Amusement park rides

NancyNGA said:
Small roller coaster on top of the Stratosphere Tower, Las Vegas
"Dismantled in 2005. ... Although there were never any serious incidents or injuries on the High Roller, the ride was well known for its frequent break-downs, and ... would frequently shut down temporarily due to high winds."


stratosphere11-2003.jpg
Click to expand...

I have ridden the "roller coaster" on top of the Stratosphere (once) and the vertical accelerator on top (several times). The roller coaster isn't anything exciting except for when you look over the side, you're looking a loooong way down. The accelerator makes you think it's not going to stop and you're just going to keep on going until you hit the moon. Now THAT'S exciting. They also have (or had....) a ride up there that I just couldn't try. It was an "arm" that reached over the side with a car like a roller coaster car. The "arm" tilted out into space and the car rolled down a track on the arm until it hit the end with a jerk. At least, you hoped it would stop when it got to the end. I couldn't do it......you have to draw the line somewhere.... A few years back, the car got stuck at the end and those poor people were out there for a couple of hours (in the cold) until they could get it pulled back.

Originally, the Stratosphere planned to have a King Kong ride that had a huge Kong "climbing" up the tower on a track with people riding along (on it's back? in its fist? I don't know the particulars....) That fell through early in the planning. Pity. They had a "free fall" experience for a while where you jumped off the top, tethered to a pulley and would fall almost at full speed until gently coming to a stop at the bottom. I was tempted but it was pretty expensive.

I bid my rollercoaster-riding days goodbye with a last big bang when I was 65 by riding every rollercoaster in the Worlds of Fun park in Kansas City at least once, some twice, one three times. After that, the ophthalmologist said I had a choice.....rollercoasters or working retinas, but not both. Sigh.
 
Last edited:
jujube said:
... After that, the ophthalmologist said I had a choice.....rollercoasters or working retinas, but not both. Sigh.
Click to expand...

I never would have made that connection. Is it because of the pressure that is placed on the retinas during the rides? Leading to retinal detachment?
 

SifuPhil said:
I never would have made that connection. Is it because of the pressure that is placed on the retinas during the rides? Leading to retinal detachment?
Click to expand...

It's mostly those roller coasters that loop you over and over at great G-force. You know...the fun ones. There's a lot of pressure on the eyeballs and it can cause detachment or tears. One of my retinas isn't in good shape, so I don't need to make it (or the other one) any worse.

It's a pity, 'cause in my younger days...like 65.....I was a real adrenalin junkie. I really, really liked the thrill rides. As long as the ride didn't go around in circles; can't do circles. I get seasick on a carousel. The worse rollercoaster I ever went on was a rather mild one; unfortunately the cars also spun around as they went on the track. What a bad combination.
 
Steeple Chase ride, Steeple Chase Park, Coney Island (~1909)

If riding fake horses in a circle makes one queasy, this ride might have been just the ticket.

 
The Coney Island roller coaster ride back during the 1959's almost cost us our lives when we were beginning it without having deployed the hand bar. It was everything but tame.
 
Chicago is famous for the legendary RIVERVIEW Park on the north side of the city, closed around 1968 or so
because Mayor Richard Daley made a deal to tear it down and build a shopping strip!
The roller coaster was most popular.

Chicagoans of a certain age miss the passing of this great park--and nothing ever replaced it--
except six flags which is in a northern suburb.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top