Shane's Amusement Attic

[RandyV]

Love the pictures of GASM. Arrow was at the forefront back in those days. This picture must have been early on as the top of the loops were not re-enforced yet. As always, thanks for sharing this stuff!

[adamico2]

Those were awesome to read. That reminds me; I have a Boy's Life roller coaster article from 1997. I should dig that out and post it sometime.

[montezooma]

Here is a quick bonus post, an early site plan of the Las Vegas Wet n' Wild waterpark. Anyone remember this park?

[adamico2]

I never went, but the Travel Channel featured the "Royal Flush" on several of its water park specials.

[disney4me2001]

Never went either, but I do remember passing by it the one time I went to Vegas (which was almost 10 years ago).

[Kyle Coleman]

I used to go every now and again when it was still there there. Not the biggest or the best but when the temps get up to 110 in the summer it really hit the spot. Shame we don't have it anymore.

[montezooma]

MAGIC SPRINGS

 

Here is one more update before the end of the year. Not a real exciting one as this park has never been a park that has excited me. It remains one of the only parks in the US that I have not visited, but since Ed Hart has been in the news lately with his proposed, new Kentucky Kingdom I thought it would be interesting to take a look at his latest project. When I heard Ed had taken over Magic Springs I really had high hopes for this park, especially after seeing what he did for Kentucky Kingdom. But it never got too exciting...a used mine ride here and a SLC there...yawn.

 

One thing that always baffled me about this park was their Arrow shuttle loop, the Roaring Tornado. At the time (1980) they installed a pretty major attraction , but a couple of years later it was gone and with out a significant replacement. (it was sold and relocated to the old Elitch Gardens). I had heard a couple of things about the reasoning, one was that it was too terrifying for the people (and I use that term loosely) of Arkansas, the other was that they stopped making their loan payments on the ride and the bank resold it right out from under them. I don't know what the real reason was maybe some of our friends from the area can solve this mystery for us.

 

-Shane

obviously the park used the coaster from Circus World for their promotions.

the park in it's early years

the parked stepped up their game when they relocated the Florida Hurricane from Boardwalk & Baseball.

[thrillerman1]

I've never visited Magic Springs either Shane, but it's always intrigued me. I did not know that Ed Hart from SFKK was involved with it either, so thanks for that tid bit of info. Hope to check out the park one day. Thanks for this update!

[MagnumUnlimited]

I haven't visited Magic Springs either. I hope I get the chance to soon, thanks for the photos Shane.

[BarryH]

Hmm...the 1991 brouchure states an appearance by the Simpsons. Today, they are still on the air! Facinating!

[astroworldfan1]

Shane, I just found something in one of my grandmother's cabinets that you would probably love..She still has a red (unopened) Opryland poncho still in the original wrapper! I hope to get it someday..Maybe it'll be worth something.

[Guy T. Koepp]

Here is a quick bonus post, an early site plan of the Las Vegas Wet n' Wild waterpark. Anyone remember this park?

 

Remember it?! I was a lifeguard there it's first 3 seasons. I saw more action those 3 summers than I have in the rest of my single life.

 

Guy "And by action, I mean... ...ya know. BOO- YA- KA!" Koepp

[chadster]

Magic Springs is a nice little park that's in desperate need of something a little more than the X Coaster, don't get me wrong, X is a good ride, but due to mechanical issues, it no longer runs it's original program. The water park is also nice and included in admission making it a great family value. The park on my last visit in July was clean and ops were friendly, just didn't have much of a crowd. Too bad it's had it's fare share of owner issues.

 

Thanks once again!

[montezooma]

Bell's Amusement Park

 

Here is a quick look at Bell's Amusement Park in Tulsa, OK...well it was in Tulsa, OK. Now it has entered into Amusement Park Limbo with AstroWorld's Greezed Lightnin. Will theses two ever see the light of day again. They say they will be back but that has yet to be seen.

[QueerRudie]

Shane, I have to tell you how much I've enjoyed these past few updates- especially the lost SixFlags parks.

 

I do have a question: In some of your video updates, we've seen older programs with great footage (KidsWorld, etc.) and I was wondering...

