The
Noah’s Ark fun house ~ It was an attraction that dotted
the landscape in Biblical proportions.
A staple in amusement parks throughout the United States,
this rocking structure,
graced by figures of Noah and his family, once
thrilled guests from Maine to California.
Sadly, only one Ark remains in North America,
at Kennywood in West Mifflin, PA.
But did you know that several Arks were once docked
“across the pond” in the United Kingdom?
That’s right — four arks were installed in UK: at Southport’s
Pleasureland, Morecambe Pleasure Park
(in later years know as Frontier Land), Kursaal Amusement
Park and at Blackpool Pleasure Beach.
Of those Arks, only Blackpool’s has survived the test
of time...
the Last Ark in England.
|
|
Below
are some excerpts from Raymond's patent description
that provide insight into his vision for the Ark.
Many of his concepts came to fruition.
|
|
• To
this end, the invention contemplates a structure in the
form of a boat house, adapted to be operated to rock like
a boat.
• The
structure is mounted in a tank filled with water, or may
be mounted on a pier which already is in water. The steady
operation of the power plant and the rocking member with
its equal alternative pull at either end of the boat on
the weights there imparts a slow steady rocking movement
to the boat, fore and aft giving an excellent imitation
of the natural rocking or swaying position of a vessel
at anchor.
• Another
passage extends forwardly as it were and terminates in
a chamber over which is built a structure resembling the
head and forward position of a huge whale.
• Projecting
from a suitable opening from a boat is the head of an
elephant constructed on lumber, canvas, plaster or other
similar materials. |
|
|