RE: Fond memories of King's Dominion
I wonder if the waterfall restoration will be apart of the mountain renovation???
I wonder if the waterfall restoration will be apart of the mountain renovation???
Fond Memories of Kings Dominion
- Thread starter DrMoneyReturns
- Start date
RE: Fond memories of King's Dominion
Good question Evan. I don't have the slightest clue. When the park announced the multi-year mountain restoration project, they did not mention anything about the waterfall; just concrete replacement and paint.
I have a feeling the main water reservoir for the Haunted River is gone. I don't know if there was a separate reservoir for the mountain waterfalls and the lagoon. The park did keep one of the small waterfalls going when the mountain became the home for volcano. It was to the right of the current 2nd story queue house. The was one water source 18-20 feet above the lagoon that split into two different streams one on the left and one on the right. KD blocked off the left stream as that would have dropped right on the walkway leading into the mountain to the volcano station. The right stream they kept going (most of the time). Again, I don't know if there is a small hidden reservoir for that waterfall or if the park uses the front lagoon as the intake for the water.
There are so many factors that come into play for returning the main waterfall back into operation:
1) Did the volcano supports damage the concrete where the waterfall was located? That waterfall had quite a bit of volume of water going through it. Any volcano supports coming through that area would cause major leaking issues.
2) Is there enough of the original splash pool left for the main waterfall to drop into? I don't remember what that area looks now. It would be behind the front half of the current load station waiting area.
3) Did the park keep the plumbing/pipes to feed the water to the waterfall? Again, I am not sure if the park intended to use the main waterfall when the mountain was converted to the volcano.
4) Given the volume of water needed for the main waterfall, would the park have to build another reservoir just for it or can they use the existing lagoon as the water source?
So many questions that would have to be answered to see if it would be feasible to bring the main waterfall back. If it is not possible, I would like the park to hopefully add 3-4 small fountains in the lagoon to help circulate/aerate the water in it.
Below, is a picture of the front of the Lost World Mountain. Look to the right of the 2nd story queue house. You will see a small opening for the water source for the waterfall. You then can see the left and right water channels [darkened concrete areas; like an upside down "V"]. Yes, water is running down both channels in this photo. If you look closely, you can see the water glistening in a thin stream on the left channel. And, on the right channel you can see the water glistening just before it drops the last 2-3 feet into the lagoon [just above the elevated walkway fence]. The park blocked off the left channel as that is where the volcano queue line enters the mountain.
Evan said:
Good question Evan. I don't have the slightest clue. When the park announced the multi-year mountain restoration project, they did not mention anything about the waterfall; just concrete replacement and paint.
I have a feeling the main water reservoir for the Haunted River is gone. I don't know if there was a separate reservoir for the mountain waterfalls and the lagoon. The park did keep one of the small waterfalls going when the mountain became the home for volcano. It was to the right of the current 2nd story queue house. The was one water source 18-20 feet above the lagoon that split into two different streams one on the left and one on the right. KD blocked off the left stream as that would have dropped right on the walkway leading into the mountain to the volcano station. The right stream they kept going (most of the time). Again, I don't know if there is a small hidden reservoir for that waterfall or if the park uses the front lagoon as the intake for the water.
There are so many factors that come into play for returning the main waterfall back into operation:
1) Did the volcano supports damage the concrete where the waterfall was located? That waterfall had quite a bit of volume of water going through it. Any volcano supports coming through that area would cause major leaking issues.
2) Is there enough of the original splash pool left for the main waterfall to drop into? I don't remember what that area looks now. It would be behind the front half of the current load station waiting area.
3) Did the park keep the plumbing/pipes to feed the water to the waterfall? Again, I am not sure if the park intended to use the main waterfall when the mountain was converted to the volcano.
4) Given the volume of water needed for the main waterfall, would the park have to build another reservoir just for it or can they use the existing lagoon as the water source?
So many questions that would have to be answered to see if it would be feasible to bring the main waterfall back. If it is not possible, I would like the park to hopefully add 3-4 small fountains in the lagoon to help circulate/aerate the water in it.