 

the old 1980's science program '321 Contact' did a feature on 'forces' featuring the Mariott's Great America (Santa clara, CA)'s old Turn Of the Century (Including, for me at least, some of the -best- POV footage of the ride) as well as the original Suspended coaster model being demonstrated and some other interesting things....

 

Is there any chance that you have this footage?

 

Thanks,

R.D.

[montezooma]

R.D.-

 

A couple of attic readers have asked me about this program and I wish I had it in my collection. Unfortunately I do not which is too bad cause I sure would love to see some POV from the Turn of the Century.

 

Speaking of Great America, there will be an update posted soon from 1991 at the CA park.

[montezooma]

GREAT AMERICA 1988-1991

 

Well the 90's were very good to this park. It was finally taking a turn for the better after struggling under the ownership of the city of Santa Clara. KECO (Kings Entertainment CO, which would soon become Paramount Parks) had just purchased the park and all the assets in 1989, land not included, and had begun to heavily invest in the park. It seemed for a couple of years they closely followed the other Great America park in Gurnee. First they followed the Gurnee park with a stand up coaster then they followed with the inverted coaster. Things were looking good for this park...until the Cedar Fair era.

 

I don't know what is going to happen to this park now. If I was a gambling man I would be that this park is on it's last leg, soon to go the way of Geauga Lake and AstroWorld. Sad as that may be, let's look back on happier times. Shane's Amusement Attic is proud to present Great America in the 90's!

 

Enjoy!

First we do the build up to the 90's. Here is the park in 88

1989: I might have rethought this addition since the ride SUCKED!

park map and information 1988

Hooray for the Tidal Wave!

Edited January 13, 2011 by ernierocker

[Geauga Dog]

I've always enjoyed your posts in the Attic, even long before I became a member here. Thanks for all that you've posted the pat few years.

 

In 2001 I visited the Santa Clara park and I was somewhat surprised at how vastly different it was compared to the Gurnee park since both started out as identical twins (I guess that would be expected since both parks have different owners). When did Great America begin to lose the Marriott theming?

 

You say you would have rethought the addition of Skyhawk but I think they should have rethought Grizzly and made it more like Kings Dominion's version. The most boring coaster I've been on.

[CorkscrewFoley]

Just how many Flight Trainers were there in existence? I knew KI and now Great America had one...

[KDCOASTERFAN]

Just how many Flight Trainers were there in existence? I knew KI and now Great America had one...

 

KD also had one that was known as sky pilot & was located roughly where dropzone is now.I was never really fond of that thing & was glad when they took it out a few years later...no doubt in response to the fatality on KI's flight commander.

 

Didn't KBF also have one?that brings the total up to four so far.

[Angry_Gumball]

I remember Great America's Skyhawk ride, wanted to try it out to break my fear of going upside down. Sadly, I never got on it. If I recall, the lines looked too long for me to want to wait in. And nobody else wanted to ride.

 

Got any stuff from 1993 when Top Gun appeared?

[Perilous Chris]

^^ KBF did have one. It was called XK-1. It replaced the Loop Trainer (Schwarzkopf enterprise) in the late 80's. It would later be replaced by Supreme Scream.

 

I rode it a few times and it was somewhat thrilling. When you turned the ride vehicle upside down, it would feel as though you were going to slide out.

 

Shane...I want to thank you for this thread. I have really enjoyed it, and it has brought back many positive memories.

 

I used to have similar brochures, but unfortunately many have been thrown out over the years. I still have some old Marineland (Palos Verdes) material, as well as a Magic Mountain brochure promoting Z-Force.

[jray21]

Thanks a lot a for that Shane! I just relived my childhood. I remember when all those rides opened. I even remember the "Speed" movie! I also remember thinking Sky Hawk was the coolest ride ever invented! I remember being annoyed because it wouldn't let you just hang upside the whole ride! Man I miss when CGA always had something new and better every year Thanks again!

[montezooma]

Wasn't there also an Intamin Flight Trainer at Rye Playland? And the original announcement of the Las Vegas Stratosphere included a Flight Trainer on the top of the tower instead of the S&S tower.

[thrillrider]

Skyhawk?....

 

I am surprised another park chain has not used that name....oh wait...

 

The picture of the kiddie coaster, looks a lot like jr gemini at cedar point.