montezooma

I am pulling even the bad stuff out of the attic, and by that I mean some of my early, early POV’s. This is the raw footage of The Beast shot in 1980. It does include the first drop before any brakes were added (what a ride that used to be…although still good today). Gets pretty rough near the end, but even bad super 8 is good. [coastertube]http://www.themeparkreview.com/coastertube/play.php?vid=Beast_Raw_Footage_1980_ivfb[/coastertube]

Don’t forget, before Six Flags what these two guys did wonders for the small to mid size parks around the country. I think good things are in store for this park and the one in Nashville too.

I don't agree. Locals won't bother with this place because Fun Spot is already infamous for being an overpriced "tourist trap." And the tourists who are staying at resorts like CoCo Key, Nickelodeon Suites, Disney's Lost Club Resort, Marriott's Harbour Lake, etc. (not to mention all the timeshares with water parks) -- already get a similar sized water park for FREE with their stay. So exactly how is this a good investment? If you actually lived in this town, you'd realize the water park doesn't add up in Fun Spot's lousy location (ghost town section of I-Drive) and in a town where nearly every hotel already has a water slide complex. Considering how tough financing is to get now -- I can't believe Fun Spot found a bank dumb enough to give them the money for the water park. The roller coaster / ride expansion is a good expansion for them -- they'll have the only wooden coaster in town. But when there are places already giving a similar experience away for FREE in this area -- it's not a great place to try to charge admission. Well folks, there you have it…pull your money out right now. Based on the experience above it’s doomed. I kid, I kid. Actually I remember reading on local sites about the impending failure of Cowabunga Bay when it was first announced. As a profession I resist from going back to those sites and saying “I told you so” but sometimes late at night when no one is around I secretly say to myself “I told you so”, and it feels good. I imagine some of us on here may enjoy that same feeling in a couple of years. You do have a point that Salt Lake and Orlando are very different markets. If I can make it here on 1,000,000 population, 100 day operating schedule and Utah Summer weather, than I am sure that the added warm Florida weather, 365 day operation schedule and 12,000,000 tourists on top of the local market should help them pay back those stupid banks.

While planning this water park, I have had MANY conversations with the owner. Trust me, he’s got a winner on his hands. Only wish I would’ve thought of it first

Let’s start the week off with another Super 8 look back at World’s of Fun. Did you know that they used to have an Arrow Corkscrew??? I also took a little inspiration from World’s of Fun when building a new fountain in my front yard. Can you spot it? [coastertube]http://www.themeparkreview.com/coastertube/play.php?vid=OrienExpress[/coastertube]

I think it is perfectly logical that a small water park not only can survive... but actually thrive in a market of larger water parks. Some people don’t like to pay $40 admission, $10 parking, $15 tube rental and on top of that chase their kids over 40 acres of slides and pools. I actually think it is a good idea to build a small water park where you just pay a small admission fee and hang out for a couple of hours. I dare say Fun Spot has a good idea

How about some more great wood! HersheyPark Comet and some classic a-ha for all my Euro readers. [coastertube]http://www.themeparkreview.com/coastertube/play.php?vid=HersheyparkComet_1[/coastertube]

Here is some more raw Super 8 footage, this time of the old Yellow Roller Coaster at Dorney Park. [coastertube]http://www.themeparkreview.com/coastertube/play.php?vid=Dorney_Coaster_erk4[/coastertube]

That great song is “Ladybird” by Tears for Fears.

And rounding out the Top 5, I must feature this footage from Circus World featuring the park and it’s two coasters. [coastertube]http://www.themeparkreview.com/coastertube/play.php?vid=CircusWorld[/coastertube]

How could I not feature the long lost Laser Loop from Kennywood…? [coastertube]http://www.themeparkreview.com/coastertube/play.php?vid=LaserLoop_1[/coastertube]

WOW! Here is some great old footage from Knott’s Berry Farm along with a great song from Heaven 17. [coastertube]http://www.themeparkreview.com/coastertube/play.php?vid=KnottsBerryFarm[/coastertube]

You certainly can’t have a top 5 without Greezed Lightnin from AstroWorld [coastertube]http://www.themeparkreview.com/coastertube/play.php?vid=GreezedLightnin[/coastertube]

I too love this format (super 8) and seeing that others do as well has inspired me to post some of my favorite clips from my super 8 collection. Here are my Top 5 starting with Kings Island and "The Bat" [coastertube]http://www.themeparkreview.com/coastertube/play.php?vid=TheBat[/coastertube]

Take a trip back to the early days of Canada's Wonderland in Shane's Amusement Attic http://www.themeparkreview.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=40361&p=1114733#p1114733

Canada's Wonderland Here is a little something that Canada's Wonderland sent out to me before their big grand opening. Amazing how much this park has changed from those early days. I have also included some old super 8 movie footage I shot at the park on my first visit back in the 80's. [coastertube]http://www.themeparkreview.com/coastertube/play.php?vid=Canadaswonderland_gr6r[/coastertube]

Carowinds celebrated their 15th anniversary with...wait for it... a Pamper's Infant Care Center! It must have been an off year for them but the marketing department made much ado about nothing. Here is a look at their 15th Anniversary press kit.

I enjoyed reading that. Thanks for posting.

Here is a Carowinds update featuring a look at park map & guide through the years. You can see how the park did some changing from 1979 to 1990. I have to agree that the parks biggest mistake was the removal of White LIghtnin for that lame wave pool. Of course White Lightnin still lives on as Golden Loop in South Africa http://rcdb.com/1168.htm?p=1983 1979 1983 1985 1987 1988 What happened here? It seems like the wave pool at Ocean Island was closed for a year? Can you Carowind locals give us the story? 1990 We've lost White Lightnin' Here is a high res version of this awesome map. Click on it for more detail

CAROWINDS New for 1980…CAROLINA CYCLONE Carowinds was a pretty small park at th time so I think it was quite impressive for them to be introducing the world’s first quad-looping roller coaster. This update has some pretty great facts and figures on the parks attendance, capital expenses and additions for the first couple of years as well as some great old black and white photos. There is a lot more Carowinds to come this week so keep checking in to see more…and as always, I love to read your thoughts and comments. Shane. and here is a look at the park how it appeared in 1979 before the addition of the Carolina Cyclone.

^ Funny, I have been on all the Morgan coasters except for that one. I’ll rate Superman down in Mexico City the best followed by Steel Eel. But enough about Morgan, I have a Carowinds update coming up later today.

Where was that? and what IS that? Wine from a soda-like machine?

CHANCEMORGAN Here is a short, quick weekend update of you…a look at an old Chance/Morgan product catalog. I really wish Morgan was building more coasters. Their trains suck (both on wood and steel) but the rides are pretty awesome. That Superman coaster down in Mexico is way underated…Great ride! Anyone know what Morgan is up to these days? Are they even still in business? Coming up this week a look at Carowinds, around the time they transitioned from an independent park to a part of the Taft Corp. Have a great Haloweekend everyone! Shane

I have a new favorite thread. I can’t wait to see more! I miss AstroWorld.

It is a Mountain Coaster at Mystic Mountain in Jamaica. It is probably the best one I have been on, and I love that they let you connect two cars together.