The city I grew up in had one of those little 'trolley parks' and us neighborhood kids used to go almost every week on 'nickle day' (it was our escape from our houses), and I was there for the last one. It closed in the late sixties.
There was also, not too far away, a larger park that got bought up by a big amusement company who had a very, very large park almost 100 miles away. They closed it in the mid 2000's (I think on purpose, buy and close your competition) 🙄.
Very, very large park is still going strong. Last time I was there was in the 90's. Had such a bad experience (not coaster related), that we came home and sold all our stock in the company, which was probably a stupid move back then. Be interesting to see how they're doing now, with this covid bullshit.
Going to all three of these parks was one of the very few bright spots of my youth. Tried riding a coaster about ten years ago and it was agony!
You're crazy! My mother warned me about people like you! 🤪
Why yes, yes I am the person your mother warned you about! 😁
...But I think we'd get along just fine.
I think so, too! 🙂
The city I grew up in had one of those little 'trolley parks' and us neighborhood kids used to go almost every week on 'nickle day' (it was our escape from our houses), and I was there for the last one. It closed in the late sixties.
Where I live, we had a tiny train that ran through the forest in the park, which I loved to go on when I was a kid in the 60s. There was also a zoo with polar bears, penguins, monkeys, otters, snakes, etc., as well as a beluga whale and then a killer whale, which is the only thing left now. I always felt sorry for the polar bears. They were severely depressed and just laid around or paced the exact same steps back and forth in their outdoor pen over and over all day. They should never have been in captivity.
We also have an amusement park that opens every summer, with lots of rides and the two rollercoasters I mentioned being on, game booths, etc. My sibs and I used to get to go once a year. I haven't been there in decades, but maybe I'll check it out this year if I can. It's not too far from where I live and would be interesting to see if it's still got the fun atmosphere it used to have.
Hopefully this crap going on will be done with by then, and people will stop walking around like the living dead in masks. It's really hard to enjoy anything these days.
But I enjoy our conversation.... 😌
That train sounds awesome, I would have been on it all the time! The street that my parent's street was off of, one side was a hill down to a park. About half way down the hill was a triple trunk tree that was like a chair. Sitting there I could see the rest of the hill, the little road and the creek, that I would take the dog walking through. It was like my own little sanctuary, I spent hours there.
'Mount Pilot' also has a zoo and an aquarium (which has since relocated to another building). We used to go to both on field trips from school. The zoo had these type of that you would stick in a key hole on a metal box and it would tell you all about the display you were looking at.
I'm glad they're still taking care of your whale. Why don't they ship him somewhere else or just 'free willy'?
I agree about the polar bears (and some of the other animals). It's nice that in recent decades they've been going with more natural enclosures and toys & things to keep them mentally stimulated and entertained. Noone wants to see a depressed animal in a concrete enclosure.
There was one last little park left, just over the state line. Didn't charge admission, only for the rides and attractions. Their renowned antique roller coaster just burned down. Rumor is, it was arson because the new owner wanted to repurpose the land for condos or some shit. We truly are witnessing the end of an era! If you go to that park by you, I look forward to seeing what you have to say about how it is today.
But I enjoy our conversation
Conversation certainly is becoming a lost art. This is such a nice change from the usual one or two sentence remarks found on social media. Chat boards do have their upside, though. In real life this conversation would be over quick. We've been able to carry it on for days! Our comments are going to get so nested they'll be one letter wide! 😄
Disabled SpouseAnon fell and broke arm, so outside of supply runs, I'm at home. These nostalgic reminiscences down memory lane have been quite wonderful. Despite our sucky childhoods, it's nice that we can find some good things to remember.
I'm glad they're still taking care of your whale. Why don't they ship him somewhere else or just 'free willy'?
The whale was born at the aquarium. It wouldn't know how to survive in the wild.
If you go to that park by you, I look forward to seeing what you have to say about how it is today.
Here's a street view shot. Kind of hard to see into the park but you can get an idea of what it's like:
In real life this conversation would be over quick. We've been able to carry it on for days!
I think we would have still said the same and more if we were f2f. But it wouldn't have taken days. We could have shared a lot more in that time! And the wine!!
That's what I hate about online conversations... They just aren't the same thing as f2f. I can't even get my family to talk to me. They only contact me when their phone or computer reminds them its my b'day, even though they say they think of me often. Liars. I still send them emails and tell them how I'm doing, but they rarely ever respond, and it's always some short little remark.
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