What Happened to Dark Rides?
LoveFish35
the years go by? Even Cedar Point, the largest ride park in the world, dumped
the ones they had. It even appears that Disney, the company who had put the
most innovation into these rides, is only replacing the dark rides they
have..not adding additional ones. In a few cases, they're acually taking down
dark rides for thrill rides. In my opinion, dark rides are what have made
amusment parks special for so many years..just as much as rollercoasters..While
rollercoasters would thrill people in a way they never have in thier everyday
lives, dark rides would take them into a dream world, out of thier regular
enviorment. With the absence of these rides at parks, it seems alot of what an
amusment park is about has been lost. Dark rides are great for people who want
to get out of the heat or those who are not interested in rollercoasters. They
are also a perfect follow-up after a few coaster rides. That's not even to
meantion the fact that they could be hidden in the upper level of an arcade or
food building, which makes them very convienient as far as park space is
concerned. I just cannot see a strong reason why parks have discontinued such a
great part of the tradition to a day at an amusment park. Does anyone else
agree with me?
Rich
Chris Lucht
Hunt that are pretty popular. I really like Ghost Hunt myself. But I
know at some parks with older dark rides, vandalism is a problem. In
fact there is one ride at SFoT that is in danger of being removed
because people have been hopping out of the cars and breaking the
animatronics. The damage they do is in the order of $15,000 a pop! So I
wouldn't blame the park if they did shut it down. It's too bad that a
few evil people have to ruin it for everyone else.
Chris.
--
-------------------------------------------------------------
Remove the LARD from lucht...@compuserve.com when replying.
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Robert Ulrich
time to write:
>Is it just me or does it seem like dark rides are getting more and more slim as
>the years go by?
I think it's debatable. Look at what's come on the scene recently:
- Indiana Jones at DL (and CTX at WDW) with new ride vehicles, etc.
- Spiderman (which changes all the rules) & The Cat in the Hat at IOA
- Sally Corp's "blaster" rides (which are a big draw everywhere I've
gone with one)
- And WDW while removing Mr. Toad replaced it with another dark ride
(Pooh), along with Buzz's lightyear spin.
- New installations at Epcot; Imagination (replacement), Horizons
(hopefully) and isn't Test Track just a fancy dark ride after all?
And in the future we can look forward to:
- USF's MIB
- Paramount's first Sally installation (Canada, and I hope they let
adults ride on slow days at least)
Plus, I think places like Knoebel's will keep the classic dark ride
experience around for a long while.
Robert Ulrich
DailyRich
DailyRich
"You must get dizzy with everything revolving around you like that."
CJB2
"With the absence of these rides at parks, it seems alot of what an
I don't think about darkrides when I'm at an amusement park. I actually
think they're kinda cheesy. If I come across one, I'll ride it. But I'd
never go out of my way for it.
LoveFish35 <lovef...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20000106033539...@ng-cr1.aol.com...
> Is it just me or does it seem like dark rides are getting more and more
slim as
Erik Allen Elness
>more slim as the years go by?
I agree, and I wish that more parks would build new ones. Generally speaking,
any dark ride--even a lame one--tends to make me like a park more than I might
otherwise.
Erik Allen Elness
Everyone's opinions suck but mine.
You should all bow down before me.
Yada yada yada....
edr
the question, but we will.
Oaks park has a a great old dark ride. Funtastic shows has two darks rides in it's
line up, as do most carnivals.
Robert, does SFoG still have the monster dark ride? ( that I hope to ride in Nov.)
Ed
Robert Ulrich wrote:
> On 06 Jan 2000 08:35:39 GMT, lovef...@aol.com (LoveFish35) took the
> time to write:
>
> >Is it just me or does it seem like dark rides are getting more and more slim as
> >the years go by?
>
Bill Steele
<pcl...@gte.net> wrote:
> I don't think about darkrides when I'm at an amusement park. I actually
> think they're kinda cheesy. If I come across one, I'll ride it. But I'd
> never go out of my way for it.
And that's probably why they are disappearing, if they really are. As parks
build more and more coasters and other "extreme" rides, they attract more
and more people like you.
What puzzles me is why so many guys pass up the chance to take their dates
into a dark, scary place.
Robert Ulrich
time to write:
>Robert, does SFoG still have the monster dark ride? ( that I hope to ride in Nov.)
Yes, Monster Plantation still exists at last report.
Everyone, sing along:
"You're invited to a mansion,
monster mansion,
where humans are allowed to stay.
