NEWS: Whalom Park owners enter into purchase and sale agreement
JackTheRipper
By THEO EMERY
01/30/2002
Associated Press Newswires
Copyright 2002. The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.
LUNENBURG, Mass. (AP) - The owners of Whalom Park, a beloved
destination in central Massachusetts, have agreed to sell the
property, virtually guaranteeing the land's development and ending
more than a century of family entertainment.
The 108-year-old park on the shore of Lake Whalom closed last summer.
It was the second-oldest of a dying breed of "Trolley Parks" built by
rail companies at the end of their lines to increase weekend and
holiday ridership.
Allyson Bowen, 26, whose family held stock in the property, had tried
to enlist investors to reopen the amusement park , located about 35
miles northwest of Boston.
But visitors will likely never ride The Whip again, or climb into the
clattering cars of the Flying Comet roller coaster . "No Trespassing"
signs hang on the gates, and workmen were dismantling the Sea Dragon
this week. One by one, the rides are going.
A purchase and sale agreement, authorized in December by the park's
stockholders, was signed in mid-January, said Michael Angelini,
attorney for the Whalom Park Amusement Company Inc. He declined to
name the buyers of the 33-acre property, or the amount of the sale.
"Someone's going to invest several million dollars in this property,
and it's anticipated that this is going to happen," Angelini said.
"This will be a process that will be very beneficial to the town and
the neighborhood.
"The fact of the matter is that the property is going to be
developed," Angelini said. "The future use of the property is not as
an amusement park ."
In recent weeks, Bowen had publicized her efforts to sell $500,000
worth of "Whales" - $25 to $50 park memberships that would entitle the
holders to free admission and other benefits. She said if the park
never opened again, the money would be refunded.
Bowen said Wednesday that her extended family, which owns 41 percent
of the company stock, had authorized the board to enter negotiations
with buyers, but claimed that the family did not have a choice because
they could have faced litigation.
She said that neither she nor her father, who is also on the board,
had been informed that the purchase and sale agreement had been
signed.
"It would be an absolute loss of something that could have been
prevented," she said of the pending sale. "What's pretty sad about it
is that the people trying to sell to developers, it's probably a loss
to them as well."
Allyson Bowen said her father did not wish to comment, and John Bowen
did not immediately return a telephone message seeking comment.
Angelini declined to comment on Allyson Bowen's allegation that she
and her father had not been informed of the signing of the agreement.
Edward Woodcome, president of the Whalom Park Amusement Company Inc.,
said in a statement earlier this month the park would not be sold to
Allyson Bowen.
"The Board of Directors anticipates completion of these arrangements
and does not anticipate a sale to Allyson Bowen, or any group with
which she is connected," Woodcome said in the statement. "The Bowen
family members who are stockholders of the Company have voted to
support the sale of the Company's property."
Bowen's uncle sold his 10 percent share in the company in 1999 to
Joseph O'Donnell, owner of Boston Concessions Group and part of a
group that unsuccessfully bid on the Boston Red Sox. With the sale,
the Bowen family lost their majority control of the park.
Another O'Donnell company held the mortgage for the property, which
had been scheduled for a twice-postponed auction on Feb. 15.
"The place just didn't make it and we're happy that they're able to
get a sale together," said Charles Morneau, who returned calls placed
to O'Donnell at Boston Concessions Group.
The Fitchburg & Leominster Street Railway Co. built the park in 1893.
The Bowen family bought the rail company in 1935, and the park was
spun off as the private Whalom Park Amusement Company Inc. in the
1960s.
Cathy Harris, 28, a Leominster native, remembers coming to the park
when she was a child, and bringing her own three young sons there.
"It's sad to go by the parking lot, and see it empty all the time,"
she said, as she pushed her 2-year-old son, Andy, in a stroller along
Route 13 near the park.
"It was just great walking in those gates. It's like being a kid in a
candy store."
jimvid
park at least once, and I sincerely hope that the rides end up in good
homes. It's horrible enough to lose another classic park, but to lose one
of the last surviving tumble bugs and rock & rolls is almost unthinkable to
me.
Hoping that Knoebels, HW, Canobie (or any small park that can) will lend a
hand to save some of the history.
