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Neurodistortion Splash Landing User is Offline Joined: 30 Aug 2007 Posts: 119	Posted: Sat Aug 01, 2009 3:37 am    Post subject: West View Park · Quote West View Park was an amusement park located in Pittsburgh. It had a collection of rides including its signature roller coaster which I can't think of the name of. The Wikipedia article talks about it in detail, however. Unfortunately, it closed in 1977 with no prior warning. This has Geauga Lake plastered all over it. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_View_Park
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VGplay Splash Landing User is Offline Joined: 03 Jul 2007 Posts: 127 Location: Akron, Ohio	Posted: Sat Aug 01, 2009 5:00 am    Post subject: · Quote Quote: For the next few years, West View Park's dedicated patrons watched sadly as everything was taken down and either sold to other amusement parks or scrapped. The famous Dips roller coaster was one of the last rides to be dismantled. That's eerily similar to our situation with Geauga Lake. I also notice on the Wikipedia page that Mr. Jacques wrote a book about West View. I think I'm going to have to check that out.
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Skyglider Tidal Wave Bay User is Offline Joined: 29 Aug 2007 Posts: 1112	Posted: Sat Aug 01, 2009 7:47 am    Post subject: · Quote That is a great book, it made that park come alive for me even though it was long gone before I was ever aware of it. The pizza stand in Old Kennywood (next to the Pittsburg Plunge) is modeled after the West View Park Carousel building and I seem to recall that Conneaut has some of its kiddie rides. The area is now a shopping plaza centered around a Kmart (not even a kiddie ride in the lobby). The midway is a street with several failed and closed fast food restaurants (Taco Bell and Pizza Hut, among others). The only trace of the park today is a roller coaster image on the sign for "West View Park Plaza." Geauga Lake in ten years? It seems like that is what Cedar Fair wants, I hope they consider leaving some traces of the park intact, even if the bid submitted in May 2008 to build around the Big Dipper was not to their liking. Last edited by Skyglider on Sat Aug 01, 2009 7:52 am; edited 2 times in total
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ffejie Thunder Falls User is Offline Joined: 18 Jun 2008 Posts: 796	Posted: Sat Aug 01, 2009 7:49 am    Post subject: · Quote Skyglider wrote: That is a great book, it made that park come alive for me even though it was long gone before I was ever aware of it. The area is now a shopping plaza centered around a Kmart (not even a kiddie ride in the lobby). g. I can just see you riding the little 3 animal carousel scrunched over going round and round!
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Skyglider Tidal Wave Bay User is Offline Joined: 29 Aug 2007 Posts: 1112	Posted: Sat Aug 01, 2009 7:51 am    Post subject: · Quote LOL, my secret scheme has been revealed!
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laneman Beaver Land Mine Ride User is Offline Joined: 16 Oct 2007 Posts: 38	Posted: Sat Aug 01, 2009 9:45 am    Post subject: · Quote I worked there the last two years it was open('76,'77).I worked on the Racing Whippet. West View had three coasters,The Dips,Kiddie Dips and the Racing Whippet. The Dips was almost a mirror image of the Conneaut Blue Streak,the biggest differance being the turnaround curve on the Dips was much more wicked. The Racing Whippet was one single track like Kennywoods Racer,but was a MUCH better ride.The first drop was pretty steep.Another unusual thing about it was the transfer track,used a turntable instead of a sliding track. If you would like to know more about the park I have two videos on Youtube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFjDs7edpbo http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFMg5ry49yE&feature=fvw
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TBone8n69 Riptide Run User is Offline Joined: 09 May 2008 Posts: 340 Location: Akron,oh	Posted: Sat Aug 01, 2009 11:55 am    Post subject: · Quote Thanks laneman for those videos! I have to say, the second vid is the saddest. Reminds me of whats going on with Geauga Lake, very sad! _________________ (ACFG)Anti-Cedar Fair Group
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laneman Beaver Land Mine Ride User is Offline Joined: 16 Oct 2007 Posts: 38	Posted: Sat Aug 01, 2009 1:18 pm    Post subject: · Quote Im glad you enjoyed them. I still miss West View to this day.Believe me,I know how you guys feel,its like someone took your best friend away from you. Its a shame the younger people wont have a chance to visit Geauga,Idora,Cascade,Crystal Beach and West View,they were all great parks.I was lucky to get to them before they closed.
