Oldiesmann Posted August 22, 2010 Share Posted August 22, 2010 My sister and I made our first trip to Camden Park yesterday and had a great time, despite the long drive (we drove out and back the same day - 3 hours each way excluding stops). The employees seemed friendly, and while there was assorted litter scattered around the park, I didn't think the park was that dirty. The main pathways were clear, as were the areas around most of the rides. The rides themselves were quite enjoyable for the most part. Their train ride was ridiculously slow. It gives you a nice tour of the park, but it would be nice if it would move just a tad bit faster. The bumper cars were a lot of fun. Surprisingly, those cars are made by the same folks who made the ones that KI uses. I only wish KI's would move that fast. Their "monster" ride, while smaller than KI's, was quite intense - possibly due to the longer ride cycle. The whip was a lot of fun. It was great to finally be able to ride one. Rocking Tug was as enjoyable as it could be for someone who's used to Surf Dog. I skipped the Zamperla ride, having ridden Linus Launcher. Hot Cats was a lot of fun. Reminded me of Flying Bobs at Coney. It was great to see a park that knows how to theme their roundup. I still don't understand why Stricker's likes to leave the colored panels for Electric Rainbow sitting in a neat pile under the ride. Scrambler was extremely enjoyable and seemed faster than the one at KI. The most intense Scrambler I've ridden so far (still need to ride the one at Coney). Tilt-a-Whirl was enjoyable as always. The sky ride was great for taking pictures of the park and everything. The Haunted House was a lot of fun. I had fun watching the guy operate the levers controlling the brakes on Big Dipper. It makes me wonder why KI doesn't leave them that way (though I'm sure there are plenty of reasons - safety, inconvenience to ride ops, time, size of the rides, possibly state regulations/manufacturers' recommendations...) The Pronto Pup was quite tasty, as was the $0.99 regular soda (though I don't understand how they can charge $3 for the sodas at the vending machines) Didn't get a chance to try the funnel cake. I skipped the Log Flume as well (it wasn't all that warm and I didn't want to walk around soaked the rest of the day), but I love their "this is a water ride. You will get wet" sign. Overall it was a very enjoyable trip despite the heavy rain, the long drive and our brief tour of part of I-64 in western Huntington (Google's directions said to take the exit towards Huntington then take the Washington Street exit, but didn't specify that this was off of US-60 and not I-64, so we got turned around a bit, but the GPS on our phones got us back there pretty quickly). We are now planning to go back to Camden Park again next year if possible. I will post pictures later. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted August 22, 2010 Share Posted August 22, 2010 I'm glad you had a good time and look forward to your pictures... The Washington Avenue exit is off the connector between US 52 and I-64! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oldiesmann Posted August 23, 2010 Author Share Posted August 23, 2010 The problem is the exit isn't marked Washington Avenue. It's simply marked US 60. Therefore, I thought I was supposed to stay on 52 and of course didn't realize that I had made a mistake until we were on 64. Fortunately it only took us 15 minutes or so to get off and find our way back using the GPS on our phones. Also, what's so special about Sheetz? It looks like nothing more than a typical gas station and convenience store to me (though we didn't stop there). 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted August 23, 2010 Share Posted August 23, 2010 Sheetz, a Pennsylvania company, is very much the WaWa of the areas where it operates. It is known for having the lowest gasoline prices, and has a decent "Made To Order" (can you say mostly microwaved?) 'deli' where you order on a touch screen. As a huge WaWa fan, it's not a WaWa...but it's okay... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oldiesmann Posted August 23, 2010 Author Share Posted August 23, 2010 Pictures are up http://www.flickr.com/photos/oldiesmann/sets/72157624789767912/ Also, here's a video I took of the Hot Cats ride: <object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obJPwQMR0f8?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0x2b405b&color2=0x6b8ab6"></param><param'>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obJPwQMR0f8?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0x2b405b&color2=0x6b8ab6"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obJPwQMR0f8?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0x2b405b&color2=0x6b8ab6" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object> I've never heard of WaWa either. I just find it funny that there's a big billboard near the park for Sheetz, and it doesn't seem all that impressive to me. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon Bombay Posted August 23, 2010 Share Posted August 23, 2010 Great photos and report, glad you liked Camden. There aren't many parks like it left in the United States, its a great little place. