T&C Posted February 9, 2020 Share Posted February 9, 2020 The year I was finally tall enough was a great one, we would go every year to Crystal Beach and how I counted down to being able to ride the damn thing... you can only extend your neck so far. First time was a mindblower... rode it with my Dad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RaoulDuke79 Posted February 9, 2020 Share Posted February 9, 2020 There's a Comet at Hershey Park.....similar wooden roller coaster. Never rode the one you're referring to though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T&C Posted February 9, 2020 Author Share Posted February 9, 2020 12 minutes ago, RaoulDuke79 said: There's a Comet at Hershey Park.....similar wooden roller coaster. Never rode the one you're referring to though. Didn't know of another... the original from Crystal Beach has been moved to Lake George or somewhere's out that way... thing is still going. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RaoulDuke79 Posted February 9, 2020 Share Posted February 9, 2020 4 minutes ago, T&C said: Didn't know of another... the original from Crystal Beach has been moved to Lake George or somewhere's out that way... thing is still going. This is the one from my area https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comet_(Hersheypark) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buffalo_Gal Posted February 9, 2020 Share Posted February 9, 2020 Many times.According to wiki, it is still operating at Six Flags Great Escape north of Albany. Wow! Crystal Beach closed in 1989. I cannot believe it has been 30 years. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coloradobillsfan Posted February 9, 2020 Share Posted February 9, 2020 (edited) Some days it was so empty you could ride it over and over, just run through the turnstiles fast enough to get back on again. It took me a while but I was eventually able to ride it without holding on to the bar. But the scariest thing in the park for me was always the hornet nest at the top of the Yellow Coaster! Edited February 9, 2020 by coloradobillsfan 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ridgewaycynic2013 Posted February 9, 2020 Share Posted February 9, 2020 The summer they got the brainstorm and turned some of the cars backwards was a hoot. I could ride that forward without a care, but not seeing where you were going did ramp up the anxiety level. Also made for a funny commercial featuring two Sabres. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T&C Posted February 9, 2020 Author Share Posted February 9, 2020 I have to laugh at this... "where the phone never rings". Next 100 years? I'm sure the wheels were already turning at this point. Still, not a bad overview at that time: 13 minutes ago, Ridgewaycynic2013 said: The summer they got the brainstorm and turned some of the cars backwards was a hoot. I could ride that forward without a care, but not seeing where you were going did ramp up the anxiety level. Also made for a funny commercial featuring two Sabres. Never rode it like that, must have been after I went into the Army in 78. Another Park we used to go to once a year was Roseland on Canandaguia (sp) lake... also gone. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ridgewaycynic2013 Posted February 9, 2020 Share Posted February 9, 2020 5 minutes ago, T&C said: Never rode it like that, must have been after I went into the Army in 78. Yes, the reverse seat idea was mid 80s. I tried to find the commercial with the Sabres, but couldn’t. Two arguing over which way riding was scarier, as they walk away in their hockey pants, you can see both have wet themselves. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gray Beard Posted February 9, 2020 Share Posted February 9, 2020 There was a wooden roller coaster at Canobie Lake Park in New Hampshire that I used to enjoy. According to wiki, it was designed and built by the same people who built the Comet, but it was smaller. At at this point in my life I think a roller coaster would cause me to lose my equilibrium and have a bad day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T&C Posted February 9, 2020 Author Share Posted February 9, 2020 52 minutes ago, Ridgewaycynic2013 said: Yes, the reverse seat idea was mid 80s. I tried to find the commercial with the Sabres, but couldn’t. Two arguing over which way riding was scarier, as they walk away in their hockey pants, you can see both have wet themselves. Never heard of this until you mentioned it but this vid clearly shows what you are saying: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greybeard Posted February 10, 2020 Share Posted February 10, 2020 3 hours ago, Buffalo_Gal said: Many times.According to wiki, it is still operating at Six Flags Great Escape north of Albany. Wow! Crystal Beach closed in 1989. I cannot believe it has been 30 years. Remember in the 60's how the cities around Buffalo would have a Crystal Beach Day. The Comet we road on in the 60's wasn't the original They modified it because it was to scary or dangerous. I can't remember which. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buffalo_Gal Posted February 10, 2020 Share Posted February 10, 2020 8 minutes ago, Greybeard said: Remember in the 60's how the cities around Buffalo would have a Crystal Beach Day. The Comet we road on in the 60's wasn't the original They modified it because it was to scary or dangerous. I can't remember which. I remember class field trips to Crystal Beach. What a different time that was! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gugny Posted February 10, 2020 Share Posted February 10, 2020 3 hours ago, T&C said: The year I was finally tall enough was a great one, we would go every year to Crystal Beach and how I counted down to being able to ride the damn thing... you can only extend your neck so far. First time was a mindblower... rode it with my Dad. The Comet is currently in Lake George. It's fun, but it's painful. The older I've gotten, the more painful it's become and I'm done riding it. Just a very uncomfortable ride and I may have CTE. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T&C Posted February 10, 2020 Author Share Posted February 10, 2020 (edited) 10 minutes ago, Buffalo_Gal said: I remember class field trips to Crystal Beach. What a different time that was! I know what you are saying but somehow I never went on one or my school didn't have it. Also never rode the boat on over... most towns had a Crystal Beach day back then. I know Lancaster did though. 8 minutes ago, Gugny said: The Comet is currently in Lake George. It's fun, but it's painful. The older I've gotten, the more painful it's become and I'm done riding it. Just a very uncomfortable ride and I may have CTE. We might get up that way later this year, I don't know, might be the next depending on what goes on with family health issues... but I will ride that mofo one last time. Edited February 10, 2020 by T&C 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gugny Posted February 10, 2020 Share Posted February 10, 2020 This is from about 10 years ago at the Great Escape. Clearly, Lil Gug wasn't enjoying it as much as I was!!! 5 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T&C Posted February 10, 2020 Author Share Posted February 10, 2020 8 minutes ago, Gugny said: This is from about 10 years ago at the Great Escape. Clearly, Lil Gug wasn't enjoying it as much as I was!!! Awesome. Also, does your knee have that much hair nowadays... or is that a random head? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gugny Posted February 10, 2020 Share Posted February 10, 2020 1 minute ago, T&C said: Awesome. Also, does your knee have that much hair nowadays... or is that a random head? LOL. Random head! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ExiledInIllinois Posted February 10, 2020 Share Posted February 10, 2020 Yes....Many times... Never at Great Escape. 10 minutes ago, Gugny said: The Comet is currently in Lake George. It's fun, but it's painful. The older I've gotten, the more painful it's become and I'm done riding it. Just a very uncomfortable ride and I may have CTE. Sounds like the same Comet (parts were originally the "Crystal Beach Cyclone"). I wonder if that's like @Mike in Horseheads being a fan of the Baltimore Orioles after they were first the Milwaukee Brewers and then the St.Louis Browns. ?? LoL... I was a Browns fan. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
holmz56 Posted February 10, 2020 Share Posted February 10, 2020 Used to ride Comet at Chrystal Beach for Kenmore Days but I thought the Wild Mouse was crazier ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ExiledInIllinois Posted February 10, 2020 Share Posted February 10, 2020 Just now, holmz56 said: Used to ride Comet at Chrystal Beach for Kenmore Days but I thought the Wild Mouse was crazier ! My mother's favorite ride! The Wild Mouse! She was a masochist! LoL... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T&C Posted February 10, 2020 Author Share Posted February 10, 2020 3 minutes ago, holmz56 said: Used to ride Comet at Chrystal Beach for Kenmore Days but I thought the Wild Mouse was crazier ! Thanks for this... I rode the Wild Mouse before the Comet, must have made the height or being with a parent. Close to the mini golf thing they had. 4 minutes ago, ExiledInIllinois said: My mother's favorite ride! The Wild Mouse! My Dad loved that one... and the Scrambler. We closed the park a couple of times on the Scrambler. First time I ever saw woman's underthings was at that park... the guys running the air jets were as dirty as I am today. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buffalo_Gal Posted February 10, 2020 Share Posted February 10, 2020 There was a bullet ride at Crystal Beach that my sister and I decided we wanted to go on when we were about 7 and 8. I recall the attendant being skeptical, but allowing us on. Somehow, our seatbelts were never fastened and we ended up smushed and screaming at the bottom of the bullet head. Guy stopped the ride after a turn or two, we got off crying, and were scarred for life. ? Good times. Now about those great candy suckers... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ExiledInIllinois Posted February 10, 2020 Share Posted February 10, 2020 For the people that are confused... The current Comet is a combination of three. Used to part of the Crystal Beach Cyclone, then the Crystal Beach Comet, NOW the Great Escape Comet... From @Gugny 's review... Still sounds like the same painful Comet. I guess.my joke fell flat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gugny Posted February 10, 2020 Share Posted February 10, 2020 Just now, ExiledInIllinois said: For the people that are confused... The current Comet is a combination of three. Used to part of the Crystal Beach Cyclone, then the Crystal Beach Comet, NOW the Great Escape Comet... From @Gugny 's review... Still sounds like the same painful Comet. I guess.my joke fell flat. There's no need to guess. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ExiledInIllinois Posted February 10, 2020 Share Posted February 10, 2020 (edited) 11 minutes ago, Buffalo_Gal said: There was a bullet ride at Crystal Beach that my sister and I decided we wanted to go on when we were about 7 and 8. I recall the attendant being skeptical, but allowing us on. Somehow, our seatbelts were never fastened and we ended up smushed and screaming at the bottom of the bullet head. Guy stopped the ride after a turn or two, we got off crying, and were scarred for life. ? Good times. Now about those great candy suckers... LoL... Remember the chains in the parking lot? In 1977 I was chasing my olderbrother going back to car from lunch. Remember the days when people didn't eat in park, but packed their own food. Anyway, I wad chasing my Bro as we were hurdling the chains (vehicle row dividers)... I caught one and BOOM, went down like a sack of potatoes on the grass.. I instantly knew my left elbow was broken... Nobody believed me. Anyway... Being in Canada... My parents finally decided to take me back over the bridge and to the hospital... Sure enough, broken. Had to have surgery and pins. Pins still in my elbow till this day... Not sure why they put permanent pins in... My son had a bronen elbow, about same age (2005) and the Ortho removed his after the cast came off. Oh... Before the water slides went in a year later... The Park offered free tix. In the days before people really sued, why would we sue? My fault... Edited February 10, 2020 by ExiledInIllinois Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cripple Creek Posted February 10, 2020 Share Posted February 10, 2020 4 hours ago, T&C said: The year I was finally tall enough was a great one, we would go every year to Crystal Beach and how I counted down to being able to ride the damn thing... you can only extend your neck so far. First time was a mindblower... rode it with my Dad. Hell, yes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T&C Posted February 10, 2020 Author Share Posted February 10, 2020 15 minutes ago, Buffalo_Gal said: There was a bullet ride at Crystal Beach that my sister and I decided we wanted to go on when we were about 7 and 8. I recall the attendant being skeptical, but allowing us on. Somehow, our seatbelts were never fastened and we ended up smushed and screaming at the bottom of the bullet head. Guy stopped the ride after a turn or two, we got off crying, and were scarred for life. ? Good times. Now about those great candy suckers... What was the Bullet ride? Have no recollection of that one. Do remember the suckers though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ExiledInIllinois Posted February 10, 2020 Share Posted February 10, 2020 (edited) 25 minutes ago, T&C said: Thanks for this... I rode the Wild Mouse before the Comet, must have made the height or being with a parent. Close to the mini golf thing they had. My Dad loved that one... and the Scrambler. We closed the park a couple of times on the Scrambler. First time I ever saw woman's underthings was at that park... the guys running the air jets were as dirty as I am today. Should I be saying this? Statue limitations up? My best friend's friend from college... His family had a beach house right next to the park. After they closed in 1989... We got liquored up and went comando... Snuck in. Got a few choice things... Got into: "Laff in the Dark" ride... Few different things there... Like an ape face relief plaque. Boy... Security sucked in those days? What would they do to us? Deport us? Pre-passport days. Edited February 10, 2020 by ExiledInIllinois 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bermuda Triangle Posted February 10, 2020 Share Posted February 10, 2020 Any thread about roller coasters must mention Space Mountain In all seriousness, The Comet was the big, bad, boogeyman of WNY/S. Ontario rollercoasters until Darien Lake and Canada's Wonderland opened. My mom & dad took us to Crystal Beach at least every summer. We rode coasters, water slides, and then gorged on funnel cakes. Good times. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T&C Posted February 10, 2020 Author Share Posted February 10, 2020 2 minutes ago, ExiledInIllinois said: Should I be saying this? Statue limitations up? My best friend's friend from college... His family had a beach house right next to the park. After they closed in 1989... We got liquored up and went comando... Snuck in. Got a few choice things... Got into: "Laff in the Dark" ride... Few different things there... Like an ape face relief plaque. Boy... Security sucked in those days? What would they do to us? Deport us? Pre-passport days. Very cool... would have probably done the same in that proximity. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WotAGuy Posted February 10, 2020 Share Posted February 10, 2020 One of the Buffalo supermarkets used to give free ride tickets for every A or B you got on your report card. It was a great incentive to do homework and get good grades! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ExiledInIllinois Posted February 10, 2020 Share Posted February 10, 2020 Just now, T&C said: Very cool... would have probably done the same in that proximity. Literally... They border right by The Wild Mouse... If I recall, just a little section of public beach...I think the ape face is still hanging in my Brother's (Parent's House) garage. Gotta take a look next time I visit. Crazy... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T&C Posted February 10, 2020 Author Share Posted February 10, 2020 1 minute ago, WotAGuy said: One of the Buffalo supermarkets used to give free ride tickets for every A or B you got on your report card. It was a great incentive to do homework and get good grades! I think it was Super Duper... not completely sure but I got those tickets as a kid and we shopped there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ExiledInIllinois Posted February 10, 2020 Share Posted February 10, 2020 (edited) 33 minutes ago, T&C said: What was the Bullet ride? Have no recollection of that one. Do remember the suckers though. Same here @Buffalo_Gal... I just asked my wife, she has no recollection either....They went every year too with her father's work picnic. (We) Don't recall the Bullet. 19 minutes ago, T&C said: I think it was Super Duper... not completely sure but I got those tickets as a kid and we shopped there. Slightly off topic... But on subject of free tix. That's how we got all our BFLo Braves tix. Remember Dairylea milk? We'd have to cut the cartons and redeem. For the Oranges, but we'd move down to Blues @ The Aud. Where I first acquired vertigo! Edited February 10, 2020 by ExiledInIllinois Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T&C Posted February 10, 2020 Author Share Posted February 10, 2020 25 minutes ago, WotAGuy said: One of the Buffalo supermarkets used to give free ride tickets for every A or B you got on your report card. It was a great incentive to do homework and get good grades! Thinking about this for a bit, it could also have been A&P... we shopped there sometime too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ExiledInIllinois Posted February 10, 2020 Share Posted February 10, 2020 12 minutes ago, T&C said: Thinking about this for a bit, it could also have been A&P... we shopped there sometime too. Wow! Such an awesome thread! A&P! Flash from the past! We'd shop there too. One on Walden in Cheektowaga, across from where Galleria is today. Remember the Eight O'Clock coffee grinders at the registers? Check out lady would grind the coffees you wanted. I think it was Eight O'Clock? I was little and had my hand slapped by the cashier. I was ***** -ing around, putting my hands near the grinder... She whalloped me, then my mom whalloped me. I deserved it! Still got 10 fingers 47 years later! Thanks Guys! LoL... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lurker Posted February 10, 2020 Share Posted February 10, 2020 Riding it backwards was the bomb. I soiled many a pair of shorts til I got the hang of it... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gugny Posted February 10, 2020 Share Posted February 10, 2020 2 hours ago, T&C said: We might get up that way later this year, I don't know, might be the next depending on what goes on with family health issues... but I will ride that mofo one last time. Let me know if you do and want to grab a beer! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WotAGuy Posted February 10, 2020 Share Posted February 10, 2020 41 minutes ago, T&C said: Thinking about this for a bit, it could also have been A&P... we shopped there sometime too. “ Search Results Featured snippet from the web Neighborhoods, churches and factories all had discount days at Crystal Beach, and through the years several different grocery store chains, including Loblaws and later Super Duper, gave out free ride tickets for good grades on your report card.Jul 2, 2019 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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