|
Post by gary on Oct 24, 2007 10:19:13 GMT -5
If the same kids ride a dark ride multiple times in the same day, there's a good chance they're not going on it to get scared again or admire the artistry.
They're probably looking to jump out.
Knoebels excludes their haunted mansion from the pay-one-price plan for this reason, I think.
I'll admit something here. Back in '80-'82 I rode Dorney's Bucket O' Blood a lot. Too much, even. It had a bunch of Ghost Ship genre stunts.
Well, I jumped out a bunch and tried to examine the gags closer. I honestly never damaged anything. I was 12 and unsupervised. It was a bit of a rush, and i was a bad kid. I never did it on any other ride, since. I remember that if I didn't pay attention enough, I'd have a bit of a run to catch up to the empty car before it hit the exit.
I think some ride cars are more restrictive and seriously inhibit getting out, such as Rehoboth's Haunted Mansion and the former, modified cars of Nightmare Manor at Seaside Heights. Unfortunately, these more elaborate cars require a second attendant at the exit point to unlock the car. The upside is that none of their props are caged or otherwise obstructed and rarely see vandalism.
|
|
|
Post by Brandon on Oct 24, 2007 11:37:07 GMT -5
All I can say is, if Trimper's are watching out for frequent riders, than I must be considered a HUGE problem. When I was little, I would ride this upwards of 30 times per day sometimes with the afternoon wristband. Getting out of the car at Trimper’s is a death sentence. The place is so closely watched most of the time, so that even the slightest inkling of getting out will prompt upwards of three or four attendants and an escort by a security guard. It is not only because they are afraid someone will damage something, but it becomes a HUGE insurance compliance issue as well. The ride is pitch black, the floor is elevated, and unless you are used to walking around inside, it can get tricky. On busy summer nights (say, late May through August), there are at least 4 personnel walking the floor layout looking for things; broken down cars, vandals, problems. The HH has a trap door in the second room on the right (crooked timbers), to the right of the Knit Wit, right before Bat Hill, Tracy’s Wave room, Re-entry from balcony before the Mummy (formerly the Crab), immediately before the Train tunnel on the left, right after the bathroom, right after Rat #2, and immediately before the clock on the left. Obviously, some the doors mentioned correspond with each other, but that is just so you know. So, there is always quick access. Where do the HH personnel like to hide out watching?---- Behind the end of the Spinning Tunnel, across from the Knit wit and Witch, in the corner before the Mine Shaft, to the right of the bathroom, and to downhill before the clock. Not to mention all the cameras watching your every move, monitored by the park administrator in the offices above the Saw Mill. Take my word for it, it is better to stay put in this attraction…
|
|
|
Post by gary on Oct 24, 2007 12:36:24 GMT -5
ah, sounds like a dare!
just kidding. i only trespass at abandoned locations.
|
|
|
Post by Robert on Oct 24, 2007 15:32:33 GMT -5
Gary, I rode the Bucket O' Blood at the same time period! I was between 6-9 years old. I was sad when it burned Sept. 28, 1983. I have old park brochures from the 70's and 80's and the entire newspaper from Sept. 29, 1983 I bought on Ebay. I remember the rotating tunnel in the beginning, the pirate room, a hallway of glowing rib cage bones? and some scene toward the exit and a loud horn that was installed a year or two before the fire. Can you refresh my memory and describe blow-by-blow what you remember from start to finish? What Tracy scenes there were? I remember in the big pirate room in the back where you turned around to the right, then the left there were barrels stacked on top of one another that looked like they were going to fall on you, then stopped. Also there were pirate figures in the middle where the barrels were. Different people sent me pics of the front from different angles including Bill Cherkasky from Dark in the Park, his family was pictured in front of the ride, his brother, dad.
|
|
|
Post by gary on Oct 25, 2007 17:45:58 GMT -5
I've got very little recollection of BoB from the early 80s, sadly. I don't recall a spinning tunnel. I do remember that towards the beginning, the second room i think, you went through a ship's hull with a strobe light and stormy sound effects. Could this be the spinning tunnel you think of?
After that it entered a large room that was an elongated "U" shape for the track. The back left corner is where the 3-barrel gag was. The next room had a torture scene on the left. Beyond that, I can't remember what else. I really wish someone had interior pictures, I've only seen the exteriors. I definately remember that the cars made a clanking sound, typical of the pretzel design.
|
|
|
Post by Robert on Oct 26, 2007 1:48:47 GMT -5
NO! There definitely was a spinning tunnel! I remember it in my own mind! It was at the beginning after 2 sets of doors. It was golden with curvy lines all over it like this www.ridezone.com/parks/pa/waldameer/whacky13.jpg There was also one in the gold mine too which closed around 1985 but survived until fall 2005 when the entire arcade house was razed. Bob Ott was the owner when BoB was there, and Gold Mine was open. He passed away Mar. 4, 2007 at age 88, and his wife Feb. 14, 2007. They lived in a retirement home in Allentown for the past few years. His son Bob survives and lives in FL. They retired from the park May, 1985 and Harris Weinstein took over. Weinstein sold DP to Cedar Fair July, 1992. Remember Journey to the Center of the Earth at DP, too? Bill Tracy remodeled it in 1960, it was called Mill Chute before since it was built in 1927, and it was razed after 1992. Cedar Fair didn't want it.
|
|
|
Post by gary on Oct 26, 2007 7:40:54 GMT -5
So the gold mine sat idle for 20 years? Wow, I figured they removed everything. I was so sad when nothing was there anymore.
You are probably right about the spinning tunnel. I just don't recall it well enough.
And JCE was a masterpiece of a boat ride. Pretty much everything was removed when CF took over. Including the Iceberg (rethemed Meteorite) ... which used to have Tracy fixtures outside and in! (the polar bear, the penguins, the titantic bow)
|
|