kenshinmac Posted April 18, 2008 Share Posted April 18, 2008 I have many fond memories of Whip rides... Thankfully Lakeside here in Denver has their Whip running. Unfortunately each ride was a way too long when I last visited, so the novelty wore off when there was still about 3 minutes of the ride left... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ginzo Posted April 18, 2008 Share Posted April 18, 2008 While it might be a bummer that this old ride is going, like it or not, it has been a trend in the amusement business lately to "retire" older flat rides that have a lot of wear and tear on them, or rides where the parts are harder to come by. For example, Magic Mountain just removed 5 flats this year, some of them over 30 years old. How many of the first generation Free Falls are left now? Etc, etc... And if I remember correctly, hasn't this ride not run in about 10 years? Last time I remember seeing it operate was in 1999. I can only imagine the cost of rehabbing a nearly 100 year old ride that has sat idle for 10 years. Sure, it's not going to be a popular decision by a lot of us theme park enthusiasts, but I saw this one coming a long time ago. Just be happy that parks like Kennywood, Dorney, Lakemont, and Knoebel's still run theirs today. --Robb Let's just hope that some of the parts from this Whip make their way to the parks that are still running theirs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YoshiFan Posted April 18, 2008 Share Posted April 18, 2008 Someone really needs to reinvent this ride. Hershey got a modern Whip in 1997, it's made by Rideworks and uses cars similar to the new Tilt A Whirl cars. It's not as intense as the one at Dorney and has a ratcheting lap bar that only the opeartor can release with a foot pedal compared to the old ones that you lift up yourself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
larrygator Posted April 18, 2008 Share Posted April 18, 2008 Just be happy that parks like Kennywood, Dorney, Lakemont, and Knoebel's still run theirs today. --Robb To add to Robb's comment, they are still common on the East Coast of the US as the ones at HersheyPark, Camden Park and Rye Playland are also still in operation. In my opinion, the one at Rye Playland gives the best "Whipping" action coming out of those turns. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cfc Posted April 18, 2008 Share Posted April 18, 2008 It seems to me that the only "classic" amusement park ride that is immune to removal is the carousel--those are icons of the industry. The Ferris wheel might fall into that category, too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DenDen Posted April 18, 2008 Share Posted April 18, 2008 It seems to me that the only "classic" amusement park ride that is immune to removal is the carousel--those are icons of the industry. The Ferris wheel might fall into that category, too. I agree, and disagree. Granted there are companies that will always manufacture these kinds of rides, and they are popular in carnivals, they're removed all the time. Kennywood has removed many-o-ferris wheel in it's history and currently doesn't have one. With the exception of these new MONSTER ferris wheels going up around the world as single tourist traps, I could see ferris wheels disappearing in 20 years in amusement parks. It is sad to see this classic Whip go, but it really was in bad shape. From what I understand, KW spends tons of money having parts remanufactured for it's classic rides. But it's something so important to it's image that it's money well spent for them. What I did notice on my last KW visit is that they installed a modern custom-fitted motor on it's Kangaroo ride, which was probably worth more than the entire ride itself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garet Posted April 21, 2008 Share Posted April 21, 2008 And if I remember correctly, hasn't this ride not run in about 10 years? Last time I remember seeing it operate was in 1999. I can only imagine the cost of rehabbing a nearly 100 year old ride that has sat idle for 10 years. --Robb I believe it closed end of 2004, i'm assuming it's that year as i remember riding the whip, the same day i rode bling but i'm not 100% sure Rob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kennyweird Posted April 23, 2008 Share Posted April 23, 2008 Idlewild still has their whip, right? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy_e219 Posted April 23, 2008 Share Posted April 23, 2008 Idlewild still has their whip, right? Yes, it's between the Tilt a Whirl and Parotrooper. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RaptorBoyASU Posted April 23, 2008 Share Posted April 23, 2008 Does Kennywood still have theirs? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
COASTER FREAK 11 Posted April 23, 2008 Share Posted April 23, 2008 lol, yes Kyle, its still there and operating. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RaptorBoyASU Posted April 23, 2008 Share Posted April 23, 2008 LOL, It was in the 2nd post..........doh Kennywood's was the best of the ones I've been on. I LOVE WHIPS I used to ride the Kiddy Whip at CP every year when I was little. I'm not sure it's still there. The Nascar themed one in Camp Snoopy provides a more similar ride to the adult version. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nrthwnd Posted April 23, 2008 Share Posted April 23, 2008 I was really hoping that this flat would still be open and running, when we went there in TPR's June 2006 tour. But it wasn't, and it looked pretty sad back then, lol. All we could do is look at it. And move on... Sorry to see a really original flat, go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
verticalzero Posted September 15, 2008 Share Posted September 15, 2008 Some good news: The Save Dreamland Campaign is pleased to confirm that the UK's only surviving full-size Whip has been acquired for the proposed Dreamland Heritage Amusement Park in Margate. The ride, which has operated at Blackpool Pleasure Beach since at least 1921, was manufactured by WF Mangels of Coney Island and is identical to the Whip that once operated at Dreamland. The acquisition of the ride follows several months of negotiation between Nick Laister, on behalf of the Dreamland Trust, and the Pleasure Beach. The dismantling and transport of the ride was funded by the Margate Town Centre Regeneration Company (MTCRC). Patented in 1914, the Whip was manufactured by WF Mangels of Coney Island, USA and cost the Pleasure Beach $4,700. Its patent described it as follows: A Whip operated for many years at Dreamland, and could be seen in the film that was showing continuously at the Dreamcoaster event in Margate in May 2008. The Whip consists of two circular platforms turned by motors which pull a cable that leads the cars around an oval steel track, whipping them as they circle each end. According to a plaque on the ride, Blackpool's Whip is believed to have first operated at the Pleasure Beach in 1921, although this is contradicted in the book A Century of Fun, which states that it arrived in 1914, just as war was about to break out. When it was removed from the Pleasure Beach in September 2008, it was the oldest 'flat ride' (i.e. fairground-style ride) at the park. It is the only operating full-size Whip in the UK. Junior Whips still operate at Southend's Adventure Island and Pleasure Beach Blackpool. Importance: As the only surviving European Whip, this ride is very important. It is also identical to the Whip that operated for many years at Dreamland. Latest: Now in storage for use in the Heritage Park. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fallen Heretic Posted September 16, 2008 Share Posted September 16, 2008 ^ah, that explains it... When I was in Blackpool on Wednesday last week, I saw a truck parked outside Big Blue with a load of floor sections and a couple of whip cars loaded onto it (no photo, sadly). Good to hear that its not going to the scrapheap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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