Lost Dark Rides

Snooki is a walk-by, not a walk-thru.

[url][url]Meh.. Seaside heights only ever had a mini version of the ill fated Six Flags haunted castle.

http://www.popartpete.com/doorwaygood2(2).jpg

Who remembers the 1981 movie "Funhouse"? Great movie!!! I'm already scared of going in alone - but when I think of that movie - I really become scare-dy cat.

I think there was a cool Haunted House at Old Chicago. There was a witch on a broom stick that kept popping in and out of the window. It would be great to find some footage or pictures of that.

I love Tobe Hooper's The Funhouse. Possibly the best use of phlem in a horror movie ever! Love the opening credits where they show the various stunts in the house. Rick Baker's monster is just awesome.

One of my fave lost dark rides was the Laff in the Dark at Riverside years before the park became SFNE. This was removed in the early 80s. I was still fairly young when it was removed but it scared the heck out of me. Oddly after mentioning The Funhouse I do remember there was an issue with people getting out of their cars. On one occasion remember them cycling out the ride because cars had some out empty. Not sure if this a long standing dark ride issue or an idea people got from the film.

billb7581 said:

Having been to all of them, Brigatine Castle was the best. It took you a good half hour to walk through.

When we got cable in the late 70s would watch cartoons on the NYC stations like channel 9 and 11 after school. During the cartoons they would show these horrific commercials for Brigantine Castle and Long Branch Haunted Mansion. I loved horror stuff but parents said it was for older kids and was off limits. Remember a few friends that would have to leave the room when these came on due to nightmare issues related to these commercials. Here's one of the particularly freaky ones from Long Branch Haunted Mansion. The woman on the fence was the one that would send them running out of the room.

http://youtu.be/8PFu3aM93Zg

Cropsey said:

billb7581 said:

Having been to all of them, Brigatine Castle was the best. It took you a good half hour to walk through.

When we got cable in the late 70s would watch cartoons on the NYC stations like channel 9 and 11 after school. During the cartoons they would show these horrific commercials for Brigantine Castle and Long Branch Haunted Mansion. I loved horror stuff but parents said it was for older kids and was off limits. Remember a few friends that would have to leave the room when these came on due to nightmare issues related to these commercials. Here's one of the particularly freaky ones from Long Branch Haunted Mansion. The woman on the fence was the one that would send them running out of the room.

http://youtu.be/8PFu3aM93Zg

I was scared s***less to go in Haunted Mansion and Brigantine Castle as a kid. By the time I was brave enough to go in, they were both history. But I'm amazed how well I remember the commercial posted here.

I went through BC when I was 10... it was scary as hell . The Mime at :05 scared the crap out of me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOqEaDVJvZI

Someone posted a video of an entire walk through the old Castle Dracula in Wildwood. That one wasn't as good, but still pretty cool.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dlgNC2-cyqI

Looks like Wildwood is getting another walk through Dark Ride

http://www.houseofhaunts.com/

The House of Haunts attraction is a walk-through haunted house. It consists of both unique animatronics that have never been seen before as well as various live actor scare zones. The Attraction is over 3,000 square feet long, but with a very unique layout that gives you the feel of a being inside a large classical style Haunted House Mansion. Our goal was to develop the perfect mixture of live actors, animatronics and special effects. We have created various custom effects and have even consulted the engineers from University Studio whom worked on the recent Harry Potter Rides. We hope you enjoy the House of Haunts year after year, and look forward to seeing you at our North Wildwood Boardwalk Location!

Wow! They worked with the good folks at University Studio!? ;)

I thought that was really funny too, Gonch, then I second guessed the accuracy. I thought that maybe University Studios could have been a name for a company associated with Universal. Anywho...

First Ghost Ship, now this? I've got to get up there. I love walk-through haunts almost as much as I love coasters. A nice, long trip to NJ shore is being put into my "to-do" list right now.

3,000 square feet long

*sigh* I hate it when people do that.

Lord Gonchar said:
Wow! They worked with the good folks at University Studio!? ;)

That was okay, but as an English major, my favorite was "engineers..WHOM worked..."

LostKause said:
I thought that was really funny too, Gonch, then I second guessed the accuracy. I thought that maybe University Studios could have been a name for a company associated with Universal. Anywho...

