Comments on: 3 Dearly Departed Amusement Parks

By: shirleyfeeney

shirleyfeeney — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 23:01:01 +0000

There was an amusement park here in So CA called Santa’s Village. Though I never went, my husband tells me that they sold rum balls in the bakery. He used to go with his oldest daughter (from his first marriage) and load up on them just to get through the day. It was Christmas 365 days a year there. Yes, in So CA, where as I write this the temp is a hot, dry 100 degrees…

By: Hepcat

Hepcat — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 20:21:16 +0000

I went to Action Park once or twice, but only left patches of skin behind. We used to call it Traction Park.

By: LALA

LALA — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 11:32:00 +0000

BOB-LO Island in the Detroit River!

It was great! First you got on an old-fashioned paddle wheel river boat and had tons of fun running around on there while the boat took you to the island in the river.
The island was a big amusement park!

Fun rides, great food! There was a pier where people in their own boats could dock, and there was a picnic area for people who brought their own spread.

By: Jamie

Jamie — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 16:40:00 +0000

I am surprised no one has mentioned the amusement park that was located behind the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. It was open the first time I was in Vegas, about 10 years ago, and closed after the “family-oriented” Vegas idea died on the vine. I have a VHS tape of me and two friends going on the Sky Screamer…it is like the bungee jumping sky coaster ride Ripcord at Geauga Lake, oh, yeah, Geauga Lake is closed too except for the *stupid* waterpark.

By: KarenInJapan

KarenInJapan — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 08:47:00 +0000

I was so happy to see someone mention the original Elitch’s, and even happier to see that the poster (another transplanted Coloradan?) is also in Japan. Hi Jen!

By: SpecialAgentBaker

SpecialAgentBaker — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 21:23:00 +0000

Aww, Christa is very kind. Thanks for ignoring the stereotypes.
Anywho, its really too bad that there isn’t enough of a tourist call to Arkansas, but you cannot say that for the entire region as it is not far to Branson, Missouri and they have three popular amusement parks.

By: Hyacinth

Hyacinth — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 19:07:00 +0000

Dollywood is still open and seems to be flourishing. It’s location in the Smoky Mts. probably has something to do with that. Unlike Libertyland, late of Memphis.
Liked Geauga Lake as a kid, but LOVED Cedar Point.. which, happily, is still running. Chippewa Lake was great for its location but lacked the awesome roller coasters that Cedar Point is known for.

By: MitchV

MitchV — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 17:46:00 +0000

Excelsior Amusement Park on Lake Minnetonka, just west of Minneapolis. It had a ballroom at which Lawrence Welk and the Rolling Stones performed (not on the same night). According to Wikipedia, “[l]egend has it that the stop by this latter group in June 1964 allegedly gave inspiration to the Stone’s song You Can’t Always Get What You Want, due to an oft-rumored conversation between Mick Jagger and a local Minneapolis character, ‘Mr. Jimmy,’ or Jim Hutmaker, who to this day is a celebrity to Excelsior. Jimmy died on October 3, 2007 without his story ever being verified.”

By: Charlotte

Charlotte — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 17:38:00 +0000

LOVED the Grizzly River Rampage at Opryland! I am from Arkansas and have fond memories of trips to Dogpatch. It is such a sad sight now.

By: ami

ami — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 16:35:00 +0000

As a native Nashvillian growing up in the 80’s and 90’s, I remember many trips tp Opryland. It was actually a pretty quality park. Clean, safe, and really fun! What I wouldn’t give to have Opryland back instead of that tacky Opry Mills.

And someone asked earlier about Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, TN. It is still live and kicking.