Revolution Entrance Change?

I was watching National Lampoon's Vacation the other day and was wondering about Revolution's entrance.

Was the archway ever the entrance to Revolution? I was looking at pics on rcdb and an overhead shot shows the same path as today.

I have seen the movie dozen's of times and always wondered about it.

No...I think it's always been like that. That arch is actually a bridge over a pond/rock formation with water trickling down it. Kind of like one of those fancy rock fountains/pool.

kRaXeL - he's referring to a different arch.

Revolution's original entrance is near the ride's final brake run. There is a Spanish-style arch with the ride's name on it and a waterfall and pond beneath it. The arch supports a bridge over the waterfall that connects to the station/queue house. The queue curved up the side of a hill, over the bridge, and into the station. This was when the park's layout was a crescent shape and not a complete curcuit.

Exiting riders took a clockwise path that lead under the brake run and onto the main path right near the ride's entrance, making re-rides a cinch.

Sometime in the early 80s, when Roaring Rapids was added along with a pathway that completed the park's layout into a loop, the entrance was moved to a newly constructed plaza where the Panda Express and the bridge to X is now. The new plaza was Spanish themed and the ride's name was changed from The Great American Revolution to La Revolucion. A large overflow queue as well as a stucco arched entrance with the name's ride on it was added. I think it is that entrance that is seen in the movie.

Prior to the Panda Express two rides made the plaza home: Condor [now at SFGAm, I think] and the park's Tilt-A-Whirl. The ride's exit was also rerouted to the new pathway that leads to Roaring Rapids, where it remains today.

The ride's original entrance has since been reopened. The plaque from ACE now sits where the original exit was. This photo shows the second entrance, overflow queue, arched entrance, and pathway to the station. Look in the bottom middle of the photo...its white stucco walls are clearly visible.

mOOSH

*** Edited 1/11/2005 6:47:17 AM UTC by Mamoosh***

Next Time on 'Ask Moosh', we'll discuss the origins of the infamous 'hole' at Knott's Berry Farm...

;)

'moosh: You sure it was the *early* '80's? I'm pretty sure it was still called the Great American Revolution when I went there back in '87 (only visit to SFMM). Though I *do* remember the 'Balles de Flores' (sp?) tilt-a-whirl being right next to it....

lata, jeremy

--who was to chicken to ride Revolution that year (stupid, stupid, stupid....)

Jeremy - no, I'm not entirely sure of the time frame for the name was changed. RCDB doesn't even mention it. It was only for a few years. But it was changed.

Thanks Moosh!

I havent been to SFMM since 2002...havent been on Revolution since 1999.

Doesn't Revolution's exit "split" with one side going towards Rapids and one side down the hill to the original exit?

The old path is there but IIRC it has been closed to some time now.

haiderodes said:
I was watching National Lampoon's Vacation the other day and was wondering about Revolution's entrance.

Classic movie, when my wife and I went there we asked the attendant where Marty Moose was and he didn't know what we were talking about, lol!!! My wife kept singing the song all the way from Vegas, anyone know what they did with the statue of Marty?

SFMM never had a statue of Marty. It was only for the movie.

Thanks Moosh, I figured someone would know, the guy at the ride said they had one at the Moose Lodge but I think he meant a regular moose and not good ole Marty.

My pleasure. SFMM has had two groups of mascots since the park opened: trolls, followed later by the WB cartoon characters. The animatronic moose inside Mooseburger Lodge has nothing to do with the movie "Vacation."

OK Moosh, tell us about the Knott-hole!

I've actually seen people with Wally World t-shirts at the park before with a drawing of Marty and all the rides behind him. Do they sell those somewhere in the park?

The Knott-hole Eric and Tekno refer to was put there by Bud Hurlbut in the late 1960s. I doubt at the time he knew about the other meaning.

jomo said:
I've actually seen people with Wally World t-shirts at the park before with a drawing of Marty and all the rides behind him. Do they sell those somewhere in the park?

I looked online and someone does sell them but they were out, I went to google and typed in Wally World shirts, I want one too!!!!