Goliath513 Posted April 17, 2009 Share Posted April 17, 2009 Is the Moon Flume still there? It had cool boats in the pictures you showed. It was removed after the 2006 season to make room for Wiggles World. They still have their other log flume - which I think is called Sawmill Log Flume. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YoshiFan Posted April 17, 2009 Share Posted April 17, 2009 That was a great update, I wish they would still run Rolling Thunder like that. Today it is rare for both sides to be running at the same time and dispatches take 5+ minutes. Â I also am shocked to see the park was open everyday starting in April and they were open until Midnight every day in the summer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrownStreak Posted April 17, 2009 Share Posted April 17, 2009 Since today many of the older rapids rides are often walk-on it may be hard for some of the younger readers to realize what a huge deal they were back when they opened. I remember when Canada's Wonderland opened theirs it had its own running of the bulls and if you didn't get there right when the park opened you faced an hour or two wait! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
larrygator Posted April 17, 2009 Share Posted April 17, 2009 Opening season a 3 hour wait for Roaring Rapids was not uncommon. Also the wooden rails in front of the waterfall did not exist the first few years. Occasionally a raft would drift under the waterfall and become stuck as water poured onto the riders for minutes at a time before a ride operator could dislodge the raft. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Philrad71 Posted April 17, 2009 Share Posted April 17, 2009 ^^Yes, I remember the 1.5 hour wait at CW to ride Thunder Canyon! I also remember when most rapids rides actually had all the waterfalls working...and boy did you get soaked if you were the one that hit it head on!!! Â Another great report, Shane - I sure miss the Lightnin' Loops. I remember the walk up those stairs...you could easily shed weight going up those stairs to board if their was no line and you rode it about five times in a row! Â Perhaps they need to make more roller coasters where riders have to climb ten flights of stairs to board. Might make a difference in the countries weight problem. Either that, or it would be a very short wait! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeemerBoy Posted April 17, 2009 Share Posted April 17, 2009 Since today many of the older rapids rides are often walk-on it may be hard for some of the younger readers to realize what a huge deal they were back when they opened. I remember when Canada's Wonderland opened theirs it had its own running of the bulls and if you didn't get there right when the park opened you faced an hour or two wait! Yep, I can remember visiting SFOG when theirs was brand new. Our family waited two and a half hours for that thing. The more I see of these rapids rides, the more it makes me stop and realize how cool the concept really is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
montezooma Posted April 17, 2009 Author Share Posted April 17, 2009 The first couple of Intamin Rapids Rides where riddled with problems, most of them steming from the channel going from lakes and then narrowing into the rapid channels. The boats would always get jammed and sometimes even get stuck in the currents that would not let the rafts exit the lakes. Â I still see huge lines for Roaring Rapids at Magic Mountain, it is still very popular there. Rapid Rides really are a unique ride that are a cool (pun intended) attraction at any park. I do prefer the originals better than the newer style rides, except for the Disney and Universal versions, those rock! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Rosenzweig Posted April 17, 2009 Share Posted April 17, 2009 the old pirate boat ride that Shipwreck Falls replaced. Â Can anyone describe exactly what the "Pirate" ride was? Was it an old mill type water dark ride that had been rethemed to Pirates in its later years? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Rosenzweig Posted April 17, 2009 Share Posted April 17, 2009 The first couple of Intamin Rapids Rides where riddled with problems, most of them steming from the channel going from lakes and then narrowing into the rapid channels. The boats would always get jammed and sometimes even get stuck in the currents that would not let the rafts exit the lakes. Â I still see huge lines for Roaring Rapids at Magic Mountain, it is still very popular there. Rapid Rides really are a unique ride that are a cool (pun intended) attraction at any park. I do prefer the originals better than the newer style rides, except for the Disney and Universal versions, those rock! Â I have never been a huge fan of the first generation 12 passenger Intamin Rapids, as the boats hardly spin meaning one side of the boat gets drenched while the other side gets nothing. As you described, the pacing is bizarre too- with the slow sections leading to rapids pouring water over one side of the boat, etc. I do prefer this to those rapids rides that do nothing until boats are "forced" under waterfalls to soak all riders- that's the cheap way out IMO. Â The best rapids rides (besides the major productions at IOA, DAK, and DCA) are some of the older 6 passenger Intamin Rapids. Kings Dominion's comes to mind- it has a *long* course that goes through the woods. Great ride, great setting. Â A few Hopkins versions stand out to me- namely the Blizzard River at SFNE. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
