Dorney Park and Wildwater Kingdom Discussion Thread

[SkyToro]

My guess is 3 classic flats.

[boldikus]

I was thinking that was the complete document with all additions included.

[rwk]

Any new news on the haunt going in Desolation's spot? Haven't been at the park in a couple weeks. Also, MHH is getting work done to it and Asylum might get a new name and improvements. Most of the other attractions are returning this year, Trick or Treat, Grave Walkers, Cornstalkers, Chamber of Horrors, etc.

[TyRush]

Maybe it's 3 different S&S towers...oh wait.

[SteelForceless]

Maybe it's 3 different S&S towers...oh wait.

Wouldn't mind a Chik-Fil-A stand to go in this park tbh

[Physical]

Maybe it's 3 different S&S towers...oh wait.

 

Don't be ridiculous, we already have 3 drop towers.

[Vonni]

DELETED BY USER

[coneyislandchris]

Was at the park on Saturday with my son for a brief stretch. We hit all four of the coasters he was able to ride (so no inverts or Hydra), and he managed to get on his third mine train -- I mean, his first hypercoaster! Steel Force is definitely a good intro to hypers for him since it's one of the tamer ones out there. He absolutely loved it, especially the helix and the bunny hops near the end. Biggest surprise of the day was the relaxed reride policy; we rode Thunderhawk three times in a row. (Of course, it helped that there was no one else in the station when we got back each time, so...) Other than the coasters, we hit up a bunch of the flat rides. I do have to say, Dorney's collection of flats is pretty decent. Lots of the ones I remember from when I was a kid and are very youngster-friendly. I'm especially glad to see that the Zephyr train is still up and running as it's a very nice change of pace from everything else there.

 

All in all, we were there for just a little over three hours before visiting family, and got in just about everything we wanted to do. Considering we're making the trip to PA on a more regular basis these days, I have a strong suspicion we'll be back soon.

[DorneyKid14]

Could we possibly see one of these return?

[Philrad71]

^ I'd vote Skooters if they could make them run like the ones at Knoebels.

 

But you know that won't happen, so I'll vote Bucket Of Blood despite not even knowing what the hell it is...it just sounds cool.

[Mr. Corn]

Deleted

[SteelForceless]

^ I'd vote Skooters if they could make them run like the ones at Knoebels.

 

But you know that won't happen, so I'll vote Bucket Of Blood despite not even knowing what the hell it is...it just sounds cool.

I don't know exactly what Bucket of Blood was (guessing a haunted dark ride) but it burned down in 1985 when a fire started in the park.

[coasterbill]

Well you can probably figure out which one I want based on the avatar. Please don't get Bumper Cars. The crappy flyers shouldn't even be allowed in the same state as Knoebels. I can't imagine the complete abomination modern Bumper cars would be.

[DorneyKid14]

Well you can probably figure out which one I want based on the avatar. Please don't get Bumper Cars. The crappy flyers shouldn't even be allowed in the same state as Knoebels. I can't imagine the complete abomination modern Bumper cars would be.

 

You would be surprised at the amount of people that ask me were the bumper cars are.

[coasterbill]

Well you can probably figure out which one I want based on the avatar. Please don't get Bumper Cars. The crappy flyers shouldn't even be allowed in the same state as Knoebels. I can't imagine the complete abomination modern Bumper cars would be.

 

You would be surprised at the amount of people that ask me were the bumper cars are.

 

Tell them they're at Knoebels and give them directions.

[rwk]

Bucket O' Blood was a spooky dark ride. It had different names over the years since the 30's, and was Bucket O' Blood from 1974-1983. It had a pirate theme. It burned in a freak fire on Sept. 28, 1983 that also took out the park's Le Grande Carrousel which was located about where Dominator is now. I have some good pics of it that I saved from ebay auctions of old Dorney photos. There's also an article at laff in the dark website about the past dark rides of Dorney Park with photos. I rode it several times before the fire. Bucket O' Blood was located about where the Musik Express is, which has been at the park since 1984. It was similar to Cedar Point's Pirate Ride, which closed after 1996. This guy has the surviving cars from the Bucket O' Blood! http://www.sinistershadows.com/blog/?tag=pretzel-ride He's somewhere in PA, York, I think. Someone in Fleetwood, PA auctioned off a Bucket O' Blood car several years ago, and I think that guy bought it. They were different colors from blue to red, some were like the cars at Knoebel's Haunted House, the blue ones had pirate scenes on them. After going through two sets of double doors, you went through a spinning tunnel like this

then a large room with pirate scenes, then a hallway with glowing rib cage bones I believe, like this

