Shane's Amusement Attic

And speaking of the Triple Wheel, whatever happened to both of them? Were they scrapped or sold to another park after removal from the Great America Parks? To my knowledge, the only two ever built were the ones for Marriott.

 

Eric

Well I can tell you about the Triple Wheel at the California Great America park as I was part of the team that was responsible for the installation of the Invertigo. The park wanted to take out the Triple Wheel since the hydraulics where shot and the control system needed to be updated.

The popularity of the ride did not justify the reinvestment so it was decided to use that site for the new coaster, which by the way was a last minute decision since the Morgan hyper coaster that was designed for the park was not approved by the city council.

The Triple Wheel was taken apart as to be resold and it was even listed on several used ride sites for several years. It was stored in the empty field behind the two log flumes until the site was needed for the addition of Stealth. The ride was then sold for scrap metal.

There were 4 triple wheels built, the two at the Marriott parks, one in Japan on the other in Korea. They have all been removed to make way for other attractions and my guess would be that they have all been scrapped. Bummer cause they were really great looking rides. I loved them, but I must admit they were more fun to look at than to ride.

ELITCH GARDENS the original

AstroWorld is the theme park I miss the most and Elitch Gardens is the traditional park I miss the most. They both met fates that I wish would have been different. Elitch was a beautiful park and traditional in every sense. The Gardens, The Architecture, The Sights and Sounds and The Rides.

Wild Cat was an out and back wooden coaster that traveled through the double helices of the incredible Mr. Twister. (the Mr. part of the name was shamefully dropped to be politically correct) Mr. Twister was a John Allen creation that when originally built was quite boring so the owners came back to him a couple years later and asked him to redesign it. He kept the twister part and added a couple of great drops before the original double helix and the ride was an instant hit!

The first time I visited Elitch Gardens I was with a small group of my coaster friends and we were on our way back to California from the RCBI (Roller Coaster Buffs International) convention at Six Flags over Texas. It was kind of out of the way but we felt Elitch Gardens was gonna be worth the trip. When we got to the park it was closed. When the few employees that were at the park heard the distance we had come they were nice enough to let us walk all around and under the rides. We really got to see up close those two coasters we wouldn't be able to ride. It sucked to be that close to those coasters and not be able to ride them.

I finally made it back to Elitch 4 years later and finally got to ride Mr. Twister. It was such an awesome ride and the new version, Twister II, doesn't even come close to the greatness of it's namesake.

This update is a little small just because I don't have a lot from the original park. Some press, photos, a couple of brochures and the highlight is a radio commercial for the three coasters. If any of you have anymore on this traditional park I would love to see it as I am sure many others would also. This park was loved not only by enthusiasts but also by Denver-ites. To have missed the original Elitch's truly was to have missed Denver.

Click here to see more GREAT photos of Wild Cat and Mr. Twister posted at Scott's Amusment Closet

-Shane

Elitch Gardens Radio Commercial

POV of the original Mr. Twister

http://youtube.com/watch?v=UG6q8-SMwys

Tom Selleck loved the Sea Dragon

Awww.... To bad I really can't remember my visits to this park. I have been told that the gardens were just amazing!

IMO That was the most interesting update so far, I've heard very little about the old gardens until now.

For those of us who remember riding Mr Twister, it truly is missed. Twister II can not compare at all, not even remotely. The speed, drops, twists and that amazing helix is what made that ride.....and in my opinion, very few coasters, even to this day, have come close to being as good.

^ I agree with you 100% but you forgot to mention Mr. Twister's tunnel on the turn, it was small and tight and taken at those high speeds it was quite scary.

While riding White Cyclone over at Nagashima Spa Land in Japan this past summer it had moments of Mr. Twister, it really took me back to what a great ride it was.

Click here to see more GREAT photos of Wild Cat and Mr. Twister posted at Scott's Amusment Closet

In his post you can see the the train racing out of the very small tunnel.

That second pic he posts, showing that first drop on Mr Twister....nice shot, what a great drop that was......

Such a shame that its gone now.. The new Elitches really isnt that great.

actually, its not that bad......with an extreme paint job, some new rides, and alot more garen areas, it could be very nice....oh, and trash twister II and use the same groundplans from the original and rebuild it!

I can just kick myself for not ever going to the original Elitch Gardens. It's not like Denver was THAT far from Southern California. Unfortunately, I just never got out much.

