Most of you have read my articles praising the traditional park. While  these parks remain my preferred places to rides, I have been to theme parks, believe it or not! I have learned many things during my visits to theme parks. If you haven't been to one yet this summer, you still have time to utilize my tips for surviving the theme park visit.

Tip 1: Make sure you carry lots of money because you will pay, pay, pay for parking, pay for your ticket, pay outrageous prices for food and drinks and pay really high prices for souviners.

Tip 2: Leave the water bottles in the car. Most theme parks will not let you bring them in.

Tip 3: Carry snacks in a fanny pack or backpack to offset the cost of buying food. Most theme parks will still permit you to bring in packages of nuts, granola bars and trail mix. You can try to bring in a sandwich, but be prepared. If you are going through a security check, they may confinscate your lunch.

Tip 4: Compare the prices of food offerings at the stands and restaurants. Sometimes the "value" meal isn't such a value; it may be more than buying ala carte. Most of the time, however,  you are better off getting a value-type meal that includes your drink and a side dish (usually fries). If you are with a couple of people, try sharing a whole pizza for extra savings.

Tip 5: Be prepared to stand in line because you will. Go to the park wearing a comfortable pair of sneakers and  having a good attitude. You will be less stressed and frustrated knowing you won't get on everything and will have to wait to ride. Choose your rides wisely.

Tip 6: Most theme parks have sections or lands. To avoid walking aimlessly all over the place, peruse the park map for your favorite rides and work your way to them in a logical pattern. For example: You MUST ride the Wildcat at Hersheypark, but you also like Lightning Racer, the train and the Comet. There are a lot of hills in Hersheypark and you can get worn out quickly. Start with the Wildcat, then Lightning Racer, both sides. If the lines look short you can hit the Wild Mouse before heading across the park. Stop at the train and any flat rides you think you can do in reasonable time, then do the Comet. Work each section as you go back to the front of the park. Believe me it works and you don't get really tired.

Tip 7: If you are doing the waterpark as well as the dry section of the park, go to the waterpark first. Most people visit the waterpark in the mid to late afternoon when it gets really hot. By going early, you can grab a chair and enjoy a somewhat crowd free experience in the wave pool and on the slides. When the waterpark starts getting crowded, head for the dry rides. Usually the lines are shorter because everyone's in the waterpark!

Tip 8: Choose the shows you want you to see and get to them early. There's always a line into the stadium or theater. Work the show schedule into your ride schedule so you aren't walking all over the park.

Tip 9: Save the souviner buying until the end. Unless you see something in a specific shop that you are willing to carry (and won't forget on a ride) or if you are at one of the Disney parks where you can have your items sent to the main gate for pick up on the way out, shop at the end. Most theme parks have the same merchandise throughout the park.  Save yourself some money, buy t-shirts or sweatshirts, patches or postcards. You'll get plenty of usage from the shirts and postcards look great in a scrapbook or photo album.

Have fun at the theme park!

It's that time of year when I miss Crystal Beach the most. Oh, for the days when it took a mere 30 minutes to hop across the border into Canada and be in line for a ride on my beloved Comet. Being at Crystal Beach wasn't just about the Comet, it was also about the Hey Dey, the Wild Mouse, the Yellow Coaster (Giant), the train, the Scrambler, the Magic Palace, the Laff in the Dark, cinnamon suckers and sugar waffles. But those days are gone.

And so are the days of cheap gas. We have been watching gas prices soar in an alarming rate this last year and even more so these last few months. In Western New York the average cost of a gallon of regular unleaded gas costs $4.23 (at this writing) which is a little higher than the claims on the cable news channels. Yikes! So what does this mean for vacation? It means we aren't driving down to Disney World this year, or Busch Gardens Williamsburg or anywhere that is more than a six hour drive. And even that is questionable.

So, what can we do and where can we ride? Well, even without Crystal Beach, we are certainly lucky in Western New York. We have a number of different amusement parks to choose from, both near and far. Some appeal more to families, some to teens and tweens, and some cost more than others,, but you are sure to find a park that suits you best. I've put together a list of some of my favorite and not-so-favorite places along with some tips that will help you save some money on your nearby vacation.

Money-Saving Tips
These ideas are tried and true and those by which most coaster/park enthusiasts travel to ride. Some ideas are not new. You may recognize them.

