Riverview Remembered

If you are able to receive WGN-TV Channel 9 in Chicago, make sure you tune in to the 9pm newscast tonight. They are going to do a tribute to the old Riverview Amusement Park's 40th Anniversary of the closing of the park. Couldn't find a web link on their site talking about it, but there have been ads on t.v. about it.

I would have liked to have ridden the Riverview Bobs. The Raging Wolf Bobs at Geauga Lake was supposedly designed with the spirirt of the Riverview Bobs but I suspect they didn't even come close. The original was an impressive looking structure. *** Edited 10/4/2007 12:28:41 PM UTC by wahoo skipper***

I think Riverview Mike will tell you the real Bobs was the Voyage of its time.

There are a lot of extinct coasters I wish I would have had the chance to ride. (At least I would have like to ride them as a young man.)

My grandfather rode a lot of coasters when he was young and he was a big, strong guy. He told me stories of how bruised and beaten he got and how, at times, he literally felt like he would be thrown from the ride.

^People say that about modern coasters though. ;)

I was watching America Screams with a Friend about 25 years ago when my Mother looked in to see what we were doing. At the time they were showing the clip of the Crystal Beach Cyclone. Suddenly my Mother exclaimed; "OH GOD! I RODE THAT THING!" She did not expect the both of us to turn to her and ask; "WHAT WAS IT LIKE!" :) If we could only travel through time.

Answer my Prayers, Overbook my next Flight!

If you want to see the video clip, it is now up on WGN's website.

WGN news.

Once there, click on WGN NEWS and then look for the Riverview icon to the right of the vid screen.

What a great report about the park I remember. The Bobs, The Fireball and the Silver Straek along with Two Ton Baker doing their commercials.

Walking thru the castle and the seeing yourself in the hall of mirrors. The Bumper Boats and all of smells made Riverview a fond memory. Now if you asked my Dad you would also hear about the fact that you had to count your fingers after you left the place to make sure someone didn't rip you off. That is the reason Riverview closed.

Ha.. I was thinking Mike died! ;)

The other day while I was in Chicago, I walked around on the public areas of what used to be Riverview Park. It is true that there are remnants still there if you go looking for them. Really they are not very hard to find.

---

nasai said:
Ha.. I was thinking Mike died!

---

I love you too Rob