CoasterFanatic

^ I just removed your ban. Good thing you posted here

In the spring of 1986, my mother (who was a teacher) was asked to chaperone a school trip to Canada's Wonderland. Being the cool mother that she was, she took me along for the weekend. I still hadn't really come into liking coasters all that much and it was a real shame. Minebuster and Wild Beast were probably pretty damn good back in 1987. Enjoy the pictures. Posing with the other teacher's kid on the trip. Check out them waders Driving the Antique Cars. In the background, you can see their new for 1987 attraction in the background. The Bat (Vekoma Boomerang). A nice shot of the mountain in it's pre-arrow-suspended-coaster thingy days. The 8th graders meet up for a return to the bus. Check out some of those fine fashions. More great 80s fashion. Check out the hair! Time for one more ride. Thunder Run. Posing with my mother and not a "rat cage of doom" coaster in sight. Thanks for reading.

A day after my first trip to Cedar Point, we headed to Sea World. I think this is the second and final time that I ever visited this park. Quite a shame, as it was a very nice park in it's heyday. Waterslides now cover most of the areas where these pictures were taken, but at one time Sea World Ohio was one of the most popular attractions on the East Coast. Enjoy the photos. Shamu or Mamu (always mix up that one) jumping out of the water. Looks like the trainers used to use props a lot more for the Whales. If I remember correctly, no targets are used in the newer Shamu shows. Flipper or some other crazy high flying dolphin. Checking out the park map with Carol (One of my mother's oldest friends). We stayed with them for the weekend outside Cleveland. Ski Show! I am pretty sure that this one was themed to Charlie Brown (take that Cedar Fair!). On my previous visit years earlier, I distinctly remember the theme being the Hatfields and McCoys. Don't know what ever gave me that Charlie Brown idea? In a tradition long since stolen from Cypress Gardens, I give you the Human Pyramid! Don't remember anything about this show, but I am pretty sure that the Sea Lions were still called Clyde and Seymore. Wow. Those guys have been around forever. They call him Flipper Flipper Flipper. Some random tank of water. Posing with my mother in front of the entry fountain. Don't laugh! Those tall socks were all the rage back in the day. Thanks for reading. More Retro TRs to come.

My first trip to Cedar Point and I pretty much didn't ride anything because I was scared senseless by most roller coasters. However, pictures were taken so enjoy this walk down memory lane. The original Lusty Lil's Dancing Girls. Often imitated. Never duplicated. Another shot of the girls. The guy in the blue seems to be getting a little carried away. If you told these performers back in 1985 that they would be replaced by a giant swing set ... they would have never believed you. No coasters for me please, but I will drive this rediculous tractor. Posing in the stocks. One of the few things in this TR that you can still do. Bearenstein Bear Country. I am pretty sure that this was it's first year after the removal of Earthquake. A super dorky and young CoasterFanatic poses with papa bear. Thanks for reading. More Retro TRs to come.

I totally forgot to even bring up that one. Thinking back to that game where he got hurt, I seem to remember a certain team getting some rediculous pass interference call in OT. // Sorry Beemer .... I just can't help it. // WVU - 2007 National Champions

^ Like my old man used to say ... "You can't polish a turd"

Too bad that WV blew it against "The U" a couple of years back. We soooo had them. Enjoy this clip of one of Weirton's own, and fellow WHS alumnus, stomping over two first round draft picks. QuincyWilsonMiami2003.wmv

"Royale with cheese ... ... What do they call a Whopper?"

At least MCO has free internet. Or at least ... it used to.

Now if someone would just do something about Starbucks. I don't use creamer, so i have to wait like 2 hours before the coffee is drinkable. Even then, it still burns the roof of my mouth. But oh is it worth it.

Officer ... that crap ain't mine .... I don't know how it got there ... it's my ..er .. friends .... that's right.

^ Pretty sure that there is a reason that the life expectancy was in the 30-40s back then.

"I love you baby" "I love you hunny bunnie" "Everybody be cools this is a robbery!" "Any of you ****ing pigs move and I'll execute every ****ing last one of you" [queue Dick Dale]

Kind of reminds me of the Michigans Adventure situation a couple years ago with Chaos. Congratulations on your new park purchase, now here is your lawsuit.

^ It is basically a post that looks like this: ------------------------------------------------ Killer Deals Free! TV's Radios Cellphones Washing Machines CD Players Drugs Viagra Free Porn

Gots to be a track. I wanna hit maximum speed before punishing the 10 year old kids while their parents watch in disgust.

I can also confirm that they are on Dorney's and I could have sworn they are on Knott's. Cedar Point - The Greatest Collection of Belts in the World!

^^ It's a "BOT" for crying out loud. // robots don't read TOS

It sounds really dumb, but the location is actually perfect for a LARGE park. If a park was built close to the Cabelas with enough drawing power there are lots of populated areas to pull from. Pittsburgh - 1hr Columbus - 2hrs 30mins Cleveland - 3hrs

^ Looks like a big 1st Generation Drop Tower to me, but whatever makes you sleep better at night ... // all in good fun

Nuff Said. Actually, my brother was a farmer for a brief stint and he digs on "rolly coasters" as my family calls them.

Wear it with pride!

I am pretty sure that the diving show is a temporary thing, but it didn't have anything to do with the removal of the Cadillac Cars. The cars were all the way in the back of Kiddieland next to the train tracks. As for the Swing Around, it is in storage like Katie said and will either return to Kennywood or end up at Idlewild or Compounce. This isn't the first time that it has been removed. It was also removed in the early eighties to make way for the Raging Rapids.

Happy Birfday Lou. I remember my 21st birthday. Back in 1996. Damn!

Let me chime in on the Hersheypark bit. You can shorten your trip considerably by hitting Dorney in the morning/afternoon and then heading to Hersheypark (With a visit to Chocolate World in between). Hersheypark has a "preview" option where you can enter the park 2 hours or so before closing on your next day ticket. If you keep your parking stub, you will also get free parking the next day. This is a good time to ride the Hersheypark woodies as the lines will be shorter and the rides themselves perform much better. The next day, get to the park early (like 30-45 minutes before open) and make your way to Storm Runner where you will be able to get a few rides before the crowds show up. For Great Adventure, I wouldn't suggest anybody going to the park without getting the Q-bot. Talk to some people and find out if both coasters are even operating and then "que" up Kingda Ka while you get a ride on Toro. Squeeze Superman in as well if you can and the rest of the day will be a breeze. For Knoebels, you might want to look into trying to hit it on a weekday if you can. Usually the rides are ticket only on Weekends, and it can get quite expensive if plan on doing a lot of riding. For America, do like Hershey and get there early. Head all the way to the back of the park and hit Batman, Superman and Joker in that order. The rest of the day will be a breeze. Also, if you see Seacoaster running ... ride it! The ride is extremly temperamental. Hope this helps.