Below, is a picture of the front of the Lost World Mountain. Look to the right of the 2nd story queue house. You will see a small opening for the water source for the waterfall. You then can see the left and right water channels [darkened concrete areas; like an upside down "V"]. Yes, water is running down both channels in this photo. If you look closely, you can see the water glistening in a thin stream on the left channel. And, on the right channel you can see the water glistening just before it drops the last 2-3 feet into the lagoon [just above the elevated walkway fence]. The park blocked off the left channel as that is where the volcano queue line enters the mountain.
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RE: Fond memories of King's Dominion
Mhwinva, I can't thank you enough for all of the insight you've shared with us about Kings Dominion. You really do know a lot!
I personally would love to see the waterfall return to the volcano. I never got to see it in person, but it really did look beautiful when it ran on the Lost World mountain. That's something that's always bugged me about Volcano. If you look at this image, it looks like the source where the waterfall began was chopped off at the top where the coaster comes out of the "volcano's" top.
So, if they were to bring the waterfall back, it would certainly have to be on a smaller scale--or at least start farther down--than the original waterfall. I do hope the do add some more running water to the lagoon in some way, though. That shallow water gets so filthy in the summer months you can't even see the bottom. :s
On a side note, the small building on the bottom left corner of the above image seems to be a restaurant/stand called "Volcano Grill." I cannot remember what exactly is there now, or why it was removed? It may have taken the place of where the Crypt now stands, but does anyone (*cough* Mwhinva) know what happened to it? Thanks!
One final note, while we're on the topic of restaurants; a quick Google search shows that what is now known as the Trail's End Grill (my personal favorite restaurant at the park) was once known as Tomb Raider Grill when Paramount owned the park.
Obviously this was done to tie in with the formerly-named Tomb Raider Firefall ride opening, but does anyone know if this was temporary, or if it stayed like this until Cedar Fair took over? Also, was the restaurant always formally known as Trail's End? So many things to know!
Mhwinva, I can't thank you enough for all of the insight you've shared with us about Kings Dominion. You really do know a lot!
I personally would love to see the waterfall return to the volcano. I never got to see it in person, but it really did look beautiful when it ran on the Lost World mountain. That's something that's always bugged me about Volcano. If you look at this image, it looks like the source where the waterfall began was chopped off at the top where the coaster comes out of the "volcano's" top.
So, if they were to bring the waterfall back, it would certainly have to be on a smaller scale--or at least start farther down--than the original waterfall. I do hope the do add some more running water to the lagoon in some way, though. That shallow water gets so filthy in the summer months you can't even see the bottom. :s
On a side note, the small building on the bottom left corner of the above image seems to be a restaurant/stand called "Volcano Grill." I cannot remember what exactly is there now, or why it was removed? It may have taken the place of where the Crypt now stands, but does anyone (*cough* Mwhinva) know what happened to it? Thanks!
One final note, while we're on the topic of restaurants; a quick Google search shows that what is now known as the Trail's End Grill (my personal favorite restaurant at the park) was once known as Tomb Raider Grill when Paramount owned the park.
Obviously this was done to tie in with the formerly-named Tomb Raider Firefall ride opening, but does anyone know if this was temporary, or if it stayed like this until Cedar Fair took over? Also, was the restaurant always formally known as Trail's End? So many things to know!
RE: Fond memories of King's Dominion
The building next to the Volcano sign is about where The Crypt (Tomb Raider during the Paramount days).
I'm sure Tomb Raider Grill was named all throughout the Paramount days as changing the name to Trails End Grill wouldn't work with their movie theme that they trashed the park with.
The building next to the Volcano sign is about where The Crypt (Tomb Raider during the Paramount days).
I'm sure Tomb Raider Grill was named all throughout the Paramount days as changing the name to Trails End Grill wouldn't work with their movie theme that they trashed the park with.
RE: Fond memories of King's Dominion
Joe,
The top of the former main waterfall was not impacted by the removal of the top 20-25 feet of the mountain for Volcano's construction. If you look just to the right, of the top left support for the Volcano sign, in your first picture, you can see the highest horizontal opening for the water output (right where the Volcano horizontal and diagonal cross supports come together).
