One of the oldest wooden coasters in the U.S.

[Ron 73]

This was built in 1937 and is still around, aprox 20 miles from where we live. This park, Conneaut Lake Amusement park is i guess what you call a big deal hear, Most all that grew up in this area knows about it and been there. There's been talk about problems keeping it open because the economy the way it is but so far has been open, as far as i can remember.. Its small but always was a lot of fun to take your gal and visit, The Blue Streak is its largest attraction and old as can be, thought id share some pictures of the coaster itself, wooden ones are getting fewer as the years go past and being one its a different kind of excitement by itself.. Enjoy, i have a few pictures anyway.. There is also deer park there they keep deer and other game for visitors to see, if anything, Its still free admission, a novelty by itself. Going by the other day, i got to thinking that its winter, water looks so cold looking over the lake but summer is getting closer each day (slow maybe but true ), maybe when it opens some hear are close enough to take a trip and have a bit of fun with the family.. There is more then just the Blue Streak to enjoy, but small it is.

 

[Deleted member 214]

I haven't been there since the 70s. I remember Euclid Beach and Chippewa Lake in the Cleveland area. All that's left of the first one is the entry arch. There is still some rusted old pieces left at Chippewa. I used to live across the road from Geauga Lake Park - at it's peak it had a Sea World and a water park plus a big variety of rides, now all the rides are gone and only the water park is left. Ron, I hope your little gem of an amusement park stays open for another generation at least!

 

[snakeyes]

thanks ron nothing like the old wooden coasters :headbang:

 

[Ron 73]

I haven't been there since the 70s. I remember Euclid Beach and Chippewa Lake in the Cleveland area. All that's left of the first one is the entry arch. There is still some rusted old pieces left at Chippewa. I used to live across the road from Geauga Lake Park - at it's peak it had a Sea World and a water park plus a big variety of rides, now all the rides are gone and only the water park is left. Ron, I hope your little gem of an amusement park stays open for another generation at least!

Yes sir, me to.. And to be honest, its been since the 70's since i was there.. Im told they do have a car show there in, i think June, not positive..

 

[D575]

Yes sir, me to.. And to be honest, its been since the 70's since i was there.. Im told they do have a car show there in, i think June, not positive..

I wouldn't park my car under that thing.

 

[tpodwdog]

i have no family but would be fun for a car show! i remember going there when i was a kid in the early 70's. my sister lived in Conneat ( i could never spell it right) . been on the wild mouse a few times!

 

[Bruzilla]

I haven't been there since the 70s either. But when it comes to wooden coasters, nothing compares to Kennywood. Long live the Thunderbolt!

 

[sublimegtx]

Wooden coasters are like classic cars, cool old school. I live a few miles from six flags new england. They have two old wooden coasters. The Thunderbolt and the Riverside Cyclone (modeled from the coney island cyclone) It was called Riverside Park until six flags bought it in 96'. Riverside started in 1870 as a picnic grove the eventually got a few mechanical rides and a carousel in the early 1900's. Prior to 1900, most of the park's patrons arrived via steamship. It closed between 1933-39. In 39' the owner purchased the plans and cars of the 1939 New York World's Fair Cyclone Roller Coaster. That coaster, now known as Thunderbolt, is currently operating at the park, and is the oldest coaster within the Six Flags Chain of theme parks. The owner built the Riverside Park Speedway in 1948, replacing an open air bandstand. NASCAR began to hold events at Riverside Park Speedway in 1976. Unfortunately Six Flags took out the track in 1999. I haven't been there since.
Sorry Ron I didn't mean to hijack your thread http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2StBjWKifU http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83_RMZTV4Mk

 

[67 B-body]

Cedar Point also has a "Blue Streak" roller coaster... I think it's the oldest one in the park... Also one of the oldest in the country.....
I used to go every year with my family growing up. It's a simple hour drive, but the prices have gone up so much that I rarely go these days....