Everybody,
Have a party
Where humans are allowed to play.
So come on in and join the party
at the mansion (frog braap)."
Robert (ready for many projectiles directed his way)
Patrick McGuire
Does anyone up there still have the old Meteor ride still in operation
somewhere? I have been looking for this ride for some time now. It was
originally made in Salem, OR back in the 1960's by the same company who made
the Round Up rides.
--
Patrick McGuire
Stockton, CA
Pmcgu...@worldnet.att.net
edr wrote in message <3874E461...@navicom.com>...
>Add Thrill-Ville to the list of parks that will add a dark ride some day.
When is
>the question, but we will.
>
>Oaks park has a a great old dark ride. Funtastic shows has two darks rides
in it's
>line up, as do most carnivals.
>
>Robert, does SFoG still have the monster dark ride? ( that I hope to ride
in Nov.)
>
>
>Ed
>
>
Roy Brashears
ride/semi-underground roller coaster. Wish more of them would pop up
somewhere else!
Erik Allen Elness <elec...@aol.comOTSR> wrote in message
news:20000106133618...@ng-cb1.aol.com...
> >Is it just me or does it seem like dark rides are getting more and
> >more slim as the years go by?
>
Robert Vaccaro
which had a fire some number of years ago. From what I understand part of
the building was destroyed and now there's a point in the ride where you
come to a pointless outdoor turnaround. The Great Escape in Lake George,NY
has one of Cedar Point's old dark rides which came from Freedomland,The
Tornado. At AdventureLand in East Farming- dale,you'll find 1313 Cemetary
Way,a ride thru haunted house. Nellie Bly Park in Brooklyn has a funhouse
and
dark ride. Playland Park in Rye,has two ride thru dark rides,an old mill and
a mirror maze. Sylvan Beach,in Sylvan Beach has a classic pretzel dark ride.
NJ:Among the Wildwood piers you'll find a few,albeit chessy,classic dark
rides. You'll also find a Sally Corp "shoot em up" style dark ride themed to
Pirates. And on what used to be Nickel's Midway Pier,you'll find a Walk
Through named Castle Dracula and below it,a Haunted Old Mill Type attraction
named The Dungeon Boat Ride. Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson,NJ has one
of the newer Vekoma "Magic Rooms" which as the season was coming to a
close,was updated with new stunts. In Seaside Heights,you'll also find a
classic Dark ride on Casino Pier; The Nightmare Manor.In Point Pleasant at
Jenkinson's Beach Boardwalk and Aquarium you'll find a new for '99 funhouse.
At Keansburg Amusement Park in Keansburg,you'll find the ride through dark
ride Spook House.
PA:Bushkill Park in Easton has a Funhouse dating back to 1902 and a classic
pretzel ride. Coneaut Lake Park has the quasi rollercoaster/dark ride
called Dr.Moriaty's Wild Ride. Dutch Wonderland in Lancaster has "The Wonder
House",one of the original "Magic Rooms". Idlewild Park in Ligionier has a
Crooked House and a Vekoma "Magic Room". Kennywood in Pittsburgh has Noah's
Ark the only walk thru funhouse style attraction left in all of North
America,the nostalgia doesn't stop there though. They also have an Old Mill
dating back to the '20's,and lastly The Gold Rusher,added in the 80's and
themed as a runwaway train thru a haunted coal mine. Knoebels in Elyburg has
what many consider (myself included) to be the best dark ride around today.
The Haunted Mansion. Waldameer in Erie,Pa has Pirate's Cove a walk thru fun
house style attraction. At Williams Grove in Mechanicburg,you can enjoy one
of the last remaining German traveling Fun Houses left in the US.
MD: At Ocean City Pier in Ocean City has a walk thru fun house and The
Ghost,a two level dark ride thru a haunted house. At Trimper's Rides and
Amusments in also in Ocean City,you'll find an unusal Mirror Maze and a
interesting walk thru called Pirates Cove. Also,along the boarwalk,you'll
find a two level haunted house where you ride in little coffins made of
wood.
DE:At Funland in Rehoboth,you'll find a remarkable Haunted House,easily one
of the best.
CT: At Lake Compounce in Bristol,you'll find Ghost Hunt one of the newer
'Shoot em Up" style dark rides by Sally Corp.
FL:**Disney is where you'll find the majority of these dark rides. Be
aware,these are not the traditonal black light and buzzer style dark rides.
