Crystal Beach was one of those wonderful traditonal amusement parks that evolved through its long history as Western New York's and Southern Ontario's Playground into a premier amusement park. Nearly everyone who lived within 100 miles of the park, enjoyed it's summer offerings every year. Many companies and schools booked their annual picnics at Crystal Beach. There were Community Days when folks from specific neighborhood areas of Buffalo arrived at the park en masse via the Canadiana steam ship or bus.

Crystal Beach was known for its scream machines. In the early days it had a state-of-the-art Figure 8 roller coaster that really gave  early 20th century patrons a thrill. That roller coaster was replaced by the Backety-Back Scenic Railway. It was a breathless ride that cummulinated on an upward sweep of forward track that stopped in mid-air. While the train made its way up this small hill, a switchman switched the track below. When the train rolled back down, it rolled onto the new track and coasted in a different direction. The side-friction Giant Coaster, known as the "yellow coaster" to many park patrons, debuted in 1916 as a "smooth, fast ride." The Giant provided a fun and quick ride for the next 73 years.

The Cyclone roller coaster was the most terrifying roller coaster in the world. Built in 1926 by famed coaster builder, Harry Traver, it was ahead of its time. This diabolical ride rose 96 feet above the midway and dropped passengers down a spiral dip "into hell." The double helix was so sharply banked it was mistaken for a loop. When the train entered the figure-8 element below the station it could be heard throughout the park.  The only straight piece of track on the Cyclone was in the station. High maintanence and low ridership ended it's 20 year career, but the Cyclone lives on.

The Comet landed at Crystal Beach in 1948 and most of its steel came from the Cyclone. Stretched along the shoreline, the Comet gave riders plenty of thrills and chills on its 14 rolling hills. It's lakeside location added fear to the ride as passengers had a bird's eye view of the lake bottom from the top of the 96 foot lift hill.

Crystal Beach also had plenty of flat rides, a lovely handcarved carousel, a miniature train ride, a fabulous dark ride and unique fun house. It's shady grove was the perfect place for picnics and its kiddieland was a delight for youngsters. With the cool Lake Erie breezes, a golden beach and rolling surf to swim in, Crystal Beach was the perfect place to spend a hot summer afternoon.

To read more about Crystal Beach's history and rides, see our on-line catalog for the book, Crystal Memories: 101 Years of Fun at Crystal Beach Park.

Knoebels Haunted House

For several years, Knoebels Haunted House has been in the top 5 of Amusement Today's Golden Ticket Awards. In 2005, it was voted number 2 by amusement park, roller coaster and dark ride enthusiasts. In comparison to many of the newer dark rides being built today, the Haunted House is definately low tech. The stunts and gags certainly made Great Grandma jump in her seat when she was a girl and those same tactics still spook new generations today.

Knoebels has become famous for recylcing and preserving historic rides and the Haunted House is, at this time, one of its finest achievements. It was built in-house using ideas and parts from dark rides purchased at auctions. Some of the visuals were created by Knoebels staff and some from an Ohio firm. Even the trusses of the structure were salvaged from a Lancaster, PA roller skating rink. The ride opened in 1973.

Surprises abound within the twisting corridors and dark rooms of the ride. A favorite among many riders is the Skull Room with its dozens of green glow-in-the-dark skulls floating around the room as the car rolls past. Getting from room to room requires the car to bang through swinging doors and riders aren't sure what awaits them on the other side.

Startling stunts never fail to make riders scream and jerk in their seats. Slamming doors, blasts of air, bright lights and spinning illusions are a few of the fun and scary things riders can find in Knoebels Haunted House. There's only one way to find out more about this ride. Go to Knoebels and ride it! Boo! 

Crystal Beach's Laff In The Dark

Crystal Beach debuted its Laff In The Dark ride in 1936. Although park owners had been planning on the addition of a dark ride since 1932, the Great Depression kept those plans from coming to fruition because of a lack of money.

Finally, things began looking better and the park spent the money for the new ride. The former bowling alley building was used to house the ride. It's exterior was decorated in an oriental design, changing the Victorian towers flanking the building into pagodas with curling accents at the roof line.

Inside were funny and scary stunts like Popey and Whimpy, a flying witch, dancing skeletons, and a man's head in a bathtub. Ceiling stunts included 80 inch thick thread, balloons and rubber bands that brushed against riders faces and heads. The cars headed for dead ends and collisions like the brick wall and an oncoming train, but a sharp turn of the track took riders out of harm's way. Wooden blocks set in places alongside the track tricked riders into believing their cars would tip over. There were plenty of sounds too, spooky, funny and loud.

