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Archive for the ‘Amusement ride’ Category

Traveler: Turkey Whirl at Indiana’s Holiday World

Posted in amusement park, Amusement ride, Travel, tagged Happy Thanksgiving, Holiday World, Holiday World Theme Park, Indiana, Thanksgiving, Tilt-A-Whirl, Turkey Whirl on November 27, 2014| 2 Comments »

Turkey Whirl. Photo via Holiday World Theme Park

Happy Thanksgiving! You can celebrate again this spring at Holiday World in Santa Claus, Indiana, by going for a spin on their turkey-themed Tilt-A-Whirl ride. The world’s first and only Turkey Whirl was custom-made in 2007 for the holiday-themed park.

“Do you watch carefully for the first robin of spring each year?” says their blog. “Here at Holiday World, it’s the first turkey of spring that makes our hearts leap with joy!” The park opened as Santa Claus Land in 1946 and later added sections with rides and entertainment inspired by Halloween, Thanksgiving, and the Fourth of July, as well as roller coasters and a water park. Holiday World and Splashin’ Safari opens April 25.

The Turbo, Legendary 1970s Thrill Ride Poised to Return

Posted in Amusement ride, historic preservation, tagged Chance Rides, Classic Rides Amusements, Derek Wise, Facebook group, Gerald L Barber, Jerry Baque, Jerry Barber, Mark Hackett, Playland, Turbo, Turbo Amusement Ride Fan Club on November 13, 2014| 15 Comments »

Ad for a Chance Turbo ride in Zhejiang, China, which recently sold to an amusement park in Canada via usedrides.com. November 7, 2014

A surreal-looking amusement ride from the 1970’s called the Turbo has hundreds of devoted fans ready to schedule their vacations and travel to distant places for its comeback. Though only 23 Turbos were manufactured by Chance Rides from 1970 through 1976, and none are currently in operation, two are being lovingly restored in California and Australia. The 635 members of the Turbo Amusement Ride Fan Club, a private group on Facebook, are eagerly awaiting the chance to go for a retro spin.

A few days ago, when an ad for a Turbo for sale in Zhejiang, China appeared on usedrides.com, excitement ensued. The price: $49,000. No sooner were the pros and cons of a crowdfunding campaign to buy it being discussed than ATZ learned from the seller that the ride, which had been brought from Australia a decade ago, had sold to a park in Canada. “Playland in Vancouver,” seller Jack Su told ATZ via email. A call to the park seeking comment has yet to be returned.

UPDATE, November 14: ATZ just received confirmation from PNE Maintenance Supervisor Peter Tremblay that Playland Vancouver has indeed purchased the Turbo from China and expects it to debut in 2016. Will the PNE modify their plan to replace the iconic buckets as the overhaul of the ride moves forward? It is always controversial when a park (more…)

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Photo Album: Deno’s Carousel Horses Put to Bed for Winter

Posted in amusement park, Amusement ride, Photo Album, Photography, tagged carousel, Coney Island, Deno's Wonder Wheel Park, Spook-A-Rama, winter, winter storage on November 7, 2014| Leave a Comment »

After closing for the season on October 26th, the carousel at Deno’s Wonder Wheel Park was partially disassembled and the horses were put to bed for the winter. Luckily, ATZ happened to be there to snap a few shots. Who knew that the ponies spend the off-season hibernating inside the dark ride Spook-A-Rama?! (more…)