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Mark's Postcard Paradise


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^ YIKES...that photo where it fell into the river in 1999 is rather disturbing. Since I can't read German, what caused it to fall?

 

Here's one last bonus postcard of the Old Swiss House since it was supposed to go first, but I accidentally deleted it and couldn't figure out how to add it again to the top.

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August Busch's third wife, whose brother owned the original version in Lucerne, Switzerland, was the lucky recipient of this Valentine's Day gift from her husband. Source: http://www.tampapix.com/buschgardens10.htm

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  • 4 weeks later...

This update is all about Old Chicago, a park not often discussed on TPR, and for good reason since it's been defunct a long time. None the less, here it is for your enjoyment.

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Old Chicago opened in 1975 and was one of the first completely enclosed indoor amusement parks in the world.

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Old Chicago's final season was in 1980 long before most of you were born.

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I love getting mail at the Paradise!

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Where are the Arrow fan boys?

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So who has that log flume credit?

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Look out Enterprise...the puppets look hungry!

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We see you Bradley & Kaye INDOOR Barnstormer!

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NICE logo.

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More for the sub-genre Arrow corkscrew lattice structure fan boys.

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Pinfari...Italia represent!

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Hope you enjoyed this update. See you next time!

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Wow, can't say I have ever heard of this place before this update. Was this the only indoor Arrow Corkscrew???

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And what on earth were these terrifying things supposed to be?!?!?

Edited by ernierocker
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Wow, can't say I have ever heard of this place before this update. Was this the only indoor Arrow Corkscrew???

 

I do believe that is correct. This coaster was then moved to the Alabama State Fairground for 4 years 82 - 86 as the Corkscrew and then to it's current home, Canobie Lake Park in Salem, NH where it still thrills (and bashes) riders today as the "Canobie Corkscrew". I rode this on it's opening day at Canobie back in 1991

(I think, I know it was after 1990 when I was living in New England - it's not 1987 as stated on RCDB) it was kind of a neat moment, though I had been on other standard Arrow Corkscrews by then, but as kid in 1975, I wanted to ride it in Bollingbrook, but didn't get to.

 

I have heard that Marriott's (now Six Flags Great America) which opened the Turn of the Century the following year had originally wanted to call it the Chicago Loop, but that Old Chicago beat them to it. Can anyone confirm this?

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Wow, can't say I have ever heard of this place before this update. Was this the only indoor Arrow Corkscrew???

 

Can't say I ever rode it, but does Canyon Blaster at Adventuredome in Las Vegas count? Though it wasn't the classic drop, turn, cork, brakes layout, it was an enclosed Arrow cork right? And...Wow I miss Wabash Cannonball...kinda. I didn't realize Old Chicago's Cork was the same coaster moved to B'ham's fairgrounds, so I need to dig up my photos and post them from way back when too. Maybe that'll be the next update along with some Visionland junk.

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Even if most indoor parks cant compete in size I think that a hall like this should be part of any major park. Especially in areas were it rains often. That way you could visit a park nicely on a showery day. Of course its all in the numbers: Will the additional cost of a huge hall be payed off be additional visitors during rainy days? As there so little of these around I guess not...

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Can't say I ever rode it, but does Canyon Blaster at Adventuredome in Las Vegas count? Though it wasn't the classic drop, turn, cork, brakes layout, it was an enclosed Arrow cork right? And...Wow I miss Wabash Cannonball...kinda. I didn't realize Old Chicago's Cork was the same coaster moved to B'ham's fairgrounds, so I need to dig up my photos and post them from way back when too. Maybe that'll be the next update along with some Visionland junk.

 

Argh, and to think I rode the Canyon Blaster back in March. Yes I would count it as Arrow Corkscrew coaster. I was thinking along the lines of Arrow's Standard Corkscrew design that this coaster is, but an Arrow Corkscrew coaster also means any of the Arrows with inversions...it was the model name, for example the Orient Express at WOF was an Arrow Corkscrew coaster - according to an advertisment from Arrow talking about the Orient Express, but I digress.

