JimBeach

Just another brag from myself, I LOVE the Gold Rusher. My first ever rollercoaster and still a sentimental favorite. I hope it stays forever! Does everyone know that "box" whether it is a speaker or vent that everyone sticks their gum onto? Great ride especially the state of the art, in the day, hairpin turn at the end.

In my previous reply I said "agast". That didn't sound correct. I should have said "amazed".

Sorry Signal, I wasn't meaning to sound that way. Just trying to remember the old park and reminiscence about the old days. Back when they had the Trolls, etc... There is another site called Yesterland about the Disney of old and I was just trying to find some other memories. I'm not "dissing" MM at all. They are great. I just wanted to relate when the Gold Rusher and Mountain Express were the only roller coasters. When The Great American Revolution (then the Revolucion, and now just the Revolution) opened in 1976 it was unprecedented. I also think of the Comtempo Pavilion. Knott's replicated this with the Cloud 9 Ballroom as a spot for teens to hang out. I was there for opening day at Knott's for the Roaring 20's Airfield which had the Corkscrew. I'm just looking for cool memories of the old, while agast at where rides today have gone. The new Skytower exhibit will be a great treat for me.

Back in the day, Six Flags Magic Mountain introduced Colossus as an old fashioned twin racing roller coaster. I have never been there when they released both trains at the same time. Yeah they run both trains but never have I seen them race.

I was last at Magic Mountain back in 1983, and pretty much the same for Disneyland and Knott's. I have always loved coasters and theme parks but just "fell" away from them due to crowds and prices. Finally going back to Disneyland for three days this Oct and when looking into it became aware of TPR as well as ACE. I joined ACE and am going to their day at SFMM on June 1st. I was just thinking about the changes since then. Lat time I was there the big new ride was Shockwave as well as rides like the Enterprise, Himalaya, Electric Rainbow, Swiss Twist, Mountain Express and lesser stuff like the Funicular, Dragon ride, Buccaneer. Remember the Galaxy, the boat ride (great for a liaison in the evening), Sarajevo Bobsleds, Spillikin Corners, Showcase theatre (featured in Spinal Tap). I was just wondering what others think or remember about all the old rides/attractions and the old park in general.

The Pike in Long Beach, CA was a great fun old park. No admission, it was a pay-as-you go park. Huge in the 1940's through the early 70'sa. They had various carnival type rides and midway attractions including a large ferris wheel, an indoor saltwater pool/spa, and an old wooden rollercoaster which went out over the ocean and many times you would get wet, not intentionally, just the way it was. Located near the port of Long Beach and a naval shipyard it denigrated into a sailors hangout with more and more tattoo shops and dive bars. It officially closed in the mid 70's and was raised. All that remains is the original roof of the building that housed Loof's Lite-A-Line, a skee-balltype attraction. The vacant property remained for over 20 years as no one could come up with a development. Disney had proposed a new park but negotiations fell through. (It later became DCA). Finally in/around 2004 it was developed under the new name The Pike at Rainbow Harbor and contains The Aquarium of the Pacific, upscale dining, movie theatres, and a ferris wheel. There is also a bridge which architecturally mimics the design of the old roller coaster. The old roof from Loof's is still sitting there.

Would love to attend but I don't have a car so it's a bit hard to get there with gear and store it somehow. Is anyone coming from around the Long Beach, CA area I could carpool there and back with?

Thanks so much for this post! I fully agree with you. I have heard from and read about educators and employers all over who are noticing younger folks using text-messanging and IM slang on everything from resumes to term papers. I myself would be ashamed if I did this and if I encountered this it would go right to the shredder.

Interested in the X2 preview night/day and am basically by myself and wondering if anyone else is as well and may like to get together and go together or if more hang out as a group?