29yrswithaGApass Posted August 25, 2008 Report Share Posted August 25, 2008 Click here to see the whole Spotlight! Comments and discussions welcomed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Railer Posted August 25, 2008 Report Share Posted August 25, 2008 This was another of my favorite rides as a little kid. I don't remember the Busty Lady, I remember it from the time it had the "ball" on top. Another ride that I wish my kids could experience for themself's. It was a very fun ride, that really gave you Butterflies in your stomach during the ride cycle. I remember the year the Spider Of Doom was in it's spot, and I quess it was a little late for this ride. It was a fun Family ride that is missed, by all those that remember it. Great Spotlight as always, Top notch work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
29yrswithaGApass Posted August 25, 2008 Author Report Share Posted August 25, 2008 They started putting this ride back into the park mid season 1993 and I remember when I first saw the parts on the site and could actually determine what it was going to be. I remember standing there amazed saying "Holy Sh!t, that's the Swabinchin ride!". Of course I then held out hope that it might be possible that all those great flat rides that had been removed may actually just have been put in storage and were "available" for reinstallation. After being MIA for six years and then to have the ride reappear... anything was possible. Unfortunately, this was the only ride to have made it out of the boneyard. I keep hoping that the Super Side Winder is in that big white storage building! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest warnerleroy Posted August 26, 2008 Report Share Posted August 26, 2008 seems like the so called Spider of doom came too late Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Railer Posted August 26, 2008 Report Share Posted August 26, 2008 If they pulled out the Super Sidewinder from the Graveyard (if it could fit!!) I would be a happy man. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JetsDevs4Lyf Posted August 26, 2008 Report Share Posted August 26, 2008 Nothing quite compares to a ride carrying an enormous King King Sized Sombrero on it. Though I was never too into this ride, I can recall being on in numerous times during visits to the park and enjoying those times. I think my problem was that with the Musik Express they seemed like very similar rides to a degree and I enjoyed Express more. Still though a fun ride that is surely missed in today's GA Flat shortage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest warnerleroy Posted August 26, 2008 Report Share Posted August 26, 2008 I wonder where the huge sombrero is now? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
29yrswithaGApass Posted August 28, 2008 Author Report Share Posted August 28, 2008 For some reason I remember this about this ride.... When you were seated, you could easily reach towards the center and touch the light bulbs the adorned the ride itself. Unfortunately, guests would unscrew the bulbs and take them as souvenirs, but the real danger became all those empty sockets which guests could stick their fingers in. (Some guests aren't too swift!) Ultimately, the bulbs were covered with a plastic sleeve, at least up to the point where they couldn't be reached. The two photos below show the lights before (with several bulbs missing) and after (with the plastic covers). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JetsDevs4Lyf Posted August 28, 2008 Report Share Posted August 28, 2008 Nothing like that amazes me really. For sakes its a freaking lightbulb! If you want one that bad go out and buy one, how much of a thrill can taking one from the par really give you? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
29yrswithaGApass Posted September 4, 2008 Author Report Share Posted September 4, 2008 Here's an easy question, from where was this photo taken? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darkridedan Posted September 17, 2008 Report Share Posted September 17, 2008 That looks like it was taken from Freefall. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
29yrswithaGApass Posted September 17, 2008 Author Report Share Posted September 17, 2008 That looks like it was taken from Freefall. That is the upper guardrail of Freefall sporting its original brown and blue paint job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
29yrswithaGApass Posted October 27, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 27, 2008 Just like Medusa, GA will be reinstalling and "plussing" El Sombrero for 2009! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JetsDevs4Lyf Posted October 27, 2008 Report Share Posted October 27, 2008 Hahaha that would be hilarious to see that sign in the park no matter what Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CablesEric Posted October 27, 2008 Report Share Posted October 27, 2008 That should be the new entrance for Hernando's Hideaway, sorry Plaza del Carnaval! That is hilarious, where is that? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GAcoaster Posted October 27, 2008 Report Share Posted October 27, 2008 That's South of the Border (AKA Pedroland) in Dillon SC: Anyone who ever drove down to Disney on I-95 knows it well! There used to be billboards along the highway telling you how many miles you were from South of the Border, and each one was more elaborate than the last. They've cut back a lot on them, but in the 70's and 80's it was part of the Disney experience to all of us who drove down on vacation! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CablesEric Posted October 27, 2008 Report Share Posted October 27, 2008 Those are great. How old are those billboards? Surprised to see them with the P.C. world we unfortunately live in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GAcoaster Posted October 27, 2008 Report Share Posted October 27, 2008 They were up at least through 1983 which was the last drive I made to Disney. They were also famous for their bumper stickers: Everyone would stop at SOB on their way to Disney for their kids to take a rest stop after seeing all their billboards. While you parked in their lot, they had guys go around and put their bumper stickers on your car. You could always tell who in this area went to Disney from those bumper stickers. There were a lot of them on station wagons with faux wood grain paneling: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
29yrswithaGApass Posted October 27, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 27, 2008 Those billboards are still there! I saw them on the way to and from Hilton Head last year. I picked up on of those snow globe (above) for someone at work that had Pedro surrounded by flakes of white. I don't think it was suppose to be snow though! Hey Tom, here's a challenge for January... get a picture of all the SOTB billboards on the way to Florida from the car. What a beautiful collection that would make! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisChavan Posted October 30, 2008 Report Share Posted October 30, 2008 If I go back to Myrtle Beach next year, (I should, considering I go every year... this year was rough financially though, so no HRP), I'll definitely take a picture of every SOTB sign. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
29yrswithaGApass Posted October 30, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 30, 2008 As mentioned in the Schwabinchen Spotlight, here are some photos of European Schwabinchen dolls, similar to the female figure originally featured in the center of Great Adventure's ride. More information on these dolls can be found HERE. Schwabinchen, was sold outside of Germany, in Sweeden and Holland, under the names of Betty, and Willy Wildebras. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GAcoaster Posted October 30, 2008 Report Share Posted October 30, 2008 this year was rough financially though, so no HRP It was even tougher for them!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Master Posted October 30, 2008 Report Share Posted October 30, 2008 (edited) Here's a link to a video of the late Jean Shepherd stopping at South of the Border. Look like he stopped there during better days for SOB. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGfuDoXXWxQ Edited June 22, 2012 by The Master Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darkridedan Posted October 31, 2008 Report Share Posted October 31, 2008 I was there on Saturday and it was a real dump. There were only a few visitors and only the ferris wheel was operating. Everything else was rusting away. I wish they would sell that sombrero ride! We never stopped when I was a kid, and I'm glad my parents spared me the visit. I could be a nice place. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
29yrswithaGApass Posted October 31, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 31, 2008 Hey Dan, it doesn't sound like it has gotten any better since when I stopped in last. Those billboards are a good marketing tool - you almost feel obligated to stop in and at least take a pee or something after being "entertained" for so many miles! Once you get there it's a huge let down. It is sort of like the billboards and advertisements they had for Keansburg Amusement Park. They proclaimed over 100 attractions. I think they must have been counting every Skeeball game individually. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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