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Growing up all my life within ten miles of Disneyland, my vote for the best amusement park ride of the past is the Matterhorn. The Matterhorn has changed over its 51 year life time considerably. It has even changed addresses. Starting off in Disney's Tomorrowland, it moved (well actually, the maps changed it) to Fantasyland in 1971.

I can remember before a hefty general admission price was what it took to ride the rides in 1982, the Matterhorn cost the riders an E ticket. In fact Disney, charged a general admission and then visitors who wanted to ride the rides bought ticket books. Prior to 1959, when the Matterhorn debuted, the ticket books consisted of A tickets through D tickets. With the Matterhorn came the E ticket, in June 1959. E might have been for Exciting. Each E ticket was priced individually at .50 cents when the Matterhorn opened. B Tickets were priced at .20 cents.

At that time, the Matterhorn mountain was the tallest structure in Orange County, until buildings were later built that topped its 147 foot stature. I was born 7 years after the bobsled roller coaster, and I can't imagine what Disneyland would have been like without that big white mountain. Passing it without stopping was always a huge disappointment, and you'd make whichever parent was driving promise that soon we would be going to ride the rides especially the Matterhorn. Since that Mountain was built Disneyland has never been out of sight nor out of mind to the children who grew up around it, thanks to the Matterhorn.

When it opened it was a long time come back for roller coasters in general, after all but 200 wood structures had closed during the depression. But not only was the Matterhorn welcomed back by roller coaster enthusiasts, it provided a new kind of ride and thrill; being the first of its kind in many ways: The first tubular steel track roller coaster in the world; first roller coaster with multiple cars on the same track due to its individual braking system. It was Disneylands first thrill ride.

The Matterhorn wins the best amusement park ride of the past in my book, it was the first of its kind and it revived the dying roller coaster mania that was enjoyed during the 1920's. Plus, I have good memories of riding that ride throughout childhood. Standing in the long line, knowing you were about 1/2 through it when you stood under the waterfall which had that chlorinated smell yet sort of stagnate egg smell, I can still smell if I think about it. I can remember back as a little kid sitting between my mom or dad's legs, click click click towards the top, into pitch blackness, than suddenly outside along the side of the mountain for a few seconds. Back inside for a couple more sharp turns and drops and then back to where you started, with a bunch of eagar people waiting to jump in as you jumped out.

Rides today and even at Disneyland are much more exciting than the old Matterhorn, but nothing compares to it during its heyday.

Learn more about this author, Chris Folsum.
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