The "updated" Shooting Gallery

Or rather decimated. Does anyone here have the scoop on why they tore apart the old-timey Western/Frontier saloon shooting gallery in Frontier Town? It's less than half it's size and a bunch of chickens. The rest of the space has been relegated to some arcade video and grab a toy machines. First time I noticed I asked the gentleman in the Town Museum but he didn't know and said he had also been surprised they had taken it out as well.

This has been basically the one game my family and I would stop and play so it just figures, right? Talk about taking out more of the old charm!

It had some guns last year that didn't work well (or maybe it's my shot) but it was basically functional.

In my experience, that game wasn't very popular. Perhaps the modification is in response to that?

I was just wondering about that. I recently noticed it was gone.

^^That has been my observation as well.

Maybe they should replace it with another 3-point shot game;)

There are plenty of games not very popular all over the park so I don't know about that. I wondered if anyone knew anything about the reason it was dismantled. I'll try to do further inquiries. A shame because if I'm not mistaken, one of the originals in the area and the saloon theme fits in so well.

I think the shooting gallery, as it was last year, was not the original gallery. Wasn't it installed sometime in the last 5 or 10 years?

The original gallery was larger if I remember correctly. Here is a video of the original:

http://youtu.be/MlAeHt7mhjQ

3snoH un=l said:
There are plenty of games not very popular all over the park so I don't know about that.

That's true. However, that particular installation always seemed rather out of place. The theme was fitting, but it was kind of an orphan back there.

Rotunda_Chillin said:

The original gallery was larger if I remember correctly. Here is a video of the original:

http://youtu.be/MlAeHt7mhjQ

Well, I'd say the the one before this year's "update" was a lot better than the medieval theme. That looks terrible and certainly not fitting in Frontier Town.

Even though many of us have sentimental connections to the shooting galleries and retro arcades, I wouldn't be surprised if they're not the profit centers that they used to be.

I usually never saw big crowds in them and, since I worked in an arcade years ago, those older machines are a maintenance nightmare.

That's why I wouldn't be surprised if the clock is ticking on the retro arcade in the big building up front.

Yes, I know, CP can't deal with anything that looks cool but requires maintenance.

I know there weren't droves lined up to play but it was still fun and fitting in the town, even to look at while passing. What's there now isn't an improvement to the atmosphere or drawing people either, more claw grabbing toys?

Kris, Couldn't agree more about the old Shooting Gallery and it did fit the theme better than those chickens. I used to play it every time I went as a kid. I did notice that the old light up organ (from the old gallery) was inside the Halloweekend Boo Hill exhibit this past year. Check for it this year.

All the key players from the shooting gallery will be seen covered in blood this fall. Pick everything apart to decorate for Halloween.

That new new thing they call a shooting gallery wow. How it sticks out like a sore thumb. IMO.

I saw the new shooting gallery. I hate it. But in fairness, I think because it's new, and I have memories of being with my Dad at the old shooting gallery. So in time... I'm sure I'll get used to it. It's probably the right thing to do while still maintaining a connection (albeit tenuous) with the past history of the park.

I don't think it's nostalgia talking, it truly is a downgrade.

The company -- any company -- makes decisions based on a number of considerations. What's there now mayn't be an improvement to fans of what was there before, but it seems clear the change was considered viable.

If it were up to me, Cedar Point would still have a double Ferris wheel, the Mill Race, Jumbo Jet, and no Corkscrew, Magnum, Soak City or Gemini: the park in the mid-70s is still "the" Cedar Point to me.

If not viable then at least necessary. Maybe the old gallery was finally so decrepit or suffered an irrepairable outtage that they substituted this one for a temporary amount of time. Something that works, even though it doesn't meet up to our discerning tastes, may be preferable over dealing with complaints and refunds.

Shooting galleries in a variety of themes are still available but with updated technology. Maybe the old western saloon will be replaced with something better.

I remember when Cedar Point had Shoot Out the Star. Now there was some gun action for ya.

3snoH un=l said:
I don't think it's nostalgia talking, it truly is a downgrade.

Downgrade from what? I honestly can't recall the last time I saw anyone playing the old gallery. Your sentimental attachment is understandable, but don't let that blind you to logic.

Perhaps you prefer the old theme, but that doesn't mean this new one is a downgrade in the universal sense.

The new shooting gallery is smaller but it is quite nice. Like others have said, it doesn't seem like there were ever more than 1 or 2 people playing and most times none. They didn't need the capacity of the old shooting gallery. I'm glad they still have a shooting gallery, and the smaller size lets them fit in a few more games that probably make as much or more money than the shooting gallery does.

I'll also throw it out there that I've rarely if ever seen anyone playing the old shooting gallery for years now.