plenzmd1 Posted February 19, 2020 Share Posted February 19, 2020 https://www.wgrz.com/article/news/local/fantasy-island-amusement-park-grand-island-rides-to-be-sold-future-in-doubt/71-d638df6f-bb21-4a0b-afb5-4d0b606330f8 Must say was never there, but sure do remember the commercials! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teef Posted February 19, 2020 Share Posted February 19, 2020 that's a bummer. my old girlfriend worked there when we were in grad school together. i actually knew a number of people that had summer jobs there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PetermansRedemption Posted February 19, 2020 Share Posted February 19, 2020 New management ran it into the ground. I’m convinced they bought it just to squeeze a few years of admission out of it and then sell the rides and land. Sad to see it go. Darien lake isn’t really great for younger kids. Expensive, farther drive for us north of the city, few kids orientated rides, and crowded. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GG Posted February 19, 2020 Share Posted February 19, 2020 My first summer job! Slinging cotton candy by the wilderness area. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhoTom Posted February 19, 2020 Share Posted February 19, 2020 Wow - I remember going there as a kid. I'm glad we took our son there when we had the chance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aristocrat Posted February 19, 2020 Share Posted February 19, 2020 you'd think someone would buy it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B-Man Posted February 19, 2020 Share Posted February 19, 2020 2 minutes ago, aristocrat said: you'd think someone would buy it Pegula-Land ? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
\GoBillsInDallas/ Posted February 19, 2020 Share Posted February 19, 2020 2 hours ago, aristocrat said: you'd think someone would buy it 2 hours ago, B-Man said: Pegula-Land ? New stadium location! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plenzmd1 Posted February 19, 2020 Author Share Posted February 19, 2020 3 minutes ago, \GoBillsInDallas/ said: New stadium location! Now that would be awesome! My SIL now lives in the home we moved into in 80 post Love Canal, bout 1 mile down GI BLVD from here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seasons1992 Posted February 19, 2020 Share Posted February 19, 2020 11 minutes ago, \GoBillsInDallas/ said: New stadium location! I love the idea............the traffic on Whitehaven and other roads would be 10 times worse than Abbott, however. And the bridges, oh lord the bridges........ This is VERY sad. I grew up there, and my kids have been there a couple times during visits back to the homeland. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlCowlingsTaxiService Posted February 19, 2020 Share Posted February 19, 2020 It was fabulous for younger kids when you could bring a wagon packed with food/drink and “spend a day, not a fortune” .... 1000% more palatable than the Darien lake insanity. Their Halloween setup was perfect for the younguns and the Wild West show was so cheesy, it was great! After Martin sold it, it went downhill fast. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cripple Creek Posted February 20, 2020 Share Posted February 20, 2020 7 hours ago, teef said: that's a bummer. my old girlfriend worked there when we were in grad school together. i actually knew a number of people that had summer jobs there. pic? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buffalo716 Posted February 20, 2020 Share Posted February 20, 2020 Man this sucks Lots of memories 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lurker Posted February 20, 2020 Share Posted February 20, 2020 4 hours ago, \GoBillsInDallas/ said: New stadium location! Amazon gets first dibs: https://www.bizjournals.com/buffalo/news/2020/02/19/is-fantasy-islands-future-tied-to-amazon.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon Posted February 20, 2020 Share Posted February 20, 2020 8 minutes ago, Cripple Creek said: pic? 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChevyVanMiller Posted February 20, 2020 Share Posted February 20, 2020 Anyone else remember the crooked house where pool balls defied gravity and water ran upstream? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GG Posted February 20, 2020 Share Posted February 20, 2020 4 hours ago, plenzmd1 said: Now that would be awesome! My SIL now lives in the home we moved into in 80 post Love Canal, bout 1 mile down GI BLVD from here. That would explain a lot. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Punching Bag Posted February 20, 2020 Share Posted February 20, 2020 (edited) 6 hours ago, Lurker said: Amazon gets first dibs: https://www.bizjournals.com/buffalo/news/2020/02/19/is-fantasy-islands-future-tied-to-amazon.html Article is mostly speculation. Other sections of paper have writers like Mr LeConjecture. Quote The economic development ripple effect of a possible, massive Amazon warehouse and distribution center on Grand Island could impact the future of the Fantasy Island Amusement Park. Maybe. That’s the opinion of real estate insiders contacted by Business First .... Until Apex clarifies what may be in store for the amusement park and its nearly 85 acres, there is plenty of speculation about the land’s future. Fantasy Island, situated on Grand Island Boulevard and visible from the I-190 section of the New York State Thruway, sits just a few miles south of where Amazon is negotiating with Acquest Development on plans to build the warehouse and distribution center. But, there are no guarantees that Amazon deal will come to fruition. The fate of both could be intertwined from a development perspective, insiders say. “Amazon could change everything,” said Eric Tudor, Tudor Collins Commercial Real Estate co-founder. Fantasy Island was one of those places suitable for younger kids and some adults but older kids hated it. I remember telling my mother to save the money from Fantasy Island from me so I could go on one of the school trips to Crystal Beach. Edited February 20, 2020 by Limeaid Posting snip to show article is mostly speculation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ridgewaycynic2013 Posted February 20, 2020 Share Posted February 20, 2020 6 hours ago, Simon said: Points if you recognize from where Alfred E. Newman’s sister really is from. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marv's Neighbor Posted February 20, 2020 Share Posted February 20, 2020 19 hours ago, aristocrat said: you'd think someone would buy it Apartments/townhouses? 5 hours ago, Ridgewaycynic2013 said: Points if you recognize from where Alfred E. Newman’s sister really is from. Laughing Sal? 16 hours ago, \GoBillsInDallas/ said: New stadium location! Grand Island Bridges on gameday! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ridgewaycynic2013 Posted February 20, 2020 Share Posted February 20, 2020 48 minutes ago, Marv's Neighbor said: Laughing Sal? That’s the gal! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ExiledInIllinois Posted February 20, 2020 Share Posted February 20, 2020 (edited) 17 hours ago, AlCowlingsTaxiService said: It was fabulous for younger kids when you could bring a wagon packed with food/drink and “spend a day, not a fortune” .... 1000% more palatable than the Darien lake insanity. Their Halloween setup was perfect for the younguns and the Wild West show was so cheesy, it was great! After Martin sold it, it went downhill fast. But that's not a sustainable business model in today's world. People "need", fresh, bigger, more exciting... Theme rides, etc... There is only one way to keep up with maintenance and people's attention. Move to the model which Disney started. *This doesn't mean I agree with this. It is what it is. Amusement parks need a constant infusion of cash, capital to keep them going, maintained, upgraded... Etc... Or they get stale. You want to pack food, go walk in a town park or head to beach. Edited February 20, 2020 by ExiledInIllinois Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teef Posted February 20, 2020 Share Posted February 20, 2020 17 hours ago, AlCowlingsTaxiService said: It was fabulous for younger kids when you could bring a wagon packed with food/drink and “spend a day, not a fortune” .... 1000% more palatable than the Darien lake insanity. Their Halloween setup was perfect for the younguns and the Wild West show was so cheesy, it was great! After Martin sold it, it went downhill fast. that's what these places really are the best for. we have seabreeze in the rochester area, and it's a great way to kill a summer day with the kids. we've told family not to buy our kids more *****, and instead get us passes to the local stuff. someone gave our entire family summer passes, so expect to see me a lot there with my shirt off. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ALF Posted February 20, 2020 Share Posted February 20, 2020 When my kids were young they loved Fantasy Island . If it can't make a profit then Darien Lake which is way bigger and better should benefit from that closing. When I was young Crystal Beach was like Disney World to us and my parents. When my kids were older Cedar Point was the place to go for a short vacation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Jokeman Posted February 20, 2020 Share Posted February 20, 2020 I loved Fantasy Island for their water slides and the Mouse. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nextmanup Posted February 20, 2020 Share Posted February 20, 2020 Did a couple of field trips there in school a long time ago. As I recall, they had like a fake "old west" Main St. complete with fake shootout. I remember a cowboy falling off the roof of a building after he was "shot" or something like that. Anyone know what I'm talking about? The memory is fuzzy. We are talking late '70s here I think. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nextmanup Posted February 20, 2020 Share Posted February 20, 2020 2 hours ago, ExiledInIllinois said: But that's not a sustainable business model in today's world. People "need", fresh, bigger, more exciting... Theme rides, etc... There is only one way to keep up with maintenance and people's attention. Move to the model which Disney started. *This doesn't mean I agree with this. It is what it is. Amusement parks need a constant infusion of cash, capital to keep them going, maintained, upgraded... Etc... Or they get stale. You want to pack food, go walk in a town park or head to beach. When I first saw this article, my immediate reaction was that I was surprised it was actually still in business. A small, local theme park is kind of an outdated business model in the 21st century. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Jokeman Posted February 20, 2020 Share Posted February 20, 2020 (edited) 11 minutes ago, Nextmanup said: Did a couple of field trips there in school a long time ago. As I recall, they had like a fake "old west" Main St. complete with fake shootout. I remember a cowboy falling off the roof of a building after he was "shot" or something like that. Anyone know what I'm talking about? The memory is fuzzy. We are talking late '70s here I think. Yeah I remember that. I was born in 77 so used to go in early to late 80s. Edited February 20, 2020 by The Jokeman 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ridgewaycynic2013 Posted February 20, 2020 Share Posted February 20, 2020 The wild west shootout was going on when I was a mere pratt of a lad back in the 60s. I think they were different upon opening in that they were a ‘pay one price’ park, Crystal Beach at the time collected tickets on each ride, purchased at booths around the park. I do remember Fantasy Island being big on promoting themselves. My father’s new Oldsmobile had a BIG bumper sticker plastered to it saying something like ‘We Had Fun at Fantasy Island’. My mother stormed off to the office, and someone from the park was soon peeling it off before we left the parking lot. Must be why they switched to annoying kids braying the “Fun? Wow!” slogan on commercials. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhoTom Posted February 20, 2020 Share Posted February 20, 2020 1 hour ago, Nextmanup said: Did a couple of field trips there in school a long time ago. As I recall, they had like a fake "old west" Main St. complete with fake shootout. I remember a cowboy falling off the roof of a building after he was "shot" or something like that. Anyone know what I'm talking about? The memory is fuzzy. We are talking late '70s here I think. They did the wild west shootout when we took our son there in 2002. He got a toy badge, which he lost on the way to the car. A nuclear meltdown ensued. 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkyMannn Posted February 20, 2020 Share Posted February 20, 2020 The Wild West shootout was the best, I don't care what your age was. As another poster said: "cheesey" but good Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ExiledInIllinois Posted February 20, 2020 Share Posted February 20, 2020 (edited) 40 minutes ago, Ridgewaycynic2013 said: The wild west shootout was going on when I was a mere pratt of a lad back in the 60s. I think they were different upon opening in that they were a ‘pay one price’ park, Crystal Beach at the time collected tickets on each ride, purchased at booths around the park. I do remember Fantasy Island being big on promoting themselves. My father’s new Oldsmobile had a BIG bumper sticker plastered to it saying something like ‘We Had Fun at Fantasy Island’. My mother stormed off to the office, and someone from the park was soon peeling it off before we left the parking lot. Must be why they switched to annoying kids braying the “Fun? Wow!” slogan on commercials. Oh... You're a "mere pratt of a lad" alright! Don't let anybody tell you otherwise, that's rubbish! J/K... Cheerio, Good-Bye, Toodle-oo, Hip Hip! ? Edited February 20, 2020 by ExiledInIllinois Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buffalo716 Posted February 20, 2020 Share Posted February 20, 2020 5 hours ago, Nextmanup said: Did a couple of field trips there in school a long time ago. As I recall, they had like a fake "old west" Main St. complete with fake shootout. I remember a cowboy falling off the roof of a building after he was "shot" or something like that. Anyone know what I'm talking about? The memory is fuzzy. We are talking late '70s here I think. Yea that was Always their big draw for kids The wild west show Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Punching Bag Posted February 21, 2020 Share Posted February 21, 2020 8 hours ago, The Jokeman said: I loved Fantasy Island for their water slides and the Mouse. The Mouse I remember as being fun. Nothing else I can remember enjoying. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buffalo Barbarian Posted February 21, 2020 Share Posted February 21, 2020 On 2/19/2020 at 2:00 PM, B-Man said: Pegula-Land ? Thought that was the arena and canal side Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plenzmd1 Posted February 21, 2020 Author Share Posted February 21, 2020 13 hours ago, Limeaid said: The Mouse I remember as being fun. Nothing else I can remember enjoying. I cant believe there was even one thing in this world you found fun..was that the last? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
\GoBillsInDallas/ Posted February 21, 2020 Share Posted February 21, 2020 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wacka Posted February 21, 2020 Share Posted February 21, 2020 On 2/20/2020 at 12:39 PM, Nextmanup said: Did a couple of field trips there in school a long time ago. As I recall, they had like a fake "old west" Main St. complete with fake shootout. I remember a cowboy falling off the roof of a building after he was "shot" or something like that. Anyone know what I'm talking about? The memory is fuzzy. We are talking late '70s here I think. First went to it in the mid 60s and yes they had the shootouts then. I was about 7 0rso. Knew ir was fake because one of the bad guys was was a neighbor that lived 3 doors away. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nextmanup Posted February 22, 2020 Share Posted February 22, 2020 On 2/21/2020 at 1:38 PM, Wacka said: First went to it in the mid 60s and yes they had the shootouts then. I was about 7 0rso. Knew ir was fake because one of the bad guys was was a neighbor that lived 3 doors away. Well WNY is a small community, but that's pretty funny. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nextmanup Posted February 22, 2020 Share Posted February 22, 2020 On 2/21/2020 at 10:24 AM, plenzmd1 said: I cant believe there was even one thing in this world you found fun..was that the last? Love the new avatar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts