Earthquake & Pirate Ride questions...

I actually wrote to Cedar Point a few years ago asking what became of the insides of these rides. I was told they were in storage. Another well informed source has said there is nothing left of them. If true that would be very sad. These rides were so unique and quaint. I wanted to purchase at least one of them. Does anybody really know what has become of these well loved rides?

Very little still exists. I remember some of the pirate figures being displayed when I was last there about 7 years ago during Halloweekends but that's pretty much the extent of my knowledge. What I'd like to know is what is left of Paddlewheel Excursions and why it hasn't been incorporated into Shoot the Rapids or Thunder Canyon.

You can still walk around the inside of Earthquake. It's called the Snoopy Boutique.

There is nothing left of either ride. The ride scenes themselves were nothing but painted plywood, and the cars and tracks are all gone. A few pieces show up here and there in theming elements.

Paddlewheel excursions stuff is still sitting in the places it was left to rot scattered around the lagoon. You can see it from the train, from Shoot the Rapids, from Millenium Force, and just by looking as you walk around the lagoon area.

Thats a shame. I hope Cedar Point salvages some of those scenes. I always liked the sinking boat scene and the last two - the guy sleeping with the bears and the guy cleaning his pig with the goat in the background - the most as the humor of the scene speaks for itself. Very Marc Davis-esque - no corny jokes necessary - which also makes them the easiest to incorporate into other attractions. Too bad Shoot the Rapids isn't a normal flume, as smaller children would love those scenes and it would make it one hell of a family log fume.

The guy cleaning his pig (Russel "Rusty" Stehle) is in the Blood on the Bayou walk through during Halloweekends, along with some other characters from Paddlewheel.

If you go into The House on Boo Hill you can see the marks the tracks of the Pirate Ride left on the concrete floor. You'll need a small child with you to get in there most days. Sometimes depending on the size of the line and who is tending to the entrance they will allow people without a small child to go through.

And there's free candy! So yeah...

~Rob

The Pirate Ride boats (with skulls on front)were pieced out and sold separately to individual buyers. Not sure about the Earthquake cars. I saw one of the PR boats displayed at the Cuyahoga County Fair back in 2004 and have a picture of it somewhere. It didn't have the original skull on it but the boat was definitely the "real deal."