Park Memories of yesteryear

[coasterboy76]

So after I started the thread about the Revolution, I noticed a bunch of responses from the older generation of coaster fans, and then it got me thinking..

 

For the members here that rememeber the amusement park going experience of the 70's, what are some of YOUR fondest memories from going to your favorite park when you were growing up.. it could be favorite ride, store, restaurant, etc..

 

 

 

[Chris Benvenuto]

It may not be the 70's but I have alot of memories of when Power Tower at CP opened and when Raptor give it's first rides ever.

 

 

And i remember banging my head on a side of a wildcat car back in '95

[coasterboy76]

I remember when we used to have this coaster called the Jetscream, it was the first looping coaster I was ever on. but alas it got sold and moved...

[ebl]

I remember very well when there was a Busch Gardens in Los Angeles (Van Nuys, actually, right next to the Busch brewery). Unfortunately, I never took any pictures there.

 

Of course, as I've mentioned often, I've visited Magic Mountain at least once during each and every year it's been opened. I do have some old pictures of that park, as well as from Knott's in the '70s.

 

One day, I'll have to dig 'em all up, scan 'em, and put 'em up here.

 

Eric

[PhishyBrewer]

I remember very well when there was a Busch Gardens in Los Angeles (Van Nuys, actually, right next to the Busch brewery). Unfortunately, I never took any pictures there.

 

And if Shlitz brewing didn't go belly up and Budweiser pulled ahead, Busch Gardens LA would still be there today.

 

It was taken out for expansion of the brewery.

[cfc]

^Now here's a bizarre park-related memory for you: How I went to Busch Gardens in LA, yet never went to the park at all.

 

Sherman, set the Wayback machine for the year 1980 (at least I think that's the year). I was an ornamental horticulture (OH) major at Cal Poly, SLO (ended up with an English degree--long story). An OH buddy of mine and I decided to take a road trip south to check out Disneyland and Knott's over a three-day weekend. My buddy's real objective, however, was going to BG to score some free beer samples.

 

We barrelled down there in his pickup, pulled off the freeway, and tooled over to the brewery and the park, only to discover there was no park at all--just a big hole. My buddy, distraught over the thought of "no free beer for you today" actually made a Starsky and Hutch u-turn, tires squealing, in front of some rather big trucks (I freely admit to screaming like a little girl at the thought of being crushed by a Kenworth), and screeched to a halt in front of a rather bewildered Busch security guard, who was manning his post in a parking-lot kiosk. The guard calmly explained that the Gardens, the brewery tour, and the days of free beer were no more.

 

What some folks will do for free Bud . . .

 

Chuck "Might do that for Anchor Steam or Sierra Nevada Pale Ale" Campbell

[PhishyBrewer]

Chuck "Might do that for Anchor Steam or Sierra Nevada Pale Ale" Campbell

 

That reminds me... I still need to setup my tour with the fine folks at Anchor Brewing.

[dougr]

Ah, finally a thread to reminisce.

For me, it's Expo 86 in Vancouver, BC. There was the Looping Starship-originally to be called Challenger, but changed after the shuttle accident.

There was the tower with Parachute-style gondolas.

There was a log ride.

There were TWO 3-D IMAX movies.

There was the GM pavillion, now Spirit Lodge at Knott's.

Then there was The Scream Machine-two loops and two corkscrews-not bad for 1986.

After the fair the Scream Machine was moved to St Louis, where it is now the Ninja.

The Looping Starship. Talk about hang-time! Lots of loose change underneath this ride. Note World's tallest free-standing flagpole with world's largest hockey stick, eh.

The Parachute Tower

Scream Machine

[cfc]

I really miss those pararchute rides--the old Sky Jump at Knott's was great.

[pianojohn]

Well, ever since I can remember, my parents would take the kids (6 of us) to Cedar Point every summer. I have pictures from 1972 on, and here's what I remember and miss:

 

1976 The first year for the Corkscrew. The line was probably an hour long, and people were just amazed that a coaster could go upside down.

 

1978 The first year for Gemini. I waited about an hour for that as well, and the coaster looked so great those first few years. The wood was very light in color, and the trains had this awesome prism logo on the front that changed colors in the sun.

 

What I miss: Shoot the Rapids in Frontier Town. This was a great log flume type ride with wooden boats and troughs. We usually ended up waiting about a half hour every time we rode it.