As the years passeed stunts changed inside and the track was shortened. Some of the trick track was removed. Still, Laff In The Dark provided fun and entertainment for many riders both young and old. Those not brave enough to ride enjoyed the mechanical laughter of Laughing Sal and the out-of-tune piano playing of the skeleton known as Charming Charlie. Both of these odd figures resided within each of the ride's towers and were part of the ballyhoo used to draw riders to the attraction.

Laff In The Dark was purchased by a single bidder during the auction in October 1989. Several of the cars were sold to other people after the fact. Laff In The Dark is long gone, but its memory lingers on. Enjoy a glimpse back at this fun scary ride in the video, I Remember Crystal Beach, now available through our online catalog and hear Sal laughing again. Ha,Ha,Ha,Ha.

When Crystal Beach closed in 1989, Charley Wood, then owner of the Great Escape Park in Lake George, purchased the Comet at the auction for $210,000. The bidding was fast and furious between Charley and officials from nearby Darien Lake. Charley won the Comet, a great moment for him. He had been a young man when he first rode it and was well versed in its reputation. Winning the ownership of the Comet meant the arrival of coaster enthusiasts from all over the world to his park.

Charley also owned local park, Fantasy Island at the time. While he negotiated with the people of the town of Queensbury to erect the Comet at Great Escape, Charley hired people to take down the Comet and truck it across the Niagara River to Fantasy Island on Grand Island, NY. It remained stacked up in the field behind the parking lot for five long years. As time dragged on, the steel began to show signs of rust, the trains rotted and small wild animals made their homes in the leather seats. Many feared the Comet was lost forever. Many believed Charley was dragging his feet in putting up the Comet and until he sold Fantasy Island, they hoped the Comet might still be put up at the Grand Island park. The real reason for the long wait for the resurrection of the Comet was the zoning laws, noise  and environmental issues the town of Queensbury used to fight Charley in putting up the roller coaster.

Then, in late fall of 1993, word leaked out that the Comet was going up at Great Escape. Concrete footers appeared in carefully laid rows at the far back of the park. Flatbed trucks hauled the Comet parts across the state and soon the steel supports were seen stacked in an open field near the site. Throughout  the winter workers raised the Comet. The steel was still strong. The rust was removed and primed. In near blizzard conditions and freezing temperatures the Comet was reassembled. Douglas Fir was trucked in from British Columbia and was used for the track bed. Steel rails were bent to the configuration of the track. Charley Wood said the Comet was the "world's largest erector set."

The Comet was put up exactly as it had been at Crystal Beach except for an extra 15 feet out of the station, a necessity because of the lay of the land. Coaster Enthusiasts made suggestions for the station queues. The station's roofing suppots were the same as they had been at Crystal Beach without the art deco. The lattice work steel had originally been used on the Crystal Beach Cyclone roller coaster as was most of the support steel, including the lift hill. The greatest controversy came when Charley wanted to purchase fiberglass trains to replace the original Philadelphia Toboggan Company  (PTC) trains that were too rotted to be restored. A loud protest rang out among coaster enthusiasts. Over 1200 signatures were collected on a petition for new, heavy metal PTC trains.

The Comet opened in its new home in June of 1994 to much fanfare and a large contigency of excited coaster enthusiasts anxious to ride their old friend. When Charley made his speech to the coaster's fans he said, "I got you your trains. You'd better like them."

Finishing its 12th year at Great Escape, the Comet continues to have an expansive following including a new generation of coaster crazy fans. It is the most popular ride in the park with 8 out of 10 riders repeating ride after ride. Early in the day and late in the day, repeat rides are the quickest and easiest. Riders are allowed to remain seated in the trains if no one is in their line. Most riders stay. On a recent visit by this author, two 12 year-old boys racked up 15 consecutive rides in 90 minutes. Twice the entire train agreed to stay on and the operators sent the train out full.

Charley Wood sold the park to the Six Flags Corporation in 1997. Six Flags maintainence took it upon themselves to reprofile a section of track they felt was "too violent" on the Comet. While this unnecessary, In this author's opinion, reprofiliing removed the lateral-g section and changed the feel on the first back run, the Comet still produces plenty of airtime and speed.

This author has many opinions on the operation of Great Escape. A pretty, clean park is now overcrowded and dirty. It needs paint and tender loving care. While improvements have been made in some areas, other areas have been neglected, including on the Comet which desperatley needs a new coat of white paint. While there in August, 2006, I rode both the red and blue trains. My favorite seat is in the back and the blue train had a definate shimmy to it. Two maintainence men rode with me at one point and I told them about the shimmy. We were riding the red train at the time. Then they got into the blue train to ride and probably to prove me wrong, which they couldn't do.

Last weekend I was in the area and stopped at Great Escape for a few hours, not for the Frightfest event, but to ride the Comet. It was cold and raining. People were leaving the park. It was prime ride time. I had 18 consecutive rides in 96 minutes! Fabulous! Only the red train was running. The blue train had already been taken off the track for repair. At least someone at Six Flags listens to coaster enthusiasts. We do know what we're talking about.

