Before Pompeii
- Thread starter Shane
- Start date
RE: Before Pompeii
Yep, there were monkeys. And when the park closed at midnight like it used to, walking down that long, dark path with no one else around you, you could feel the eyes of those creepy ass monkeys following you. Thought I'd supressed those memories. Thanks.
Yep, there were monkeys. And when the park closed at midnight like it used to, walking down that long, dark path with no one else around you, you could feel the eyes of those creepy ass monkeys following you. Thought I'd supressed those memories. Thanks.
RE: Before Pompeii
I remember the cages as well. They wer'nt particularly themed to any area of the park but more of a general ambiance thing. The animals moved around during those years and switch cages sometimes. And yeah, the monkeys were creepy as all get out. Infact the park in general late at night was darker and less populated with attractions enhancing the creep factor.
I remember the cages as well. They wer'nt particularly themed to any area of the park but more of a general ambiance thing. The animals moved around during those years and switch cages sometimes. And yeah, the monkeys were creepy as all get out. Infact the park in general late at night was darker and less populated with attractions enhancing the creep factor.
RE: Before Pompeii
For some reason, I couldn't remember the pathway prior to Pompeii. In fact was just talking with some other friends who have been going to the park the same amount of time as I have, and we were coming up blank. Maybe it was because by the time we got that way, it was dark and it just never stayed with me. Cool to read though, because I was sure there had to be a path, or I'd have remembered the very long walk back to England. In the evening we spent a lot of time in San Marco to ride and reride the flat rides there.
For some reason, I couldn't remember the pathway prior to Pompeii. In fact was just talking with some other friends who have been going to the park the same amount of time as I have, and we were coming up blank. Maybe it was because by the time we got that way, it was dark and it just never stayed with me. Cool to read though, because I was sure there had to be a path, or I'd have remembered the very long walk back to England. In the evening we spent a lot of time in San Marco to ride and reride the flat rides there.
RE: Before Pompeii
For those of you wondering what the park looked like before Pompeii, these grainy B&W satellite images will give you an idea. You can even see the old and horrible footbridge to Festa.
Here is the park from March 1989 -
And here is the park from March 1994 showing land-clearing for Pompeii -
For those of you wondering what the park looked like before Pompeii, these grainy B&W satellite images will give you an idea. You can even see the old and horrible footbridge to Festa.
Here is the park from March 1989 -
And here is the park from March 1994 showing land-clearing for Pompeii -
RE: Before Pompeii
So we've come to a conclusion: Before Pompeii, there were trees.
So we've come to a conclusion: Before Pompeii, there were trees.
RE: Before Pompeii
We use to call it the monkey pathway as there were squirrel monkeys in the cages...and in the hot summer they were quite "smelly". It was very wooded though and a nice peaceful pathway. If you think of the pathway that runs from the England parking down to the entry deck that was the kind of feel it had.
We use to call it the monkey pathway as there were squirrel monkeys in the cages...and in the hot summer they were quite "smelly". It was very wooded though and a nice peaceful pathway. If you think of the pathway that runs from the England parking down to the entry deck that was the kind of feel it had.
RE: Before Pompeii
I also remember the stench from those cages! LOL
It was a nice wooded pathway though, and if you look closely at the first satellite image you can see the path to the footbridge had a more direct route than it does now. It was basically located where Pompeii's lift is.
whispers said:
I also remember the stench from those cages! LOL
It was a nice wooded pathway though, and if you look closely at the first satellite image you can see the path to the footbridge had a more direct route than it does now. It was basically located where Pompeii's lift is.
RE: Before Pompeii
I found and posted a map for 1994 in History > Park Maps. I had completely forgotten about the monkeys and parrots! I am picturing cages that looked like big, rolling carts but that may be wrong. I will look for old photos.
Now imagine before there was Italy... To circle the park on foot required the arduous hill and stairs from Germany to Heatherdowns/Scotland. We did not know any differently at the time so people would just tend to take a quick break at the end of the climb. The 1979 map shows this very well. The '79 map also reminded me that a picnic area (in the park) preceded the petting zoo.
