Cstephens
Thursday, December 16, 2004 9:56:47 AM
does anyone know if mcdonagh's amusements is getting any new rides in 2005 or if he's selling any old ones. are they playing the indoor superfair at the silverdome and hopw are their zyklon and toboggan coasters doing? are they using them on the road are are they still in winter hq?
Skywheelrider
Thursday, December 16, 2004 10:19:35 AM
No news of new rides for 2005 yet, some ideas have been tossed around. Nothing concrete that can be posted here. They got the Toboggan in June from Cumberland Valley Shows and it spent most of the rest of the season sitting in Chesaning at the Saginaw County Fairgrounds, which is also their quarters. It ran for the Saginaw County Fair in August and the Jack O Lantern Carnival in October. The Zyklon is still set up at the fairgrounds and is not going anywhere for the forseable future, but there has been talk to refurbing it and taking it to a couple of spots, it is a huge coaster, not the easiest to move, bigger than Wade's, A of A's, and Van Hull's. No word on the Indoor Super Fair, that is up to the Silverdome. My guess at this point would be, since the place has not been torn down, and they are still using it (the state high school football finals were held there Thanksgiving weekend), that yes, there will be a fair in March, but anything can happen between now and then. The show has a few rides and such set up right now inside one of the buildings at the Saginaw County Fairgrounds for the Indoor Winter Carnival, open weekends through the end of this month. Mainly kiddies, and maybe the Scooter, cannot recall what Justin told me exactly after he talked to Matt McDonagh. I do know their Chance Pharoah's Fury was supposed to be getting refurbed over the winter.
"Don't go around saying the world owes you a living. The world owes you nothing. It was here first." -- Mark Twain
britt
  •  britt
  • 97.96% (Exalted)
  • Operations Foreman
Thursday, December 16, 2004 10:24:43 AM
a great looking show as i got to see it in person this summer. there must be a competition among michigan shows to see who can look the best. just sorry i could not spend more time visiting.
JustinJames
Saturday, December 18, 2004 9:28:46 AM
Hell Britt, you should have seen us at Port Huron. Armada is a dirtbowl and made everything dirty right away. Another REALLY good spot to see us is Chesaning. Usually the WHOLE show (coasters and all) are up.
britt
  •  britt
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  • Operations Foreman
Saturday, December 18, 2004 2:09:00 PM
what are the dates for chesaning and port huron. never know when we might take a road trip or schedule a tour.
Skywheelrider
Saturday, December 18, 2004 3:43:51 PM
Saginaw County Fair in Chesaning, Michigan: 2-6 August 2005.

http://community.webshots.com/user/wonderlandshows  . Both good spots to visit the show at.

"Don't go around saying the world owes you a living. The world owes you nothing. It was here first." -- Mark Twain
Disney Fan
  •  rhino
  • 64.76% (Friendly)
  • Operations Foreman
Saturday, December 18, 2004 4:58:40 PM
did saginaw county fair change lots since the 80 s?
Skywheelrider
Saturday, December 18, 2004 5:10:50 PM
Quote:

quote:


Originally posted by rhino

did saginaw county fair change lots since the 80 s?

Yes they did. The fair was dying in Saginaw (decrepit grounds, low attendance, etc.), so a few years ago the McDonagh's had bought the land in Chesaning to use as quarters, and they had the contract for the county fair, so they donated the land they had in Chesaning to the fair, the stipulation being that they get to keep their quarters on site and use the fairgrounds to set up equipment to work on, to park equipment, etc. They play the Saginaw County Fair there, the Great Jack O Lantern Carnival each October there, and the Christmas Carnival inside one of the buildings, open weekends in December through CHRISTmas.
"Don't go around saying the world owes you a living. The world owes you nothing. It was here first." -- Mark Twain
britt
  •  britt
  • 97.96% (Exalted)
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Saturday, December 18, 2004 5:17:12 PM
i liked armada except for the grandstands in the middle of the grounds. that beer tent was huge. how many rides does mcdonagh's have including the coaster?
Skywheelrider
Saturday, December 18, 2004 5:27:48 PM
Here ya go, complete ride list:

