29yrswithaGApass Posted July 4, 2013 Author Report Share Posted July 4, 2013 I am glad to hear people enjoy this topic! Year two, here we come! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
29yrswithaGApass Posted July 4, 2013 Author Report Share Posted July 4, 2013 Year 2 - Photo #1 - July 4, 2013: July 4, 1974 The Spirit of America played a big part in Great Adventure's grand opening on July 4th, 1974. A fife and drum band completewith tri-corner hats made its way up Dream Street from the park's main entrance into the Enchanted Forest where it entertainedpatriotic guests around Great Adventure's sparkling fountain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
29yrswithaGApass Posted July 10, 2013 Author Report Share Posted July 10, 2013 Year 2 - Photo #2 - July 10, 2013: August 1978 Prior to the installation of the Ultra Twister ride in 1986 with its accompanying walkway and bridge across Lahaway Creek, theRunaway Mine Train's site was totally secluded except for a path that encircled the Great Arena. This area was furtherdeveloped in 1999 when Medusa was constructed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
29yrswithaGApass Posted July 15, 2013 Author Report Share Posted July 15, 2013 Year 2 - Photo #3 - July 15, 2013: July 1980 The Schwabinchen ride, known in the industry as a Mack Hully Gully, was originally introduced at Great Adventure as part of the Fun Fairsection in 1975. The ride operated until the end of the 1986 season when it was removed to make way for Splash Water Falls. To manysurprised guests it was reintroduced on July 31, 1993 as the redecorated El Sombrero ride near Rolling Thunder in the Mexican themed region of Frontier Adventures. It was removed for good at the end of the 2001 season. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yoshi Posted July 16, 2013 Report Share Posted July 16, 2013 For the RMT picture, it's strange to see the ride with just trees, the path and nothing else like all the coasters that you would see if you stood in the spot now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
29yrswithaGApass Posted July 24, 2013 Author Report Share Posted July 24, 2013 Year 2 - Photo #4 - July 23, 2013: October 1974 The Super Teepee was by far Great Adventure's most unique shopping experience offering a wide array of Western, Mexican and Indian souvenirs.As described in the park's pre-opening press release, "the (Super Teepee) structure was dominated by its 60 foot tall chandelier. Twenty feet in diameter,it resembles an Indian rope hanging, with carved eagles, feathers, skeletons, and bows and arrows displayed on it." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
29yrswithaGApass Posted July 31, 2013 Author Report Share Posted July 31, 2013 Year 2 - Photo #5 - July 31, 2013: February 1999 Medusa was the world's first floorless roller coaster when the park opened for the season on April 2, 1999. TheB&M thriller was just one of more than 25 new rides added to Great Adventure as part of the monumental"War on Lines" - a $42 million dollar investment in the park which increased its ride count by 50%. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pashacar Posted August 1, 2013 Report Share Posted August 1, 2013 (edited) Man that brings back some memories. Ops had already turned to crap by 99 but it was the end of a bygone era in the park where theming and general upkeep were prioritized. Edited August 1, 2013 by pashacar Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pashacar Posted August 1, 2013 Report Share Posted August 1, 2013 Man that brings back some memories. Ops had already turned to crap by 99 but it was the end of a bygone era in the park where theming and general upkeep were prioritized. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chiller Posted August 5, 2013 Report Share Posted August 5, 2013 Medusa looked and even felt better when it was yellow. War On lines may have increased the parks ride count by 50%, but now almost 50% of those new for '99 rides are gone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yoshi Posted August 6, 2013 Report Share Posted August 6, 2013 The ride looks so bright. Although I like the added effects of Bizarro, I would have preferred they kept the ride as Medusa and spent that money retheming the ride on a new flat instead. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
29yrswithaGApass Posted August 7, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 7, 2013 Year 2 - Photo #6 - August 6, 2013: December 3, 1973 Revised plans for Great Adventure, the most elaborate and impressive entertainment complex in the northeast area, were presentedby Charles H. Stein, Chairman of the Board of Hardwicke Companies Inc., and Warner LeRoy, President and Designer of Great Adventure in 1973. The early artist rendering of the theme park, above, would remain true to the as-built park with few exceptions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
29yrswithaGApass Posted August 14, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 14, 2013 Year 2 - Photo #7 - August 14, 2013: August 1979 The Garden of Marvels miniature village was constructed by Dutch artist Arthur Thuijs and operated at Great Adventurefrom 1974 to 1978 under of five year contract with the park. At the end of the agreement the model buildings were allremoved and an 18 hole miniature golf course took over the hilly terrain. Only the manmade mountains and waterwayswould survive the removal of the village, but even those were destroyed during the summer of 1989 when the sitewas cleared for the Shockwave coaster which opened in 1990. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
