Yum Yum Palace (AKA Yum Yum Cafe)

[GAcoaster]

That's what I was told by someone who worked with Warner LeRoy on a regular basis while he owned the park and combined with the fact that those paint schemes seem to have disappeared within a very short time it makes sense. There was really no reason why Yum Yum, the Carousel, Conestoga, etc had to be repainted in such a short time after they were built and when they were they were repainted in much more toned down styles. It was one of those things where when I heard it suddenly it became clear why the look of the park seems to have changed and been dulled down so quickly.

 

The man was eccentric and a clause like that could be in effect for any amount of time specified. Just like any contract, the terms set can have all kind of weird stipulations and time limits.

[Daved Thomson]

That's what I was told by someone who worked with Warner LeRoy on a regular basis while he owned the park and combined with the fact that those paint schemes seem to have disappeared within a very short time it makes sense. There was really no reason why Yum Yum, the Carousel, Conestoga, etc had to be repainted in such a short time after they were built and when they were they were repainted in much more toned down styles. It was one of those things where when I heard it suddenly it became clear why the look of the park seems to have changed and been dulled down so quickly.

 

The man was eccentric and a clause like that could be in effect for any amount of time specified. Just like any contract, the terms set can have all kind of weird stipulations and time limits.

 

I don't doubt what your friend may think, especially if he was close with Warner. But the three structures you refer to we're not repainted until six years after the park opened (1980) and were definitely in need of new paint at that time. The reality of Yum Yum is that time and money were NOT available to repaint it as it was originally painted. 1980 also saw almost all of the canvas coverings removed from many structures (Bandstand on the Lake and most of the hamburger/hot dog stands) in favor of more permanent coverings/roofs. Many shortcuts/savings were taken to get the park open for 1974 with not much thought given to replacement costs down the road. In some areas (the larger than life aspects of GA) LeRoy went all out, but that meant cutting in other areas especially when funds began to run short before the park was finished.

[29yrswithaGApass]

Check out these two screen captures from a 1977 home movie. As you can see in these shots, the Yum Yum Palace was looking a lot less than "delicious" going into its fourth season.

 

 

[The Master]

Looks like mildew growing on the paint.

[29yrswithaGApass]

Learned something new... passage below taken from the July 1975 BALLOON employee newsletter:

 

BREAKFAST AT YUM YUM

 

In an effort to accomodate all the early risers who work and visit Great Adventure every day, the Yum Yum Palace will be serving breakfast from 9:30AM to 11:00AM.

 

Such eyeopeners as scrambled eggs, bacon, toast and jelly will be featured, along with freshly brewed coffee. The platters will cost $1.15, $1.25, and $1.40 for one,

two, and three eggs with bacon respectively.

 

Fresh morning danish, juices and cofee will be at Yum Yum, Safari Hospitality, and Games Hot Dog Stand in the next week or so.

 

[29yrswithaGApass]

Here now, some great news.....

 

The Great Character Café will become the Yum Yum Café in 2014! It's not exactly Yum Yum Palace but surely captures the spirit of the original name. The changes will not be in name only - the Looney Tunes Characters outside the restaurant will be removed and the restaurant will once again have ice cream on the menu! Between last year's beautiful exterior paint job and these changes, it is wonderful to see this Great Adventure original benefitting from some nostalgia!

[gasmspiritblue]

Wow! That is really nice news to hear, i like how the park is looking back at it's history, like the old logos on DejaVu!

[RC98]

Cool to see the park doing a bit more to be unique, like some of the Cedar Fair parks have been doing.

 

Also, first wish from this year's ADVENTure calendar to come true!

[29yrswithaGApass]

With the reintroduction of ice cream at the newly renamed Yum Yum Café, the Coaster Cones stand (below) outside Fort Independence will now be called Lakefront Snacks and feature pretzels, churros, popcorn, and beverages.

 

[29yrswithaGApass]

If only the Yum Yum Cafe would go retro with their ice cream creations just like those from 1974 below.

 

[29yrswithaGApass]

It looks like we will get to see the Yum Yum Café illuminated at night once again retro style during Holiday in the Park!

 

[29yrswithaGApass]

One of the biggest complaints during Great Adventure's first season was that the lines for food were too long often lasting longer than those found at the rides.  Additional food stands were added in 1975 which helped alleviate this problem.  

 

Below is a photo of the Yum Yum Palace in the fall of 1974.  Note the map in the inset which guided guests to alternative eating spots around the park in an effort to keep the lines evenly dispersed.

 

[Eugene Krabs]

Lets just take the time to appreciate how beautiful this is.

[Up_Up_and_Away]

The interior looks downright dismal now. I’m a bad member - I didn’t take pictures. I was too aghast.

[29yrswithaGApass]

I too long for a bright, airy, fanciful interior similar to what was in place in 1974.  I am just grateful that one of the repaint options being tossed about in the 1990's never came to be.