PLAYLAND

Vancouver, British Columbia
by Susie Lee

Imagine a place with a classic wooden roller coaster, a hair raising 202-foot vertical Hellevator tower, and a 100-foot adrenaline free fall ride called the Drop Zone. This is Playland, Vancouver's most popular and favorite amusement park that has been inviting millions of children, teenagers and adults to its park grounds for many years. Whether you are young in age or young at heart, there are attractions, rides, food and games for everyone from April through September in Vancouver, British Columbia.

AMUSE YOURSELF SILLY

I have fond memories of Playland when I was a kid. I remember running with strips of tickets in my hand through crowds of people to line up for my favorite rides. The Musical Express blasted the latest radio tunes while I tried to hang onto my seat riding backwards. Then there was the Enterprise that made me feel like an astronaut in my own little spaceship spinning me around and upside down. I never got bored going on these rides over and over again. Of course, my Playland experience wouldn't be complete without the fluffy mouth watering pink cotton candy. I loved holding a warm bag of cinnamon sugar covered mini donuts in one hand and a cold tongue staining blue slurpee in the other. With sticky fingers, I headed off to the old fashion western Bonanza Shooting Gallery. Even when I wasn't playing, I loved looking at all the targets because they looked so incredibly real. Yes, my days were filled with much happiness and indulgence without a care in the world. Today, I still go back to Playland to relive and soak in those happy childhood memories. .

As I walked around Playland today, some of the classics like the wooden roller coaster still remain while many rides and games have been added. Kids and adults were harnessed on a rock wall, near the entrance of the park. There were extreme riders on the Hellevator that shot them up a 202-foot tower at the speed of 75 kilometers per hour and dropped them down just as fast. The Revelation was the fastest and scariest ride at Playland, as it propelled two people sitting in a cock pit at the speed of 100 kilometers per hour on a 160-foot arm that could be seen across the 15 acre amusement park. Today there are over 50 thrilling rides at Playland.

THE SLING SHOT RIDE

This ride looked like a steel sphere cage with two seats in the center held down by two steel ropes. As its name suggests, this ride propels riders to the sky through a sling shot type mechanism. I didn't realize what I got myself into until I sat in the cage while hearing bungee-like springs tighten. I then thought “Oh no...” I sat reclined in the seat, waiting, and waiting for the springs to stop tightening. In my nervousness, I asked the ride attendant “How will I know when the ride is going to go?” He chillingly laughed and said “You'll know.” That was not a comforting response for me!

So there I was reclined, looking up in the sky, nervously waiting and then the noise of the springs stopped and so did my heart. The ride attendant reclined the cage back further and wished me luck. The anticipation was absolutely nerve wracking!

I heard a click from the springs which released the contraption with full force, launching me into the air with maximum acceleration. I catapulted 70 miles per hour passing the 160- foot tower seeing only the sky. When the cage reached its maximum height, it spun me face first towards the ground! There was nowhere to go but screaming down! It was a terrifying yet thrilling experience! I have the video to prove I was not faking my fear. Viewer discretion is advised!

WHAT GOES UP MUST COME DOWN (THE DROP ZONE)

Although I enjoy going on rides, I always had a hesitation about one ride at the park. I never imagined I would experience my most feared and daring adventure for the TV show here at Playland. After some thought, I decided to take the challenge of overcoming my fear of the Drop Zone. I wore a flight suit that was specially designed to connect me with a harness. Cables would then pull me up between two steel archway towers that stretched 100-feet up in the air. I was still nervous as I was slowly being lifted to the top of the tower. When I reached to the top, my heart kept beating faster from the height that I was at. Many onlookers were probably wondering if I had the guts to go through with this. I was wondering if I had the guts to go through with this. On the count of three, I had to pull my rip cord.

Amusements rides don't generally scare me but I have to be honest, I was terrified of this one! While hanging 100 feet in the air waiting to pull my rip cord, I couldn’t help but wonder if I might end up as a permanent ground fixture at Playland if thing’s don’t go according to plan. I believe free falling closer to the ground is scarier than free falling from thousands of feet in the air because I have a closer point of reference of how fast I'm moving.

When I finally pulled my cord, my body felt a pregnant pause in mid air. But then I flung forward with my back arched as my body was moving faster than the cable was holding me. I remember I tried to scream but nothing came out of my mouth. I was still terrified to deatj as I swung down at maximum speed from the 100-foot pole. My momentum began to slow down as I swung back and forth. I made it back down to earth in one piece.

Whether you are flying solo or with a buddy or two, I know you will have the time of your life as you hurl yourself in an unforgettable free fall of your life! I can't believe kids are daring enough to go on this ride. You must be 48” or taller and have a whole lot of courage. Just a reminder that there is an additional charge for this ride but it’s worth every penny!

FINAL THOUGHTS

Playland is a place that every person can have fun at being a kid again. It brings back a momentary escape and wonder into our lives as we are exhilarated with energy and adrenaline in the carnival atmosphere!

FUN FACTS

• In 2007, 3 million individual rides were sold in Playland during the fair (record)
• 235,000 stuffed animals were won on Midway Carnival Games in 2007 (record)
• The classic wooden roller coaster was built in 1958 using Douglas Fir. The coaster ride is 90 seconds long with a top speed of 45 kilometers per hour. An average of half a million thrill seekers ride the roller coaster annually.

ADVENTURE TIPS

Playland usually opens during late April to late September. Buy your season and one-day Play Passes online and SAVE time at the gates and SAVE off the regular gate price. You can also save by purchasing your admission ticket at certain Lower Mainland retailers listed on the Playland website listed below.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Playland
2901 East Hastings Street
Vancouver, British Columbia
PNE Switchboard: (604) 253-2311
PNE Group Sales: (604) 252-3663
www.pne.ca

+ Part 1: PNE (part 1)
+ Part 2: PNE (part 2)

+ Download PDF One-sheet
+ Pacific National Exhibition