 

I have never seen any pics of this coaster at the AL Fairgrounds, so I hope you will share.

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  • 2 weeks later...

It's truly a Postcard Paradise, Marc - thank you very much for your big collection, you are sharing with us:).

 

Some of these are very familiar to me, like the "original postcards" (by the ticket office) from the (former) portable carnival coasters and loopcoasters...

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I have never seen any pics of this coaster at the AL Fairgrounds, so I hope you will share.

 

Here are my pictures of the Magic City Express in its lovely setting at the Birmingham, AL Fairgrounds circa 1986. I feel like this coaster has found a much better home in New England.

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  • 4 weeks later...

Continuing in the Birmingham area (not England mind you but props to the Brit Crew), this update features a park that seems to have fallen on hard times. For 2012, Visionland (aka Alabama Adventure) has closed the rides side of the park and is now operating only as a waterpark. Boo. We'll see how long that lasts, but based on the many harsh and negative comments from the GP on the park's Facebook page, I would be very surprised to see the park make it to a 2013 season. Anyway, I digress, and I really should mention I only visited the park once in 2003 during their Halloween event. I found the park to not be nearly as bad as I'd heard (some people love their cheese and whine) and actually enjoyed my visit. Rampage, of course, was a good coaster in the day, but at night was just ballistic insaneness. LOVED IT. Too bad this park's days are really numbered in my opinion, but I hope I'm proven wrong. It certainly won't be the first time it has been saved...if it is saved again.

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I got nothing.

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2004 brought a new toilet bowl waterpark attraction. Foreshadowing?

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The park actually had a pretty nice "main street", and I liked the placement of the giant Ferris wheel acting as the axis endpoint much like the Disney castles.

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This was one of the wildest Wave Swingers I've ever ridden besides Kurashiki Tivoli's.

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TRIVIA: Who knows where the other half of the freefall drop towers ride was moved and operates today?

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At least the park's logo improved from the postcard. With the right park owners I really feel like this park could be revived...too bad it's pretty much a goner now.

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  • 4 weeks later...

Comic Con 2012...is it already that time of year again?! SERIOUSLY??? Each year I usually try to do a little tie-in with arguably the world's most epic comic convention. So in the spirit of all things comic as well as the new Dark Knight Rises flick, here's an oldie...no I mean an OLDIE. It's AstroWorld's Batman The Escape along with the 1983 park brochure...

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R.I.P Batman...

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or will you rise again in NY one day?

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Sigh

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Sorry Disney but this really should've been named Tron-evator. The cars even look like they were influenced by the movie and the evil MCP!

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FACT: One can never have too much Schwarzkopf (or Texas Cyclone for that matter).

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Whatever happened to the Rapids Nerd?

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TRAGIC.

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  • 4 months later...

OPRYLAND USA, Nashville, Tennessee (aka Music City USA). December 1997 marks the closure of this music themed park. Has it really already been 15 years? To commemorate this great old park, I'll be sharing vintage material all month long. Let's start with some old postcards and the 1972 brochure from opening year...

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Cool kids.

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2nd only to Knott's.

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Too many Sky Rides are defunct.

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Opryland's carousel was hand carved in Germany and one of a kind. It featured large rolling gondolas on an undulating track.

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I've heard that many country music stars got their start performing at Opryland back in the day.

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Kentucky Kingdom killed the Opryland star?

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I loved this flume ride. Other than the splash down and loading area, it was completely elevated and in later years gave some great views of Screamin' Delta Demon.

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NOT the mother church of country music. That would be the Ryman Auditorium in downtown Nashville where the Opry started.

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This is the brochure from opening year, 1972!

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It was a very well rounded park with lots of big musical show productions, rides, and unique attractions.

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I guess we'll never know why the Annual Pass was "adults only". Lots more coming soon!

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