29yrswithaGApass Posted August 21, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 21, 2013 Year 2 - Photo #8 - August 21, 2013: August 1979 The Musik Express was added to Great Adventure in the spring of 1976, possibly having been originally operated at the 1964/65 New York World's Fair. The spinning ride entertained guests for 32 seasons before closing at the end of 2007 along with the rest of the shuttered Old Country section of the park. Although the ride structure still stands, the ride's cars have been removed for several years, most likely relocated to Six Flags Magic Mountain for parts on their Flash: Speed Force ride. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarioSonic94 Posted August 21, 2013 Report Share Posted August 21, 2013 If there's one ride that the park needs to bring back, it's definitely the Musik Express. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chiller Posted August 22, 2013 Report Share Posted August 22, 2013 Loud music is what Six Flags is all about, it seems strange for them not to have a Musik Express anymore Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
29yrswithaGApass Posted September 26, 2013 Author Report Share Posted September 26, 2013 Year 2 - Photo #9 - September 26, 2013: May 2000The Pendulum ride, a Huss Frisbee, was added to Great Adventure as part of the park's 1999 War on Rides. Placed in an odd locationbehind the bumper cars ride in the Old Country, the Pendulum was all but blocked out from the main midway by the extra wide Autobahnride. Even though the ride did feature several thematic elements such as decorative spikes and an overall early European weaponrymotif, several planned features like a massive battleaxe sign at its apex as well as a castle themed loading platform never materialized. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobertDavid Posted September 27, 2013 Report Share Posted September 27, 2013 I liked that ride. It was like The Buccaneer on steroids. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
29yrswithaGApass Posted October 5, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 5, 2013 Year 2 - Photo #10 - October 5, 2013: May 1974Great Adventure's Garden of Marvels was a massive undertaking and introduced G-scale model railroading to the United States. While ground preparation workcontinued in the park, a testing layout for the large scale LGB trains was constructed near the assembly building for the Garden of Marvels. The layout allowed the workers to experiment and evaluate different types of roadbeds as well as engine pulling power and traction on the inclined railways. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
29yrswithaGApass Posted October 13, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 13, 2013 Year 2 - Photo #11 - October 12, 2013: August 2005 The Temple of the Tiger arena opened with the Golden Kingdom in May of 2005 and was instantly a huge success drawing capacity crowds to its high energy tiger shows. Within two months of opening, the stadium was expanded by approximately 35% with the construction of six extra rows of seats added to the back of the arena. The modified design also included access to these benches via new staircases near thestadium's back corners. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
29yrswithaGApass Posted October 22, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 22, 2013 Year 2 - Photo #12 - October 21, 2013: May 1974 When the Jimmy Williams Famous Steam Roundabout made its way stateside and was installed at Great Adventure in 1974,the ride kept true to its traveling fair heritage. Its assembly included a trailer mounted center hub supported on four largeover the highway tires. The ride which originated in England even included a boiler plate emblem of the Royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
29yrswithaGApass Posted October 25, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 25, 2013 Year 2 - Photo #13 - October 25, 2013: October 31, 2004 Knowing that building the world's tallest roller coaster takes time, Great Adventure's construction team got a jump start on themassive 456 foot Kingda Ka tower by breaking ground on the project in the summer of 2004. By the time the park closed on Halloween day of that year vertical construction was well underway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RC98 Posted October 26, 2013 Report Share Posted October 26, 2013 (edited) Referencing the previous photo with the Carousel, I was wondering if it is still mounted on that trailer today? That trailer is pretty old- it's interesting to think that the ride could possibly have stayed on a trailer in a theme park for so long from 1974 to today. Edited October 26, 2013 by RC98 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GAcoaster Posted October 27, 2013 Report Share Posted October 27, 2013 I don't think so. I think it was removed when they made the modifications to electric drive rather than the steam/compressed air or when they built the platform. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RC98 Posted October 28, 2013 Report Share Posted October 28, 2013 That's what I figured. It didn't seem likely for it to still be on that trailer from England. Thanks for answering! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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