Parks Adirondack Adventure

[TOGOFan]

Debut Season // June 30th, 1989

Adirondack Adventure is a family-friendly, family-owned amusement park set on 170 beautiful acres in Lake Placid, upstate New York, quite a distance away from any major city, and therefore, is slated to draw mostly local crowds. The park offers free admission, a free parking lot, free entertainment and free picnic facilities, opting for a more traditional, pay-as-you-go scheme.

The debut season already got off to a late start, with the official opening on June 30th, 1989, owing to over a month's delay in the way of operations. Even so, the park still feels very incomplete, as it just begins to emerge out of the woodlands.

One of the very few food options at the moment is "Clifftop Cafe," although, you wouldn't even know that were the cafe's name if not for the park map. Interior & exterior seating offered.

Rustic interior with an unusual blend of castle elements.

Falling Star, a quite unique "Eccentric Ferris Wheel" (dating back to the 1920s!) was purchased from a local company of mobile rides serving state-wide fairgrounds, festivals and exhibitions. It was freshly painted and (generically) themed, but getting the ride up and safely running took quite longer than expected and was part of the reason for the park's opening delay.

"Greyhound," pictured in the background, is a Double Out And Back wooden coaster manufactured by Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters. Just like Falling Star, Greyhound is not native to the park; it was previously located in a Canadian theme park that closed down just a few years ago. The owners of Adirondack Adventure acquired it through a successful bid at an auction.

The queue time for Greyhound peaked at 1 hour and a half today, with only one train running the entire time. Needless to say, park attendance on debut day surpassed all expectations.

A semi-aerial view showcasing the two major attractions at the moment.

 

[TOGOFan]

Entrance // 1989

Just a small update, or rather, what should have been included in the opening post. The entrance and (beginnings of a...) main street.

 

[TOGOFan]

End of Season // October 29th, 1989

As the inaugural season draws to an end, Adirondack Adventure announced that it will remain open through the first two weeks of November, weather-permitting, to help compensate for the opening delay. (Little do these guests know what will happen soon... anyone know their history?)

A food stand with the unremarkable name "Waffle Cones," but which serves ice cream that is anything but unremarkable! [squeeeeee]

They also serve frozen yogurt, the current "trend" in ice cream.

The challenges faced by the park in its inaugural year were characteristic of many others, even with its remote location, and overall, smaller scale. Crowds were at times larger than expected, resulting in long lineups and the few existing facilities often proved inadequate to meet their needs.

Plans for the upcoming 1990 season include minor cosmetic changes to buildings, "filling out" the main street/entrance plaza, and of course, the addition of flat rides.

 

[OrganicKobze]

I love the way you are telling a story with the park. Really enjoying this, keep up the good work [up]

 

[TOGOFan]

I love the way you are telling a story with the park. Really enjoying this, keep up the good work [up]

Thanks, glad you like it! Storyline-based parks were more common in the earlier years of SGW, although, mine is not completely storyline-based. I just think it makes the presentation a bit more interesting. [big grin]

Venetian Carousel // May 12th, 1990

Joining the AA lineup for the upcoming 1990 season, and surely to become a park staple, is a timeless classic Zierer Wave Swing ride by the name "Venetian Carousel!" And going with the theme so far, you can probably guess this is not its first home.

Built atop a small cliff and overlooking the lake, the ride is sure to provide great views all around. And what a great way to cool off on a hot summer day!

Snapshot taken from Clifftop Cafe.

Thanks for looking!

 

[TOGOFan]

Some cosmetic changes and... Zip Zap! // July 1st, 1990

The previous dead-end area of the park, where no guest pas.sed (ok, that word is censored...) through unless they were exiting Greyhound or were in the mood for some coffee, was enlivened for the 1990 season. Some of the tacky fixtures and signage of the Clifftop Cafe structure were refined, and, the park introduced its very first "extreme" flat ride with the (tacky?) name of Zip Zap! (with the exclamation mark [tongue]).

Offering a rather extreme thrill experience, Zip Zap! has more often than not drawn more people to watch it than to ride it.

The queue, although nothing special, does weave in and out of Greyhound which is a nice little unique touch.

