7 Rides Coloradans Would Like to See Back at Elitch Gardens
Since opening in 1890, the landscape (and the location) of Elitch Gardens has changed immensely, but the theme park continues to be a favorite destination for anyone seeking a day of fun-filled entertainment and excitement in Denver.
Buckle up and take a trip down memory lane to see if you remember any of these beloved former rides that are no longer at the amusement park.
Sky Ride (1995-1997)
Although the Sky Ride was one of several rides taken from the original Elitch's location over to the new park, it only stood for two years. Although it was just a standard aerial chairlift ride, people of all ages enjoyed seeing the amusement park from a birds-eye-point of view.
Mine Shaft (1995-1998)
Mine Shaft was also at the old Elitch Garden's location prior to being moved to the new park in 1995. The ride was traveled on carnival routes for a while too. This ride was not for those with weak stomachs - it spun people around, and then the floor would drop down while riders stayed stuck to the wall. Mine Shaft was dismantled due to controversy surrounding a similar ride at Six Flags Great America.
Casino (1995-1998)
Casino was another fun ride that was transferred from the original Elitch's. Bad luck for those who loved it though, since the speedy, tilted spinning wheel attraction was removed in 1998 to make room for newer rides inside the park.
Wildcat (1936-1994)
Built in 1936, the Wildcat was actually a revamp of the park's Sky Rocket roller coaster. The Wildcat took 18 riders at a time on wooden tracks for one minute and 45 seconds of thrilling excitement.
Flying Coaster (2002-2007)
The Flying Coaster was a Zamperla "Volare" roller coaster that truly gave riders the sensation of flying. Elitch's famed Flying Coaster had the reputation as being the first of its kind in the United States. Because it was a beta version, maintenance became extremely expensive for the theme park to keep up with. In 2007, it was dismantled, refurbished, and then re-located to Coney Island.
Mr. Twister (1964-1994)
Mr. Twister had a long, solid run at Elitch Gardens. Reaching maximum speeds of 50 mph, the wood coaster took riders on a two-minute heart-pounding ride full of twists and turns. Between Mr. Twister's first and second seasons it was revamped to have a higher lift, as well as additional drops and curves. While the new Twister II is similar to the original, some Coloradans argue that the first one was still way better.
Shake Rattle and Roll (1995-2014)
Just watching old YouTube videos of people on the Shake Rattle and Roll puts butterflies in my belly! It was originally called the Avalanche, and was also one of the rides to debut at the opening of the relocated park downtown. The ride was demolished in 2014 due to its old age and frequent breakdowns. Quite a few Coloradans even commented on the video, saying they remembered getting stuck on the former ride.
Which one do you miss the most?