Philrad71

Lucky you, Bill...I would have loved to have ridden one of those types of ferris wheels! Is there any park in the US that has anything like that anymore? Why did parks remove all of these as I know that Hershey and KI used to have something similar? Were they really unreliable or unsafe? Anyone up for some Geauga Lake? Anyone here that used to frequent the park a lot? Better grab your hankies then... These were taken the last year that the park was in operation in '07. They had already removed several rides and coasters (and plenty were closed), so I knew that after reading a lot of stuff on here, unfortunately the end was near. I admit guilt in that we were a Cedar Point family through and through and I only went to this park twice in my life....and unfortunately never got to the park when it was owned by SF...and never went to Sea World. If I could turn back time, I would have gone to this park much more than I did, because I really liked the layout and variety. Knowing that this was likely my last chance to get to the park, one summer Saturday morning in August, I grabbed my camera, hit the road for Aurora and spent an afternoon in the park just walking around with a couple of cold beers - riding some rides/coasters and just taking it all in...for one last time. Welcome to a great amusement/theme/water park that unfortunately just couldn't quite keep up with the big boy park less than an hour away. I had a bad feeling that it was living on borrowed time - and it was. Villian - a hybrid wood with steel structure. This was no RMC folks....nope, definitely not an RMC A real beaut to look at though. Dominator (or the Dark Knight during the SF days) doing it's thing. Really liked the location over the lake. Couldn't sneak one last ride on Raging Wolf Bobs. I had ridden it years before and recall it being fairly unremarkable. Others had claimed that it gotten brutally rough,so I really wasn't really butt hurt that I didn't get to ride. Actually my butt probably would have hurt much worse had I ridden. lol Heading over to Wildwater Kingdom on a thin path around the lake there were several flat rides plopped down Let's go a have a quick look at the (now closed) Wildwater Kingdom water park... Slide tower - check. Pro-Slide Tornado - love these, but didn't love the looks of that line. This is likely why CF kept this park breathing for a while. The ride side was dead, but look at this mass of people - holy sheet! No thanks - back to the ride side for me. It was about 90 degrees out and I had lugged a duffel bag with swim trunks and a towel hoping to get some slides in. After seeing this, I hauled my ass all the way back to the GL parking lot, dropped off my bag and went back into the park. Lost about an hour and a half of time making that brutally long, hot walk. Kiddy credit for the whores. Such a great ride - no matter which park it's at. Although the setting here was much better. Can't recall if this was relocated somewhere? I like the crooked houses in the background. The park really did have some semblance of theming - likely from when SF owned it. I recall the Boomerang kicking my ass. This went to Carowinds and got gussied up with the new restraints, no? The Sky Cabin wasn't open for some good aerial pics, unfortunately. This was the old water park when Sea World owned the other side of the lake where Wildwater Kingdom resided. I took a spin on El Dorado - fun ride. Too bad it didn't last very long after its relocation to KD. It was very unique and I thought that it fit into the area where Hypersonic was quite well. As much as we made fun of Teh Big Dipper, it really was unfortunate that Prince Desmond couldn't save it. I had one of the most air-time filled rides in the front seat on this than I have ever had on a coaster not named El Toro or Phoenix. I shit you not! They had the old buzz-bars on here so I was flying out of my seat at the top of every hill - I mean literally from one side of the seat to the other! This was seriously the best coaster ride of the day for me. Bigger doesn't always mean better in the world of coasters! The SLC was definitely up there with the boomerang as the worst coaster at the park. It was refreshing to go to Michigan's Adventure and try it again and have it turn out to be quite smooth and enjoyable. Like Dominator - its placement over what had turned into Malaria Lake was still pretty awesome. One last shot of Villain through the trees. A shame that it was so painful, but at that point, I think that CF was just going through the motions with this park till the season ended as most of the coasters not named Teh Big Dipper or Dominator were brutally rough. The park officially closed on my 36th birthday. RIP Geauga Lake - you are missed by many, but thank you for the great fun that you provided to millions of families from 1887-2007! Hope you enjoyed!

HAHA - Tony is awesome! Although I do have to give props to whomever came up with the nickname SteVen as it is quite clever. Was that you, Boldy? I can't remember!

You sir...are a very smart, young man - great post!!!!

After commenting on WCB, I went looking for those photos, but couldn't find them on my computer - anywhere. After we checked Michael's computer, I am happy to say that we have located them. YAAAAAYYYY! Bonus Deja-Vu photos during the TPR construction tour of Terminator! It was our first event with TPR...and it was awesome! I think that I still have the souvenir "hunk of unused wood used to build Terminatahhhh" lol Then it started sleeting - that was pretty wild. I think that we brought our shitty NY weather with us as the day was quite chilly. Actually this looks more like graupel than sleet - the more you know. I think that this is gone now. Google just told me that it was replaced with Road Runner Express. Score on another dead ride! Not dead, defunct, or replaced. But he has since relocated from CA to FL. Hey Robb! I believe that this is where YOLO now resides. Too bad that we never got a chance to ride it, but it was freezing that day. Just like our recent BGT trip in the cold, no one was bold enough to ride. I think that's it from SFMM - cheers!