 

and a few other scenes then the exit. I forget what some of the scenes were. In 1982 or 1983 a loud horn was added before the exit doors and scared the crap out of me. Here are some pics showing the Bucket O' Blood and http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_cVF2LlOx6Zc/Sk6yGDRWZBI/AAAAAAAAJPc/qXhUMe4Ohls/s1600-h/WalkingTour2.jpg Some after fire pics from late Sept. 1983 http://mcall.imagefortress.com/search/index?adv%5Bquery%5D=%40folder_extended_description+%22Dorney+Park+%7C+South+Whitehall%2C+%7C+9%2F27%2F1987+%7C+See+Also%3A+Fires+%7C+Dorney+Park+%7C+South+Whiteheall%2C+%7C+11%2F28%2F1989%22

 

Anyone remember when parking was 50 cents in 1982 and 1983? Then, in 1985 it was $1.00, in 1990 $1.50, that was back when you went through the white parking tower at the lower entrance, and upper parking was where Talon is now, now parking is $20.00! What happened? Why did parking prices rise THAT much over 34 years? Parking just rose by $5 this year. Bob Ott and Harris Weinstein who ran the park from 1967-1984, and 1985-1992 both passed away, Ott March 2007 a month after his wife in Allentown area, they lived at Luther Crest behind Kmart on Tilghman St. for several years, their son Bob is living in Florida, and Weinstein late October, 2014 in Florida, with a memorial service at Good Time Theatre at the park. Manager Craig Cope is in Florida, and PR Michael Crowther in Indianaoplis, he took a job at the zoo, and Weinstein's wife Debora, Stephen Plarr's daughter, Stephen was Robert Plarr's son and Bob F. Ott's wife's Sally (Sarah)'s brother. Bob Plarr and Steve Plarr both passed in the late 60's, and Ott took over. And about bumper cars, two major parks in the northeast that probably attract the most people currently have no bumper cars. Dorney Park and Six Flags Great Adventure. SFGA's were closed several years ago, building used for storage of ride parts and the bumper cars, and Dorney's were torn down with the coaster building after 1994, and Krazy Kars, (formerly Disco Dodge before 1992) were razed for Demon Drop. DP used to have two bumper car rides from the 70's through 1994, then only Krazy Kars was left. KK were gasoline powered round karts, and Disco Dodge were electric powered bumper cars like the Skooters in the coaster building. Skooters went around in an oval, but Disco Dodge/Krazy Kars were freeform bumper cars in a circular building. Rides like dark rides, antique car rides, sky rides/cable car rides, log flumes, steam trains, are among the types of rides parks are likely to remove because of the high costs of operation and maintenance, and sometimes low popularity and capacity issues. And age.

[coneyislandchris]

Thanks for posting those photos. Very interesting to see that so few of those rides or attractions from that brochure are actually still around these days. If that carousel is the same one near the new main entrance, it's a shame what condition they've let it fall into. It's literally one of the most beat up carousels that I've seen in the area.

 

And about bumper cars, two major parks in the northeast that probably attract the most people currently have no bumper cars. Dorney Park and Six Flags Great Adventure. SFGA's were closed several years ago, building used for storage of ride parts and the bumper cars, and Dorney's were torn down with the coaster building after 1994, and Krazy Kars, (formerly Disco Dodge before 1992) were razed for Demon Drop. DP used to have two bumper car rides from the 70's through 1994, then only Krazy Kars was left. KK were gasoline powered round karts, and Disco Dodge were electric powered bumper cars like the Skooters in the coaster building. Skooters went around in an oval, but Disco Dodge/Krazy Kars were freeform bumper cars in a circular building. Rides like dark rides, antique car rides, sky rides/cable car rides, log flumes, steam trains, are among the types of rides parks are likely to remove because of the high costs of operation and maintenance, and sometimes low popularity and capacity issues. And age.