These are high tech dark rides involving animatronics and complex storylines
and themes.** Encompassing the entire Walt Disney World Resort,you'll find a
wide variety of dark rides. Pirates of the Caribbean. The Haunted Mansion.
The Jungle Cruise .Splash Mountain. Winnie the Pooh. It's a Small World.
Alice in Wonderland. Buzz Lightyear's SpaceRanger Spin. Unless you've
visited DisneyLand,you won't be dissapointed. Miracle Strip Amusement
Park,is,what I believe to be the only traditional park left in Florida. It
has four dark rides. Dante's Inferno,The Old House,Haunted Castle,and
Hilda's House of Horrors. At Old Town in Kissimmee,you'll find a first class
Haunted House. Universal Studios Escape also houses many dark rides,albeit
of the newer animatronic type too. Twister:Ride it Out!,Kongfrontation,Back
to the Future,ET Adventure,Earthquake-The Big One,Jaws,Cat in the
Hat,Jurassic Park River Adventure,and The Incredible Adventures of
Spiderman. I'm almost positive I may have accidentally omitted a few.
GA: A t Lake Winnepasaukah in Rossville,you find the only old mill ride with
a chute-the-chutes style ending. Six Flags over Georgia has Monster
Plantation,a boat ride through a flooded mansion.
MASS: At Pirates Fun Park in Salisbury,they have two dark rides. A ride thru
named The Pirate's Den,and a walk thru fun house named Island Adventure.
Whalom Park in Fitchburg,has a walk thru haunted fun house named Monster
Motel.
NH: Canobie Lake Park in Salem has a very well done ride thru dark ride
named Mine of the Lost Souls.
NC: Ghost Town in the Sky,in Maggie Valley,has two dark rides. One is a
crooked house named The Mystery House,and the other is Ghost Mine.
SC: At Family Kingdom in Myrtle Beach,you'll find one of the earliest Sally
"Shoot em Ups" names the Great Pistolero Roundup. At Myrtle Beach Pavillion
and Amusement Park,you'll find The Haunted Inn,a better than average ride
thru dark ride.
As you can see,there are still plenty of dark rides,walk thrus,and fun
houses around,you just have to look a little harder!
--
Rob Vaccaro
Vacc...@mindspring.com
=======================
> Erik Allen Elness <elec...@aol.comOTSR> wrote in message...
Successjw
>ride/semi-underground roller coaster. Wish more of them would pop up
>somewhere else!
Unfortunately, I heard from a reliable source that it hasn't proven that
popular with the public.
JimW
Successjw
and vandalism are two problems. Plus a truly classic ride without all the high
tech stuff probably wouldn't interest the GP, as it would some of us old time
affecionados.
Try this site:
http://www.ridezone.com/laff/index.htm
Best,
Jim W
Shawn Mamros
>Yes, Monster Plantation still exists at last report.
>
>Everyone, sing along:
[ya, ta da da...]
>Robert (ready for many projectiles directed his way)
Don't worry, Robert. I'm hurling the projectiles at Ed instead, since
his mere mention of the Monster Plantation was enough to bring the song
back into my head... AND IT JUST WON'T STOP!!! AAAAUUUGGGGGGHHHHH!!!!
"It's a Small World" ain't got nothin' on that ride, I'm tellin' ya...
-Shawn Mamros ("humans are allowed to stay...")
E-mail to: mam...@mit.edu
P.S. When I make a post like this, one should always assume that my tongue
is quite firmly planted in my cheek. No offense is intended towards either
Ed or Robert, both of whom I'm quite sure know this, but I just wanted to
make it clear for everyone else. (Though the dang song really *is* stuck
in my head right now...)
LoveFish35
believe that alot of the things associated with amusment parks are..even some
rollercoasters, but that's not stopping people from going on them. My overall
opinion is that an amusment park is about variety. Dark rides are much more
unique than any carnival ride I've seen. If people are too cool to ride em,
they must be too cool to have any fun.
Rich
Stephen Odonnell
saw the construction of
Skull Mountian at SFGAdv and other indoor in the dark rollercoasters.
The parks knew that thrill rides are a better draw, so they made the
dark ride the thrill ride.
And classic park Kennywood put in the BEST
dark ride I've ever been on just last year,
The Exterminator....... It's a wild mouse roller
coaster........ with spinnable "teacup" cars
........ indoors in the dark...... 8-))
I've never laughed so hard in my life.......
