The dells Cross roads had one of those things. I was born in the 1980's I remember going to the dells Cross roads the large white foam looking house that was up on the hill and Riverview Park and water world in the dells when I was a little girl. I also remember storybook gardens. And I remember the petting zoo in Wisconsin deer Park wonder what happened to most of those anyway I know they probably all don't exist anymore but they were some pretty interesting places. I have not been to the dells since the early 2000s so I don't know what other old Parks were torn down and new ones put in their place I also remember old Big Chief go karts and that was a fun place to go to. I remember family land. I was born in the 1980's. I also love the ducks. And both upper and lower dells boat tours. Last time I was in the dells was around 2000 went to noah's ark.
My first and only visit to the Dells was in 2005. I went there as a coaster enthusiast to check out the latest roller coasters at Mt Olympus and Timber Falls. While eating at a McDonalds, I noticed what appeared to be old train tracks running through the woods behind the McD's. My gut told me it was an old amusement park from the past but I never really did any research until now. I am just in awe at this old place. It was so beautiful and seemed very popular. I had no clue they had the Totem Tower and it reminds me of the one that use to be at Cedar Point. And they also had an old Wild Mouse coaster in the early 60's. I am still continuing my research but this old film is so nice to see, although sad at the same time.
Wow. This video predates Riverview Park! I grew up in the 70's. So I'm just old enough to remember Fort Dells before things went down the tubes. Still try to go back every couple years. But it's a different place now. A lot of the color and flavor have been lost. All waterparks and mega-resorts. It's a shame all the smaller hotels and motels are being squeezed.
@BargSlarg Yes and no. I understand about attractions and the like. Things like Fort Dells had their time and are gone. And I did enjoy the growth of the waterpark industry. And I'm glad the economy of the area has transformed into a more year-round thing (rather than rolling up the sidewalks in October). I just lament some of the character that's been lost.
Wow! I was on there eight days before my 7th birthday. It was the first time I went to the Dells. Good thing I went on it when I did because they closed it two years later.
WOOOOWWWW !!! WHAT A TRUE PIECE OF HISTORY i AM SOOO HAPPY TO SEE THIS I AM 32 YEARS OLD AND USED TO RIDE THIS AT SUCH AN EARLY AGE I THINK IWAS 7 OR 8 WHEN THEY TOOK THIS DOWN AND GOSH I REALLY MISS WHAT THE REAL DELLS USED TO BE ....I AM HAPPY TO SHOW MY KIDS THESE OLD VIDEOS ! AND I THINK IT IS ASHAME THAT THERE REALLY ISNT SO MUCH NATIVE AMERICAN INFLUENCE LIKE IT USED TO BE TO ME AND MY FAMILY THAT IS WHY WE TRAVELED THERE SO OFTEN
Where are the waterparks? LOL! I vaugely remember Fort Dells. I remember Black Bart and the old car ride. I am 38 now. we always stayed at the Jellystone when we went and even now when we take our kids. still love the Duck ride. Thanks for posting this video and your families memories for all of us to remember.
Thanks for the upload! I recall as a child in the 70's riding this and staying at the Kahler Inn, which is now Copacabana resort...Great memories of riding up Route 12 from Chicago area. I Haven't been to The Dells since the late 80's...used to go twice a year growing up..once when school let out for the summer, then again right before it started. Remember the shooting galleries and fudge shops downtown... Are they still there does anybody know?
The fudge shops are still there and but the original shooting galleries are gone they have some paintball ones though. Alot of flavor and diversity is now gone though
As a member of a family that's been going to the Dells for nearly 60 years, I have news for you. Seeing how drunk you could get up there isn't anything "new". My grandfather and one of my uncles used to do that EVERY year they were there. This occurred over a period of the early 70's through the late 80's in my recollection and probably happened longer than that.
Ya I noticed that too! lot`s of open land. no where near the tourist destination it is now. your right though. the more it changes the more it stays the same!
Fort Dells was also home to the the popular Totem Tower ride. The Totem Tower towered over all other Dells attractions, and at 335ft tall, had a fantastic panoramic view of what seemed like infinity and beyond! The rotating gondola attraction opened June 1st, 1966, and was filled with 60 eager riders. The 4th ride of its kind in the US and only 7th in the world, Totem Tower was a favorite of many visitors. Fort Dells closed shortly after the 1985 season due to the increase in competition and pressure from the new-age waterparks. Upon closing its doors, Fort Dells morphed into Dells Crossroads featuring several circus acts. Dells Crossroads was fairly short-lived, and closed for good just 5 years after opening (1990). Many of the structures sat until 1997 when the remaining pieces were taken apart and bulldozed into rubble and dust. www.dells.com/blog/retro-attractions-fort-dells/
Nice to know that Wisconsin Dells once had a Gyro Tower at one time. I always wanted to know what Happen to it after Fort Dells Closed, If it Was sold for scrapped or relocated somewhere else.
look at the NE corner of 12 & 13... NOTHING !!! I do remember those days.. I am 40 now, was at the Dells this past weekend in fact. Not much left of it from my childhood... but it's still the same... does that make sense ???
The dells Cross roads had one of those things. I was born in the 1980's I remember going to the dells Cross roads the large white foam looking house that was up on the hill and Riverview Park and water world in the dells when I was a little girl. I also remember storybook gardens. And I remember the petting zoo in Wisconsin deer Park wonder what happened to most of those anyway I know they probably all don't exist anymore but they were some pretty interesting places. I have not been to the dells since the early 2000s so I don't know what other old Parks were torn down and new ones put in their place I also remember old Big Chief go karts and that was a fun place to go to. I remember family land. I was born in the 1980's. I also love the ducks. And both upper and lower dells boat tours. Last time I was in the dells was around 2000 went to noah's ark.
