Ugly Parks..

Let the moderators determine what fits, shall we?

Thanks.

I agree that there is a certain ugliness to Knoebels. It certainly doesn't help that haven't repainted Whirlwind or High Speed Thrill Coaster (as of last year at least). There doesn't seem to be a whole lot of rhyme or reason to where things are placed. But, I'd rather see them upgrade the bathrooms, which are terrible. They don't even have toilet seats for crying out loud.

I knew I wasnt the only person who noticed the thing about knoebels, I wouldnt mind some nice paved walkways and at least taking down the the road signs that are on the old road (now a midway) in the front of the park.

I can't believe no one has said this yet - SFAW. While it's not completely ugly (aside from the area around B:TE), the park lacks a lot of shade and landscaping (or at least when I was there opening day this year, they may have improved since then). The new paint definitely made the park look better though. *** Edited 8/2/2004 8:03:14 PM UTC by The Shy One***

I would have to vote as follows...

l. Ugliest. Kentucky Kingdom. First impressions are lasting, and we start with a barren parking lot, a brick wall with coiled barbed wire running along the top, and a park with a four lane highway in the middle. Once inside, we have a very flat former parking lot with few trees, no grassy expanses, and little landscaping. SFKK has more chain link fences per 100 feet than any other park in America. And the pavement is rough asphalt, not even artistically treated concrete.

2. Camden Park. I hate to diss the place, because I like small parks and like to support them. But there's something depressing about pulling into a parking lot and seeing an old, rusting, deteriorating looping coaster not operating but serving as sort of a gateway to the park.

3. Indiana Beach. Now, don't bring out the flamethrowers. I really like the park. But aesthetically it's a disaster. You can't very well expect landscaping on a boardwalk. Approaching the park you see two blocks of hopelessly outdated cottages and a 1930s motel. Entering, you're looking at the underside of two coasters and the back of a restaurant and row of concessions. The train and turnpike take you through an industrial forest of girders and maintenance parts. Kiddieland is underneath three coasters and a log flume. The miniature golf course is under a coaster and Ferris Wheel.
Of course, if you walk in across the swinging bridge it looks entirely different.

My flamethrower is in the shop, otherwise I might be getting it out. I feel bad for picking on Indiana Beach, because they can't help the fact they are built on a water, their greatest asset.

Vancouver's Playland. Coaster itself is OK, but the rest of the park is a blight and very ghetto.

Keansburg. Not very pretty. It's no Wildwood.

Pharoah's Lost Kingdom. Ugh. Disaster in the desert.

Quassy. Amidst the beauty of a tree-studded Conneticut landscape...lies an abandoned carny encampment. Just needed beer cans lying everywhere to complete the picture.

Jolly Roger. Used car lot. With rides.

Big Chiefs Mt Olympus would have to get consideration!

SFMM is kinda sad in the way they toss new hardware out in the parking lot with NO theming at all. During the Xmas season there was on not single decoration in the entire park on Xmas eve either.

SFA in Maryland didn't even *try* to do anything with their new coasters in the back area...just slapped down some concrete lined with cyclone fencing, so you can't walk on all of the surround weeds. Pretty lame, considering the old pre-SF part of the park is very charming.

Busch has SF and Paramount, even Disney, beat hands down for beautiful parks.

I'm surprised that no one has said Visionland yet! I know that they are working on it pretty hard but to me it was just a total letdown, not that I had high hopes other then Rampage.

It looks like they used RCT to design the park and since they've split the park into 3 seperate areas you'll walk along a path and come to a dead end gate or chainlinked fence. And the real kicker is you can see where you want to go thru the fence but you have to backtrack a mile to get to said area.

I must admit though they are doing much better then they were. The trees are finally beginning to mature and they've actually added some half way decent gardenscapes throughout the park.

And I also agree with previous statements about Kentucky Kingdom. They slapped that park with an ugly stick one to many times.

