Date Posted:15:26:03 07/27/01 Fri Author: Rick Subject: Goodbye Idora, goodbye!
Not long ago crowds gathered to pay there respects as fireman doused the burning embers of Idoras ballroom. They managed to "save" the Jack Rabbit from destruction.
Today there was no crowd to pay their last respects as both the Wildcat and Jack Rabbit lay splitered on the ground.
As of this afternoon The Wildcat is no longer "standing but not operating". It is gone. Ironically, for 14 years the Wildcat stood with one fourth of its track missing. Today, the Jack Rabbit has one fourth of its track standing. All that remains is the dogleg towards the turnaround, that is where the coaster turned left, down the side street. The turn around and a few hills stand... today. Tomorrow it will be gone as well.
An odd thing happened while I was walking towards the Wildcat, near the old Jungle River ride area. Drum beats! Much like the rhytme heard when the ride was operating. Someone was playing bongos in nearby Mill Creek Park. Strangely fitting; requiem for a lost amusement park.
For some reason the little house in the turnaround area of the Wildcat stills stands. The corn dog concession next to the Wildcat was demolished while its parnter the bingo/muffin pan game was spared today. The Icee stand also remains.
I suspect that by tomorrow there will be no structures standing at Idora.
Note to souvenir hunters- The coaster are truly splintered and a dangerous place to try to walk around. Rotten wood and rusty nails are everywhere.
hi, i worked for idara park 1956/57/58/59/60 and then went into the united states navy.
i worked in kiddle land for lenny cavieler or how you spell lennies last name. i knew the rindins , the duffys
ate at the heidleberg walked the midway many times worked at the ferris wheel and knew where the bumpers cars were .
i remember one time somebody put some kind of liquid in the water at the rapids it was a mess full of soap. my broter worked att he idora or bingo near the hidleberg. i now live in california and would like to hear from somebody.
jim
Goodbye Idora, goodbye!