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Post by clnancy50 on Jan 13, 2007 23:46:09 GMT -5
Yes, I rode all those rides; can even picture where they were located. I can't tell you how sick I felt when you showed me those videos from Journey to the Center of the Earth and then how they were tearing it out. That ride was ALWAYS packed with people!! What were they thinking?? Safety reasons?? That's why I like Knoebels so much; reminds me alot of the way Dorney Park used to be. I really hope they don't drastically change that one. Haven't been up there for awhile. Is it pretty much the same? I said this before and I'll say it again; you're going to find out that the older you get, the more change you are going to see and alot is going to be a thing of the past. It's sad, but true. The "little guy" can't even compete anymore with all these big businesses.
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Post by hauntfan on Feb 3, 2007 0:20:36 GMT -5
I know this is old news to everyone on this board now but I haven't been able to get onto the board in several monthes. I went to Seaside Heights and saw in person that Haunted Manor walk through haunted house is physically gone from Funtown. I knew it wouldn't last forever but it is sad all the same to see the end of a great 4 year era 2003-2006 when Seaside had 1 great darkride(Stillwalk Manor) and one great walk through haunted house(Haunted Manor). When I went to Seaside during these years, it was as close an experience to Wildwood in the late 70s as there could possibly be. In addition to the classic style haunts, there was also the classic, 80s style arcade, Flashbacks (which, thank God is still there, along with an assortment of other great Jersey shore standbys like Kohr Bros and Sawmill giant pizza slices. Seaside might not have a great walk through anymore but it does have the new Pirates Hideaway darkride/coaster hybrid, which I didn't get to try in summer 06 because unfortunately I didn't make it to Seaside in 06. Oh, by the way another sign of the times in Seaside is the "Central Arcade" is now a clothing store and the Frog Bog that was inside is now an esspreso bar! An Esspreso bar in Seaside Heights, you got to love it Funtown Pier has big signs on it saying " No matter what you've heard we are here to stay." That sounds promising for the future of the pier but unfortunately I read an almost exact similar sign on the old Thunderbird motel in Wildwood a couple years back and that was not only later demolished but there are upscale condos there now as I type.
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Post by robert on Feb 3, 2007 12:06:58 GMT -5
Haunted Manor is trying to find a new home. They won't be open summer 2007, but they will open fall in Northern NJ somewhere. What was the Central Arcade? A big arcade? And what was the Frog Bog? What is an expresso bar? Coffee? The day will come when you will see Starbucks on those tacky boardwalks. When that happens, it's the end of the tacky boardwalk as we knew it. Didn't a similar thing happen in Wildwood with the closing of the Nut Hut and others? You see, the brand new upscale condo people are going to expect certain things and even pressure the towns to do something, like get certain types of businesses to move in. The closest places for summer haunted walkthroughs this year would be Lake George, NY (Dr. Morbid's Haunted House and House of Frankenstein) or Niagara Falls, Canada. Unless you want to pressure Gov. Corzine to allow summer walkthrough haunted houses in his state. The survival of dark rides is at the mercy of the owners. It's their right to close them or tear them down.
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Post by 1992 on Feb 4, 2007 23:31:36 GMT -5
the Frog Bog that was inside is now an esspreso bar! An Esspreso bar in Seaside Heights, you got to love it . I do love the Esspresso! A little too high class for the sort of people who visit Seaside Hts though.
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Post by hauntfan on Feb 5, 2007 1:29:15 GMT -5
Robert, the Central Arcade was a relatively small sized arcade by Seaside Heights standards but it was just loaded with good stuff. Up until a couple years ago it still had 10 cent Skee Ball and Pokerino, and that was rare. It was such a bargain. That is why that arcade was the one I would go to the most. Then I visited Seaside and discovered it was closed and it had all these great, hand painted old fashioned arcade signs on the outside and I tried talking to the new owners about getting them but it never panned out. The Frog Bog was a game on the corner of the arcade which invovled hitting a surface with a mallet and sending a rubber frog flying into the air. The object was to get the frog to land on a lilly pad and you would win a prize. I am sure you have seen it in many amusement parks and carnivals. The funny thing is that it is now a Esspresso or coffee bar, that is a real sign of the times.
My new favorite arcade in Seaside is the Carousel Family Amusement Center. It has about every element of a classic arcade that you could ask for in it. It has classic 80s video games, pinball, mechanical games, Skee Ball, Pokerino, a carousel, a shooting gallery (which are becoming harder and harder to find) and many other games.
Its a shame, but not surprising, about that Florida "Haunted Castle" ride. If you want to experience these classic attractions you have to do it NOW, or you may not get the chance later.
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