Cedar Fair searching Europe for classic flat rides
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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.
Absimilliard said:
You're correct Richard. Interlink bought the old Kobe Portopialand Bobsled after the park closed and they still advertise it on their website.
Great find. Do you know if the Schwarzkopf Double Loop survived too?
I develop Superior Solitaire when not riding coasters.
There are several closed parks in Japan, I bet they could find quite a bit for a nice price there. I'm hoping for a Ferris wheel for Carowinds next :-).
The Schwarzkopf Double Loop was also advertised on Interlink and other used ride websites, but it has been missing for a while. I am affraid it has been scrapped sadly.
At IAAPA one year, I looked through Interlink used ride listing and there were some gems in there. For example, a "Schwarzkopf coaster with 3 loops and in an indoor setting"...
Tekwardo said:
I'm hoping for a Ferris wheel for Carowinds next :-).
It's a nice thought, but wouldn't they have bid for the old chicago pier wheel if they wanted one? It was probably a discount.
It really does look like cedar fair is looking to build carowinds into cedar point south, and it's a good strategy. charlotte's economy and population are booming.
"The term is 'amusement park.' An old Earth name for a place where people could go to see and do all sorts of fascinating things." -Spock, Stardate 3025
The Navy Pier wheel might not have been well-suited to their needs. Too big, perhaps, or they might want a wheel that doesn't load continuously.
Kings Island's Don Helbig did the Carowinds presentation at No Coaster, as their rep was snowbound and couldn't make the trip (No Coaster was the weekend the East Coast was being buried in snow). Comparing visits when he lived in the area years ago to visits in the past few years in his role as KI PR guru, he said "...it's not the Cedar Point of the south yet. But it's on its way."
I believe I've heard Cedar Fair has a multi-year plan in place to really build up the park, though I'm feeling too lazy at the moment to track down where I may have read that. Besides, Chopped Junior is on.
Life is something that happens when you can't get to sleep.
--Fran Lebowitz
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