Mark's Postcard Paradise

Happy Birthday Mark's Postcard Paradise!

And with that, I would like to spotlight a few old (really old, you'll see) postcards which I had hidden deep within what could only be termed affectionately as ... "The Wall." And The Wall is basically one wall of our downstairs bathroom, that slowly got covered postcards of every type, size, location, theme...you get the idea.

Well, we decided to redo the bathroom, and all of the walls within the room came down including The Wall, so photos were taken of it, and the postcards I wanted to scan and share with you all, I held on to.

Now I will first post a couple of photos of the wall itself. Then put up a section that has the postcard(s) to be featured. And then the card or cards themself.

And please pardon the 'condition' of some (if not all) of the cards as they were in a bathroom, opposite a shower, hmm?

Here's looking to another postcard-filled year, Mark!

(And the featured postcard will be revealed....soon.)

And today's only featured postcard is .... and it's not the one you think.

Another view of The Wall, a bit closer to part of it.

Here's a look at "how it looked" when you came into the downstairs bathroom...

WOW I am loving your bathroom postcard wallpaper Bill! Looking forward to seeing what gems from it you have to share with us. Hmmm...I think I spy a postcard of an Intamin tower perhaps?!

Thanks for the Postcard Paradise birthday wishes, and oh...how did the remodel of the bathroom wall go? Would love to see photos of the renovation.

Occasionally I like to feature one of the parks "local" to me, and with the odd *rumor* on Screamscape this week about Chang moving to SFGAm, I thought it was about time to do a spotlight on this SFKK coaster. Personally I prefer sitting down, but if I'm going to stand, then I'd rather do it on Chang than any other stand up coaster I've ever ridden. Besides, does SFGAm actually have any room for Chang?

Sorry Riddler, Scorcher, and every other stand up...you're just not as good as Chang.

Asian theming really does relate to Kentucky. It is a little known secret that the state was once under Chinese rule!

LOL Mark, you are right about it being the postcard with the tower in it. And this tower happened to stand for a long time at our own Playland park.

Unfortunately I have no idea if that's an Intamin tower or not. The back of the postcard says nothing about the designer or builder of it. But the tower was built and maintained during the 1970s and came down during the early 80's.

The back of the postcard. And the information about it.

Here it is, with our great roller coaster waaay in the background there. And pardon the 'look' of the Tower Hostess there. Our friends have strange ways of killing time in the bathroom, lol.

Bill it certainly looks like an early Intamin tower. Thanks for sharing!

Konichiwa...shout outs to everyone on the TPR Japan trip!

Japan is truly one of the most amazing countries one can ever experience. When I went with TPR in '07, I was totally blown away by everything. It seemed like there was always something totally cool, random, and awesome everywhere we went within the span of about every 5 seconds. Kurashiki Tivoli was no exception. While you won't find extreme thrills here, the park is GORGEOUS beyond words and has a very European feel and charm to it. Besides the two coasters, there were several notable flat rides including a very intense Wave Swinger, a dessert/food themed spinning ride, a log flume with a curved lift hill, and unbelievable tea cups of death! I remember the walk through attraction having something to do with very scary Vikings. I should also mention Kurashiki is the home of Kidtum's first coaster credit! Check out this Coastertube video from the TPR visit to Kurashiki! [coastertube]http://www.themeparkreview.com/coastertube/play.php?vid=TivoliPark[/coastertube]

I love you Japan!

Bonus postcard...TOKYO!!!

Beautifully lit tiny carousel...check!

You just never know when an old coaster in storage will spring back to life. While it's cool and all that a piece of AstroWorld will get a second life, I think most (all?) of us wish it wasn't Serial Thriller. Poor La Ronde...well at least you guys got Goliath not too long ago, which though I haven't ridden it, by all accounts looks like a great ride. Hopefully Serial Thriller gets those new Vekoma trains with the better OTSR's at least.

This makes me very nervous.

Ouch.

Here's three cards, taken down from our old Postcard Wall that used to be in our basement bathroom. The room is now being converted into a new bathroom with a proper shower, etc. Woo hoo!

So, here's two that were up on it - from Santa Claus California, on one of my late 1970's visits down the West Coast. They even had their own sort-of cancellation stamp on it too! Check it out on the back of each one! (o: It's not around anymore and honestly, I cannot remember where exactly on the west coast of CA it was. Any help, people? Thanks in advance.

The third one is from Buffalo Bill's in Nevada, south of Las Vegas, which used to boast one of the first "tallest and fastest roller coasters in the world"... Desperado ... Back in the late 1990's.

Enjoy.

The back of the card.

Buffalo Bill's! And Desperado! Woo hoo!

And on THIS part of the Postcard Wall we find.....

And the back of this one from Sanat Claus, CA.

