IDORA PARK TO REOPEN???

As posted on the Project: Save Idora Park at http://www.ytownnet.com/psip a local enthusiast is planning to rebuild Idora. Any opinions on this?

It irritates me that the owner of the site doesn't know when to use JPEG's vs. GIF's, but I digress...

Idora is dead, period. The coasters could never operate unless they were totally rebuilt. The park is in the middle of one of the poorest cities in Ohio. The local economy couldn't support the park. There is no business plan that could ever make the park profitable.

Idora is dead. Long live Idora.

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Jeff
Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com

Actually, his plan would be to move the two remaining coasters. But I asked a coaster company what it would take to move the Jackrabbit alone and he said $2 mil. Sorry about the fire in '85 but that's how mabny parks went. Like you said, Long Live Idora.

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http://www.woodencoaster.com

How much of the Jackrabbit or Wildcat is salvageable after a decade and a half of deterioration in the elements and no maintenance?
I'm no expert on coaster relocating, but, my guess is that very little of the coasters could be re-used.
Getting Americana reopened or the Eagle a new home seems more feasible to me.

Not really much is left.
More of the Jackrabbit than the Wildcat.

The steel, bolts, track and the like, is pobably reuseable, but the wood is most likely shot after 15 years of exposure. Some of the latger beems may be salvageable, though.


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Peace, Love, and Rollercoasters.........we need more of all three.

This is an old subject. Period. No more Idora. I said you should visit Conneaut Lake and support them, since they are trying to work a plan to move the Back Wabbit. The Wildcat is beat. It was rebuilt over the late 70's and early 80's using a new method, one which uses wood glue to to assist to bolts and spikes. To pull that ride apart would be a not so pleasant task. Its a shame what happened, but when economics change, the owners are old and tired, and you have failed across the board to keep up with the neighbors, well, its time to move on.

Plus you need to remember that a large part of the Wildcat was destroyed in 2 fires, the first of which was the event which finally put the seal on Idora's demise. Too bad. It looked like an excellent coaster, especially before straightened out the first drop.

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Coasters...the best natural buzz available.

Considering the fact that Mount Calvary Pentecostal Church has owned the land since 1994 and has done nothing with it, although they have "big" plans, this isn't going to happen. There are rumors of Conneaut Lake Park wanted to rebuild the Jack Rabbit and Wildcat, they need the money to do it. So to repeat what Agent Johnson has already stated, go to Conneaut, support the park, and maybe someday we'll be able to ride them again.

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Thank you for riding America's Roller Coast

Ok, Mount Calvary Church went bankrupt before Christmas. That's was I was told from a friend who works at a bank in Youngstown. So they are gone. The park is going to be lost in the courts for years. As for Conneaut Lake Park, all they have is the Blue Streak. After that is nothing but portable carnival rides and small buildings and the overall park is very run down. They do not have the money to move that coaster and will probably be the next park to fold. The guy who is trying to reopen Idora is the same guy who tried to move them to Conneaut. He drove the park into extreme financial problems.

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http://www.woodencoaster.com

Okay, I read the 'newsflash'. He wants to build a park in a new location, and use the name. There is no mention of moving the coasters and ballroom and everything else that is left behind. I wish Carl the best. And I think Conneaut looks pretty good for a park that has been going at it since 1892. You realize, they have no debt.

With the Six Flags gig 1 hour away powering up to give Cedar Point a run for Midwest bragging rights, I would not want to operating in the red from day 1. I think Carl should find a little money and move the Back Wabbit to Conneaut, and operate it as a concession. Think business.