Wow! Sweet memories of that River. By 1978, the trees had grown thicker, the gore was scaled back, and the spiel had become a more polished and pun filled script; but this film captures the fun and escapist adventure that was that grand ride when I was fortunate enough to be in its crew. The park was so foolish to rip it out for another thrill ride.
I was born in 1961 and I must have ridden this ride at least a dozen times in the 1960s. Unique one of a kind ride built way before Disney got the idea for his water driven dark ride ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’. The Indian medicine man witch doctor used to creep me out when I was 7 , the way he moved and chanted!
What a trip down memory lane!! I remember this as a kid growing up in the '70s. I would love to see it make a comeback even though I know it won't. Miss the old Spelunker's cave too.
This ride was long gone by the time I worked at Six Flags in the 90’s. But I heard a lot of guests talk about it. Nice to see this footage, however a lot of his spiel would not go over well these days 🤣🤣🤣
It was the summer of 1963 when I got a summer job at Six Flags. This was my job!! I still recall the only training I received was to ride along for a few trips to pick up the speil. There was no script. I remember being so scared when I was told to take my first boat out. But after a few more trips I got comfortable as I quickly learned that you could make up your own stories. And I remember always being glad to enter the “tunnel” under the water fall as there was air conditioning inside. It was hot!! There was a track under water that pulled the boat along. It was a great job as a senior in high school.
Until the latter years of it, then it got worse. Some of those kids doing it could barely get through a sentence. Sorry if that sounds mean, but that's what I experienced. Anyway, I do miss the thing, even if it's horribly historically inaccurate
This video takes me back to 1969 and the many trips we made from Tyler to Six Flags. The river boat was one of my favorite rides. Thanks for giving me a great memory.
1,000 Thanks! For putting up this video. I had a 1966 souvenir guide of Six Flags Over Texas given to me by my grandma. I got it in 1976. I didn't visit the park until 1984. La Salle's had been replaced by Roarin Rapids. Spee Lunkers Cave was still there though. I still have that guide book. Tattered and dog eared. It is STILL a favorite memento from my childhood.
the secret treasure cave spooked me so much when i was six i never rode the river boat again. by the time i decided to give it another try ten years later the ride had been replaced. but it left an impression. i still remember the fort, the beaver, the scouts... glad to see this video.
Serious memories here. This video seems to be dated around 1965-1969. I have shown this to my grand kids, and they ask so many questions. Thank you for this.
Great to see this but it appears filmed before the corny but lovable spiel used for 30 yrs was developed. 'If that tree had been a little bit longer, this boat would be a whole lot shorter...'
This must have been before they had a permanent script to follow, or they just hadn't fine-tuned it yet. Everything he said was so "off-the-cuff", like he really had no clue what was about to happen next. Alsocoul have been practice runs during the soft-opening for The Convair Company.
Let's destroy a natural habitat for a stupid ride and dehumanize the natives we slaughtered to make it possible! Wooooopeee! Feet and hands in the boat!
Wow! Sweet memories of that River.
By 1978, the trees had grown thicker, the gore was scaled back, and the spiel had become a more polished and pun filled script; but this film captures the fun and escapist adventure that was that grand ride when I was fortunate enough to be in its crew.
The park was so foolish to rip it out for another thrill ride.
I can imagine the ride was quite high maintenance with all the props needing constant attention and renewal.
I loved this ride as a kid, but it was ripped out for the Roaring Rapids, I believe.
I’d forgotten how awesome this ride was! I miss the old Six Flags.
I was born in 1961 and I must have ridden this ride at least a dozen times in the 1960s. Unique one of a kind ride built way before Disney got the idea for his water driven dark ride ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’. The Indian medicine man witch doctor used to creep me out when I was 7 , the way he moved and chanted!
What a trip down memory lane!! I remember this as a kid growing up in the '70s. I would love to see it make a comeback even though I know it won't. Miss the old Spelunker's cave too.
Still got to see the spelunker cave in the 90s, that water smell always reminds me of it
This ride was long gone by the time I worked at Six Flags in the 90’s. But I heard a lot of guests talk about it. Nice to see this footage, however a lot of his spiel would not go over well these days 🤣🤣🤣
I remember this ride when I was a kid. Glad I found this video. I told my kids about it, now they can actually see it.
It was the summer of 1963 when I got a summer job at Six Flags. This was my job!! I still recall the only training I received was to ride along for a few trips to pick up the speil. There was no script. I remember being so scared when I was told to take my first boat out. But after a few more trips I got comfortable as I quickly learned that you could make up your own stories. And I remember always being glad to enter the “tunnel” under the water fall as there was air conditioning inside. It was hot!! There was a track under water that pulled the boat along. It was a great job as a senior in high school.
Miss that ride. Glad the spiel got better over the years though!
Until the latter years of it, then it got worse. Some of those kids doing it could barely get through a sentence. Sorry if that sounds mean, but that's what I experienced. Anyway, I do miss the thing, even if it's horribly historically inaccurate
This video takes me back to 1969 and the many trips we made from Tyler to Six Flags. The river boat was one of my favorite rides. Thanks for giving me a great memory.
1,000 Thanks! For putting up this video. I had a 1966 souvenir guide of Six Flags Over Texas given to me by my grandma. I got it in 1976. I didn't visit the park until 1984. La Salle's had been replaced by Roarin Rapids. Spee Lunkers Cave was still there though. I still have that guide book. Tattered and dog eared. It is STILL a favorite memento from my childhood.
michael taylor Spelunker’s Cave was a great attraction. My favorite part? The spinning barrel. My parents favorite part.....the air conditioning.
Always loved this ride as a kid.
Spiel got MUCH better. I gave it in 1967 and still remember a lot of it. Might have my shirt and boater, too.
the secret treasure cave spooked me so much when i was six i never rode the river boat again. by the time i decided to give it another try ten years later the ride had been replaced. but it left an impression. i still remember the fort, the beaver, the scouts... glad to see this video.
Serious memories here. This video seems to be dated around 1965-1969. I have shown this to my grand kids, and they ask so many questions. Thank you for this.
This ride and the cave ride were tip top.
Uh oh! Look at that! Uh oh! Hugh Downs! Uh oh! We made it.
Oh my god. It’s like reviewing a long lost, childhood memory!
I lived in Texas and rode this many times in the seventies.
I made many a cruise on this ride as one of the capitains
Very cute.
Always lots of fun on the River boat ride!
This ride use to scare the crap out of me when I was little
Kids don't like those kind of rides anymore. :(
Great to see this but it appears filmed before the corny but lovable spiel used for 30 yrs was developed. 'If that tree had been a little bit longer, this boat would be a whole lot shorter...'
Fun to see this. I remember this ride in detail strangely. The announcers were much more polished than this man.
"Hey, look at that!"
I remembered being scared as f#$$ on that ride as a young crumb cruncher!
This ride was fun but a little dark. The hung explorers were kind of shocking and wouldn’t fly in today’s sensitive society.
This must have been before they had a permanent script to follow, or they just hadn't fine-tuned it yet. Everything he said was so "off-the-cuff", like he really had no clue what was about to happen next. Alsocoul have been practice runs during the soft-opening for The Convair Company.
History
were those real crocodiles?
We don't have crocodiles in Texas, we have alligators.
I thought they were real too. (Said my 5 year old self)
There were real alligators during the early days, along with real flamingos. That changed when the flamingos kept "disappearing," lol.
Is that Jean Shepherd?
Let's destroy a natural habitat for a stupid ride and dehumanize the natives we slaughtered to make it possible! Wooooopeee! Feet and hands in the boat!
Get bent and get over yourself.