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Post by robert on Mar 7, 2007 12:54:45 GMT -5
Bob Ott passed away a few days ago. The funeral was Tuesday. He worked at the park for over 40 years and became the president when Bob Plarr and his son Stephen passed away. He was elevated to chairman of the board in 1980. He retired May, 1985 selling his interest in the park to Harris Weinstein (retired to Florida) who in turn sold the park to Cedar Fair, L. P. July, 1992 (the SOB's responsible for the destruction of the Journey old mill and Iceberg cuddle-up). Dorney Park was like my second home since when I was about 5 years old, and Bob Ott will be missed.
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Post by 1992 on Mar 7, 2007 13:55:59 GMT -5
The Iceberg/Meteor isn't there anymore?  That ride was great as it was filled with quality Meteor brand disco lights like the UFO-12, and Shooting Star. I'm going to be buying a UFO-12 soon myself, love that thing! It sounds like this Bob Ott fellow didn't do a very good job with the park.  |
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Post by getajob on Mar 7, 2007 15:00:24 GMT -5
I think you have it mixed up...Bob Ott was the reason those rides were still there.
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Post by robert on Mar 7, 2007 15:53:05 GMT -5
Cedar Fair was the reason most of the classic rides were destroyed, much like when Bud Hunt sold Hunt's Pier the next owners chose to destroy some of the classic rides like the Flyer, etc. Cedar Fair claimed the Journey to the Center of the Earth was too old, and had poor thouroughput and required constant maintenance. The Iceberg/Meteorite was the same way, it didn't fit in with Cedar Fair's plans. Read this:
Feb 5 1993
RE: Dorney trashing their classic Mill Chute ride
>That's one major strike against Cedar Fair!
I agree, but they don't. In the words of Scott Bluebond, "We're NOT in
the antique business, we're in the AMUSEMENT business -- we have to
keep current in the industry, and can't be wasting time with old rides
that have poor throughput and require constant maintanence"
That's their stance on the issue. And yes, you can safely assume that
Dorney Park and Mr. Bluebond are not amoung my favorite people in the
world! My kudos go to people like Dick Knoebel, who stock their park
with classic rides bought from other (usually dying) amusement parks! <END>
(me again) It sounds like Cedar Fair wanted nothing to do with old rides that were falling apart. The Journey was leaking water, and the Iceberg was hard to get parts for, and both were high liability rides and insurance risks. Cedar Fair is a big corporation. Bob Ott and his successor Harris Weinstein were private owners. Two different things. Also, since Cedar Fair took over and built rides like Steel Force, attendance rose sharply. The park got busier and more crowded than ever. More people from NY, NJ, Philly. I'm sure a dark ride like Journey would be an even bigger risk with all the thugs from NY in the park. When they do the haunted houses for Halloweekends, they have plenty of security guards in them.
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Post by 1992 on Mar 8, 2007 12:55:46 GMT -5
Well Cedar Fair are massive a$$ holes no doubt, but from what you said Bob Ott was responsible for selling to them no? If so then he was responsible for all of this.
I was not at all a fan of Dorney Park in the from the early 90s till now because they were giving me a VERY hard time as a guest. I wanted to listen to my walkman on the rides and they started kicking me off ALL the rides because of this. They claimed it interfered with their walkitalkies which is a complete load of sh1t! On the same day my Morey's Pier hat had flew off my head while on their yellow rollercoaster which ran behind the Journey to the center. They refused to get it for me and said they might get it when the park closed. I was in tears because of all of this, I kid you not! It might have been the worst day of my life, or at least one of the many. My favorite hat was sent to me in the mail with rollercoaster grease all over it. I've boycotted Dorney Park ever since and its very unlikely I'll ever go there again. Dorney Park just completely sucks, I have no respect for the place what so ever. You telling me that they ripped out the Meteor and the Journy ride only makes me hate the place even more.