1. Get a Season Pass.
If you and your family like a park a lot, then get a season pass. By the second visit it has paid for itself. I recommend a season pass to Martin's Fantasy Island on Grand Island. Although their season passes are a bit more costly than Darien Lake what you save on gas traveling to the park makes up for the difference, even with the $1.00 toll to cross the Grand Island bridge. MFI is so centrally located you dont' have to wait for the weekend. There's nothing like a dip in the water park after a hard day at work.

2. Check out the discounts, coupons and specials.
Many parks offer discounted tickets at local supermarkets and offer coupon savings on their websites or in newspapers. AAA members can purchase discount tickets to certain parks at any local office. Visit the park's website for information on special days. MFI, for example, has report card days (just like Crystal Beach used to) and car load days.

3. Get yourself a group.
Local parks offer group discounts on tickets for 15 people or more. If you make reservations ahead of time, you can get a catered package which will save everyont money in the long run because you have to eat. Bring the neighborhood, family, co-workers, friends, anyone you can think of. I'll come.

4. Carpool. This is a great savings.
Fill your vehicle not only with kids, but money carrying adults willing to share the expense of gas, tolls and parking. And if you do get a group together try busing it. If everyone chips in you can get a mini-bus for a reasonable rate. Try local bus charter www.bedoretours.com for a quote.

5. Carry water.
Don't buy it at the park. They have overhead and it becomes costly. Long days at the park can be thirsty days.

6. Pack a picnic.
Yep. That's right. Just like in the old days when Mom and Dad would make you drag that cooler and picnic gear into Crystal Beach. Time to do it again. If spending the day you will need at least lunch and dinner. Check first with the park to make sure they allow carry-in picnics. You don't want to be grilling in the parking lot. MFI has plenty of picnic shelters and tables, but the food you bring in must be your own, not something from Pizza Hut or McDonalds. Birthday cakes are okay.

7. Budget your food money.
If you absolutely do not want or can't bring a picnic then make sure you have a budget for food. Peruse the menus of different restaurants in the park so you can make the best meal decision. Or, if there are nearby restaurants outside the park, get your handstamped, leave the park and walk over to the restaurant. (Some of us used to do that at Crystal Beach too. Remember Hot Dog Alley?)

8. Take an overnight package or camp.
If you've got a good vacation nest egg and are traveling to a park further away than 2 hours you probably want to stay over one night or more. If you're into camping you can save money at campsites near or in the park. If you're like me, you need a hotel room. Check out the park's website. If the park doesn't have a hotel on property, they might have packages with nearby hotels or recommendations at the very least.

Parks, Nearby to 2 Hours Away From Buffalo and Niagara Falls
Not in any particular order

1. Carousel Park, Olcott Beach, Olcott, NY.
This park is the result of lots of hard work by locals who wanted to bring an amusement park back to the Lake Ontario town. A 1928 Allan Herschell 2-row aluminum carousel occupies the restored roundhouse. Both kids and adults delight in a ride aboard this wonderful antique machine. The restored pavilions hold 5 kiddie rides including an Allan Herschell Skyfighter and a 1940's style car ride. The Mangels Ferris Wheel from the Whistle Pig in Niagara Falls has been restored and is a wonderful addition to this lovely little park. A Wurlitzer 1931 145-A band organ plays every day the park is open. A snack bar offers great french fries and ice cream. A short walk away is Krull Park (a public park) where you can eat your picnic lunch while enjoying the cool lake breezes. Carousel Park is open Thursday through Sunday from Noon to 6pm and Saturday from noon to 8pm. Volunteers run all the rides.

2. Midway State Park, Maple Springs, NY on Lake Chautauqua.
This gem of a park is one of the oldest continually operating parks in the United States. It began as a trolley park in 1898 and was purchased by the state in 2006. The park has a plethora of Allen Herschell kiddie rides, a Herschell aluminum carousel and a Herschell Streamliner train, besides other rides like bumper cars. There are plenty of picnic shelters and tables, an arcade, a museum, a gift shop, mini golf, refreshment stand and roller skating in the lakeside rink. At my last visit parking and admission was still free. www.nysparks.state.ny.us.

3. Martin's Fantasy Island, Grand Island, NY.
One of my favorite local parks because of its laid-back atmosphere, cleanliness and the Silver Comet roller coaster. There's something for everyone here from the thrill of Nitro and the Silver Comet to a gentle carousel ride. Operating since 1961, the park still holds Western shoot-outs a couple of times a day where kids can get deputized with a metal Sheriff star badge. Besides shows and rides, there's a petting zoo, waterpark, plenty of picnic tables and shelters, games, two gift shops, restaurants and refreshment stands and miniature golf. Golf costs $3 to play with $2 refunded when the equipment is returned. People were taking the balls home. Parking is always free. www.martinsfantasyisland.com.