Jim McDonnell
Todd Long
>LUNENBURG, Mass. (AP) - The owners of Whalom Park, a beloved
>destination in central Massachusetts, have agreed to sell the
>property, virtually guaranteeing the land's development and ending
>more than a century of family entertainment.
What a shame. I really don't know what to say.
Todd
Rob Ascough
This is horrible news. The only up-side to the whole thing is that someone
actually made an effort to turn things around, instead of just letting
Whalom slip quietly into history.
Millions of thanks to everyone who helped them try...
"Todd Long" <long...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:9eii5uclcb13ongre...@4ax.com...
mamoosh
news:3c5b455c...@proxy.news.easynews.com...
> LUNENBURG, Mass. (AP) - The owners of Whalom Park, a beloved
> destination in central Massachusetts, have agreed to sell the
> property, virtually guaranteeing the land's development and ending
> more than a century of family entertainment.
Yikes...what a sad way to start my morning. I am so very glad I got
to visit Whalom on what turned out to be its very last operating
weekend. I'll echo Jim's sentiments: that other quality parks like
Knoebels and Holiday World step up and rescue some of their classic
rides, especailly the Whip, Turtle, and Flyer Comet
--
Matthew "wanna see that Whip and Turtle at HW" Sullivan
Track Record: 263
Rob Ascough
beautifully at Knoebels. I've never actually ridden it... do you think it
would fit where the Whirlwind is?
"mamoosh" <MAM...@sbcglobal.net> wrote in message
news:G7c68.41028$4k6.4095947814@newssvr21.news.prodigy.com...
rolandcoaster
shouldn't be surprised. Here's yet another sorry example of a community's
cultural history and values being stomped on for a lousy buck.
[<sigh> ... end of rant]
Roland
"JackTheRipper" <JackTh...@IloveWoman.com> wrote in message
news:3c5b455c...@proxy.news.easynews.com...
> Whalom Park owners enter into purchase and sale agreement
> By THEO EMERY
>
> 01/30/2002
> Associated Press Newswires
> Copyright 2002. The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.
>
>
> LUNENBURG, Mass. (AP) - The owners of Whalom Park, a beloved
> destination in central Massachusetts, have agreed to sell the
> property, virtually guaranteeing the land's development and ending
> more than a century of family entertainment.
>
<snip>
>
> "Someone's going to invest several million dollars in this property,
> and it's anticipated that this is going to happen," Angelini said.
> "This will be a process that will be very beneficial to the town and
> the neighborhood.
>
>
<snip>
>
> "It would be an absolute loss of something that could have been
> prevented," she said of the pending sale. "What's pretty sad about it
> is that the people trying to sell to developers, it's probably a loss
> to them as well."
>
>
<snip>
>
> "The Board of Directors anticipates completion of these arrangements
> and does not anticipate a sale to Allyson Bowen, or any group with
> which she is connected," Woodcome said in the statement. "The Bowen
> family members who are stockholders of the Company have voted to
> support the sale of the Company's property."
>
><snip>
>
> "The place just didn't make it and we're happy that they're able to
> get a sale together," said Charles Morneau, who returned calls placed
> to O'Donnell at Boston Concessions Group.
>
><snip>
Robert Ulrich
(JackTheRipper) took the time to post:
>Bowen's uncle sold his 10 percent share in the company in 1999 to
>Joseph O'Donnell, owner of Boston Concessions Group and part of a
>group that unsuccessfully bid on the Boston Red Sox. With the sale,
>the Bowen family lost their majority control of the park.
Well, I hope he got a lot for it because dreams and memories are
priceless.
So, so sad....
RU (remove the OSTR to respond)
http://www.PlayRide.com
An Unofficial Guide to SFOG
2002; the year of the Pallindrome; "Do Geese See God?"
Mark Rosenzweig
> I'm already thinking that the Flyer Comet's compact footprint would fit
> beautifully at Knoebels. I've never actually ridden it... do you think it
> would fit where the Whirlwind is?
Probably not. The Whirlwind's site previously was the home to a
Schwarzkopf Jet Star. The Flyer Comet's footprint is pretty much the
same as its cousin- the Thunderbolt of SFNE.
Flyer Comet's design and footprint would be perfect for parks like
Waldameer, DelGrosso's, Lake Winnie, Arnold's Park, Idlewild, or
Seabreeze.
