What ever happened to Jungle Larry?

I thought about when i was young and my parents took me to cedar point.

What ever happened to Jungle Larry. I know his area closed up, but did he do anything after that, or did he decide it was time to retire. Also what attractions are on the site presently where his old attraction used to sit. If i recall it was in the middle of the park, near the corkscrew area.

Just trying to hunt down a memory and see what they did with all that land.

I still remember his tiger show which was something that astounded me, because i was never close to anything that wild, like a tiger when i was that young, come to think of it i never was ever that close to another wild animal like that since.

Jungle Larry actually passed away years before the attraction ended its run at Cedar Point in 1994. The area is now home to Power Tower and Super Himalaya. The current Speed Zone gift shop is the same building that once housed Safari Gifts.

Here is an interview I did with Safari Jane a few years ago.

I've been to Jungle Larry's Caribbean Gardens in Naples and it's a great little place. The animal exhibits are fairly small but the Gardens have great atmosphere. including a lagoon with pontoon boat rides. Naples is quite a distance from Orlando but since our Florida vacations always see us splitting the time between the two places, Jungle Larry's is something we frequent. If you're ever in that area, don't miss it.

Rob, send the link on that joint. Larry gor cought faking turnstyle totals in the late 80's, so park sweepers did the attendance totals. They were paid fees based on attendance, and it was declining.

CP opted not to renew the classic attraction, and they packed up and moved prior to Power Tower in 1997. The actually, were spinning the units, and Falfas saw them, if you want the true inside story. However, it was a dated attraction. I watched them a lot the summer I worked there, and they bordered on 'circus folk'.

Nice atrraction in the 60's and 70's, but alas, kids want more nowadays.

I read Walt's interview with Nancy Tetzlaff again, and was confused when she said a dock strike in Europe prevented the Earthquake ride from arriving. I thought Earthquake came from the failed Freedomland park in New York City. Am I wrong in this thought? If I'm right, how does a European dock strike affect the shipment of something from NYC?

Agent Johnson, here is the link to Caribbean Gardens.

http://www.themeparkbrochures.com/m aps/1980/cp1980.html

Map of 1980 with the area you are ooking for its next to CorkScrew.

That's pretty crappy about them spinning the turnstiles to increase fees paid to them. I guess they can't do that at their current location!

When my girlfriend and I went last time (back in early March), we found the place to be nice and quaint, which fits in perfectly with the atmosphere in Naples. Not the largest or most stimulating zoo-type attraction we've ever been to but it was clean and professional-looking without any kind of "circus" atmosphere.

How was the treatment of the animals?

The animals seemed fine- the habitats were well-maintained and seemed more than adequate for them. We observed a tiger feeding and the people seem to genuinely care for the wildlife. If I'm willing to go back, you know it meets with my "approval"!

I loved Jungle Larry. It was one of my favorite things at CP as a kid. Add in a great aquarium, and a great dolphin Show, and you have things most parks don't! (Man I miss those and the Western Cruise, Earthquake/Pirate Ride, etc.)

Seems like there's a lot to miss when it comes to Cedar Point!

There is. I love it more than ever today, but a lot has been lost. But...the same can be said about most parks!

All things considered, the park has changed a great deal, but it had to in order to survive and grow. There are a lot of things I'll always miss, but there are a lot of new things I love now. That's what time does (and Disney freaks really don't get that).

Nothing seemed to make me realize this like the games midway makeover. I really think that they're trying to give the park a shiny new appearance and make it feel exciting. Aside from the rides itself, that's something I think the park has been lacking for a long time. Here's hoping it continues in a positive way.

thanks for the indite and also to give you guys some memories.

It would still be cool to see that still there or at least somewhere else in the park. Then again Cedar Fair got rid of the animals at Geauga Lake, because they didnt know how to care for them, or get people to do that, so i guess it worked out at least for Cedar Point.