i spent a lot of time at that park in my teens. almost everyday I was there. It would not surprise me if I'm not in this video somewhere. my favorite memory of the comet is when ....my buddy used to work there and ran the comet. he worked the brakes. when the storm rolled in the last ride was set to go out and I was on it. all of a sudden the rain poured in, it stung like hell. but as the coaster was rolling in for the end the brakes were so wet that they didn't work anymore. all of us were on a never-ending ride that lasted at least 9 times around. he finally got the coaster stopped by him and two other guys pulling so hard on the break leaver that it broke. best time of my life!
First coaster under repair was the Giant... longest operating coaster that ran in Crystal Beach from 1816 to the day in 1989 the park was closed & torn down because the land was worth a fortune to real estate developers ;o)
I think the main reason was that Canadas Wonderland, Darien Lake, Fantasy Island were competing against Crystal Beach Park and from my understanding park attendance was also low before they closed, although who knows bribes from real estate developers could have caused the park to shut down sooner than expected. Personally as a younger man born nearly a decade after they shut down, the park seemed awesome and I feel a positive energy just from all the happiness alone. Wish the park stayed open, it brought so much life and opportunity to the town of Crystal Beach.
Thanks for the comment. Today's modern computer designed coaster rides don't seem to have the same "life" as these intuitive/eyeball jobs that used slide rule math.
to anyone that has ever been there....take a butter tart, put a teaspoon of vanilla icecream on it and take a bite, and it will taste just like the way the air smelled at that park
The irony of the Giant Coaster's retracking in the summer of 1987, was that the park closed two years later. All that money spent for two years. It was demolished in 1991.
I think I remember that somebody bought the trains and the lift equipment with the intent of building it from blue prints. Maybe somebody from ACE knows. Thanks for the comment.
@@vidwilzvids9587 My friend lives in Ontario and he has one of the cars and a section of track. A few ACE members bought the other cars and sections of the supports and tracks. A few people cut up the support sections and the pieces in plastic bags at Crystal Beach Day in 2014.
That's interesting. I actually did ride the coaster at an earlier ACE day (I think 1984 or '85). It was an interesting experience. The side friction cars kind of "squirmed" their way around the track. The turn-of-the-century ladies would have been able to ride with their hats on. Thanks again for the comments.
WOW there are a few people I recognized my buddy Lenard on the comet Gene the train driver and Katie Ukivina the ladie on the merry go round holding the small kid as it goes round and round gave me goose bumps . I worked with her in the bath house when the waterslide was just built first job I ever had
I really appreciate viewers sharing their memories of a legendary place like Crystal Beach now that it's been gone so long. The human element adds to these scenes being so special. Thank You!
I looked forward to going here every summer I was young however I was only twelve when they closed down but I remember the place like it was yesterday I remember they were the first park to have one of those gravitrons that are now in every carnival and I believe one of the radio personalities rode it for like 13 hours or so ?? I also remember how much more of way higher the pirate ship seemed to swing almost upside down I have so many great memories here went on the last day of operation in 89 such a sad day memories greetings from the best city in the world Buffalo ny .
Nice footage of a sorely-missed park. The arrangement of the Comet's train is bizarre, though. Why not face front in the front and back in the back? Maybe that was too obvious.
It used to be possible on some rides to just stay in your seat at the end of the ride and just hand the operator another ticket to "go around again." I remember doing that with a girlfriend at Chippewa Lake back in the '60's Many parks had similar signs that were removable during slow periods. Then the practice just kind of faded away.
Great documentation. Crystal Beach had a profound influence on me both then and now as a multimedia artist. I am currently working on a rock opera feature film about the park. If interested, I'd like to discuss licensing some of your archival footage for inclusion with other footage I have of the demolition, etc. Check out "Soul Sunshine Romance" that I recently posted to get a feel. Thanks!
This is one of the better videos...well done.
I wish I could go back in time. Even for a day. the best summers of the 80's
Great video, Thanks for sharing. Brought back some fun memories.
❤Awesome memories!!
Miss this place was awesome
I loved Crystal Beach I wish we can turn back time
Instantly transported back all those years ago. I can smell the waffles and suckers....the lake. So very wonderful. Thanks for posting.
i spent a lot of time at that park in my teens. almost everyday I was there. It would not surprise me if I'm not in this video somewhere. my favorite memory of the comet is when ....my buddy used to work there and ran the comet. he worked the brakes. when the storm rolled in the last ride was set to go out and I was on it. all of a sudden the rain poured in, it stung like hell. but as the coaster was rolling in for the end the brakes were so wet that they didn't work anymore. all of us were on a never-ending ride that lasted at least 9 times around. he finally got the coaster stopped by him and two other guys pulling so hard on the break leaver that it broke. best time of my life!
