PKD Monorail Question
vacoasterfreak is right about the old monorail's station. If you look at the map Zimm pointed out (http://www.themeparkbrochures.com/maps/1980/pkd1980_3.html), You'll notice that the building marked #1 is Bubba Gump's restaurant (then Livingston's). I don't remember what year they actually removed the track (I believe it was in the mid-90s); I know it was there for many years after the monorail was closed, though. There was raised track directly over Avalanche's brakerun for quite a while.
I was only 5 when I first rode the monorail, and this visual was one of the most vivid memories I have of it (not the Kobra, but the construction to the right of it). Ironically, I really don't remember too much about seeing the animals, which was the main purpose of riding the monorail. Also, that's Mt. Kilamanjaro directly behind the Kobra's second incline.
There are so many things I miss about the Kings Dominion of old. The Sky ride, Apple Turnover, Monster, Mt. Kilimanjaro, Parrot Troopers (in their original location over the water)...Yogi's Cave (just not the same without Yogi standing out front leaning against his cave while fishing in the pond)...the singing mushrooms...the hot air balloon (anyone remember that?) and the waterskiing stunt show on Lake Charles...even the Haunted River and Time Shaft (when my stomach could take it)...and most of all, King Kobra and Galaxi. I still love the park, but it lacks much of the charm it had in the 70s and early 80s.
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-Vater
*** This post was edited by Vater on 1/23/2003. ***
Vater's right,there once was a time whjen PKD did have that certain "charm" to it back in the 70's & 80's then paramount comes along & starts changing everything.
I don't recall there being any balloon ride at PKD back then,where in the park was it located?
I kinda miss the old rides they once had like MT kilimanjaro,that was one of my favorites,I didn't like haunted river at all & that big drop at the end of the ride is what kept me off of it for the remainder of it's existance in the park.
I also miss the old stuff from PKD, such as Haunted River. I was still too afraid to ride coasters when I was younger when King Cobra was there, but its now gone and Anaconda took its place. I did ride Mont. Revenge at KBF a few years ago and feel that is a much better ride than Anaconda. This is just one example of PKD removing a good ride and putting a less good one in. I don't really like Volcano either and feel the park was much better and had more character if they had left it alone. PKD is one park that I feel lost a lot with expansion. BGW, on the other hand, has added great coasters and new lands and did not compromise what it already had.
Zimm
I remember riding the monorail as a child also...I loved it. In fact, it was one of my favorite rides, especially on hot summer days. I think the A/C aspect of it was what made it one of the more popular rides in the park. I remember long waits for the monorail.
Sean
*who also misses Mt. Kilamanjaro, the Haunted River, and especially Lake Charles..when it was actually a lake*
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"Ever hear of Plato, Aristotle, Socrates...Morons!"
*** This post was edited by freakylick on 1/23/2003. ***
It wasn't a ride, it was an actual hot-air balloon that was used in the Firestone International Air Show that was performed daily: http://www.themeparkbrochures.com/1978/pkd1978_3.html (note the balloon, and tail of stunt bi-plane on the right (the rest of the plane is in this pic).
BATWING FAN SFA said:
I don't recall there being any balloon ride at PKD back then,where in the park was it located?
Is that Dick Van Dyke?
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-Vater
*** This post was edited by Vater on 1/23/2003. ***
I loved Haunted River's drop. To this day, it's the best head-chopper I've ever experienced, on any ride. I swear, I think I ducked every time until I was in my 20s. :)
BATWING FAN SFA said:
"I didn't like haunted river at all & that big drop at the end of the ride is what kept me off of it for the remainder of it's existance in the park."
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-Vater
Sure looks like Dick, Vater.
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Welcome to the New & Improved Coasterbuzz...tomfoolery allowed!
It is him. Mr. Van Dyke did promotional work for the KECO parks in the late 1970's, so did Johnathan Winters.
Shaggy
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Shaggy
R.I.P. Maestro
Phantom Theater 1992-2002
Vater hit it exactly. The Paramount parks have no charm or magic feeling like they originally did. We can blame KECO before them for the mass flat ride removal and park neglect, but its been Paramount that has ripped out most of the original theming that gave the parks their original charm. Rides are plopped down wherever now, with no little creativity in the ride names, and fitting them to a themed area. What they do now is shamlessly promote cheesy Paramount movies, that are not timeless. Most of the little touches like the singing mushrooms, Captain buddy at Carowinds, etc. gone. At one time Carowinds was one of the better themed parks in the nation, themes withing a theme and all the special props and rides that were named to give the right feel.
They have did is added a sizeable number of medicore, short coasters to their parks. Many of the classic rides have been removed, even though other parks continue to maintain and operate them. A theme park is supposed to make you feel like you are somewhere else. Most of the Paramount areas don't have any feeling to them anymore.
One of the worst things they did at PKD was ripping out the spectacular lake the park was built around to install a waterpark that could have been put elsewhere.
Paramount is not the only one to be singled out here. Truthfully, Six Flags and Cedar Fair have all let the original theming elements take a back seat. I am still grumpy about the horrible decision SF made with Deja Vu's placement in SFOG. And what does MForce have to do with Frontier Trail?
I agree that it is quite sad that Paramount Parks do not seem to maintain or expand upon the the original theming. I think PKI strives the most to stick with it out of all the Paramount Parks, but last year's TR location decision was really poor.
