Cedar Fair searching Europe for classic flat rides
Posted
Inspired by the “American Pickers” reality television show, a pair of collectors is scouring Europe for classic rides to bring back to Cedar Fair amusement parks in the United States and Canada. The duo was sent on the continent-spanning scavenger hunt by Cedar Fair Chief Executive Matt Ouimet, a former Disneyland president who is hoping the refurbished family rides will add a nostalgic atmosphere to the chain’s 11 amusement parks.
Read more from The LA Times.
RCMAC said:
Aw, I dunno, Travis. It's just a "junket" to Europe to look for some rides....
Fixed that for ya...possibly. ;-)
You still have Zoidberg.... You ALL have Zoidberg! (V) (;,,;) (V)
Pretty sure now, seems Idlewild's Caterpillar is in storage...
That is one of the greatest classic rides around. If that ride isn't repaired and reinstalled, moved within the "chain," or sold to another park, that would be a true loss.
Save the Caterpillar!
You still have Zoidberg.... You ALL have Zoidberg! (V) (;,,;) (V)
Oh, absolutely. A while back I saw a vintage ad advertising that bullet-style 2nd gen. Caterpillar. (in gleaming stainless steel!)
I wonder what Camden did with theirs? I remember it from when I was a small child and it was one of my first "big" rides. It eventually transformed into Hot Cat, remodeled to look like a cheapy version of a Himalaya, and was only removed in the last couple years or so.
I would always bring my cassette tapes to Camden Park and beg the Hot Cat ride operator to play them while I rode it.
-Travis
www.youtube.com/TSVisits
Looks like the Cedar Fair Flat ride search is successful so far. They have found 7. 5 for Carowinds, two for Worlds of Fun.
http://www.latimes.com/travel/themeparks/la-trb-cedar-fair-flat-rid...story.html
Not sure what I was imagining but a Top Scan wasn't exactly the first thing that came to mind when I read "Classic Flat Rides".
Cool that they found a couple Troikas. That ride is a lot of fun at CP, something I just "discovered" the last couple years.
Apparently Darien Lake (my home park) had a Troika called Thrillbilly back in the day. I've been going there all my life and have no recollection of it whatsoever... Makes sense as Darien Lake was Huss's showcase for North America. But those old Huss rides are slowly being removed because apparently they can't get parts. UFO (last one in North America) is gone, and Ranger is soon to follow.
Sorry, back on topic now; is a Condor the "elevated scramble" that runs at Marineland in Niagara Falls, Canada?
But then again, what do I know?
Top Scan looks...nauseating. I want to ride it.
I love that Cedar Fair did this. Flat rides fill out a park so nicely, and although not as intimidating as some of the coasters out there, they can be a real blast to watch in action.
"Look at us spinning out in the madness of a roller coaster" - Dave Matthews Band
So we should come to the conclusion that "classic flat rides" is spin for "Most Cedar Fair parks are woefully lacking in flat rides and we're looking for anything out there." I think those of us who are dreaming our favorite retired flats we remember as kids will reappear somewhere are in for disappointment.
And I'm not certain about the bargain basement approach, after all, Mack still makes Music Express/Himalaya, Huss still makes Break Dance(r)and Troika, and Mondial still has Top Scan in the catalogue. The article infers CF is wary of throwing good money after bad, so I hope the dismantling, shipping, and restoring of these rides is worth the time and trouble and they don't turn out to be total dogs with short lives ahead.
While not considered a "classic", Top Scan is one of the most thrilling flats on earth and it would make a great addition to any park. Canada's Wonderland has one and it's busy.
Oh, and ShaneDenmark, Condor is indeed the ride at Marineland you're thinking of. And speaking of Canada's Wonderland, they still operate a UFO they call Night Mares.
I'm intrigued by the mention of a Mack bobsled in Switzerland and/or Italy.
There isn't one there – and never has been.
I can only assume that the pieces of the one from Kobe Portopialand are in storage somewhere.
I develop Superior Solitaire when not riding coasters.
Yeah, Top Scan doesn't really fit the "classic ride" category but I sure wish it would go to Cedar Point rather than Carowinds. What a fun ride.
Sending 5 of them to Carowinds (or any 1 park) seems crazy. I think this goes along with what RCMAC stated above, that Cedar Fair had specific intentions in mind for this. They have 11 parks and 1 park gets 5 of the rides (I should note the article does say "expected").
Coasterbuzz - Coaster enthusiasts, but so much more. We're the good ones.
Five new rides, in addition to Plants vs. Zombies and the waterpark expansion! It seems almost like they are taking a page out of Six Flags' book (see Great Adventure's 1999 season).
These rides aren't going into Carowinds for 2016. And anyone thinking this is Crazy as no idea. Carowinds is the exact place that needs these 5 rides.
(Not in reply to Tekwardo) Cedar Fair did say that Carowinds was going to be heavily expanded over the next several years, right?
-Travis
www.youtube.com/TSVisits
You're correct Richard. Interlink bought the old Kobe Portopialand Bobsled after the park closed and they still advertise it on their website. I figure that Cedar Fair went and had a look when they went to Europe and this is the link to the PDF: http://www.interlink-lg.com/form/uploads/occasion/pdf/25_rc43.pdf
They mentioned they are going to Japan next and is too much to ask they bring back a Togo Wildstorm? Think an Enterprise with inverted seats and insane seat motion. This is the best video I found of an operating one and you have both the off ride and onride POV, starting at 5:40: http://youtu.be/tzvrxfDrVuA?t=341
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