Although I don't care for Six Flags in general, they do have possesion of my favorite coaster, and I will, on occasion, shell out the money to ride. I don't like what they did to Great Escape, sucking away its charm and diversity. The clientele is now primarily teenagers and young adults who are rowdy and obnoxious. Those old enough to drink consume large plastic "steins" of beer and ride drunk. This last visit I had a guy behind me who was so drunk I could smell the beer on his breath when he talked. He didn't even know me, but insulted me throughout the ride and when he was leaving, he attempted to climb over the railing and was stopped by an employee. Then there is the line jumping. At Six Flags line jumping isn't forbidden, its an art. And no one stops people from doing it. I witnessed adults jumping over the queue line railings or walking on them to get ahead in the line. It was disgusting.

But, I still go to ride the Comet, which continues to deliver a wonderful smooth, fast ride even after 58 years. Coast on Comet!

I'm a little late reporting on this phabulous event, but better late than never!

If you haven't been to Knoebels annual Phoenix Phall Phun Phest event, you should definately plan on going next year and bring warm clothes. Temps often dip below 50 degrees at night. Set up in conjunction with the county's Covered Bridge Festival, Phoenix Phall Phest takes place in the evening from 5pm to 10pm. Believe me when I say that it is the fastest 5 hours you will ever enjoy. Knoebels staff realized this and this year extended a special pricing allowing attendees to add on a day of riding phun with the event. Choices are ride all day Saturday or Sunday. This is an excellent deal since it includes rides that are not open in the evening. It also includes Cesari's pizza and soda, a free chair lift ride and a free game.

Besides rides, there is food! Most coaster and park enthusiasts agree that Knoebels has the best food of any amusement park. The International Food Court was open in the morning serving a variety of breakfast combos from eggs, toast, homefries and choice of bacon or sausage to french toast. Non-coffee drinkers looking for something to warm their bellies could enjoy hot tea or hot chocolate. Phoenix Station served great meal deals from noon until the phest was over. Included on the menu was homemade pumpkin pie, prime rib sandwich and platter, and cheesecake. The cheesecake went fast. And there's hot chocolate, most favored in the evening when phyling on the Phoenix gets a bit nippy.

The park also hosts a three day craft show which encompases the entire picnic grove-that is a lot of space. Many of the vendors return yearly with new or favorite crafts and anyone doing Christmas shopping is sure to find great gifts here! Apple Cider is pressed fresh right on site behind the Skloosh in the apple presser. I recommend the hot spiced cider. Yum! (Notice I keep mentioning hot drinks. It does get downright cold at times, but the hearty can endure and still have phun!) The Covered Bridge 5K run starts and finishes at the park on Saturday. You can also tour the covered bridges in the area. Buy a ticket and hop on one of the vehicles or horse drawn wagons that pick up at Knoebels.

Campers can rent sites for the night. Knoebels offers a variety of sites from concrete tent slabs to rv sites and rented log cabins. Not a Camper? There are plenty of hotels in nearby Bloomsburg, Lewisburg and Danville, but book early as they tend to fill quickly. Afterall it's college football weekend too.

Coaster and park enthuisasts enjoy Phun Phest specifically for the rides, but during the day there are a number of vendors set up in the Phoenix Station selling everything from coaster and amusement park books to crafts to memoriabilia. Knoebels staff keep enthusiasts updated on the coming year during the day and hand out prizes to anyone who can answer park trivia questions correctly. This year several people I know won tickets for phree rides on the Flying Turns, Knoebels new resurrected roller coaster. I'll have more on this ride next week. We also had the unique opportunity to walk into the construction area and view the inside of the coaster's barrel and the gentlemen constructing the ride were available for questions. Three boards, which will be put on the coaster, were laid out for coaster enthusiasts to sign, although the signatures will be difficult, if not impossible to read while one is phlying through the barrels.

The entire event is topped off by the costume parade-yes, we dress in costume. Prizes are awarded at the Phoenix Station after the event. Most of us are more interested in riding;catching the brass ring on the carousel, riding through the spooky blackness of the woods onboard the Pioneer Train, taking seven turns at one time on the High Speed Thrill coaster, getting our witts scared out of us in the Haunted Mansion and the Haunted Highway of the antique car ride and screaming in joy on the trains of the Twister and the Phoenix. Both coasters were incredibly smooth and very fast. On the return bunny hops to the station the Phoenix phlew on the upstops only! The Twister's station was haunted with curtains of black plastic, warning tape and skeletons-what was left of the riders from last year-only kidding! The Phoenix's station was haunted too, but its tunnel was scary!