In my last post, my concern was for volcano's supports breaking though the concrete where the water cascaded down. Ironically, the top 2/3's of the main waterfall was not impacted by the construction of Volcano. It is the bottom 1/3 of the main waterfall that has a couple diagonal support pieces going through the concrete right smack in the middle of where the water made its final 16-18 foot drop into the splash pool/lagoon.
So at this point, unless the park finds a way to divert the water around those cross supports. I am not sure if the main waterfall can be made operational again. :s
The original name for the "Trails End Grill" restaurant was "The Hungry Hippo". It was re-named to the "Tomb Raider Grill" by Paramount when the "Tomb Raider" topspin ride premiered.
The "Volcano Grill" is where my memory is foggy. If you looked at the bottom of my last posted photo you can see the safari monorail station. That building was quite long (started on the north end about where "The Crypt" topspin is located; all the way across the current Volcano entrance sign to the last of those little cross over paths to the south (15-20 feet before you get to the current Congo Icee stand).
Initially, both sides of the building were used as the safari monorail queue line. By 1979 or 1980, the park took over 80% of the north side of the building for a restaurant called the "Mediterranean Chef" which served Greek/Lebanese style foods. The other 20% of the building remained for the monorail's loading queue stalls and the access aisle behind them. The building pretty much stayed in this configuration until the Paramount takeover at the end of 1992.
Now, here is the part where I might be totally wrong on the history here. I am just not clear with the chain of events. So I will go with two possibilities:
1) With the elimination of the animal safari, starting with the 1993 season, I thought the southern side of the monorail station was simply closed/boarded up for 4-5 seasons. The north side of the building was still used used as a restaurant; but, I'm pretty sure the "Mediterranean Chef" was gone by then. For some reason, I thought the park sold hot dogs from that location. When the park was either in the demolition phase of the Lost World (1996-1997 off-season) for the upcoming Volcano coaster; or, during the construction of the Volcano ride itself (mid-1997 through the spring of 1998), the Monorail Station was demolished. Now whether the park kept the north end of the station for the "Volcano Grill" or rebuilt the restaurant from scratch, I don't know.
2) This scenario plays along with the last couple sentences in scenario one. The park might have demolished the monorail station in the 1992-1993 off-season; either keeping the north half for "Volcano Grill" or demolishing the whole monorail building and building a new structure for the restaurant.
In any case, the "Volcano Grill" building was demolished to make way for the "Tomb Raider" Topspin.
Joe said:Mhwinva, I can't thank you enough for all of the insight you've shared with us about Kings Dominion. You really do know a lot!
I personally would love to see the waterfall return to the volcano. I never got to see it in person, but it really did look beautiful when it ran on the Lost World mountain. That's something that's always bugged me about Volcano. If you look at this image, it looks like the source where the waterfall began was chopped off at the top where the coaster comes out of the "volcano's" top.
So, if they were to bring the waterfall back, it would certainly have to be on a smaller scale--or at least start farther down--than the original waterfall. I do hope the do add some more running water to the lagoon in some way, though. That shallow water gets so filthy in the summer months you can't even see the bottom. :s
On a side note, the small building on the bottom left corner of the above image seems to be a restaurant/stand called "Volcano Grill." I cannot remember what exactly is there now, or why it was removed? It may have taken the place of where the Crypt now stands, but does anyone (*cough* Mwhinva) know what happened to it? Thanks!
One final note, while we're on the topic of restaurants; a quick Google search shows that what is now known as the Trail's End Grill (my personal favorite restaurant at the park) was once known as Tomb Raider Grill when Paramount owned the park.
Obviously this was done to tie in with the formerly-named Tomb Raider Firefall ride opening, but does anyone know if this was temporary, or if it stayed like this until Cedar Fair took over? Also, was the restaurant always formally known as Trail's End? So many things to know!
