I miss this place so much. Every year my family would drive all the way from Salisbury, North Carolina to Lakeside in Virginia. My childhood memories will always include this small amusement park.
I still have a promo poster/program of Lakeside from sometime between 84-86 that I used to LOVE looking at over and over again, thinking of all of the fun id had there and counting the days til we could go back. I remember being devastated by the flood and having no concept of it ever opening again, then sure enough, it did and was just as fun, and then as it quickly as it opened, it was gone again for good. The last time we went was with my aunt, uncle and cousins who were visiting from Chicago. It seemed like another world but looking back it was less than an hour away and I can't believe we didn't go more often. I remember doing the same thing with Ocean Lakes, Myrtle Beach maps, programs from baseball games, Ringling Bros/Barnum+baily circus, Kazim circus and other such things. Those programs seemed like magic as a kid.
If you go on down to Myrtle Beach, at a small park called Family Kingdom, the very same trains that used to race along the rails of the Shooting Star are still there running on the Swamp Fox. And the train that used to run the woods is now a Busch Gardens Williamsburg staple-- the Alpen Express.
What great memories of growing up and the thrill as a kid going to lakeside, sorry kids nowadays don't enjoy the simple life we had as kids and young adults
We went to lakeside every summer in the 60s and 70s. We were tobacco farmers and lived about an hour and a half away. It was truly a magical place that I will never forget. Loved the putt putt golf course and the windmill on the last hole.
I remember that small area with skee ball! It looked like something straight out of the 1930's or 1940's. I forget the other games on that short area. I think it had small bright old timey white lights framing all the booths. It was like walking back in time. The train ride going by the haunted saloon with the skeletons is a vivid memory! Oh and the Wild Cat rollercoaster before The Shooting Star!!! Miss it all!
@@browningbelgium2326 wondering the same thing it closed before I was born and I live in Roanoke and there is no proof it was ever there so I’m wondering where it was and what’s there now
A friend and I rode the Shooting Star 56 consecutive times one summer weekday back in 1972. Bad, Bad Leroy Brown was the big hit then. But it's really a good thing that the park closed when it did. If was still open today there'd be so much violence and profanity and so much drug activity that the community wouldn't be able to cope with it. But unfortunately, that's the world we live in today. Not so, many years ago however; it was a more gentle, respectful and lawful time in history that will never return until the Lord ends it all.
When I moved to Salem in 2001 I went exploring behind Lakeside Kroger and found rotting wooden roller coaster tracks in the woods. I later found out what they were for.
I miss this place so much. Every year my family would drive all the way from Salisbury, North Carolina to Lakeside in Virginia. My childhood memories will always include this small amusement park.
and reminds me of missing another...the big mistake MB made with it's amusement park/pavillion🤔
I loved going to Lakeside when I was growing up. I have so many great memories, and was so sad when they closed down.
Went there many times as a kid took 20 minutes to walk there trimmed hedges mowed yards to go there with my friends good ole days!
I still have a promo poster/program of Lakeside from sometime between 84-86 that I used to LOVE looking at over and over again, thinking of all of the fun id had there and counting the days til we could go back. I remember being devastated by the flood and having no concept of it ever opening again, then sure enough, it did and was just as fun, and then as it quickly as it opened, it was gone again for good. The last time we went was with my aunt, uncle and cousins who were visiting from Chicago. It seemed like another world but looking back it was less than an hour away and I can't believe we didn't go more often. I remember doing the same thing with Ocean Lakes, Myrtle Beach maps, programs from baseball games, Ringling Bros/Barnum+baily circus, Kazim circus and other such things. Those programs seemed like magic as a kid.
If you go on down to Myrtle Beach, at a small park called Family Kingdom, the very same trains that used to race along the rails of the Shooting Star are still there running on the Swamp Fox. And the train that used to run the woods is now a Busch Gardens Williamsburg staple-- the Alpen Express.
What great memories of growing up and the thrill as a kid going to lakeside, sorry kids nowadays don't enjoy the simple life we had as kids and young adults
I know right.
We would take class trips to LakeSide.
All the way from Natural Bridge lol.
I bet classes from Roanoke were going to see the Bridge.
i would kill to be able to enjoy this back then i don’t get how kids my age only care about social media
It's open, this never happened.
This is what Trump would call, fake news.
Those paddle boats weren't there when we used to go. They must've come in the 80s.
We went to lakeside every summer in the 60s and 70s. We were tobacco farmers and lived about an hour and a half away. It was truly a magical place that I will never forget. Loved the putt putt golf course and the windmill on the last hole.
I remember that small area with skee ball! It looked like something straight out of the 1930's or 1940's.
I forget the other games on that short area. I think it had small bright old timey white lights framing all the booths. It was like walking back in time. The train ride going by the haunted saloon with the skeletons is a vivid memory! Oh and the Wild Cat rollercoaster before The Shooting Star!!! Miss it all!
MY Grandma uses to take us to Lakeside in the 60's
It's so sad this place is gone. I was 10 years old when it close and lived only a few minutes away. Didn't know what I had at such a young age.
My parents took my sister and I a couple of times back in the seventies
It was a very fun place and such great memories as a young kid!
Went there many times. Good ole days.
Loved this place.
Looks like this was maybe the WDBJ7/NEWS7 story on the closing since that is Keith Humphry narrating.
I went there every weekend my family drove us 30 minutes away so we could have fun
I've in salem and went to lakeside many times from 71 to 73 or 4 and went to east salem
My mom took me there for my 5th Birthday in '86. It closed a month later. 😥
That was a sad sad day. Some body needs to open another amusement park.
Man that train ride through the woods used to scare the crap outa me..🤣 every summer was special .......
Was there around 1974..
I enjoyed taking my girlfriends up here between 1972-1974.
Was my first roller coaster ride.
My only one. 1949
Mine too. I was terrified!
What's there now in its place? Condo's, business complex, or empty parking lot?
@@browningbelgium2326 wondering the same thing it closed before I was born and I live in Roanoke and there is no proof it was ever there so I’m wondering where it was and what’s there now
@@browningbelgium2326 its a krogers now with a ton of other buisnesses
A friend and I rode the Shooting Star 56 consecutive times one summer weekday back in 1972. Bad, Bad Leroy Brown was the big hit then. But it's really a good thing that the park closed when it did. If was still open today there'd be so much violence and profanity and so much drug activity that the community wouldn't be able to cope with it. But unfortunately, that's the world we live in today. Not so, many years ago however; it was a more gentle, respectful and lawful time in history that will never return until the Lord ends it all.
I would have loved to visit Lakeside Amusement park i was 7 months when they closed
Great video. who did the interview for WDBJ-7?
Sounded like Keith Humphrey.
Mike StClair ...that was Keith.
so its not just an attraction in silent hill
Never got to ride the Shooting Star..darn.
I wonder where all the parts are at now? I know some are at macado's
The trains for the Shooting Star run in Myrtle Beach now on the Swamp Fox and the train got moved to Busch Gardens Williamsburg.
The rides back then looked so fun
When I moved to Salem in 2001 I went exploring behind Lakeside Kroger and found rotting wooden roller coaster tracks in the woods. I later found out what they were for.
Was 7 months old when they closed
When was it demolished ?
Never
Heard it was due to the lawsuit from the guy getting killed by the roller coaster.
Is there any 1 that knows about sparking park and sparking rides park
Back when people could work at a place like lakeside and earn a living.
And now there's nothing to do in this lame ass town
Right you are