Phoenix Phall Phun Phest - with a Twist and a half turn - was attended by boat-loads of pirates and wenches, several princesses - dead and alive - a girl in a bath tub, Superman, Spiderman, Harry Potter and friends, Disney characters and an assortment of ghouls and goblins. The evening ended with a bonfire and hot dog roast in the campground. The warm weather we had had in the afternoon cooled down somewhat, but didn't get as bone-chilling as it had been earlier that morning. It made us so happy we couldn't help but howl at the full moon as we rode the Phoenix in dark.

If you know anything at all about roller coasters, you've at least heard about the Flying Turns. Some lucky peope were able to ride one. The last of the Flying Turns was demolished in the early 1970's. It has remained an enigma through subsequent decades.

The Flying Turns was the brainchild of John Norman Bartlett. He was born in England in 1892 and served as an aviator in World War I. He came to the United States following the war. His first patent for the Flying Turns was filed in 1926. In 1928, Bartlett formed a partnership with coaster builder John Miller. They began building the ride.

The Flying Turns is a bobsled-type gravity ride. It is pulled up an incline or lift hill by a chain and released into the barrel-like turning course. From this point, the cars are free wheeling. The toboggan style cars run on caster wheels down the twisting, trackless wooden chute laid out in a series of descending turns and figure eights. The cars continually bank on the tight turns becoming nearly perpendicular to the ground. The combination of speed and centrifugal force through the barrel give riders the experience of intense G-forces.

Touted as the "World's Latest Ride Sensation, The New Aviation Ride," the cars for the Flying Turns resembled monoplanes. Built by the Spillman Engineering Company in North Tonawanda, NY, the cars were graced by an image of Mickey Mouse during the 1930's.

The prototype opened in July of 1929 at Lakeside Park in Dayton, Ohio. The second installation was at Euclid Beach Park in Cleveland, Ohio in 1930. This was the tallest of any Flying Turns ever built. It was torn down in 1969 after the park closed. Bartlett continued to build his Flying Turns although the stock market crash of 1929 and the subsequent depression created difficult times for amusement parks. Other Flying Turns:

>1931>Rocky Point, Providence, Rhode Island for PTC.
>1933>Century of Progress World's Fair, Chicago, Illinois. This ride was moved to Riverview Park in 1935 following the close of the fair. It was dismantled in 1967 after the park closed.
>1934>Forest Park Highlands, St. Louis, Missouri.
>1934>Steeplechase Park, Coney Island, Brooklyn, New York. Destroyed in a fire in 1939.
>Palisades Park, Palisades, New Jersey. This version was Bartlett's Lake Placid Bobsled. The track was wider and seven cars were linked per train. It proved to be a violent ride and was removed after World War II.
>1939-1940>New York World's Fair, Flushing Meadows, New York. This was Bartlett's final bobsled ride. After the fair closed, it was moved to Coney Island where it operated until the early 1970's.

Both Intamin and Mac built bobsled rides during the 1980's and 1990's, but they did not produce the same exciting effects as the Flying Turns. The troughs were steel and made a horrendous noise as the cars went through the turns. Most of these modern bobsled rides included trim brakes. The cars varied in style dependent on builder, from two-seater cars to eight-seater cars. Versions are currently operating at the Great Escape, Lake George, NY and Cedar Point, Ohio.

Now Knoebels is bringing back the classic Flying Turns. John Fetterman based the design on the Riverview Flying Turns. This laborous construction began in January 2006 with the pouring of the first concrete footers. Assembly has been slow, but steady. On June 27, 2006 an unexpected flood ceased building on the Turns. Construction resumed on July 11, 2006. Foreman Leonard Adams, (who worked on taking the Comet down at Crystal Beach), explained to coaster enthusiasts that the original design of the Flying Turns had only one layer of wood in the barrel. Weather and use caused the barrel to wear out quickly and repairs were made often. To avoid this, Knoebels is building their Flying Turns in three layers. The first two layers are southern yellow pine and the top layer is cypress. Experiments with coatings for the top layer are currently being conduted. Bent steel frames hold the trough securly in place.

It is an awesome sight to see, especially up close. Visit www.knoebels.com for photos and updates on their amazing endeavor. (Click on the photo to see more historic pictures of the Flying Turns)

Go shopping to the malls, supermarkets and plazas during the autumn and what will you see? Christmas decorations. While Halloween and Christmas get plenty of commercial advertising, one fall holiday seems to be overlooked - Thanksgiving. For many people Thanksgiving means football, turkey dinner and getting ready for shopping bargains on Black Friday. Many of us neglect the Thankful part. Retailers often forget Thanksgiving alltogether. When was the last time you saw Thanksgiving decorations? That's why it  is refreshing to see Thanksgiving celebrated year 'round at one of my favorite amusement parks.