Our car was still spinning when we got to the unloading area
The dark rides aren't gone, and they're still being built.......
they're just a little different than they used to be
Coastin' Steve
Roy Brashears
and other parks should consider a similar ride.
Successjw <succ...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20000106171036...@ng-fj1.aol.com...
MWS987
>has one of Cedar Point's old dark rides which came from Freedomland,The
>Tornado.
When was this ride at Cedar Point. I've been going regularly sience 1962 and
dont remember this one,
Roy Brashears
vehicles), it was originally only a one level dark ride. Some time ago, the
owners of the ride purchased the inner guts of the old Ghost Ship which once
stood at the defunct Playland park (also in Ocean City, Maryland on 65th
Street). They expanded the Haunted House to include a second floor and most
of the gags were added. It was a good ride before the addition (a favorite
of mine every time I visited OC) but was quite surprised to see all the
additions. Overall, it's a good solid ride.
Robert Vaccaro <Vacc...@mindspring.com> wrote in message
news:8533g2$bpj$1...@nntp9.atl.mindspring.net...
Robert Vaccaro
news:20000106180131...@ng-ca1.aol.com...
> >The Great Escape in Lake George,NY
> >has one of Cedar Point's old dark rides which came from Freedomland,The
> >Tornado.
>
and
I'm sorry. It wasn't the Tornado that spent time at the Point. It was the
Earthquake. It was originally built for Freedomland; the short-lived park in
the heart of the Bronx,and when Freedomland closed,the ride was sent to
Cedar Point but later dismantled for Bearnstein Bear Country (Now known as
Camp Snoopy).
Kevin Dorey
my Thundie on your post the other day, you forgot one of my favorite
dark rides this time--The Mine of Lost Souls at Canobie! :)
overell
<Vacc...@mindspring.com> wrote:
> Waldameer in Erie,Pa has Pirate's Cove a walk thru fun house style >
attraction.
Don't forget the Wacky Shack, though for the life of me I can't
remember anything about the inside of the ride.
mike
* Sent from RemarQ http://www.remarq.com The Internet's Discussion Network *
The fastest and easiest way to search and participate in Usenet - Free!
Rastus O'Ginga
<luc...@compuserve.com> wrote:
>I like dark rides too. There are a few new ones like Houdini and Ghost
>Hunt that are pretty popular. I really like Ghost Hunt myself. But I
>know at some parks with older dark rides, vandalism is a problem. In
>fact there is one ride at SFoT that is in danger of being removed
>because people have been hopping out of the cars and breaking the
>animatronics. The damage they do is in the order of $15,000 a pop! So I
>wouldn't blame the park if they did shut it down. It's too bad that a
>few evil people have to ruin it for everyone else.
>
Nooooo, don't take out Yosemite Sam's. That is a fun ride. Instead,
hire a damn ride op that cares, put in cameras and sue the asses off
of the people doing the damage.
Rastus O'Ginga
Winner of the 2nd Annual C. Montgomery Burns Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Field of Excellence.
Mississippi RC
>find the only old mill ride with a
>chute-the-chutes style ending. Six Flags over
>Georgia has Monster Plantation,a boat ride
>through a flooded mansion.
"Escape from Pompeii" to be a dark ride? What else is in Virginia that
wasn't mentioned?
Glenn Payne
---------------------------------------------------
I AM serious! (And don't call me "Shirley".)
Robert Vaccaro
what you're saying. Well,it all depends on personal opinion I guess. Hmm,I
guess Escape from Pompeii would be a dark ride,huh? Special effects,things
swooping and falling! down on you...yeah,I see where you coming from.
Mississippi RC <HulkR...@webtv.net> wrote in message...
> >GA: At Lake Winnepasaukah in Rossville, you
> >find the only old mill ride with a
> >chute-the-chutes style ending. Six Flags over
> >Georgia has Monster Plantation,a boat ride
> >through a flooded mansion.
>
> Since you bring up these two boat rides, I wonder if you'd consider
> "Escape from Pompeii" to be a dark ride? What else is in Virginia that
> wasn't mentioned?
>
> Glenn Payne
>
> ---------------------------------------------------
> I AM serious! (And don't call me "Shirley".)
>
--
Rob Vaccaro
Vacc...@mindspring.com
=======================
XCALIBRMIKE
Maybe they had capacity, maintenance or safety problems. I'll ask CP's rep the
reason at Eastcoaster if I remember to. Fortunately IOA got some killer dark
rides this year and Sally Corp is opening more and more of the interactive
shoot-em-ups. It's hard to believe ridership decline could be the reason at
Disney. Mr. Toad always had a line (actually 2 lines). And most people liked
the old Imagination ride. Maybe they figure updating or replacing rides will
bring in more people, but seriously, how many will flock to EPCOT because
Imagination has been overhauled. Sometimes it makes sense and sometimes it
doesn't.
