I've been trying to identify a coaster that used to exist at the Chain of Rocks park in St. Louis in the mid 70's. It was a steel coaster that used 4-person cars similar to what you see on a Schwartzkopf Wildcat and the track looked to be about the same gauge. The odd thing about the coaster was that the wheels were mounted towards the rear of the cars so the front end would swing out over the turns. It had kind of a square footprint maybe 70-80 feet on a side.
Does anyone know what this might have been? I thought it might be some variation on a Wild Mouse but I've never seen any descriptions referring to the wheels being rear-mounted.
Thanks!
Jeff
It probably was a wild mouse. They do have rear-mounted wheels, to give it the effect that it will overrun the turn and go off the track.
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Hey, SFGAm managment, can I buy a couple cages of Sky Whirl?
Are you sure about the park name - I've got a couple of sites I use for infoseeking on older rides (rcdb.com is my 2nd fav site), but I checked for the park name and got no results...TrBiggar may have a point with mice, though.
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rollergator - intent on improving the "guest experience" - coming soon to a park near you
Could it have possibly been Forest Park Highlands?
Thanks everyone. It was Chain of Rocks Fun Park, not the Highlands, which were already gone the year before I was born. This park sat on the river bluffs and was operating until about 77 or 78. We have a Yahoo group trying to map out a recreation for the park and this question came up.
This place had the scariest ride I've ever been on: a ski-lift style skylift that went out over the bluffs. It had a 20 foot loading platform that ended at a 60 - 70 foot drop. You would stand on a yellow line and wait for the car to come by and smack you in the back of the legs, then sit down and pull the bars closed. The cars were fixed to the wire, so they didn't stop for you. I was always terrified I would miss the car and be swept over the edge.
Jeff