More of the fun things to at Santa Claus CA ....shopping. And eating.

Here's the part where the second Santa Claus CA card was on. And that's NOT Marilyn Monroe, there. I think it's Jayne Mansfield. And you are close to the second card too!

The back of the card. With the "From Santa Claus CA" cancellation on it, lol

Here it is - Santa Claus California. And look - there's a childrens train ride in front!

Here's part of that Postcard Wall that the first one was on - can you find it?

^ Great cards Bill...thanks for sharing!

Here's a little plug for Great Adventure Online website's first ever "Online Day" (<---click) coming up next Saturday, October 3rd, at SFGAdv. Although I live too far away to attend the event unfortunately, it sounds like it will be awesome. I promised the GAO website owner and TPR member, Josh, I'd help promote the event, so EVERYONE GO!!! Now to get you all in the mood for this event, which by the way coincides with the first night of Fright Fest, here's a scary ghost from SFGAdv's past...Viper.

Oh and by the way, next Sunday kicks off my Postcard SCAREadise 2!

Who has this credit?

Togo Ghost

This post card has a little mistake.

How exactly are they getting seven inversions?

^ Yeah, I remember the ride being advertised on having seven inversions from the press release back in 1999. Even the guide on the park map for that year described the ride as "going upside down seven times".

I also remember counting only five when I went to ride it for the first time. It made no sense.

^We have a sign in our living room from Serial Thriller that also proclaims the rides seven inversions!

And ahhh, Viper. I didn't hate it like so many people did. Although somehow SFGAd put the one ride in its spot that there's no way I could complain about Vipers destruction!!!

TPR friends, ghouls and goblins...the SCAREadise is back!!! To kick off the sequel here's a postcard of HallowSwings from Holiday World.

Mmmmm...I like bats.

Vampires, werewolves, MUMMIES OH MY!!! From the land of ginormous outdoor escalators, I bring you a SCAREadise postcard of Universal Studios Hollywood's Revenge of the Mummy.

Is Florida's really better? I thought this was a pretty fun ride!

Happy Hollyween

Something bugs me about this postcard!

This girl looks like she's having amazing fun:

I hope this entry is scary enough for the "SCAREadise" series. Here is the ominous Sky Screamer from AstroWorld (RIP)

PS - I love that this 1st gen. Free Fall ride is going to Knott's

Iron Dragon...scary???? uh, not so much but you gotta give Cedar Point credit for keeping that scary fog effect working after all these years!

I'm running behind on my SCAREadise postcard updates, but speaking of Cedar Fair and draggin' iron, here's the heavy metal ghoul from Dorney Park's Steel Force.

Could this be a distant relative of Iron Maiden's Eddie?

^ Oooh! Very, very scary.

Does anyone remember when Astroworld had the 1st gen and a 2nd gen Intamin freefall for one season? I kind of thought it was fun running back and forth between the two!

You're wrong Mark, Iron Dragon is scary...scary how bad it is.

Great postcards as always!

Lol thanks Shawn. I hope everyone had a good Halloween!

Did anyone eat too much trick or treat candy like these folks from Bobbejaanland? The back side of this card is blank, but I think the front says it all anyway!

Post Halloween tummy aches?

^ I think that postcard sums up Bobbejaanland perfectly! Love that place!

Thanks for posting this, Mark!

Glad you enjoyed Divv! I think that card is just priceless and pretty much sums up my feelings/love for BBJland too.

Halfway to nowhere between Beech Bend and SFKK, lies the oft overlooked Guntown Mountain. It's just a little blip on the map along the interstate and has always intrigued me as I've driven by it. There isn't much to see from the interstate except a chairlift, but upon closer inspection there are a few other attractions including a boarded up haunted house, ghost town, and train ride. I think there's also an alpine slide. I've never actually been inside the park since it was closed when I stopped in '07, and I'm not even sure if the park is still operating, but at least the huge gift shop was open and full of all kinds of trinkets and nick knacks including cured hams!

Can someone vouch for visiting the park or if it's still in operation?

Chance train enthusiasts rejoice!

Who's up for an autumn train ride through the back woods of Kentucky?

Here in the USA we celebrate a holiday called Thanksgiving on this coming Thursday, and it just so happens that Holiday World's newest area is themed around all that is otherwise known as "eat a ton of amazing food and fall asleep on the couch watching football games" day. Oh yeah this holiday also has something historical to do with the Pilgrims and Native Americans gathering for a celebratory harvest festival way back in Jeff Johnson's glory days. I think it might be time for me to get out that Charlie Brown classic tv special and brush up on Jeff's history!

Anyway I digress, so here's The Voyage, and I hope everyone has many blessings for which to be thankful and celebrate.

Mmmm turkey, dressing, and triple down tunnel.

I can't wait to try out those new Timberliner trains next year!