restoca

They're just trying to top this year's 20s-style wooden coaster themed to a motorcycle daredevil...

What a rarity! Kind of like the unicorn of modern coasters. If I recall correctly, there was a photo or two of this ride in a travelling exhibit (Smithsonian?) about rollercoasters in the late 70s. I may be thinking of another odd suspended one I've seen from much earlier (20s or 30s?) that was sort of like a really large Toboggan with a standard lift. After the lift it was just a long continuous spiral. Either way, WOW! I never considered that eliminating the banking could be such a big money saver. Thanks for sharing the photos and facts!

OK thrillerman1, here's Thriller in its original glory!

Nothing scary about this card, you say? Look a little closer...

^ The ultimate theme park attraction for Halloween. Wish I could ride it today! Here's another monster from BGW:

^ With all the dreadful financial SF news of late, I was recently trying to think of what major new attractions were rumored for any SF park in 2009. All I could think of was new trains for SFNE's Superman. Should we expect more, realistically? I, for one, am not holding my breath. But I'm hopeful...

I've always heard great things about this zoo. Your great photos clearly illustrate why. Must add to my "to do" list! Thanks for sharing.

BRRRRRRRRR!!!

Come one, come all to... the feast on The Beast!... (groan.....) photo use kindly granted by coastergallery.com (Leonardo da Vinci did not reply to e-mails...) ...look out stomach, here it comes.

Continuing with Kings Island and the current subject of discussion over at Shane's Amusement Attic: this poor unfortunate creature became extinct 25 years ago.

^ Yes Shane, I'm gonna have to get creative soon as well. This one features what is arguably the most classic of coaster logos on the front, but my favorite thing about it is the layout of this massive ride on the back. I adjusted the sharpness post-scan to make it more apparent, but it's still not so great.

This photo is so bad it's scary... Historic, nonetheless. According to rcdb, there are only four remaining Arrow launched loop (shuttle) coasters in operation, with Blackpool Pleasure Beach's unique cantilevered model being the only one still in its original location. ...yeah, so popular it was removed prior to the Six Flags branding of Riverside.

The Children's World section was located at the rear and left of the park in relation to the main entrance (SE corner) in the space that would later be occupied by the dolphin show and part of XLR-8. While on the subject of AstroWorld: In the haunting image below, a glowing Texas Cyclone sits in what appears to be a deserted ghost town of a park.

^ Cool card! I knew of the triple tower called Scream at Fiesta Texas, but not the SFNE version. The photo below is not from a postcard, but one of those pictorial foldout things meant to me mailed like a postcard. To this day I never see a basic jack'o'lantern without thinking of this iconic scene of my childhood. Flap that closes foldout dated 1970. Park opened 1968. Entrance to kiddie area. Tiny trees! Now no trees...

I think that most any color of paint requires a combination of pigment be added to a white base? There are probably numerous other factors involved in color choice as well. ^ Appearance from a distance is probably one of them, and maybe how effectively it can be used on souvenirs, print ads, etc.

Today's vampire is of the much more common variety. This particular one is sort of nomadic. It used to live in China prior to Kentucky, and now lives in Massachusetts. That tiny copyright date is 1991.

Pictured on this creepy card is the UK's only Arrow suspended coaster with its original heavily themed (and heavy) trains. After its tenth season the ride closed for renovation, which included new floorless trains from Vekoma. Not as spooky to view, but probably much more thrilling from the riders' perspective.

Although I've never personally been to Ghost Town in the Sky, I've ridden an O D Hopkins coaster, so I thought the concept terrifying enough for the SCAREadice theme... The Ghost Town site suggests the park was open this year, but maybe not the coaster, which they're now calling the Cliff Hanger. Interesting photos of some VERY unusual trains for this one at rcdb.

This card certainly looks old, but no date to be found. According to rcdb this ride operated from 1901 to 1910. ^Shane, I have a Demon card similar to yours, but with a different single photo at the bottom, and postmarked Sep 11, 1985.

Another eerie moonlit coaster. I tweaked it as best I could, but the postmark's still not very clear. It reads Sep 12 1927, which means the Big Dipper was probably younger than the little girl who sent this card to her father. Just look at all that open space in front of the Big Dipper!

Witching Waves is mentioned and briefly described in this article about the attractions of Coney Island. Other photos I've found do show a steering wheel, however small and ineffective looking. I just don't understand the machinery that controlled the undulating floor...

This one looks a bit Halloweeny. No description, date/postmark, or correspondence on back.

^What a classic logo! I love that card. Here's another that might cause nightmares in a few enthusiasts. This is what you could have had the displeasure of experiencing if you went to Six Flags Over Mid-America in 1984. Looks comfy!

Nice fall colors in this postcard. No idea of the era of this photo (that phone number might be a clue), but the Wildcat was built in 1928. More info on Rocky Springs Park can be found here.