Swingin' NJ

[portdave]

I remember Action Park and the alpine slide. That was a blast. It was only a pain when you had some slow poke in front of you afraid of going too fast!

[Allie]

The Alpine Slide was the first summer attraction at the ski resort, but I forget the exact chronology. Roughly, GG opened in the late 60s, followed by VV in the early-mid 70s. I'm struggling to remember dates here. They were owned independently of each other initially, then merged some time in the mid 70s to form Vernon Valley/Great Gorge. I'm tempted to say that the Alpine Slide was installed by GG early on, and after the merger it got absorbed as part of 'Action Park' (or 'Accident Park', 'Traction Park', 'Class Action Park' etc.). It's nestled in between the two ski areas, but though it's geographically closer to VV it was the area known as 'Great Gorge North'. GG had the more technical slopes (designed and owned by some like, Olympic Ski type dudes), and consisted of 'Great Gorge South' with the base lodge, and 'Great Gorge North' which you could ONLY access via a connecting trail at the top of the mountain. The trail was long and usually arduous, and on several winters was closed altogether leaving only GG south available. GG North was added shortly after VV opened, and ironically VV had easier access to those slopes than GG South.

Yeah too bad they yanked it out. Often the brakes didn't work properly on the sleds, and people would crash into folks in front of them, or get flung into the woods at a sharp bend, or the cart would swivel right out of the track and spit you down the cement and fiberglass track. That's when you got major 'Alpine Slide Burn'. It's pretty much road rash, though you don't get torn up as bad as with pavement, and don't have to pick little bits of gravel out of your wounds. It's more like touching a fan belt while it's spinning... I once had rash on my left side starting at my foot, going up my ankle, calf, thigh, side of my abdomen, shoulder, upper arm, and behind my ear. Yes I, like many a hapless customer, was drunk at the time. We'd been doing some drinking after work and I decided that I wasn't going to drive for at least 2-3 hours - but that getting on the Alpine Slide would be totally safe. heheh.

[RichDesmond]

The Alpine Slide was the first summer attraction at the ski resort, but I forget the exact chronology. Roughly, GG opened in the late 60s, followed by VV in the early-mid 70s. I'm struggling to remember dates here. They were owned independently of each other initially, then merged some time in the mid 70s to form Vernon Valley/Great Gorge. I'm tempted to say that the Alpine Slide was installed by GG early on, and after the merger it got absorbed as part of 'Action Park' (or 'Accident Park', 'Traction Park', 'Class Action Park' etc.). It's nestled in between the two ski areas, but though it's geographically closer to VV it was the area known as 'Great Gorge North'. GG had the more technical slopes (designed and owned by some like, Olympic Ski type dudes), and consisted of 'Great Gorge South' with the base lodge, and 'Great Gorge North' which you could ONLY access via a connecting trail at the top of the mountain. The trail was long and usually arduous, and on several winters was closed altogether leaving only GG south available. GG North was added shortly after VV opened, and ironically VV had easier access to those slopes than GG South.

Yeah too bad they yanked it out. Often the brakes didn't work properly on the sleds, and people would crash into folks in front of them, or get flung into the woods at a sharp bend, or the cart would swivel right out of the track and spit you down the cement and fiberglass track. That's when you got major 'Alpine Slide Burn'. It's pretty much road rash, though you don't get torn up as bad as with pavement, and don't have to pick little bits of gravel out of your wounds. It's more like touching a fan belt while it's spinning... I once had rash on my left side starting at my foot, going up my ankle, calf, thigh, side of my abdomen, shoulder, upper arm, and behind my ear. Yes I, like many a hapless customer, was drunk at the time. We'd been doing some drinking after work and I decided that I wasn't going to drive for at least 2-3 hours - but that getting on the Alpine Slide would be totally safe. heheh.

Haha, great story! The "Alpine Slide Burn" is what I got, sled came out from under me in the lower section and my upper arm/shoulder took the brunt of it. You definitely have me beat though.

[Allie]

I forgot to mention that one of the plans in the 70s was to link Great Gorge with the Playboy Club via a huge gondola sky car thingy, but the plan never materialized into the flower of hedonistic splendor that they envisioned. I guess Jack Kurlander's pockets weren't as deep as Gene Mulvihill's and he was kind of over extended with that and with GG North, hence becoming absorbed by Vernon Valley.

[B.C.G.S.]

Jiminy Peak in Mass. has had an alpine slide since the late 70s. GS Forum road trip, anyone?

[Joe Garfield]

Wow, there are some serious memories in this thread!! I have been to most of the places mentioned in this thread. We had high school ski club trips to Vernon Valley/Great Gorge (my grandmother lived in Vernon too). In the summers I visited friends in Lake George (which inspired my living in Vermont for 12 years) and remember Frontier Land shortly after it closed down and already feeling creepy. I even went to ski camp at Jiminy Peak at some point in my early life which I almost forgot completely about. Before the summers in NY we used to hang out at Class Action Park and do all the fun stuff unsupervised teenagers shouldn't be doing. That place was ridiculously fun. It seemed like it was basically ran by teenagers. The first thing you would see when you got there was an enclosed water slide. With a loop in it. Seriously.

apkwslp.jpg
I haven't lived in NJ in a long time. I grew up in the most densely parted part of the state and never really liked it, but I often forget how much the state really has to offer. My uncle and future brother-in-law both ride bikes and live in NJ - maybe one day I will get a chance to get back there and check it out on 2 wheels.

[RichDesmond]

...That place was ridiculously fun. It seemed like it was basically ran by teenagers. The first thing you would see when you got there was an enclosed water slide. With a loop in it. Seriously.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]37308[/ATTACH]

I remember that!!! Thing was crazy, and wasn't there very long IIRC.

[dorkburger]

Joe, there is some nice riding in NJ, particularly in the northwest (Skylands) region. Back when I had lots of free time, I found myself up there fairly regularly exploring.....

[Allie]

I remember that!!! Thing was crazy, and wasn't there very long IIRC.

I remember helping with the landscaping for that thing, the infamous Cannonball Loop. No one died on it that I know of, but they did have trouble with people getting stuck at the top of the loop, and I think installed a trap door to assist with removal efforts. Yes they did pay employees to test it, and it stayed open for a matter of weeks. No way was I going on that thing!

[RichDesmond]

I remember helping with the landscaping for that thing, the infamous Cannonball Loop. No one died on it that I know of, but they did have trouble with people getting stuck at the top of the loop, and I think installed a trap door to assist with removal efforts. Yes they did pay employees to test it, and it stayed open for a matter of weeks. No way was I going on that thing!

I remember seeing the trap door. Not sure if the slide was open any of the times I was there, don't think so.