In May of 2006 Holdiay World in Santa Claus, Indiana, debuted their new land, Thanksgiving. The largest and most ambitious addition to the park in its history, Thanksgiving includes two major rides, the Voyage wooden roller coaster and an interactive dark ride called the Gobbler. Getaway.  Also in the new area is a souviner stand, a free soda stand and a cafeteria-style restaurant, Plymouth Rock Cafe featuring Thanksgiving dinner.

The Gobbler Getaway is an interactive dark ride customized for Holiday World by Sally Corp. The premise is that all the turkeys have escaped and you, the rider, must help round them up. Riders travel through the town of Autumn Falls in cars called Turkey Trotters and use their Turkey Calls, electronic devices, to capture the turkeys. It takes a sharp eye to find the clever turkeys' hiding places. Not really. Red and white targets are major clues as to where the Turkeys are hiding. Just point your Turkey Caller and shoot the target! Turkeys pop up  everywhere!

The scenes were created in a delightful cartoon fashion with a combination of bright fluorescent colors that glow under the black lights and animated figures. The most complicated of the anamatronics is Granny who greets you as you enter the queue. She tells you the background story of the ride and explains how to use your Turkey Caller.  This is an amusing ride everyone will enjoy. There's a fun surprise ending and a grand finale with a chorusline of Turkeys singing a "Happy Thanksgiving" song. A counter on your Turkey Trotter will tell you how many turkeys you rounded up at the end of the ride.

Sadly, I haven't yet had the opportunity to enjoy a meal at the Plymouth Rock Cafe. I'm sure the food will be as delicious as the pizza is in the park's other restaurant. However, I did enjoy many, many rides onboard the Voyage.

What a ride! I have never ridden anything so wicked before in my life! As we slammed through the back-to-back 90 degree turns I couldn't help thinking that this is how it must have felt riding the Crystal Beach Cyclone. Pure intense thrill! The entire ride begins with the slow, stomach-churning ascent up the 165 foot lift hill. There's nothing like that agonizing climb, anticipating the apex, looking down below you as the ground drops away and the people become ant-size, all accompanied by the clank, clank of the chain lift. Oh, yeah

Topping out at the peak of the lift, front seat riders have a glorious view of the 154 foot, 66 degree first drop. This is the steepest first drop of any woodie in the US! Back seat riders, forget the view. The only thing you are going to see is the train disappearing ahead of you. I took my first ride in the back seat. I was flung over the top and was careening down the drop before I had a chance to raise my hands above my head! What a rush! The next two hills are equally exhiliarating. The second drop is 107 feet and you really experience some awesome airtime on this hill, especially in the rear seat. The third drop is 100 feet and is equally air-filled. From this drop you go flying into the first of five tunnels and you doubt you will make it!

The constant direction changes as you wind through the woods takes your breath away and leaves you dizzy with adrenaline. You can't even see the turnaround because it's 60 feet lower than the crest of the hill before it. Hitting the spacing brake going into the third tunnel, you are tricked into thinking the ride is going to slow down and you'll get a breather. Surprise! You drop out of the spacer brake into the tunnel so fast your stomach lurches into your throat as the train slithers along the triple down! Amazingly, the ride seems to accelerate, the pacing increases and the elements come faster and closer together. You feel like your out of control. Oh, yeah. Bring it on.

You dive into the station tunnel and scream into a bang-up finish, hitting the brake run full strength.

The Voyage does not disappoint. If anything, it makes back seat riders into front seat riders and visa versa! Holiday World did a marvelous job with this coaster and kudos to the Gravity Group who constructed the ride and tweaked the design. If you can take it, I recommend multiple consecutive rides. Otherwise, pace yourself. Ride something else then come back.  Just don't miss it!

Visit www.holidayworld.com for more information and photos. And check out their addition for next year, the Turkey Twirl!

The Comet wasn't the only ride Charley Wood purchased from the Crystal Beach auction. He also bought the Flying Bobs. Crystal Beach had several different versions of the Flying Bobs over the years, dependent upon the machine the concessionaire owned. The Allan Herschell Company in North Tonawanda developed the Flying Bobs ride initially. It was an exciting thrill ride that simulated a bobsled ride.

Compact vehicles with sticker-type runners on the bottom were attached to sweeps or arms that extended from the hub of the ride. In turn the sweeps were connected to wheels which followed an undulated track creating the up and down motion of the vehicle. The speed of the ride caused the bobsled to swing from side to side via thick rubber bands and at times riders were parallel to the floor. The ride was capable of forward and backward motion. Usually the operator would start the ride forward, then halfway through, slow it and reverse it. Many riders agreed that the backward motion was far more intense than the forward motion. Throughout the ride rock and roll music would blast from the huge speakers mounted near the control booth.

It was difficult getting out of the bobs after the disorientating ride. Watchers laughed as riders clung to the vehicle while trying to step out of it . Even when stopped the vehicles moved from side to side. It certainly was amusing to see riders stagger down the undulated platform to the exit.

