Mark's Postcard Paradise

[coasterfreaky]

Thanks for posting the Goldrush Junction pics. It's just hard to fathom how that has turned into Dollywood. Its funny how some parks are truly organic, and they grow over long periods of time like this park, my home park, has done. I'm glad you've posted memories of it. And its sort of funny that Dollywood is celebrating 25 years of Dollywood, which is of course true and important in and of itself. But the park's history obviously dates further back than 25 years!, and that is worth celebrating too!

 

The only things i recognize are the train, the log flume from the NY World's Fair, the yo-yo (swingamajig) and that's about it for the rides. I see the Robert F. Thomas Chapel! Great Stuff!

[ratdogg68]

I thought it was Silver Dollar City before Dollywood.

[deathbydinn]

^ From RCDB...

 

Dollywood (1986 to ?)

Silver Dollar City (1976 to 1985)

Goldrush (1975)

Goldrush Junction (1970 to 1974)

Rebel Railroad (1961 to 1969)

 

http://www.rcdb.com/4593.htm

[Moose]

I love seeing how parks develop over time. The brochures are a nice addition to the Postcard Paradise.

 

Does anyone know where the Aerodrome themed area was at Worlds of Fun?

[larrygator]

www.themeparkbrochures.net/maps/1989/wof1989.html

 

Here's a 1989 Map I found on another site, but don't see Aerodrome.

[Guy T. Koepp]

Awesome update. It's funny you should post those Goldrush Junction brochures. We were just at Dollywood yesterday, and Alana was talking to her father during lunch. At one point He asked her if she remembered coming up there as a little girl way back when it was "Goldrush City." (I guess he got the name wrong.) She said she remembered it when it was Silver Dollar City, but not any earlier.

 

Awesome to see how the place has evolved into what it is today.

[Geauga Dog]

Does anyone know where the Aerodrome themed area was at Worlds of Fun?

 

I believe I've read it was located where Camp Snoopy is/was.

[thrillerman1]

I thought it was Silver Dollar City before Dollywood.

Deathbydinn/RCDB is correct...Goldrush became Silver Dollar City in its most recent incarnation before it transformed into Dollywood. I have a lot of brochures from when the park was SDC and plan to share those at a later date too.

 

I love seeing how parks develop over time. The brochures are a nice addition to the Postcard Paradise.

Does anyone know where the Aerodrome themed area was at Worlds of Fun?

Jon, I'm glad you're enjoying the brochures. I found a 1980 park map online which shows where the Worlds of Fun Aerodrome area was located as part of the Americana section (upper right hand side of the map):

http://www.worldsoffun.org/history/maps/1980lrg.jpg

 

Awesome update. It's funny you should post those Goldrush Junction brochures. We were just at Dollywood yesterday, and Alana was talking to her father during lunch. At one point He asked her if she remembered coming up there as a little girl way back when it was "Goldrush City." (I guess he got the name wrong.) She said she remembered it when it was Silver Dollar City, but not any earlier.

 

Awesome to see how the place has evolved into what it is today.

 

Guy...Lucky you...I was stuck in the cubicle farm all day. My earliest memory of ever riding anything at an amusement park was with my dad on the log ride at Goldrush Junction when I was about 5 years old. I distinctly remember while riding the log ride seeing the "big" mad mouse and thinking how intimidating it looked. Back then, the park was basically just the Country Fair area now.

 

Thanks for the nice comments all!

[montezooma]

hmmmm...maybe you should change the name of this thread to "Mark's Amusement Attic"...

 

I love this old stuff, especially the Aerodrome stuff. That was my favorite part of World's of Fun back in the day.

[thrillerman1]

^ I wonder has that name been used yet? Shane, I could never come close to posting all the awesomeness of your thread. Hurry up and start season 4 already!!!

[thrillerman1]

Something about Kings Dominion has never struck the right chord with me. I've only ever visited the park twice, most recently in 2005, but both times I came away from the park not really feeling I'd experienced anything that special or magical. Who knows...maybe the third time is the charm? Nonetheless, here's a look back at the park in the 70's and 80's.