Timothy Vaughan
Mississippi RC wrote in message
<23009-387...@storefull-222.iap.bryant.webtv.net>...
>GA: At Lake Winnepasaukah in Rossville, you
>chute-the-chutes style ending. Six Flags over
>Georgia has Monster Plantation,a boat ride
>through a flooded mansion.
Since you bring up these two boat rides, I wonder if you'd consider
"Escape from Pompeii" to be a dark ride? What else is in Virginia that
wasn't mentioned?
PKD's two, Haunted River and Smurf Mountain, are both gone. Of course, the
replacement isn't too bad...
Tim Vaughan
Dave Althoff Jr
: >The Great Escape in Lake George,NY
: >has one of Cedar Point's old dark rides which came from Freedomland,The
: >Tornado.
: When was this ride at Cedar Point. I've been going regularly sience 1962 and
: dont remember this one,
I think the Great Escape Tornado (sounds like a roller coaster, doesn't
it?) did indeed come from Freedomland, but it was never at Cedar Point.
Cedar Point DID have two dark rides from Freedomland, the Pirate Ride and
Earthquake. Neither of those rides is still operating.
--Dave Althoff, Jr.
--
/^\ _ _ _*** Closed for the season ***
/XXX\ /X\ /X\_ _ /X\__ _ _ _____
/XXXXX\ /XXX\ _/XXXX\_ /X\ /XXXXX\ /X\ /X\ /XXXXX
_/XXXXXXX\__/XXXXX\/XXXXXXXX\_/XXX\_/XXXXXXX\__/XXX\_/XXX\_/\_/XXXXXX
Dave Althoff Jr
: MWS987 <mws...@aol.com> wrote in message
: news:20000106180131...@ng-ca1.aol.com...
: > >The Great Escape in Lake George,NY
: > >has one of Cedar Point's old dark rides which came from Freedomland,The
: > >Tornado.
: > When was this ride at Cedar Point. I've been going regularly sience 1962
: and
: I'm sorry. It wasn't the Tornado that spent time at the Point. It was the
: Earthquake. It was originally built for Freedomland; the short-lived park in
: the heart of the Bronx,and when Freedomland closed,the ride was sent to
: Cedar Point but later dismantled for Bearnstein Bear Country (Now known as
: Camp Snoopy).
That's also mostly wrong.
Berenstain Bear Country took the place of Earthquake. Years later,
Berenstain Bear Country was expanded with the addition of an outdoor area
which displaced the miniature golf course and the Giant Slide. That
outdoor area is now the Peanuts Playground and the indoor area is now a
retail shop called the Snoopy Boutique. Camp Snoopy displaced only trees
and a bit of the lagoon back behind the Jr. Gemini, on the far end of the
park from the ex-Earthquake facility.
David Lipnicky
(Not so) Funny how there are very few Mega-Themers in this list.
--
Curly3k - who does not do New Year's Resolutions,
but will try to use his powers for good in 2000.
Proud member of the WildWest Coaster Club (WWCC), ACE,
& the National Association for Business Economics :-)
Coaster Count: 240 (& rising)
#1 Apollo's Chariot
#2 (4-way tie): Texas Giant, Rampage, Alpengiest, Top Gun (Carowinds)
"Come On, Come On Spring!
I want my Krypton Coaster, Mega Zeph, and Arkansas Twister!!!"
coaster...@prodigy.net
www.geocities.com/coasterdave3000 (Status: Pre-Launch)
Robert Vaccaro <Vacc...@mindspring.com> wrote in message
news:8533g2$bpj$1...@nntp9.atl.mindspring.net...
jjmailman
Well at least Sam wasn't along side Robert singing!
Jeff
(who has heard the Robert & Sam show, firsthand!)
edr
I love dark ride, just love them...
Would you consider the ride at SWoF a dark ride?
Ed
Chris Lucht
Chris.
Kevin Dorey wrote:
>
> Again, Chris, I'm disappointed. As if it wasn't bad enough you forgot
> my Thundie on your post the other day, you forgot one of my favorite
> dark rides this time--The Mine of Lost Souls at Canobie! :)
>
> Chris Lucht wrote:
> >
> > I like dark rides too. There are a few new ones like Houdini and Ghost
> > Hunt that are pretty popular. I really like Ghost Hunt myself.
