Rides of the 70's and 80's

If anyone else shares my passion for the 70s and 80s decades of rides, you will be my computer pen pal for life. Actually, I still think some of the best flat rides were from these decades. These would include the old upside-down house (gone), the Sanfrancisco Earthquake (gone), the Witches Wheel (still active), the Frontier Lift (gone), Baryn Curve (gone), and the Jumbo Jet(gone, and I never got ride it because I was only 3 or 4 during it's years of operation). I really miss the fun house, especially the slanted room. The object was to try and get through it without using the handrails. The slide was also fun at the end. At least I can still enjoy the witches wheel. This continues to be my favorite midway ride up to this day. What an amazing concept to have a ride adaption of the ferris wheel that turns it's riders upside down. I view it as a big fan because when you wait in line, and the wheel is lowering, you get a breeze from the wheel. And then of course there was the Jumbo Jet which was short lived due to numerous mechanical problems. My mom and dad and eldest sister and brother got to ride it. It has been said that this was a really scary and sometimes wicked ride. It's too bad its gone. I would have loved to have ridden it. Anyway, feel free to speak up. Like I said, anybody who shares my love for the old amusements, join in. *** This post was edited by Mark Phlegar on 1/23/00. ***

I would have loved to ride those also, but in my case I was too late too soon..I like old rides as well as new. My 2nd favorite park is great traditional park Kennywood. If you haven't been there yet, its like an amusement park musuem..

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Brian
Greensburg PA
Hometown parks: Kennywood, Cedar Point!
110 days until the real "Millennium

BeemanCP65-
I have been to Kennywood once and loved it. I went with a college friend. Loved the Thunderbolt. My mom and dad grew up going to Kennywood because they were raised in Pennsylvania as kids. They remember when the Thunderbolt was originally the Pippen. The Jackrabbit, need I say more. I almost flew out of my seat on the double dip. What a wonderful classic coaster.

I grew up in the 70's and 80's-my 1st roller coaster was the "Cyclone" at Coney Island. It's funny you mention that CP had "Jumbo Jet" because I used to ride a coaster by that name ALL the time by MYSELF at this run down little lousy excuse for an amusement park in Queens New York.
I remember Buckeye Lake Amusement Park near here in Buckeye Lake Ohio-NASTY little park-remember riding the "Wild Mouse" coaster. Once I moved to Ohio to stay in 1980-thats when I started hitting up PKI. As much as I love Raptor, Magnum, Mantis, PT, MS (front car), I still ride Blue Streak and of course on the rare occasions I find myself @ PKI I must ride the Racers too. I did go to Kennywood this past summer-it did bring back memories of parks past-woodies that were truly fun. I will admit though that I ADORED Steel Phantom more than Thunderbolt-I came off Thunderbolt shrugging my shoulders then headed back to SP. I dont like the Witches Wheel however-I cant ride something like that cause it makes me sick--pretty funny coming from someone who has ridden Raptor 257x isnt it??
So here is another fan of parks past....
(remember the old time haunted houses when there were people IN there actually TOUCHING you?? I still have nightmares about that stuff!)
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Welcome back Raptor riders-how was your flight??

Hey Raptor Lover, I'm with you on that one. The Raptor is worth every cent put into building it. Still one of my favorite steel inverters. I always get in line for the front seat. My favorite end is the far right. You get that nice little angle out before the drop as well as a complete side flip on the barrel roll. Anyway, you were telling me you rode a jumbo jet at that park in Queens New York. Was it an Anton Schwartzkopf design or was it a different coaster with the same name. Actually you can see a picture of Cedar Point's Jumbo Jet on the Pop's World Guide to Cedar Point site under Historical Photos. There are three photo shots of it. Sorry to hear you are not favorable to the Witches Wheel. No pun intended, but you are missing a wonderful and relaxing ride. I don't think you are the only one who rides the Raptor and not the Witche's Wheel. I have many friends who are the same way. Anyway, in case you were probably wondering, I live here in Columbus in the Grandview area. Looking forward to seeing more comments on old rides from you. You seem to have been to a lot of parks. I have been to four other parks besides Cedar Point. They include Kennywood, PKI, and two of the Six Flag's Parks (Missouri and Illinois). Later, and keep riding that Raptor *** This post was edited by Mark Phlegar on 1/23/00. ***

Funny you should mention about the Funhouse, Mark! Growing up as a child in the 70's, I was really big into funhouses and dark rides (still am!) I remember the funhouse vividly! I remember when you entered, you crossed a bridge, and there was a witch that stood off to the side, and shook her broom at you and cackled away! Next was the tilted room, another room followed, where you crossed a wooden sagging bridge over a ferocious aligator, then into the upside-down room, up through the hall of mirrors, and cross another bridge while the room spun around you, then into the room where you chose which slide you wanted to go down!!

