I watch this video scanning the people thinking I will see myself and the family. We would go to this park multiple times a year growing up. But now, I haven't been there in probably over 20+years. I heard they got rid of the Ferris Wheel and that about made me want to cry, that was, to me, one of the biggest staples of Darien Lake. Been watching a lot of older videos of the park and its been making me want to go back and see what its like now. Thank you for uploading this video.
As a person who works in the Games department today at DL, it amazes me how many things change. The entire barn (games area) is completely renovated with new games, prizes, and etc. The game(s) at 12:18 is actually now one whole new game and is actually where I worked today. It amazing to see the history and past of what everything looked like.
It's almost like they have added nothing, and just keep removing rides. EPR property needs to step it up. I rode the super man and I thought the train was going to come out the track it was so wobbly. Very similar to nitro in great adventure but nitro was smooth.
Awesome video! So I'm going to date myself here but does anyone remember when they used to do a stunt show out in the water? There's still a pole with steps attached to it for the performers to climb up. My family and I used to try timing it so that we would be up in the big wheel during the show.
The stunt show was great... I will NEVER forget that guy lighting himself on fire and then jumping off the platform into the water. Do you remember the old fashion cars, and they had the batting cages too real close by. Fun stuff.
I agree, the issue is that there has been so many owner and management changes for the past 30 or so years, that there has been "too many hands in the cookie jar" as the old saying goes, with how each company runs the park. The worst mistake was Six Flags selling the park to a RIOT. It need to be owned by an amusement park corporation like Six Flags to put proper investment in it.
@@karabriglin9586 I thought the Titan Track did wonders to it. and the new train helped too, but it is definitely a front row ride, though and it draws a decent line. In a few years, it will all be Titan Tracked.
OMG, this video is so nostalgic because I was born in the late 80s and grew up in the 90s, and I hate that they took all the good rides away! Was just talking about how much I miss the grizzly run, the ranger, and the UFO because I visited Darien Lake earlier today. It just doesn’t have the same vibe as it used to, and the same goes for Fantasy Island which was also my stomping grounds. SO many good rides are gone, including the log ride which used to be my jam and that boat tag was the best!!! And even the damn Ferris wheel, I never much cared for Ferris wheels but that was a staple for the park and it’s so empty without it. 😔 And Barracuda Bay was the shit! I almost went flying off one of those old light blue water slides when they had the foam mats and you’d lose it every time. Then the roughness of the slide would scratch your skin on the way down. It sucked but it sucks even worse not having those rides around anymore.
Me too - Barracuda Bay was the shit! I almost went flying off one of those old light blue water slides when they had the foam mats and you’d lose it every time. Then the roughness of the slide would scratch your skin on the way down. It sucked but it sucks even worse not having those rides around anymore.
I used to go camping at Darien Lake and the Viper used to wake me up every morning😂. I used to ride all the rides, but I like to ride the roller coasters the most.
That is wild to see. That was probably my first year going there when I was a kid (Born 1989). We went year after year until I graduated high school. We used to rent a camper for the weekend. It has changed so much, all of the old water rides and slides are gone, a lot of the flat rides are gone as well, no more Giant Wheel. Sad
I've been going to this park since 1997 and haven't been since 2015, it's amazing to see the evolution of a theme park over a span of select years. Thanks for sharing this great video!
I grew up near Oswego and me and my family went to this park every year. And when I got to HS this was where we went on field trips. Many good memories here. I remember the Superman coaster being as big and bad as it got back then!
Darien Lake was fantastic growing up. A lot has changed, but it's still fun. Although I miss the UFO, ranger, crazy quilt, raging seas, the big ferris wheel, and log flume. Those rides were classics and so much fun. At least the viper & other coasters, pirate, bumper cars, corn popper, lasso, silver bullet, and haymaker are still there!
It was definitely not new in 1994. I actually worked there in the summer of 1994 after high school graduation. I used to camp here in the 80’s and the amusement park existed then.
Darien Lake needs more/ new rides for sure. The park (for adults) is pretty much 70% places to spend more money than you did getting there and 30% classic rides mixed with a few new ones. In my opinion like others, the ferris wheel was a staple that should some how be brought back. I understand the old one aged out but they should get a new one as large as the og. It is a fun time don't get me wrong but some of it is just antiquated in sort of a bad way. Thank goodness I had a feeling buying a fast pass would've been a waste because there's probably only a few rides (max) that could even accommodate a secondary line. Most rides still have the exact steel guide rails and cues shapes they had when this video was shot right now. 🥺
It's cool seeing it like it was when I was a kid. Now they have like 5 times more coasters but some of this is gone now like the Super Wheel and the UFO. They also have one of the worlds tallest swings, drop towers and a huge water park area. Off to the left as you walk in.