Odds are it will unfortunatly just be bulldozed alla Mr
Twister/Wildcat of old Elitch. The train could probably be saved, but
the structure and ride itself is not in the best condition. Shame
too, as Whalom did what they could to keep the spirited ride running
the best they could- even adding a great tunnel to the ride in the
early '90s.
I visited Whalom twice- both during the 1997 season. The first visit
was on the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend, when neither it nor Canobie
opened due to rain. I revisited in late August on a Saturday to find
a healthy crowd and great atmosphere. Highlights included getting
great rides on the backwards scrambler, the best whip in the world,
and the evil Fly O Plane. I only got four rides on the Flyer Comet,
and while the ride itself wasn't as good to me as the SFNE
Thunderbolt, its lakeside location and overall charm left a lasting
impression.
The most depressing part of the day was seeing and riding the park's
carousel- it was in truely sad condition. The figures were missing
limbs, paint was flaking, the platform looked as though it was rotting
away, and the whole machine shuddered as it slowly revolved to the
sound of recorded band organ music.
The large slide was closed, and looked as though it had been closed
for some time.
The walk through fun house was a merely a shadow of what it undoubtly
once was.
With all of this however, Whalom charmed me. Despite the fact I never
got back to the park, I feel happy I was able to attend the park with
a healthy crowd and see it having a great day. I trust that whatever
flatrides can be saved will be sold at auction. I feel that rides at
the park most likely to find new homes will be the self contained
rides like the Yo Yo and Round Up, as apposed to housed rides like the
Whip, but you never know.
We are truely losing the last true small traditional park in New
England. Whalom outlived Lincoln and Mountain by many years.
Unfortunatly, its time has apparently come.
-Mark
rolandcoaster
condition. There are so few left.
Are there any parks thinking about recreating a vontage themed area, ala
Lost Kennywood?
Heck, if I had the $$, I would buy it myself, put it in storage here in the
DC area, and ask the National Park Service to let me operate it as a
concession at the defunct Glen Echo Park. Their old whip building is still
standing there, and it would compliment their fabulous carousel. <sigh>
Cheers,
Roland
[who calls your attention to nearby Canobie Lake park]
"Mark Rosenzweig" <ston...@aol.com> wrote <snip>
JackTheRipper
Wildwood NJ
Flyer II anyone
On 31 Jan 2002 09:23:34 -0800, ston...@aol.com (Mark Rosenzweig)
wrote:
Shawn Mamros
I do.
FUCK!
-Shawn Mamros (who apologizes to anyone offended by that word - I won't
be using it again here anytime soon, I promise - but I just don't have
any better way of expressing my frustration at the moment...)
E-mail to: mam...@mit.edu
JackTheRipper
been on. Once can dream
On Thu, 31 Jan 2002 17:47:27 GMT, "rolandcoaster" <rfol...@home.com>
wrote:
Rob Ascough
"JackTheRipper" <JackTh...@IloveWoman.com> wrote in message
news:3c5983d5...@proxy.news.easynews.com...
Rob Ascough
Riverside T-Bolt is and realized that it would never fit in that spot,
either.
I, too, have the feeling that the Flyer Comet will go the way of so many
others, even though there are about a dozen parks I can immediately think of
that could use a good, mid-sized woodie.
I may just have to send some e-mails and make those parks aware of their
need for a wooden coaster!
"Mark Rosenzweig" <ston...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:86034ac2.02013...@posting.google.com...
Wolf
> Riverside T-Bolt is and realized that it would never fit in that spot,
> either.
>
> I, too, have the feeling that the Flyer Comet will go the way of so many
> others, even though there are about a dozen parks I can immediately think
of
> that could use a good, mid-sized woodie.
>
> I may just have to send some e-mails and make those parks aware of their
> need for a wooden coaster!
You know, I'll bet Indiana Beach could cram it in someplace. ;)
You know, I'm not entirely certain whether I'm joking or not. These guys
probably could.
--
|\-/|
<0 0>
=(o)=
-Wolf
Rob Ascough
"Wolf" <wrbu...@mtu.edu> wrote in message
news:u5j5bcr...@corp.supernews.com...