--
-------------------------------------------------------------
Remove the LARD from lucht...@compuserve.com when replying.
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tv's Spatch
>Fire in the hole! :-)
What's that you say?
THERE'S FRIENDS 'N ALL HERE!
--
der Spatchel R. Noyes
Reading, MA 01867
http://spatch.ne.mediaone.net/ Turn the ! upside down to reply.
"This publisher is clearing house like I was Ed McMahon" - Chali 2na
Shawn Mamros
>What would Chris Lucht <luc...@compuserve.com> do?
>>Fire in the hole! :-)
>
>What's that you say?
>
>THERE'S FRIENDS 'N ALL HERE!
No, no, stop! Don't come any further!
TOO LATE - You've Gone Too Far! Now, you're mine!
-Shawn Mamros (who wonders how long we can keep this up...)
E-mail to: mam...@mit.edu
Richard Bonner
*** For more information on dark rides, see:
Richard Bonner
Managing Director:
The Coaster Enthusiasts of Canada
www.chebucto.ns.ca/~ak621/CEC/CEC.html
LDedios432
isn't the Exterminator pretty much a dark ride? I mean, you could count
coasters like Space Mountain and Rock'N Roller Coasters as dark rides as they
are fully enclosed with excellent theming...how about the Outer Limits? Would
enclosed coasters classify as dark rides themselves, if they have extensive
theming?
RSteven850
Brashears" <haunted...@earthlink.net> writes:
>
>Adventureland in Des Moines has a good compromise.....a combination dark
>ride/semi-underground roller coaster. Wish more of them would pop up
>somewhere else!
>
I like Blazing Fury at Dollywood even better, it actually has a decent drop!
<g>
Roz
remove outtake to reply
Big Shot Rules!
Bill Steele
Jet...@webtv.net (Stephen Odonnell) wrote:
> The Exterminator....... It's a wild mouse roller
> coaster........ with spinnable "teacup" cars
> ........ indoors in the dark...... 8-))
> I've never laughed so hard in my life.......
> Our car was still spinning when we got to the unloading area
Cool. Has anyone done a "flat" dark ride with spinning cars?
Bill Steele
<Vacc...@mindspring.com> wrote:
> At Williams Grove in Mechanicburg,you can enjoy one
> of the last remaining German traveling Fun Houses left in the US.
There are probably several owned by carnivals, but they haven't been out
lately. Strates has one that hasn't been up for the last two years. Conklin
has one that hasn't been up for about five years.
CJB2
Bill Steele <ws...@cornell.edu> wrote in message
news:ws21-ya02358000...@newsstand.cit.cornell.edu...
> In article <Vy3d4.216$CJ1....@dfiatx1-snr1.gtei.net>, "CJB2"
> <pcl...@gte.net> wrote:
>
> > I don't think about darkrides when I'm at an amusement park. I actually
> > think they're kinda cheesy. If I come across one, I'll ride it. But
I'd
> > never go out of my way for it.
>
> And that's probably why they are disappearing, if they really are. As
parks
> build more and more coasters and other "extreme" rides, they attract more
> and more people like you.
>
> What puzzles me is why so many guys pass up the chance to take their dates
> into a dark, scary place.
Rastus O'Ginga
wrote:
Southport Pleasureland (I think) has a dark ride that is basically
just you spinning in a dark room with stars and stuff. You can't
control the spinning. It was an old Pretzel ride I think.
EdG
Because most of the geeks here can't get a date!
EdG
Cat at Idora today if it weren't for a lunchtime fire in the Lost River ride
supposedly caused by a worker who had been welding in there. That was a
cool ride, as it had a drop at the end, but had a real boat shaped hull. I
can't remember exactly what the track at the drop looked like, but it must
have been some kind of a notch. Unfortunately, the ride was just under the
best part of the Wild Cat which died in the fire. :-(
Successjw <succ...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20000106171226...@ng-fj1.aol.com...
> I agree that there are less and less of the true classic rides. Fire
danger
> and vandalism are two problems. Plus a truly classic ride without all the
high
> tech stuff probably wouldn't interest the GP, as it would some of us old
time
> affecionados.
>
> Try this site:
>
> http://www.ridezone.com/laff/index.htm
>
> Best,
> Jim W
Erik Allen Elness
>Has anyone done a "flat" dark ride with spinning cars?
