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Removed Rollercoasters
Guide to the removed rollercoasters of the State Fair of Texas
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Comet
Charles Paige / National Amusement Device (NAD) |
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- The Comet is more or less one of the most loved and missed attractions at the State Fair of Texas. Most Dallas residents took their first wooden roller coaster rides on the beloved Comet. Opened in 1947, the Comet was a double out-and-back coaster featuring classic N.A.D. Century Flyer trains. The coaster featured a small lift around 60 feet tall but still provided some great hills with excellent airtime. The owner of the ride even lived in a small house until the lift hill and raised a few goats in the ride area to keep the grass trimmed to a manageable level. - In 1976 the Comet was purchased from the rider operator and received renovations in 1977 and 1980. In 1980, Bill Cobb was recruited to work on the Comet rehab and continued to be the State Fair's consultant on the ride. In 1985 it became apparent that the Comet was nearing the end. A lot of insurance companies were staying away from insuring wooden roller coasters and fair officials had a hard time finding insurance carriers for most of their rides. - In 1986, the State Fair of Texas announced that the Comet would not run for that year's fair. The coaster was silenced due to the ongoing insurance problems. In 1989 the State Fair of Texas and the City of Dallas decided to demolish the aging structure as its was supposedly presenting a hazard to patrons. Historians, local preservationist and even ACE became involved in preserving the coaster. Sadly on February 9, 1989, the Comet was demolished by a local demolition company. The station remained however and the State Fair kept it for a few years as a coaster museum, displaying some photos of the Comet and past roller coasters. A Zyklon from Italian company Pinfari ran for a few years in it's place. The State Fair also kept one of the classic trains in the former station. Later in life, the station proved to be a popular eating location with one classic train still sitting idle. - In summer 2002, the classic Comet station was demolished along with the classic Monster Mash dark ride to make ample expansion room for the new Pibb X-Tra Thrillway and a new steel roller coaster. The train was saved and purchased by Gary Slade and Amusement Today. One trains now sits at Wonderland Park in a coaster museum while awaiting transportation to the ACE Coaster Museum.
Opened: 1947 |
Closed: 1989 |
Intensity: Thrilling
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Comet II
Anton Schwarzkopf / INTAMIN A.G |
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- The Comet II was never officially owned by the State Fair of Texas, but has been it's only running home since it's purchase and dismantlement from Old Indiana Fun Park in 1995. The ride started out it's life at Old Indiana Fun Park. After a tragic accident at the park, most rides and the park itself were auctioned. In 1999. the coaster received a brand new Allen-Bradley dual PLC and extensive rehab on the track, chain and cars from INTAMIN A.G. Sadly, the ride missed it's 1999 opening due to an accident at Wonder Pier in New Jersey involving a similar ride. Fair officials wanted extra safety features added to the ride and INTAMIN agreed but could not deliver the ride on time. - In 2000, the Comet II opened as a loving tribute to it's older namesake. The ride was a huge attraction and drew massive lines during most of the fair. In 2001 it still proved to be the biggest attraction aside from the classic Texas Star Ferris Wheel. After 2001, the fair was getting ready to install it's own roller coaster so the Comet II was moved on to tour the fair circuit in the US. The Comet II has been in storage since it's last day running at the State Fair of Texas. Maybe, someone like the fair will purchase this small wonderful creation and let it run again.
Opened: 1999 |
Closed: 2001 |
Intensity: Thrilling
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Comet Jr.
Charles Paige / National Amusement Device (NAD) |
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- Kiddie-sized version of the big Comet next door. This small entertaining ride was built the year following the Comet along with the Monster Mash dark ride. The junior coaster anchored the new "Kiddy Land" section of the Midway, known today as the "Kid-Way". The Comet Jr. featured a small 12 foot lift hill and several small hills and turns. The ride featured classic junior N.A.D. Century Flyer trains complete with headlights and a color scheme that matched big brother. - Sadly, the Comet Jr. didn't last into the 1980's like big brother. The ride was suffering from lower ridership and was deteriorating from lack of continued off-season maintenance. Sadly in 1977, the ride was razed without a second thought. Not much is known what happened to the beautiful trains that once ran on the track. This ride was eventually replaced by the portable steel coasters from Wisdom and Zamperla that kids today are so fond of.