The Flying Bobs had a nice winter theme with paintings of skiers, snowy hillsides, snow-laden trees and even snowmen. These paintings covered the inside center panels that hid the mechanics of the ride and were also on the lower panels attached to the raised platform.

During the 1960's Crystal Beach had the Zugspitz. A ride similar to the bobs, it was the prelude to the Music Express and Himalya type of rides known today. The really "cool" part of the ride was the snowman mounted in the center. He bowed, flourishing the top hat he held in one hand. The snowman was made of a soft foam-type of fiber that was prodded from behind by a metal rod. This produced the bowing motion.

The last version of the bobs Crystal Beach owned was purchased from Chance Manufacturing in 1980 and it came with a fabulous lighting package of pulsating colored lights. It moved around the park to several different locations before its final stop in the Comet courtyard near the walkway to the beach, previously occupied by the Wild Mouse. It was a popular ride, especially with teens.

After winning the Flying Bobs at the auction, Charley had it moved to his park in Lake George. Not the Great Escape, he already had a more recent version of the ride called the Thunderbolt operating there, but to Gaslight Village which was located on Route 9 in the village of Lake George. I'll write more about Gaslight Village in another blurb. By the time the bobs were installed at this park,Charley had changed the name of the park to Adventure Park. He had updated the park to fit its new image.

In the late 1990's, Charley closed Adventure Park. Attendance hadn't been good despite the summertime crowds. The Flying Bobs was sold to a carnival owner. It is unknown if the ride is still in operation. Click on the photo above to view more photos of the Flying Bobs.

The Pirate swinging ship ride arrived at Crystal Beach in 1980. The large ship had a bow, stern and mermaids mounted on the pole directly below the crow's nest. Although made of fiberglass, the ship looked as if it were made of wood. A total of eight bench seats could comfortably seat 4 to 5 riders each. Lap bars were automatically lowered and lifted by the operator. Four benches were set on each side of the ship so riders faced each other as the boat swung 7 stories into the air. Major airtime was experienced in the far end ship.

The Pirate was a prototype from Huss Manufacturing of Germany and was the first of this type of ride in the area. Later models were made smaller as the original model took up a great deal of space. Rubber tires rolled against the metal strip on the bottom of the boat, pushing it back and forth until momentum took over and the ship swung freely from its center pivot. The same rubber tires were used to stop the swinging ship by causing friction against the metal strip. A sound system onboard the ride allowed rock and roll music to be played.

Some Crystal Beach operators had fun with the riders. On slow days an operator would taunt, "The louder you scream, the longer you ride." Riders were quick to obey, screaming so loud they could be heard all the way to the Creamy Whip stand. The screams attracted people down to the Pirate, most curious to see what all the excitement was about. Watchers usually became riders. The operator was good to his word, allowing a long ride until passengers became hoarse.

Originally located between the pier and beach entrance, the Pirate was moved behind the Auto Skooters in 1984 to make room for the Galaxy coaster. In 1986 it was moved in front of the old Bingo Hall between the Giant Coaster and the lunch counter. When the ride arrived in 1980, it came with metal backdrops painted with ocean scenes that included jellyfish, dolphins, coral and mermaids. The backdrops disappeared when the Pirate was moved in 1984.

Charley Wood won the ride during the 1989 auction and moved it to The Great Escape. The Pirate continues to operate there, just a short walk from its compatriot, the Comet.

Experienced roller coaster riders seldom rate Disneyland's Matterhorn Bobsleds on their top ten coaster list, but this 48 year old ride continues to deliver enough thrills to have quite the following of fans. The Matterhorn is a milestone in roller coaster development. It is the first roller coaster to utilize tubular steel track and polyurethane wheels. These innovations were the precursor of  modern day looping coasters and placed Arrow Development, the company Walt Disney employed to design and build his roller coaster, as one of the top companies in the looping coaster field. Their reign lasted well into the 1990's.

The idea for the Matterhorn came to Walt Disney while he was vacationing in Europe. He was inspired by the real Matterhorn Mountain in Switzerland and the many wild mouse style coasters he found in Germany. He took his idea to Arrow and the rest is history.

Disney's Matterhorn opened in 1959. Reminiscent of the themed scenic railways of the late 1800's, it was constructed with a steel framework and cement "rocks". One of its features is a giant waterfall on the outside of the mountain, plummeting into a pool below. Towering 147 feet over Fantasyland it is 1/100 scale of the real Matterhorn.

However, the lift hill is only 80 feet high. Twenty, 4-seat bobsleds (riders sit one in front of the other, two in the front, two in the back) wind in, out and around the mountain. Their speed is determined by the weight in each car. They travel on two separate, but similar tracks. The highlight is a splashdown near the end of the ride.

