Cedar Fair pickers scour Europe for vintage amusement park rides

Inspired by the “American Pickers” reality television show, a pair of collectors is scouring Europe for classic rides to bring back to Cedar Fair amusement parks in the United States and Canada.

The duo was sent on the continent-spanning scavenger hunt by Cedar Fair Chief Executive Matt Ouimet, a former Disneyland president who is hoping the refurbished family rides will add a nostalgic atmosphere to the chain’s 11 amusement parks.

“We believe that we can bring some classic rides back to the parks, maybe that were there years before,” Ouimet said.


Ouimet is hoping parents will remember the rides from their youth and want to introduce their children to the vintage attractions.

“They will be very recognizable rides,” Ouimet said. “It’s playing to nostalgia and just having fun.”

Read the rest at LATimes

Knott's News: Hey Matt, there is this 128 year old historic park called Geauga Lake in Aurora, Ohio that your predecessor bought and dismantled within 3 years. There is a roller coaster still standing there called The Big Dipper that is the 7th oldest coaster in the United States. Just saying, good place to start if you're really worried about preserving history.