Opened: 1948 |
Closed: 1977 |
Intensity: Thrilling
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Dipper
unknown |
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- Another classic wooden roller coaster built along the "Pike". Little is known about the roller coaster only that it co-existed with the Lightning and Lightning Jr. The coaster was more or less demolished along with most of Fair Park in preparation for the 1936 Texas Centennial.
Opened: 1921 |
Closed: 1935 |
Intensity: Thrilling
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Figure 8
Labb / Chicago Coaster Company |
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- Another classic Figure 8 side friction roller coaster. More or less built to compete with a similar ride at Cycle Park, the ride proved to be very popular along with the Shoot-the-Chutes ride on the Midway. The ride lasted until 1920, when it was demolished presumably to make room for the Dipper roller coaster built the following year.
Opened: 1907 |
Closed: 1920 |
Intensity: Thrilling
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Figure 8 (Cycle Park)
Labb / Chicago Coaster Company |
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- A classic Figure 8 roller coaster designed for Cycle Park by the Chicago Coaster Company. The ride existed on Cycle Park grounds which was not part of the State Fair of Texas. Cycle Park was purchased for expansion room, and it is under the impression the Figure 8 was demolished shortly thereafter due to the State Fair of Texas having a very similar ride. The only remaining example of this ride is Leap-the-Dips currently running at Lakemont Park in Altoona, PA.
Opened: 1905 |
Closed: ???? |
Intensity: Thrilling
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Giant Coaster
LaMarcus A. Thompson |
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- One of, if not the first roller coaster in the state of Texas. The Giant Coaster was a "switchback railway" ride from LaMarcus A. Thompson, the father of the modern roller coaster. Modeled after the same type of ride at Coney Island in New York, this ride featured two elevated platforms from which a car would traverse the course over small hills to the other end. - In 1888, an accident occurred on the Giant Coaster leaving 1 person dead and 5 other seriously injured. Since little is known about the ride, some details and removal dates are not known.
Opened: 1887 |
Closed: ???? |
Intensity: Thrilling
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Lightning
John Miller |
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- One of John Miller's best designed coasters for the State Fair of Texas. The Lightning was the first State Fair roller coaster to break the 70 foot mark and had a track length of over 2,500 feet. The Lightning featured large drops and fast turns along with John Miller designed trains. The ride was the first roller coaster to allow high-speed drops and fast turns for the fair. No known accidents occurred on the Lightning in the short 11 years it ran. - The ride was demolished in 1935, like most of Fair Park, to make room for the 1936 Texas Centennial. Most of the wood and steel were reused in the construction of another John Miller roller coaster, the Triple Racer.
Opened: 1924 |
Closed: 1935 |
Intensity: Thrilling
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Lightning Jr.
John Miller |
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- Little brother of the Lightning. Like the Comet Jr., the Lightning Jr. was a smaller kiddie coaster for those in the 5-10 age range. The ride mimicked the larger Lightning next door and was one of a few John Miller designed junior roller coasters. The ride was demolished in 1935 along with the Lightning.
Opened: 1924 |
Closed: 1935 |
Intensity: Thrilling
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Looping Star
Schwarzkopf GmBH |
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- The only looping roller coaster to call the State Fair of Texas home. The Looping Star was a portable Anton Schwarzkopf designed roller coaster that was purchased from a pier in New Jersey. The ride ran along with the Comet for several years and proved to be a very popular ride. The roller coaster ran at the back of the Midway currently where the Texas Star stands. - The Looping Star was removed after the 1985 fair and sold to Frontier City in Oklahoma City. The ride underwent an extensive rehab before reopening at Frontier City. The ride currently runs at Frontier City with some "issues", but still provides that great Schwarzkopf style ride.