Paul Lewis
> > I think the FlyerComet would like very nice on the former Hunt's Pier,
> > Wildwood NJ
> >
> > Flyer II anyone
If Morey won't operate a SBNO coaster like the Golden Nugget Mine Ride,
why would he buy and move one from Massachusetts? Morey plowed under
tons of vintage rides that will never been seen again in favor of the
new crap on his boardwalks. What a shame.
Joe Schwartz
> From: Allyson Bowen <allyso...@earthlink.net>
> Subject: Important Save Whalom Park Update
> Date: Thu, 31 Jan 2002 16:45:24 -0500
>
> Dear Enthusiasts,
>
> I imagine that some of you have and some of you have not seen the press
> on Whalom Park that came across the newswire this morning. There was
> coverage in the Boston Herald, Worcester Telegram, Fitchburg Sentinel
> and other media outlets. Unfortunately, not all of them included the
> whole story. Here it is.
>
> Save Whalom Park is still going strong. We are going to fight to save
> Whalom from being torn down for development until there is an actual
> deal signed AND CLOSED – with us or with someone else. I found out
> yesterday that the Whalom Park Amusement Company has signed a purchase
> and sale agreement with a developer (they are being closed-mouthed about
> who it is). However, this agreement does not signal doomsday for Whalom
> Park.
>
> A purchase and sale agreement functions more like an option for the
> developer. He has a certain amount of time to do due diligence on the
> property and can back out of the deal at any time for almost any
> reason. I strongly believe that there is a real possibility that the
> developer could pull out of this deal. He has not yet obtained permits
> or zoning changes from the town. Nor has he done environmental
> studies. Even if he does not pull out, but simply lowers his offer, we
> will then have a chance to make a competitive bid for the Park property.
>
> We are not going to give up on Whalom Park until the fight is really
> over. If we give up now, we can never save the Park. We lose the
> chance we still have. We are continuing with our efforts to secure
> additional investors, obtain financing and, of course, sell Whales. I
> hope you will continue to support the effort and spread the word.
>
> Thus far we have raised $19,000 from Whale sales and are working toward
> our goal of selling 10,000 Whales for a total of $500,000. I want to
> thank all of you who have bought a Whale (or a dozen) and ask you to
> encourage your friends and colleagues to do the same. Now is the time
> to act. We may only have a couple months left to Save Whalom Park!
>
> Sincerely,
> Allyson Bowen
>
> www.savewhalompark.com
>
> 978-874-0544
>
> 110 Narrows Road
> Westminster, MA 01473
------------------------------------------------------------------
Come visit the Joyrides website <http://www.joyrides.com>,
a photo gallery celebrating the joy and beauty of amusement rides!
Rob Ascough
majority of the custom rides on Hunt's Pier were demolished by the company
that purchased the pier from the Hunts, in order to make room for new,
modern rides.
Morey's didn't purchase the pier until Dinosaur Beach closed (which was
purchased after the destruction of Hunt's Pier), and they gave the old log
flume to Arnold's Park in Iowa as a "gift". There are rumors that the
Golden Nugget will indeed operate again, in some shape or form.
"Paul Lewis" <pa...@sas.upenn.edu> wrote in message
news:3C59BFFA...@sas.upenn.edu...
Mark Rosenzweig
> [who calls your attention to nearby Canobie Lake park]
>
Canobie is not a park that I put in the same category as Whalom.
While they are both traditional parks in every sense of the word,
Canobie is more corporate run than family owned than parks like
Knoebel's, Whalom, and Holiday World. It's a hard thing to fully
describe, but I'll just put it this way- corporate traditional parks
do exist- you need to look no further than parks like Hersheypark and
Cedar Point. In many ways, Canobie is a small model of these parks-
presenting both traditional feel and mixing it with some theming and
concept.
Canobie is also blessed by having a great location on the far
outskirts of the market owned by SFNE and LC- two thriving parks that
to me put the nail in Whalom's coffin. Canobie was never a threat to
Whalom. Nor was Funtown, Palace Playland, Pirate's Park or Storyland.
The small, traditional picnic/trolley parks have lost one of its last
endangered members.
-Mark
Shawn Mamros
>"rolandcoaster" <rfol...@home.com> wrote in message news:<Pqf68.19164
>> [who calls your attention to nearby Canobie Lake park]
>>
>No attention call needed for me to know Canobie exists- it's just that
>Canobie is not a park that I put in the same category as Whalom.
