originally posted on 8/13/2021 1:28:57 PM
Photo: Jay Jacobs. View full-sized image.
As reported in the ACE South Central recap of the regional event West Texas Roundup, the National Roller Coaster Museum and Archives (NRCMA) has recently received two more coaster cars to add to its collection.
Attendees at the event were honored to see the unveiling of two new, historically significant ride vehicles that helped revolutionize the theme park experience. The first was a Loch Ness Monster Arrow ride vehicle donated by Busch Gardens Williamsburg. Loch Ness Monster was the first roller coaster with interlocking loops and was the impetus for the first-ever American Coaster Enthusiasts’ Coaster Con. The second was the first coaster car designed by Dana Morgan and Steve Okamoto for the West Coaster at Pacific Park on the pier in Santa Monica, California. The car was donated by Pacific Park.
Photo: David Lipnicky. View full-sized image.
Photo: Jay Jacobs. View full-sized image.
Following a massive train rebuild in recent years, Loch Ness Monster received some new bodies for its trains. The park shipped a lead car to the Plainview facility.
West Coaster opened in 1996. Pacific Park recently replaced the original trains with 1957 car-themed new trains from Chance Rides. Now known as Santa Monica West Coaster, the attraction has adopted a Route 66 theme. Pacific Park made arrangements for the Morgan car to be transported to the museum.
Jeff Novotny of Larson International secured that donation.
Photo: Tim Baldwin. View full-sized image.
Enthusiasts who attended West Texas Roundup enjoyed the unveiling and were able to take pictures up close. Many fans decided to have their pictures taken while in the Loch Ness Monster train body.
These two additions follow recent acquisitions of priceless pieces of history. The NRCMA recently took possession of a car from the former Rocky Springs Jack Rabbit coaster in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, where it was in operation from 1918 to 1927. In addition to the Jack Rabbit car, the museum recently received a collection of antique wooden coaster brake handles and a model of the Phoenix wooden coaster, which recently underwent a three-year restoration by model builder Dave Rouse of Arlington, Texas. The model was originally built by ACE member John Hunt and was donated to the NRCMA by North Carolina resident Beth Remhoff.
Other recent additions have taken place in the massive Mark Moore wing of the facility. A recent addition was a track and train display of the 1938 Rollo Coaster from Idlewild and SoakZone designed by Skyline Attractions and constructed by Great Coasters International, Inc. (GCII). The impressive 12-foot-high and 30-foot-long display joins a track and train display of the Bill Cobb- and Don Rosser-designed Texas Cyclone, as well as a display of the 1977 Schwarzkopf sooperdooperLooper from Hersheypark.
— Tim Baldwin, ACE News Editor and Pete Owens, NRCMA Board Member
Photo: Tim Baldwin. View full-sized image.
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