Walt liked the Matterhorn. There are several film clips showing him riding with celebrities and family, grinning ear to ear throughout the ride. Walt always said that the ride needed a little something extra, so the Abominable Snowman moved in.

The entire coaster was refurbished in 1978. Glowing crystals and an ice cavern were added. The audio-animatronic snowman has been updated since then and has quicker moves than the previous monster. Originally, the Skyride buckets passed through the mountain, but with the Skyride's removal in the late 1990's, the tunnels the buckets traveled through were plugged up. It is rumored that an actual basketball court is located at the top of the Matterhorn. Mountain climbers clamber up the Matterhorn often and Tinkerbell herself scales the mountain every day. She takes off on her flight to the Sleeping Beauty Castle from its peak each evening.

Click on the photo above to see more of the Matterhorn Bobsleds.

Nothing can be more stressful than taking the kids to the amusement park. I know. I was a kid just last week and I really gave my parents a tough time. A visit to the amusement park was like eating an entire pound of sugar. I was bouncing off queue lines faster than a rabbit, totally freaking them out.  Too many rides were restricted, food cost too much and the crowds were too large. Who wants stress like that on a day that's supposed to be fun?

Aside from unforseen disasters, (Your son's hot dog slides out of the bun and hits the ground, the snow cone cup leeks on your daughter's new top, the baby is stung by a bee...etc, etc.) you can have a fun time at the amusement park. You just have to know before you go. Ask some questions first.

What type of park is best for your family? Do you have small children, tweens, teens or all? Do Grandma and Grandpa want to come along? Does the park have everything that will appeal to your family? Is there a lot of walking? Are there a lot of shows?

There are several distinct types of parks. Destination Theme Parks are usually considered the Big Guns; Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Universal Studios,  Sea World and both Busch Gardens parks. Most people entering the gates have come from long distances. The Destination Parks have full and complete themeing of the entire park as well as all the rides and have a wide range of diversions that interest the entire family including many shows. They are large and a lot of walking is required, however, they also provide shaded seated areas to relax in. In fact most of these parks, particularly the Disney Parks, have rides and attractions that everyone can enjoy together. (Some of the parks listed cross over into other catagories.)

Thrill parks are large wanna-be theme parks and call themselves theme parks, however, they are really amusement parks. They draw large crowds usually because they are the only amusement parks within a certain radius, sometimes even the only park in the state. Some of the parks are located in resort areas which brings people to their doors. These parks target teens and thrill junkies. They build the highest and fastest coasters and a large number of thrill rides. Parents drop their teens off at the gate and pick them up later, so you often find large groups of adolescents misbehaving in the queues and on the midway. While these parks may have kiddielands, they may not be very big. The pace is fast. The parks are fairly large and require a good amount of walking.  For families with small children and older folks, this type of park may not be a good choice. These are the chain and corporate parks like Six Flags and those parks under the Cedar Fair domain. 

Family or Traditional parks don't pretend to be more than they are. Their target audience is usually families with a large demographic of ages. Often family owned and operated, the family park has a homey atmosphere, friendly staff and a nice selection of rides, shows and attractions. Often they will have one or more roller coasters that appeal to everyone-not too high or requiring a license to ride. The restraints are not over done and while there are height restrictions, they usually have a good beginner coaster for the youngsters. Also, you can let your "tweens" go off by themselves and enjoy the rides where you can't really do that at thrill or theme parks which are normally overcrowded. You just need to remember to designate a meeting place and time. Most of these parks have picnic groves and shady spots to rest as well as family-oreintated shows. A prime example of a family or traditional park are Martin's Fantasy Island in Grand Island, NY, Holiday World in Santa Claus, Indiana, and Knoebels in Elysburg, Pennsylvania. (Knoebels also has some of the best wooden coasters, but you can check that out for yourself.)

Kiddie Parks are still around although few and far between. They cater to young children between 2 and 12 years of age and have a nice easy, laid back pace to them. You don't see kids rushing from ride to ride. The staff is well trained in dealing with children. This type of park also accomodates grandparents and parents with plenty of shaded benches and fun shows that give them a chance to take a breather. Usually these parks have low-key "family" rides like Scramblers, Tilt-A-Whirls and miniature trains that adults can ride with the kids. The best example of a kiddie park is Magic Forest in Lake George, NY.

Do adult members of your family ride?

Most parks have kiddielands, but even these have height restrictions. Most kids are done in kiddieland by the time they reach the age of 10. Some are done sooner. That's why family and kiddie parks may also have what is considered "family thrill rides" (see paragraph above.) The problem here is that these rides also have height restrictions and/or require adult supervision. So seven year old Jimmy may be ready to ride the Scrambler, but isn't tall enough, so he may need an adult to ride with him. If no adult in your party is a rider, you'll be hearing Jimmy scream and cry the rest of the day. So think about asking a riding adult to join your family. Choose someone who loves your kids, like an aunt, uncle or a teenage cousin. Also consider the babysitter or a close friend of the family. Nearly everyone knows an amusement park junkie. With a riding adult in your group, you can sit on a bench and watch them have fun without getting sick yourself.

