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Did you ride the gondola over the Miss River at the 1984 World’s Fair?
Posted on 11/21/18 at 9:24 am
Posted on 11/21/18 at 9:24 am
quote:
The signature attraction of the 1984 Louisiana World Exposition held in New Orleans was MART (Mississippi Aerial River Transit), a $12 million aerial gondola transport system that connected the fair site on the East Bank of the Mississippi River with the West Bank (Old Algiers). For the price of a $3.50 round-trip ticket, fair riders were shuttled 2,500 feet across the Mississippi River in one of 53 six-passenger, teapot-shaped cars strung from cables suspended 320 feet above the river. After the fair, the gondolas briefly became part of the city’s mass transit system.
quote:
The gondola project was the long-time dream of Mardi Gras float designer and native Algerian Blaine Kern, who envisioned a “combination thrill ride and practical commuter vehicle” to connect both banks of the river
quote:
After the fair closed, the gondola system was promoted as a unique commuter system. West Bankers did not embrace the concept nor did the residents of old Algiers welcome the additional automobile traffic during the fair. Four months after the bankrupt LWE closed, its signature attraction ceased operation permanently.
In 1992, the passenger cars were sold, and in 1994 the US Coast Guard ordered the removal of the 360 foot steel towers and their cables. MART did not become a legendary landmark of the 1984 World's Fair, but for thousands of fairgoers it provided a lifelong memory.
LINK
Anyone ride this thing? Would you ride it today?
Also, we need more Blaine Kerns. People with big dreams who keep working at it until their dream is a reality.
Posted on 11/21/18 at 9:25 am to RidiculousHype
I did. I remember waiting in line for what seemed like hours with my mom, dad and sister.
Posted on 11/21/18 at 9:26 am to RidiculousHype
You think any of those would have bullet holes in them now days?
Posted on 11/21/18 at 9:27 am to RidiculousHype
I had a season pass to the fair, rode that thing a bunch.
the fair was awesome, especially the bars at night (Sheila’s, jed’s)
the fair was awesome, especially the bars at night (Sheila’s, jed’s)
Posted on 11/21/18 at 9:30 am to RidiculousHype
Yes. Several times. At night. It was awesome as a teenager.
Posted on 11/21/18 at 9:32 am to NorthEndZone
I was a child so I rode it. Now I would be too scared.
Posted on 11/21/18 at 9:32 am to RidiculousHype
Yes, I was very young. My aunt was the only person who would ride it with me.
Hell no I wouldn't ride it now. Especially if it was the city running it.
Hell no I wouldn't ride it now. Especially if it was the city running it.
Posted on 11/21/18 at 9:32 am to RidiculousHype
Damn right I did and it scared the crap out of me.
Posted on 11/21/18 at 9:32 am to RidiculousHype
I don't remember it but we have family photos of me as a baby getting. My mom was carrying me
Posted on 11/21/18 at 9:33 am to RidiculousHype
My dad still tells the story of him riding it to this day.
He is afraid of heights, but my sister and friends talked him into taking it across the river.
He said when he got to the other side and the fair, all day, his only thoughts were of the fearful ride back and he was trying to think of ways to avoid it.
On the way back, as the car crossed the middle of the river, a large boat blew its whistle loudly and he almost died!
He said when he finally reached the other side, he literally fell to his knees and kissed the ground!
He is afraid of heights, but my sister and friends talked him into taking it across the river.
He said when he got to the other side and the fair, all day, his only thoughts were of the fearful ride back and he was trying to think of ways to avoid it.
On the way back, as the car crossed the middle of the river, a large boat blew its whistle loudly and he almost died!
He said when he finally reached the other side, he literally fell to his knees and kissed the ground!
Posted on 11/21/18 at 9:33 am to RidiculousHype
I sure did, but
quote:was the big-arse ferris wheel. If you haven't experienced your older brother violently rocking the open air car of a 10 story high ferris wheel, you have not lived, baw.
The signature attraction of the 1984 Louisiana World Exposition held in New Orleans
Posted on 11/21/18 at 9:35 am to RidiculousHype
Sure did.
I was 4 but remember it vividly. Have a bunch of pictures from that day.
I was 4 but remember it vividly. Have a bunch of pictures from that day.
Posted on 11/21/18 at 9:36 am to RidiculousHype
I rode it with my brothers a few times. Remember seeing shadows/outlines in the water that we convinced ourselves were sharks
Posted on 11/21/18 at 9:38 am to blueboy
yes the Ferris wheel was great as was the amphitheater.
I saw Neil young play at the amphitheater and I wish theyd have found a way to keep it
I saw Neil young play at the amphitheater and I wish theyd have found a way to keep it
Posted on 11/21/18 at 9:44 am to RidiculousHype
quote:
Anyone ride this thing?
Hell yes, a million times. My brother and several friends worked there. The operating company, MART/Perez, was a complete boondoggle benefiting the Perez family and other corrupt partners.
The ride took cash. The cash registers did not keep a running total, they were essentially calculators. MART/Perez employed "money runners" to carry uncounted cash from the cashier booths to a room upstairs where the cash would be bundled and put in larger containers to be carried off-site to be "counted." Along the way, everyone put uncounted cash in their pockets all the time. There was no way of verifying how much money came in or where it went.
And we would ride it during the nightly fireworks, which was super cool.
Posted on 11/21/18 at 9:44 am to RidiculousHype
I did.
I also remember the hurricane simulator and the strawberries and whip-cream.
I also remember the hurricane simulator and the strawberries and whip-cream.
Posted on 11/21/18 at 9:45 am to cgrand
quote:
I saw Neil young play at the amphitheater and I wish theyd have found a way to keep it
Cheap Trick here.
Posted on 11/21/18 at 9:45 am to RidiculousHype
quote:
$3.50 round-trip ticket,
Checks out.
Posted on 11/21/18 at 9:47 am to MojoGuyPan
shite I forgot about them
also the go gos, Elvis Costello and some others
if I had a time machine the fair would be near the top of my list
also the go gos, Elvis Costello and some others
if I had a time machine the fair would be near the top of my list
Posted on 11/21/18 at 9:48 am to RidiculousHype
Yes and I got stuck over the river for 30 minutes, which was no big deal for me, but it didn't run for long because it never really operated well.
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