Allan Herschell Sky Wheel
Eli Signature Wheel
Wisdom Blizzard (Himalaya)
Eli t/m Scrambler
Larson Fireball
Fabbri Eclipse
Chance Pharaoh's Fury
Dartron Cliff Hanger
Chance Toboggan
Pinfari Zyklon
Majestic Euro Scooter (owned by Matt McDonagh)
Owens Mardi Gras (owned by Matt McDonagh)
Dartron Super Slide
Chance Merry-Go-Round (originally a g/m, t/m by the McDonagh's)
Sartori Dry Boats
Zamperla Crazy Submarine
Sellner Dizzy Dragons
SBF Truckin' U.S.A. (owned by Blake McDonagh)
SBF Santa Fe Train
Allan Herschell Bumblebees (rethemed Helicopters)
Sellner Jumpin' Jumbos
Wisdom Go Gator coaster

=21 rides, one fun house.

In 2004 they sold their A.R.M. 1001 Nachts (to Golden Wheel Amusements in Alaska) and their A.R.M. Sky Master (to A.J. Carl Shows). They used to have a gorgeous Chance Music Fest that they sold to Family Attractions Amusement Company out of Georgia (which led to them getting the Sky Wheel.

Yeah, Armada is a nice fair, but that grandstand where it is makes for a tight fit on the midway.



"Don't go around saying the world owes you a living. The world owes you nothing. It was here first." -- Mark Twain
orphaned
Saturday, December 18, 2004 6:35:13 PM
Interesting lineup for a 21 ride show....
Skywheelrider
Saturday, December 18, 2004 7:07:47 PM
Yeah, you are right Bryan. Not your average lineup. lol Of course, way back when, they used to be a more "traditional" line-up show, with rides like an Eli Hy-5 Wheel, Trabant, Round-Up, Tilt-A-Whirl, Loop-O-Plane, Mega Loop (Super Loop), Music Fest, the same Scrambler, Rock-O-Plane, Zipper, Majestic Scooter 1800, Tempest, Hurricane, Kiddie Wheel, Wacky Shack, Fun Slide, Theel M-G-R, some Hamptons, Berry-Go-Round, the same Go Gator, Little Scrambler, Raiders, Moonwalk, Mirror Maze, a Gravitron for a year, even a Yo-Yo for a time (great story on that one). They did have a Century Wheel, too, from 1995-2000. The M-G-R they have now came from Pugh Shows in 1994. The Bumblebees was an A.H. Helicopter that was Pugh's, too, the McDonagh's completely tore it apart, rebuilt it, and ditched the copters for the bees. Interesting line-up, but great people, the McDonagh's are super nice. (Not all at one time, but over the last twenty years or so these are some of the rides they carried.)
"Don't go around saying the world owes you a living. The world owes you nothing. It was here first." -- Mark Twain
ScorpionKing
Sunday, December 19, 2004 10:25:38 AM
hey is that eli signature wheel the one Quan was tellin me was a seattle/giant wheel... we were talkin about it in minnesota... he said something about havin a "Seattle Wheel" that was bigger than our chance giant wheel....
cny_chris
Sunday, December 19, 2004 10:48:03 AM
The Eli Signature Wheel is definitely not a Seattle/Giant Wheel. Not gonna say anything else about this for now....[;)]
"A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step." - Lao-Tsu

"Faith is taking the first step, even when you don't see the whole staircase." - Martin Luther King Jr.

"Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly." - Robert F. Kennedy
Skywheelrider
Sunday, December 19, 2004 11:03:49 AM
Quote:

quote:


Originally posted by ScorpionKing

hey is that eli signature wheel the one Quan was tellin me was a seattle/giant wheel... we were talkin about it in minnesota... he said something about havin a "Seattle Wheel" that was bigger than our chance giant wheel....

Well, I will leave that one alone "for now." [;)]
"Don't go around saying the world owes you a living. The world owes you nothing. It was here first." -- Mark Twain