First Ghost Ship, now this? I've got to get up there. I love walk-through haunts almost as much as I love coasters. A nice, long trip to NJ shore is being put into my "to-do" list right now.

May want to hold off.... I am hearing House of Haunts opening is being held up by local inspectors now. But here's another sneak peek

http://funchase.com/Images/HOH/HouseOfHaunts.htm

"Funhouse" is on Netflix on demand now - much to my delight! Good thing we have locking lapbars these days. Getting out of the cars was a problem for the Pirate Ride at Cedar Point when I worked there.

With Gravity Group's new trains, more rides like Black Diamond/Golden Nugget (and LoCoSuMo - Lost Coaster Of Superstition Mountain at Indiana Beach) will hopefully pop up.

We just watched FunHouse the other day. Now, I'm looking for "Dark Ride".

I loved the Golden Nugget Mine Ride. I am so glad that Knoebels is redoing that into Black Diamond. I know it'll be preserved for years to come. There are so many from the different Wildwood Piers rides growing up that I can't even remember many of their names.

I was also a big fan of Dracula's Castle, and Dracula's dungeon. Being that my parents weren't amusement park fans growing up, Wildwood was one of the places I could go and ride until my heart was content. So many memories there.

^^ Just a heads up on "Dark Ride" - don't look to hard for it. Starts out fun, slightly creepy then just kind of plods along at a snail's pace. I love horror movies and can always appreciate a slow burn with something that's creepy and engaging. But this one gets repetitive and boring before the half way mark.

Mike Gallagher said:

Lord Gonchar said:
Wow! They worked with the good folks at University Studio!? ;)

That was okay, but as an English major, my favorite was "engineers..WHOM worked..."

I prefer unique things that have never been seen before to unique things that you see everywhere you go. And when unique isn't enough, there's always "very unique."

Coasterfantom2 said:
I loved the Golden Nugget Mine Ride. I am so glad that Knoebels is redoing that into Black Diamond. I know it'll be preserved for years to come. There are so many from the different Wildwood Piers rides growing up that I can't even remember many of their names.

I was also a big fan of Dracula's Castle, and Dracula's dungeon. Being that my parents weren't amusement park fans growing up, Wildwood was one of the places I could go and ride until my heart was content. So many memories there.

At one time Wildwood was king of the dark ride, you had Morey's Haunted House on surfside, Castle Frankestein on Fun Pier, Dr Bloods house of horror on sportland, Nickels Castle Dracula, Golden nugget and Pirate ship Skua on Hunts pier, along with the Wacky Shack and I'm forgetting about some.

How about the one at Old Chicago?

I was 12 at the time, and had built haunted house attractions in my basement for the neighborhood kids. I knew all the low budget special effects tricks. My family went to Old chicago, and never expected a cardiac arrest-inducing, mind-altering hell hole that was their haunted house. It. Was. A. Hell. That. Never. Ended.

My mother, father and sister and I got into the casket cars and were sent through double doors to COMPLETE BLACKNESS that lasted an eternity. Did the ride break down? Why is no one helping us? My father called out to get some help. Then, the standard diorama type scenes began appearing, with frozen mannequin like characters in the foreground. Amateurs, I thought. Then, out of the blue, a flash of light and a guy who looks like a trucker stands there just hovering over my mother. WTF.

Blackness. the mannequin characters began coming to life and coming up to the cars and taunting you. Grabbing you, shrieking. Blackness. Shock. Blackness. Shock. Blackness, shock from the cieling. Blackness, shock from all sides. Blackness. Explosion. Again. And again. And again. Blackness. Dismemberment. Blackness, wolfman pulling your hair during a strobe light. Blackness. A Dracula almost in your lap riding with you! Blackness. Then the pace picked up. Total blackness and things began popping out at you, lights up and there's a bloody faced man about to bite your neck. It Never. Freaking. Ended. Seriously, like 15 minutes.

My mother and father were screaming, not laughing, which made it more frightening. Finally my mother began crying, and my father put his arm around her, and he wasn't smiling or laughing. And it continued.

Finally the ride ended. We left the park shortly after that.

No wonder my father drank.