Embellishments // October 27th, 1990

Last in line for the updates this season (and perhaps this should have been shown in the first update of this year, but we do things backwards around here), is an embellished park entrance. The original, as many of you might remember, looked quite drab.

You can skip these! There are many more once you pass through the gates. (Free admission in case you forgot [wink])

The surrounding area was embellished thanks to the work of specialty gardeners and florists, and the main structures now have an identity. Although, the main entrance's one is a bit blurry? (I wish custom signs displayed better).

 

[Applez]

Dat last screenshot. Beautiful!
Also, the whole story you're telling is keeping me really interested in reading every comment and overanalyzing every single picture.

Keep up!

 

[TOGOFan]

Dat last screenshot. Beautiful!
Also, the whole story you're telling is keeping me really interested in reading every comment and overanalyzing every single picture.

Keep up!

Hope this next update gives you enough to work with. [tongue] Thanks for commenting!

An unexpected merge? // May 18th, 1991

No new attractions or plans were revealed to the public during the pre-season, and so this one came as quite a surprise! Previously, a local attraction and favorite amongst many, just footseps away from Adirondack Adventure and indeed, visible from many corners of the park, was the Lake Placid Grandstand (est. 1980), a show venue renowned for its exciting water stunts. Often, guests, especially those traveling from a bit farther away would include both attractions (theme park + show venue) into their schedule, but they'll be happy to find out that the two have now merged, and the previously barred area is now accessible from the main street making life easier for everyone (don't ask me about the property/legality issues involved, or how this new "partnership" affects both company's revenues, because I don't quite know [blah])

Quite removed from the other attractions of the park, it'll be interesting to see how this area develops (if at all?) in the coming years.

You can think of Len's Lake Fries as the Lake Placid Grandstand's sidekick. They serve only fries and drinks here, but their fries come in many varieties: waffle fries, sweet potato fries, crinkle fries, curly fries, you name it.

Seating is minimal, but if you catch them at a good time, that won't be a problem at all. Most guests just stock up on fries for the show anyway!

From another angle.

Thanks for looking!

 

[TOGOFan]

A sad mascot but a happy main street! // July 25th, 1991

To help boost park revenues, the Lake Placid Grandstand now hosts more than just water stunts & performances: families can now gather here to see their favorite park mascots in mini-shows and interactive events (for a very affordable price of $20 per person (ages 13 and under, ages 65 and up get half off). Here, you can see one of the park mascots performing for a rather... uhm, modest-in-number (read: non-existent) audience.

Accessible from the main street, this rustic, covered bridge takes you to the lake area, but as you can tell, there will have to be more incentive to want to cross it!

On a more positive note, the (still unnamed) main street is beginning to shape up nicely, as decorative lights add a nice festive touch to the Adirondack gift shop.

Thanks for looking!

 

[TOGOFan]

Strange news // November 1st, 1991

Another bit of strange news (on many levels) coming your way. With the rather mediocre financial successes of the 1991 season, and general failure to draw more visitors to the park with the merging with, and the "re-imagination" of the Lake Placid Grandstand, one would have expected a mild upcoming season (reflecting the park's current assets), but a news header in today's edition of the Adirondack Daily Enterprise announced some big plans for 1992. What is also strange is that, based on the description, this roller coaster seems more fitting for a larger-scale, more commercial park. Could it just be a marketing ploy?

 

[TOGOFan]

Dreams dashed? Depending on how you look at it... // May 16th, 1992

I'll make this update quick and get to the real good stuff towards the end.

Starting with this: the area near Falling Star that had a permanent "work-in-progress look," has now seen some actual progress, and is shaping into what appears to be a charming and rustic country fair. Carnival game booths and food stands fill the area (... and this is where that North American premiere coaster is purported to be standing)! But where is it?

You'll notice the Zipper ride was relocated here, y'know, to go along with the whole fair theme. It was also given a fresh coat of paint).

... and the moment everyone's been waiting for? Are we ready for it?










...

That's right, folks. Joining the lineup this year is the wonderful, station-less "Go Go Beast" Kiddy Shuttle coaster, designed by none other than the innovative Togo! The other coaster of this kind is located in Shizuoka, in case you were wondering. (I wonder why they decided to go with an "Engrish" sounding name? Maybe to pay homage to this world-class Japanese company).

