Action Park New Jersey- The Most Insane Theme Park Ever?

[Jobe]

I just recently watched this short documentary on Action Park, New Jersey. I must admit to being intrigued by the stories and the infamy that this park has garnered since it closed in the mid 90's.

I had certainly seen the pic below of the world first "true" Looping water slide but I was not aware of its torrid history or the fact that it was built for Action Park.

Forgive me if this has been posted before or mentioned, but I was not aware of its existence and I think it would be of great interest to theme park enthusiasts on this site-especially those with practical experience of working in one!!

Here is the YouTube link for you guys to check it out:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lb1h2XqKsIY

It only goes for 14 minutes but it makes for very interesting viewing!!!

Enjoy!!

[POP]

I CANNOT @ THAT SLIDE.

IT CANT BE REAL???

[DaptoFunlandGuy]

It is - or rather it was. From the news article I read yesterday, it operated for about a month. Too many people were injured.

I'm quite curious over how they evacuated the slide in case of rollback. It doesn't look like there is a door in the valley. Perhaps they lowered a rope? lol.

[New display name]

Hey AlexB would you call it a rollback?

[zacsta_1997]

Slideback, flowback, backflush, backwash. Haha. Either way it still means the same thing. We are all theme park enthusiasts. We all know the meaning behind a rollback.

[New display name]

Yea I was just thinking what would you call it.

[Gazza]

It doesn't look like there is a door in the valley

Possibly hard to see in an old photo when the slide is so dark coloured anyway...

[Jobe]

From what I have read, there was no egress at the top in its initial design. They did have to retrofit a doorway at the top after someone got stuck and could not get out. From all accounts this slide was brutal. It really knocked you about. It was lucky to last the time it did.

[DaptoFunlandGuy]

Yeah - I used Rollback as everyone would know what I meant by it - but yeah it's probably not the right word Skeet.

Realistically - a rope winch with a rescue sling on it would have done the job... and you leave the water on to lubricate the surface... Getting stuck at the top would be a feat though.

Either that thing had pressure up the wazoo, or there was some sort of drain in the valley...

[Jobe]

Just found this very interesting little You Tube snippet on Action Park. It shows 9 minutes of footage from advertisements from the 80's. Have a look at some of the insane things that people in this park were able to do. If this park was in existence today in this form, it would be a lawsuit just waiting to happen.

Of particular interest at 8min:20 sec is the only known footage of the infamous Cannonball Loop slide- the world's first "looping" waterslide. The ride only opened for a month before being closed due to too many injuries, Here you can see the ride quickly in action. Urban myth was that they sent a dummy down to test it, and it came out with no head.......

This is ironic to find this footage now, especially with the recent test footage of the "new" looping waterslide in action.

I have also included the footage of the brand new looping water slide from Avalanche waterslides, This thing is also going to be a monster! However the ride is done in a capsule which is very different from the Cannonball Run at Action Park. This is only a test model at this stage but I am sure it will not be long before a US park installs one.

Anyway enjoy.I am sure this will produce some good reactions.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDHqfhyCbbM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Ex4oWtLTGY

[liz.wis]

Thanks for sharing! Seriously I don't know how that place stayed open so long, but it looks ridiculously fun.

[XxMrYoshixX]

Thanks for sharing Jobe! I looked up the park and apparently Cannonball Run was rarely open.

[AUSTHEMEPARKS]

Cannonball run was open for a few weeks and then closed down for good until in the last season of operation they opened it for the last few days.