Post by Robert on Apr 28, 2005 12:16:14 GMT -5
I didn't know what category to post this in, but it's a shame when developers buy parks, usually family run parks and raze them and build condos or whatever on the site. It happened in Sea Isle City in 2000 (park closed after 30 years and condos built there) and now at a park in NC on the beach, Jubillee Amusement Park which has been sold to developers for CONDOS to be built on the site. And Miracle Strip Park in Panama City Beach, FL closed last Sept. after 40 years and a developer will redevelop the property. And that park had a dark ride and themed rides, too. It's just a trend that seems to be repeating itself over and over. A park in Mass. north of Boston (Salisbury Beach) was half demolished for condos, a dark ride (Castle Frankenstein) was demolished as part of the redevelopment www.laffinthedark.com/articles/salisbury/kastle1.htm and www.laffinthedark.com/articles/salisbury/kastle2.htm
The old dark rides are dropping like flies just like the old motels are. Whay hasn't anyone started a "Dark Ride Preservation Society" to fight off those greedy developers and "I could care less" park owners? What is going to be left 20 years from now that existed in 1950 to show our kid's kids? Not very much. Today's people want the big parks with their giant coasters. They could care less about old dark rides. You can see the evidence from the many small, family run traditional parks that closed their doors over the years. (Palisades, Hunt's, Bertrand Island, Rocky Glen, Angela Park, alot of Massachussets parks, Rocky Point, Warwick, RI, I could go on and on) Even Dorney Park had to change and "upgrade" to keep up with the demands of today's traveling public. www.defunctparks.com I'm afraid the only parks that will be left someday will be the Six Flags types. (And sans dark rides as we knew them!) I DON'T want all parks to be like "Six Flags Xtreme Thrill"!
The old dark rides are dropping like flies just like the old motels are. Whay hasn't anyone started a "Dark Ride Preservation Society" to fight off those greedy developers and "I could care less" park owners? What is going to be left 20 years from now that existed in 1950 to show our kid's kids? Not very much. Today's people want the big parks with their giant coasters. They could care less about old dark rides. You can see the evidence from the many small, family run traditional parks that closed their doors over the years. (Palisades, Hunt's, Bertrand Island, Rocky Glen, Angela Park, alot of Massachussets parks, Rocky Point, Warwick, RI, I could go on and on) Even Dorney Park had to change and "upgrade" to keep up with the demands of today's traveling public. www.defunctparks.com I'm afraid the only parks that will be left someday will be the Six Flags types. (And sans dark rides as we knew them!) I DON'T want all parks to be like "Six Flags Xtreme Thrill"!
