ChiefsPlanet - Misc Defunctland: The History of World's of Fun's Orient Express

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Defunctland: The History of World's of Fun's Orient Express (https://chiefsplanet.com/BB/showthread.php?t=324224)

Quote:

Originally Posted by burt (Post 14373770)

I worked at Worlds of Fun from 1977 to 1983. I started out as a ride operator, and finished as a Ride Operations Supervisor. I just wonder how many of y'all I saw running around that park. We often did "doubles".. 1 shift on your daily ride then another at another ride. I had worked at almost every ride at one point.

Interestingly enough, they don't discuss the tragedies that happened there. The kid that got killed by the Scream Roller, and a head trauma on the Schushboomer, the park employee that just missed being killed but lost a leg, are the only 3 that I remember well

It was a great place to meet girls. Back then, about 3000 seasonal employees, half were young women, just out from under their parents thumb and very sexually curious. It was a glorious time!

This opened when I was a kid and was located 2 miles from our house. Both my sister and I worked there.

I worked 6 days a week/70 hrs as a "grounds squirrel", making $2.00/hr. I would go on my only day off to ride the rides for free.

I remember fondly my days working there. After the park closed we drove the dumpsters in a train of 3 using same tow vehicles as the airport. I learned how to back up trailers and all kinds of useful stuff.

It's where I learned to pick up chicks and make out behind the dumpsters. The restaurants would leave fresh bags of leftovers for us to chow down.

It's the kinds of story that only existed back in those days. I feel 'lucky' to have been alive then and make $2.00/hr. Really like a movie...

...I'm tearing up.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BDj23 (Post 14375794)

That smell always gives me a headache

Speaking of headaches, . . . the Incred-O-Dome.

I think I'm particularly susceptible to the vestibular upset that shit causes because I'd get similarly sick trying to play early FPS games like Doom.

But that show could wreck an entire afternoon, walk out wanting to barf, then splitting headaches the rest of the day like Mitch Morse in a contract year.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Halfcan (Post 14373735)

I love the seat on the Orient- 1 long seat so the girls we picked up walking around- could sit in front and we could cop a feel during the ride. Worked every time.

WTF are you talking about? Whatever drugs you have done must have been very high potency.

Summer ‘80 my brother and i worked in that shithole park. He was a ride operator on the Orient. He got fired for riding it with harness up. After the park closed employees got to ride it a few times.

Quote:

Originally Posted by arrowheadnation (Post 14375793)

I agree with those talking about the pavement smell....I can close my eyes and it's like I'm there again.

Jennite asphalt sealer every year they sealed it and I thing midsummer also. I hated that smell working there.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flying High D (Post 14375936)

After the park closed employees got to ride it a few times.

Very occasionally, after hours at a "WOF Party". However, EVERYDAY the big coasters had 2 to 3 warm up runs with employees before the park opened. Staffing the warm up runs was challenging on occasion.

There’s a great episode of This American Life that follows a kid who operates games at WoF.

https://www.thisamericanlife.org/443/amusement-park

Quote:

Originally Posted by limested (Post 14375823)

WTF are you talking about? Whatever drugs you have done must have been very high potency.

I already posted a retraction. Try reading the thread.

I was misremembering- It was the Zinger.

Quite possibly the most missed and most beloved of Worlds of Fun defunct attractions, Zambezi Zinger was Worlds of Fun's first roller coaster. Manufactured, like Schussboomer, by Anton Schwartzkopf of Germany it was one of only three coasters classified as "Speedracer" coasters, built for their quick turns and speed, prior to the advent of the modern looping coaster. Zinger is often remembered for its quiet, spiral lift hill (due to its in-car motor, instead of chain driven lift), intandem seating, (which made it a great ride for a first coaster, and first date), and of course, its dark and foreboding tunnel at the end. The end of Zambezi Zinger at Worlds of Fun was written on the wall when Zinger's parent company, Schwartzkopf Industries declared bankruptcy (the final time) in 1995, and ceased producing replacement parts. Though a few parks have endeavored to keep their well-loved Schwartzkopf coasters, many followed the path of Worlds of Fun and removed them. In the case of Zinger, Zinger was sold by a ride broker to a park near Bogota, Columbia South America where it still continues to operate to this day.

So sorry I forgot the seating between 2 coasters from 40 ****ing years ago. It was the Zinger that was great for dates- not that you ever had any. :rolleyes:

Good stories.

Can't replicate precious memories.

Quote:

Originally Posted by burt (Post 14376275)

Very occasionally, after hours at a "WOF Party". However, EVERYDAY the big coasters had 2 to 3 warm up runs with employees before the park opened. Staffing the warm up runs was challenging on occasion.

If you call every night after the park closed very occasionally, ok different definitions of very occasionally.