Beech Bend Park

Beech Bend Park is an amusement park, campground and automobile race track located in Warren County, in the U.S. state of Kentucky, just outside the limits of the city of Bowling Green.

Beech Bend Park
Overlooking the lake at Beech Bend Park in 2016
SloganIt's always a good time!
LocationWarren County, in Bowling Green, Kentucky, U.S.
Coordinates37°01′27″N 86°23′43″W
OwnerDallas and Alfreda Jones
Opened1898
Operating seasonMay–September
Attractions
Total47
Roller coasters3
Water rides1
WebsiteWebsite

History

The park takes its name from a bend in Barren River where stands of beech trees are scattered throughout the area. The area was used for picnics as early as the 1880s. Charles Garvin purchased the park property in the early 1940s, adding amusements both rides and recreational activities over the years. The first ride was a pony ride, followed by a roller skating rink, dance hall, bowling center and swimming pool.

Mechanics arrive

Shortly after World War II, Garvin added mechanical rides to Beech Bend Park, beginning with a Ferris wheel purchased from the Chicago World's Fair. Racing began about that same time with motorcycles. Auto racing began on a 3/8-mile (600 m) oval dirt track; that same track, now paved, is still in use today. A dragstrip was added in the 1950s.

The 1960s

The 1960s marked the park's heyday. Gate admission was ten cents, with promotions known as "County Days," spotlighting a county within the Bowling Green, Kentucky area each week. Carnival-type rides were abundant, with the famous Wild Mouse the most popular; midway games such as Skee ball and Fascination were a hit with guests. The campground grew over the years, with more than 1,000 spaces advertised at its peak, billed at one time as the world's largest. (The campground was home to the original store of what is now Camping World, a large camping supply retailer founded by David Garvin, Charles Garvin's son.) A small zoo was also added.

The 1970s and early 1980s

In the 1970s, the park went into a state of decline, largely due to competition from theme parks such as Opryland USA in nearby Nashville, Tennessee. Garvin's health was also in steady decline. When he died in 1979, the park closed, though the racing facilities stayed open under a lease agreement to a third-party operator. The park was purchased by an ownership group that included country music singer Ronnie Milsap, which operated it unsuccessfully in 1981 and 1982.

Jim Varney's first television commercial as character Ernest P. Worrell was for Beech Bend. Varney's character was advertising an appearance by the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders in 1980.

The park closed again, with ownership reverting to Garvin's heirs.

Changes

In 1984, Dallas and Alfreda Jones purchased the racetracks and began hosting national drag racing events sanctioned by the National Hot Rod Association. The racetracks did well, and three years later, the couple purchased the rest of the park, which had by then fallen back into nature.[1] No work was done on the old park until the 1990s, when the Jones' began to clear out the park and renovate the campground. In 1998 the pool was reopened along with some new amusement rides being added to the park — much as Charles Garvin had done in the park's early years.[2]

Recent history

In 2001, the park introduced the Looping Star roller coaster, which was 31-feet tall and 1,202 feet-long.[3][4] The Gold Rush Miniature Golf course was added to the park for the 2003 season.[5] In late 2002, construction began on Splash Lagoon water park, which included the existing olympic-sized swimming and added the Ragin' Rapids Water Slides, and Lotta Wotta Island, a children's play structure.[6] The water park was originally scheduled to open in 2003, however it's grand opening was postponed, and Splash Lagoon opened on May 22, 2004.[7] By 2005, Beech Bend Park had more than 40 rides, 500 campground spaces with modern amenities, renovated racing facilities, a water park and large picnic pavilions. The race tracks were hosting numerous Corvette racing events (the park is only a few miles away from the General Motors factory that produces the sports car), plus the annual NHRA Hot Rod Reunion. The park opened a Zamperla Twisting Wild Mouse coaster, Zamperla Steamboat ride and a drop tower called the Shock Drop for the 2005 season.[8]

In November 2004, during the IAAPA trade show in Orlando, Florida, Dallas Jones began discussions with Great Coasters International about constructing a wooden roller coaster at Beech Bend Park.[9][10] On July 28, 2005, it was announced that the roller coaster would open in 2006, have a height of 96 feet (29 m), an 82-foot (25 m) drop, a maximum speed of 47 miles (76 km) per hour, and that a contest would be held to choose the ride's name.[11] In October 28, 2005, the park announced that the ride would be called Kentucky Rumbler.[12] The roller coaster opened on May 6, 2006.[13]

The year 2007 brought permanent replacements for some of the older mobile rides. In October the park announced the Holiday Lights Spectacular that ran through January. The Kentucky Rumbler was operating along with other smaller flat rides open.

In 2008, the park added a brand new Carousel, The Grand Carousel. A new show called "The Magic of Music" involved music from the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. They also had Cirque Africa Show that ran June 16 through June 23. For the kids the park introduced a new park character show, "Singing with Sammy the Squirrel, and from July 14 through July 23 the park had a kids' festival. Thrill seekers received a brand new Scat 2.

