Fire destroys Whalom Park ballroom

Posted | Contributed by loriu

A three-alarm fire late Saturday, deemed suspicious by officials, destroyed the historic 70-year-old ballroom at Whalom Park. Several fire departments contained the fire, which could have easily spread to surrounding structures, including the Flyer Comet.

Read more from the Sentinel & Enterprise.

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I agree... this sounds waaay to fishy to me and awfully ironic. Disgruntled employee? Disgruntled park opposer? Hmmmm....

Shaggy

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Shaggy
A.K.A. John K.

But according to Bowen the effort is still going strong despite the agreement and the fire.

"The ballroom was one of the most historic structures in the park. However, it wasn't the whole park," said Bowen. "We are not going to give up our efforts to save the park because we lost the ballroom. There are 35 acres and 110 years of memories still worth fighting for."

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Well, it looks like the Bowen family is still going to fight this thing so lets not give up on them and their quest.

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Im going to grab a cold one! WHAT? Walk to my computer! WHAT? Turn the thing on! WHAT? Log on to Coasterbuzz! WHAT? I said log on to Coasterbuzz!! WHAT?WHAT?WHAT?

Is it possible that the housing developer who has the pruchase and sale agreement is now afraid that for some reason they can't beat out Save Whalom Park and were trying to destroy the park to take SWP out of the picture? I know it's a long shot and insurance fraud is far more likely, but we can be optimistic, can't we?

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Erik Johnson
Theme Park New England
Save Whalom Park!

Although this is horrable that it has happened...it might actually help the park a little more becuase it's free advising for save whalom park
My first thought, before I read any of the articles, was arson. What are the chances of a building closed up with, presumably, no active utilities, catching fire on its own?

More exposure for the park and publicity for the campaign is good. Too bad it had to come at the expense of the ballroom. :( The building could have been used year round to hold meetings, community concerts, etc. as a way to bring in some revenue during the off season.

Don't give up. I've seen many instances of last minute preservation where the developer is thwarted at the 11th hour. Buy a whale and encourage others to participate as well. Look how many parks have quietly vanished, who wouldn't wish they had a chance to bring back their hometown park?

It's only 35 acres. Is it too much to ask to keep this small park alive and send the Wal-Mart elsewhere?

"Use it all, Use it all, Fill it up with McDonald's and Strip Malls. We're going out in style, we're all gonna take the fall. Won't remember what we've lost if we use it all."
-Sally Shuffield, Use it All.

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everything's better with a banjo

Just a quick note. They want to develop it into condos. There is a Walmart about a mile down the road.

While I hope they save some of the rides and the Flyer Comet, I don't see too much hope of this park surviving. Its really not that nice of a park. Not compared to Lake Compounce or Canobie. I hate to see it go, but maybe the rides will make some of these other parks better destinations.

Deja Vu. First Idora now this. Isnt Whalom also in Ohio?

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At least I dont call a vertical loop a "loopdie-loop"!

No, Whalom is in Massachustts. The one you are thinking of in Ohio is Americana which has a good chance of reopening for next year.

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Off with the trims!
My fellow Americans; Let's Roll!
Woodencoaster.com

What's really funny is that aside from Bob-Kick-the-sky, every "Conspiracy Theorist" here assumes that an arsonist had to be opposed to the park re-opening. *MY* first thought of "CT" was that the park had an insurance policy on the ballroom, it wasnt really being used anyway and the "quick" infusion of cash from the settlement *might* be just the little push they needed.

But then again, I may have just watched "GoodFellas" one time too many...
lata,
jeremy
--"And what do you do when you cant borrow another dollar from the bank or sell anothet bottle of wine out the back door? You blow the joint! You light a match!" Goodfellas

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Besides, if we were really shutting down people we disagreed with, would Jeremy (2Hostyl) still be around? :) I think not. - Jeff 1/24/02

you know, i was just thinking.....not too conincidential since it wasn't on the exact day, but with the anniversary of the burning down of the Idora Park ballroom i thought of something else...

Whalom is in danger of being destroyed, a park in MASSACHUSETTES

Ed Markey, the evil congressman that hates coasters because he's afraid of them is from MASSACHUSETTES

Personally, i think the conspiracies do exist....

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Purple and Green and everything mean
-Joker's Jinx

Who here thinks 2Hostyl has too much time on his hands???? hmmm??

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