How I miss that ride!! If anyone has any photos, Please post them!!

I also was a big fan of the San Francisco Earthquake ride too! Funny how there are not as many dark rides around these days. Although there are 3 at Kennywood nearby (Noah's Ark, Old Mill and Gold Rusher) but I'm surprised the Cedar Point no longer has one!

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Neil
By popular vote, the official start of the
millennium has been moved to
May 13, 2000

OK, I know I'm at least half right on this.

I don't recall that the wooden bridge over alligators was at CP's funhouse. Maybe it was, maybe I'm wrong.

However, a room fitting that EXACT description was part of Noah's Ark at Kennywood. This much, I'm sure of. Did CP have one as well? I thought I knew the funhouse. Heck, I even remember the pattern for getting through the mirror room.

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Duane Cahill
http://NextGenerationDomains.com
Someone buy one of these and make me rich.

DBCahill, I have to agree with you. I don't recall alligators in the CP Funhouse.
I love to discuss the "old" CP with anyone,anytime. Mark P. you started this topic, do you remember the Double Ferris Wheel?, The Rotor? I was able to ride the Jumbo Jets, it was a great ride when it ran.
Also, does anyone else remember the swing bridge you would walk over to Jungle Larry's Safari Island? (The bridge was located right about where the Corkscrew midway starts today) *** This post was edited by Old Timer Tim on 1/24/00. ***

I remember the fun house haveing a bridge over something. It think it was over bubbling lava or slime, but I don't remember the alligators.

Speaking of old rides, another one I remember was Satelite Jets. A very simple ride where you could control the up/down motion of the jets, but a lot of fun.

I may be confusing the aligator thing with the last version of Noah's ark (although I thought Noah's Ark was a hippo) But I remember the bridge over something right after the cackling witch!

I remember the double ferris wheel too! Did you see my pics over in the Historical section?

DBC - What was the pattern through the mirror room? I think it was straight in, right, 2 lefts, right and into the spinning room. Am I right?

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Neil
By popular vote, the official start of the
millennium has been moved to
May 13, 2000

if you are going to talk old CP rides, don't forget the monorail and the horse-drawn stagecoach ride in frontier town....

Boy, I really got people interested in this topic. Yes, Old Timer Tim, I do remember the Double Ferris Wheel. A ride I actually choose to forget. I am not much for Ferris Wheels. I was 6 or 7 when my oldest sister took me on it. I was terrified. Pete, you mentioned Satellite Jets. Boy that really brings back wonderful memories. I would ride those because at the time they were there, I was too young too ride the Blue Streak. My dad would ride them with me while everybody else rode the Blue Streak. The satellite jets had already been moved over near the Blue Streak by the time I was going to Cedar Point. I do have a video history that shows how it used to be in the center of the midway just under the skyride. The satellite jets were awesome, however, if I am not correctly mistaken, they changed the name to Super Jets. At least that's the name I remember on the ride sign. I'm sorry, Tim, I forgot you asked me also about the Rotor. I miss that one also with all my heart. What a unique feeling that ride was. Another mistake made by Cedar Point was removing that one. I had heard there were too many complaints of people getting sick.
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Please wait till the ride comes to a complete
stop!

the complaints we heard most with the Rotor were not dealing with illness. An occasional (?) rude guest could be guarenteed a moment or two of discomfort, though, if they abused the hostess one too many time--the platform that formed the floor could be manually stopped a couple inches from where it originally started causing the mouthy guest to have to slide down the rubberfingered wall--instant wedgie!! the worst part was trying to keep a straight face!!!!