Opened: 1980 |
Closed: 1985 |
Intensity: Thrilling
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Monster Mouse
Alan Herschell |
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- Little known about this roller coaster. The ride was known to be a Alan Herschell Monster Mouse model, similar to the Mousetrap at Forest Park in Ft. Worth, TX. The ran ran for several years, during the mid to late 1960's into the 1970's.
Opened: 1969 |
Closed: ???? |
Intensity: Thrilling
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Racing Coaster
John Miller |
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- One of the few racing style roller coasters ever built in Texas. The John Miller designed the Racing Coaster very similar to Kennywood's classic racer. The moebius style track allowed the riders to return to the opposite side of the station from which they departed. The ride featured many classic John Miller trademarks and looks to be very similar to the same ride at Kennywood Park.
Opened: 1911 |
Closed: ???? |
Intensity: Thrilling
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Racing Derby
unknown |
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- A little know roller coaster. Thought to be a "steeplechase" style ride similar to those found at Knott's Berry Farm and Coney Island in New York. The ride was thought to have run near the current location of the Texas Star and is unknown when the ride was removed from the fair grounds.
Opened: 1921 |
Closed: 1935 |
Intensity: Thrilling
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Scenic Railway
LaMarcus A. Thompson |
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- A classic dark-ride / roller coaster experience. The ride was very similar to those found across the country at several other traditional parks. The ride was built by the world famous LaMarcus A. Thompson Company and the theme of the ride is unknown at this time. The cause for removal is unknown and the location of the ride is unknown.
Opened: 1906 |
Closed: ???? |
Intensity: Thrilling
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Skyrocket
John Miller |
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- Another John Miller roller coaster. This ride was a smaller roller coaster like the Lightning, but is thought to be a "twister" style roller coaster as opposed to an "out-and-back" design. The ride ran very close to the Lightning and Lightning Jr. on the Midway. Like everything else, the ride was razed in preparation for the 1936 Texas Centennial.
Opened: 1926 |
Closed: 1935 |
Intensity: Thrilling
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Triple Racer
John Miller |
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- One of the rarest roller coasters ever built. Built in 1935 for the 1936 Texas Centennial, this odd roller coaster featured three side-by side tracks that raced around a 2,500 foot long course. The roller coaster was one of several designed for the fair by John Miller, one of the most prolific designers ever. The ride had a twin built in the same year in Kentucky, but the State Fair's version lived a longer life and carried well over 5 million people in it's short life. - The ride was located near the back of the Midway, directly behind the General Exhibits Building (Science Place II) and ran on the current location of the Dentzel Carousel and Texas Star Ferris Wheel. The ride was also built from lumber from the Lighting and Lighting Jr. roller coasters (both also designed by John Miller). The ride continued to operate until 1946, when it was demolished to make room for a Midway expansion and the construction of a more modern roller coaster, the Comet.
Opened: 1936 |
Closed: 1946 |
Intensity: Thrilling
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Wild Mouse
unknown |
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- Classic wooden wild mouse style roller coaster. A very popular design at the time, but few remain. Little is known about the ride and opening dates and closing dates are unknown.
Opened: ???? |
Closed: ???? |
Intensity: Thrilling
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Zyklon
Pinfari |
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- A portable steel coaster brought in after the closure of the Comet. The coaster ran near the Comet during it's run. The ride was very popular for the fair and proved to be a nice replacement for the closed ride. After the Comet was demolished, the Zyklon was relocated next to the Comet station where the former lift hill was. The ride was removed after safety concerns of the 1990's and is currently traveling the fair circuit in the US.
Opened: 1986 |
Closed: 1991 |
Intensity: Thrilling
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