4. Marineland and Game Farm, Niagara Falls, Ontario.
Just a hop, skip and a jump across the Niagara Gorge, this park has a mix of rides, land animals and aquatic animals. Friendship Cove is the place to pet Beluga or Killer Whales while feeding them fish. Throw marshmellows to the bears or offer corn meal to the deer. Watch dolphins and killer whales perform then head off to the rides. They have a new drop tower and a couple of interesting flat rides as well as the Dragon Mountain steel looping roller coaster and the kiddie Tivoli coaster that looks like a ladybug. The park is HUGE so pace yourself. Food is expensive, but the parking is free. This park tends to be crowded throughout the summer with tourists. I recommend early arrival and go either in the spring or fall. Look for newspaper inserts for coupons. www.marinelandcanada.com

5. Canada's Wonderland, Toronto, Ontario.
This Canadian theme park is a bit further, a 2 to 2 1/2 hour drive depending on traffic. It was a much nicer park when it first opened in 1981, but changes in ownership have made a difference in how it operates and looks. Currently it is owned by Cedar Fair of Cedar Point fame and your Cedar Point season pass will work here. There are some okay roller coasters and an antique PTC carousel as well as dozens of flat rides, a themed kiddieland, shows, concerts, a waterpark and a large variety of shops and food stands. Their new coaster, the steel Behemoth debutes this summer. I used to like this park, but that has changed too much. Hopefully Cedar Fair will return it to a better theme park experience.  Very, very expensive. No picnics allowed inside the gates and parking will cost you several twonies. Discount tickets can be found at AAA if you're a member. www.canadaswonderland.com.

6. Darien Lake, Darien Center, NY.
Not one of my favorite parks, for a variety of reasons. However, there are people who like the park; teens in particular  who roam in packs along the midway. Offers a variety of shows, rides, games, food stands, arcades, a waterpark and gift shops. Big name performers hold concerts at their Performing Arts Center. Camp ground and hotel on property. I recommend avoiding event days and concert days as the park is very, very crowded. Concert goers get free park admission. Car parking will cost you about the same as a meal. Here's the website if you can get it to work. www.godarienlake.com.

7. Seabreeze, Rochester, NY.
As you may guess, I like this park. It's old-fashioned flavor mixes with modern rides and old-time favorites. The antique carousel, funhouse and a few other buildings burned in 1994 when a wayward spark from a repairman's blow torch set up a ferocious fire. But the park bounced back and the Norris family, who owns it, did the unthinkable. They commissioned someone to handcarve them a new wooden carousel. There's plenty to enjoy here on a summer day from the waterpark, to the outdoor shows, to the thrill rides, to the rocking chairs in the carousel roundhouse. A ride on the 1920 Jack Rabbit wooden roller coaster can't be beat. Great sugar waffles. The closest you can get to Crystal Beach's waffles.  Parking is free. Food and admission is affordable. Eateries and mini golf are within walking distance. www.seabreeze.com

8. Waldameer Park, Erie, PA.
Another fun, old-fashioned park that's been around awhile. Their new coaster Ravine Flyer II debutes this summer. Following a path similar to the original Ravine Flyer, the coaster drops into a ravine and crosses over the road twice. The coaster has six tunnels and a first drop of 120 feet. Not to be outdone, the older wood coaster and Herb Schmeck  designed, Comet, was built in 1951 and is still a favorite woodie for many of us. The park also has a great dark ride, a walk-thru, thrill rides, kiddie rides, an Allan Herschell Iron Horse train that circles a large section of the park, free shows and a waterpark. You can do this in a day easily even with the 2 hour ride in each direction. Free parking and free admission. Choice of tickets or wristbands. www.waldameer.com.

Day Trip and Overnights
If you have discresionary money these parks are for you.

