249 replies to this topic

[Scaper]

As a kid I use to go to all kinds of tourist attractions that are not around any longer.

Such as the OakBay Marina pools, The Fable Cottage, etc.

Anyone remember any others long gone???

[Jarrod]

Where was Seaworld and why did it close?

[Scaper]

It was at the OakBay Marina. As a kid I would go see the Killer Whale, Sea lion, and Seal Shows every birthday...I really miss it.

[Holden West]

I went to Sealand of the Pacific several times as a kid. I thought it was very exciting at the time. They also had an underwater area with various sealife like the Undersea Gardens. It was on a dock near the Oak Bay Marina restaurant. I believe the whale sculpture marking the entrance is still there, correct?

It closed shortly after part-time trainer Keltie Byrne fell into the pool and the bored whales accidentally dragged her though the water, drowning her. This was in 1991.

I certainly don't regret its closing. Even before Keltie's tragic death people were starting to become uncomfortable with keeping orcas in captivity, especially in Sealand's tiny pool. Many of the whales there died prematurely of infections brought on by the cramped conditions. A bittersweet chapter in Victoria's history. Good riddance to it.

The Keltie Byrne Fitness Centre in Edmonton was named in her honour.

[VicHockeyFan]

It closed shortly after part-time trainer Keltie Byrne fell into the pool and the bored whales accidentally dragged her though the water, drowning her. This was in 1991.

Don't forget they took her clothes off first. I'm not making this up. Her nude body was recovered from the whale enclosure.

Tillikum may have killed TWICE with the same MO (he must be bisexual):

http://www.darwinawa...win1999-18.html

This article says it was in front of spectators. I think that is incorrect:

Tillikum and two female whales drowned their trainer in front of spectators at Sealand of the Pacific in British Columbia in 1991. The park closed its whale habitat because of the accident that killed Keltie Byrne. Officials said Byrne accidentally slipped and fell into the water. The whales drowned her by not letting her surface for air.

http://72.14.209.104... ... =clnk&cd=4

[Holden West]

Yep, that article is wrong--the park was closed at the time of Keltie's death although there were other trainers there at the time who tried desperately to distract and stop the whales. And yes, she wasn't drowned right away. I can't imagine how traumatic this must have been for her would-be rescuers.

[gumgum]

Had it been kept open, it would have been more embarassing to this city than our little outfall problem.

[aastra]

We're calling this an "accident" now?

A whale can do whatever it wants. Doesn't make it an evil whale, just because it decided to kill a human being. It's a whale.

One expert said the 22-foot whale named Tillikum, the largest killer whale in captivity, could have mistaken the man for a toy.

Give me a break.

[Jada]

I really used to enjoy the JC Fair. Now the best thing going on is the Oak Bay Tea Party, but the JC Fair had all the best rides of the times.

[Scaper]

It use to be held behind the old memorial arena.

[Scaper]

Ogden point would be the best place to hold a fair in Downtown.

[G-Man]

Victoria needs a permanent amusement park. Though a classy one like the one in Santa Cruz or Coney Island.

[Holden West]

One interesting thing I remember about the JayCee Fair (named after the JayCees--the Junior Chamber of Commerce) was the site of the fair itself. It was on the parking lot of the old Memorial Arena but at that time there was still a large rocky hill several metres high at the northwest corner. You could climb that hill and get a good view of the fairgrounds. They blasted it away a few years ago to make more parking.

[gumgum]

/\ The things you learn. Where else would you hear about details like that?

[Holden West]

Keep that in mind next time you visit "Pavillion, Rock and Shell".

Coincidence?

[VicHockeyFan]

OK, anyone remember Fun City? It was a go-cart track on Vanalman between the highway and Glanford.

[Holden West]

Yes, it was a very cool place. A scaled down version of an amusement park without the gritty carnies and sleaze.

Damn, I can't remember what else they had besides one of those inflatable rooms you jump around in. I think they may have had a giant slide.

I remember the go-kart track being rather fancy--not the usual hay bales in a parking lot set-up.

[VicHockeyFan]

^ 2 go-cart track I believe. One was standard variety for most ages. One was mini formula-one cars, and you had to be 16 and have a drivers licence for that track. On that track, you wnret out solo and they had a auto-timer

They also had some bumper boats. They were good quality. Basically, your steering wheel was attached to an outboard motor, and you could turn the wheel 360 to do whatever you wanted to.

[Holden West]

Ah, yes--I thought I remembered the little formula ones. Essentially a go-kart with a cute little fiberglas body. It was solo? I guess they didn't trust us not to crash them together (justifiably so). Damn that drivers' license rule, too! Always The Man keeping us kids down!

That was a fine attraction. It was clean and nice--not like the grimy carnivals with their noisy rides that only made you dizzy. Good for working-class families that couldn't afford an annual weekend at Playland and the PNE, (let alone Disneyland).

I'm thinking of all those little un-tuned two-stroke gas engines running all day. I think the majority of greenhouse gases produced in Victoria during that era were from kids under 16.

I'll take a guess and say the Fun City existed from about 1979 to about the early to mid 80s.

[aastra]

Passed it many times on the highway, but the folks never took us in.

G-Man, I'm liking that amusement park idea. Something authentic and detailed and not too big. But the problem -- as always -- is how would it survive the off-season/winter?