I'll have to throw another vote at Conneaut Lake Park. This isn't meant as a shot. I realize this park is poorly-funded and borders on extinction every passing year. I also recognize the cool efforts of coaster enthusiasts with the Blue Streak Challenge. But, come on, take a few steps back. It's ugly.

My only time there was 2 summers ago. We approached it from the hotel by the back. Odd boundry-less park from that angle. It evolves into what can only be described as a strip mall of an amusement park. We made it the front gate and it was more depressing than Cold Mountain. There's heart in the park but if beauty is only skin deep you can't see it pumping.

The ugliest park in temporary mode, for me, was Knott's Berry Farm this summer. I understand that the curse of a year-round park means that Silver Bullet needs to be built in plain view. Yet I have never seen one project sully up an entire park the way Silver Bullet has at Knott's.

Forget the fact that the entrance to the park is met with a wall, wrapping all the way from Ghost Rider to Camp Snoopy. Drained lakes. Gutted railroad track (the small train by Camp Snoopy). A Stagecoach ride through a hardhat zone. Coaster tracks strewn across a grassy field. It didn't help any that Xcellerator was closed and RipTide was kicking up sawdust and concrete either when I was there in June. Knott's can be a beautiful place, but now I have come to appreciate it when it's wearing make-up.

Darien Lake is beautiful. Hell, they even have camping. And Conneaut Lake Park is spectacular. Yes, it needs paint, but you should see the place in winter during a light snow. its a 'perfect moment' in silence with the geese gliding over the lake. The hotel in the background.

Hey Steve WofA, tell your uncle to spruce up the games and operate like a 'parkie' and a little less 'carny', and do his part.

What about Blackpool Pleasure Beach? That place is SO UGLY!!!

http://www.rcdb.com/installationgallery775.htm?Picture=16

I wouldn't call it ugly....just industrialized.

When Geauga Lake was SF:WoA, I thought by the road and the front of the park was ugly. The blacktop looked horrible and it felt like the park was right on top of the road.

Although the animal section and crossing the lake where quite a scene to me. Great for pictures at sunset.

Edit: It probably looks worse now with all the old labels torn down and nothing replacing them this year. (I can only speculate because I haven't been there this year.) *** Edited 8/3/2004 4:35:03 AM UTC by Rich_Johnson***

SFAW actually has quite a bit of landscaping, lots of old trees (park opened in the 60s) and flowers all over the place. Now there isn't a lot of undeveloped hills or anything, there's not enough room in the park for anything like that, but it's certainly not like a parking lot carnival or anything and it's certainly got more landscaping and shade than SFNO.

Lakemont Park is deeeeefinitely the ugliest. All the trees were cut down and it's just really really ugly.

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SteveWoA said:
Conneaut Lake Park is def the ugliest.. Trust me.

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Care to elaborate?

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Paris said:
I'll have to throw another vote at Conneaut Lake Park. This isn't meant as a shot. I realize this park is poorly-funded and borders on extinction every passing year. I also recognize the cool efforts of coaster enthusiasts with the Blue Streak Challenge. But, come on, take a few steps back. It's ugly.

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You also never gave real supporting reason why the park is ugly. The park may be poorly funded, but it's also non-profit.

Knoebels for sure. It wouldn't be so bad if they'd paint stuff and didn't buy portable rides. They just make it look like a carnival, however it is a nice place.

From pictures I've seen Six Flags Elitch Gardens looks ugly, as does Kentucky Kingdom.

I also think that Marine World is rather tacky with weird entrance (when I was there in 2003) and roped off stuff. Inside though, the back of the park is gorgeous.

Suprisingly, I think Great Adventure is a beautiful Six Flags Park and Six Flags over Georgia and New England aren't that bad.

OK, here's one for you oldtimers in Western PA. While they are both gone now, White Swan Park and Rainbow Gardens. Both looked like they were built on parking lots.