larrygator Posted April 17, 2009 Share Posted April 17, 2009 I have never been a huge fan of the first generation 12 passenger Intamin Rapids, as the boats hardly spin meaning one side of the boat gets drenched while the other side gets nothing. Â I'm a big fan of rapids rides when some people get drenched and others stay day. It just adds a tinge of adventure and surprise to the ride. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeemerBoy Posted April 17, 2009 Share Posted April 17, 2009 ^ I agree. Â Where and when were the first coin operated water cannons installed? Just curious. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
linearinduction Posted April 17, 2009 Share Posted April 17, 2009 Thanks for Including the Train Photo Shane! I'm still trying to find out if Great Adventure had Two Crown Metals 24" Gauge Locomotives and Train Sets or just One. Shane, what is your opinion on Rattlesnake Rapids at Lagoon? It has a 40ft Elevation Change after all. Â - Sid Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
montezooma Posted April 18, 2009 Author Share Posted April 18, 2009 Lagoon's Rattlesnake Rapids is alright. I like that it is in the wooded area and the tunnel is good. I think they need more attractions back in that area as it is a long walk back for just a rapid ride. I also think their pay for spray is WEAK. It is just a bunch of sprinklers and the timing is way off. Â I am much prefer the old style 12 seat boats. I think it really added to the ride to see who was going to get the wet seat. You knew you were going to get it if the boat spun around and you were facing backwards going in to the rapids channel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyuk200523 Posted April 18, 2009 Share Posted April 18, 2009 Did anyone on here actually ride Lightnin' Loops before the unfotunate accident?? Â The reason I ask, did they always launch simultaneously? Or was it just luck occasionally? If it was always simulataneously, this is how dueling/racing coasters should still be run today, it is part of the draw and thrill of the ride!!! Â Andrew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
montezooma Posted April 18, 2009 Author Share Posted April 18, 2009 ^ When I rode it they were running both sides and yes they actually waited until both sides were ready to launch and they sent them out at the same time. It was awesome to watch especially at night with the tracer lights on it. Â Lightnin' Loops may have just been an Arrow launch loop, which alone is kind of meh.. but two of them interlocking made the ride something spectacular! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
montezooma Posted April 22, 2009 Author Share Posted April 22, 2009 Here's a teaser for what is coming up this weekend in Shane's Amusement Attic. Â [coastertube]http://www.themeparkreview.com/coastertube/play.php?vid=MarriottsGreatAmerica[/coastertube] Â A look back at both parks from the years of The Demon (CA) and American Eagle (IL) with exclusive POV's of both rides plus Willard's Whizzer (CA) & Tidal Wave (IL) plus photos, Press releases and Souvenir Books. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teacups Make Me Sick Posted April 22, 2009 Share Posted April 22, 2009 Those pictures from Great Adventure really bring back memories...I remember Lightning Loops was right across from the river rapids and waiting for my brother and father (I wasnt tall enough) to ride Lighting Loops so that we can go on the water ride! Â The Conestoga Wagon was so pretty back then...really taken care of. Now it just looks ordinary with the plain brown paint. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moose Posted April 23, 2009 Share Posted April 23, 2009 How did i miss all of the Riverside stuff? (though it will probably always be Rockin Roller Riverside to me) Thanks a bunch for all the stuff on when the Cyclone was actually tolerable. I used to love that coaster now I struggle to even give it a courtesy ride. Â I am not sure if I have ever been on an original Intamin rapids ride. I vaguely remember something similar to the whole lake to faster moving transitions and getting stuck at waterfalls at Kings Dominion? back when I was 7 or 8. I remember loving it and waiting a few hours to ride it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
netdvn Posted April 23, 2009 Share Posted April 23, 2009 What was the red coaster at the end of the video? The colors don't match TOTC or Demon (or even Shockwave for that matter). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