Predator was actually really fun when it first opened. I think ACE named it the fourth best wooden coaster one year? The plaque was still hanging in the station last time I was there.
It was amazing on the 80s and 90s, they just never really changed it and it got clunky and hard to ride in comparison to other coasters. I honestly feel like I'm being punched in the heart by Mike Tyson over and over again on that ride. Never feel like that on any other ride
I think there were only 2 Coasters here at this time. This was before the Mind Eraser, Boomerang, Superman. This may have even been before the Nightmare coaster which wasn't there long and was gone within a few years. The park peaked in the late 90's and early 2000's and a lot has been taken out since then
Born in 83 that 94 video was my heyday. I can still smell the hot blacktop and cigarettes. Loved the viper always hit the viper then went right for the Ranger. The predator should be called the sexual predator because it completely violates you. If you have a bad back don't go on it... if you don't want a bad back... don't go on it.
Darien Lake should of stopped while they were ahead. The park today is an embarassment. Does the management actually think they're doing a good job ? The best thing that could happen to this park is if Six Flags stepped aside and sold it to a company that will actually invest in maintaining the existing rides and adding new ones.
I watch this video scanning the people thinking I will see myself and the family. We would go to this park multiple times a year growing up. But now, I haven't been there in probably over 20+years. I heard they got rid of the Ferris Wheel and that about made me want to cry, that was, to me, one of the biggest staples of Darien Lake. Been watching a lot of older videos of the park and its been making me want to go back and see what its like now. Thank you for uploading this video.
As a person who works in the Games department today at DL, it amazes me how many things change. The entire barn (games area) is completely renovated with new games, prizes, and etc. The game(s) at 12:18 is actually now one whole new game and is actually where I worked today. It amazing to see the history and past of what everything looked like.
It's so cool to see what the park looked like back in the early 90s compared to now
Better times!
It's almost like they have added nothing, and just keep removing rides.
EPR property needs to step it up.
I rode the super man and I thought the train was going to come out the track it was so wobbly. Very similar to nitro in great adventure but nitro was smooth.
Right ? Why does Six Flags think that's acceptable. The park looked a hell of alot better in 1994 than it does in 2024.
Awesome video! So I'm going to date myself here but does anyone remember when they used to do a stunt show out in the water? There's still a pole with steps attached to it for the performers to climb up. My family and I used to try timing it so that we would be up in the big wheel during the show.
The stunt show was great... I will NEVER forget that guy lighting himself on fire and then jumping off the platform into the water. Do you remember the old fashion cars, and they had the batting cages too real close by. Fun stuff.
It looks way better back then. They really took care of the park and the landscaping. It has gone down hill since the 90s.
I agree, the issue is that there has been so many owner and management changes for the past 30 or so years, that there has been "too many hands in the cookie jar" as the old saying goes, with how each company runs the park. The worst mistake was Six Flags selling the park to a RIOT. It need to be owned by an amusement park corporation like Six Flags to put proper investment in it.
Darien Lake has gone down hill. 90s was the best, shows, landscaping, better rides, better food. Wish I had a Time Machine.
The predator is awful now, very rough
@@karabriglin9586 I thought the Titan Track did wonders to it. and the new train helped too, but it is definitely a front row ride, though and it draws a decent line. In a few years, it will all be Titan Tracked.
OMG, this video is so nostalgic because I was born in the late 80s and grew up in the 90s, and I hate that they took all the good rides away! Was just talking about how much I miss the grizzly run, the ranger, and the UFO because I visited Darien Lake earlier today. It just doesn’t have the same vibe as it used to, and the same goes for Fantasy Island which was also my stomping grounds. SO many good rides are gone, including the log ride which used to be my jam and that boat tag was the best!!! And even the damn Ferris wheel, I never much cared for Ferris wheels but that was a staple for the park and it’s so empty without it. 😔
And Barracuda Bay was the shit! I almost went flying off one of those old light blue water slides when they had the foam mats and you’d lose it every time. Then the roughness of the slide would scratch your skin on the way down. It sucked but it sucks even worse not having those rides around anymore.
Those water slides were amazing. It's sad to see them all gone.
@@ReaperCrew1989 they were!
I miss those water slides.
Me too - Barracuda Bay was the shit! I almost went flying off one of those old light blue water slides when they had the foam mats and you’d lose it every time. Then the roughness of the slide would scratch your skin on the way down. It sucked but it sucks even worse not having those rides around anymore.
Loosing Barracuda Bay was a blow to Darien Lake. Those slides were fantastic.
