Amusement rides of old

 You said, " Ahoy, mate, " waving to your mom and dad as you passed them again on the carnival boat ride. To your parents' delight, you rang the small bell as loud as you could as Dad snapped pictures for posterity's sake.

                                             AMUSEMENT PARKS OF OLD

Miniature versions were called amusement parks long before Disney Land or Disney World. Most were owned by individuals who built these parks on their land, making the various rides in the barns and sheds on their property. Later, I realized how much love and time were put into these places. That was evident as you saw the owner walking around his dream, smiling and waving to the children as they rode one ride and hurried to the next. He was usually the man in coveralls stained with grease, making a clanking sound as one tool on his belt hit another. He'd go from ride to ride, tightening a loose bolt or greasing the wheels of a kiddy ride, stopping along the way to hand out a free ride ticket to some deserving child. 

In the winter months, he could be found in the barn putting on fresh coats of all colors on the rides, which were now disassembled, until he completed every task required to keep them looking and running right.

The biggest challenge was time. He opened in April and closed in October, giving him six months to do everything required, and for opening day, that always meant dozens of families rushing to get in and on their favorite rides. A few vendors came in the Spring, such as the hotdog man and cotton candy lady. There was one attraction everybody liked called the dunking tank. You were sure to spend the rest of your day soaking wet if someone threw the ball at the target and hit it, sending you down into the water. These small amusement parks were what childhood memories were made from, and to this day, some seventy years later, I still light up when I see one still in operation. Let's face it: who wouldn't want to steer through the twists and turns of a mighty river in your favorite boat that you couldn't even fit into now?

Mike 2024