Indeed. Disneyland. It's call "Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin." Much like the
teacups, though, the amount of spinning is largely up to you.
Erik Allen Elness
Everyone's opinions suck but mine.
You should all bow down before me.
Yada yada yada....
Dave Althoff Jr
: In article <8533g2$bpj$1...@nntp9.atl.mindspring.net>, "Robert Vaccaro"
: <Vacc...@mindspring.com> wrote:
If you like portable funhouses and dark rides, seek out Amusements of
America. For the past couple of years they've set up the Ohio State Fair
midway with at least a dozen of those damn things...fun houses, glass
mazes, and ride-throughs. Personally, I don't see why they can't bring in
one of each and use the rest of the space for good flat rides....
Dave Althoff Jr
: In article <18259-38...@storefull-628.iap.bryant.webtv.net>,
: Jet...@webtv.net (Stephen Odonnell) wrote:
: > The Exterminator....... It's a wild mouse roller
: > coaster........ with spinnable "teacup" cars
: > ........ indoors in the dark...... 8-))
: > I've never laughed so hard in my life.......
: > Our car was still spinning when we got to the unloading area
: Cool. Has anyone done a "flat" dark ride with spinning cars?
I think Disney has...
XCALIBRMIKE
Monster Plantation is still there. It replaced Tales of the Okefenokee years
ago. Anyone remember that one? I rode it around 1977 and remember being very
scared while in line (I was 9 or 10, okay). I think it had a crow or two as
mascots, which looked like Heckle and Jeckyl (sp?). They scared me more than
the Scream Machine.
edr
> America. For the past couple of years they've set up the Ohio State Fair
> midway with at least a dozen of those damn things...fun houses, glass
> mazes, and ride-throughs. Personally, I don't see why they can't bring in
> one of each and use the rest of the space for good flat rides....
>
I heard it from Ron Burbeck (sp) himself, owner of Funtastic shows. DARKS RIDES
MAKE MONEY.
Now Funtastic only brings in two dark rides and Two or three fun houses, ut form
what I have been told the dark ride makes more money that any other ride on the
midway. So dark rides and game joints are the stars of the show.
Ed
Bill Steele
wrote:
> If you like portable funhouses and dark rides, seek out Amusements of
> America. For the past couple of years they've set up the Ohio State Fair
> midway with at least a dozen of those damn things...fun houses, glass
> mazes, and ride-throughs.
I'd say the same description applies on the Strates midway, and probably
any other carnival that plays state fairs; typically they're setting up
60-80 attractions and book in a lot of independents to fill the space.
>Personally, I don't see why they can't bring in
> one of each and use the rest of the space for good flat rides....
Not everyone has the same tastes. They want to include stuff for older
patrons and for kids whose parents won't let them go on the barfy rides.
Mr. and Mrs. Jones came to the fair to see the exhibits, or maybe they were
entering their pigs in the livestock show, and they take a stroll down the
midway just to see the lights; no way they're going on the looping coaster
or even the gravitron, but they might decide to go on a dark ride, and
there's four or five bucks the carnival wouldn't have had otherwise.
Locoboy
>
> Bill Steele (ws...@cornell.edu) wrote:
> : In article <18259-38...@storefull-628.iap.bryant.webtv.net>,
> : Jet...@webtv.net (Stephen Odonnell) wrote:
>
> : > The Exterminator....... It's a wild mouse roller
> : > coaster........ with spinnable "teacup" cars
> : > ........ indoors in the dark...... 8-))
> : > I've never laughed so hard in my life.......
> : > Our car was still spinning when we got to the unloading area
>
> : Cool. Has anyone done a "flat" dark ride with spinning cars?
>
> I think Disney has...
That's right. Roger Rabbit's CarToon Spin at Disneyland.
Richard Bonner
On 9 Jan 2000, Dave Althoff Jr wrote:
> If you like portable funhouses and dark rides, seek out Amusements of
> America. For the past couple of years they've set up the Ohio State Fair
> midway with at least a dozen of those damn things...fun houses, glass
> mazes, and ride-throughs. Personally, I don't see why they can't bring in
> one of each and use the rest of the space for good flat rides....
>
> --Dave Althoff, Jr.
*** I have seen glass mazes at Campbell Amusement setups. They may be
reviving in popularity. I remember La Ronde used to have either a glass or
mirror maze. I think it was left over from Expo 67.
