipper Belmont Park
What one am I missing?
I am assuming the 6th one you are referring to is the GCI to be built at Morey's?
KnoebelsGrand, I think the 5th one you're missing is Cyclone at Coney Island. Technically it's a block back from the beach/boardwalk, but it is basically seaside.
And Vater, I couldnt agree with you more. Even the part that was "expanded to the old parking lot" was still very well kept as far as I could tell. I really enjoyed the place, it is definitely MUCH better kept up than most, if not all, of the seaside parks on the Jersey Shore.
And btw, Family Kingdom has one of the best log flumes I have ever ridden, that first drop is VERY decieving; loved that ride:)
How could I forget Cyclone?? I've ridden it, I love the thing, and it's even my profile picture. lol
I guess when I think seaside for whatever reason Coney Island doesn't even enter my mind. Morey's is the first thing I think of followed by the other Jersey shore parks. When I think of Coney Island, the first thing that comes to mind is NYC and how fast I can get the N train from Manhattan out to Brooklyn.
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