Sky Whirl questions

jonrev · Post by **jonrev** » Sat Feb 11, 2006 6:20 pm

1. What happened to the Sky Whirl's enterance over the years? All of the criss crossing fence-like thing somehow disappeared over the years.

Before:
http://www.greatamericaparks.com/sg/rid ... irl019.jpg

After:
http://www.negative-g.com/SFGAM/SFGAM20 ... he-air.jpg

2. Are there any other three-armed ferris wheels still operating?

that_guy · Post by **that_guy** » Sat Feb 11, 2006 7:24 pm

Yeah, I have noticed Great America was built with a lot of lattice and globe lights. In the weirdest places too, I mean last summer I noticed them on the carousel (I didn't think they would pu boring globe lights on such a nice carousel):

http://www.greatamericaparks.com/sg/rid ... bia010.jpg

and then you can find lattice on the gates as well as many of the entrances to many of the rides (not that I'm complaining about any of it). As for the Sky Whirl's enterance, I'm clueless...

Shockwavegirl · Post by **Shockwavegirl** » Sun Feb 12, 2006 12:06 am

I don't know if there are any more three armed ferris wheels anymore...but there are some similar designs. I think Astroworld had a 2 armed one....don't know for sure though, and if it did if it's going to be relocated since the closing of that park.

jonrev · Post by **jonrev** » Sun Feb 12, 2006 12:13 am

The Astrowheel is long gone. Cabins have been sighted rusting away on a farm and there was one by Looping Starship. The Astrowheel was gone by the 80s.

that_guy · Post by **that_guy** » Sun Feb 12, 2006 10:08 am

Hershey Park had a double wheel (I believe it was removed), Kings Island also got a Triple Wheel that was later moved to Australia or something (not sure whether it is operational)...

pjm8071 · Post by **pjm8071** » Sun Feb 12, 2006 12:51 pm

Here is a pic of the Astro wheel.

http://www.sixflagshouston.com/photos/A ... l/modville

I know I saw a pic somewhere of them rusing away. If I remember where I saw them I will let you know.

GAcoaster · Post by **GAcoaster** » Sun Feb 12, 2006 7:23 pm

Magic Mountain had one too, but with a twist (the arms had arms that spun too):

RandyV · Post by **RandyV** » Sun Feb 19, 2006 11:08 pm

My money says the lattice was a maintenance nightmare. That stuff isn't very strong to begin with -- and given it's location to the general public walkway, I suspect it was a victim of people running into it, knocking it down and just wrecking it in general. Plus, it's one more thing to paint every year.

that_guy · Post by **that_guy** » Mon Feb 20, 2006 1:26 am

2 questions from out of no where

1. What ever happened to that patch of grass on the loading platform?
I thought it looked nice...
before:

http://www.greatamericaparks.com/sg/rid ... irl043.jpg

after:

http://www.greatamericaparks.com/images ... m=45&pos=1

2. Whats with the wooden arch thing?

http://www.greatamericaparks.com/images ... m=45&pos=0

Shockwavegirl · Post by **Shockwavegirl** » Mon Feb 20, 2006 2:09 am

I think that the grass in the middle may have been removed just because it was just easier.....maintenance didn't have to drag a lawn mower there for just that small patch. But don't quote me.

The wooded arch in that last picture looks like the entryway into Southwest Territory. The words Southwest Territory would be on the other side.

BrianPlencner · Post by **BrianPlencner** » Mon Feb 20, 2006 4:41 am

For starters, the two pictures you reference of Sky Whirl are from each park. The first http://www.greatamericaparks.com/sg/rid ... irl043.jpg

is from Santa Clara....that's the easy one, as Steve says so on the bottom of the page!

The other picture http://www.greatamericaparks.com/images ... m=45&pos=1

is actually the Gurnee version, as you can see SplashWater Falls in the background.

But, Gurnee did have something in the middle like Santa Clara did. From what I remember, it was a raised up area (probably the same size as the grass area in Santa Clara), but I don't think it ever had grass in it. It was just a raised section (about 3-4 inches I think), and it was blacktop. I know in later years, that was removed, to make for a flat surface. I believe Gurnee took theirs out because of people would trip over it going to thier cabin.

ShockwaveGirl is correct on the Wooden Arch question. I checked my picture collection on my computer, and I don't have one of that side. I may have one that I have to scan in though, so I'll look.

--Brian

SFGAmfreak4life · Post by **SFGAmfreak4life** » Mon Feb 20, 2006 9:54 pm

There was grass in the middle of Gurnee's platform. http://www.greatamericaparks.com/sg/rid ... irl040.jpg

redfishpaw · Post by **redfishpaw** » Tue Feb 21, 2006 7:04 am

I recall the raised grass area at Gurnee, which was later blacktopped and eventually was removed and lowered just as Brian had mentioned.