Part of the reason I immensely enjoy parks like Magic Kingdom, Busch Gardens, Silver Dollar City, Dollywood etc is because they adhere to their theming. The jobs are never half-done. The storyline in the areas around the ride is considered as important as the ride itself.
Shaggy
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Shaggy
R.I.P. Maestro
Phantom Theater 1992-2002
*** This post was edited by Shaggy on 1/23/2003. ***
Six Flags was never really good at theming in my opinion. Back in the days of Taft, Six Flags was far and beyond second rate to their parks as far at the "feel". Cedarfair is about rides and that is it. They don't even pay great attention to landscaping. The masses are more interested in the biggest ride than the special feel, so it works for Cedarfair.
I will say this about Six Flags, while their theming has been subpar for the most part, and the superhero stuff is just bad, they have installed some sort of theming at parks that were unthemed, like Geauga Lake and Magic Mountain. And just look at what they did with Great American (although the superhero stuff ruins the Orleans and Nantucket themes), they still have managed to maintain the overall theming of the park while Paramount has ripped all of it out. The Southwest Territory section at Gurnee is spectacular in my opinion as far as thrill parks go.
A great example of the loss of "feel" at kings island is tomb raider, the installation of all the cheesy nickelodeon plastic giant figures, the concrete pad that used to be the african section and the area of the park that there is basically nothing but a swinging ship and an african themed mine train in that used to feel like a german october carnvial.......
*** This post was edited by super7 on 1/23/2003. ***
An obvious realization to all of this is that parks must stay contemporary or people lose interest. Although I feel parks should try and adhere to the original themeing (that works), I think they should always update and change. There is a fine line that must be walked.
I'll speak specifically of PKI since that is what I know best...
Take a look at Rivertown which basically went untouched from 1985 until 1999. Now although I personally do not care for the placement of TR:TR in the area, I do think that reviving the section is something that was desperately needed. The area was a pit, the old theming elements just didn't work anymore and were extremely dated. When the park opened, the areas in the park... no matter the theme.... were then very hip and had a modern feel. But the modern feel of buildings and attractions themed and installed in 1972 don't hold up too well in 2002.
The exact same thing can be said of the old Adventure Village area (Prior to that it was the Wild Animal Habitat.) That place was an embarassment by the time Paramount took ownership. And although it may need a few trees, I really like the feel it has.
I LOVE what the park did with KMLF, turning it into Wild Thornberries. I also love the modern cartoony feel of Nick Central and HB including the cheesy plastic figures. Apparently most people agree, otherwise it would not be rated the best kids area in the world.
However given the chance, I would have located TR in the vicinity of Adventure Express or Action Zone. It fits a movie/adventure type theme. But who knows what electrical, spacial, traffic flow, plumbing, zoning requirements etc the attraction may have required... dictating it go where it now is.
So I guess my point is, there are two sides to the coin. And although I miss some of the great theming that helped establish it as a great park, there is a lot I am glad that they changed or added as well.
Shaggy
*** This post was edited by Shaggy on 1/23/2003. ***
the singing mushrooms!!! oh man, memories:)
PKD will always be my home park.....i totally remember man, walking as a young kid through the park....
you guys remember that water ski show they used to have on Lake Charles? the stands where right behind Victoria Pizza....im not sure when the show stopped, but we would sit and watch the show, and you could see King Kobra roaring through its loop in the background.....
Tim....choking back tears :)
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proud PKD homer :)
(currently a Dorney Park homer though...thanks to college:))
such things aside, even the kid in me misses the singing mushrooms and other vivid characters that brought the "timeless" theming to the park.
Paramounts biggest mistake is theming their rides after movies. what a terrible, lame idea, obviously thought up by someone in marketing with no idea that these rides will easily outlive, say, the Tomb Raider or Wayne's World franchise. what you end up with is something that in a few short years is an embarassing anachronism, with no charm or character of its own. it's sad really.
would the Loch Ness Monster be as beloved today if it were called "Police Academy 3: The Ride!" sure, it might have sold five more tickets to the park or the movie that year, but in the long run it would have been moronic.
*** This post was edited by pezpunk 8/11/2003 3:11:04 PM ***
Since many folks have voiced some reflective, nostalgic feelings about PKD, I thought I'd direct everyone to a site with some great vintage photos of the park, way before Paramount took over...
Remember Whacky Wheels? Or Moby's Seaside Review? And of course, the Safari Monorail? Perhaps you remember when International Street had no trees...
Then there's my favorite pic of all: the aerial view of Lake Charles and surrounding attractions (I miss the Galaxie! :( ).
Hell, see 'em all HERE. Enjoy...
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-Mike B.
Son of Hulk
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*** This post was edited by Vater 8/11/2003 4:20:12 PM ***
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Crazy Over 8
Ah, memories.
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For anyone who is either too old to remember,or never got the chance to ride it the attraction was pretty much the same as the blue ridge tollway ride in the old virginia area of the park except using sports cars instead of antiuqe roadsters.
In addition to missing the monorail at PC, PKI and PKD I also miss the sky ride (Cable cars). I commend BGW for keeping theirs up and running. I've always thought they added a lot to a theme park.
Preach on Shaggy! Some times I feel like I'm the only one that feels like this. It is great to see others that place some inportance on theming and atmosphere as part of the amusement park experience.
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Give me wood! :-)
328 and counting!
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