 

[Deleted member 48540]

Those game booths are awesome!

The utmost care and attention you have for detail and object placement is very noteworthy as well, not only for the buildings you created, but also for the nature objects as well. I'm pretty much convinced you're rotating and translating every single object you select until it is perfectly placed, and it is showing.
I'm also very much liking the realistic look of your park so far. Where I sometimes lose myself in scenery creation to a point where no real themepark would be able to afford it (well, perhaps disney), your creations look real and believable, a thing I'm still short of mastering. Very well done, and looking forward to more [happy]

 

[TOGOFan]

Those game booths are awesome!

The utmost care and attention you have for detail and object placement is very noteworthy as well, not only for the buildings you created, but also for the nature objects as well. I'm pretty much convinced you're rotating and translating every single object you select until it is perfectly placed, and it is showing.
I'm also very much liking the realistic look of your park so far. Where I sometimes lose myself in scenery creation to a point where no real themepark would be able to afford it (well, perhaps disney), your creations look real and believable, a thing I'm still short of mastering. Very well done, and looking forward to more [happy]

You might find it interesting to know that it was one of your posts that gave me the idea to plop trees down for more realism (I had always been rotating them, but something as obvious as lowering them, alternatively, never occurred to me — I would only lower some trees to give the appearance of bushes for e.g. in queues, but not when I would line them up. It really makes all the difference). I'm surprised not more people are working on small-scale, low-budget parks to be honest. They're the most fun to me! Thanks for the nice comment.

"Worst Roller Coaster Ever" // July 10th, 1992

The Clifftop Cafe has changed significantly since the debut season. In fact, I don't think there has been a single season where it hasn't received at least a minor touch-up. The park owners' obsession with perfecting it may be in part due to the fact that it is the very first building one sees after a long climb past the main street.

The interior now has a rugged rustic cabin look, with a hint of... strangeness. The illuminated tables are a unique touch.

Are these park guests mourning the loss of Zip Zap!? [tongue] Maybe they missed the memo, that it was relocated...

... right here!

Something to mourn over, however, is the Go Go Beast coaster. Plagued with mechanical problems since its debut, it has been closed more often than it's been open. There are already rumors that it's on its way out, and it hasn't even been one season yet. Just Togo doing what it does best.

 

[Deleted member 48540]

Well, I'm happy my feedback has been useful to someone. One of my main reasons to be on these forums is that there is so much to learn for me, glad I could return the favor for a change [happy]

I'm liking that log roof construction a lot! You also made some daring combinations for the interior, but you managed to make it all work... feels like I should be more daring to combine stuff...
I also really like how the relocated zip zap left a footprint where it once stood. It's great how your park not just builds up from one side to the other, but that you also change and redo existing parts and let the whole thing develop naturally over time. Makes me feel like starting on a park for sure...

 

[TOGOFan]

Well, I'm happy my feedback has been useful to someone. One of my main reasons to be on these forums is that there is so much to learn for me, glad I could return the favor for a change [happy]

I'm liking that log roof construction a lot! You also made some daring combinations for the interior, but you managed to make it all work... feels like I should be more daring to combine stuff...
I also really like how the relocated zip zap left a footprint where it once stood. It's great how your park not just builds up from one side to the other, but that you also change and redo existing parts and let the whole thing develop naturally over time. Makes me feel like starting on a park for sure...

Thanks again for the kind words! (Remember, there's always the undo command (and... multiple undo) if one of your 'daring' choices doesn't go as envisioned). And if you decide to go with a story line-based park, it doesn't have to all be planned out, you can go on whim like I mostly do and then just tie in the changes you make to your park into your story line.

I'm jumping straight to the 1993 season and the progression of the park will slow down from there. I'll probably return to having 3 (or 4) updates per season because I'm not exactly eager to get to the 2000s anytime soon.

May 15th, 1993 // Saving Face

After the complete failure that was the "Go Go Beast" coaster, now sitting in storage, & what was dubbed one of the most embarrassing ventures in the theme park industry (what made it all the worse was the exuberant advertisement that propelled it, only to have it come crashing down), it was time for the Chazy family to get back to the drawing board. New, eye-catching, and most importantly, wholesome attractions were needed for the upcoming season, which, with any hope, would help put the past behind.