Shane said:
I found and posted a map for 1994 in History > Park Maps. I had completely forgotten about the monkeys and parrots! I am picturing cages that looked like big, rolling carts but that may be wrong. I will look for old photos.
Now imagine before there was Italy... To circle the park on foot required the arduous hill and stairs from Germany to Heatherdowns/Scotland. We did not know any differently at the time so people would just tend to take a quick break at the end of the climb. The 1979 map shows this very well. The '79 map also reminded me that a picnic area (in the park) preceded the petting zoo.
RE: Before Pompeii
I remember running up that hill and those stairs. What on earth was I thinking?
I remember running up that hill and those stairs. What on earth was I thinking?
RE: Before Pompeii
"I really need to reach the top of this hill by means of using these stairs."
Maybe?
Nicole said:
"I really need to reach the top of this hill by means of using these stairs."
Maybe?
RE: Before Pompeii
But did I have to run up them? I know Nessie was at the top, but really, she was still going to be there two minutes later.
But did I have to run up them? I know Nessie was at the top, but really, she was still going to be there two minutes later.
RE: Before Pompeii
We ran up the stairs too. I think it was a contest with my classmates. That and I had boundless energy.
Nicole said:
We ran up the stairs too. I think it was a contest with my classmates. That and I had boundless energy.
RE: Before Pompeii
I also recall running to the Octoberfest gates, so I could be there when they opened, and get on the first Spider ride of the day.
I also recall running to the Octoberfest gates, so I could be there when they opened, and get on the first Spider ride of the day.
RE: Before Pompeii
^I use to race to the Spider at opening too because I wanted to get a ride in before Oktoberfest got crowded. That ride had horrible capacity due to the load/unload procedures.
^I use to race to the Spider at opening too because I wanted to get a ride in before Oktoberfest got crowded. That ride had horrible capacity due to the load/unload procedures.
I'm resurrecting this thread to see if any of our newer PFN members have memories or with any luck, photos from this area. It's been 15 years since I first asked this question, so I re-pose the same question to all you "new" members: Does anyone have distinct memories of this section of the park pre-Pompeii? Is the path that wraps around the ride's water basin the same path that went through the wooded area, or was the pathway re-routed for the ride?
Bonus points to anyone with photos, as I mentioned 15 years ago, my earliest park memories were from the year before the ride opened and I remember the construction walls and walking around them along the same path that is there today, I just don't remember anything from the years before that. I was 7 y/o when Pompeii opened so it's completely possible my first trip to the park was the year before when it was under construction, but I honestly don't recall if that is the case.
Bonus points to anyone with photos, as I mentioned 15 years ago, my earliest park memories were from the year before the ride opened and I remember the construction walls and walking around them along the same path that is there today, I just don't remember anything from the years before that. I was 7 y/o when Pompeii opened so it's completely possible my first trip to the park was the year before when it was under construction, but I honestly don't recall if that is the case.
Last edited:
Image via Google Earth historical imagery from 1989:
Image via Google Earth 2025:
The original path to San Marco was more direct towards the footbridge crossing the valley. It likely followed the highest grade at the time.
This was also at a time the park was full of animals. Not as focused on it as BGT, but still had some just about everywhere along the train route and petting zoos in multiple locations. I've heard first hand accounts of that path to San Marco being a monkey trail with them lined in enclosures on one side, if not both sides of the path in the forest. No pictures of that, unfortunately.
Image via Google Earth 2025:
The original path to San Marco was more direct towards the footbridge crossing the valley. It likely followed the highest grade at the time.
This was also at a time the park was full of animals. Not as focused on it as BGT, but still had some just about everywhere along the train route and petting zoos in multiple locations. I've heard first hand accounts of that path to San Marco being a monkey trail with them lined in enclosures on one side, if not both sides of the path in the forest. No pictures of that, unfortunately.