NRCMA 2009 Holiday Season Recap

The holiday season was a fruitful one for the National Roller Coaster Museum.

Beginning at IAAPA in November, the museum announced the completion of its first building at its Texas complex. The NRCMA launched its website this holiday season, www.rollercoastermuseum.org. Since the announcement, significant donations have been received by the museum collection.

“We have been overwhelmed by the support and assistance in protecting these historical objects from the theme park industry’s past,” Gary Slade, NRCMA Chairman said. “The number of artifact donations to the museum in the last three months alone is unprecedented.”

To Recap

The former Busch Entertainment Corporation donated the historic Big Bad Wolf suspended roller coaster. The NRCMA now has a historic full train, signage, costumes, and maintenance materials in its possession. All of these pieces will be protected for the future. The Big Bad Wolf was originally added to Busch Gardens’ Oktoberfest section of the park in 1984. The “suspended swinging coaster” operated until Sept. 7, 2009, when contest winners rode The Big Bad Wolf for the last time at 8:42 p.m.Six Flags Over Texas donated a train, signage, and historical documentation from its iconic Texas Giant. The Giant was one of the highest-rated coasters in the 1990s. The Giant was as much a local and fan favorite following in the heels of the ever-popular Texas Cyclone in Houston. Ironically, we will now have parts from both of these historic Texas coasters for future generations to enjoy. Most recently, the NRCMA received a carousel horse previously enjoyed at the former Geauga Lake Park in Ohio. The 1947 Allan Herschell Junior Merry-Go-Round horse operated at the park until 2002.

“Our efforts acquiring artifacts is going well, but we still need financial support in order to expand our work and begin sharing these artifacts with the public,” Slade said.

About NRCMA

THE NRCMA IS AN UNAFFILIATED, 501 C3 NON‐PROFIT ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO THE PROTECTION AND PRESERVATION OF HISTORIC ROLLER COASTERS AND AMUSEMENT PARK ARTIFACTS AND MEMORABILIA TO DOCUMENT AND ARCHIVE THE HISTORY OF THE AMUSEMENT PARK INDUSTRY IN A DYNAMIC ENVIRONMENT WHILE PROVIDING THE MOST COMPLETE REPOSITORY OF INFORMATION AND DOCUMENTS REGARDING THE AMUSEMENTS INDUSTRY. TO DONATE TO THE NRCMA TO AID IN THE PROTECTION AND PRESERVATION OF HISTORIC ROLLER COASTERS AND AMUSEMENT PARK ARTIFACTS, MAIL TO: NRCMA, ATTENTION, JEFF NOVOTNY, NRCMA TREASURER, PO BOX 5424, ARLINGTON, TEXAS 76005‐5424\