 

The Fun House right next to the old Wildcat on the beach. This is where Oceana is now. It was a cool walk through with an upside down room, a cave like room, a slanted room, some type of mirror maze, and a sprial slide to exit.

 

But most of all, I miss the Pirate Ride and Earthquake. They were both custom dark rides, and Earthquake was so non-PC it was funny. "I predict an earthquake in your future!"

[coasterboy76]

I remember when admission to Six Flags St. Louis-- was 7.95 and a season pass was 14.00 parking was only 3.00!! and a full meal didn't cost you 30.00, and you got to ride a tram to and from the parking lot.

[Cdn Mndbndr]

^^^^ The Looping Starship from Expo `86 wound up at Astroworld, but with the closing of the park.... It most likely is now scrap unless someone else knows otherwise?

[ebl]

^^ Magic Mountain's admission price in 1971 was $5.00 for adults, $3.50 for kids under 12. Parking was $1.00, I believe, or maybe even 50 cents.

 

My first visit, August 20, 1971, I got in for $3.50 even though I'd turned 12 on August 1. (My folks told 'em I was 11 and they bought it!) Our entire family of seven got in for $29.00 that day! And my dad about had a stroke at that amount!

 

Eric

[coasterboy76]

just mentioned this in another thread, thought I would mention it here as well.

 

back in the day (70's) on the roller coasters, we used to try and get everyone on the coaster train to clap going up the first hill, we called it a "train boogie" sounds really stupid I know, but when you get 30 people clapping at the same time, in unison, its alot of fun!

[FlyingScooter]

My fondest park memories were from Euclid Beach with my mom and dad.

My mom would take me on the Thriller, Racing Coaster and Flying Turns. My dad would take me on the Bug, FlyingScooters and other flats.

We'd go there about 5 times a summer.

They'd walk me up to Laughing Sal, and i'd freak out.

Hard to believe that was like 36 yrs ago.

 

I can still smell that park when i think about it. The TAffy, Custard, popcorn balls, mixed with the electric smell of the Dodgems.

[Swimace]

While I can't comment on the 70's, I can give you some memories from the early 90's. Let's see, when I think of theme parks as a little kid I think of The Magic Kingdom. I remember loving Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, expecially the end segment where you get run over by a train and go to hell. Did one track go to heaven? I can't remember, but I vividly remember the train and hell (now every time I go on Dudley Do-Right I think of Mr. Toad because they have an almost identical train segment). I also remember 20,000 Legues Under the sea, although not as vividly as Mr. Toad. I remember the station, getting in and out of the submarine, what the inside of the sub looked like, and I remember looking out the window and seeing a shark and a mermaid. I also remember the ride that used to be where Buzz Lightyear is today. I think it was called take flight, I just remember the song word for word and a tunnel segment that made you feel like you were going really fast. I also remember seeing Splash Mountain under construction and testing. I was also a big fan of the Lion King attraction, but oddly enough I only remember the pre-show. I still have a Lion King thing from the gift shop.

 

 

From other parks I rember seeing Tower of Terror under construction and the Ninja Turtles characters from MGM. I also remember Horizons at EPCOT and the Sea Cabs from the Living Seas. Actually, before I got interested in Theme Parks, I went back to the living seas (maybe 5 years ago?) and went to the living seas and was like "WTF, where's the ride? I could have sworn we got on a ride after the elevators. You mean I waited to get on the elevators just to see a bunch of interactive stuff?"

 

 

I was actually just looking for some spare change under my bed and I found a coin from the Magic Kingdom. It looks like an arcade coin of some sort and it says "Magic Kingdom, 1995" on one side with an oldschool castle emblem and says "The Lion King, Simba" on the other side with a mugshot of Simba engraved in the center. I literally just found this like 20 minutes ago, which is kinda cool.

[larrygator]

Great Adventure 1974 - My dad, sister, brother and two cousins go on the Ferris Wheel. My dad drags my Aunt Mary unwillingly until the ride. The fiberglass "doors" to the gondola were about two feet high and similar to a miniature swinging gate as in a wild west saloon. We get to the top and my Aunt starts screaming and yelling that she wants out. My dad puts his arm around my aunt and says "sure" as he pushes the gates doors open and acts like he is going to force her out. Safety was a little different back then.

[rollermonkey]

Canobie Lake Park mid to late 70's before there was a corkscrew, log flume, shoot the chutes, etc.

 

Benson's Animal Farm. Same period.

 

Those are the parks I remember as a kid.