Lost game at Cedar Point

What exactly was "Fascination" at Cedar Point?

The amusement park game equivalent of crack. :)

You're probably better off without it, but those of us who've had a sweet, sweet taste wake up every morning longing for more.

Doesn't IB still have it? What other parks still have it?

There's a pretty good explanation of the game here. According to IB's website, they still have the game.

Americana used to have it. Probably still do, if only the park was open. (sniff)

LOL Gonch...it's so true. I remember my first experience with Fascination at Knoebels.

"I'll just play $5 worth...."

$20 later I was still playing ;) I have yet to win a coverall....GRRRRR!

mOOSH

Ha! Exactly.

"Just $5 more then I'll stop" is the mantra of the Fascination player.

The need a loan shark just hanging out in the fascination building...

...too many broken knees, I suppose.

It's definitely addictive. First played it in '02 at LeSourdsville's short reopening. Also played at Indiana Beach. Because it's so unique and competitive, it's one of the few games I play when at parks - and I'm in my early 20s.

Another nice thing about Fascination is that it's social. Get a few friends to sit in a row...it's a blast, especially when you and the guy next to you are each one spot away from winning ;)

And of course it's also a great way to beat the heat!

mOOSH [suddenly needing a Fascination fix]

edit - Anyone know if Arnolds Park has Fascination? Their website doesn't list rides or games [isn't that odd?].

*** Edited 5/18/2004 11:21:04 PM UTC by Mamoosh***

Was (is) it really for adults only? *** Edited 5/18/2004 11:58:56 PM UTC by CoasterKrazy***

Here's a picture of LeSourdsville Lake's one, during it's final season:
LeSordsville Lake Fascination

In this picture, they even still had the ash trays for all the smokers.

As for what it was exactly that's a little harder to explain...mostly is like Tic Tack Toe, crossed with Bingo, crossed with holes that you role balls into.

FYI The IX Indoor Amusement Park has a traveling one set up every year, and it usually is at the Ohio State Fair also.

I do know the one at Cedar Point had some pretty good prizes, but you mostly had to play all year long to save up on the tickets. *** Edited 5/19/2004 12:05:07 AM UTC by RollerCoasterGod***

Sounds like the addiction I had on those zippo machines at Cedar Point which are next to impossible to win.

I just kept saying "it's only a quarter". Then like $20 later I'm still without a zippo, and I've spent more on the game then a zippo costs in a normal store.

Now I refuse to even put one quarter into those things.

Coasterkrazy - the game is for anyone old enough to be able to sit at the table and roll a ball.

Yes, IB still has the game and I spent well over $100 playing it the last 3 visits. I'm not a gambler, but thank GOD, I know when to "hold 'em." [NOT!]

Gonch is right, it's equivalent to crack at the coaster park.

Well, ask yourself this question...

...would you rather spend 5 bucks on 1 game of "Guess Your Weight?", and win a crappy prize?

or

...would you rather spend 50 cents on one game of Facination, a chance to win tickets to prizes that are much more valuable than anything the "Guess Your Weight" offers, not to mention, you get TEN games of Facination for the price of 1 "Guess Your Weight" game!

My money is on Facination.
Too bad it's starting to disappear at a lot of parks.

I've only played the "guess your weight" game once. It was at a local carnival, on a cold fall evening. I was wearing a jacket which kid of hid how thing I was. I figured I could beat the girl.

She said her guess and I just thought "oh crap". Wouldn't you know it she guessed my wait right on.

Got caught in a brief downpour my one and only time at Conneaut Lake Park a couple of years ago so we headed off into the arcade.

Got so hooked on Fascination that I was almost upset to see the rain clear before making my way out to Blue Streak.

I'd be surprised if they took it away. There were maybe 50 people in the park while we were there (hey, it was a weekday) and most of them who ducked into the arcade were playing Fascination.

It's also an interesting game to play drunk, not that I would know. ;-)

-Tina

Be surprised.. Fascination was gone at Conneaut last year. Who knows.. maybe they brought it back.

I think I mentioned this in another thread about Fascination awhile back, but for those in the Northeast Ohio/Northwestern Pennsylvania area, Geneva-On-The-Lake has a Fascination Parlor on their main "strip" of amusements and attractions. I believe it is located right across from the Erieview Park entrance. On my last visit (in 2002), prizes ranged from Def Leppard buttons to toasters that looked like they came straight out of the 70's. It really is a town stuck in a time warp!

And while you're in the area, there's a set of rather unsnappable Flyers and an excellent Bill Tracey dark ride at Erieview Park. While the prices are kind of high (almost $2 a ride), it's still well worth a stop.

ray p.