Another grave mistake made by Cedar Point was the removal of the Frontier Lift which ran from 1968 to 1985. It was already there when I first went to Cedar Point. I loved seeing all the silkworm's homes in the trees when ever you went to and from FrontierLand. This was one of those quiet moment rides I just loved. I'm sure most everybody here would agree with me on this. I know, we need the coasters, but as I said before, it's part of the 70's park layout. Godforbid they should remove the midway skyride. I doubt it though. There are a lot of people who count on that to transfer over to where the Corkscrew is at from the front of the park. Someday, I will too. But I am young and can still walk the entire park and not be too tired. Later, and looking forward to more comments on this

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Please wait till the ride comes to a complete
stop!

ok sorry to kinda get off the subject here but what is so great about Thunderbolt? From looking at the pictures it must be the airtime it gives but i am not sure what makes it a ride. To answer your question, the only park i have been to is CP. So you can say that I have learned to ride coasters on only the best in the world. (not that other parks don't have great coasters) I really don't have passion for rides of the 70's and 80's. Yeah I have rode everything at CP and those new one's Mantis, PT, Raptor...those keep calling me back. I enjoy the 90's and 00 rides. I will say though the woodie made in I believe the 70's, Gemini, is such a great coaster. Best ride i know of to loose your head on.

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Welcome back Gemini riders...We all want to know how was your Ride!!!!! :)

I've been to CP, PKI, Busch Gardens (Virginia), PKD (Virginia), Kennywood, Hershey, SFMM, IOA, Disney, USF, USH, Geauga Lake, ect...(basically all over the place and no place even comes CLOSE to comparing to CP when it comes to coasters. However, I have to agree with everyone when we say what happened to the dark rides? I miss the rides like Noah's Ark among others. I was SO pleased to see IOA install Spiderman and Posid. Fury! I really, REALLY hope that all of these rumors about a Boardwalk at CP come true...What could be greater than riding 14 of the greatest coasters in the world and then spending the evening dining on a Boardwalk watching the sunset (in Ohio nonetheless...) If CP builds a good Boardwalk with some nice restaurants and some dark rides, then they would be forever the greatest park in the world. Right now, with or without MF, CP is already the greatest THRILL ride park in the universe, but just imagine if they could recreate the atmosphere of old...(Pirate's, Earthquake, funhouse, ect...) THAT would be the most wonderful gift a amusement park junky could ask for.. :)

i remember going to the point in the 70,s and walking thrue the old fun house.one of my favorate rides was the s.f earthquake dark ride.i also remeber ridig the tiki twister(i think thats what it was called)and yes the rotor as well.i also agree that they should never of tore these rides out of the point.it would be a great idea to bring back a dark ride,there one of my favorets.also if anyone has any picks of the s.f earthquack ride PLEEEEASE post them,i can only remember a few things about the inside of this great dark ride.


thank you

The Gemini is NOT a wooden coaster. Wooden frame, but steel tracks (does not classify that as a woodie)

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Neil
By popular vote, the official start of the
millennium has been moved to
May 13, 2000

I knew this topic would grow. DBCahill, didn't you have the longest thread on the old CPPlace with the topic "What do you miss most..."?
The satellite jets were known as "The Star Voyagers" when it was located by the Blue Streak, currently Calypso resides in the spot. Also, it wasn't the Tiki Twister, It was the Tiki Twirl, located where The Matterhorn is today.
I ,as much as the next person, hate to see the changes year to year, and elimination of some of the "classics". However, I am sure there are many variables which go into ride removal decsions such as ,age of ride, upkeep, future plans, staffing, safety, and probably many more.
I probably miss the FT Lift the most but look at what has happened to that area since the Lift has been removed. As much as I enjoyed the Lift, I'll take the development in that area over the last 14 years or so, over having the Lift back.
It is fun to remember "old" rides which have been removed. In another 20 years who knows, what the park will look like, but I'm sure it will still be the best park.


*** This post was edited by Old Timer Tim on 1/25/00. *** *** This post was edited by Old Timer Tim on 1/25/00. ***

You remember Tiki Twirl?? Bless you!! I hope you wern't one of those kids who scared me to death , hoppin out before the brakes held...LOL! That was my "home" for 2 years. I can still see the 8-track player with all that "authentic" South Pacific music.....day , after day...