1. Sylvan Beach, Sylvan Beach, NY
Although this funky little lakeside park is on the other side of Syracuse, it is still easily done in a day. The rides don't open until the afternoon, so take a leisurely drive out. Just get off the Thruway at the Sylvan Beach exit and follow the signs. This park has a great example of an Allan Herschell kiddieland, a top-notch old-fashioned dark ride, a tall slide, The Galaxi roller coaster, a funky carousel and a mix of mild family flat rides including the Tip Top from Crystal Beach (see photo). There is also a free beach nearby and swimming in Oneida Lake is fun. Some picnic tables near the lake. Parking and admission is free. Fascination games are 20 for $2.00 with online coupon. Pay-One-Price admission on Friday nights. There are several neat diners within walking distance, all with inexpensive good food, but I recommend Yesterday's Royal across from the park. The building is over 100 years old and once served as a hotel. It is said to be haunted. Even so, the food is excellent and the ice cream menu alone is worth the trip. www.sylvanbeach.org.

2. Kennywood, Pittsburgh area, West Mifflin, PA
One of my favorite traditional parks, Kennywood has been the place for romantic first meetings for several of my married friends. Home to 3 fine wooden coasters, my favorite, the Thunderbolt drops right out of the station and doesn't get to a lift hill before it has zipped out and back through the ravine. The Jack Rabbit looks innocent, but don't be fooled, it has some awesome air-time hills. The Racer is the only surviving continous track racing coaster. You come back to the station on the opposite side you started out from. The Phantom's Revenge is a steel coaster with a second drop of 225 feet and reaches speeds of 80mph on a bad day. Kennywood is also home to the last Noah's Ark walk through which they modernized a bit and the oldest old mill ride in the country. The grounds are beautiful, particularly in the spring with flowering trees, toparies, gorgeous flower beds and fountains. Closest hotels may be in Monroeville. If you leave early in the day, you can go to the park, then stay overnight so you're not too tired to drive home. About a 4 hour drive. www.kennywood.com.

3. Cedar Point, Sandusky, OH
This is roller coaster heaven. Cedar Point has been around for well over a century and that pennisula jutting out into Lake Erie is packed with roller coasters. From Stand-up, to floorless, to suspended, to old fashioned wood, this park has it all. There's roller coasters for the kiddies as well and Camp Snoopy for more fun. Enjoy shows, a ride on an antique coal mine train, and three antique carousels. One of the carousels is a rare racing derby where the horses are four abreast and move backwards and forwards as if racing. It's an exciting ride. There are plenty of restaurants, food stands and shops at the Point as well as those cool lake breezes. Stay on property at one of their fine hotels, the modern Sandcastle or the historic Breakers and get early admittance to the park. There is also an action park with go-karts and mini golf and a waterpark. Or just spend some time lazing on the beach. The drive is 4 to 5 hours. If you just want to just go to the park, then an overnighter will do you well. Or make it a mini vacation. Find coupons and special hotel/camping packages in Cedar Point's Getaway Guide. www.cedarpoint.com.

Mini Vacations
If you have a vacation nest egg, but don't want to go too far,
these parks are for you.

1. The Adirondacks
Extend your vacation by visiting these neat parks. You can circle right around the Adirondacks! Or just enjoy the mountains themselves. 

    A. The Great Escape, Lake George, NY
You didn't think I'd forget our old friend the Comet, did you? It's worth the 6 hour drive to go ride the Comet again. The park gates open at 9:30am. Be at the rope at 10am for the official opening and head toward the back of the park and the Comet. Most people don't get back to the Comet until 11:30am or noon, so you have plenty of time to catch up on rides. The ride attendants will let you sit in your seat if there's no one in the queue. Once the queues start filling up, check out the rest of the park, but come back to the Comet near the end of the day. The queue lines are usually short then and you can get your ride on. Since Six Flags took over Great Escape, the charm of the park has all but disappeared. Ride the Swan Boats, the first ride in the park when it opened in 1954. It's slow, but nostagalic. Cinderella's pumpkin coach is also original, but adults are not allowed to ride. Food is expensive as is parking. You can save on admission through AAA. Most hotels/motels situated around the park offer discounted tickets. There are some interesting motels on Route 9. I recommend the Graycourt. It's the cleanest hotel/motel I've ever stayed in and that includes Disney hotels. It's family owned, has a pool and the rooms are large. They also have some cool little cabins in the rear. I recommend leaving the park for lunch and walking down to Martha's. Good food at reasonable prices. I liked this park better when Charley Wood owned it, but if the opportunity comes up to ride my Comet, I will go. www.thegreatescape.com