Stop bitching and quit overlooking the "create your own mac and cheese bowls". Get your priorities straight, people! And yes, I love the names & retheme...Apple Zapple. Sounds like someone was high. lol

^^^ Great shot from Demon Drop - definitely a one of a kind photo! ^^ I used to love those old Rotor rides - thanks for sharing! ^ Yeah, I love that photo too, Zach - Michael's body language says it all. He would do the same slump on the golf course when he would duff his shot. That would be great if one of the mods could purge the original post(s) because I felt a little awkward about posting it here, because it sounded like the OP wanted the photos for a pay site or something? (I didn't click on any of the links) I wanted to make a new thread, but at the same time, didn't want to have someone point out that we already had a similar topic & for not using the search function (I am getting better with using it, see?). Anywho...how about a Friday SFMM update? This obviously isn't very old either, and while I love the idea of the RMC makeover, this was a beautiful coaster to admire architecturally. I love Michael's Vacation reference on this one! Two coasters no longer at SFMM. I rather enjoyed Deja-Vu, but yeah...the down time. I was thankful to have gotten on it during ERT at WCB and was able to snag a front row ride at night without a wait. Thanks TPR - that was an awesome day (remember the sleet storm?)! Glad to see it's much more reliable in it's new home. lol We never rode Psyclone - mainly because I had read on here about how it was one of the worst coasters in existence before it's demolition to pave the way for Terminator/Apocalypse. Now I almost wish that we would have ridden it at least once to see if it really was that craptacular. The old Freefall by Riddler's Revenge. I never got on this one either as I believe that it was down the day we were there and gone the next time we visited. Thanks for reading - next stop Geauga Lake!

^ I LOVED B&B and am hoping that we might be able to get out there for it again this year in addition to well...ya know...the main reason.

^ Thanks for posting! I also have a several photos of rides that haven't been closed for that long, but in a few years most people won't have even heard of a lot of these rides/coasters. Speaking of Knotts Boomerang... Windseeker before relocation to WoF And lastly from Knotts - Perilous Plunge

^^ And we Bills fans have every right (and reason) to drink a sh%t-ton!

^ Thanks! I just wish that I would have brought a camera and taken pics of the much older CP when I was younger, but I was like a giddy schoolgirl who didn't have time for any f%cking picture taking. I wanted rides and coasters...as many as I could possibly cram into one day! As I ponder excuses, cameras weren't as easy to carry around back in the day either. So there you have it, folks - that's why I don't have many older photos.

^ I sure wish that I had photos of my parents and great Aunt and Uncle from when we visited Disneyland, Bert - it was probably about the same time as that photo of your mother was taken. How about a few CP photos? The waterslide complex on the right is still there, but I miss the old speed slides on the left. You got crazy air on those! The old Challenge Park mini-golf course. Here we see Michael's "tee shot" going into a hazard. He doesn't look thrilled. lol Space Spiral Disaster Transport vehicle Queue for DT So glad that Gatekeeper replaced this - it looks like I took this photo at Conneaut Lake! lol How about a cruise on the old Paddlewheel Excursions? Really miss this attraction! Here is a rider evac on Wildcat SS at night No longer able to get this shot Even though this one isn't that old, I still like the angle and look...2 trains! Possibly 3 if that is one on MF's lift hill. Good ole Demon Drop at the front entrance DT from the SS This parking lot view has changed a lot - and I now have way more gray hair too! More soon!

You, sir, are a hero! I made this account just to thank you for your handy list! Why thank you! I just want to point out that I didn't make it to the park last year, so some of these might be gone or they might be relocated elsewhere in the park. Guess that I need to get out there this year so that I can update the list!

^ Thanks - I actually have a photo of when they had the dolphin show, but it's so old that I would need to copy/scan it to my computer. I thought that I had more photos of my trip to Busch Gardens Tampa when I was a kid, but I only had a few animal pics and the only ride that I had a photo of was Phoenix - which is obviously still there.

^ You must have never ridden in the front seat of Beast at night? It's a difference maker between boring during the day and literally feeling like you might not survive it at night.

