Post by robert on Jul 24, 2007 3:49:09 GMT -5
www.laffinthedark.com/str It's about the dire situation facing dark rides lately with 5 losses for 2007 (Haunted Hotel-Myrtle Pavilion demolished March, Phantasmagoria-Bell's Tulsa OK-park closed and is moving, Fright Zone-Erieview Park Geneva-on-the-lake OH-park closed and ride sold to a guy from Conneaut Lake Park in PA ride parts in storage, Dr. Blood's House of Horror-Sportland Pier, Wildwood-ride inactive since 1983 torn down January 07, Skull Kingdom-Orlando FL-closed Nov 06 to be torn down soon for housing-props being sold on myspace buyskullkingdom. More losses could come for 2008 in the form of Flying Witch and Zombie Castle at Rye Playland, NY and Dante's Inferno at the closing Coney Astroland, and Haunted House and Pirate's Cove at Trimper's Ocean City, MD if the park decides to close due to high taxes. A very sad decade for dark rides, especially post-9-11 with Castle Dracula Wildwood being the first major loss. Beach parks not on piers are the most vulnerable due to skyrocketing land values. Everywhere you see upscaling and redevelopment, and it seems dark rides don't 'fit' in an upscale environment according to the people in charge. It's worse than the 1990's and we thought the loss of Hunt's Pier was bad. That was nothing compared with now. Morey's, Knoebel's, Disney, Funland Rehoboth, Long Island Adventureland, Waldameer Erie PA and a few others seem to be the only ones committed to preserving their dark rides with no plans for closure or removal.