 

[tpodwdog]

I haven't been there since the 70s either. But when it comes to wooden coasters, nothing compares to Kennywood. Long live the Thunderbolt!

funny you mention Kennywood. fun place to go and the THUNDERBOLT rules for sure. a few years back we had what they call "MICROBURSTS" a fast developing tornado. well , one of those microbursts tore down a few buildings at kennywood that were near the Thunderbolt...and im almost embarrassed to say. i built some of the ones that were tore down....HAHAHAHAHAA....thats pretty damn funny! kinda hard to compete with a tornado tho !....still funny.

i found out about it coz my sister called me and said ...." hey...did yinz see dem bildins' on the news yinz put up at Kennywood got blown dahhhhn yesterdee n@???? what kinda jagoffs are yinz guys? cant build a freekin bildin' that dont fall dahhhhhhhhnnnnn... n@ " "........classic!

needless to say the Thunderbolt survived !:headbang:...............................................n@

 

[Cranky]

Houston doesn't have a park anymore. A new one was supposed to be built north of town but I think crooked politicians got involved in that. Anyways, the Texas Cyclone was wood and was a rough bastard but once you made it through the first downhill turn, it wasn't too bad. I like coasters but standing in line in the Texas heat and sun sucks even when they had outside AC blowing on ya.

 

[Endangered Species]

I was at Conneaut this spring. We sold the owner of the Hotel a tractor. The Hotel is pretty cool also. It was built like 1899 or 1900 I think.

The park was really run down and it's a shame. I hope they get there crap together and save it. I'm not much for amusement parks but I love the classics and the history.

 

[Ron 73]

I heard they were trying to get it back to where it was, I know its only open on the week ends now and don't know if all the rides available yet or not, but time will tell i guess, i hope they bring it back to life myself. here's a video if you want a small ride on what today would be called a very small coaster.. 2nd is link to whats there for rides.. It is a small park!

[video=youtube;niaLrCI8w9A]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=niaLrCI8w9A[/video]

http://www.conneautlakepark.com/rides.html

 

[Diecastdeluxe]

I grew up with Conneaut Lake Park and Waldameer Park. My dad's shop had their shop picnic at CLP.

 

[Ron 73]

Wooden coasters are like classic cars, cool old school. I live a few miles from six flags new england. They have two old wooden coasters. The Thunderbolt and the Riverside Cyclone (modeled from the coney island cyclone) It was called Riverside Park until six flags bought it in 96'. Riverside started in 1870 as a picnic grove the eventually got a few mechanical rides and a carousel in the early 1900's. Prior to 1900, most of the park's patrons arrived via steamship. It closed between 1933-39. In 39' the owner purchased the plans and cars of the 1939 New York World's Fair Cyclone Roller Coaster. That coaster, now known as Thunderbolt, is currently operating at the park, and is the oldest coaster within the Six Flags Chain of theme parks. The owner built the Riverside Park Speedway in 1948, replacing an open air bandstand. NASCAR began to hold events at Riverside Park Speedway in 1976. Unfortunately Six Flags took out the track in 1999. I haven't been there since.
Sorry Ron I didn't mean to hijack your thread http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2StBjWKifU http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83_RMZTV4Mk

Post away bud!!! Anything you all want, wont bother me any!

 

[Dennis H]

Thanks for the memories. I grew up in Allentown and rode the Zephyr in its glory. Dorney Park was a nice place until it became a "World Class Park. They had stock car racing too. I was a Bousher fan in the #45. Also went to an old park called Knoebels with an old park feel. The last wooden coaster I rode was at the Santa Cruz Boardwalk. Rough like it should be, checked for broken ribs at the end. Sweet.

 

[YY1]

Man, I LOVES me a wooden roller coaster.

As nice and high tech as the steel ones are, the G foeces are totally different, and those shoulder bars compress my spine, making for a painful ride.

Being from Ohio, I get a kick telling folks that FL actually still has some work to do to catch up to the coaster scene in OH!!

The Beast at King's Island ROCKS!

...although Gwazi at Tampa Busch Gardems is quite nice.

As a kid, we'd go to Americana/LeSourdsville and ride that caoster dozens of times in a row, sometimes without stopping, if the operator was cool.

Up neear the corner of I4 and US27, we used to have the coster that Michael Jackson bought, and shipped to his home in CA.
IIRC, the sale price was around 100K.

 

[Bruzilla]

Kennywood's got the Thunderbolt, the Racer (the last racing coaster in the country), and the Jack Rabbit, three awesome wooden coasters. They can keep the steel coasters.

 

[kdtjb]

I swallowed my gum!

I heard they were trying to get it back to where it was, I know its only open on the week ends now and don't know if all the rides available yet or not, but time will tell i guess, i hope they bring it back to life myself. here's a video if you want a small ride on what today would be called a very small coaster.. 2nd is link to whats there for rides.. It is a small park!

[video=youtube;niaLrCI8w9A]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=niaLrCI8w9A[/video]

http://www.conneautlakepark.com/rides.html

 

[Ron 73]

I swallowed my gum!

ROFL.. I would not suggest gum on any 6 flags coaster!