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Ray P Coral Cove User is Offline Joined: 12 Jul 2007 Posts: 503	Posted: Sat Aug 01, 2009 1:53 pm    Post subject: · Quote If I'm not mistaken, the old Erieview Park (also defunct) Fright Zone dark ride was actually from West View.  I believe the ride is sitting in pieces as it was scheduled to be installed at Conneaut Lake before they closed at the end of 2006. Thanks for the memories laneman.  You mentioned Crystal Beach as well.  I visited only once in 1984 and thought it was a neat park.  The Comet was awesome with its setting alongside Lake Erie, the Giant Coaster was a rare side-friction deal, their Fun House was cool and huge if I recall, and their log ride was a soaker.  Shame it didn't survive. _________________ http://rayp.smugmug.com
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laneman Beaver Land Mine Ride User is Offline Joined: 16 Oct 2007 Posts: 38	Posted: Sat Aug 01, 2009 6:54 pm    Post subject: · Quote Youre welcome Ray. You are correct Ray,the Fright Zone is the Haunted House from West View.The only differance is when it was at West View it was a double decker.It was a classic great "Tracy" ride,always had a big line for it. West View had another dark ride too,Davey Jones Locker,which was turned into Land of the Giants the last year the park was open. There was also a walk through..Boot Hill. I really liked Crystal Beach too.What you said about the Comet is dead on,that setting was perfect for the coaster,actually made it seem higher than it really was.Parts of it was constructed from the infamous Cyclone and almost at the same location. Giant Coaster really surprised me,I thought being a side friction it would be tame,boy was I wrong.   Sadly Crystal Beach is all condos now
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Skyglider Tidal Wave Bay User is Offline Joined: 29 Aug 2007 Posts: 1112	Posted: Wed Aug 12, 2009 1:04 pm    Post subject: · Quote Thanks for posting those laneman. Other than the shopping center sign with the roller coaster on it, are there any traces at all left on site from West View Park? Even part of a wall or some overlooked cement?
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John Peck Double Loop User is Offline Joined: 03 Jul 2007 Posts: 279 Location: Columbus, Ohio USA	Posted: Thu Aug 13, 2009 12:59 am    Post subject: · Quote It's a shame that any park has to close. It doesn't remind me of the Geauga Lake situation as much as it does the Chippewa Lake and Idora Situations (prior to the fire), where it fell victim to the competition and couldn't afford signature rides to lure customers. (I do think they gave up a little too easily on Chippewa, though)
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laneman Beaver Land Mine Ride User is Offline Joined: 16 Oct 2007 Posts: 38	Posted: Thu Aug 13, 2009 10:59 am    Post subject: · Quote Youre welcome Skyglider. All traces are gone from the park. Its getting hard to remember where the ride locations were when driving through the shopping plaza.
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kidcoaster Beaver Land Mine Ride User is Offline Joined: 30 Nov 2007 Posts: 67 Location: Conneaut Lake Park	Posted: Tue Aug 18, 2009 10:45 pm    Post subject: · Quote Alot of history of West View can still be found at Conneaut. As it said before the Blue Streak and the Dips were very identical by design and construction. (Also Builders) The Carousel at Conneaut is the sisiter carousel of the one West View had. The Turtle in Kiddieland along with the Jolly Catipilliar came from West View. Also the haunted house from west view is still on site and will hopefully be rebuilt soon. _________________ Ken Jones '09 Ghost Lake - Jeepers Creepers Corn Maze '08 Ghost Lake - Clown Town
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laneman Beaver Land Mine Ride User is Offline Joined: 16 Oct 2007 Posts: 38	Posted: Tue Aug 18, 2009 11:09 pm    Post subject: · Quote You are correct kidcoaster. There is something else at Conneaut that was West View's,the Paratrooper.The use to have West View's Tempest too.
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