2021 closings

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Blue Man Group at Universal Orlando

Barney meet n greet, show and merchandise at Universal Studios Florida

Sorcerers Of the Magic Kingdom at Magic Kingdom

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Tower Arcade & Lounge at Citrus Tower in Clermont, Florida will be closing permanently March 2, 2021.

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Schmidt Amusements, a carnival operator based in Michigan, is out of business after almost 40 years.

[Heather Kendrick]

Post by ***@aol.com
Schmidt Amusements, a carnival operator based in Michigan, is out of business
after almost 40 years.

That´s a real shame. I hope the other Schmidt family operation, T.J.
Schmidt & Co., hangs on. They have a carousel that they bring to a couple of
fairs we go to and it´s an especially well run (read: reasonable speed)
carousel, plus pretty nicely painted for a carnival carousel.

[[e-mail]]

Fusion Bistro Sushi & Sake Bar at Universal Orlando CityWalk has closed for good. It's the second closure at CityWalk this year, after Blue Man Group.

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Forever Young Amusements of Conley, Georgia has ceased operation as a traveling carnival. They had a whole lineup of thrill, family and kid rides, the only coaster they own is a small kiddie coaster.

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Laser Kingdom of Farmingdale, New York has permanently closed (May have happened in 2020, not sure)

[Heather Kendrick]

Post by ***@aol.com
Laser Kingdom of Farmingdale, New York has permanently closed (May have
happened in 2020, not sure)

Not actually a 2021 closing (I think it last operated in 2019) but Conneaut
Lake Park has announced that despite their earlier claims that they were
removing the Tumble Bug "for refurbishment" and that it would operate in
2022, which no one believed except for the surprisingly large number of
people determined to kiss the new owner´s ass on social media, it´s
actually been permanently removed. Their post about it on Facebook claims
"we really tried" and that they´re very very sorry.

Meanwhile, the dynamic in the comments has shifted thusly:

(Before)
Skeptics: They´re obviously removing it permanently since they ripped out
the station and handrails and everything.
Suck-ups: Stop being so NEGATIVE! It will be back in 2022! The new owner is a
SAVIOR of this magnificent park and we should all be GRATEFUL that he´s
going to fix up the rides!

(After)
Suck-ups: THANK YOU so much to the new owner for trying so hard to save it!
Anyway they´ll replace it with new and better things. The rest of you
should shut up because it´s not YOUR property so you have no right to have
an opinion! And anyway it was unsafe! Or it was an eyesore/too noisy/made me
sick [etc. etc....]

Anyway, that leaves Kennywood´s the last standing, and we know Kennywood is
definitely 100% committed to preserving rare flat rides, so that should be
fine. Too bad they run it noticeably slower than CLP ran theirs.

[[e-mail]]

Post by Heather Kendrick

Post by ***@aol.com
Laser Kingdom of Farmingdale, New York has permanently closed (May have
happened in 2020, not sure)

Not actually a 2021 closing (I think it last operated in 2019) but Conneaut
Lake Park has announced that despite their earlier claims that they were
removing the Tumble Bug "for refurbishment" and that it would operate in
2022, which no one believed except for the surprisingly large number of
people determined to kiss the new owner´s ass on social media, it´s
actually been permanently removed. Their post about it on Facebook claims
"we really tried" and that they´re very very sorry.
(Before)
Skeptics: They´re obviously removing it permanently since they ripped out
the station and handrails and everything.
Suck-ups: Stop being so NEGATIVE! It will be back in 2022! The new owner is a
SAVIOR of this magnificent park and we should all be GRATEFUL that he´s
going to fix up the rides!
(After)
Suck-ups: THANK YOU so much to the new owner for trying so hard to save it!
Anyway they´ll replace it with new and better things. The rest of you
should shut up because it´s not YOUR property so you have no right to have
an opinion! And anyway it was unsafe! Or it was an eyesore/too noisy/made me
sick [etc. etc....]
Anyway, that leaves Kennywood´s the last standing, and we know Kennywood is
definitely 100% committed to preserving rare flat rides, so that should be
fine. Too bad they run it noticeably slower than CLP ran theirs.
--
Heather, the Carousel Rabbit

I saw that post too, and it definitely seems doubtful they tried very hard to save it. The comments certainly have been interesting.

I’d have to disagree about your statement about Kennywood. This last winter, they removed the last of a kind Kangaroo, not to mention the rare Bayern Kurve. Prior to this last winter, I’d agree with you. But now I don’t think anything historic at Kennywood is going to last forever under Palace.

[Heather Kendrick]

I´d have to disagree about your statement about Kennywood. This last
winter, they removed the last of a kind Kangaroo, not to mention the rare
Bayern Kurve.

Yes, that was the joke.

[[e-mail]]

Post by Heather Kendrick

I´d have to disagree about your statement about Kennywood. This last
winter, they removed the last of a kind Kangaroo, not to mention the rare
Bayern Kurve.

Yes, that was the joke.
--
Heather, the Carousel Rabbit

Oh lol ok good, I was hoping, but it read as serious. Anyway, thanks for posting an update in this thread, sometimes I feel like the only one who does and cares about these announcements and closings threads.

[Heather Kendrick]

Post by ***@aol.com

Post by Heather Kendrick

I´d have to disagree about your statement about Kennywood. This last
winter, they removed the last of a kind Kangaroo, not to mention the rare
Bayern Kurve.

