Bottoms Up

jonrev · Post by **jonrev** » Sun Oct 09, 2005 6:45 pm

Whatever happened to Bottoms Up after it left SFGAm? Where was it located and how did it work?

that_guy · Post by **that_guy** » Sun Oct 09, 2005 10:21 pm

What do you mean by "…how did it work?" ?

jonrev · Post by **jonrev** » Mon Oct 10, 2005 10:30 am

What did it do when you rode it?

HoneyBunny · Post by **HoneyBunny** » Tue Jan 17, 2006 6:26 pm

Another question for Gurnee-goers

Does anyone remember a ride close to the Eagle (right next to the exit) that (I thought) was called "bottoms Up" as well, but it's not the original "bottoms up" roulette wheel ride. This ride was more of a catapult ride. It was circular and you sat in cars similar to Triple Play, when the ride began it lifted a bit (like Whirl-a-gig) and then you went in a circle for a bit. Then every other car would be catapulted to almost a 90 degree angle...anyway I could have swore that ride was also called "bottoms up" but now that I think about it, it may have been called "Top" - something...anyone remember this??

that_guy · Post by **that_guy** » Tue Jan 17, 2006 6:33 pm

I think your thinking of Big Top:

http://www.greatamericaparks.com/forums ... .php?t=216

jonrev · Post by **jonrev** » Tue Jan 17, 2006 6:47 pm

Yep. It now runs as Riccochet in the Southwest Territory.

HoneyBunny · Post by **HoneyBunny** » Wed Jan 18, 2006 2:50 pm

Yes! That's the one! Thank you That_Guy and jonrev for the reply

redfishpaw · Post by **redfishpaw** » Thu Jan 19, 2006 11:12 am

Here is a photo with part of ''Big Top'' in 1987

http://www.pbase.com/redfishpaw/image/55052875

jonrev · Post by **jonrev** » Thu Jan 19, 2006 12:11 pm

I thought it was yellow

BrianPlencner · Post by **BrianPlencner** » Thu Jan 19, 2006 2:25 pm

jonrev wrote:I thought it was yellow

It was. Its just that the yellow had faded a bit that year, so it had an off-white look to it!

redfishpaw · Post by **redfishpaw** » Fri Jan 20, 2006 9:34 am

Looking back at this 1987 aerial I find it interesting that the big top ride was removed from its platform for the off season. (to the right of Splashwater falls).

http://www.pbase.com/redfishpaw/image/51734555

jonrev · Post by **jonrev** » Fri Jan 20, 2006 10:58 am

What happened to all of that swamp by AE's helix?

BrianPlencner · Post by **BrianPlencner** » Fri Jan 20, 2006 8:59 pm

jonrev wrote:What happened to all of that swamp by AE's helix?

Dried up!

Actually, I'm not sure what ever happened to it, but I think it was a "man made" lake, and I think over time, they never put the water back in it.

A little bit OT for the thread, but I know that is the reason that the local kids were able to climb up the ride, and steal "Tiny" the giant spider that the park puts up at Fright Fest. With no water in the lake, it was very easy to gain access to that part of the ride, and make their way up.

that_guy · Post by **that_guy** » Fri Jan 20, 2006 10:43 pm

Wait...someone actually stole it? Why, was it recovered?

BrianPlencner · Post by **BrianPlencner** » Sat Jan 21, 2006 10:57 am

Yes, a group of highschool students (on a dare from what I was told) stole the spider right off the ride. They did it in the middle of the night. I know they also broke a few of the flood lights so that the ride would be in the dark.

The next morning, the park noticed it was gone, and of course called Gurnee Police. On the ground near the ride were drag marks (remember, even without air that sucker is heavy) where the spider had been dragged on the ground. So, the police started driving around the area looking for it.

Now, I have to jump in here with a question. Lets say you did this. And you were able to get it home. You have to find someplace to put it right? Well, its big, so put it in the gargae. Once in the garage, do you
1) Close the door, to hide your "treasure"
2) Leave it wide open, for all to see?

The Correct answer is #1, but fortunally (well, unfortunally for the people who took it), they were not that smart, and went with option #2. Gurnee Police driving by saw the big black pile of "something" in this guys garage. As it turned out, it was Tiny.

Tiny was recovered without any damage, and was returned to the park. A few days later, Tiny took his place back up on Eagle.

I'm not sure what kind of punishment the kids got for this, but I'm guessing it was along the lines of a fine and maybe a few hours of Community Service.