SFEG move

Why did SFEG move? and how did they move the park?

*** This post was edited by Park Man on 3/26/2002. ***

They moved because they were land-locked for space. Although just 7 years later they have the same problem all over again. And they moved the park pretty easily actually. Cause they got a lot of new rides with the new park. They pretty much only moved flats, and the only coaster they moved was the Sidewinder, which is just a shuttle loop.

To me it is all so strange, they felt as if they had to be in downtown. Stapleton Airport closed in 1994, one year before they moved, and at that time no one new what was going to be done with the land. This would have been a perfect place for them to move. They would have had plenty, and I mean PLENTY of room to expand. They also already had a 5,000 car parking garage. They would have had the same "great" highway view they have now.

The only logical reason why I can understand Elitchs move to the current location is that the Pepsi Center was not there when they moved there, and this would have been quite easy for EG to expand there. It is just too bad they did not buy the land when they had the chance.

I passed by the old location about a month ago, and it was sad. The only things left to resembe the park are the Elitch Theatre, The former house to the Carousel, and the Sign Near the Parking Lot. Everything else is gone. They are about half way done with the housing project. The only thing that is staying is the Elitch Theatre which I guess they will be re-modeling. Personally, I think that Elitchs should have either kept Mr. Twister or re-built it the exact same way. I personally would have rathered them stay in the land-locked location and not add many rides than have them be what it is today. I only got to visit it a couple times when I was little but from what I can remember it truly was a great park.

*** This post was edited by RubberDucky on 3/26/2002. ***

Yeah, I'd doubt the park is near what it once was. One of my aunts that lives outside of Denver talks about Mr Twister like my grandma does The Bobs. Just having a coaster which is talked about on the level my grandma talks about The Bobs means it must have been one of the greatest things ever.

It's sad, I understand they moved from having no space to expand. So what do they do? Move downtown! Lots of expansion room there! (that was sarcasm, you know.) What kind of stuff were the SF executives smoking when they decided to do that? You should never move something that needs lots of space further in town, but out of town.

It is good to know that a part of the old park is being restored, even movie theatres are a part of history.

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It wasn't Six Flags that moved Elitch. Elitch's owners in the 90s (not the Elitch family I've heard, but someone that owned it after them) moved the Gardens. So we can't blame the Flags for this one :)

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Yeah, I get sad just thinking about it. But Denver is lucky to still have Lakeside. Not many states, or cities have two classic parks. Even though the Cyclone isn't known as well as Twister, it still is one great ride that Denver is lucky to have.

The park was managed by the Gurtler family in its moving days. They probably thought that the move to the Platte River valley was a good idea at the time and the city was working to revitalize it. The land used to be train tracks. I believe preliminary plans were in the works for the Pepsi Center and Ocean Journey was also being discussed.

As for why such a small space, I don't think they expected it to become a park that was expected to house "world class thrills" and be of Six Flags caliber. I mean the space is twice the size of the old park and as it was under family management I don't think they were looking to build attractions every year or needing great amounts of space, just space for mostly flat rides, a couple coasters, and dare I say, gardens.

On a side note, the Sidewinder was the first attraction built at the old park after the park announced its move, it angered Mary Elitch and her ghost bent all of the bolts on the concrete footings for it one night. I also think Premier did a good job preserving the history after the takeover. Many shops are named after John and Mary Elitch and other important park people and the Mind Eraser sign is a copy of the welcome sign that used to be at the Union Station. Besides the people of Denver probably would have had a fit if they couldn't call the park Elitch's anymore.

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I don't see what you mean J. Because you said they didn't want to become a thrill park, but adding a SLC doesn't help keep the family owned feel. Same with a Shipwreck Falls and a Skycoaster. Not many family owned parks have these.

But I was also wondering J. if you knew why they would add a attraction after they announced they were moving? And when did they announce the move? And were you with the park during the move, and if so, why did they ignore the space at Stapleton? Sorry if these are too many questions, I am just interested.

I agree though, Premier did do a great job preserving the park. I still don't hear people call it Six Flags, it is and always will be Elitchs, sorta like Mile High instead of Invesco Field at Mile High.

I'm just saying a small park doesn't add rides as quickly and expensive as a larger corporate park. It would take a lot longer to fill the land if it was a small park than a Premier park.
The skycoaster was the last attraction Gurtler added to the park before selling to Premier.

Sidewinder was built in 1990 so the announcement must have happened before that. The park probably kept adding attractions to stay in business and be competitive. I'm not sure about Stapleton, I don't know if they considered it or not, but I do know the city was interested in revitalizing the Platte Valley and Elitch's would be a major attraction.

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At SFEG, TFC is coming! ;)

Well, if I can remember correctly, didn't the city loan 50 million dollars to Elitchs to help them move? If so, this may have been one of the agreements in this negotiation that they choose that spot.

I live in Denver when the park moved. The last year the park was in it's old location the new attraction was a Chance Skydiver, usually seen at carnivals. I attended the opening weekend of the new park downtown and had a pretty good time, although Twister left a lot to be desired. It became a Six Flags parks after I moved back to LA in 1996.

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Actually, it became a Six Flags park in 1998. But correct me I am wrong here, Premier is now SIx Flags right?

Here's a quick timeline, I'll try not screw it up:
1890 - Park opens as apple orchard and gardens, soon to be Denver's first zoological garden
1891 - Elitch Theater opens
1916 - Arnold Gurtler first Gurtler to own and operate the park. Mary Elitch lives at park until her death in the 1930s
1920 - Trocadero ballroom opened
1925 - PTC 51 Carousel opens
1936 - Wildcat(RIP) opens
1954 - Kiddieland opens
1965 - Twister (RIP) opens
1975 - Bye Bye Trocadero
1989 - Denver voters approved $14 million in bond subsidies to improve the Central Platte Valley, which allows the park to move.
1990 - Sidewinder opened
1993? - The Thing-ma-jig(RIP) was replaced by the Illuminator (Chance death trap, didn't make the move)
1994 - Last season at 38th and Tennyson, Construction begins at new site ($95 million)
1995 - New park opens
1996 - SkyCoaster was added
Late 1996 - Park sold to Premier for $62.5 million
1997 - Mind Eraser, Shipwreck Falls, TOD open
1998 - Chaos, Turn of the Century, and Aviator(Batwing) open
1998, October - Premier announces Six Flags Elitch Gardens, name added at beginning of 99 season
1999 - Boomerang opens
2000 - nothing
2001 - Western Roundup removal
2002 - The Flying Coaster to open
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At SFEG, TFC is coming! :)

Is it true they were the first zoo in Denver?

They had a bear pit and Mary would go into it and, I guess, feed them and do stuff.

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At SFEG, TFC is coming! :)

When did she die? I read a biogrpahy on her that said her husband died in 1891 and she was sort on cash so she sold some of the land.

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What I meant is that they became a SF park *after I moved in 1996*...not that they became a SF park IN 1996.

Sorry for the confusion.

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2002 - the year of IB's LoCoSuMo!!