Cedar Point has announced that the building that once housed the Freedomland Pirate Ride will be the new home to Boo Hill.   Boo Hill is the kids fun house that was located each year in the Dogem in front of the Goodtimes Theater.   According to the blog pictures construction is well underway.....

So lets step back in time a little and trace some of the history of the building and attraction.

Back in 1964 a park in NY opened up called Freedomland.   It quickly fell victim to the NY Worlds Fair that opened in NY in 64.   It also was located over a landfill and a not so great area.

A bunch of the ride systems at Freedomland were designed by Arrow which we know and love for some of our great Cedar Point and Disney ride systems.  

Unfortunately the Freedomland closed and the attractions were sold off.   Cedar Point purchased two of the creative rides.   Earthquake and The Pirate Ride were the two they purchased.    Earthquake went to it's disaster around the time the Bears showed up.   The Pirate Ride was closed shortly after.    Rumors around why it closed range from the building was needed for maintenence and two house the Blue Streaks ride controls system to it just stunk.

Was the Pirate Ride Disney quality?   No way.  It was slightly better than a carny dark ride.  For the 60's it was a pretty good attraction.  

So what happened next?   The boat infront of the ride was ripped out and concrete was laid.   The loading area of the building was turned into an arcade.  The great painted picture remained at the back of the loading area.    The cannon props still remained on the top and the front still looked like the Pirate Ride minus the queue rails and the track.

For a brief time after the video games came out it was used for the Fortune Tellers during Halloweekends.  The rear of the build was used for maintenance.   You could see in every now and then from the Raptor queue.

As for the old ride system and props?   You can see them most Halloweekends.   They are either dressed up with clothes and masks or just out in the open.    They can be seen when you enter the park usually on the balcony that looks like something from New Orleans.   I've seen them on benches.  Last year one was at the toll booth at the main parking lot entrance.

From the new constructions wall photos it looks like the building won't look the same.   So here is to the old Freedomland Pirate's.....:)