^ Agreed about the beer. Here is who should be selling beer in May: The Red Garter Saloon (draft, canned and bottled beer and other flavored crap like Lime-A-Rita's) Lusty Lil's (draft beer) Melt (only place within the park with a full bar) Famous Dave's (full bar) TGIFriday's in the Breakers (full bar) Chickie and Pete's (beer) Buckaroo's Burritos (draft beer) Tomu Sushi & Hibachi in the Breakers (full bar) Other locations that may or may not be open: The food stand across from Gatekeepers exit (bottled beers including Great Lakes) Stand near the Luminosity stage (beer and wine) Brat and beer stand across from MF's entrance (beer) Beer stand near the entrance to Cedar Creek Mine Ride (20 oz cans of Heineken, Yuengling, Lime-A-Rita's, etc) The Frontier Trail Pub (craft bottled beer and wine) Not that I'm speaking from experience or anything, but just typing all that made me realize that I need a beer.

Here are a few more... Big Bad Wolf! Still miss that drop although I like that Verbolten incorporates pretty much the same one. There were some pretty crazy G's being pulled here. Michael's only experience with a BBW. lol Shock Wave at KD A true classic, but like the replacement better CP, SFMM, Geauga Lake and other parks coming soon!

^ I was wondering about social media as well...makes sense.

^^ I think that the above poster may have been reading some of nicman's posts because those were the only somewhat negative posts that I have read. Or maybe this poster is simply prepping for the usual whiners and complainers that typically make stupid comments when a new coaster or ride announcement isn't what they personally want for themselves at their home park.

And let's not forget about the weather in May on Lake Erie - bring everything that you have. Rain Poncho, winter coat, shorts/flip flops, etc. Weather is always a crap shoot during May, but I can attest to the short lines during the weekdays - especially if the weather is cool, or there is a chance of rain in the forecast.

Sounds like it could be similar to Oblivion at Thorpe or Krake at Heide if they are looking into a tunnel? I would be all for a Dive coaster at CW. In fact, I would be all for dive coasters at every CF park, just because they're so damned fun.

Happy off-season (at least in the North) TPR! I found this old thread buried and thought that the premise sounded like a cool idea that never really took off. Why not try to revive it? This weekend, I went through tons of my folders and hand-picked photos of rides and parks that are now gone/scrapped, have been transformed into something else or were relocated. I admit that these are going to be random, but I encourage any of you that have old coaster, ride and park photos to feel free to add them here. Please only use your own versus hand-plucking them from Google Images. Perhaps we could rename the thread so it can incorporate not only defunct rides, but defunct parks, relocated rides, and re-branded/re-themed rides or coasters? You will probably notice some captions in some of the photos - that was my partner Michael being anal and posting historical information so that he could remember which coasters/rides that he had ridden. I'm glad that he did this in looking back now! Let's get started and see where this goes! Let's start at Thorpe Park with Slammer - a fairly recent ride closing/removal. I never rode the Sky Swatter at SFNE as it was closed the day we were there and then it was already removed the next time we visited. Not surprising though because I remember that these used to have a lot of down time, so I was glad that I at least rode one once. I remember this being exhilarating, but it was almost too much upside down for my tastes. Busch Garden's Python...or as Michael labeled it: "Michael's Sheikra" LOL Python was actually the first coaster that Michael ever rode with me. This one started it all for he and I as coaster enthusiasts, so it will always hold a special place in my heart - despite that it wasn't all that great of a coaster. Removed and scrapped in 2006. Jungala now occupies this space. How about some Rhino Rally? I thought it was a fun little adventure, but I have no problem with trading this for Cheetah Hunt! The demolished bridge I believe is now incorporated into Cheetah Hunt...no? Your adventure awaits! Skyrider at CW - removed in 2014. Ranger at Darien Lake - also removed in 2014. UFO at Darien Lake - removed and replaced with Rolling Thunder in 2015. And no...I don't have any f%cking 'Cuda Falls photos. lol More to come soon!

^^ I can vouch that the Comfort Inn is good - stayed there and had a great view of the park from our room. Not insanely priced either... From their website.

^Awesome, Guy! Looking forward to a PTR of the event - sounds like fun!

^ Skyrush is definitely a different animal, that's for sure. I need to get back there soon to try it out a few more times. The first time that I rode it, I wasn't a fan, but the 2nd time was more fun. I would like to try one of the inner seats next time too. I305 was like that for me as well...I didn't like it before it was re-profiled because of the grey-outs. After the re-profile and a few more rides since, it has grown on me a lot to the point where I now have it in my Top 5 coasters. Count me as a Diamondback fan too. Great coaster and I dig the Halloween-looking trains/seats!

^^ Go away, troll. Ugggh...several people on here have said that there is nothing wrong with El Toro. Colossos yes, but Heide is working on it. I am sure that SF does the required maintenance on it...this is the best coaster in the park by far and they know that they would suffer a decline in attendance if they had to tear it down or refurb it for one to two years.