The Sea Dragon ride from Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch was installed at Beech Bend Park in 2009.

In 2009, Beech Bend debuted the Chance Rides Sea Dragon ride [14] which was purchased from Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch and was alleged to be his favorite ride. The Looping Star Roller Coaster was removed at the end of the season.

In 2010, Beech Bend opened a large waterpark expansion (wave pool, lazy river and a water play structure), a Zamperla family tea cups ride, a kids' quad runner and a new amphitheater, billed as the largest in Beech Bend's history and was to open in early May.[15] The expansion was delayed by two months due to the 2010 Tennessee floods, and the water play structure and amphitheater did not open until the 2011 season. The first ride at the park, the Ferris wheel, was standing but not operating the whole season, and was removed for the 2011 season.

In 2011, the old Haunted House ride was completely overhauled, with new effects and cars added to it. The Shock Drop drop tower was removed at the end of the season.

The replacement for Shock Drop arrived in 2012, in the form of the 140-foot-tall drop tower named Zero-G, named by people who participated in a naming contest on Facebook.[16] Ironically, Zero-G was made by the same manufacturer as Shock Drop was; ARM. As well as the park purchased new ThunderVolt Speedway Go-Karts.

In 2013, the Park added the Vortex manufactured by Chance Rides.[17] The Vortex is swinging pendulum ride that swings riders 60 feet into the air reaching a maximum swing angle of 240 degrees. Riders sit facing each other, and at the maximum height of the swing, riders are suspended upside down.

The Flying Bobs ride, seen here in 2016, was refurbished in 2014.

In 2014, no new rides were added, but several of the older rides were repainted and rebuilt.

In 2015, the park added 5 new rides. The Tornado and Sizzler rides were replaced with new versions. Power Surge was replaced by Air Race, as well as the park added a children's monster truck ride, and Bluegrass Breeze a Flying Carousel make their way to Beech Bend for the 2015 season. On August 15, a train on the Dragon coaster derailed, leading to the ride's removal.[18]

For the 2016 year, Beech Bend invested in a multimillion-dollar expansion to the water park, involving four new slides manufactured by ProSlide. One slide, the Cyclone Saucers, is the first of its kind in North America.[19] Because of the expansion, several rides had to be relocated. Spinning Out, a spinning family coaster, was also added in 2016, taking the place of the Dragon Coaster.[20]

Current attractions

Roller coasters
NameOpenedManufacturerDescription
Kentucky Rumbler2006Great Coasters InternationalA wooden roller coaster that was partially based upon the Rye Playland (New York) Aeroplane Coaster's first drop. Holds the world record for most coaster station fly-bys, at three.
Wild Mouse2005ZamperlaA steel spinning wild mouse coaster.
Spinning Out2016SBF VISAA spinning family steel roller coaster. Replaced the Dragon Coaster.

Family and thrill rides
NameOpenedNotes
Air Race2015New for 2015. Replaced the Power Surge ride. Air Race was made by Zamperla the same company that manufactured the Power Surge. It is an aeroplane style ride that takes riders upside-down multiple times.
Adult Bumper Cars???
Bluegrass Breeze2015New for 2015, Bluegrass Breeze is a Flying Carousel made by Bertazzon.
Dizzy Dragon2000Made by Larson International
Flying Bobs2003Closed for the 2009 season. Allan Herschell Company Flying Bobs. Repainted and replaced decking for the 2014 season.
Speedway Go Carts2012Go kart track that has existed since the 1950s; up-charge attraction. New ThunderVolt Speedway cars added in 2012. Cost to ride is $5 for adult drivers and $3 for passengers. Drivers must be 60 inches tall to drive.
Granny Jones Petting Farm2006
Grand Carousel2008Manufactured by Chance Rides. Has 2 chariots, as well as unique animals such as a seahorse, lion, rabbit, camel along with the traditional horses.
Haunted House2011Radically refurbished in 2011 with new props, effects, and overall performance. Formerly a Pretzel dark ride.
Hip Hop Drop2010Mosier Rides Spring Ride. 10 person capacity. Was relocated in 2014 to be in front of Zero G, the adult drop tower. Switched locations with Bumble Bee Bop.
Hubcab Alley Antique Cars2002Arrow Development Antique Cars ride.
Gold Rush Golf200318 Hole Miniature golf. It is free and included with park admission. $2 club deposit required.
Moby Dick2007Made by Wisdom Rides. It is a 24-seat version of the Wisdom Genesis.
Rockin' Tug2004Made by Zamperla
Scat 22008Made by Dartron.
Sea Dragon2009Notable for being the same ride at Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch; was stated to be his favorite ride and was bought by Beech Bend shortly after his death. Manufactured by Chance Rides. The park plays Michael Jackson music at the ride.
Sizzler2000Replaced in 2015 by a new version of the same ride. Manufactured by Wisdom Rides.
Starship 40002010Manufactured by Wisdom Rides.
Tea Party2010Manufactured by Zamperla
Tilt-A-Whirl1999Classic Larson International Tilt-a-whirl.
Tornado1999Made by Wisdom Rides. Replaced in 2015 by a new version of the same ride, and again in 2018 with another of the same ride.
Vortex2013Manufactured by Chance Rides. A Pendulum Ride
Whitewater Express2002Permanently installed traveling Log Flume. It has two drops, a medium-sized hill with a double-down, and a Large Drop. Made by Revercheron rides.
Zero-G2012Manufactured by ARM.

