History buffs - Lake Placid Bobsled video clip (and more)

I've done lot's of research on various defunct parks over the past 20 years and I'll have to say this is the first actual clip I have seen of the Lake Placid Bobsled (Flying Turns ride at Palisades Park) in motion. Although the clip is just a few seconds, there are lot's of other clips of this once great amusement park to enjoy. Check it out!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukQNWBKa_BI&feature

Wow! Thanks for posting! That little clip of the Virgina Reel is a gem as well. That Roll-o-plane/Skydiver thing, too - what is that?

On a side note, swampfoxer, I have enjoyed your youtube videos for years. Thanks :)

Watching something like this always brings me back to a question I've asked here and elsewhere:

Is it possible to be nostalgic for a place you have no specific memories of?

I know I went to Palisades Park. I was 7 years old when it closed for good on September 12, 1971..that day, was. in fact, my 7th birthday.

Seeing these clips makes me wonder which of these rides, if any, I rode as a child.

Thanks for posting this.

^I think you can, Mike. I grew up listening to stories about the Riverview Bobs, Fireball, Shoots, etc. Those are good memories.

CoasterDemon said:
Wow! Thanks for posting! That little clip of the Virgina Reel is a gem as well. That Roll-o-plane/Skydiver thing, too - what is that?

That would be a Hubretz Spitfire. Very popular ride in the 40's. There is more video of one here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-q2OTGVt21Y

WOW! A Boomerang ride. I would love to see more video of a Boomerang. That is a ride I wish somebody would remake.

HighSpeedThrillCoaster said:
WOW! A Boomerang ride. I would love to see more video of a Boomerang. That is a ride I wish somebody would remake.

Wisdom Manufacturing did remake the Boomerang in the 70's or 80's. I have some photos of the one owned by Johnston's Amusements in 1985. I was also lucky enough to ride it at the Dixie Classic Fair (Winston-Salem, NC) in 1993. What a shock it was to see this in the midway. I least expected to see a Boomerang. The one dang time I didn't have my video camera. It operated just like the old ones. As for what ever happened to the Wisdom Boomerang, I have come to dead ends on that research.

Always a joy to view videos of old or defunct parks. IMO parks today don't have the same vibe as parks of the past. But, then again I was never able to enjoy this park as well as quite a few others that are long gone now.

Good stuff!

I too would love to have experienced a Boomerang and a Virginia Reel. :-/

Wow, love it. I adore footage like that from those classic parks. Nice song selection, too.

At 0:55 seconds, is that the Virginia Reel? What a fascinating-looking ride.

Yes Mike. The spinning coaster ride is the Reel.

Thanks, Matt. :)

Man, you just caused me to blow two hours of my day watching clips of old parks!

Now, now, janfrederick, don't be so hard on yourself... we all know that's a perfectly acceptable way to spend part of a day. Or maybe even a whole day...