PHOTO TR: Cleaning out my closet. Lot's of old pictures

[thrillrider]

Ok....Time for a HUGE update.

 

This time around, we have a few more old cedar point pictures, a behind the scenes look at mean streak, and some more geauga lake pictures.

 

Enjoy....

Remember the old dodgems? They used to be where top thrill dragsters tower is now. The bumper cars have made there way to michigans adventure.

Another shot of the I don't know how to spell it ride.

White water landings drop.

The main entrance of wwl. The line was longer than what shoot the rapids line today.

One of the halloween shows at peanuts playground.

Ok, now on to our behind the scenes tour of mean streak.

Some of the rides structure.

A train full of people wizzing by.

Looking up into the structure.

You don't relize how big the structure of this ride is, untill you stand inside of the structure.

What happens when the ride rolls back? They use a crane to get it off the track.

The lift hill chain in all of it's greasy glory.

A walk up the lift, gives way to a great reverse shot of the lift.

The transfer track controles.

Track porn.

I hope nobody sends a train.

A beautiful sunset every night on lake erie.

Mean streaks computer room.

The advanced computer that runs the ride.

A lot of coaster geeks would want to shut this off. What is it you ask.....Well it's what controls the trims on the first drop.

Spare bolts and other ride parts.

The lift motor.

The coasters control panel.

Monitors, so they can keep an eye on you.

Lap bar anyone?

Or how about some lift hill chain?

A view of the ride from the block brakes.

The block brakes.

Ok....now a few more looks at geauga lake. This was the flume ride.

Another look at the main midway fountain.

Batman....err....dominators sign.

Beer tap.

Dominators test seat. I love how they just scraped off the batman logo.

Texas twister.

I spent a lot of money on the beer slide.

Another park booklet.

I think this was from 2002.

Looks like fun.

[bhartley]

This stuff is great.. Keep posting please..

[willh51]

For some reason I first thought, oh I didn't know Geauga was open in the 1970s. But then I saw X-Flight. What a difference film makes! My pictures from parks in the 1990s/early 2000s were normally on those Kodak disposables and they look so old.

[thrillrider]

I know.

There is a big difference in digital, and film. I wish I had a digital camera back then. At the time, I was using an advantex camera. I thought it was all that and a bag of chips back then.

 

Geauga lake was around for a hundred years. At least until cedarfair took over.

[ajc47]

I know.

There is a big difference in digital, and film. I wish I had a digital camera back then. At the time, I was using an advantex camera. I thought it was all that and a bag of chips back then.

 

Geauga lake was around for a hundred years. At least until cedarfair took over.

 

119 to be exact (1888-2007.)

[thrillrider]

This next one is a gem.

 

It's the son of beast media kit.

Media kit cover.

A full sheet picture of son of beast.

I like this picture.

Cover letter.

About the ride.

Just the facts......

Gotta love the baby carrage.

Random pictures of park attractions included in the kit.

More.....

[CorkscrewFoley]

I'm loving the pics, Dave. keep 'em coming, my friend.

[thrillrider]

Thank you.

 

I have boxes of stuff to go thru yet. This is only about half a box full of amusement park crap that I have collected over the years. I just found a bunch of coaster wheels, and lap bar keys as well.

 

I will post some more this evening.

[bgwfreak777]

Just ran across this thread.

 

I never had heard of Boblo Island. Looks like it was a decent sized park too.

 

So were you a ride op on Mean Streak? If so, what years?

[thrillrider]

Boblo was about the size of lake compounce or holiday world. It was a great park, and it is a shame that it has closed down. They closed it to build a buch of condos, and they only sold a handful of those condos.

 

Yes...I worked on mean streak and several other rides.

[bgwfreak777]

Were you there in 99? That was my first trip to CP, you may have checked my restraint if so.

 

I had this thing with CP my first two trips. Every time I visited, the next year they built a major ride.

 

1999 visited, 2000 Millie

2002 visited, 2003 Dragster

2007 visited, 2008 Kite Eating Tree

[braztaz]

That baby carriage is epic

[coasterkyle]

Those MS shots are awesome, esp when I work on MS this summer. I wish they would bring back the white lighting bolts on the side of the trains.

[thrillrider]

Mean streak was a blast to work on.

[PKI Jizzman]

Awesome stuff! I know I have some old KI maps laying around somewhere..

[thrillrider]

I never realized I had so many geauga lake pictures.

 

Here are some pictures from the year after the park closed. I got some shots of whats left, and some of the waterpark.

 

WARNING!!!!

These pictures are very depressing.

The geauga lake hotel sign was still there.

I bet they have plenty of avalable rooms.

Ok...I still to this day can't understand why they open the booth on the right where the driver can't reach to pay. There is a booth just to the left. Wounden't it have made more sense?

This is where it started to get depresing. Remember when sea world was here? It was beautiful.

They really let this area go. It was such a nice park at one time.

The pirate 3d theater.

Leftover sea world decorations.

This is the area where the giant kids play structure once stood.

Now it's just a wasteland.

Some leftover park props.

I remember fighting my way thru the crowds here at one time.

Looking over to the park, you can see whats left of dominators station, and what I think is the log flume station.

Remember what the skyline used to look like?

They blocked off what was left of the floating bridge.

One of the last standing buildings left from the sea world days.

Big dipper, still standing proud.

You can see the peak of the log ride.

The rip cord, and paddleboat.

You can see raging wolf bobs poking thru the trees.

The stadium sits unused.

It was still in great shape.

At the gas station next to the park, I grabbed some gas and some shots of the park.

This was when el dorado was being shipped off to virginia. Big dipper just crying to run again.

Crane and some park stuff.

It was very depressing looking at the park this way.

Parking lot starting to fill with weeds, instead of cars.

Front gate, and a spiral staircase to something.

They even took the lights down.

Geauga lake closed....but not forgotton.

[sspaz1000]

You have some great history here. Loved the shots of Hercules at Dorney. That was my first "adult" coaster.

 

Geauga Lake looked like a wonderful park. I'm still kicking myself when my family and I went to Cedar Point the first time, we stopped over in Aurora, and went to Sea World. I had no idea at that time there was a Six Flags there (at least I think it was six flags).

 

I regret not getting to back out there. But at least I can look at your really awesome pictures.

 

 

Nicole

[thrillrider]

We had lost power tonight due to the storms, so my updates were slowed down.

 

Anyway, here is a cypress gardens booklet to hold you over till tommarow.

Cover.

Back.

Inside.

[rcg19]

Deleted by user

Edited December 29, 2010 by rcg19

[thrillrider]

I love the "69 years of fun and were just getting started".

[Skycoastin Steve]

This has been an awesome thread! As someone else already mentioned, I love seeing old pictures of parks that have had a lot of change since the pictures were taken, and the CP ones are definitely very cool!

[thrillrider]

I have a ton more to post. I also have a truckload of old park booklets as well.

 

I have some coaster wheels and lap bar keys, park flags,behind the scenes pictures and other surprises. I also have a HUGE disneyland trip report planned.

[Amy Baby]

this particular picture is when thrillrider and i had just recently gotten off the bumper car ride there and he had t-boned me and i had the cup next to me and on impact the cups lid went off and the pop splashed on me. i was not a happy camper.

[thrillrider]

Hahaha....now I remember.

 

And as I recall, you still owe me one.

[thrillrider]

I do have 1 picture of boblo island after all.

One of the coasters at boblo island.