>While they are both traditional parks in every sense of the word,
>Canobie is more corporate run than family owned than parks like
>Knoebel's, Whalom, and Holiday World.
Members of the Berni, Captell and Ulaky families might choose to
dispute you on that point. :-) I'm not sure if anyone outside of
those families is part of the ownership of Canobie Lake Park these
days, but I think it's a true statement that most (if not all) of
that park's ownership resides within those three families.
> It's a hard thing to fully
>describe, but I'll just put it this way- corporate traditional parks
>do exist- you need to look no further than parks like Hersheypark and
>Cedar Point. In many ways, Canobie is a small model of these parks-
>presenting both traditional feel and mixing it with some theming and
>concept.
Ownership issues aside, I do understand what you're saying here.
But I think a closer analogy to Canobie Lake might be a place like
Kennywood. Think about it - a privately-held partnership consisting
of three families (in Kennywood's case, it's Henninger, McSwigan, and
Hughes), owning a park whose history dates back to right around the
start of the 20th century, with a variety of rides dating from almost
the parks' earliest days to today. Kennywood is the larger park of
the two, with a larger coaster count, but otherwise I think the analogy
holds up pretty well.
>Canobie is also blessed by having a great location on the far
>outskirts of the market owned by SFNE and LC- two thriving parks that
>to me put the nail in Whalom's coffin.
LC is barely, if at all, known to the vast majority of people in central
and eastern Massachusetts, in my experience. Only people who live around
Springfield might have heard of it, if they watch the Hartford TV stations.
SFNE, of course, is another matter entirely.
Canobie Lake is certainly well known around these parts, and though
they don't have the "big rides" of an SFNE, they're still able to hold
their own and draw good-sized crowds on summer days. The fact that
they're able to add to and update their ride package, as they've been
doing over the last couple years (witness the new S&S Double Shot going
in for 2002), should be a sign that Canobie is very much alive and well.
I'm quite happy to have them as one of my two - and, for now, I will
still count them as two - "backyard" parks, with the other being Whalom.
-Shawn Mamros (who breathed at least a small sigh of relief with Allyson's
message; things are grimmer today for Whalom than they were yesterday,
but until the ink is dried on an actual check there is still some hope,
however slim - and I'll be the happiest guy around if my "F---!" message
turns out to be premature...)
E-mail to: mam...@mit.edu
Todd Long
merit its own Subject.
Tim Melago
news:nvfj5us6d4p369rem...@4ax.com...
> Here's a message I just received from Allyson Bowen:
>
> > From: Allyson Bowen <allyso...@earthlink.net>
> > Subject: Important Save Whalom Park Update
> > Date: Thu, 31 Jan 2002 16:45:24 -0500
> >
> > Dear Enthusiasts,
> >
> > I imagine that some of you have and some of you have not seen the press
> > on Whalom Park that came across the newswire this morning. There was
> > coverage in the Boston Herald, Worcester Telegram, Fitchburg Sentinel
> > and other media outlets. Unfortunately, not all of them included the
> > whole story. Here it is.
> >
> > Save Whalom Park is still going strong. We are going to fight to save
> > Whalom from being torn down for development until there is an actual
Not great news but I'm glad this effort won't be done until a deal with one
of the parties is complete. I'm sure the developer thought nobody would put
up a fight but this fight will make it tougher for him. Hopefully it will
become too tough for the developer and he will pull out. Maybe it's a
longshot but that's all we have.
--
Tim Melago - roll...@sgi.net
http://users.sgi.net/~rollocst/rc.html
Tim Melago
"JackTheRipper" <JackTh...@IloveWoman.com> wrote in message
> The Knoebels whip ...well um sucks. Whalom's whip is the best I have
> been on. Once can dream
>
> On Thu, 31 Jan 2002 17:47:27 GMT, "rolandcoaster" <rfol...@home.com>
> wrote:
>
> >That whip has *got* to be of significant value... regardless of its
> >condition. There are so few left.
Wasn't Whalom's whip sold to one of the NH kiddie parks? When it was at
Whalom it was easily the best whip ride. Knoebels was never great but has
been really lame the last few years.