Joe,
The top of the former main waterfall was not impacted by the removal of the top 20-25 feet of the mountain for Volcano's construction. If you look just to the right, of the top left support for the Volcano sign, in your first picture, you can see the highest horizontal opening for the water output (right where the Volcano horizontal and diagonal cross supports come together).
In my last post, my concern was for volcano's supports breaking though the concrete where the water cascaded down. Ironically, the top 2/3's of the main waterfall was not impacted by the construction of Volcano. It is the bottom 1/3 of the main waterfall that has a couple diagonal support pieces going through the concrete right smack in the middle of where the water made its final 16-18 foot drop into the splash pool/lagoon.
So at this point, unless the park finds a way to divert the water around those cross supports. I am not sure if the main waterfall can be made operational again. :s
The original name for the "Trails End Grill" restaurant was "The Hungry Hippo". It was re-named to the "Tomb Raider Grill" by Paramount when the "Tomb Raider" topspin ride premiered.
The "Volcano Grill" is where my memory is foggy. If you looked at the bottom of my last posted photo you can see the safari monorail station. That building was quite long (started on the north end about where "The Crypt" topspin is located; all the way across the current Volcano entrance sign to the last of those little cross over paths to the south (15-20 feet before you get to the current Congo Icee stand).
Initially, both sides of the building were used as the safari monorail queue line. By 1979 or 1980, the park took over 80% of the north side of the building for a restaurant called the "Mediterranean Chef" which served Greek/Lebanese style foods. The other 20% of the building remained for the monorail's loading queue stalls and the access aisle behind them. The building pretty much stayed in this configuration until the Paramount takeover at the end of 1992.
Now, here is the part where I might be totally wrong on the history here. I am just not clear with the chain of events. So I will go with two possibilities:
1) With the elimination of the animal safari, starting with the 1993 season, I thought the southern side of the monorail station was simply closed/boarded up for 4-5 seasons. The north side of the building was still used used as a restaurant; but, I'm pretty sure the "Mediterranean Chef" was gone by then. For some reason, I thought the park sold hot dogs from that location. When the park was either in the demolition phase of the Lost World (1996-1997 off-season) for the upcoming Volcano coaster; or, during the construction of the Volcano ride itself (mid-1997 through the spring of 1998), the Monorail Station was demolished. Now whether the park kept the north end of the station for the "Volcano Grill" or rebuilt the restaurant from scratch, I don't know.
2) This scenario plays along with the last couple sentences in scenario one. The park might have demolished the monorail station in the 1992-1993 off-season; either keeping the north half for "Volcano Grill" or demolishing the whole monorail building and building a new structure for the restaurant.
In any case, the "Volcano Grill" building was demolished to make way for the "Tomb Raider" Topspin.
RE: Fond memories of King's Dominion
Hey Mwhinva,
Once again, thanks a ton for the info. I see what you're saying about the waterfall. There seems to have been an odd crease that ran down the top of the mountain before reaching the point where the waterfall began. In the photo I posted, I saw the very end of the crease that was not lopped of in the mountain's conversion to a volcano, and figured it was the old waterfall trough. Thanks for the clarification! I also am not surprised about the Crypt standing where the Volcano Grill used to be, but I had no idea it used to be the monorail station! I also have to admit, I like the name "Trail's End Grill" much more than "Hungry Hippo" (never would have guessed that was its name!).
Note 1: Anyone here who's big on park history and hasn't given Mwhinva the rep yet should definitely get on it!
Note 2: Could a mod please remove the apostrophe from this thread's title? It's driving my OCD crazy.
Hey Mwhinva,
Once again, thanks a ton for the info. I see what you're saying about the waterfall. There seems to have been an odd crease that ran down the top of the mountain before reaching the point where the waterfall began. In the photo I posted, I saw the very end of the crease that was not lopped of in the mountain's conversion to a volcano, and figured it was the old waterfall trough. Thanks for the clarification! I also am not surprised about the Crypt standing where the Volcano Grill used to be, but I had no idea it used to be the monorail station! I also have to admit, I like the name "Trail's End Grill" much more than "Hungry Hippo" (never would have guessed that was its name!).