     B. Magic Forest, Lake George, NY
Another park chock full of Allan Herschell kiddie rides. The setting is a forest complete with dirt paths, stunted grass and trees, lots and lots of trees. The charm of this park overcomes the fact that there are few rides for adults, although I enjoyed a ride on the Eli Ferris Wheel, the Scrambler and the train. Meet Santa and his reindeer. See Lightning the diving horse. Visit the rabbits, goats and variety of barnyard fowl. The train ride crosses a covered bridge deeper into the woods. Along the track are giant fiberglass characters that draw your attention. The ride ends with an unexpected finish. Walk along Fairytale Trail for a trip back to childhood. Fiberglass characters depict various nursery rhymes like Old King Cole, Jack and Jill, Simple Simon, and the Old Woman in the Shoe as well some interesting storybook characters like Ichabod Crane and the Headless Horseman. This delightful park has one food stand, but the prices are affordable. They even serve grilled cheese sandwiches! Parking is free. Adult admission affordable. www.magicforest.com

      C. Santa's Workshop, North Pole, NY
I have to admit, I'm enchanted by this park. Most of the rides are for the kids, but adults can take a trip aboard the Candy Cane Express or ride one of the aluminum reindeer on the Christmas Carousel. Visit the reindeer barn and fork over a few bucks (ha, ha) for crackers to feed Santa's reindeer including Rudolph. Ask the talking Christmas tree any question about the holiday and it knows the answer. A live nativity takes place daily as well as a show featuring Rowdy Reindeer, Sam and Sandy Ragdolls and the snowman. There are several wonderful shops including a candy shop, glass blowing shop, hat shop and World of Christmas shop. Kids can work in the Toy Shop by turning cranks and pulling levers. Check out the North Pole in the middle of the village. It's frozen 360 days a year! Of course a visit to the park isn't complete without stopping to say hello to Santa and giving him your Christmas list. There are special days in November when Christmas is celebrated to the max. The park is at the foot of Whiteface Mountain. Accomadations are nearby in Wilmington or Lake Placid. Santa's Workshop has been around since 1949 and is one of the first theme parks in the United States. Parking is free. Adult admission is affordable. www.northpoleny.com

        D. Water Safari Enchanted Forest, Old Forge, NY
If you like Magic Forest, you'll like this forest too. Opened in 1956, Enchanted Forest was mainly a winding path through the woods that went past scenes depicting storybook and fairytale characters. Most of the original pieces are still there. You can push a button at Sleeping Beauty's Castle or the Three Bear's house and hear a tale told through prose or song. You'll find Humpty Dumpty, the Gingerbread House, Alice in Wonderland and AliBaba's Cave here too. Near the back of the park are a collection of family and kiddie rides including an Allan Herschell Flivver car ride, an Allan Herschell aluminum carousel, a Ferris Wheel, Bee ride and other family-friendly thrillers. Hop aboard the train for the fastest miniature rail ride in your life and watch out for the three bears! Yukon Territory has an old gold rush flavor and water babies will love the excellent Water Safari waterpark section. The park has plenty of food stands and gift shops with reasonable prices. Parking is free. The town of Old Forge is charming and has a great selection of restaurants in different price ranges. Stop in at the Old Forge Hardware Store. You'll marvel at the goods they carry. If you can't find it there, it doesn't exist. And say hello to the Cohen sisters. Their father started the park all those years ago. www.watersafari.com

2. Knoebels, Elysburg, PA
My all-time favorite operating park. I can spend a day there just walking around and still have fun. This park has character. Tucked away in the woods, it has a combination of stone, dirt and paved pathways that meander through the trees. Rides are built and situated so few trees are cut down. Besides 4 great coasters, The Phoenix (cousin to the Comet), The Twister, The High Speed Thrill Coaster (also known as the Overland Coaster) and the soon-to-open Flying Turns, Knoebels boasts two antique carousels (you can catch rings on the Grand Carousel), Olde Smokey, a coal burning steam train, the Pioneer train, a chair-lift ride up the side of a hill, the best bumper cars in the nation, An amazing haunted house,  an assortment of great flat rides, free shows, arcades, games, gift shops, a carousel museum, a park and coal mine museum and a swimming pool. A large picnic grove with shelters are the perfect place to enjoy your lunch, but definately budget some food money here. I know someone who goes to Knoebels just to eat. The variety and quality of food is astonishing and the prices aren't too bad either. You can get everything from crab cakes to pierogis, to potato pancakes to fish frys. The Oasis is a cafeteria style restaurant that serves a different menu every day. I love their BBQ chicken. The Alamo always has a line of people waiting to get in. The chicken and waffles are a favorite dish. Besides hotdogs, hamburgers and pizza you can also get popcorn, candy apples, cotton candy, ice cream on warm waffles, ice cream sundaes and ice cream cones. They even have cheese or pickles on a stick. There's a campground on site and hotels in both Danville and Bloomsburg that won't cost you a fortune. Parking is free. Admission is free. Shows are free. Choice of wristband pay-one-price with or without coasters or tickets. This park is so addictive, you'll want to go again and again and again. www.knoebels.com