Robert Mack
"All men dream: but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses
of their minds wake in the day to find that it was vanity: but the dreamers of
the day are dangerous men, for they may act out their dream with open eyes, to
make it possible
Robert Mack
Alan Conceicao
>Whalom it was easily the best whip ride. Knoebels was never great but has
>been really lame the last few years.
Yes...the whip and Flyers are on their way to Storyland.
-
Alan
Greg Morrow
Whalom's Whip has allready been sold to Storyland in Glen NH.
Greg
rolandcoaster
Thanks,
Roland
"Alan Conceicao" <deadand...@aol.comacabre> wrote in message
news:20020131224750...@mb-dd.aol.com...
Greg Morrow
Hopkins
Greg
Mark Rosenzweig
> Does Storyland have any coasters?
>
family coaster that dates from the early to mid '80s I believe. It is
a Morgan.
-Mark
rolandcoaster
near NH.
Thanks Mark!
Cheers,
Roland
"Mark Rosenzweig" <ston...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:86034ac2.02020...@posting.google.com...
Greg V.G.
>
> Thanks,
> Roland
Roland,
You can enter the igloo and chill with the Polar Coaster. I think its
a Hopkins junior coaster.
Greg V.G.
Bruce Turner
ride with your kid. I haven't been up there in about 10 years. I would call
it a junior coaster steel coaster.
Bruce...................
Greg V.G. <minn...@msn.com> wrote in message
news:92e9f486.02020...@posting.google.com...
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Shawn Mamros
Polar Coaster):
>Hmmm.... this makes me all the more interested in stopping by if/when I'm
>near NH.
If only it weren't so doggone far north... Glen NH is over 125 miles
north of Salem (home of Canobie Lake), and only half of that distance
is Interstate driving.
Still might be a nice trip, and one I'll make one of these years, but
it's tough to do when it's further away from me than either Lake Compounce
or Quassy is (seriously!).
-Shawn Mamros (and Jefferson, home of Santa's Village and their Rudy's
Rapid Transit coaster, is even further north than Glen...)
E-mail to: mam...@mit.edu
Greg V.G.
> rolandcoaster <rfol...@home.com> writes (w.r.t. Storyland and their
> Polar Coaster):
>
> >Hmmm.... this makes me all the more interested in stopping by if/when I'm
> >near NH.
>
> If only it weren't so doggone far north... Glen NH is over 125 miles
> north of Salem (home of Canobie Lake), and only half of that distance
> is Interstate driving.
>
>
> -Shawn Mamros (and Jefferson, home of Santa's Village and their Rudy's
> Rapid Transit coaster, is even further north than Glen...)
> E-mail to: mam...@mit.edu
You could always do a trip around Lake Champlin, start at Great
Escape, go to La Ronde the next day, then down to Jefferson & Glen on
your way to Old Orchard Beach and Funtown on the third day
Greg V.G.
Ted Ansley
Not to mention the GREAT trip through VT, one of my favorite states!
Visit Burlington VT, or take a hike up in the Green Moutains, Mt. Mansfield
would be a good choice, and stop int Waterbury VT for the Ben & Jerry's
factory tour! It is very nice up there in the summer.
Ted Ansley
**Rollercoaster Fan<atic>**
tan...@home.com
rolandcoaster
off a few more __________ (not sure the best word here... significant,
important, worthwhile, rewarding, hmmmm....) coaster trips.
I have fallen *significantly* behind in recent years (for shame). The
Midwest for example- there are way too many coasters there that I'm dying to
ride. ST, Legend, Raven (again), Boss, ... <sigh>
This year... yup it's gonna be this year!
Cheers,
Roland
"Greg V.G." <minn...@msn.com> wrote in message
news:92e9f486.02020...@posting.google.com...
thetrumpetofthelord
I grew up in Bristol Ct.
Bristol is a long ride from Whalom Park.
I doubt seriously that Lake Coumpounce took a lot of business away
from Whalom Park.It is sad to see such a wonderful historical park
close.
There are some things that are just more important than making a lot
of money.
I feel sorry for the people who are responsable for tearing down
Whalom Park, and for the family's who will never have another chance
to build wonderful memories there.
Some people just don't have a clue.
If you value making money more than family, you are truly pitiful.
Michael Schmidt