Tag Archives: Theme Park

Six Flags Magic Mountain (update)

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We received an email from someone who believes he may have an explanation for who is the ghost found on the Jet Stream.  Apparently, back in the 90s there was an elderly gentleman who really loved the Jet Stream and the Log Jammer, and would visit the park at least once a month to ride those rides.  He loved them so much he would even pick out specific boats and logs to ride while visiting.  He was such a regular figure that the employees started to affectionately refer to him as “Floatie.”  There was even a time that “Floatie” helped a guest who had gotten hurt but could find no one that spoke his language.  The park was grateful and bought him food.  Floatie died in the late 90s, so maybe it is his spirit still lingering on the ride that he loved so much.

California’s Great America

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Originally opened in 1976 for the U.S. bicentennial by the Marriott company in Santa Clara, CA. (with its sister park near Chicago IL). The theme park has been under several owners. In the mid 80’s Marriott was selling off its amusement parks, but could not find a buyer for its park in Santa Clara, so it was just going to shut it down and sell the land. Santa Clara residents did not want to see their beloved park torn down so they dug deep into their own pockets so the city could buy the amusement park. They contracted out with King’s Entertainment (the company that owned King’s Dominion and King’s Island) to manage the park. King’s Entertainment eventually bought the park from the city and they in turn were eventually bought by Paramount. While the park was originally themed after different eras of American past with a patriotic bent, Paramount has totally removed the theming convention and just stuck rides named after movies all over the place. Both Kryis and Bryan at one time worked in this park, so some of the stories you are about to read are 2nd hand accounts. The park was purchased in 2006 by Cedar Fair, the same company that owns Cedar Point and Knott’s Berry Farm, and renamed California’s Great America.

Ghost Stories

In 1983 a 13 year-old boy died when he stepped off of the ride and another train ran into the back of his train. It is said that he now wanders the now unoccupied spot where the ride (The Willard’s Wizard) once stood. One Graveyard shift employee had reported hearing footsteps crossing the wooden bridge that crosses over the splash zone of Whitewater Falls, which occupies one half of the old Whizzer ride area.

For coaster enthusiasts as well as ghost hunters: The reason that the train had not stopped before it rammed into the station-parked train, was that the electric eyes did not register that the space was already occupied.

For years after the accident, if the ride had been stopped for an emergency, the ride computer would show “ghost trains.” (The electric eyes registered trains on the track where it was not physically possible for there to be one, especially in the helix.)

The Theater in Orleans Plaza is said to be haunted. Most stories tell of cold-spots.

Katie, an 8 year old blonde girl has been seen going into the one time Fort Fun maze, only to never be seen coming out again.

There is also a tale of a 10 year old boy, Doug, who died in a house/barn fire that took place when the area was a ranch. That spot was supposedly where the Tidal Wave/Greased Lightning once stood. He has been know to cause things to knock over in merchandise shops in Yankee Harbor & New Orleans Place. (when the park actually had themed areas)

One report read that an employee had seen a little boy and a little girl walking into light, then vanishing in Orleans Place.

It is also said that these two children were brother and sister.

Our Review

As a rollercoaster nut (Bryan) and a theme park enthusiast (Kryis) this park is a big bitter disappointment to us. We also both used to work here, and it was much better then. The park has substandard roller coasters (They took out their one breakthrough coaster the first “true flying” coaster to put in a waterpark). The only semi-good coaster left is “Top Gun.” It is a shame that they just cannot seem to get good rides. Now with the competition from Marine World (which has much better rollercoasters, and theirs aren’t even that good) I hoped Paramount would get the clue and do something right. Oh well. So much for that. I would rather drive for 5 hours and go to Magic Mountain. Hopefully now that the park is owned by Cedar Fair its rides and theming will improve.

Knott’s Berry Farm

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About Knott’s Berry Farm

Starting in the 1920s Walter Knott and his family sold berries from a small stand on California State Highway 39. He was the first person to successfully cultivate the Boysenberry developed by Rudolf Boysen. Starting in 1934 Knott’s wife, Cordelia, began serving fried chicken dinners and boysenberry pie for dessert. Their location alongside a major north-south thoroughfare became a popular rest stop. In a few short years the restaurant became so popular the wait for a table lengthened to several hours. In an effort to entertain his waiting guests, Walter Knott built a ghost town by transplanting buildings from Calico California and Prescott Arizona. Eventually, Knott started adding attractions such as a train ride and a mine ride.

In 1968 the family built a fence around the attractions and began to charge admission. Knott’s Berry Farm currently claims to be the world’s first theme park.

In 1997 the Knott family sold the amusement park to Cedar Fair (owners and operators of Cedar Point amusement park in Sandusky Ohio) There has been a shift since then to more thrill rides and rollercoasters, but the park still has plenty of connection to the past. There still is a fired chicken dinner restaurant and a ghost town.