So, there you have it. My list of recommendations. There are other great parks in our State of New York, like Coney Island and Rye Playland. They are a little farther and more expensive, but try them out if you haven't been there before. You can still have fun even with gas prices soaring, just pick the park that's best for you, your family and your wallet.

It's carnival time! No matter where you live, across Canada and the United States traveling carnivals are setting up their rides and games in vacant lots, mall or plaza parking lots and on fire department and church grounds. While amusement and theme parks are main destinations, carnivals attract spontanious crowds with pockets of money to spend.

Catholic Churches in particular are known for their fund raising summer events known as lawn fetes or summer festivals. Carnival companies are commissioned to provide rides and a limited number of games for the event. The hosting church often sponsors their own games to supplement their income as well as chicken BBQ's, pig roasts, chowder sales, special ethnic food sales and beer tents. Operations outside of the hired carnival relies on the good will of volunteer parishioners. Firehalls usually follow the same fete-type pattern for their fundraising.  Parishioners, members and the general public are willing to spend their hard-earned cash to help with the cause.

A large part of the attraction of a carnival are the rides. Days before the event tractor-trailers arrive with unusual configurations of steel and aluminum folded, stacked and neatly packed in the cargo area. Some trailers are specially constructed for specific rides. The roustabouts hit the tarmack and quickly assemble all the parts, drive support stakes into the asphalt and secure guide wires and ropes. Magically the parking lot becomes a midway with a Ferris Wheel, Merry-Go-Round, Paratrooper, Ring of Fire and a myraid of kiddie rides. The bright colored steel frames are trimmed with dazzling light packages and decorative tents. The starry-eyed linger behind portable fences gazing with anticipation at the mechanical fun machines (with thrills from mild to frightening) standing before them. The sudden appearance of a carnival midway makes the heart beat quicker. There is a desire to ride and it must be assaged.

Games create an excitement all their own. Simple booths of wood or complicated metal trailers are transformed into sparkling attractions of lights, sound and coveted prizes. It's the prizes that prompt us to play until we are broke. We want that giant Spiderman plush, right at the moment. The desire changes if we win and have to cart the mammoth thing back to our car. And what were we thinking comes to mind the next morning when Spiderman is starring down at us as we sip our morning coffee. But at the moment we aren't thinking and the barker is prodding us to play and so we must.

Two of the largest and most popular carnivals in Western New York are the Italian Festival and Canal Fest. The Italian Festival usually takes place at the end of June down Hertel Street in Buffalo. The street is closed off to automotive traffic as it becomes a wonderful midway of rides, games and fabulous italian food. You can smell the pizza and pasta blocks away. Canal Fest takes place for one week in July in the twin cities of North Tonawanda and Tonawanda. Besides rides and games, there is entertainment, concerts, raffles, bed races, homemade boat races in the canal and a craft show.

Whether it's a church, firehall or community event, carnivals bring out the kid in all of us. There's something wonderfully nostaglic about purchasing a strip of ride tickets and being tumbled and twisted above the macadam, or eating a steaming hot Italian sausage or a fresh, crisp elepehant ear smothered in powdered sugar while strolling past a row of games as a barker calls out to "Try your luck!" There is no better way to enjoy a hot summer evening with friends and neighbors.

A few months ago the producer of WNED Public Broadcasting Channel 17 in Buffalo, NY, Lynne Badder-Gregory, contacted me in regards to a  new documentary on Crystal Beach. I had actually met with her boss a year earlier to discuss the possiblity of a program on the defunct park. He had asked to use my book, Crystal Memories; 101 Years of Fun at Crystal Beach Park as the basis for the historic research for the documentary and with my permission, I became involved with the project. Anything that will be well done and preserve the memory of my long gone favorite park gets my attention.