Shockwave in 1988

War Eagle!

1978 Brochure

1980 Shows Schedule

1981 Brochure

What a bargain!

Souvenir cup

Ticket book

[Guy T. Koepp]

Wow! I never knew Kings Dominion had a ticket system. How very Disneyesque of them.

[Geauga Dog]

Now that's a very rare piece of memorabilia. Never knew KD had a ticket system.

 

I can vaguely remember Dick Van Dyke doing Kings Island commericals around the time Screamin' Demon was built. Must have been the spokesman for the parks back then.

[MayTheGForceBeWithYou]

KD had a shuttle loop?

[Guy T. Koepp]

I think it was called the King Cobra if I remember correctly. I think it was green.

[thrillerman1]

King Kobra was not just any shuttle loop either, but a Schwarzkopf! According to RCDB, you can still ride it at its most recent locale in Brazil at Hopi Hari: http://www.rcdb.com/1152.htm. Hopefully I can make that TPR Brazil trip someday to ride it again.

 

Yeah, Guy, that ticketing system totally reminded me of Disney too. I always hated that I had to choose between rides with that system.

[MayTheGForceBeWithYou]

Oh, I get it now! KD got Thunder Looper from Alton Towers, then sold it off to Brazil?

[thrillerman1]

^ According to RCDB.com, the order of locations for King Kobra is: Kings Dominion > Jolly Roger Amusement Park > Alton Towers > Hopi Hari.

 

http://www.rcdb.com/637.htm

[thrillerman1]

HOORAY...it's birthday #3 here at the Paradise!!! To celebrate, today I have a megaginormous Six Flags Over Georgia update. Growing up in northwestern Alabama in the 1970's left little options for visiting theme parks. The closest park was Opryland, which did little but whet the appetite for much bigger/exciting thrills, so I always greatly anticipated those ever so rare visits to SFOG. To this day Mind Bender ranks near my top 10 steel coasters and Goliath is certainly IMO one of the best B&M's anywhere! Since I'm planning a visit to SFOG next weekend (and taking a week off from my updates to this thread), I thought I'd share some of my SFOG collection with TPR. Here we go (and by the way what is SFOG teasing us with in those Facebook pics as new for 2011???)...

GASP! It's the park entrance in the 1970's!

At one time, the Great American Scream Machine was a world record holder. I love the SF font on the front of the train.

Believe it...or not.

Chaser lights and fire make everything better.

77 was a good year.

If you were to buy park postcards or other souvenirs in the 70's, you got this sweet bag too!

Let's move forward to the 1980's.

Hey Rapidsnerd!

Besides rides, SFOG used to actually have some good shows too...like Mega Dolphins.

In 1982, the park continued operations until late November!

Discount #1...score!

With this coupon receive a WHOPPING $1 off the park admission price. It's good at Astroworld too.

This coupon is a better deal offering $2.50 off the admission price!

Hello my name is Mark, and yes I am a park souvenir hoarder.

Hoarder example #2.

Hoarder example #3.

Hoarder example #4.

Every SFOG fan should own this book.

The book features many black & white photos of attractions long gone from the park.

Let's check out my SFOG souvenir book from the 1970's. Here's the cover featuring a two tone blue sky!

Here's the intro page noting when the park featured a new bird show and a "crazy" new swing ride - The Highland Fling. Jolly jolly jolly.

Gasp!

Here is the park entrance before the "Main Street" shops were later added.

Can you say "Antebellum"? I knew that you could.

Mega dolphins!

WARNING...beneath these waters lies SHARKTOPUS!!!

Schwarzkopfian goodness.

Better than Shock Wave!

SFOG had TWO intertwined log flume rides in the 70's.

Take the tunnel!

Hey Chicago...what's up?

I miss you Mo Mo, but at least The Wheelie is still here although not in the USA section anymore.