Note 1: Anyone here who's big on park history and hasn't given Mwhinva the rep yet should definitely get on it!
Note 2: Could a mod please remove the apostrophe from this thread's title? It's driving my OCD crazy.
RE: Fond memories of King's Dominion
Joe,
Most of the upper exterior parts of the mountain have never changed since 1979. (Of course, the top 20-25 feet of the mountain was removed for volcano; but, the rest of the upper mountain shape is unaltered).
I think what might be throwing you off is the paint job the park did on the mountain when converting it into a volcano. They gave it a dark reddish-brown color with the crevices highlighted in black to exaggerate the shape of the former mountain even more. Those crevices were always there. They were not as noticeable when the whole mountain was painted in a light tan/brown color during the "Lost World" years of operation.
Thx for the Kudos for the history of the park. :blush:
I don't pretend to know everything about Kings Dominion; but, it is a park that I have visited every year since it opened in 1975. (I was 13 in 1975 - do the math. ) I also was employed there as a seasonal worker in the rides department (2-week program in 1979; a full season in 1980; Spring weekends and Fall weekends in '81-'82-'83).
I initially worked on the Rebel Yell and made ride foreman in 1981. By the 1981 season, I had a full time job and was using the KD job to supplement my income; by working weekends in the spring till about the 2nd weekend in June. I would then come back around the 3rd weekend in August and work weekends till the park closed in early October.
Usually, I assisted in training the new employees on the coaster during the spring weekends of operation as well as help operate the ride. In the late summer and fall, it was mainly the park needing bodies to run the rides after the college age folks had gone back to school.
By the 1982 season, they asked me to be the ride foreman for the Carousel/Flying Bobs crew. I did the same stuff as I did while on the Rebel Yell. By mid-June I turned over the responsibilities as ride foreman to a trained crew member to carry out the job during the prime summer season. (I needed a break after working 7 days a week for 2-3 months in a row). :shocked:
My final year of working at Kings Dominion (1983), I floated between the Rebel Yell and the Carousel/Flying Bobs.
I also worked on other rides during those years; usually days when our ride crew was overstaffed and other ride crews were short-handed. Anywhere from "Hopping Cars" at "Wacky Wheels" to operating "The Apple Turnover".
It certainly was a unique job; and it beat working at a place like a local fast food joint. I got to meet and know so many fellow employees from an average 75 mile radius of the park. Folks that I never would have met had I been working locally. Back then, the park did a wonderful job of providing employee functions: including an in-park softball league with its own softball field on company property; theme parties; opening up a section of the park with certain rides open, free food, and usually a DJ playing (after the park closed to guests); and an annual Christmas party.
And don't even get me started with the variety of guests you end up interacting with and situations you end up dealing with during those years of employment.
Joe,
Most of the upper exterior parts of the mountain have never changed since 1979. (Of course, the top 20-25 feet of the mountain was removed for volcano; but, the rest of the upper mountain shape is unaltered).
I think what might be throwing you off is the paint job the park did on the mountain when converting it into a volcano. They gave it a dark reddish-brown color with the crevices highlighted in black to exaggerate the shape of the former mountain even more. Those crevices were always there. They were not as noticeable when the whole mountain was painted in a light tan/brown color during the "Lost World" years of operation.
Thx for the Kudos for the history of the park. :blush:
I don't pretend to know everything about Kings Dominion; but, it is a park that I have visited every year since it opened in 1975. (I was 13 in 1975 - do the math.
) I also was employed there as a seasonal worker in the rides department (2-week program in 1979; a full season in 1980; Spring weekends and Fall weekends in '81-'82-'83).I initially worked on the Rebel Yell and made ride foreman in 1981. By the 1981 season, I had a full time job and was using the KD job to supplement my income; by working weekends in the spring till about the 2nd weekend in June. I would then come back around the 3rd weekend in August and work weekends till the park closed in early October.
Usually, I assisted in training the new employees on the coaster during the spring weekends of operation as well as help operate the ride. In the late summer and fall, it was mainly the park needing bodies to run the rides after the college age folks had gone back to school.
