BACK

GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN 

During the last 20 years we have lost many parks and coasters especially in the USA and now even in the UK parks and historic rides are being removed. Many of these parks have been lost forever, some await their fate in the hands of developers. In most cases the flat rides are sold and removed, but the large wooden coasters are often left behind. Below is a list of the current wooden coasters still standing but not operating, along with further lists of those important coasters we have lost in the last few years, endangered coasters and those that will hopefully be reborn soon in a new location. (Click on Coaster name for picture where available)

STANDING BUT NOT OPERATING (SBNO)
Big Dipper Chippewa Lake Park, Medina, Ohio 1925 - 1978 The oldest and longest SBNO coaster in the world. Built by Fred Pearce this coaster still stands in a derelict park in Ohio. Amazingly many other rides including a Little Dipper & Wild Mouse coaster, Tumble Bug, and Ferris Wheel also remain.
Screechin Eagle Lesourdsville Lake, Middletown, Ohio 1927 - 2003 Very much in danger the Screechin Eagle is one of the best Miller & Baker coasters ever built. Moved to Lesourdsville Lake (formally Americana) in 1938 this wonderful out and back only re-opened in 2002 after the park closed its doors for the previous 2 seasons. The park once again closed its doors in 2003 and is not scheduled to reopen any time soon
Cyclone Williams Grove, Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania 1933 - 2005 The only known coaster still standing from designer Oscar Bitler. This coaster stands in a traditional park in rural Pennsylvania. The park closed it doors in 2005 and is currently looking for a new owner to operate the park. Hopefully the new owners will choose to keep this historic coaster (which was rebuilt in 1996) operating, however, the future does not look too promising.
Comet Lincoln Park, N Dartmouth, Massachusetts 1946 - 1987 Park closed due to operation costs and the park has remained derelict ever since. The much loved Comet built by Vernon Keenan for International Amusement Devices still stands in the remains of the park.
King Solomons Mines (Storage) Pleasureland, Southport, Merseyside, UK 1960 - 2006 This wild mouse ride originally operated at Frontierland (Morcambe, UK) until it arrived at Pleasureland in 2000. The park closed in 2006 and the 'Save Dreamland Campaign' removed the ride and placed it in storage. It is hoped that this Wild Mouse will be reborn for a 3rd time in the future.
Aska Nara Dreamland, Nara, Japan 1998 - 2006 Nara Dreamland closed it doors in 2006 and the future of this excellent wooden coaster is not good. Due to building regulations in Japan it is unlikely that this Intamin ride will be relocated. As of January 2007 the ride is still standing but i would guess not for too long.
Megazeph Six Flags New Orleans, New Orleans, Louisiana 2000 - 2005 This Custom Coasters International coaster has remained closed since Hurricane Katrina devastated the New Orleans area. Six Flags currently have no time scale for the re-opening of the park. Damage to the coaster is said to be repairable but it is unknown if the ride will ever operate again.
 

 

