Happyland (Vancouver)

[Timberhawk]

For a while now, I've been trying to find information and pictures about Happyland. So far, I've only been able to find two sites with info and pictures (Closed Canadian Parks and Coasters of the Pacific Northwest).

For those of you who don't know, Happyland was located near the current spot of Playland in Hastings, Vancouver. It's most popular attractions were the Giant Dipper and Shoot the Chutes.

The Giant Dipper was a large wooden coaster built by Frank Prior and Frederick Church. In a newspaper article, it was reported that it had a 59 foot drop and speeds of 40 mph, but the stats do not quite work out. The drop of the ride could have been as high as 90 feet or more and speeds as high as 58 mph. At this point, I'm not quite sure what the stats were. Anyways, the ride was demolished in 1948 as it was deemed unsafe due to neglect during the great depression. The Hastings racetrack wanted to expand, which was also, in part, repsonsible for the demolition.

Shoot the Chutes was very popular among thrill seekers, and also very popular on hot days. Happyland also had a kiddie wooden coaster called the Baby Dipper. The Baby Dipper was torn down in 1944, but Shoot the Chutes lasted until the parks closure in 1957.

Happyland closed in 1957 as the owners wanted to move the park. This resulted in the park being taken down. Playland opened up the next year right beside the former Happyland location. Many of Happyland's rides were transfered to Playland, which is essentially the "new" Happyland.

A peice of Happyland still lives on at the Puyallup Fair, where the Giant Dipper trains are in use on Coaster Thrill Ride.

So, discuss Happyland here and post any info/pictures you can find, provided it's not from the two websites I mentioned. What would really be helpful is a picture of the Bumper Cars (or Skooters as they may have been called) as my grandma has fond memories of it.

Thanks in advance if you guys can help me find out some more info about Happyland. To finish this off, here's a few pictures.

http://i34.tinypic.com/aca360.jpg
Giant Dipper

http://i36.tinypic.com/t7g3dk.jpg
Shoot the Chutes

http://i37.tinypic.com/348odw0.gif
Baby Dipper

~Timberhawk

[RCTfangirl]

Wow thanks for that! I've been looking for playland history information!

[Timberhawk]

Wow thanks for that! I've been looking for playland history information!
Yeah, I find the history of Happyland (and Playland for that matter) very interesting. If you want more information, just go to the two websites I posted near the top of my original post. I won't link to them in case it's advertising.

Anyways, it's too bad Happyland didn't survive. It would have been cool if the Giant Dipper lasted all the way until now. I would imagine it had some pretty good airtime, mainly thanks to it's trains (which are almost identical to Coaster at Playland). It also looks like it had some nice bunny hills.

Here's a picture of the former Giant Dipper trains:

http://img379.imageshack.us/img379/182/dsc00665158cb5.jpg
Credit for the picture goes to montezooma of TPR

[RCTfangirl]

They look almost exactly like coaster's trains you're right. But whats the black strap thing?

[Timberhawk]

They look almost exactly like coaster's trains you're right. But whats the black strap thing?
Not sure, but I think it hold down the buzz bar?

[RCTfangirl]

Not sure, but I think it hold down the buzz bar?

Perhaps, later it was maybe deemed unnecessary? And thats why Coaster doesn't have it? Instead Coaster just uses this very archaic and primitive latch (thats getting worn down by the "general public" who don't know how to keep it from wearing out faster) that only holds 1 position.

[FlyingPenguins]

If you haven't already seen this link: click here for more info (http://www.rollercoastersofthepacificnw.com/pages/giant.html)

[RCTfangirl]

Yeah I've seen that.

Speaking of Happyland/Playland, too bad I didn't go to the 50th anniversary of "Coaster". Carl Phare's daughter was there! I COULD HAVE MET HER! That would be the closest I can get to meeting a coaster builder, is to meet his daughter!

Its such a shame Playland scrapped a Schwartzkopf. If I remember correctly, it was to make room for corkscrew when it was relocated from Boblo Island.

[Timberhawk]

Its such a shame Playland scrapped a Schwartzkopf. If I remember correctly, it was to make room for corkscrew when it was relocated from Boblo Island.
Yeah, it's too bad. I've heard it was due to it being unsafe, but I'm not entirely sure what the reason is.

@FlyingPenguins: Thanks, but yeah, I've already seen that.

[RCTfangirl]

Yeah it is. To make room for corkscrew. Corkscrew's pretty decent. Just that its abit too mild to be a "thriller" for me.