After Fort Dells it became Dells Crossroads for a couple years. Same tower
@@fosdickthepig I actually knew but only found out the names changes much later
Thank you for this. So many wonderful childhood memories.
Side note: the 70s cars are so cool.
My first and only visit to the Dells was in 2005. I went there as a coaster enthusiast to check out the latest roller coasters at Mt Olympus and Timber Falls. While eating at a McDonalds, I noticed what appeared to be old train tracks running through the woods behind the McD's. My gut told me it was an old amusement park from the past but I never really did any research until now. I am just in awe at this old place. It was so beautiful and seemed very popular. I had no clue they had the Totem Tower and it reminds me of the one that use to be at Cedar Point. And they also had an old Wild Mouse coaster in the early 60's. I am still continuing my research but this old film is so nice to see, although sad at the same time.
the wooden rollercoaster and flume rider at timber falls is gone i heard rumors that they are going to replace it with a go kart track
I believe I have a video of the wild mouse coaster on RUclips
I guess I don’t have that video up. I have a new projector coming and plan on uploading more films I have found on eBay and estate sales.
Wow. This video predates Riverview Park! I grew up in the 70's. So I'm just old enough to remember Fort Dells before things went down the tubes.
Still try to go back every couple years. But it's a different place now. A lot of the color and flavor have been lost.
All waterparks and mega-resorts. It's a shame all the smaller hotels and motels are being squeezed.
@BargSlarg Yes and no.
I understand about attractions and the like. Things like Fort Dells had their time and are gone.
And I did enjoy the growth of the waterpark industry.
And I'm glad the economy of the area has transformed into a more year-round thing (rather than rolling up the sidewalks in October).
I just lament some of the character that's been lost.
Wow! I was on there eight days before my 7th birthday. It was the first time I went to the Dells. Good thing I went on it when I did because they closed it two years later.
WOOOOWWWW !!! WHAT A TRUE PIECE OF HISTORY i AM SOOO HAPPY TO SEE THIS I AM 32 YEARS OLD AND USED TO RIDE THIS AT SUCH AN EARLY AGE I THINK IWAS 7 OR 8 WHEN THEY TOOK THIS DOWN AND GOSH I REALLY MISS WHAT THE REAL DELLS USED TO BE ....I AM HAPPY TO SHOW MY KIDS THESE OLD VIDEOS ! AND I THINK IT IS ASHAME THAT THERE REALLY ISNT SO MUCH NATIVE AMERICAN INFLUENCE LIKE IT USED TO BE TO ME AND MY FAMILY THAT IS WHY WE TRAVELED THERE SO OFTEN
Water parks put a lot of these places out of business.😢
I remember we got stuck at the top a few times. And also I remember it was extremely hot in there.
This brings me way back. Nice memories :)
Where are the waterparks? LOL! I vaugely remember Fort Dells. I remember Black Bart and the old car ride. I am 38 now. we always stayed at the Jellystone when we went and even now when we take our kids. still love the Duck ride.
Thanks for posting this video and your families memories for all of us to remember.
Thanks for the upload! I recall as a child in the 70's riding this and staying at the Kahler Inn, which is now Copacabana resort...Great memories of riding up Route 12 from Chicago area. I Haven't been to The Dells since the late 80's...used to go twice a year growing up..once when school let out for the summer, then again right before it started. Remember the shooting galleries and fudge shops downtown... Are they still there does anybody know?
The fudge shops are still there and but the original shooting galleries are gone they have some paintball ones though. Alot of flavor and diversity is now gone though
This was when the Dells was about family and morals...now it’s basically an orgy and how drunk or high you can get.
As a member of a family that's been going to the Dells for nearly 60 years, I have news for you.
Seeing how drunk you could get up there isn't anything "new".
My grandfather and one of my uncles used to do that EVERY year they were there.
This occurred over a period of the early 70's through the late 80's in my recollection and probably happened longer than that.
Ya I noticed that too! lot`s of open land. no where near the tourist destination it is now. your right though. the more it changes the more it stays the same!
I never saw this.70s?
Dorothy Clabaugh 60’ and 70 and even early 80’s
wow amazing video. what a time-capsule. does the tower still stand?
Buzz Bee I do not think so i have been there many times and have never seen it of course i am only 20
Fort Dells was also home to the the popular Totem Tower ride. The Totem Tower towered over all other Dells attractions, and at 335ft tall, had a fantastic panoramic view of what seemed like infinity and beyond! The rotating gondola attraction opened June 1st, 1966, and was filled with 60 eager riders. The 4th ride of its kind in the US and only 7th in the world, Totem Tower was a favorite of many visitors.
Fort Dells closed shortly after the 1985 season due to the increase in competition and pressure from the new-age waterparks. Upon closing its doors, Fort Dells morphed into Dells Crossroads featuring several circus acts. Dells Crossroads was fairly short-lived, and closed for good just 5 years after opening (1990). Many of the structures sat until 1997 when the remaining pieces were taken apart and bulldozed into rubble and dust.
www.dells.com/blog/retro-attractions-fort-dells/
no sadly its gone as is for dells a walgreens,mcdonald's,star bucks and other stupid unless stores are there instead.
Nice to know that Wisconsin Dells once had a Gyro Tower at one time. I always wanted to know what Happen to it after Fort Dells Closed, If it Was sold for scrapped or relocated somewhere else.
It was auctioned off in 1997 to a private buyer.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gyro_tower
It layed there for some time after it was taken down
Also my guess is the high buyer bought it for scrap metal.
cool
look at the NE corner of 12 & 13... NOTHING !!! I do remember those days.. I am 40 now, was at the Dells this past weekend in fact. Not much left of it from my childhood... but it's still the same... does that make sense ???