I remember both of Dorney's bumper cars from my childhood. The Skooters were located inside the middle of the coaster, weren't they? And the Disco Dodge was a hovercraft style one. Though, actually, SFGA does have bumper cars once again; they opened a new Fender Benders back in 2012 after being gone for several years. Would be nice if Dorney could do the same.

[rwk]

No, that carousel burned down in the Sept. 28, 1983 fire that burned the Bucket O' Blood. Disco Dodge was electric powered bumper cars with a pole. Krazy Kars 1992 and up was the hovercraft gas powered ones. Dorney's current antique carousel came from Cedar Point in 1995.

[michaellynn4]

What was Iceberg?

 

EDIT: Ok, so I did what I always tell others to do and use the Google. Indoor PTC Cuddle-Up, whatever the f**k that is. Pictures seem like some sort of discount teacup ride, is that about right?

[coneyislandchris]

EDIT: Ok, so I did what I always tell others to do and use the Google. Indoor PTC Cuddle-Up, whatever the f**k that is. Pictures seem like some sort of discount teacup ride, is that about right?

Air-conditioned teacups in the dark. It was the best. RIP.

[DirkFunk]

Man, Dorney pre-fire was another super rad PA traditional park. Compared to now post-Kinzelfying where there's massive concrete walking paths to production model coasters? Take the Impulse, Invertigo, Mouse, hell, take Talon and give me back the wacky rides with impressive facades.

[rwk]

I feel the same way about Wildwood, NJ. Give me back Hunt's Pier, Fun Pier and Castle Dracula. Now Morey's runs almost everything and it's mostly off the shelf rides. Although they do have the Ghost Ship, a custom built haunted walkthrough built in 2010. Castle Dracula at the former Nickels Midway Pier burned Jan 16, 2002, was built 1977. And Dante's Dungeon (formerly Inferno) and Pirate's of Wildwood (formerly Dark River added 1992). The former Hunt's Pier/Dinosaur Beach is now go-karts, Morey's maintenance shop, storage, tram car storage, mirror maze, etc. But back in the 60's, 70's and 80's it was a nice amusement pier with themed rides. The Golden Nugget Mine Ride was rebuilt at Knoebels a few years ago as Black Diamond. After Dino Beach closed, the Nugget sat closed from 1999-2009. It was also closed in 1992 and 1995. The Nugget building on the pier was razed Feb 2009 and props saved by Morey's and the Wildwood historical society but track and cars went to Knoebels. Knoebels does a good job saving historical rides. They have one of the best haunted house rides, other good haunted rides are at Rehoboth Beach, DE and Ocean City, MD. The Haunted House and Pirate's Cove in Ocean City, MD were built by the late Bill Tracy who also did work on Dorney's former dark rides and on Fun and Hunt's Pier in Wildwood, NJ on dark attractions in the 60's. He passed away August, 1974. He was also responsible for the Alfundo head that used to be at the old Dorney entrance on top of the old coaster building.

[Jcoaster]

Wow, Dorney looked so badass back in the day. Too bad Cedar Fair happened.

[coasterbill]

Man, Dorney pre-fire was another super rad PA traditional park. Compared to now post-Kinzelfying where there's massive concrete walking paths to production model coasters? Take the Impulse, Invertigo, Mouse, hell, take Talon and give me back the wacky rides with impressive facades.

 

As long as I get to keep Thunder Creek Mountain then I'm totally on board.

[I Like Theme Parks.]

But the Bucket of Blood and weird indoor iceberg teacup things sounded like pretty silly but charming and fun rides. And also if Dorney stayed independent (or at least with a company like Palace), Thunderhawk may have never been trimmed and it would have been re-tracked more often. If Dorney Park went the Knoebels/Kennywood route by being an old-school park that also has new modern rides, that alternate timeline may have still had Talon being built.