By the 1982 season, they asked me to be the ride foreman for the Carousel/Flying Bobs crew. I did the same stuff as I did while on the Rebel Yell. By mid-June I turned over the responsibilities as ride foreman to a trained crew member to carry out the job during the prime summer season. (I needed a break after working 7 days a week for 2-3 months in a row). :shocked:
My final year of working at Kings Dominion (1983), I floated between the Rebel Yell and the Carousel/Flying Bobs.
I also worked on other rides during those years; usually days when our ride crew was overstaffed and other ride crews were short-handed. Anywhere from "Hopping Cars" at "Wacky Wheels" to operating "The Apple Turnover".
It certainly was a unique job; and it beat working at a place like a local fast food joint. I got to meet and know so many fellow employees from an average 75 mile radius of the park. Folks that I never would have met had I been working locally. Back then, the park did a wonderful job of providing employee functions: including an in-park softball league with its own softball field on company property; theme parties; opening up a section of the park with certain rides open, free food, and usually a DJ playing (after the park closed to guests); and an annual Christmas party.
And don't even get me started with the variety of guests you end up interacting with and situations you end up dealing with during those years of employment.
RE: Fond memories of King's Dominion
Thanks for clarifying, Mhwinva. By the way, I don't think I was very clear, but I do understand what you were saying about the waterfall originally now. In the post above I was simply stating that the crease highlighted in the photo is what was throwing me off, but I'm good now. That's also a really cool history of a life at the park!
Thanks for clarifying, Mhwinva. By the way, I don't think I was very clear, but I do understand what you were saying about the waterfall originally now. In the post above I was simply stating that the crease highlighted in the photo is what was throwing me off, but I'm good now.
That's also a really cool history of a life at the park!
The original full name of the powered mine-train dark ride was "Professor Backenforth's Journey to the Land of Dooze".
The "Doozies" were the park's "In-House" creation. They were underground creatures who made the world above work/run. There were a series of scenes that spoofed how things happened above ground by the actions of the "Doozies". The ride had scenes of them making snowflakes, "raising" crops for the world above, making thunder, running the Rebel Yell lift chains, etc. as well as scenes of their everyday life.
Dooze and Doozy was a play on the name of Doswell, VA; the location where the park is located near. The "Land of Dooze" opened in 1979 with the rest of "The Lost World" and ran for 5 seasons [1979-1983].
I assume Taft Broadcasting acquired the rights for the "Smurfs" sometime in 1983. The ride was then converted to "Smurf Mountain" and all the "Land of Dooze" scenes were swapped out and the "Smurfs" were in the mountain for the 1984 season.
The powered mine-train stayed as "Smurf Mountain" from 1984 through the end of the 1994 season when the ride was closed for good. [The "Time Shaft" and the "Haunted River" ran for 2 more seasons (1995 & 1996) before they closed for good; to make way for volcano].
The "Doozies" were the park's "In-House" creation. They were underground creatures who made the world above work/run. There were a series of scenes that spoofed how things happened above ground by the actions of the "Doozies". The ride had scenes of them making snowflakes, "raising" crops for the world above, making thunder, running the Rebel Yell lift chains, etc. as well as scenes of their everyday life.
Dooze and Doozy was a play on the name of Doswell, VA; the location where the park is located near. The "Land of Dooze" opened in 1979 with the rest of "The Lost World" and ran for 5 seasons [1979-1983].
I assume Taft Broadcasting acquired the rights for the "Smurfs" sometime in 1983. The ride was then converted to "Smurf Mountain" and all the "Land of Dooze" scenes were swapped out and the "Smurfs" were in the mountain for the 1984 season.
The powered mine-train stayed as "Smurf Mountain" from 1984 through the end of the 1994 season when the ride was closed for good. [The "Time Shaft" and the "Haunted River" ran for 2 more seasons (1995 & 1996) before they closed for good; to make way for volcano].
Joe said:Mwhinva, have you submitted any of your photos to Kings Dominion for the mosaic next year? Today is the last day to submit and I'm sure your pictures would be very much appreciated.
