184 replies to this topic

[29yrswithaGApass]

Click here to see the whole

Spotlight!

Comments and discussions welcomed.

[29yrswithaGApass]

Six Flags Over Mid America's version of the parachute ride was proclaimed the world's tallest even though it looked very similar to the ones at Six Flags Over Georgia and Six Flags over Texas. SFOMA (and later Great Adventure) were able to make that claim because the main tower featured an extra segment of steel as seen in the comparison photo below.

[MarioSonic94]

Great spotlight Harry and Tom. Great section on the Switliks too. If you don't know, on the old Summer Celebration Parade, there was float with the "Camp Wanda" name on it.

Edited by MarioSonic94, 18 January 2009 - 08:00 PM.

[29yrswithaGApass]

Great spotlight Harry and Tom. Great section on the Switliks too. If you don't know, on the old Summer Celebration Parade, there was float with the "Camp Wanda" name on it.

There sure was.....

[29yrswithaGApass]

Check out our Spotlight Extras - Parachuter's Perch Album. It contains a batch of never before seen photos of The Great Gasp parachute ride under construction at Six Flags Over Georgia.

Here's a sample:

[The Master]

Nice spotlight, the parachutes are one of my favorite rides at GAdv. The parachute tower is a icon of the park. I posted a reply to this spotlight a week ago so it's weird not to see it up.

[29yrswithaGApass]

Dutch Wonderland in Lancaster PA has a kiddie parachute drop that would look really nice on the former Space Shuttle (Looping Starship) site!

[DarkKnight]

i took a really big digital zoom on the top and it looks horrible because of the rust. it needs paint!
**** I DO NOT HAVE THE PHOTO RIGHT NOW BECAUSE IT IS IN MY LAPTOP AND I AM ON A DESKTOP RIGHT NOW****

[29yrswithaGApass]

Here's a photo of Six Flags Over Georgia Great Gasp which shows twelve chutes. As mentioned in the Spotlight, GA's ride had twelve chutes when it was in St Louis but it was cut back to eight parachutes because of problems with the proximity sensors cause by the vibrations of the counter weights.

[The Master]

Dutch Wonderland in Lancaster PA has a kiddie parachute drop that would look really nice on the former Space Shuttle (Looping Starship) site!

DCA has this ride which they named Jumpin Jellyfish, as you can guess it is decorated as jellyfish. It is a really tame ride even by kiddie ride standards.

[29yrswithaGApass]

Just an interesting tidbit...

When it was first installed in the 1980s the parachutes had a setting that allowed the operator to run the ride in "Two Runs" mode. It ran two complete cycles back to back without stopping.

[29yrswithaGApass]

I really wish our parachute ride had the Sky Cabin feature. I can only imagine how great it would be to take pictures from the top of the tower!

[29yrswithaGApass]

Does anyone recall the last time they saw the two chutes just to the left of the entrance queue open?

[Yoshi]

I haven't seen that side open in any of my visits to the park last season or this season. All except 1 time, the side I see open is the 1 facing GASM (the 1 other time the side open was facing the boardwalk games area)

[Matt]

never knew you could actually see the shore from up there? Wow... Have to deff try and get on my next visit

[greg90]

A couple of things.

The hole they dug to build this ride must have been almost as deep as the ride is tall!

I was one of the first to ride, albeit dressed as Bogey Orangutan, for some publicilty shots with then Park General Manager Dave Paltzik. They raised and lowered us to all different heights - the photographer was in the next chute.

When they rebuilt the Games Square after 1982 - yes they wanted to drive people through there, and Parachuter's Perch was a good way to do it. They also blocked off direct access from the Carousel to the Four Tents with a large mounded garden - forcing people to walk through Games Square. Smart money move, but kind of ruined the big Fairway feel of standing at the Four Tents and looking right up the long street to Carousel - Fountain - and Big Wheel.

[gafreak]

this ride still freaks me out when your at the top, i like the few seconds to look out across the park. its in need of some serios corrosion control though and hope it gets done for2010, a nice fresh coat of white with great adventure painted down it woul be cool!

Edited by gafreak, 04 September 2009 - 07:57 PM.

[GAcoaster]

The Parachute is getting painted! Another Christmas wish come true!!!

[29yrswithaGApass]

I can't tell you happy I am to see the Parachutes being repainted! It is great that the park is continuing their restoration efforts throughout GA and keeping some of the true classic rides in running condition. There are only two operating parachute rides left in the United States now (GA and SFOT), and it is great that next year we don't have to say that there is only one left in Texas!

[gafreak]

Ya i saw this today as were going into the safari and i thought my eyes were plaing tricks on me, i tried to turn around but i would have had to go onto 537 to do it, i wanted to get a pic of it to post but you beat me to it Harry. This is great to see that we wont be losing a park staple next year!