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhantomTheater Posted August 23, 2010 Share Posted August 23, 2010 Sheetz, a Pennsylvania company, is very much the WaWa of the areas where it operates. It is known for having the lowest gasoline prices, and has a decent "Made To Order" (can you say mostly microwaved?) 'deli' where you order on a touch screen. As a huge WaWa fan, it's not a WaWa...but it's okay... I'm sorry, but Sheetz rules. I often order up some subs on the way to the point for my lunch and dinner. I must say Sheetz is superior over WaWa, however I have spend much time in western PA and not in eastern PA where WaWa operates. On a side note, if want to see the ultimate sheetz, go to the 17th st. location in Altoona, it is unbelievable. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oldiesmann Posted August 23, 2010 Author Share Posted August 23, 2010 What about Giovanni's Pizza? I saw several of those on the way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted August 23, 2010 Share Posted August 23, 2010 Giovanni's is a franchise company based in Ashland, Kentucky. Some of them are very good (such as the one on Greenup Avenue in Ashland). Others, I wouldn't feed the dog with pizza from there, as I would not want to be bitten. In any event, unlike some places...they know that sugar does NOT belong in pizza sauce. Speaking of which, there is now a LaRosa's coming to Portsmouth, Ohio, of all places... http://www.larosasmvp.com/portsmouth/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thunderbeast1968 Posted August 23, 2010 Share Posted August 23, 2010 My home park is Camden Park, My son and I visited last Saturday. He rode the Big Dipper for the first time. He loved it. The park itself was pretty clean, except for a few lazy people who missed the garbage cans just feet away. It is a rare small park that allows me to ride their flat rides. The scrambler is faster than any other than I have rode in the past. The ride op turned the ride on for at least 3 mins, slowed it down the cranked it up another 2-3 mins, then slowed it down, and another ride op took over and we rode it about another 3-4 mins. I swear it seemed like we were on the scrambler for 10 full minutes. My step-sister and her son agreed on the long ride cycle. The pronto-pup(corn dog) is the best in the business, I love the fact that they make 'em "home-made" not the frozen style that some parks serve. The only thing I wish Camden Park would do is to paint more often. My mother and myself commented that the park needed a little "TLC" that's all. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted August 23, 2010 Share Posted August 23, 2010 ...that and replace the water fountain they removed earlier this summer... Three incredible Camden Park postcards from circa 1940 or earlier: http://www.kykinfolk.../CamdenPark.jpg http://www.kykinfolk...CamdenPark2.JPG http://www.kykinfolk...CamdenPark3.jpg Also, Oldiesmann, your Flicker link does not work... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oldiesmann Posted August 24, 2010 Author Share Posted August 24, 2010 Link has been fixed. I forgot that the auto-link-parsing thing messes up links when you have it in HTML mode. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted August 24, 2010 Share Posted August 24, 2010 In your photos, you say you are not sure what used to be where the large concrete pad is. At one time, that was the park's skating rink. It burned about a decade ago, suspected arson. After that, a Skydiver sat on that pad...it was removed this year, and is still sitting on its trailers to the right of the pad as you look towards the back of the park from the parking lot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oldiesmann Posted August 25, 2010 Author Share Posted August 25, 2010 Thanks for the info Terpy. It just seems odd seeing a large empty concrete pad in the middle of the park like that. Also, do you know if the Ferris Wheel is still operational? It wasn't going the day we were there, and the grass growing in the cracked pavement below the ride seemed to indicate that it hadn't operated in some time. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted August 25, 2010 Share Posted August 25, 2010 The Ferris Wheel operates regularly. It takes a very skilled operator...and when he is off, so is Wheel... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveStroem Posted August 26, 2010 Share Posted August 26, 2010 It was not running on the Saturday night when we visited a few weeks ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted August 29, 2010 Share Posted August 29, 2010 Well, since you were both there the same Saturday, that makes sense... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveStroem Posted August 30, 2010 Share Posted August 30, 2010 Nope, they were there on Aug 21st. We were on our way to KD that night. We were there on Aug 14th. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted August 30, 2010 Share Posted August 30, 2010 Ah...I thought you two had hit the park the same night! Terp....who must get back to Camden Park some day... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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