First coaster under repair was the Giant... longest operating coaster that ran in Crystal Beach from 1816 to the day in 1989 the park was closed & torn down because the land was worth a fortune to real estate developers ;o)
I think the main reason was that Canadas Wonderland, Darien Lake, Fantasy Island were competing against Crystal Beach Park and from my understanding park attendance was also low before they closed, although who knows bribes from real estate developers could have caused the park to shut down sooner than expected. Personally as a younger man born nearly a decade after they shut down, the park seemed awesome and I feel a positive energy just from all the happiness alone. Wish the park stayed open, it brought so much life and opportunity to the town of Crystal Beach.
Incredible footage
Thank You. I'm glad you enjoyed it.
@@vidwilzvids9587 Have you ridden the Comet now that it is at the Great Escape? Must bring back memories?
No, I haven't. Hope to one day. I heard that the chain lift speeds up as the train nears the top of the lift hill.
vidwilzvids yes!! What a great feature.
Curious to see how it rides now compared to then.
A review on many summers of my life.
Cottage at Bay Beach
Lakewood and Cherry Hill…
:-)
Miss crystal beach sooo much. Was a kid in thr 80s.
brings back lots of fond memories - interesting how far roller coasters have come today :-)
Thanks for the comment. Today's modern computer designed coaster rides don't seem to have the same "life" as these intuitive/eyeball jobs that used slide rule math.
@@vidwilzvids9587❤
I remember going with my girlfriend’s having lots of fun & buying salt water taffy 🍬 & sugar waffles & Crystal Beach suckers for my Mom!
Miss that place soo much i was 8 when it shut down
It was a true traditional family park that is missed by many. Thanks for the comment.
to anyone that has ever been there....take a butter tart, put a teaspoon of vanilla icecream on it and take a bite, and it will taste just like the way the air smelled at that park
The irony of the Giant Coaster's retracking in the summer of 1987, was that the park closed two years later. All that money spent for two years. It was demolished in 1991.
I think I remember that somebody bought the trains and the lift equipment with the intent of building it from blue prints. Maybe somebody from ACE knows. Thanks for the comment.
@@vidwilzvids9587 My friend lives in Ontario and he has one of the cars and a section of track. A few ACE members bought the other cars and sections of the supports and tracks. A few people cut up the support sections and the pieces in plastic bags at Crystal Beach Day in 2014.
That's interesting. I actually did ride the coaster at an earlier ACE day (I think 1984 or '85). It was an interesting experience. The side friction cars kind of "squirmed" their way around the track. The turn-of-the-century ladies would have been able to ride with their hats on. Thanks again for the comments.
the giant coaster was my first ever roller coaster. i was only 9 and it scared the crap out of me, but at that point i was hooked
WOW there are a few people I recognized my buddy Lenard on the comet Gene the train driver and Katie Ukivina the ladie on the merry go round holding the small kid as it goes round and round gave me goose bumps . I worked with her in the bath house when the waterslide was just built first job I ever had
I really appreciate viewers sharing their memories of a legendary place like Crystal Beach now that it's been gone so long. The human element adds to these scenes being so special. Thank You!
thanks for posting!!!
You're very welcome; Thank You for the comment.
I looked forward to going here every summer I was young however I was only twelve when they closed down but I remember the place like it was yesterday I remember they were the first park to have one of those gravitrons that are now in every carnival and I believe one of the radio personalities rode it for like 13 hours or so ?? I also remember how much more of way higher the pirate ship seemed to swing almost upside down I have so many great memories here went on the last day of operation in 89 such a sad day memories greetings from the best city in the world Buffalo ny .
Thanks for the comment.
Comet 6 tickets @$..06 a ticket
Nice footage of a sorely-missed park. The arrangement of the Comet's train is bizarre, though. Why not face front in the front and back in the back? Maybe that was too obvious.
I remember hearing that they tried it that way and that the backwards facing rear seat was too harsh of a ride.
With the cars facing each other you can watch the people in the back getting sick 😜 just as long as your not in harm's way 🥴
I was 8 when it shut down. But I do remember this place I was there every summer 83-88
A legendary place; now condos. Thanks for the comment.
@@vidwilzvids9587 yes is it I still.go to the cottage there I'm by the park
Omg...enough with all the Comet videos. NO REPEAT RIDES.
Was the arson people caught
Do you know what year this was taken? We used to go every year. The last time I went they had the water slide.
What was with the "no repeat rides" policy on The Giant Coaster? You couldn't ride it more than once?!
Great footage btw. Some of the best I've seen of this park. Thanks for sharing.
It used to be possible on some rides to just stay in your seat at the end of the ride and just hand the operator another ticket to "go around again." I remember doing that with a girlfriend at Chippewa Lake back in the '60's Many parks had similar signs that were removable during slow periods. Then the practice just kind of faded away.
Great documentation. Crystal Beach had a profound influence on me both then and now as a multimedia artist. I am currently working on a rock opera feature film about the park. If interested, I'd like to discuss licensing some of your archival footage for inclusion with other footage I have of the demolition, etc. Check out "Soul Sunshine Romance" that I recently posted to get a feel. Thanks!
You'll have to work that out with RUclips,