I supplied Lynne with the names of several people, some involved on this website, who have extensive knowledge, collections and various forms of filmed images on Crystal Beach. This group spanned Lake Erie on both sides of the border. The documentary is currently in the research and individual interview stage. A large part of that interview was visiting the Comet at its current home at The Great Escape in Lake George, NY.

During the 1989 auction, Charley Wood, then owner of The Great Escape (he orginially built the park as Storytown USA), bought the Comet. At the time he also owned and operated Fantasy Island on Grand Island, NY and he stored the coaster there. And so the Comet sat as Charley fought the town of Queensbury (where Great Escape is actually located) to put up my favorite coaster. For 5 long years Comet fans waited. Then suddenly, at Phoenix Phall Phun Phest at Knoebels in Elysburg, PA, photos were circulated of concrete footers being put into place at Great Escape. The Comet was going up.

We celebrated and petitioned Charley to replace the old PTC, (Philadelphia Tobaggon Coasters), trains with new rolling stock. Enjoying a friendship with the Morgan family, Charley had thought to replace the old trains with fiberglass Morgan stock, but we, coaster enthusiasts from all over North America, knew that the Comet could only run the same, be the same ride, with heavy metal PTC trains. And so Charley gave us our trains and we've been delighted ever since. 

It seems fitting that in 2008, the Comet's 60th anniversary year, that it be the shining star of a film on its former home. The WNED film crew and six Crystal Beach historians/coaster enthusiasts made our way out to the lovely Adirondacks on Saturday, May10, 2008. For the enthusiasts it was a mission that meant more than just a few coaster rides. It was reacquainting ourselves with an old friend. Neither Paul Kassay nor Rick Doan had been out to ride the Comet since its maiden voyage at the Great Escape in 1994. Dan and Anne Wilke, Tim Wagner and myself had visited the Comet many, many times since its debut. We had been there from the inaugural ride and had visited the park in during the frozen winter months as it was being reassembled. I was the last one of the group to ride the Comet back in October of 2006. We always say that the Comet shines when its old friends come to ride and indeed that seemed to be the case on filming day.

The weather prediction had been cold and cloudy, but the coaster gods smiled upon us. The day was cool, but sunny. The film crew had made arrangements to spend the day filming us riding the Comet, but couldn't interfere with the general public riding. We had jumped into the red train and after the first ride there were folks waiting their turn. So we had to get out and stop filming. Lynne directed us to line up and get back in the trains, in the same seats we were in on the first ride. She hoped we could ride a few more times. Really? Piece of cake! The challenge was remembering which seats we were in, especially for those of us who are back seat riders.

It was opening day and luckily the crowd was light, so we only had to remember our seats 3 more times. After that, cameraman, Steve, shot random footage of the trains along the course. This filming was followed by interviews of all the participants including a couple who had been married on the Comet seven years earlier. While all this was happening, those of us waiting our turn to be interviewed rode the Comet over and over again. I claimed my favorite back seat, the second to last on the red train.  It's a floater. It's fast. It's breath-taking.

As long as there was no one in the queue for our seat, we could sit on the train. I went around about 5 times before I had to get out. After several more rides, Lynne asked the rest of us to interview at the Comet's turnaround. I have to admit, I flubbed my interview a bit. I was still high on adrenaline from the Comet and when she asked me what my favorite part of the ride was I said the first drop. Actually, I don't have a favorite part on the Comet. The drops, the airtime, the speed, its perfect. It's the coaster by which I judge all others.

After the interviews, Lynne and her crew headed out to the office to speak with park personnel. The rest of us had an unexpected expensive lunch, ($14 for a bratwurst, onion rings and drink) and then returned to the Comet for a few more hours. We gave ourselves plenty of time before the park closed to take a spin on other rides, the ones that spawned sentimental moments of past park visits for us.

Charley Wood sold Great Escape to Six Flags back in 1998, something none of us understood and have never really forgiven him for. The sweet, clean, family-friendly park is now geared more toward the teens and tweens. What is left of Storytown USA is rapidly disappearing. We constantly worry about the Comet, although it is the park's signature ride.

Leaving the Comet behind, we headed back to Buffalo, happy to have had the chance to be part of its legacy and hoping for its continued preservation. Happy Birthday, Comet, long may you ride!

For photos of our Comet Odyssey, click on the first photo.

The film is to be shown on WNED, Buffalo Channel 17 during the membership drive. The date will be posted on the website as soon as we know it.