thrillerman1 Posted October 25, 2011 Author Share Posted October 25, 2011 Has anyone made it out to the Worlds of Fun "Project 31" exhibit at Union Station in Kansas City? http://www.unionstation.org/rollercoaster.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thrillerman1 Posted October 31, 2011 Author Share Posted October 31, 2011 (edited) Happy Halloween from Germany's Hansa Park and my personal fav Eurofighter coaster...Fluch Von Novgorod! The theming on FVN was not even finished when I visited with TPR in 2009, but it was still pretty ominous, and the scare actor in the exit maze was a total shocker surprise. YIKES! This is a great park which includes a really awesome old school Schwarzkopf coaster in addition to the many other great attractions which I hope to revisit again someday. Hansa Park's entrance is a little bit foreboding looking with the witch hat turrets. Thanks to my good friend Robin of the TPR Brit Crew for providing this awesome postcard of FVN. This scan in no way does it justice as the "holographic" postcard actually changes images depending on the viewing angle! Thanks Robin! Here's the park brochure from 2009 when I visited with TPR...mmmmmm I like bats! More Fluch goodness from 2009! Edited October 31, 2011 by thrillerman1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robinschroder Posted October 31, 2011 Share Posted October 31, 2011 Hansa Park rocks!! Happy Halloween! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thrillerman1 Posted November 21, 2011 Author Share Posted November 21, 2011 Dollywood...who can get enough...I mean seriously?! This park rules no doubt, and here's a mid-Autumn look at the park both current and way back when it was known as Silver Dollar City. Please post your comments! Fall Festival postcard TPR loves Dolly! No...not Missouri but that park is cool too! This is how the Smoky Mountains get their name Can you smell and taste the awesome cinnamon bread yet??? I see you Inventor's Mansion Anybody remember The Rainmaker? Kraftwerk Flooded Mine! Blazing Fury has been a staple of the park for EONS (look that word up kids)! Dollywood had a Trabant? Who knew. Do any TPR members have the Cloud Grabber credit?!? I miss my first ever Log Flume ride. Centerfold A Centerfold B Dolly is totally SPECIAL. Mountain folk are the coolest people. Hey y'all! Ghost Town in the Sky is just on the other side of the hill in Maggie Valley...awwwwwww. We'll end this with what I think might be a TPR donkey. I love you Dollywood!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thrillerman1 Posted December 19, 2011 Author Share Posted December 19, 2011 Oh by golly...well you know the rest. Here's part 2 of a Dollywood update, and Merry Christmas TPR! A tender Tennessee Christmas anyone? In my opinion the Christmas shows at Dollywood are awesome! Here's a preview of coming 2008 attractions... Thanks for being awesome, Dollywood! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ernierocker Posted December 20, 2011 Share Posted December 20, 2011 Always love seeing old photos of Dollywood/Silver Dollar City. I want to say I rode The Cloud Grabber, as I vaguely remember riding something like that. Â Also, the Rainmaker still exists and is now located along the pathway to Timber Canyon. Not sure how similar/different it is from its original incarnation. Â Great update! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robinschroder Posted December 20, 2011 Share Posted December 20, 2011 A Merry Christmas to you Mark! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thrillerman1 Posted December 21, 2011 Author Share Posted December 21, 2011 Thanks Robin, and Merry Christmas to you too! Â Edit to add: ^^ I wonder if the Cloud Grabber was the same ride that was at SFOG. Seems like it was at SFOT at one time too and if memory serves correct it came from a world's fair??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thrillerman1 Posted February 17, 2012 Author Share Posted February 17, 2012 Speaking of world's fairs, I've been sand bagging on this update for about 30 years (my bad), so here's a look at the 1982 Knoxville World's Fair (sorry no postcard - just 30 year old memorabilia and photos shot with my fancy pocket cam). Can you find Bart Simpson? The one and only...Sunsphere Tower! The 1982 World's Fair was all about energy. PURE ENERGY Dig on the 1980's art work that reminds me of all that glorious theme park art at the time. Outside of White Castle, The Sunsphere Tower is quite possibly the most iconic and greatest piece of architecture in the whole southeast USA. Is anyone else reminded a little bit of EPCOT? EPCOT...are you ready for your close-up? What's Kodak? Here's the EPCOT map from 1982. I want you to want me, and I love rock and roll. YES please! We see you SFOG. Sneaky sneaky. Little Debbie, you're cute. The Swiss Cake rolls are still the best! Here's your ticket. Let's go inside. I owe this dear lady my life and love for all things related to theme parks. Thanks, Mom. And here she is in JAPAN! I absolutely LOVE you Japan and you too, Mom! The 1982 World's Fair was built right next to the campus of the University of Tennessee in downtown Knoxville. Nevermind the Vols stadium...look at the RIDES! The midway with the gigantasaurous Vekoma wheel and bumper cars to the left, flume to the right. Oh and we see you one of the first inverting swinging ship rides. Are you ready for your close-up one of the first inverting swinging ship rides? This one doesn't invert, but it's still cool too. Have you watched the TPR Wheelie documentary lately? It's a Vekoma. Intamin? Flume layout and a very historic look back at the UT campus from the gigantasaurous Vekoma wheel. Wha?! Wait for it... The one and only - the mighty SCHWARZKOPF Thanks Kodak and you too TPR for checking out this update! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beatle11 Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 Nice update...and I couldn't resist posting this. Â http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaZKx_nXaCs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thrillerman1 Posted February 17, 2012 Author Share Posted February 17, 2012 ^THANK YOU! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ernierocker Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 Such a cool update! Seeing how I was 3 years old when I went to this, I don't have too vivid of a memory of anything. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nrthwnd Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 I sooooo wanted to get to this World's Fair, Mark! (The one right before ours here in 1986, too.)  And somewhere, packed safely away here - are actual one-day admission tix. we bought ahead of time, up here in Vancouver! Mint cond. pretty sure  And then plans changed - and I couldn't get to it.  A past Regret. But thankyou for sharing the flyer and photos, Mark! It looked like a really cool fair, with how it was set up with the buildings and landscaping, etc.  (That Jet 400 looked pretty sexy too, lol.)  EDIT to add: "Official Film of the 1982 World's Fair." Poor, poor Kodak. I also find it amazing how much pix and print, parks put into (in those days) their guides and/or flyers, for helping people get 'the right shot' with tips for focusing, framing, etc. And the selected "Kodak Photo Spots" on the park/fair maps too, heh heh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thrillerman1 Posted February 18, 2012 Author Share Posted February 18, 2012 Yeah Bill I figured you of all people would enjoy the Kodak blurbs in the flyers. It'll be interesting to see if film makes a comeback sort of like vinyl records have more recently. Â It's funny how World's Fairs don't seem to be such a big deal anymore...at least not that I'm aware of in the US. Back in the 80's, there was the New Orleans '84 fair after Knoxville's and then as Bill mentioned the '86 Vancouver fair...all within a relatively short span of time. Now I can't remember the last time I heard of a new fair. Â As mentioned in the Simpson's video, here's a bonus photo I took of the giant motorized Rubic's Cube (and Mom) at the Hungarian pavilion! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simon8899 Posted February 18, 2012 Share Posted February 18, 2012 Hey- the World Fair from the Simpsons episode.... Â Intamin? Â Not quite - though I dont know about distribution overseas - this is a Weber Traumboot (Dreamboat) made by german showmen-turned-manufacturer Weber. His company was later sold/aquired/merged (???) to become HUSS rides. The Traumboot is a predecessor to the HUSS Ranger. Â I prefer the Traumboot over the Ranger as the cabin is taller so better for taller guys like me. Today those Traumboots are still in operation in Mexico City Feira De Chapultepec and in the Netherlands at Attractiepark Slagharen. And of course this were designed to be portable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geauga Dog Posted February 18, 2012 Share Posted February 18, 2012 It's funny how World's Fairs don't seem to be such a big deal anymore...at least not that I'm aware of in the US. Back in the 80's, there was the New Orleans '84 fair after Knoxville's and then as Bill mentioned the '86 Vancouver fair...all within a relatively short span of time. Now I can't remember the last time I heard of a new fair. Â Shanghai had a World Expo last year. Â As a kid I was fascinated with the '82 Worlds Fair even though I never had the chance to visit so thanks for posting this update. I think the Sunsphere is awesome. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thrillerman1 Posted February 20, 2012 Author Share Posted February 20, 2012 I'm wondering who here has actually been up in the Sunsphere Tower and has pictures to prove? Â Thanks to everyone who has commented on this update! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cfc Posted February 20, 2012 Share Posted February 20, 2012 Holy crap, "Up with People" was there. The horror . . . the horror . . . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doom1001 Posted February 20, 2012 Share Posted February 20, 2012 Anyone got video of the giant motorized Rubiks cube,just seeing the pic blew me away!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thrillerman1 Posted February 25, 2012 Author Share Posted February 25, 2012 Interesting vid from the 2012 World Expo in Yeosu, Korea...I can't wait to get there someday. Â Â Sorry if the vid doesn't work. Maybe a mod can fix??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nrthwnd Posted February 27, 2012 Share Posted February 27, 2012 ^ Â But - where is the amusement section (i.e. coaster{s})? Â Â Actually, it really does look like a lovely layout, Mark. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thrillerman1 Posted March 24, 2012 Author Share Posted March 24, 2012 Any requests? I'm kinda at a loss and trying to decide what to add next. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
netdvn Posted March 26, 2012 Share Posted March 26, 2012 I'd love to see some Busch/Sea World stuff, although as long as the update is full of old stuff, I don't have a problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thrillerman1 Posted March 26, 2012 Author Share Posted March 26, 2012 I've been sandbagging on Busch for a while now. Time to fire up the scanner. Thanks for the suggestion, and I'll have it up soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thrillerman1 Posted April 1, 2012 Author Share Posted April 1, 2012 You want old Busch stuff, you got old Busch stuff... Â Turns out antique stores and flea markets are great places to find amusement and theme park postcards, which is where I bought these Old Swiss House cards from Busch Gardens Africa. I wish I knew the exact year of the brochure, but I've had it ever since I can remember, and a quick Google search revealed that Boma was added to the park in the late 1960's, so we'll go with that. Enjoy! These ladies are having a fine time in front of the Old Swiss House, and as evidenced by their fashions and the sparse landscaping around the house, I'm guessing this photo is from the late 1960's. Here's the house in 1972 where you can see that the greenery is much more lush. We see you Wild Eagle. This one's for all the monorail fanboys, myself included, and also the golf cart enthusiasts. Rejoice! Let's move along to this gorgeous 1960's brochure. Love that font and the giraffes! Look out little girl...that giraffe is going to eat you! BGA was touting their new area, Boma, in the late 1960's. Today this area is Nairobi. Take that Animal Kingdom. Buckminster Fuller fans take note though it's not quite Spaceship Earth. Stairway to the Stars (aka world's longest escalator to a brewery tour) A map of the park in the late 1960's Attraction #12 - "Dark Room" for all you camera film buffs! Hope you all enjoyed this look back at the early days of Busch Gardens Africa! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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