Thanks again for all of these updates. It's been a great way to tour old and defunct parks---all of them great in one way or another.

Eric

Did the old Elitch's take any rides with them to the new down town area park? The old Elitch's looked amazing and so beautiful. Too bad we can't say that about the new Elitch.

-Tatum

several rides were brought over from the original location.....the Sidewinder rollercoaster, the Great Chase rollercoaster, the Spider, the Viking, the swing ride, the Rainbow, the Tilt-a-Whirl, several kiddie rides, and I believe a few others as well.....all of which still remain except the Rainbow.....

Awesome awesome awesome. This what I've been waiting for. Takes me back to my early childhood. Thank you. The old Elitch's got me addicted to amusement parks.

In the old location of Elitch Gardens you could actually see the lift of the Lakeside Cyclone from the lift of Mr. Twister and visa-versa. Pretty cool to be in one park and see another coaster in another park.

VENTURE RIDE MFG.

Well when it comes to flat rides "I am into most things except Scat". OK, get your mind out of the gutter, Scat was a ride by Venture, they also made a little gem called the Cobra. These rides didn't make it into any theme parks that I am aware of but they were a staple on carnival midways for years. I haven't seen too many of them around lately. I rode one, I think it was the Cobra, at Marshall Scotty's Playland Park in El Cajon, CA when I was a kid.

For all you flat ride junkies, these two unique and strange rides are right up there with the Chance Turbo and Toboggan.

I now present "SCAT" & "COBRA" by Venture...oh and one other kiddie ride.

Any of you ridden either one of these?

I could come up with a million and one better names.

The Cobra kinda reminds me of a Scrambler, I think I remember seeing that Chance built a similar ride to the Cobra. The Scat looks fun, Beech Bend has one.

Thanks for the pictures Shane!

-Tatum

I have ridden both rides and they're both very fun for their time. They had those and more at local fairs all my childhood, the same company still operates some of the other rides at our local fairs.

Did the Cobra once as a youngun at the local county fair, vaguely remembering it scaring the crap out of me. (Most carny rides do). The neighboring Mineral County (W. VA) fair gets the Scat every year. They like to run it at shit-your-pants length. I swear it lasts 10 minutes plus !! Definitely the ultimate head rush...

While in Japan this past summer with TPR we came across this four-armed version of the Cobra at Higashiyama Zoo. Not sure who made it but it was one of the most nausiating flats I have ever been on.

VENTURE RIDE MFG.

Well when it comes to flat rides "I am into most things except Scat". OK, get your mind out of the gutter, Scat was a ride by Venture, they also made a little gem called the Cobra. These rides didn't make it into any theme parks that I am aware of but they were a staple on carnival midways for years. I haven't seen too many of them around lately. I rode one, I think it was the Cobra, at Marshall Scotty's Playland Park in El Cajon, CA when I was a kid.

 

For all you flat ride junkies, these two unique and strange rides are right up there with the Chance Turbo and Toboggan.

I now present "SCAT" & "COBRA" by Venture...oh and one other kiddie ride.

 

Any of you ridden either one of these?

I've ridden Scat, Scat 2, and Cobra (MANY years ago) ---- and they were all equally awful. Never again.

We saw a Scat and an Eyerly Loop-O-Plane last summer at a local Charlotte fair. Both looked great, but we admired from a distance.

The 3 armed Cobra kinda reminds me of a Paratrooper. And does Scat, Scat 2 have any restraint? That picture of the ferris wheel at dusk is beautiful!

-Tatum

Not sure about the Scat 2, but the Scat has the same kinda chain as a Round Up !!

Cedar Point 1978

Before Cedar Point was "America's Roller Coast" or "The Amazement Park" it was just plan ol "Cedar Point Amusement Land Mid-America's Finest Fun Center". This update takes a look back at the Great Amusement Park that everyone loves to hate or hates to love.

Take a look at this souvenir book and see how many changes and lost attractions you can find. Hey and if you look close enough you may even be able to spot a picture of Dick Kinzel back in the days when he was just a ride operator on the Sky Slide. (joke)

-Shane

Wow, look at the outside-the-station queue for Gemini on the first page! Speaking of Gemini, I just found a construction shot of the ride. I'm guessing this was in early '78.

-S

LOL at the line for Gemini and the Mine ride!