Dr. Blood

[robert]

Check out some photos of Dr. Blood when it was still standing. www.coasterreview.com/twister/index.php?album=The_Archive2003-2004/Wildwood_9-21-03&mode=&start=90
Go back a page to see some more. I hope to God that they saved that monster that was on the top front and Dr. Blood with the hat inside by the dip. The wall had bats on it. It doesn't look like they saved any of the artwork on the walls as they had a dumpster full of stuff and the metal exterior walls all mangled and the steel beams as well. I hope the ghoul that hung on the ceiling above the incline to the second floor was saved. It was shown on the beach by itself away from the garbage which was a good sign. I still don't understand why Ted pier owner scrapped it, this month, January, 2007 after standing for years. I guess I had false hopes that somehow it could be resurrected from the dead. Now it's in that great amusement park in the sky.

[1992]

Just looking at that gives me that 'I'm about to cry' sensation in the back of my throat.

[robert]

The only way I would have justified tearing it down is if he put a new multi-level dark ride in it's place, reusing some of the stunts. But, I'm afraid that the spot will either be vacant or something else built there. Sportland died a long time ago anyway. I'm surprised they let it sit there all this time without a solid plan for it's future. They kept everyone in the dark then suddenly demo it without advance warning. I guess they didn't want dark ride nuts starting a protest or something. I wonder why Gilbert Ramagosa let it there when he sold the pier about 1985? And Ted Snyder wanted nothing to do with it? Why couldn't Gilbert's son, Richard do anything to save it? Why did they extend the back of Sportland? Ted certainly has no plans for rides on the pier.

[plokoon]

They have plans for condos on it I heard.

[Hollowgraves]

We spoke to Ted this autumn and he absolutely intended to refurbish and re-open the ride. Whether is was feasible or not is debatable. As I mentioned elsewhere though, we also heard from another source that, despite his intentions, the town was after him to tear it down. Our discussions with him give me the impression that he absolutely would like to get something going on the pier again. Whether that will happen or not is another story.

[robert]

Well then I guess North WW has no appreciation of dark ride history. They probably only viewed it as an eyesore. It's a shame when political issues cause the loss of rare things, such as dark rides. I can only hope that he saved some of the props. It seemed like from the demolition photos that some of the props were set aside away from the wreckage which could indicate the crew was saving the props for Ted. And all of the ride carts were saved I heard. The Dr. Blood with the hat, the monster head and hands that was on the top front, the clock from the library room, the ghoul that hung on the ceiling above the incline to 2nd floor I heard were saved unless I hear otherwise. It seems Anthony or somebody was able to gain entrance to the ride to take the interior shots a while ago. I don't even want to think what happened with the rest of the building which was obviously ripped apart for scrap. I wish they would have saved some of that artwork on the walls, inside there was a giant mural with a castle on a hill painted on it. You have to check the demolition photos at funchase showing the back ripped open looking toward the front and perhaps brighted the picture to see the mural. And the bats painted on the front inside. The monsters on the front lower walls. Are there still plans to redevelop Sportland despite Dr. Blood's loss? Could a new dark ride still be a possibility? The real sad thing is that other Bill Tracy dark rides are threatened with extinction out west, at a park in Tulsa, OK called Bells, the Phantasmagoria could be lost because the park lost it's lease after 50 years, and Joyland, Wichita, KS which has a 2 level Whacky Shack faces an uncertain future because the longtime owners sold the park and the new owners are developers but are running the park and want the right to knock it down and build apartments on the site if the park doesn't perform. We already lost Miracle Strip, Panama City Beach, FL which had the Bill Tracy Haunted Castle and Myrtle Beach Pavilion which has the Funni-Frite Haunted Hotel, and Astroland, Houston, TX was torn down.

[1992]

I love your enthusiasm for the future Robert. I envy it very much. I'm much too bitter for my own good.

[plokoon]

I hope those things were saved. Moreys needs new compitition again.

[plokoon]

Does Mroeys even know about this? Do they have any intention on using those props?

[crazyaboutwildwood]

Im not sure but it looks like the monster on the front of Dr Bloods will be saved. When I was down on friday it was laying there on the pier and the dump truck was putting the final scoops of debris from the beach. I would like to get my hands on that monster and use it for my haunt.

[plokoon]

God dang so are they just going to dump this in a junkyard far away?

[crazyaboutwildwood]

Im sure. I still would like to get my hands on that monster and its arms......

[crazyaboutwildwood]

Here is some pictures of what was Dr bloods. This was taken on friday afternoon. These pictures were zoomed in and are very crapy pictures but you can see that Dr bloods is clearly gone...

[crazyaboutwildwood]

[crazyaboutwildwood]