RECENTLY LOST WOODEN COASTERS
Jack Rabbit Clementon Park, Clementon, New Jersey 1919 - 2007 Clementon Park closed the Jack Rabbit in 2003. The Jack Rabbit was Americas second oldest coaster (operating in its original location) This John Miller coaster was one of the worlds oldest. Clementon Park opened its new woodie J2 in 2004 and with new owners in 2007 the Jack Rabbit had no place in the new owners park. This classic coaster was demolished in December 2007.
Hurricane Myrtle Beach Pavilion, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina 2000 - 2006 Due to redevelopment the Pavilion closed its gates at the end of the 2006 season leaving the wood on steel coaster from Custom Coasters with an uncertain future. Unfortunately the owners decided to demolish the ride instead of donating to another park. Only the cars were saved. 
Runaway Coaster Rotunda, Folkestone, England 1922 - 2006 This portable wooden side friction coaster only arrived at Rotunda in 1997 after being found in a field in Europe. With the sale of Rotunda and its redevelopment the coaster was left SBNO. A new owner was found but these plans fell through. A last ditch attempt by 'Save Dreamland' also failed and the figure eight fell to the wrecking ball. 
Psyclone Six Flags Magic Mountain, Valencia, California 1991 - 2006 Built only in 1991 but SFMM no longer saw a future with this Coney Island Cyclone copy. News reached the public that the coaster would not reopen for the 2007 season and the coaster was razed soon after.
Cyclone Pleasureland, Southport, Merseyside, UK 1937 - 2006 What a shock it was to hear that Pleasureland was to close and what a bigger shock when the wonderful Cyclone was destroyed within days of the announcement. One of the last Charlie Paige coasters was lost without even one final ride. A sad day and a disgrace to the many enthusiasts in the UK. I hope the owners Blackpool Pleasure Beach can sleep soundly with the decisions they made.
Texas Cyclone Six Flags Astroworld, Houston, Texas 1976 - 2006 The Texas Cyclone which is a copy of the Coney Island Cyclone would have been celebrating its 30th year had Astroland not closed its doors for good at the end of the 2005 season. The coaster met its date with the wrecking ball in 2006.
Aerial Glide Shipley Glen Pleasure Grounds, England 1900 - 2005 The UK's oldest permanent amusement ride and possibly the worlds oldest roller coaster depending on your point of view (this was a steel coaster or sorts, not wood), this unique ride now was destroyed in 2005 despite a late fight to have the ride Grade II listed. The park grounds are now being developed into housing.
Bush Beast & Beastie Wonderland Sydney, New South Wales, Australia 1985 - 2005 Wonderland opened in 1985 but by the 2000s growing competition put an end to this Australian park. With the closing of the park we also lost 2 wooden coasters, Beastie (a junior woodie) and the Out and Back Bush Beast. The park closed in 2004 and both coaster were destroyed in 2005.
Hercules Dorney Park, Allentown, Pennsylvania 1989 - 2003 This is one of the first times that a reasonable new wooden coaster has been removed completely. Although it is being removed piece by piece due to its lay out it is unlikely the coaster could ever be rebuilt. Hercules was never a popular coaster and will be replaced by a B&M floorless for 2004.
Flyer Comet Whalom Park, Ludenburg, Massachusetts 1940 - 2000 Whalom Park closed in 2000 due to financial issues and is in the process of being sold to developers. A 'Save Whalom Park' campaign began in 2000 to save the park and its famous coaster which was built by Vernon Keenan and the Philadelphia Toboggan Company, however all was lost in 2006 when the coaster was finally demolished.
Texas Tornado Frontierland, Morecambe, England 1939 - 1999 Originally operated at the Paris Exhibition of 1937, moved to Morecambe in 1939. Originally known as 'Cyclone' this Harry Traver designed coaster stood until 1999 when it was razed to make way for a supermarket and shopping centre. To date these have never been built 
Jack Rabbit Idora Park, Youngstown, Ohio 1914 - 1984 Originally called 'Dip The Dips' this coaster was a side friction built by Ed Vettel for the T.M Harton Company. Remodelled and renamed in 1924. The Jack Rabbit stood intact until 2001 when after several fires in the derelict park the county decided to remove it along with the Wild Cat in the eyes of safety.
Wild Cat Idora Park, Youngstown, Ohio 1930 - 1984 A fire at Idora in 1984 resulted in much of the Wild Cat being destroyed and with the result of the parks closure in the same year Herbert Schmecks wonderful Wild Cat was left to decay along with the Jack Rabbit finally being razed in 2001
Thunderbolt Coney Island, New York 1925 - 1982 Removed in 2000 after the local authorities declared this historic ride unsafe. Not even the original cars were preserved due to arguments regarding the levelling of the coaster between the owners and authorities. The land still remains a vacant plot.
 

 

ENDANGERED WOODEN COASTERS & RIDES AWAITING A NEW HOME
Scenic Railway Dreamland, Margate, England 1920 - Date Britain's oldest coaster is currently in danger with the sale of Dreamland. Although the park will open in 2003 with limited rides the future of the Scenic is unclear. The current 'Save Dreamland' campaign may be the Scenic's last hope for survival of this historic coaster
Zippin Pippin Libertyland, Memphis, Tennessee 1923 - 2006 This famous park closed its doors at the end of the 2005 season and will not reopen. As a result the 1923 Miller & Baker Zippin Pippin which actually dates back to 1915 has an uncertain future. It has recently been bought at auction and will hopefully be re-open at a new location.
Swamp Fox Family Kingdom, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina 1968 - Date A wonderful seaside coaster built by John Allen for the Philadelphia Toboggan Company. This coaster which is a favourite of many riders is under threat with the proposed redevelopment of the area. Near by Myrtle Beach Pavilion closed in 2006 and the soon to be opened Hard Rock Park could result in this classic being lost forever.
Zingo Bells Amusement Park, Tulsa, Oklahoma 1968 - Date During 2006 the owners of Bells were told to remove all the rides after the county refused to agree a new lease, this has already begun and a new location will hopefully see the rebirth of the park. However, the fate of Zingo is unknown. Another PTC coaster is certainly in danger. No news has been given if this woody will be relocated or will meet a date with the wrecking ball.
Thunder Eagle Race World, Pigeon Forge, Tennessee 2000 - 2001 This Custom Coasters International ride has only operated for 2 years in its short life. After the closing of Race World the coaster was sold to a park in Canada but was never rebuilt. Latest news suggests the coaster is to be rebuilt at Mundo Acuatico Anita a park in Mexico. A reopen date is scheduled for 2007 but i would guess 2008 is more likely.
Big Dipper

Raging Wolf Bobs

Villain

 Geauga Lake, Aurora, Ohio Various With the decision to downscale Geauga Lake all the rides will be removed from the park, leaving just the water park. This will leave 3 wooden coasters with an uncertain future. In particular the 1925 Big Dipper. The furture of the coasters should be known in the next few months.