sugart

Thanks now I find myself mysteriously looking at CP hotels. Awesome pics!

I reaally dont have an opinion on bandwagon fans. Here in Philly we love our teams to death, and the rest of the country hates us. Dont have to worry about people hopping on.

^ Except for the Red Sox, Rays, Angels, Phillies, Cubs, and maybe the Mets, yea they have no competition. You dont win World Series in the offseason, the last nine years should have proven that to you, but alas your an ignorant Yankee fan and everything that is wrong with baseball.

Ahhh its good to be the CHAMPS. Ive already lined up tickets to a few games, cant wait

Love cooking threads. Couple of things. First you should put your taters in cold water and then bring it to a boil, it cooks the potatoes evenly. Second Ive tried most of the crab chips and Utzs is the best, followed by Lays, which are sometimes hard to find. Surprisingly Herrs are my least favorite even though I love Old Bay. Finally, Mets suck, Go Phils

Yea, but I bet the majority of the people in Europe do. If your gonna spend a lot of money to re-theme a ride why do it with an obscure character, when you can do it with someone with mass appeal. I still dont think Monarch is the theme though.

Im a pretty big comic fan, and I gotta say that if it is a Monarch theme, its really stupid. No one is gonna know who the hell he is, heck I can barely tell you who he is. I'm all for the retheme, but atleast do something that makes sense. Now we have 4 comic related coasters in the park, 3 of which aren't even close to each other. I know most people dont care, but this RCT slap rides and themes down anywhere bugs the heck outta me. Its just lazy.

Glad to see someone bought it rather than piece it out. Got to think 25 million is a steal. The infastructure alone must have cost a fortune, not to mention a good sized B&M.

I think it was a good move. It was probably one of those deals where Morey's said take it now or its scrap. They couldnt wait to get FT figured out, because it would have been gone.

http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/186/story/381497.html Wildwood's 'mine' hits end of the line: Golden Nugget ride heads to final departure By TRUDI GILFILLIAN Staff Writer, 609-463-6716 Published: Friday, January 23, 2009 WILDWOOD - It seems fitting that the Golden Nugget Mine Ride should end its days amid a bone-chilling winter. Winter, after all, was never its season. The estimated 1.7 million people who hopped aboard the ride's colorful mine cars came clad in shorts and T-shirts, and they would hardly recognize the ride today. Gone are the giant cacti that lined the top. Just two of the mine cars are left, and they, too, will soon be on their way. The brightly painted storefronts and railings are worn, and the paint marking the entrances to places such as "Golden Nugget Shaft #26" is fading away. But fans of the ride - part roller-coaster, part dark ride - will gather Jan. 31 to say goodbye not to what remains, but to what was. "We spent every summer on the Boardwalk, and we always rode it," lifelong Wildwood Crest resident Ralph Grassi said. Grassi, 44, first made his way to the Golden Nugget when he was about 7 years old, and since then he rode it too many times to count. "What stands out in my mind are the wonderful gimmicks. The Boot Hill. The prospector panning for gold. The giant bats," Grassi said. The sounds of the ride also are planted firmly in his memory. "There was a covered wagon with a cow's head and it was mooing," he said. "Then there was the classic whistle that you would hear after the first drop. That is the defining sound for me and so many people I talk to." "The Talk of the Walk is the Golden Nugget Mine Ride Ride your own mine car and experience thrill after thrill as you drop into unexplored mine shafts. " The words on the Technicolor brochure beckoned shore visitors to make their way to Hunt's Pier on the Boardwalk from Poplar to Juniper avenues. The ride made its debut in the summer of 1960, a time when waves still crashed below the now-landlocked pier. According to the Wildwood Historical Society's collection, John C. Allen of Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters Inc. designed what would become the pier's hottest attraction in conjunction with Harry Witte, the pier's chief engineer, and the ride was built for $100,000. It was an immediate hit, drawing visitors with its western theme complete with mine cars and skeleton cowboys, and becoming part of so many Wildwood vacation memories. "This whole pier is a great memory," said Will Morey, president and CEO of the Morey Organization as he walked through the Golden Nugget recently. With temperatures well below freezing, brothers Will Morey and Jack Morey, the organization's executive vice president, toured the site, recalling the warm memories it holds. Will Morey ranked the Golden Nugget, along with The Flyer and the Skua Pirate Ship, among his top three favorite rides of the Hunt's Pier-era. The pier later became known as Conkos Party Pier and later Dinosaur Beach. The Golden Nugget was reworked with a dinosaur theme, and the neon green colors and foam rock formations from that period remain. The Moreys purchased the pier in 2000 with hopes of reviving the Golden Nugget, but the costs would be substantial. The Moreys estimated it would cost from $3 million to $5 million to bring the wooden structure, lined with asbestos, up to today's building codes. "There are dramatically different codes. It would demand a different building," Will Morey said. As the two brothers climbed to the top of the ride, Jack Morey explained that what could be saved, such as the mine cars and tracks, has been taken away, leaving behind only a cavernous shell. The two remaining mine cars will be on hand for the Jan. 31 ceremony to give enthusiasts a chance to snap one more photo with their favorite ride. Jack Morey said the farewell ceremony, complete with refreshments and clam chowder, will be held inside the ride, which is being cleaned up in time for the event. The ride will then be demolished. Grassi said the months after the ceremony will be difficult. "The hardest days will come later, actually seeing it vanish from the landscape," Grassi said. News of the Golden Nugget's demise has been met with mixed reactions. Some are angry about the loss of the ride that represents their Wildwood memories. Others understand the need to move on and build something new. "Folks have said they appreciated the uniqueness and customization of the ride. There's nothing like something that's custom built," Will Morey said, noting the Moreys are planning a new attraction. "For those upset, maybe a new tradition will be built." Across town at the Wildwood Historical Society's museum, museum manager Bob Bright said he also hears from fans sad to see the Golden Nugget go. "I've had people actually cry," Bright said this week. "People loved the ride. They truly did." E-mail Trudi Gilfillian: TGilfillian@pressofac.com Golden Nugget facts In its 34 years of operation, the ride carried an estimated 1.7 million people. Celebrities who rode the Golden Nugget include the Lennon Sisters, Joey Bishop and Mickey Shaughnessy. The ride had four lift hills, one on the first and second floors and two on the exterior. There were seven cacti on the roof. The roof over the station (porch) was built in the fall of 1979. The ride opened in August 1960 unfinished. The winter of 1959 delayed the pouring of the concrete deck that the ride was to sit on. The ride opened with 10 single mine cars and would join two mine cars together for five trains after the 1961 season. Most props were made locally by Bill Tracy's Amusement Displays. Other display companies involved with making props in the ride are Unique Designs, of Maryland, Funni Frite Industries and, of course, Hunt's artists. The ride was re-themed with dinosaurs in 1996 and renamed the Golden Nugget Mine Rescue. The length of track was about 850 feet. The builder was Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters Inc. and the designer was John C. Allen. Source: Jack Morey, The Morey Organization Click on the link for a slide show through out the years.

