Idora Wildcat

How many of you have been on it,and what do you remember the most about it?

What I remember,one of the most brutal coasters I have been on,one of the few I could not ride twice in a row.

I rode it back in the early 1970s during my only visit to Idora. I remember a bunny hop that gave airtime after a major drop. This ride had a one position stationary bar like KWs Jack Rabbit. It certainly would have qualified as an ACE classic.

It was intense but being accustomed to riding West View's Racing Whippet and KW's Thunderbolt, it was manageable.

*** Edited 7/1/2006 2:57:21 AM UTC by Arthur Bahl***

I worked on the Whippet in 76 and 77,loved that ride,miss it and Westview bad. :(

It was not "tame" either.

Alot of air on the first drop.

Racing Whippet was very intense. That airtime was strong on the steep initial drop. By the way this was the first "big" coaster that I ever rode.

All 3 of West Views coasters would have been ACE classics had the park survived. Unfortunately these rides, like the Wildcat, are just memories.

By the way, does anyone remember that airtime on the last small drop on the Dips just before the station brakes? The cars would just seem to drop out from under you. Sort of like the final drop on the KW Racer.

Oh yes,that was a nasty little drop(Dips) with alot of air,if you did not know it was there,it was quite a shock.

All three coasters would definately have been ACE classics.

On West View Park's The Dips, after the turnaround, each bunny hop would get smaller. Then the last dip was the biggest of them all!

That was the surprise!

Keep the small parks alive!

Idora's Wildcat was an EXCELLANT Coaster which started out with a swift "S" Turn that ran through a Tunnel from the Station to the Lift Hill, which ran FAST. Once you got to the Top you did a swow Turnaround to a 45 Degree Drop that led to a "Bunny Hop" Hill. this was where the REAL Fun began as you got MAJOR Airtime on this Hop, which led to a Wicked Horaeshoe Fan Turn that SLAMMED you to the side of the Car. Two more Hills after that game you more Airtime then a Swoop turn led to two more hills, one of which had a flat top. Another Swoop Turn, and you were back in the Station.

Of all the Defunct Coasters I've been able to ride this is the one I miss the most. :(

I live 3 miles from Idora and was very young when the park closed, never got to experience the Wildcat. :( I used to do a lot of exploring in the park after it closed for good up until the remaining structures were finally torn down after the ballroom fire in 2001.

What a great looking coaster....

http://www.rcdb.com/ig450.htm?picture=1

Very little straight track on it,even the one straight section was banked.

Always was amazed with the speed it had going into the "semi" tunnel at the end of the ride.

Are there any blueprints for the Wildcat still around? From time to time there has been interest in possibly rebuilding this coaster at some other location. With the increased interest in wooden coasters now, maybe some park will want to do this.

Never been on it, but could have been (if I could turn back time....); I was a little too young with an overprotective grandfather at the time..... damn him!

I do know of a coaster model builder (I can't remember his name) who was selling his model of the Idora Park Wildcat online - I thought he was including a set of the blueprints with the model. It's been a long time ago but presumably some (rough drafts, at least) exist.

One of my Pipe Dreams (If I had the Bucks)was to Rebuild Idora Park as a Las Vegas Casino and move all of it's rides there and restore them, but that idea died when all was torn down. If that wasn't enough I had the Idea of building ANOTHER Casino Across from it with a "Titanic" Theme! However that Idea also met its end when 9/11 occured :( and it became obvious that Glorifying a Disaster would not be in the best interest of everyone.

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Arthur Bahl said:
Are there any blueprints for the Wildcat still around? From time to time there has been interest in possibly rebuilding this coaster at some other location. With the increased interest in wooden coasters now, maybe some park will want to do this.

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I've heard rumors about Knoebel's having them, but I doubt they'd actually go through with building it, especially now with Flying Turns. That rumor might not even be true.

I live 10 miles from Idora, and used to go there every 3 weekends. My sister was the coaster-freak when we were kids, and if Idora was still here today, I'd make sure I went on every ride on every visit.

Idora Park closed the summer of my junior year in high school, which was my sister's senior year.

Idora was a large part of my childhood, and it's loss is the main reason I take my Godchildren to other area/regional parks for fun...because I believe ALL children should experience an amusement park. We didn't have alot of money growing up, so my 2 older sisters would take me and my youngest sister to Idora, Geauga Lake, SeaWorld of Ohio, and Cedar Point, with their 'extra cash'.

There is a local group in Youngstown that brings underpriviledged children to an amusement park twice a summer (last year they went to ErieView/Geneva-On-The-Lake)...it would be a nice thing someday to have Coasterbuzz and other groups sponsor such an event.

*** Edited 7/1/2006 6:48:16 PM UTC by midwave***

The real question is, has anyone on here ridden the Idora Wildcat with the ORIGINAL first drop??

LOL, if you have, you are probably in your 80's now.....

BTW, the original first drop only lasted 8 seasons ('30-'37).

pic:
http://members.aol.com/wecorhsc/idora_wildcat.jpg

I have seen pictures of it(swoop drop)

Someone was selling a copy of the blueprints on Ebay a while back.

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ophthodoc said:

I do know of a coaster model builder (I can't remember his name) who was selling his model of the Idora Park Wildcat online

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Here it is:

http://www.cmgmodels.com/idora%20wildcat/idora_wildcat%20main1%20page.htm

Here's another one on a larger scale:

http://www.idorapark.org/gallery/model?page=1

Plans are still available for any one with the $$$$ to replicate the Wildcat or Jack Rabbit!

Beautiful model.

Wonder how much he is asking for it?

Theres a great book on Idora.

It's called "Idora: The Last Ride of Summer" by Charles Jacques (the author of the Coney Island Cinn. and Kennywood Books as well as the West View Park book.

Idora Park: The Last Ride of Summer

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0961439262/002-8609439-7871223?v=glance&n=283155

by Rick Shale & Charles J. Jacques Jr.

Karen Morrison - Designer