Yes, that was the joke.
--
Heather, the Carousel Rabbit

Oh lol ok good, I was hoping, but it read as serious. Anyway, thanks for
posting an update in this thread, sometimes I feel like the only one who does
and cares about these announcements and closings threads.

For what it´s worth I appreciate these threads! They keep me up
particularly on the small/less-well-known ride and park news, the stuff that
doesn´t necessarily make a big splash in my social media.

[[e-mail]]

Dolphin Days at SeaWorld Orlando has ended, replaced with Dolphin Adventure

[Surf Dance Chris]

Shamrock in Wildwood, NJ will close and become parking lot

[Surf Dance Chris]

Midway provider California Carnival Company is folding and selling 35 rides on usedrides.com.

[Surf Dance Chris]

Sea Lion High at SeaWorld Orlando closed earlier this year, replaced by a new show “Sea Lion and Otter Spotlight”

[Surf Dance Chris]

Wicked Twister at Cedar Point is closing September 6, 2021

[Surf Dance Chris]

Pirates Cove Adventure Golf in Lake Buena Vista, Florida has permanently closed as of August 16.

[Surf Dance Chris]

Lighthouse, Falling Star, and Lady Luck rides at Adventureland in Iowa.

[Surf Dance Chris]

Enigma haunted house in Boca Raton, all will close after this haunt season. Sounds like they need to find another location to continue.

[Surf Dance Chris]

Kiddie Carousel at Adventureland in New York last day of operation yesterday 10/24.

[Surf Dance Chris]

Cedar Point:
Antique Autos
(Will be replaced by a restaurant)

Lagoon:
Carousel Candy (store)
Children’s mini bumper cars
(both were lost in a fire)

[Surf Dance Chris]

Gameworks arcade chain closed permanently at the end of 2021.

[Surf Dance Chris]

Giant Wheel at Great Escape has been removed and will not reopen.

[Surf Dance Chris]

Flying Bobs at Beech Bend

[Surf Dance Chris]

Ball Crawl at Knoebels

[Surf Dance Chris]

Rye Playland:
Thunderbolt, Slyflyer, Starship 2000, and Flying Witch

[Heather Kendrick]

Post by Surf Dance Chris
Thunderbolt, Slyflyer, Starship 2000, and Flying Witch

Shame about the Flying Witch. I always thought it was neat that they had two
old school dark rides right across the way from each other like that. Still,
at least it´s been sold to another park.

[Surf Dance Chris]

Kings Island:

Slingshot

[Surf Dance Chris]

Steel Pier:
Crazy Mouse

Anyone know if this was scrapped?

[Surf Dance Chris]

Cedar Point:

Top Thrill Dragster

[Heather Kendrick]

Post by Surf Dance Chris
Top Thrill Dragster

It´s going to be very interesting to see what develops with that. They
pretty clearly telegraphed that it´s not completely going away. The most
popular theory seems to be that they´re going to convert it to use LSMs
somehow. What do you all think?

[Surf Dance Chris]

Post by Heather Kendrick

Post by Surf Dance Chris
Top Thrill Dragster

It´s going to be very interesting to see what develops with that. They
pretty clearly telegraphed that it´s not completely going away. The most
popular theory seems to be that they´re going to convert it to use LSMs
somehow. What do you all think?
--
Heather, the Carousel Rabbit

I think just converting to LSMs and not making any other noticeable changes is not enough for them to announce that the ride has closed. Most wouldn’t know the difference and wonder why they announced it closing and is now back open. I’m hoping for something more noticeable like the Phantom’s Revenge change. Or at least train style change like Rougarou, but I doubt that would happen on that ride. Or maybe they’ll enclose and theme the ride, including the queue, other than the actual vertical part?

[Surf Dance Chris]

West Edmonton Mall:
Mind Bender

https://globalnews.ca/news/9446536/west-edmonton-mall-closes-mindbender-indoor-roller-coaster/

[Richard Bannister]

Post by Surf Dance Chris
Mind Bender

That one saddens me. The great Schwarzkopfs are coming to the end of their lives sadly. I feel privileged to have ridden as many of them as I have.

-
www.superiorsolitaire.com

[Doug Miller]

Post by Richard Bannister

Post by Surf Dance Chris
Mind Bender

That one saddens me. The great Schwarzkopfs are coming to the end of their lives sadly. I feel privileged to have ridden as many of them as I have.
-
www.superiorsolitaire.com

I wonder if Indiana Beach could use this for spare parts?

[Ansley]

Post by Doug Miller

Post by Richard Bannister

Post by Surf Dance Chris
Mind Bender

That one saddens me. The great Schwarzkopfs are coming to the end of their lives sadly. I feel privileged to have ridden as many of them as I have.
-
www.superiorsolitaire.com

I wonder if Indiana Beach could use this for spare parts?

I wonder if they plan on selling it? Someone could buy it, get new track pieces made, if needed, and just give it a big refurb like Indiana Beach is doing. I'd prefer to see it relocated.

[Heather Kendrick]

Post by Surf Dance Chris
Mind Bender
https://globalnews.ca/news/9446536/west-edmonton-mall-closes-mindbender-indoor
-roller-coaster/

Truly an end of an era. I´ve never ridden it, but was sad to hear it.