To fill in the odd-looking dead-end left by the Zipper ride, and to satisfy a growing demand for increased food variety, a larger-than-life food stand serving all sorts of snacks was built here.

From closer?

More rides means more reasons to visit the park, and, in keeping with the general pattern so far, another classic ride makes its way to Adirondack Adventure! They, uhm, tried their best with the theming... "Lake-Ness Monster."

The Country Fair area, seen across the lake, has proved quite successful (minus Go Go Beast), helping funnel in revenue with its slightly overpriced, but wildly popular, carnival games. And so, this year, it seemed more appropriate to focus on other areas of the park.

A familiar picture, but with a new appearance in the background. Just to give you an idea of where it's located.

Thanks for looking!

 

[TOGOFan]

June 1st, 1993 // Park Aerial View & More

A neat little attraction also added this season in the Lakeview area (#9 on the map), enticing guests to spend some time & money on these coin-powered, pirate-themed ships, a spin on traditional remote boats.

Minimal theming, but it gets the job done.

The Country Fair area is still seeing considerable traffic, but the novelty factor of last season seems to have worn off slightly. In any case, the area has received some minor touch-ups this season and overall feels more "vibrant."

This place is looking so much better.

The parks looks beautiful when illuminated at night. It's starting to feel more "complete."

Thanks for looking!

 

[TOGOFan]

July 1st, 1993 // Adirondack Inn

Not much of a park update this time, but just a look at the closest hotel to the theme park, "Adirondack by the Lake," alternatively known as "Adirondack Inn." It's a 3.5 star hotel that has experienced a surge of popularity in the last couple of years, as an increasing number of people from out of town find more reasons to drive all the way here.

 

[Nemmie]

Just realised, I've not commented over here yet, but I love this park (I'll still leave a like at SGW [wink])

That hotel looks almost real. I'd stay there. It has a very Alpine look to it. It makes me think that that jacuzzi is the place to be when the snow is falling and you have a glass of something amazing. [up]

 

[TOGOFan]

Just realised, I've not commented over here yet, but I love this park (I'll still leave a like at SGW [wink])

That hotel looks almost real. I'd stay there. It has a very Alpine look to it. It makes me think that that jacuzzi is the place to be when the snow is falling and you have a glass of something amazing. [up]

Thanks Nemmie! This was more of a side project where I tested the blueprint/duplicate feature (for faster building, something I am only now getting used to). Goal was to "abuse" that feature without it looking too obvious.

May 14th, 1994 // Something to look forward to...

Latest word has it that local investors have taken interest in the park & there may have been some behind-the-scenes deals, the details of which won't be clear until early next year (1995). What is clear for now, is that the design, creation and control of the park still remains very much in the hands of the Chazy family, and although there have been some frustrations caused by running the park as a business, their love for Adirondack Adventure remains too strong for them to ever sell out.

But onto this season's news now! One of the very first thing guests will notice is...

... a completely revamped station for the park's wooden coaster, with half the queue built under the station, and of course, a brand new name! (One will also note that both the entrance and exit paths lead to the Wagon Vittles/Clifftop Cafe area, allowing for more convenience). It was never quite clear why the original was named Greyhound (named after the dog breed, or the North American intercity bus company?), but "Ridge Runner" seems to be a lot more fitting, as the second half of the coaster really does feel as though one is meandering through the mountain ridge. Also, "Ridge Runner" makes more sense in the newly named "High Peaks" area where it stands.

What's that (somewhat awkwardly) tucked behind the Waffle Cones building? Haven't seen that before.

It's a brand new Balloon Racers ride! [squeeeeee]

You get some nice views of the lake area while waiting in line, but somehow, I don't quite feel safe up here!

If you're not brave enough to take on the Balloon Racers (I'll admit, the queue is scarier than the ride itself), just have a seat on one of these shaded benches and enjoy your surroundings.

Thanks for looking!

 

[NainConPetant]

so many things i could say wow to; inground pool, games booth, "watery show stadium" etc

but am speechless...