The majority of what photos I have taken in the early 1980's were sent to KD Golden Years Facebook site over the last month. I pretty much forwarded those same photos to the email address given by Kings Dominion, for use in the 40th anniversary mosaic, before their deadline.
That being said, I am not sure when and how KD Golden Years plans on using the photos sent. They have already used a couple pictures in a mosaic they created and posted on their site. The current KD Golden Years Facebook main page features a photo of the Rebel Yell, that I took, as their header photo. They emailed me and told me that they will be featuring more of my photos in the near future. I just don't have a timeline of when and how. They usually run a feature about a certain park area, entertainment, or ride; and group any photos they have around that theme when they post to their Facebook site. Keep checking back on occasion to KD Golden Years Facebook site.
As far as Kings Dominion goes, they have the same photos as what was sent to KD Golden Years Facebook site. They might chose a couple pictures to feature on their mosaic for the park's 40th anniversary. But, I would think there were hundreds or even thousands of folks who sent in one to multiple photos to Kings Dominion. That is quite a few photos for them to review and choose from. I'd be lucky to see one of my pictures on the mosaic given those possible odds! :shocked:
Since I don't control what photos KDGY will publish on their Facebook site (what, when, and how) and which, if any, of my photos Kings Dominion will use for their 40th anniversary; I will occasionally share more of my photos here in this thread. The more, the merrier!
I thought that Smurf Mountain actually closed earlier than '94? I thought it was around '92, just before Paramount bought the parks. The one thing I've always wondered about is the intended replacement for Smurf Mountain. right after it closed, there was a bubble over the ride ride's location on the park map that said somethnig to the effect of "Coming soon: a sneak preview of Echo Park". I've never been able to find out what that was supposed to be, and was, I'd assume, cancelled because of the purchase.
mtpelepele said:
According the the popular former attractions page on Kings Dominion's 40th anniversary site:
1) Smurf Mountain - 1984-1993 [1979-1983 | Land of Dooze]
2) Haunted River - 1980-1995 [1979 - Voyage to Atlantis]
3) Time Shaft - 1979-1995
So, it appears I was one year off for the closings [End of 1993 season - SM | End of 1995 season - HR & TS]. I had it in my head that there was a 2 year hiatus for the mountain before it became the Volcano; instead it was 3 years between the "Lost World" and the Volcano: TBC premiere. I was correct in that Smurf Mountain closed 2 years before the Haunted River and Time Shaft did.
I came across a collection of old 8mm films on YouTube that folks shot at Kings Dominion in the 1970's / early 1980's.
For those not old enough remember, 8mm cameras were the "latest Technology" for everyday folks to film their own motion pictures; starting in the late 1960's and going through the early 1980's. You had to buy the camera to film and a projector to show the movie [and screen | some people just projected the movie on the wall].
The undeveloped film was in a simple cartridge you placed in the camera. These cameras were not battery powered. There was a small crank on the camera that you had to wind before filming. This stored the energy in wound springs inside the camera. When you pressed the button/trigger on the camera, the shutter would open and the spring mechanism would release; allowing the undeveloped film to be advanced and exposed at a constant rate of speed.
The film length was only long enough to shoot 3-5 minutes worth of stuff. It was only for the moving picture; there was no sound. You then sent the exposed film away to be developed and you would get a small reel of developed film back in about 2 weeks. You then threaded the film on your home projector, turned down the lights, grabbed the popcorn, and watched your masterpiece!
By 1982-1983, video cameras became available to most of the general public. They were very bulky and very expensive. The video cameras used magnetic tape of various sizes to store the image and the sound. The long-term problem with these new cameras was that the magnetic tape would degrade over time and the image quality and sound would degrade as well. Course, you needed a video tape player to show what you shot on TV.
Course, over the next 10-12 years, the camera size and video tape cartridges would shrink and the magnetic tape quality improved. By the late 1990's digital cameras came on the scene and they are what we use today.
The history lesson is now over. Class dismissed!
