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I guess the easiest way to describe Camden Park is this is the type of neighborhood playground I had when I was growing up in the 1970's.  The slides were metal that got hot enough to burn you in the scorching summer sun.  The bottom of the slide was either a puddle, mud or dirt.  There were exposed bolts.   The jungle gym was made of lead pipes either bolted or welded together.  If you did something stupid you got hurt so you learned really fast what NOT to do.



Modern playgrounds are covered with plastic.  They are designed with railings and fences to keep kids from being able to do something risky and even if they figure out some way underneath them is is a thick and squishy rubber matting to help keep kids from being able to get hurt and learn those life lessons.

Being the playground of old there aren't guardrails keeping guests on the midway at Camden Park.  If you want to walk all the way around the Big Dipper no big deal.  Basically if you are going to do something stupid and get hurt...it's your fault and you should have known better.

With this unique attitude in the modern amusement park world I really enjoyed my brief stay at Camden.



The train that runs on the Big Dipper is a stunning work of art.



The train is a Century Flyer that National Amusement Devices built in house for their coasters.  The stainless steel art deco look is cool and throw in the headlights that actually work and these are the coolest wooden coaster trains hands down.



Remember when I said that the attitude at Camden is "if you do something stupid it's your fault"?  Well I asked if I could use my camera on the ride and the ride op replied "if you drop it you loose it".

Not going to happen as it was strapped to my hand.  But just a little note about safety I have a strap on my camera...smartphones do not so leave it in your pocket.



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Paul B. Drabek