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Gone, But Not Forgotten -- HersheyPark Removes Giant Wheel

Hersheypark: Do you recall a moment in your favorite park where an attraction was removed or replaced?

From Coaster Enthusiast
Posted November 11, 2004 at 2:42 PM
HersheyPark removes it's "GIANT WHEEL" -- an icon I had always associated with the park. Gracing the cover of nearly every park flyer and map since I was a kid, the Giant Wheel was a truly unique concept as far as ferris wheels were concerned.

Times do change, however, not always for the better. Nostalgia has been replaced with modern technology throughout Themepark history. Do any of you recall a moment in your favorite park where an attraction was removed or replaced?

I, for one, think of the Giant Wheel when thinking of HersheyPark ... Now, I guess I'll replace that memory with a big, walking Kiss™.

-RAS


Comments in chronological order. Most recent at the bottom. Scroll down to respond.

From Carey Lynn Holtsclaw
Posted November 11, 2004 at 6:31 PM
I'm still very angry that Carowinds removed it's Riverboat. It such a shame that the park chose to go with thrills and removed what was such a wonderful, unique attraction.

That's typical Paramount for you.

From Robert OGrosky
Posted November 11, 2004 at 8:08 PM
My local park SFGAM closed a ride that was at the park since it opened-Sky Whirl which could be enjoyed by everyone and removed it to put in a roller coaster-DeJaVu that is closed more than it is opened.
Now you only see the cages for the ride as props for there halloween event,

From Robert Niles
Posted November 11, 2004 at 11:26 PM
My seven-year-old daughter remains miffed that Disneyland shuttered the Sleeping Beauty Castle walk-through not long after closing the Woody's Round-up Show, which she also loved.

Me? Well, so long as they don't touch Pirates or TSI, I'm still good.

From daniel sears
Posted November 12, 2004 at 6:28 AM
as for me i'm still angry at the fact chessington removed it's terror tomb.

it was one of my fave ride.

well....as long as they don't tuch bubble works i'm all rite.

as for pirates i love that ride to. it's a shame when some of the features are broken

speak soon

daniel

daniel.sears@rlsb.org.uk

From Coaster Enthusiast
Posted November 14, 2004 at 12:47 PM
DrakenFire!!!
Woah! I almost forgot the single most missed ride on my Coaster list!
Although, DrakenFire was not truly an icon for Busch Gardens (Like LockNess or Alpengeist), the removal of this attraction did have a larger impact on me than the removal of HersheyPark's Giant Wheel.

Also, the entire loss of Paragon Park in Boston was a huge shock ... Tho, the Giant Coaster was moved to Six Flags in DC, they messed up the dramatic turn-around in the middle of the ride.

From Rob Coolest
Posted July 12, 2005 at 9:42 PM
Some of my favorite removed rides include: Mr. Toads Wild Ride(WDW), Horizons (WDW), The Rotor (Hershey), and the Nascar ride at Kings Dominion in VA.

From Dan F
Posted July 13, 2005 at 7:40 AM
its not a ride, but a whole park. rocky point closed at the end of the year i last went. the loop/corkscrew was my first roller coaster, and it was moved all the way to washington state.(wild waves+enchanted village) i wish i could ride it again 9 years later.

From Jason Lester
Posted July 13, 2005 at 12:14 PM
Ah. Mr. Toad's Wild Ride. RIP.

There is howerver still one at Disneyland in Anaheim.

From John Melillo
Posted April 11, 2007 at 5:30 PM
R.I.P
King Kong
1982-2004
You will not be forgotten

From vernon griffin
Posted June 9, 2007 at 4:56 PM
Drakenfire

From Adrienne McDonald
Posted June 9, 2007 at 9:40 PM
ASTROWORLD....WAHHHHHHHH...SNIFF SNIFF...WHY OH WHYYYY Shapiro WHYYYYYYY. I cudda went there everyDAY! It was just down the road from me! Heck! I cudda worked there. Poo on you Shapiro! (sorry, I just can't help myself. I hafta pass empty field 2-3 times a week going to cheerleader practice!) Sorry, I just can't help but be depressed about that! *SIGH*.

From Claudine Deshaies
Posted June 10, 2007 at 4:06 AM
I agree with Dan, it's worse when it's the WHOLE park (Rocky Point, RI). I remember when corkscrew was the first looping coaster I ever rode- but after everything I've ridden since, I don't miss it. I miss the Skydiver.
Nothing beats having an amusement park you can go to every day!
(miss Paragon Park & Lincoln Park, too)

From christian giovannini
Posted May 29, 2009 at 6:48 PM
Yes i was very sad to see CANYON RIVER RAPIDS go at Hersheypark in 2008. i loved tha ride and had many fun memories on it.

From Steve Pint
Posted May 29, 2009 at 8:39 PM
It was a bit sad for me when Worlds of Fun took away Orient Express, one of the only coasters with interlocking loops. That was a great ride!

From Eli Katzman
Posted May 30, 2009 at 6:42 AM
Hypersonic XLC at Kings Dominion. I understand why cedar fair took it out (bad load on time, 8 people per train with 2 trains, a lot of energy needed [compressed air! that was cool], about 15 seconds of ride time), but it was so amazing!!! I only got to ride it once, though.... but, I'm very happy that cedar fair gave us Geauga lake's best coaster, Dominator, though! Still, they just put Hypersonic in the dumps.... I miss it a lot...

From Sheldon Gel
Posted May 30, 2009 at 9:47 AM
Back to the future the ride=(.

From Anthony Aldridge
Posted June 1, 2009 at 9:33 PM
Jet Scream it was removed from Six Flags Over Mid America which is now Six Flags Over ST. Louis Jet Scream was moved to Astroworld and was renamed Viper

From Don Neal
Posted June 2, 2009 at 5:36 AM
When they took King Cobra down at King's Island :(

Was my first standing coaster and had a great first loop and finished with a bang.

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