Dorney Park Fun Facts #3

Hard to believe that this coming season marks the 4th year without old bumpy, aka, Hercules. Here's the original art for the ride (quite a find if I do say so myself), and an original press blurb from 1989.


"HERCULES - The record-breaking tallest wooden roller coaster in the world highlights 1989 at Dorney Park and Wildwater Kingdom. Constructed of pressure-treated southern pine, the 157-foot hight wonder will excite and surprise even the most experienced coaster enthusiast. Banked curves of 55 degrees and a high speed cruise over a lake at more than 65 m.p.h. are sure to make everyone remember the great HERCULES adventure. Look for opening day in early May."

Jazzland Memories

To honor what I believe is the first of the (many to come) nails in the coffin of Six Flags New Orleans - which is the taking apart of Batman the Ride - here's some stuff of mine that I found. It's from 2001, the second year the park was open. Obviously, since it was still Jazzland, this is before Six Flags came in and attempted to keep the park from failing (which it was, at that point).

Here's the brochure:
That's the cover... see the park is Thrill Tested and Family Proven (in a year?!)

Here's where the fun starts: First, they list a Chute-the-Chutes as a "high velocity water craft launch." WHAT does that even mean? Moving on, apparently when kids meet a person in a raccoon suit, it rates a 9.5 on the thrill factor, and even involves the material "soft fur." And to finish with a bang, the prototype for the "dizzy lizzy" came from Roswell, NM! Ahem.

And here's the inside of the thing. Instead of making jokes at the former park's expense... click on it for a really big version and read these gems for yourself!



And last, but not least, here's the map of the park. I like this especially because it's the park as built - not as attacked by Six Flags (my opinion, of course). Hope you enjoyed!

Another MGM Grand Adventures Post

Just a quick update for reference - the company that is trying to sell some of the bigger rides from the park is Ital International. Here's links to the pages for the individual rides:

Over the Edge - Log Flume

Grand Canyon Rapids - River Rapids Ride

Sky Screamer - SkyCoaster

And...

Lightning Bolt - Roller Coaster

All 4 pages have pictures of the rides that show them in their original location at MGM Grand Adventures!

Dorney Park 2007 Season Update #2

There's still not a lot going on at the park, but I snapped some new photos because I wanted to provide some more factual information along with the images. These photos are from 12.17.06.

I noticed this small crane by Steel Force's station today. They're probably removing the last of the trains for winter maintenance or something along those lines.

Here's another general view of the area that is to become parking. Notice that the last house that was down here is still standing. I'd like to note that at the planning commission meeting for these improvements the park stated that they are "considering" a second entrance to the park down here.

Here is a snap of the field that is beyond the overflow lot and the house in the photo above. (use Steel Force's lift beyond the trees as reference) The only reason I took a pic of this is because earlier in the season there was an orange flag marker located here. This area is used for parking on really busy days, only a couple times a year.

One other random view of the area. Some of these are being included in large part to have reference photos for after the area is changed. I wish (as they had first planned like 10 years ago) that Lincoln Ave. would be changed into park entrance ONLY. Then, the little road that runs along the overflow lot (it currently runs up toward Hamilton then stops) would be reopened and used to bypass the parking area. Here's what I mean:
As you can see, Lincoln Ave. could be used to feed the park - and the park ONLY. If they used that old road they would allow traffic to pass through to Ashley Development's new office and the old folk's home and everything else back there. Sadly, as of now there are "no concrete plans for the realignment of the Dorney Park/Lincoln Ave. intersection." This info is also from a recent planning commission meeting.

Well anyway, that's all for this week. I hope they start to do some work soon!

Steel Force Construction Diary #2

Where were we? Oh yes, we were following the construction of Steel Force to honor the ride's 10th anniversary this year.

Some time has passed since the last photo in the previous update. Now we are at the end of January, 1997. As you can see, Steel has started to rise. A bunch of the lift supports had gone up at this point. Also worth mentioning, you can see that the parking lot was still not paved and only in the process of receiving lighting during this off season.

Here we are at the start of February, 1997. No super huge changes here, but they have started to build the supports for the drop. Also, take note of the big Thunderhawk sign that is on the ride's lift. I always though that sign was neat, I wonder why they removed it?

The week after, they had started the supports for the 2nd hill. Winter was in full force at this point, which is made clear by the snow on the ground.

At the end of February, 1997 work on the turnaround portion of the ride was in full swing. While land clearing had taken place earlier, it wasn't until around this time that footers started to be poured on the hill for the turnaround. It's pretty strange to see this view with Steel Force's large helix missing, and also Hercules still standing. Say hi to the ghost of Hercules!

That's all for now, I promise the next batch of pictures is where things start to get more interesting!

Cedar Fair Yard Sale

Hypersonic XLC is for sale.

http://www.italintl.com/detail_page.php?record_id=937

I have a feeling this is only the start of a larger Cedar Fair yard sale of sorts with the Paramount Parks.

I just planned a trip to Kings Dominion for the spring. Wonder if it'll still be open?

Interesting times are ahead kids!