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[gore range]

Summer's last screams on Cyclone at Lakeside
By Annette Espinoza, Saturday September 5, 2009

Carrie Murphy missed the old-school Cyclone roller coaster at Lakeside Amusement Park this summer.



She missed the clattering cars, the bone-jarring curves, the breathtaking drops that once made a nephew just tall enough to ride it scream, "I'm too young to die!"


The Cyclone, shuttered in June for some pre-70th anniversary repairs, is back for three weekends only.


Murphy, 40, has ridden the coaster most summers since she was a kid.



"The terror of the possibility that it could hurl me right into the lake, and the noise of the old wooden roller coaster going "ching, ching, ching" was thrilling," Murphy said. "I'm glad to hear it's back."


Designed by Ed Vettel [designer of CLP's BLUESTREAK] and built in 1940, the Cyclone has a top speed of 55 mph, a height of 90 feet and a drop of 89 feet. It is 2,800 feet long and has two 20-passenger strings of cars, according to ultimaterollercoaster.com, a website created for coaster enthusiasts.


"I thought the fact that they opened the park without that was absurd," Murphy said. "It is one (of the) best rides at Lakeside."



When family-owned Lakeside shut the popular roller coaster down, no one thought it would be for most of the season.


"We made varying repairs, including new parts and lumber, but it took more repair than (we) thought to refurbish it," said Lakeside spokeswoman Connie Jo Moore. "Now it's up and running properly."


The Cyclone received the "Landmark Coaster" distinction from the American Coaster Enthusiasts, a nonprofit that preserves and promotes roller coasters. Next year, it will celebrate its 70th birthday.


"We're in the early planning stages," Moore said.

Denver's Ed Vettel-designed CYCLONE coaster at Lakeside Park:


Roller-coaster operators Jerry Thomson, left, and Clayton Stephen test-ride the refurbished Cyclone before the Lakeside Amusement Park opens Friday. Repairs put the vintage 1940s coaster out of commission for most of summer. (John Sunderland, The Denver Post):



Mechanics David Banfield, left, and Trevin Reich adjust the Cyclone's tracks on Friday. The ride's top drop: 89 feet; top speed, 55 mph(John Sunderland, The Denver Post):






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[openthepark]

Has the Blue Streak Sign Diagram that was over the tunnel been destroyed by the fire? I'm reading conflicting stories.  Anybody know for sure?  Nice pictures Gore of a very famous coaster.                                       
 

[jimmyt]

are there fireworks this weekend?

yes, 10:00 pm tonight (Sunday)
 

[Zipper]

yes zip you can!!!!!!!

i supply the candy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Two for me, one for them..... three for me, one for them.... LOL
Just don't buy little Snicker's bars and we'll be okay. Haha.

OK... What day, where, what time, and how can I find you? (I have never been to one of the Pumpkin Fest parades before.)

[Janetplanet]

thank you - couldn't find anything on their website

[Zipper]

It's mentioned in the article by the Tribune on the events pricing page, and also in the Beach Club's website, which links through the CLP website. (Specifically it says "Fireworks at 10:00 pm")
 
It probably could have used a more prominent display somewhere on the CLP website though for people wanting to know.
 
 
 

[Janetplanet]

my husband thought he saw it in the tribune - went to check the website, alas.  thanks anyways

[precisionpest]

sat 10/10/09 starts at 10am.

line up will be by the grade school & post office.

i will email you when i get a spot number to line up at!

[MsPeacock]

well, finally slowing down a bit from the weekend now .... hubby and i just ordered some pizza to be delivered .... spent the whole weekend with a summer cold .... fun times! wish we had more choices for pizza delivery in the area ... pizza joe's is cool but sometimes i'd just like to have more places to pick from. i really think another pizza delivery joint would do well on the lake.

[E-L Man]

I wasn't at the park Sunday but I heard a rumor that the Bikers ordered the car cruisers out of the park and not to come back. That the Bikers now own the lawn since they've claimed the park as THEIR hangout and/or home. Any truth to any of this?

[NightmarePatrol]

Is this just "bikers" or a "club" wearing colors? There's a bit of a difference.

[Zipper]

I wasn't at the park Sunday but I heard a rumor that the Bikers ordered the car cruisers out of the park and not to come back. That the Bikers now own the lawn since they've claimed the park as THEIR hangout and/or home. Any truth to any of this?

Seriously?
That can't be true, can it?
I know Thunder on the Lake is coming up, which is a big bike event.

[clp_lives]

I wasn't at the park Sunday but I heard a rumor that the Bikers ordered the car cruisers out of the park and not to come back. That the Bikers now own the lawn since they've claimed the park as THEIR hangout and/or home. Any truth to any of this?

Seriously?
That can't be true, can it?
I know Thunder on the Lake is coming up, which is a big bike event.

I am sure some may be offended but from what I see week after week the cruisers for the most part contribute little to keep the park viable in many cases although I am sure not all cases.  They many times enter prior to a gate charge, take up "their" spot on the lawn , pull out the lawn chairs and open their coolers full of drinks and food, spending little if anything at the park itself.  The signs were clear this weekend I noticed, no outside food or drink allowed but that did not stop them it seemed.  The bikers may not ride the rides but they certainly drink and a portion of which goes directly to the park.  Is'nt it illegal anyway to bring alcohol in on their own anyway?  Not trying to start a fight but it is just my observations and it would be nice to have the "free" act lawn at times "free" (of cars) so we can also let the kids run around in between riding the rides and eating at the beach club.

[myredmonet]

Funny, I was thinking the same thing about the cars when I walked by them yesterday.  Just noticed the signs today regarding the food and drink.

[lifefeedsonlife]

The bikers may not ride the rides but they certainly drink and a portion of which goes directly to the park.

Nah - that's all tied to the liquor license at the Beach Club. Doesn't really go to the Park. (From what I understand.) the Park wants cruisers to come and spend money there. The Beach Club wants bikers to come and drink beer there. (The Beach Club runs the outdoor beer thing on the free act lawn.) The funding streams are spearate and money from the sale of alcohol doesn't go to the Park . . . at least that's what I gather from what I've heard . . . .