Kiddie rides
NameOpenedNotes
Bumble Bee Bop2003Manufactured by Larson International. In 2014 it switched locations with Hip Hop Drop.
Crazy Bus2001Zamperla Crazy Bus.
Happy Pond2000Manufactured by Larson International.
Jumping Jumbos2001Manufactured by Larson International
Kiddie Bumper Cars???
Kiddie Whip2007
Monster Truck2015Wisdom Rides Monster Truck Ride.
Quad Runner2010
Rainbow Rock2006Larson International Portable Children's Play Structure featuring a tropical jungle theme.
Super Slide1999
Western Train1999

Removed Rides
NameClosedNotes
Avalanche2007Made by Wisdom Rides. It was a 24-seat version of the Wisdom Genesis. Replaced by the Moby Dick, an exact copy of the ride but with a different theme.
Power Surge2014Zamperla Power Surge. Removed after the 2014 season. Replaced by Air Race.
Scat 22008Replaced by another ride exactly like it but a different color. The current Scat 2 is predominately orange while the old one was blue.
Sizzler2015Replaced in 2015 by a new version of the same ride. Manufactured by Wisdom Rides. The notable difference is a different color pattern and the addition of color changing LED lights.
Starship 30002010Manufactured by Wisdom Rides. Replaced by a newer version of the same ride the Starship 4000
Tornado2015Made by Wisdom Rides. Replaced in 2015 by a new version of the same ride. The notable difference is that the new ride has a different color pattern and it has color changing LED lights. It also was placed in a different location. The Bluegrass Breeze Swing Ride is located where the old tornado originally was.
Shock Drop2012The attraction opened in 2004, manufactured by ARM. Replaced by a larger permanent version of the same ride.
Jitterbug2015Closed because of the ride tipping over and injuring Park Guests. [21]
Dragon Coaster2015Manufactured by Wisdom Rides, added to the park in 1999. Replaced in 2016 by the spinning family coaster "Spinning Out", After the ride derailed at the end of the 2015 season. [22]
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References
  1. "Beech Bend Park". dafe.org. Retrieved May 5, 2020.
  2. "Amusement Park Information". beechbend.com. Beech Bend. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
  3. "Roller Coaster". beechbend.com. Beech Bend Park. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
  4. "Looping Star - Beech Bend Park". ultimaterollercoaster.com. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
  5. "History". beechbend.com. Beech Bend Park. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
  6. Jenkins, Annie. "BEECH BEND PARK AND SPLASH LAGOON IN BOWLING GREEN KY – DAY TRIPPIN' FOR EVANSVILLE OWENSBORO AND HENDERSON FAMILIES". newstalk1280.com. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
  7. "Splash Lagoon". beechbend.com. Beech Bend Park. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
  8. "Wild Mouse at Beech Bend". coaster-net.com. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
  9. "Amusement Park". beechbend.com. Beech Bend Park. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
  10. "Beech Bend confirms new coaster". coasterbuzz.com. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
  11. "Kentucky Rumbler - Beech Bend". rcdb.com. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
  12. "Beech Bend's 10-28-2005 Press Conference". negative-g.com. Retrieved June 11, 2020.
  13. "Kentucky Rumbler". greatcoasters.com. Great Coasters International. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
  14. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2009-07-13. Retrieved 2009-07-16.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  15. "Beech Bend plans major addition". Bowling Green Daily News. November 13, 2009. Retrieved March 17, 2019.
  16. "Beech Bend amusement park gains steam". kentuckynewera.com. May 8, 2012. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
  17. "Photo TR: Beech Bend Park 8/17/13". themeparkreview.com. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
  18. "Beech Bend Park Has 2nd Ride Malfunction As Coaster Derails". NewsChannel5.com. August 16, 2015. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
  19. "Beech Bend announces multi-million dollar expansion". WBKO. January 6, 2016. Retrieved March 17, 2019.
  20. "Spinning Out - Beech Bend". rcdb.com. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
  21. "12 people injured in amusement park ride accident at Beech Bend Park". WKYT. July 26, 2015. Retrieved June 8, 2018.
  22. "Beech Bend ride malfunctions". Bowling Green Daily News. August 16, 2015. Retrieved June 8, 2018.
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