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Post by robert on Mar 8, 2007 17:07:15 GMT -5
If you were at the park between 1985-1992 then Harris Weinstein was the owner. Bob Ott sold his shares to Harris Weinstein in May, 1985 and retired. Weinstein sold the park to Cedar Fair July, 1992. Yes, they modernized the park, removed old rides, but for me it's the only game in town so I still go there. At least they still have the coaster, Zephyr, and Whip. And their Halloweekends are excellent. In my opinion the park initially started modernizing and changing in 1984. That was due to the Sept. 28, 1983 fire which took out the Le Grande Carrousel, Bucket O' Blood, and skee-ball building. The following year they completely reconfigured the layout in that area and added the Musik Express where the Bucket O' Blood was, and a new games building across from Musik, Apollo 2000, Enterprise, and they removed the Flying Bobs due to fire damage. The Bucket O' Blood was my first dark ride and it's life was cut short. Next, Wildwater Kingdom opened in 1985 following management change from Bob Ott to Harris Weinstein. The zoo at the far end of the Zephyr train closed following 1983 and the fire even though it was far from the fire site. I guess Ott decided to close the zoo for some reason. There was Century Park there for 1984 and the Laser coaster was built there for 1986. Some other rides added during Weinstein's time were Joker (1988), Ferris Wheel (1989) and Hercules (1989). Joker and Hercules are gone. The Traver rocketship ride was closed 1990. Flying Dutchman coaster was removed after 1988 and sold to a park in Jamaica, also the Indy 500 race cars by the Zephyr were removed as well. It was one of those large electric car rides under a tent, Sportland Pier had one, too. At Dorney they put games in the spot where the race cars were in 1989. After Cedar Fair took over, they started tearing down willy-nilly. First, Journey following 1992, replaced with nothing, then later the relocated Scrambler. Iceberg/Meteorite following 1993, replaced by a pizza stand. The old coaster building and bumper cars following 1994, replaced with a smaller coaster station. They tore down the Gold Mine/Dorney Mansion/Arcade a year ago, and more recently the old Romig Mill at the far end of the Zephyr outside of the park fence but on park property. The Inn/Bavarian Inn/Mandarin House/Memories restaurant was torn down a few years ago for a new concrete block employee dining area. In 1995 the park got an antique carousel from Cedar Point, the first antique carousel since the one that burned Sept 1983. The park had a Chance Carousel from 1985-present. In 1984, the park erected it's 1901 carousel that was in storage for the 100th anniversary, but following the sale to Weinstein, he had the carousel broken up and sold. I also miss the boats in the creek that were on a track, those were removed 2000, and the sky ride was removed 1999. Those two rides were there before I was born in 1974, probably dated to the 50's, 60's. It's all about the flashy new ride every season, or in case this year, the flashy new waterslide. There are some days in July and August you can't even move in the park with the crowds. It's all big business now, like SF Great Adv., all about drawing people from far away to the latest ride. Family owned parks are becoming almost extinct as they sell out to developers or retire. Knoebels is still there, as well as Trimper's Ocean City, MD over 100 years old. And about Bob Ott, he will be missed, he was the history of Dorney Park. I'm glad I got to meet him a few times.
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Post by clnancy50 on Mar 9, 2007 3:00:34 GMT -5
Thanks for all the info, robert, you're always "up to date" on everything and really know the history. I remember everything you mentioned and even though they're in th amusement business, Knoebel's held on to alot of their older rides and is still going pretty strong. I still like Dorney, but I think I really liked it better when it wasn't so packed with alot of huge crowds. It still got full, but it used to be more of a relaxing atmosphere. That's all a thing of the past now.
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Post by robert on Mar 9, 2007 14:05:03 GMT -5
Yeah, Dorney seems more "stressful" now for some reason. Maybe it's because of the hot days, or the long lines, or the crowded Wildwater Kingdom and pools, and the large bus groups. And the fact that I'm getting older and a majority of park guests are these young things wearing Abercrombie shirts and tank tops and short shorts.
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Crippled Visions
Junior Member
"Keep your friends close but your enemies closer."
Posts: 85
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Post by Crippled Visions on Mar 9, 2007 22:19:32 GMT -5
Yeah, Dorney seems more "stressful" now for some reason. Maybe it's because of the hot days, or the long lines, or the crowded Wildwater Kingdom and pools, and the large bus groups. And the fact that I'm getting older and a majority of park guests are these young things wearing Abercrombie shirts and tank tops and short shorts. Come on Robert. I know you like the young girls with the tank tops and short shorts. |
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Post by clnancy50 on Mar 15, 2007 0:02:24 GMT -5
Good 'ol Crippled can always bring a smile to my face. : ) Maybe that's my problem; I'm past the slinky tank tops and the short shorts. : (
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Post by 1992 on Mar 15, 2007 2:40:38 GMT -5
Yeah, Dorney seems more "stressful" now for some reason. Maybe it's because of the hot days, or the long lines, or the crowded Wildwater Kingdom and pools, and the large bus groups. And the fact that I'm getting older and a majority of park guests are these young things wearing Abercrombie shirts and tank tops and short shorts. Come on Robert. I know you like the young girls with the tank tops and short shorts. I like ones that are 25+ myself. If you know of any cute ones in NJ let me know because I'm 100% crap with socializing and being in places where singles are. |
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Post by clnancy50 on Mar 17, 2007 3:15:14 GMT -5
NOT ANOTHER ONE FROM HELL!!!!!!!!!!! CAN'T TAKE IT!!!!!
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Post by 1992 on Mar 17, 2007 3:53:17 GMT -5
??  ?? Hell theres not even any GOOD nightclubs left in NJ that play GOOD dance music which aren't filled to the hilts with shirtless guidos that want to pump you up. Not like I would find "nice" girls there anyway but I mean even that avenue doesn't exist anymore. No rippings on me but if you have constructive advice then sure. I certainly do no like being single, I can't speak for Robert. |
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