Customer Reviews

Goodbye, West View Park, Goodbye

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

My school picnics used to be at West View Park. I was so sad when it closed. This book brought back so many good memories! I'll cherish it forever! I love the picture of the "Big Dips."

West View was were they had the annual school picnic from Hopewell and Independence Township Schools. We never got to go, we always had to wait till the

grocery store I think it was called Through-Fare, had Through-Fare Days and we used tickets that we got at the grocery store.

I remember riding the racing whippit with my Aunt Donna and thinking she was cooler than I thought when she sat us in the front car! I loved that place from Boothill to the Bumpercars from 1959 till the 70's!I bought a spin art machine once because it reminded me of the one in West View near the Round-Up(the throw-up as I knew it hahah)

I have not read the book...yet. Opening in 1894 (4 years earlier than Kennywood), Westview was nostalgic and fun. I visited twice during its final year of operation, being an 11 year-old newcomer to Pittsburgh. I was kind of scared of the creaking roller coasters but they were fast, fun and NEVR boring like some of todays wooden coasters tend to be. Kennywood's Thunderbolt could not hold a candle to these coasters.

Oddly enough, those who saw Smokey and the Bandit II personally witnessed the destruction of West View during the roller coaster chase scene. Goodbye West View, I am missing you. Pa. got the best old coasters around!

Although i never visited West View Park myself, i had heard lots about it and i wanted to read up on it. Jacques' work is the best! His other books are great, too.