Canobie Lake Park

I arrived in Salem around 4 p.m. and saw the Yankee Cannonball with its famous fur tree in the turn around. Parking was free (a welcome change to the theme parks) and admission was $20.00. One of my problems with the park (and there were very few problems to be had) is that they do not offer any sort of season pass. I know if I could get one I would be at the park A LOT, but since it is $20 per trip (or $13 after 5) I cannot afford to make near as many trips because of my limited budget. Anyway, on to the park.

Let me start by saying that this is one of the most beautiful parks I have ever seen. It is on (obviously) Lake Canobie and there are numerous gorgeous trees throughout the grounds. It is expertly manicured and it is often hard to see around the bend at the other rides because of the amount of green which blocks everything else out of view.

My first ride of the day was the Canobie Corkscrew, an Arrow corkscrew that originally stood at Old Chicago. The coaster was running one train with a red body, which I believe was new. It had Arrow stickers on the back of each car and the seats and restraints were quite different than the older train which was sitting on the transfer track outside the station.


The first drop of the Canobie Corkscrew.	As you can see the corkscrew is an appropriate name, but a bit mundane.

The coaster gave a ride similar to its cousin at Busch Gardens in Tampa. The lift was jerky in the back, the drop gave some airtime and the corkscrews were well-placed over the walkway. I took several rides on it and noticed that the coaster which was directly in front of the corkscrew, a Galaxy, was closed. The lift was not there and several pieces of track throughout the course were gone, too. (Note: The ride remained closed throughout the 2000 season and reopened in 2001).

The flat rides were calling next. I hit the carrousel, which has horses by many different designers (including Stein & Goldstein, Looff and Dentzel) and, I believe, a Wurlitzer Organ. Then it was onto the Matterhorn, which is a Himalya on steroids. If you have never ridden one of these (I had not), instead of being held horizontal they tilt on their side as the ride spins faster. This ride has one of the best headchoppers around, because whoever is sitting on the outside seat feels as if they are going to hit the low ceiling in two spots…perhaps someone else can explain this better than me, but once you ride it you will know what I mean. I also rode the Round-up, Paratrooper (this one ran a lot faster than Camden's), a Traver Caterpillar (my first one with a cover intact), the Tilt-a-whirl and the Psycho Drome (or Dome) which is an in-the-dark scrambler. Being inside with strobe lights really intensifies this ride and I felt as if I would careen into on of the walls on every spin.


The Caterpillar with the cover down as dusk approaches.	The Traver ride goes into action.

The Yankee Cannonball was up next and I was not sure what to expect. This ride was designed by Herb Schmeck, built first in 1930 at Lakewood Park in Waterbury, Connecticut and moved to Canobie in 1936. One thing I did not like was the fact that there is no choice in seats, the ski lodge-style station only permits groups to be ushered in. On days like today with a one train wait it is not too bad, but during a busy weekend I think they should allow you to choose your seat. The ride features skid brakes which are operated by the person at the control panel, but the brake handles which are still intact at the other end of the station flail comically as they "control" the brakes…with no one there.

The ride uses Philadelphia Toboggan Company three bench cars with stationery lap bars (yeah!), seat dividers (boo) and headrests which I usually mind on PTC's, but like here because they were well padded. The ride op said the seats were new and I thought they looked great (and were comfortable, too!). The structure got a lot of work this year as there were many pieces of unpainted wood on the coasters layout. As we were going up the lift I saw the cars for the Galaxy and the bodies of the old corkscrew trains.


The Yankee Cannonball's first drop.	Herb Schmeck was a master designer, as is evidenced by the graceful drop off the turn around.

The Yankee Cannonball was running very well today, despite it being rather chilly after the sun went down. Being an out and back fun I loved the ride. I spent most of my time in the last seat in the first car and got lots of airtime. Some of my other rides were in the front and back, all of which gave fun rides. Although the coaster is only around 60 feet high the coaster does a lot with its speed and gave standing air in a few places.