Exclusive centerfold!

Saying "Okefenokee" is even more fun than saying "antebellum"!

I'd forgotten all about the Buford Buzzard show. Did you know Buford's cousin lives up north at Mystery Mine???

Fiesta de Ninos.

Everyone loves Mexican jumping beans!

We see you Mini-Mine Train.

Does anyone recognize these furries?

Let's say "antebellum" again, shall we?

Giant paper flowers were all the rage in the 70's.

INTAMIN ARROW INTAMIN.

Hey Dollywood...how's it going?

More flags more fun.

See you next weekend Mind Bender! Be sure to send this thread LOTS of birthday love, and see you all in two weeks for the next update!!!

Edited September 8, 2010 by thrillerman1

[rollin_n_coastin]

Happy Birthday Paradise! Wow, congrats on the three years of cool stuff!

 

Mark, love the addition of the other brochures, really completes the picture. I really would love to try one of those parachute towers one day. SFoG still is a nice looking park I think. I'd go back just for Mind Bender.

[larrygator]

Awesome - that ticket booklet from KD confirms that the flyers used to be called Parrot Troopers.

 

Mark - do you remember Buford Buzzard? We had a Percy Pelican show at SFGAdv in the late 70's-early 80's. The puppet did a lot of cursing and I remember on a school trip many mothers were very upset about Percy's salty langauge.

Edited August 30, 2010 by larrygator

[thrillerman1]

Happy Birthday Paradise! Wow, congrats on the three years of cool stuff!

 

Mark, love the addition of the other brochures, really completes the picture. I really would love to try one of those parachute towers one day. SFoG still is a nice looking park I think. I'd go back just for Mind Bender.

 

Thanks for the warm birthday wishes Jason. I've saved you a piece of cake! I'm glad you're enjoying these expanded updates. It really is fun and interesting to look back at how parks have morphed over the years. Hurry to SFGAdv or SFOT and ride one of those parachutes towers while you still can. Oh and if you're doing the TPR Japan trip next year, you could ride the one at La Qua in Tokyo. I remember as a fifth grader that SFOG's parachutes really did take my breath away on the drop. I'm not sure if it was a total free fall before the cable grabbed the ride carriage, but it sure felt like it back then. Years later not so much, so either the ride was tamed or my memory is slightly skewed.

 

Awesome - that ticket booklet from KD confirms that the flyers used to be called Parrot Troopers.

 

Mark - do you remember Buford Buzzard? We had a Percy Pelican show at SFGAdv in the late 70's-early 80's. The puppet did a lot of cursing and I remember on a school trip many mothers were very upset about Percy's salty langauge.

 

Larry, I vaguely remember Buford. He was quite witty if memory serves correct. That is crazy about Percy Pelican. I wonder how long that show lasted before it got canned by MAPP lol. It's too bad that most of these puppet characters have been done away with, but fortunately Dollywood still has theirs last I visited. I seem to remember one at USH (maybe it was Shrek themed?) a few years ago too. Yeah, that was a clever name for KD's flyers - glad to confirm for you.

[jynx242]

Thanks for the update! I was going to SFoG during those years and fondly remember Buford the Buzzard making fun of random people in the crowd. I worked there in 86 and 87 and remember Splashwater Falls being the new attraction. I still have the employee yearbook that they used to put out every year.

 

 

Good times, good times.....

 

Mindbender is defintely in my to 10 to this day! Awesome Schwartzkopf goodness!!

 

 

David

[thrillerman1]

^ I would enjoy seeing Buford make a return visit to the park. Quick...somebody start an online petition or Facebook page! I think the years you worked at SFOG was around the time period when I temporarily lost my park/coaster enthusiamness. I did come back to my senses and go shortly thereafter to get the Z-Force credit.

[Guy T. Koepp]

Happy 3rd Paradise! May you have enough postcards to last another million!

 

Guy "That's a lot of postcards!" Koepp