My Home park! It looks so different now. So many classic rides gone :( the park just looked more alive with better landscaping and atmosphere
Agree
Great video of my home park, I miss the Crazy Quilts and the UFO and many other rides that are gone now including the Giant Wheel.
This is nostalgic . Used to always go here as a kid.
Mw roo, I have a membership now
I used to go camping at Darien Lake and the Viper used to wake me up every morning😂. I used to ride all the rides, but I like to ride the roller coasters the most.
I really miss those days
That is wild to see. That was probably my first year going there when I was a kid (Born 1989). We went year after year until I graduated high school. We used to rent a camper for the weekend. It has changed so much, all of the old water rides and slides are gone, a lot of the flat rides are gone as well, no more Giant Wheel. Sad
87 baby myself
Could we please go back to 94? I know things were messed up back then, but compared to now it looks like the good old days.
I've been going to this park since 1997 and haven't been since 2015, it's amazing to see the evolution of a theme park over a span of select years. Thanks for sharing this great video!
Ahhhh, the memories of the Barracuda and Viper
Back when darien lake was worth going
I grew up near Oswego and me and my family went to this park every year. And when I got to HS this was where we went on field trips. Many good memories here. I remember the Superman coaster being as big and bad as it got back then!
I was born and raised in Oswego and spent my childhood here, I still go once in awhile, I have a membership for sixflags now
Ah, the 90’s. Back when life was good
This brought me back... used to camp up there on Kodak weekend back in the 90s!
Darien Lake was fantastic growing up. A lot has changed, but it's still fun. Although I miss the UFO, ranger, crazy quilt, raging seas, the big ferris wheel, and log flume. Those rides were classics and so much fun. At least the viper & other coasters, pirate, bumper cars, corn popper, lasso, silver bullet, and haymaker are still there!
I miss the log flume sooo bad 😢
It was definitely not new in 1994. I actually worked there in the summer of 1994 after high school graduation. I used to camp here in the 80’s and the amusement park existed then.
Darien Lake needs more/ new rides for sure. The park (for adults) is pretty much 70% places to spend more money than you did getting there and 30% classic rides mixed with a few new ones. In my opinion like others, the ferris wheel was a staple that should some how be brought back. I understand the old one aged out but they should get a new one as large as the og. It is a fun time don't get me wrong but some of it is just antiquated in sort of a bad way. Thank goodness I had a feeling buying a fast pass would've been a waste because there's probably only a few rides (max) that could even accommodate a secondary line. Most rides still have the exact steel guide rails and cues shapes they had when this video was shot right now. 🥺
Wow. Wish it was the same now! Miss those days
It's cool seeing it like it was when I was a kid. Now they have like 5 times more coasters but some of this is gone now like the Super Wheel and the UFO. They also have one of the worlds tallest swings, drop towers and a huge water park area. Off to the left as you walk in.
Thank you for this time machine of my childhood. So many memories unlocked. Loved the comments haha
To hear someone talk about The Predator with anything other than utter disdain is confusing
Predator was actually really fun when it first opened. I think ACE named it the fourth best wooden coaster one year? The plaque was still hanging in the station last time I was there.
It was amazing on the 80s and 90s, they just never really changed it and it got clunky and hard to ride in comparison to other coasters. I honestly feel like I'm being punched in the heart by Mike Tyson over and over again on that ride. Never feel like that on any other ride
@@SabresGuy87 the only other coaster I can compare it to is Loch Ness monster at Busch gardens Williamsburg. Idk which is worse
I think there were only 2 Coasters here at this time. This was before the Mind Eraser, Boomerang, Superman. This may have even been before the Nightmare coaster which wasn't there long and was gone within a few years. The park peaked in the late 90's and early 2000's and a lot has been taken out since then
Do you have Disney Animal Kingdom from 1998 or 1999?
Born in 83 that 94 video was my heyday. I can still smell the hot blacktop and cigarettes. Loved the viper always hit the viper then went right for the Ranger. The predator should be called the sexual predator because it completely violates you. If you have a bad back don't go on it... if you don't want a bad back... don't go on it.
Used to great as a kid, not an adult ride though
Good okd days no cell phones everybody was laid back and relaxed just having a good time.
nobody's fat
What a great video!!
Love these
I miss the way the park used to be geowing up, they took out alot of great rides, it's so sad
Darien Lake should of stopped while they were ahead. The park today is an embarassment. Does the management actually think they're doing a good job ? The best thing that could happen to this park is if Six Flags stepped aside and sold it to a company that will actually invest in maintaining the existing rides and adding new ones.
Cinema 2000 🤮