Will you agree to your child bringing a friend?

Think about this carefully before saying yes. If you have two or more children you will most likely have to agree to each child bringing a friend. You could end up chaperoning half the neighborhood! Do you really want to spend the day watching someone else's child? If you have one child, bringing a friend would be a good option. It's not fun riding alone and your child will enjoy having company his or her own age.  If you do agree to your child bringing along a friend you should talk to the parents. Ask their permission. Inform them of the price of admission if you are not treating. Let them know if their child will need spending money for food, souvenirs, etc. Let them know when you will be picking their child up and when to expect the child to be dropped off. Always ask for an emergency phone number where the parents can be reached and carry it with you. Let the parent's know if you will be late returning their child.

Are you on a budget?

The answer to this one is probably yes! Amusement and theme parks can be expensive just to get in the gate, especially when you have a family. So go bargain hunting. Most parks will have coupons in different newspapers, magazines and travel books. Local supermarkets may have discounted tickets. If you are a member of AAA find out what discounted park tickets they have to offer. Visit the park's website for special online offers. If your family likes to go to the park often, at least once every two weeks or more, you might want to consider getting a season pass. After you're third visit, you're riding free! And season passes make great gifts. Many parks offer early bird season pass rates, mostly around the December holidays, so if you have relatives who don't know what to get your kids, suggest they get the family a season pass to your favorite park.

Can you afford to purchase your meals in the park or will you bring your own? 

Buying your meals in the park can really break the bank.  Parks do charge a lot, but they have a lot of overhead too, food, napkins, containers, cups, lids, straws, gas, electricity, equipment maintainence, and employee wages just to name a few. Many of the larger theme parks do not allow you to bring in picnic lunches, however, some will allow things you can carry in a back pack like granola bars, sandwiches and fruit. Of course food for your baby is always allowed. There are parks that still have picnic groves inside the gates and allow you to bring in coolers  and picnic supplies. A few still have grills you can use if you bring your own charcoal. A growing number of parks have picnic areas located just outside the main gate and some have them in the parking lot. (Which is fine if you like gas fumes with your lunch.) All parks forbid the bringing in of pre-packaged foods. That includes Pizza Hut, McDonald's, Wendy's, Kentucky Fried Chicken, well you get the picture. The exception is a birthday cake. Many families now celebrate their children's birthday at the amusement park. Many parks realize how much families can spend on food. Holiday World and Lake Compounce in Conneticut have free soft drink stands throughout the park. Regardless of what you can afford, checking with the park ahead of time for their picnic policy. It will make your visit much easier to plan and save for. And if you have a season pass to a park with a picnic grove and you bring your own food, try to buy at least something there, like ice cream, as a treat. After all you're probably riding free most of the summer and its a good way to support your local park.

What other expenses will you incur?

Well, there may be a parking fee. You may need to rent a locker, stroller or wheelchair. You're kids will probably want souvenirs. This last one you can control. If you can't afford to purchase souvies for every child, let them buy with their allowance, but make sure they understand before you go that you will not supplement their spending. When their allowance is gone, its gone. Or you can limit them to how much they are allowed to spend. And don't cave in.

Does the park have a water park?

If your family likes water, you will definately like to know the answer to this one, so check out the facilities. If there is a water park is it so large you will need a day by itself to enjoy it? Does the park have lockers and changing rooms? Is there an area for the smaller children? Explore the water park before you pack those suits and towels.  

There are other things to consider when traveling with the kids.

1. Are the kids up to traveling in a car to a park that's more than 1 hour away?
2. If you have to spend one night or more, are there accommodations close by?
3. Does the park offer a package that combines a hotel stay with park admission?
4. Does the park have its own hotel or campground?
5. How long can your child tolerate staying in the park? Should you spend more than one day?
6. Does the park have facilities for changing infants and warming bottles?
7. Are there family-friendly shows in the park to break up the day?

Everything covered in this article is written to help you enjoy your day at the park with your kids. Plan it right and you will have a great time. Just know before you go.

Happy riding! 

"We met boys there. That was the main reason to go. And, oh, how beautiful it was with all the lights glowing and the mirrored ball spinning and the dancers gliding on the floor. All those famous bands playing and the music sounded all over the park. It was magical, wonderful. I really loved it."

At the beginning of the last century waterside amusement resorts were at their peak of popularity. Western New Yorkers and Southern Ontario residents had the advantage of enjoying dozens of these resorts along