Welcome to the third edition of my new blog series, the Trick Track. In this series I will be discussing little nuggets of industry-related items...anything from my thoughts on News stories, to new ride openings, quick ride reviews, industry innovations, construction progress, pretty much anything industry related that pops into my head. This week, the concentration seems to be revival and focus on the future…So without further ado:


Euclid Beach Carousel

We recently published a story on the Euclid Beach Carousel being restored and returned to action: HERE While to many, carousel’s may seem like a kids ride—soft, gentle, slow—there always underappreciated rides to many “thrill seekers” and teenagers, but as an enthusiast, there’s so much more. Carousels, especially older PTC carousels like this one, are truly works of art. The hand-crafted and hand-painted horses and chariots take thousands of man-hours to make, each with a unique design and pose, as well as a name. If you’ve been on a carousel a lot, chances are, you know who your favorite horse is, and perhaps even know them in an “On Dasher, on Dancer…” kind of way.

The carousel at Euclid Beach opened in 1910, operating there until the park closed in 1969. The ride then moved to a small park in Maine, operating until 1996, when it seemed the ride might be lost forever. But a combination of groups, including the Western Reserve Historical Society (WRHS), found a way to save the ride, and are now in the process of restoring the ride. With ground breaking this past week on the site of the WRHS, plans are to have the carousel restored and reopened by late 2013.

Modern carousels can’t quite compare to the old PTCs, but regardless, carousels are a staple of amusement parks worldwide, with their band organ music and galloping horses. With their generally short lines and larger capacity, you can usually ride the carousel at almost any amusement park within 15 minutes, and I highly recommend you ride them all to build a real appreciation for them as more than just another ride at the park.

For those of you who just can’t find it in you to ride such a tame ride, try the Cedar Downs Racing Carousel at Cedar Point, which provides quite a kick with its surprisingly high speed rotation, or the classic carousel at Knoebels, and try to grab a brass ring from an outside horse as you go around. If neither of these warm you up to riding a carousel, you are really missing out on something special. Classic, beautiful, and elegant!


Dippin’ Dots

Many of us were scared a few months ago when we heard that Dippin’ Dots was entering bankruptcy. How could we live without those little frozen droplets of ice creamy goodness? But more importantly, where would we get all the “inside scoop” (pun intended?) on the latest rumors for our local amusement park? If it weren’t for “the Dippin’ Dots guy,” where would all the rumors start? Cherry Icee man? Frozen lemonade lady?

But worry not, Dippin’ Dots said it would affect their manufacturing, not their franchises…though I’m not sure how that would work exactly if they stopped manufacturing. Anyway, it looks like they’ve found a buyer, just have to get the deal approved and our Dippin’ Dots should be saved. You can continue to feed your hunger and the rumor mill.


Ghost Town

As a resident of North Carolina, who went to Maggie Valley and Ghost Town in the Sky several times as a kid, the past decade has been a roller coaster for any fans of the park. It’s been opened, closed, foreclosed, rebuilt, reopened, and lost once again more than even Hard Rock Park.

Though my memories are somewhat limited of the Maggie Valley park, I do remember spending many fun times in the mountains going to Ghost Town or Tweetsie Railroad, both just bring back fond childhood memories. The last time I passed Ghost Town was during one of its years of closure, and it was very saddening to see the park abandoned, empty, and motionless.

If you’ve been reading our News though lately, you probably read that the park may rise once again! Alaska Presley, who was involved in the original opening of Ghost Town in the Sky back in 1960 has purchased the park and hopes to return it to its former glory. She’s already acquired titles to the rides and buildings on the ground, at a cost of around $2 million, but will no doubt need to invest more on the rides to return them to operating condition. It seems the new/old owner hopes to have at least the Wild West section opened once again by the end of 2012.

It’s always great to see a park saved, especially such a small park, fighting through a decade of ups and downs during a time when our economy took a dive. Best of luck Ghost Town, may you never truly become nothing more than a “ghost town in the sky.”


Insane Coaster Wars

Apparently, roller coaster programming will make its way back to TV! The Travel Channel recently announced a lineup of new shows it will be airing this summer, one of which is called Insane Coaster Wars. According to the announcement, each episode will feature four coasters in six categories, making up the shows six 30-minute episodes. “Coaster experts” will analyze the good and bad of each ride, and allow viewers to vote for their favorites, culminating in a 1-hour finale which will count down the top 10 coasters by votes.

The show premieres July 8 at 9:00 PM EST on the Travel Channel.