The film below was mostly of International Street and views of the park from the Eiffel Tower. the title says 1980's KD. Well, if that was the case, it had to have been shot in 1980. International Street was remodeled for the 1981 season and the open street on each side of the fountains were no more.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMe6EI6Sh8s&feature=share&list=PLC0B20C3D9980613D&index=1
For those not old enough remember, 8mm cameras were the "latest Technology" for everyday folks to film their own motion pictures; starting in the late 1960's and going through the early 1980's. You had to buy the camera to film and a projector to show the movie [and screen | some people just projected the movie on the wall].
The undeveloped film was in a simple cartridge you placed in the camera. These cameras were not battery powered. There was a small crank on the camera that you had to wind before filming. This stored the energy in wound springs inside the camera. When you pressed the button/trigger on the camera, the shutter would open and the spring mechanism would release; allowing the undeveloped film to be advanced and exposed at a constant rate of speed.
The film length was only long enough to shoot 3-5 minutes worth of stuff. It was only for the moving picture; there was no sound. You then sent the exposed film away to be developed and you would get a small reel of developed film back in about 2 weeks. You then threaded the film on your home projector, turned down the lights, grabbed the popcorn, and watched your masterpiece!
By 1982-1983, video cameras became available to most of the general public. They were very bulky and very expensive. The video cameras used magnetic tape of various sizes to store the image and the sound. The long-term problem with these new cameras was that the magnetic tape would degrade over time and the image quality and sound would degrade as well. Course, you needed a video tape player to show what you shot on TV.
Course, over the next 10-12 years, the camera size and video tape cartridges would shrink and the magnetic tape quality improved. By the late 1990's digital cameras came on the scene and they are what we use today.
The history lesson is now over. Class dismissed!
The film below was mostly of International Street and views of the park from the Eiffel Tower. the title says 1980's KD. Well, if that was the case, it had to have been shot in 1980. International Street was remodeled for the 1981 season and the open street on each side of the fountains were no more.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMe6EI6Sh8s&feature=share&list=PLC0B20C3D9980613D&index=1
This next one must be a combination of 2-3 8mm films loaded into one video. The 1st 2:11 minutes is Washington D.C. / Zoo. From 2:12 to 4:52 is Kings Dominion. The rest of the video is back to D.C.
I dedicate this one to ChickenKing! The KD portion has some rare footage of the steam train, including a POV on the train and some of the scenes along the track (no live show). Also a nice closeup of the Flower Clock. Wacky Wheels (2-seater gas powered corvette style cars. Used to be located where Snoopy's Driving School and the new kiddy elevated monorail ride is now). A quick view of "Buddy Bear" the animated character that entertained guests at the train station while waiting for the train. He eventually moved into Yogi's cave as the hibernating bear and was there until the attraction became "treasure Cave". Also, a quick view of the Vertigo ride, Rebel Yell, and Lake Charles in Candy Apple Grove.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxLpVcWrTs8&feature=share&list=PLC0B20C3D9980613D&index=2
I dedicate this one to ChickenKing! The KD portion has some rare footage of the steam train, including a POV on the train and some of the scenes along the track (no live show). Also a nice closeup of the Flower Clock. Wacky Wheels (2-seater gas powered corvette style cars. Used to be located where Snoopy's Driving School and the new kiddy elevated monorail ride is now). A quick view of "Buddy Bear" the animated character that entertained guests at the train station while waiting for the train. He eventually moved into Yogi's cave as the hibernating bear and was there until the attraction became "treasure Cave". Also, a quick view of the Vertigo ride, Rebel Yell, and Lake Charles in Candy Apple Grove.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxLpVcWrTs8&feature=share&list=PLC0B20C3D9980613D&index=2
Final one for now. Shows the King Cobra in action. The Haunted River final splashdown, a closeup of the boats used on that attraction and some of the lagoon and smaller waterfalls. Shows the Rebel Yell and a little bit of the ski show on the lake. The final footage is of the air show.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hx3QfmA8pAQ&feature=share&list=PLC0B20C3D9980613D&index=4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hx3QfmA8pAQ&feature=share&list=PLC0B20C3D9980613D&index=4