montezooma Posted April 23, 2009 Author Share Posted April 23, 2009 That is the Turn of the Century. Later on in it's life it was treated to a special red paint job on it's corkscrews. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
netdvn Posted April 23, 2009 Share Posted April 23, 2009 Really? I always thought that the coaster remained white until MGA converted it into Demon. Do you know why they decided to repaint the corkscrews like a special occaission or something? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
montezooma Posted April 23, 2009 Author Share Posted April 23, 2009 Turn of the Century was never white, it was a drab mint/olive green color. I think the design intent at that time was to make the structural rides blend in with the landscape. The trains were also very drab yellow. Â It would be my guess that the red was added to add some pizzaz to the loops of the ride. I sure think it looks much better than how it did in it's first couple of years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
netdvn Posted April 24, 2009 Share Posted April 24, 2009 Judging by the pics and videos I’ve seen, TOTC always looked white to me. Maybe it was probably the camera quality at the time. In fact I noticed that a lot of the park’s original rides had a red, white, and blue color scheme (maybe to fit the America theme the park had).  And I can’t wait for your MGA update. Ever since I got those SFGAm maps two weeks ago, I’ve had an interest with the park and its history. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
montezooma Posted April 25, 2009 Author Share Posted April 25, 2009 *Special note from Shane: this update is pretty photo intense and on some computers it may take a while to fully download.  Marriott's GREAT AMERICA  The 70's was the decade of the theme park with parks popping up in several major metropolitan cities across the country. 1976 was an especially GREAT year as the Marriott corporation entered the theme park industry with Marriott's Great America.  Origianlly three parks were planned; one on the west coast, one on the east coast on one in middle America. Santa Clara, Ca was the first park to open with Gurnee, IL close behind. Unfortunately the park proposed for outside of Washington DC was shot down in two area and never saw the light of day.  The two parks, although VERY similar did have some slight differences. The Gurnee park featured several more flat rides than the CA park and as the years progressed it seemed the Gurnee park became more favored by the Marriott corp while the CA park became more valuable for the land it was built on.  Gurnee received some major capital improvements such as The American Eagle and White Water Rapids while at the same time Santa Clara's extra land and protions of the parking lot where sold off to office buildings as Santa Clara (Silicon Valley) was quickly becoming the computer capital of the world.  After several years of being in the amusement industry Marriott decided to focus their attention on what they knew best, the hospitality business, and both parks where put up for sale. The Gurnee park was quickly picked up by Six Flags. The California park, for a while, seemed it was going to be leveled and developed into more concrete tilt up buildings. Fortunately the city of Santa Clara stepped in and bought the park to save it from demolition. The story continues to get more complicated for that park as time continues on.  So there is the back story. This update focuses on the parks in their early years with press releases from both the American Eagle and the Demon. Also some early souvenir books, personal photos and super 8 movies I shot at the parks. The POV of the Willard's Whizzer was the first time I ever shot a POV on a coaster. I was an 12 year old kid and I remember all the strange looks I got from the other guests and ride operators as I set up my tri-pod and super 8 camera in the front seat. ah...good times.  Hope you enjoy this GREAT update.  -Shane  Willard's Whizzer [coastertube]http://www.themeparkreview.com/coastertube/play.php?vid=WillardsWhizzer_6zpo[/coastertube]  Tidal Wave [coastertube]http://www.themeparkreview.com/coastertube/play.php?vid=mgatw_diok[/coastertube]  DEMON [coastertube]http://www.themeparkreview.com/coastertube/play.php?vid=Demon_oqgb[/coastertube]  American Eagle [coastertube]http://www.themeparkreview.com/coastertube/play.php?vid=AmericanEagle_ma0v[/coastertube]  PS- This is a big update with lots of information and pictures. Please be patient as it downloads and check back throught the day for more information and photos to be uploaded The souvenir book from 1977 American Eagle opening year. The World's Biggest Wooden Roller Coaster...at that time The model on display at the Intamin booth at IAAPA convention the year prior to opening Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
montezooma Posted April 25, 2009 Author Share Posted April 25, 2009 Postcards from around the park from the opening year 1976, and a Yellow Eagle postcard from the opening season of the American Eagle. Was it originally going to be painted yellow???? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now