Tim Melago
> I think the Great Escape Tornado (sounds like a roller coaster, doesn't
> it?) did indeed come from Freedomland, but it was never at Cedar Point.
The Tornado came from Freedomland via Kennywood. The Tornado was placed
in the old Dance Hall which had been the Enchanted Forest walk through.
It was added in 1963 and was replaced in 1967 with the famous Ghost Ship
dark ride.
--
Tim Melago - roll...@sgi.net
http://users.sgi.net/~rollocst/rc.html
Rob Steere
>
> That's right. Roger Rabbit's CarToon Spin at Disneyland.
>
And Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin at the Magic Kingdom if a
self-controlled, powered but slower spin can be counted...
-Rob Steere
ste...@ultranet.com
Michael Kotler
ws...@cornell.edu says...
> What puzzles me is why so many guys pass up the chance to take their dates
> into a dark, scary place.
Probably because with today's social mores, there's no need for a guy to
take his date into a dark ride in order to see, ahem, some action. This
is akin to why drive-in movies have been slowly vanishing in recent
years.
I enjoyed the Earthquake and Pirate Rides at Cedar Point.
Dave Althoff Jr
Just this morning, a manufacturer of dark rides and fun houses evaporated.
Over a period of just over two hours, Ed Schmid's 'Funni-Frite Inc.' was
auctioned by David Norton's auctioneering firm. Schmid is retiring, and
he's already sold the property. The business itself went for a paltry
$15,000, but the new owner...a carnival operator in Pennsylvania who
apparently intends to keep the business going, which is good news.
All the remaining equipment, molds, and some memorabilia made for an
auction worth in excess of $68,000. An original PTC "Laughing Sal" figure
went for $8,000 with the tape; the Funni-Frite reproduction was $3,000.
And someone bought the molds to build more.
Nitebeam32
female rabbit at the end that said "Ya'll come back now, ya' hear?"
Randy
(remove "nospam" from email address to respond)
Richard Bonner
On Thu, 6 Jan 2000, Bill Steele wrote:
> What puzzles me is why so many guys pass up the chance to take their
> dates into a dark, scary place.
*** When dark rides were in their heyday around the turn of this century
and into the 1930's, cars were not as common among young people so they
sought out dark rides as a place to steal a kiss. With universal car
accessability and both parents working, this is no longer the case among
today's young people.
Richard Bonner
On 6 Jan 2000, LoveFish35 wrote:
> It's hard to disagree that some dark rides are very cheesy. At the same
> time, I believe that alot of the things associated with amusment parks
> are..even some rollercoasters, but that's not stopping people from going
> on them. My overall opinion is that an amusment park is about variety.
> Dark rides are much more unique than any carnival ride I've seen. If
> people are too cool to ride em, they must be too cool to have any fun.
>
> Rich
*** Nostalgia is popular today, and probably has been for over half a
century. Just look at movies from the 1940's many of which were set 20 to
40 years earlier. Many recent television programs are/were set years in
the past: "Anne of Green Gables", "Road to Avonlea", "Happy Days", "Wonder
Years", and "Freaks and Geeks" come to mind. As well, the number of hits
on my "World's Fairs"(*) and "Time Portal Museum"(*) pages show this to be
true.
Despite a jaded public, I believe there is a market for such rides and
people willing to see them.
Richard Bonner
Managing Director:
The Coaster Enthusiasts of Canada
www.chebucto.ns.ca/~ak621/CEC/CEC.html
* Time Portal Museum: www.chebucto.ns.ca/~ak621/CEC/TimePort.html
* World's Fairs: www.chebucto.ns.ca/~ak621/CEC/Fair-Ex.html
* Fair Books: www.chebucto.ns.ca/~ak621/CEC/WFB-Head.html
* Fair Tapes: www.chebucto.ns.ca/~ak621/CEC/FairTape.html
Richard Bonner
On 6 Jan 2000, LoveFish35 wrote:
> Is it just me or does it seem like dark rides are getting more and more
> slim as the years go by? Even Cedar Point, the largest ride park in the
> world, dumped the ones they had.
>
> Rich
*** I believe Blackpool has the most number of rides, or has The Point
recently passed them?
Richard Bonner
On Tue, 25 Jan 2000, Richard Bonner wrote:
> * Fair Books: www.chebucto.ns.ca/~ak621/CEC/WFB-Head.html
*** I goofed. The correct URL is:
Fair Books: www.chebucto.ns.ca/~ak621/CEC/FB-Head.html