We had a great time down at Joyland this weekend helping clean up Roller Coaster with a handful of other ACE'ers.  The new ownership couldn't have been any nicer and we could really tell that they have a love for amusement parks.

It was hard work but I think that we made a difference and we're hoping that we get invited down again to help with actual painting.

Here's a quick photo update.  I put it in the Construction Gallery since the park is basically under construction.

http://coastercommunity.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.ShowItem&g2_itemId=3085

Once they get everything up and running we'll head back down and do a before and after update.

The park looks in bad shape -- however it looked almost that bad when I visited it last.  I am guessing that the SkyCoaster is not there anymore correct?  Really small crew.  How much did you guys accomplish?

Man that place looks like it need TLC and it seem to be getting it. Looks like alot of work and fun to see a old park like that come back to life. Where is it at I have never herd of it. Great pictures as always. 

The park looks in bad shape -- however it looked almost that bad when I visited it last.  I am guessing that the SkyCoaster is not there anymore correct?  Really small crew.  How much did you guys accomplish?

Sky Coaster is still there but I didn't get a photo of it.

We hit all of the low areas that we're considered high visibility.

If they would give more notice next time ahead of time then we might be able to go help as well.

Sarah is right Jason.  I hope you kept track of mileage and expenses so you could write the trip off -- I know you did though 

Hey looks like Ronno should be happy. They are tearing down the bathrooms. Nothing like bathrooms prior to the season openning huh?

Pure dumbness.

Weren't they mentioning this plan even before they took control of the park?

I read somewhere else that they park opened over the weekend.  Did the coaster open?

It's been iffy lately. So far the real battles down in Tampa haven't even begun, but when they do we will see the true fate of the park. Either the partners will win $40 million dollars from the City of Wichita and the Nelsons, or they'll be screwed.

Right now in Wichita however, the going is tough. Not only did the partners lose in a small court battle against one of the locals in a noise dispute, but the park has been suffering rampant vandalism from not only vandals themselves, but also the Nelsons themselves. Most of the park seems to be OK for now though.

It seems like a very doomed situation for the park, but the partners are emphatic about saving it. I've heard that Micheal still wants to go through with that $40 million expansion and revitalization for the park, that is, if they get the money for it. So it all comes down to waiting on those court cases in Tampa later this year.

Well, there seems to be a some kind of protest against the city's actions to keep the park closed, which you can sign up for here -> http://www.explorer7004.com/

But then again, protests never really do much other than inflame the local leadership. Still, someone from the city needs to stand up and tell the government to back off small businesses. I guess if you look at this as a government infringement of free market rights, it makes it seem more important to protest than just to save a dying park.

In any case, nothing will save the park other than Micheal and Barton winning out in those court cases, and it seems iffy that they can pull that off. I still haven't heard when they will be held.

Cool vid.

I can spend an entire afternoon on Vimeo.  They win the quality content award in my book.