Ghost Stories

Strange noises and eerie feelings have been described by employees of the Peanuts Playhouse in camp snoopy. It has also been reported that lights turn themselves on and off with no one else present. The old Dinosaur Ride (which was in the area now occupied roughly by the Johnny Rockets in Boardwalk) was also said to be haunted by a former maintenance employee and a young boy. We have not uncovered any reports of those hauntings continuing now that the ride has been torn down. The upstairs of Virginia’s Gift Shop on the exterior of the park is said to be haunted as is the Bird Cage Theater and Mrs. Knott’s Chicken Dinner Restaurant. The lady that was working in the Teddy Bear store told a story about the building when it was still the old Print Shop (when we were there you could still see the faded word print underneath the word shop on the sign to the Teddy Bear store). Apparently there were stamps (not the kind you mail) on display on shelves on the wall and for no apparent reason some of them started falling off of the shelves.

Our Review

He Says:

I miss the Haunted Shack that had to be removed. Apparently the old management company did not do a very good job maintaining the park, and the Haunted Shack was in such a state of disrepair when Cedar Fair purchased the park that they could not refurbish it without having to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act which would have ruined the optical illusions that made the attraction what it was, so it was removed. The coin artist was very neat, and informative about the history of the park. If he is still there, I highly recommend you spend some time viewing his wares and watching him work at his shop/store in Ghost Town. The rollercoasters here are also very good, but I miss some of the simpler older rides that have been removed and replaced such as the old Soap Box Racer ride.

She Says:

By this time, I was pretty much burnt out at the end of our vacation. I don’t recall having ever been to Knott’s before, so I cannot compare old vs. new, but I did enjoy some of the more natural scenery as well as talking to the man at the coin-carving booth. Considering that I tend towards motion sickness, I stuck to the ground, with the exception of Montezuma’s Revenge. It is almost identical to Great America’s Tidal Wave ( Now gone 🙁 .) I felt I had to ride it for old time’s sake.

And don’t forget… The candy shops had chocolate covered boysenberry truffles!!!
Yummm… Suuuugaaaarrrrr….

Now that Cedar Fair owns both Knott’s and Great America, I am hoping for both parks to have a true revitalization and many Great years to come…

Six Flags Magic Mountain

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About Six Flags Magic Mountain

Six Flags Magic Mountain is an amusement park in southern California just a little north of Los Angeles. It opened in 1971 and has had numerous significant contributions to the science of rollercoasters. Among the parks accomplishments are opening the worlds first looping rollercoaster, the Revolution, in 1976, the first roller coaster to break 100 MPH, Superman: the escape, and the first “4th Dimensional Coaster,” X. The Park has changed hands a few times over the years, and is currently operated by the Six Flags corporation. Recently it was announced that Six Flags was exploring options to sell the park, but nothing concrete has yet been determined about the park’s future.

Ghost Stories

In speaking with several employees of the park on our summer 2006 visit we got some interesting stories. Most of these stories were from Vickie, an eleven year veteran with the park.

There is a “grey man” that is sometimes seen at the Jet Stream, the “boat ride.” Additionally, sometimes people on the ride and the station will feel their hair being pulled.

On the Psyclone, before there were three clicks on the safety restraints, a “fat woman” was thrown off the ride when the restraint failed. (We have found no reference to this person on any amusement related death list.) Also, the tunnel at Psyclone will have the sound of people walking in it when there isn’t anyone around.

Indians are said to have been seen wandering around Samurai Summit.

Some internet sources claim the following hauntings:

There is supposedly a child in a striped shirt that will run around and through the supports underneath the Colossus at night. Sometimes the chain lift and the anti roll-backs on the lift hill can be heard when the ride is shut down for the night.

The telephone in the Goliath Station is said to receive odd telephone calls from an otherworldly source after the park has closed. Feelings of dread have also been reported.

Cold spots and feelings of sadness and of being watched on the Revolution have been attributed to an employee that was killed on the ride when she stepped onto the track and was dragged by the train.

The apparition of a woman in a white dress has been seen in the area around the magic pagoda at night

Our Review

The best collection of roller coasters west of the Mississippi River, and arguably the best in the United States. “X” is our favorite rollercoaster and the world’s first “4th Dimensional Coaster.” Other impressive rides at the park include Tatsu, Riddler’s Revenge, Scream, and Deja Vu. Anyone with a love of rollercoasters should enjoy this park. The long standing war with Cedar Point in Sandusky Ohio has lead to a great many wonderful rides being built at both locations over the past decade. Currently there is uncertainty about the park’s future due to its owners (Six Flags) announcing they were considering selling the park or the real estate under the park to help the company pay off some of its debts. Hopefully the park is able to maintain operation and continue its coaster war with Cedar Point. I doubt, regardless of the conclusion, that the coaster war will continue, unfortunately.

If there is one thing that Magic Mountain is lacking, it is theming. We wish that the themed areas were more consistent.

