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Today just doesn't seem like Matthew's day.....lo and behold, BBW foliage. Still waiting for Bolt's to start sprouting...

Circa 1992 according to TPR.
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Seems like those trees (I want to say they're pines or cypresses but I'm not sure) lining the fence by the final hill will be nice once they start growing in...
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Zachary said:
I'm sorry to play Matthew, but it's incredible how many trees there were back then. That side of Rhinefeld was practically a forest.

Yes, it very much was a forest. See in my most recent series I covered basically the time the parks have been under the SEAS name. The thing I find the most troubling is that when the park was originally constructed, it was a forest. However, under AB ownership, despite what it's made out to be, they very much were rampid in the removal of the shrubbery around the park. By the time the park became SEAS it was down to the bare bones, and even more removal happened in that time, although not as much or as fast. Don't get me wrong the park was a lot better at landscaping new attractions under AB ownership, but soon even that was removed. Honestly, I wonder in which period the park was really the rabbid hacker of shrubbery.
 
Matthew said:
Honestly, I wonder in which period the park was really the rabbid hacker of shrubbery.

Probably whenever they could get away with it. What I'm more interested in, is who was/is the park's biggest advocate for beautiful landscaping. I would say John Reilley (former G.M.) really cared about shrubbery. Perhaps he even cared too much compared to most of his staff. As soon as he was moved to San Diego, they started doing massive landscaping renovations. Also, I don't think he seemed too pleased with BGW in general before he left.

On a more positive note, I'm very pleased with the current state of Aquitaine and Festhaus Park. Aquitaine finally looks hospitable to me. Besides, we don't have "the purple thing" to worry about anymore. Now, we will just have to wait for the next in line of epic fails. XP
 
The Wilkommenhaus clock's figurines have been fully restored, no more missing legs or duck taped trumpets! All have a fresh paint job, and most have a new paint scheme. Not only that, but the clock itself is also completely functional. Pictures can be found below:

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(Maybe we should take a moment to appreciate this one's sour face :p)

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Also, green roofs have been added to the Gazebo and Kinder Karussel. Pictures can be found below:

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Matthew, you may have just made my day. The clock figures honestly were one of the worst maintained items in the park and have been need of a repair for years. It's been so long since the figures have looked so vibrant up on one of the parks main icons. Even though not much has been done for the 40th, everything that the park has done turned out really well.
 
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If Busch gardens really wanted to do something really special would be to repaint those murals on the buildings like in those pictures....
 
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At this point I am wondering if the park shouldn't restore the paint to that vibrancy. People might complain about "defacing an icon". The slightly faded paint has become a small part of its charm to many guests. At least it is not entirely sun drenched like in some past years.

The buildings other than the Willkommenhaus do need something though. Perhaps they can fix the minor German grammar errors added mainly in previous touch ups.
 
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Saw the clock working, it was wonderful to look at while I waited for my friends to get off Alpengeist. Quite a beautiful restoration job the park did for it, Rhinefeld is one of my personal favorite areas of the park.
 
I was told recently by a well-informed employee that the Rhinefeld statue is not a reproduction, but an authentic early 1900s bronze statue donated by the Busch family, and workers use extra caution when removing it for ChristmasTown.

I was also told they get numerous complaints each year regarding the statue's lack of a wardrobe. SMH
 
That is one of my favorite pieces of scenery in the park. The fact that they were brave enough to show a bit of nudity in a completely innocent manner lends to the authenticity of the hamlet. It makes a perfect centerpiece in front of the Glockenspiel, and makes the area look like it could actually be a historic district in Germany. That all lasts up until you see the poorly placed Coca-Cola machines. They need to be more hidden, but nobody wants to argue with Coca Cola reps.

Anyway, here, in all it's glory.
 

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A display window was put up outside a window for German Gifts:

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Kinda disappointed it's covering up so much of that stained glass window, because I do love the stained glass windows in Rhinefeld. However, I don't think it disturbs the Rhinefeld aesthetic, and I'm glad to see the glass artisan, Ray Fochler, getting some more advertising outside the shop.
 
I wanted to let you know that the glass maker is gone from the shop. I asked yesterday and it turns out that after Christmas Town he had cardiac issues and was unable to return so this was not a choice by the park.
 
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