Oh my god…I am so in tears….all my heart and soul are poured in to this true history of us. I can’t just explain it here. If you know me, you know what I’m talking about….T
When in 1995, Elitch Amusement Park left Northwest Denver. Though not Disneyland, it was truly silk, style, and class,more than words can tell for so many of us for ever. The Gurtler family and Corrine Hunt sent PBS for a piece on the pulse of the true Northwest Denver neighborhood. They sent them to us , Jack, Lois, and I who made it ont on to this production.
Thanx for the memory. I was 4 in 1956 and remember my folks taking us to Kiddie-land. Elitch Gardens and the Trocadero was a magical place to me. Loved it. As a teen in the mid 60's we went there to ride the roller-coasters. Fun times for sure.
You're welcome! That's very cool! Sounds like a fun childhood! I was born years after the original location was closed and demolished, but my grandparents went to the Trocadero to dance back in the swing era and see productions at the theater. Both of my parents spent countless hours there riding the roller coasters and other rides. Everyone who visited was lucky to see such a wonderful and unique place special to Colorado.
The old Elitches was 10x better than the current one. There was history and it had beautiful trees filling in the park. Now it's just a concrete and bland park.
That’s what I’ve been told. I was born after the original was closed and torn down, so I never had the opportunity to visit but from all of the memories, photos, and videos I’ve seen it looked magnificent, like no place else! The new park is one of the worst in America and is plagued with so many issues and flaws. It’s not an enjoyable experience and I frequent Lakeside more often during the summer as a result.
As someone who never had the pleasure of visiting the original park, I am grateful for & fascinated by glimpses like this into the past. Thanks so much for uploading this!
Nope, it was such a unique and special place with both of the amazing wooden roller coasters. The new park and Twister II will never compare to what the old park and Mister Twister were.
Mr Twister still exists in 1 form with Twister at Knobles (from what I understand they redid the break run and lift but kept the heart of the layout). That said it sucks what happened to the original park and Wildcat is truely gone, as is so much history from the park. And I fear Lakeside is headed the same direction.
I worked at Elitches the summers of my Junior and Senior years, 1990 and 1991. The first year I worked games, the second year I ran rides. I worked several different rides but I remember the Spider the most. Who remembers the Planetarium that was located at the north part of the park? I can still remember the smell and feel after we closed the park at the end of the night. Awesome memories.
That’s cool! My dad started there in games in 1990 as well, he graduated high school in 1990. I bet Spider was an interesting ride to run since it was up on the roof of the Bumper Cars/Scooters. Thanks for sharing your memories in your comment!
Agreed. Having a few of the original park's rides still around at the new park is good to see, but many are in such bad disrepair. Sidewinder rarely running is also terribly sad, as it is such a fun short simple thrill and is better than the other coasters there! I really hope that someday these rides recieve the major refurbishments and proper regular maintenence they deserve, even if it is because the park doesn't relocate and everything is auctioned off. In some ways that could be a better outcome than attempting a third location. This park is a disgrace to what once was. It is bad in every way imaginable and the complete opposite of what once was.
I Have Never been To Old Elitch Gardens But I Been To New one My Home Parks is Lakeside and Elitch Gardens and Santa's Workshop I only 2001 Back Then Castle Park Riverside and Disneyland was My Home Park now I Moved To Colorado I Joined RU-vid On Jan 17, 2017 as Spring Bonnie Then Hell Bound MickMick Broken Spirit Mickey Roller Coaster Fanboy Roller Coaster Fan Colorado Coaster Fanboy Colorado Coaster Fan Now Doing Roller Coaster Videos I Used To Do FNAF Videos by way Nice Video That Fun Fact
They really should just start over, I doubt there is much that is currently worth saving. If they end up finding a site of about 130 acres and moving as they claim they want to, it will be a huge undertaking requiring a gigantic investment. Luckily Kroenke is a billionare, but will he be willing to spend? They need to do it right this time, not just build another glorified carnival filled with concrete like the current park.