Disneyland

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There cannot be many of you out there that do not know at least a little about Disneyland. Opened in 1955, Disneyland is the dream come true of Mr. Walt Disney the father of Mickey Mouse and the entire Disney empire. Disney is the theme park of theme parks with eight themed areas: Main Street U.S.A, Adventureland, New Orleans Square, Critter Country, Frontierland, Fantasyland, Mickey’s Toon Town, and Tomorrowland. Disneyland is known as the “Happiest Place on Earth.” Children of all ages have a experienced the magic of the “Magic Kingdom.” Dismeyland has evolved and changed greatly over the years, as some attractions have been retired, replaced, or re-imagineered.

Ghost Stories

Disneyland has enchanted many people through the years, some people seemed to have liked it so much, they have decided to stay post mortem.

There is a rumor that Walt Disney himself haunts many location in Disneyland, most notably his old apartment over the Fire Station on Main Street. An employee was in the old apartment to dust. As she left, she turned off the lights. When she noticed the lights were still on she returned to the second floor and turned them off again, assuming she had forgotten to turn them off the first time. Again, when she reached the first floor, she noticed the lights were on again. She went back upstairs to see what was going on, when she got up there, a voice told her “Don’t forget, I am still here.” They leave the light on for Walt now as a tribute to him. (Or if you prefer, he just won’t let them turn it off).

There is a storeroom somewhere behind where the magic shop is on main street that is said to have one been an office that Walt Disney used. There have been reports of cold spots and eerie feelings in that room.

The stockroom above the emporium is said to be haunted, especially near the “hanger wall.” Employee was in there, someone jumped up as if to scare her, when she turned, there was no one there. Also, an employee was putting a PVC figures on shelves and one shelf fell over (can someone say gravity?)

The Disney Gallery (Above Pirates of the Caribbean), as well as the stockrooms above the New Orleans Square shops, are said to be haunted by Walt, his wife, and a woman named Mary.

Both Pirates of the Caribbean and Haunted Mansion have the same legend associated with them, which if either is true is unclear. A young boy who loved the ride died young. His mother wanted to scatter his ashes at the ride site, but Disneyland refused. She decided to sneak in and scatter the ashes on the ride despite their refusal. Ever since then, the ride is said to be haunted by that little boy. Which ride? I have no idea. However, he is said to sit at the exit of Haunted Mansion and cry.

We heard this story from a ride operator on Pirates of the Caribbean. A coworker of his is said to have gone on the pre-opening ride to check to make sure that everything was working. As he was going through the ride he swears there was a little boy or a little girl in the boat with him.

The darkest area of the ride, known as “Transition Tunnel” is said to produce odd noises and even giggling when the ride is turned off and there is no soundtrack running.

Club 33 (the exclusive club that is in New Orleans Square near POTC and the Blue Bayou) is also said to be haunted.

A boy is said to be seen on the ride cameras of POTC, but he cannot be seen with the naked eye.

Tom Sawyers Island is said to be haunted by the ghost (or ghosts) of a graduating high school senior(s) that drowned while trying to swim to the island across the Rivers of America at a Grad Nite celebration at the park. Additionally there are said to be children that haunt the island itself. Cast members have seen children running around after the island is to be closed. The employees glimpse the children running, but when they look for them, they are never found.

The Matterhorn side B (The side on the right as you are looking at it from loading station) is said to be haunted by the ghost of “Dolly.” Dolly was a mother who went on the ride with her children. She was worried about them so she undid her seat belt and turned to look at them. The train went into a sharp decline (now known as Dolly’s Dip) and was thrown from the train and run over by the next bobsled.

It’s a Small World is said to be haunted by either employees or guests that loved the ride so much they decided to come back. Manifestations include the figures moving on there own after they have been shut down. There is a story about a mechanic after having been fired by Disneyland, snuck back into the ride and was living there for a few days before he was discovered.

A figure is seen standing near Sleeping Beauty’s Castle long after the park has closed.

The Peoplemover (now removed from Tomorrowland) was said to be haunted by the ghost of a teenage boy that tried to jump from the car as it was moving along the tracks. He was dragged under the car to his death. As he was being dragged he reached up to his girlfriends blonde hair. He is said to manifest himself usually to girls with long blonde hair who feel him tugging on their hair.

We have a few more accounts from employees we interviewed on our last visit.

Our Review

Disneyland may very well be the Happiest Place on Earth. There are so many rides that I can go on again and again and still enjoy. While I think the parking situation is a convoluted (and some of the signs directing you there from the highway are slightly convoluted) but it is a great place to visit every year or so for young and old. We did not get to go to Tom Sawyer’s Island the last time we were there because it was closed. We enjoyed the Haunted Mansion Holiday, but prefer the original. We wish they would not have added some of the changes they made to Pirates of the Caribbean by adding Jack Sparrow and company to the ride. Sometimes people should just leave things the way they were. Maybe someday we will get a chance to ask the ghosts what they think of the changes that have been made to the park over the years.