That was awesome. I thought that the tickets to the venues would be a little harder to get than that or that they would cost an absine amount of money. Did you try to get into any swimming events and see Phelps, or was that worthless to try

I think the ride looks awesome, buts gonna take away some of the fantasy from IOA. That ride is gonna dominate Suess Island

Who Cares <---- bitter Eagles fan here

For the NJ, SE Pa, Del, and a little bit of Maryland crowd, there is nothing better than Wawa. Only coffee Ill drink

Dont forget the Weird Science ref, I LOL'd

Go to their website and find out whats there that wasnt when you went before. The great thing about WDW is that they are always adding something new, whether it be an ride, show, or new parade. Besides even if everything was the same, it would still be a kick ass vacation

Jack Rabbit @ Clemonton Park. Super Dooper Looper was my first looping coaster

I spy a sore thumb, and its not the borg. Interesting TR. Im not gonna lie and say I get it, because I dont. Gotta admire their commitment though. Besides in the end we are all geeks in our own way.

Wrong! The Eagles sell out every year, even in the 90s when they were going 3-13. The season ticket waiting list is crazy, trust me, Im like 12,000 on the list. The Phillies, Flyers, and Sixers all do very well, even if they stink. Heck the Flyers were the worst team in the NHL 2 years ago and still sold out most games. I know us Philly fans get a really bad rep, but one thing you cant accuse most of us is jumping on the bandwagon. Yea we boo, like crazy when the team sucks, but we fill the stands still. Florida on the other hand is terrible. When the Marlins won the WS in 03 I was in college down there. I got 1st round playoff tickets with no problems, NLCS ticket with no problem and had to sit with all Cub fans because the stadium was full of them, and then watch Yankee fans in there during the WS. In Philly Im looking at paying 1200 for 2 tickets to Saturdays game.

Huge Philadelphia fan here in all 4 major sports. I love that everyone but Philly fans arent picking us. The us against the world mentality is very powerful. Im also loving that these guys arent celebrating too much, because they really havent won anything. In 93, I think everyone was just happy to be there, but not this time. Lets GO PHILS. I was 2 when the 76ers won it all in 83 and that was the last championship in Philly, but I got a feeling about this year and the Phillies. Hopefully I see you guys on Broad St for the parade.

Nice photos. The 3 train op got me at first, even though I know its impossible. The train coming out of the launch and the first section of cobra roll are a really good photoshop. I think Universal itself actually came up the algorithm that times DD. Still extremely impressive none the less.

Agreed. I was looking at that list and kept thinking, those suck. Nothing compares to the 80's Transformers, GI Joe, Thundercats, MASK, TMNT, and He-Man.

Tell me, what was the reason for sending troops into Iraq? WMD?

I will most likely be voting for Obama. I liked McCain over Bush in 2000, but I think its time for a change. The sad thing is that I dont think Obama will be elected. He is going to have to carry pretty much every Northern and western state, because there is no way he takes the south.