Caterpillars

I'm interested in knowing what parks still have operating Caterpillars.

Idlewild has one, it also has the canvas top.DelGrosso's has an indoor Caterpillar with a sound and light show, called the Space Odessey.

What other parks have Caterpillars and which ones still have the canvases? (If your not sure what they look like, click here) *** Edited 5/3/2004 12:04:33 AM UTC by carrouseler***

Look here, I don't know how up to date it is though

http://ridezone.com/rides/caterpillar/index.htm

*** Edited 5/3/2004 12:15:43 AM UTC by Snap43***

Knoebels has an indoor caterpillar called the cosmotron. Edit: No they don't. According to their website, the cosmotron was renovated in 1998 with a Wisdom Himalaya.

Camden Park operates a caterpillar as the "Hot Cat." It runs partially indoors and partially outdoors with loud music. Some pictures are here and here. *** Edited 5/3/2004 12:24:31 AM UTC by millrace***

I just rode the one at the Myrtle Beach Pavillion yesterday. It was pretty fun. They first send you forward with the canopy up and then backward with the canopy down. I was disapointed though that they didn't play any music during the ride.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the original cosmotron "guts" (the caterpillar) had gusts of air shooting up from under the cars right? I seem to remember that from the one or two times I rode it before it was renovated. I was only 11 when it was redone, so who knows. :)

The fan under the Caterpillar was a standard gag that came wiht them when they were new. I recall that from the one that was at Kennywood during the late 1960's - early 1970's . The Caterpillar was a ride built by Spillman Engineering under license from it's inventor, Hyla Maynes. Maynes designed and built a number of rides which we would classify as spectaculars today. They were large complicated machines, more often than not traveled by him and his crews as independent attractions. Between 1915 and 1918 Maynes rides were an exclusive on the Johnny J. Jones Shows. After the first World War he assigned rights to Spillman for the manufacture of some of his "simpler" rides. At this time he teamed up with Harry Illions, one of Marcus Illions (of carousel building fame) sons and put even more "pig Iron" on the road. This partnership lasted pretty much through the Great Depression. Harry and his brother Rudy would later have rides on the various piers in the Los Angeles area untill the late 1940's when the beaches were annexed and all of the amusement leases canceled.

Idlewild's caterpillar has a fan. At least it was there in 2002.

yes it does..and it is still there to date ;) the fan makes it a little more interesting if ya ask me

Back in the day the fan made it risque. It was put there to lift up the young ladies skirts, much like the fun house gags.

HAH! why do i believe that lol

sadly enough i can see thats what it is used for

But how much "liftage" could you get when you're sitting down?

You'd be surprised. Remember, hemlines were a lot longer then, giving it much more of a parachute effect.

depends on how they are sitting really

but if you ask me....why would a female wanna wear a dress to an amusement park anyhow?

Look at old photos of parks. Everybody is very well dressed. Suits, coats, dresses, even tophats!

Up untill the early 1960's, that was the norm. Look at any book on amusement parks, especially any of Charles Jacques. Shirt and tie for the guys was not uncommon, either!

And it's still the case in Japan---folks dress very well for trips to the Disney parks there.

Edit: I read/saw somewhere that the Imagineers toned down the splash on TDL's Splash for this very reason. *** Edited 5/3/2004 4:51:21 PM UTC by Brian Noble***

yeah...i guess i failed to think of the older days

*smacks self in head*

i was pretty much referrin to now a days i guess..i have seen all the dress wear in the parks back in the day...i just dont see many people doin that now a days....in the US anyhow....but there are few that do.

I can vouch that the one at Canobie Lake Park is still operating, with canopy. Some photos of the Caterpillar are linked from my recent Trip Report post. I note that Canobie's canopy isn't as decorative as Idlewild's.

Does anybody know if Kennywood has another Caterpillar in storage somewhere? Something keeps sticking out in my mind that they have one in storage whether it be for parts or what, I don't know. Thanks for the help.

Yep, Canobie Lake Park has a working caterpillar with a fully functional canopy. Fun to watch. Does anyone know if Canobie still has the Calypso?? I always remember it as a kid but when I went last summer I don't remember seeing the classic ride. Canobie usually keeps such classics working....