Real World Theme Parks The Most classic Pretzel Dark rides Left.

Dalenotchip · May 22, 2016

At the Camden Park in Huntington, WV, USA there is one of only 2 gravity fed Pretzel Darkrides left. Installed and running since the 1940's. Watching the video you will see that it is even stopped and started by a person and not a break. While not a great park i was lucky to grow up next to it so I could ride a significant piece of amusement park history.

[video=youtube_share;sxo5QQrswyk]https://youtu.be/sxo5QQrswyk[/video]

gregorburns · May 23, 2016

I don't know much about these old rides but I'm interested: does that gain all of its momentum from that first drop, or is there something else propelling it too?

Dalenotchip · May 23, 2016

You have the first drop. The the back and forth track runs continuously downhill at a very slight angle. Then stopped at the end by a workers foot.

The original dark ride as it is very dark. No animatronics. All sense of movement comes from your own speed, and strobe lights.

gregorburns · May 23, 2016

Dalenotchip said:
You have the first drop. The the back and forth track runs continuously downhill at a very slight angle. Then stopped at the end by a workers foot.

The original dark ride as it is very dark. No animatronics. All sense of movement comes from your own speed, and strobe lights.

So it is literally just a trolley that's driven by gravity? That's pretty cool [cool]

Dalenotchip · May 24, 2016

gregorburns1 said:
So it is literally just a trolley that's driven by gravity? That's pretty cool [cool]

Pretty much. you saw the lift hill at the beginning. So you drop that far over the length of the ride. You go faster as you move further along but never crazy fast because of the friction and drag especially the sharp repetitive turns.

Funny, because growing up there I didn't know what a big deal the ride was till I got older and moved away.