24 replies to this topic

[Giraffe]

Does anyone remember the small roller coaster that used to be in Forest Park near the miniature train? I remember riding it in the 1970s with my sister. I _think_ it was called "The Mousetrap" but I could be mistaken. It may have originally been at Six Flags because the park used to have a small coaster there in the very early 1960s but removed it after only a few years. Pictures I've seen of it in Six Flags are very similar to what I remember riding in Forest Park. Any idea when it was installed and removed?

It did not occupy very much land; I think the whole thing would fit in your backyard. The track looped around on itself a few times.

The cars were pretty small, too, IIRC. I think each car held two kids comfortably. (Can't remember if a car could have held an adult.) The front wheels were set a bit far in towards the center of the car, making the front end of each car stick out quite a bit. There were a lot of sharp turns in the track, and you always felt your car was going to sail right off the track every time!

[Kyle Carr]

I remember riding that roller coaster in the late 60s. I was 10-11 years old. It was called the "Mouse"
according to my sister. Scared the crap out of me. Each little car would seem as if it was going to go right
over the edge before it made a quick right or left turn. Not sure when it was removed or why.

[angie013]

I remember riding that roller coaster in the late 60s. I was 10-11 years old. It was called the "Mouse"
according to my sister. Scared the crap out of me. Each little car would seem as if it was going to go right
over the edge before it made a quick right or left turn. Not sure when it was removed or why.

I also remember that ride when I was a kid in the 80's. It used to be in the area of the zoo which now houses the giraffe's and rhinos. You used to be able to see if from the road that goes by the park along the backside of the zoo.

[redhead]

Not located here, but at a state fair---I rode a Mousetrap with my sister in the 60's. It malfunctioned and our car stated ramming the car in front of us. The operators had to shut the whole thing down, climb up and help us climb down. I am not afraid of heights at all, but to this day---I hate rollercoasters!!!

[mbdalton1]

I have photos of me at the zoo when I was age 2-3 (c. 1970-1971). There used to be a carosel there too! My grandmother would take me there to ride the carosel.

A few years later I remember visiting the zoo and seeing that roller coaster. I was too young to ride it but I do remember it! I remember how the little cars used to zip around on that thing. They would come to the edge and look like they were going to fall over but turned a different direction.

I'm going to have to go find those old photos now!

thanks for the trip down memory lane!

mary bess

[RSAN820]

The rollercoaster at Forest Park was my favorite ride growing up in the 60's and 70's. It was actually called the Monster Mouse, and was next to the Himalaya which played some pretty cool tunes.

RS

[Buck]

The Monster Mouse was the greatest rollercoaster ever!

Old, rickety -- it felt like it might fall apart at any moment.

I think the Bill Hames Rides people moved it somewhere --

[apearson28]

i remember riding the "mousetrap" at the State Fair in the 90s as well

[gdvanc]

I remember the Mouse. It was before I really got into coasters, but my Mom could ride that thang all dang day. Not sure if she liked it or the Himalaya better. Fond memories of times with her there. I sure miss her.

[travelbear]

The Monster Mouse was scary because of all the loose nuts and bolts that rattled from top to bottom. Older kids would shake the small cars in hopes of making something bad happen. The track was so shakey that this ride would never be allowed to operate these days. 15 or 20 cents a ride I think.

[flournoy]

I believe it was called "The Wild Mouse". It remains my only roller-coaster experience, but I did ride it multiple times.

[Birdland in Handley]

Well, we all remember it was a Mouse. I thought it was the Mad Mouse. What source might have a definitive answer?
When some local broadcast station was showing "Walker, Texas Ranger" late at night on weekends a couple of years ago, we got hooked on the goofusness of the show, but we really got sucked in because of the, literally, local color. There was one episode that had lots of scenes shot at the Forest Park amusement park and I ignored the plot (plot?) completely, waiting for glimpses of that then-intact part of the park. (They also used local actors, so I was similarly distracted when the bad guys blew up Mr. Peppermint. He was portaying a Judge, but I knew he was Mr. Peppermint.)

[JBB]

The amusement area at Forest Park was at least a decade or so before Walker Texas Ranger was filmed, so I'm thinking you were seeing another location.

[RD Milhollin]

Definitely MONSTER Mouse

[cherokeehippie]

I think I remember it....I remember, though, the carosoul, and the little toddlers boat ride..I remember as a little toddler being put in the boat, and ringing the little bell, going around in a circle...each boat had a bell....And..I remember the tilt-a-whirl...when I was in the 4th grade, and on a school field trip to the zoo, a boy and I got on the tilt-whirl and he got sick and puked...after that, I went thru a short childhood phase of fear of people throwing up...I even had a nightmare of everyone on the tilt-a-whirl throwing up, and me running to get away from that...and I was moving my legs in my sleep! I was staying at some friends house and they said I was running in my sleep! LOL...

[801hme]

We practically lived at the Forest Park Rides during summers when I was litlle (late 60's-70's). The Monster Mouse, Himalaya, Bumper Cars, Scrambler, Tiltawhirl, The Tip-Top (loudest ride ever), Ferris Wheel, Merry-Go-Round, all the little kid rides and of course the train...makes me crave popcorn and a grape snowcone from the halfway house during the train ride...The cool thing about the Mouse rollercoasters was how far back under you the wheels really were, so the nose of the car would stick out over the edge, giving the illusion that you were about to go flying off the track...Cool ride...I used to always try to time it where I got to ride in the "Black Cat" car...

Stumbled across this on you-tube-Someones home movie with some scenes from the park in 1970-good shot of the old "stream-lined" style trains, the Ferris wheel and the Merry-Go-Round...no Mouse unfortunately, but I think the petting zoo was the old one in the zoo...it was across from the aquarium, and had the water-fountain where you stuck your head in the lions mouth to drink...anyone else remember that?

Edited by 801hme, 23 March 2008 - 05:28 PM.

[Saginaw]

1970 sure does seem a ways back, doesn't it?

...and had the water-fountain where you stuck your head in the lions mouth to drink...anyone else remember that?

Yes, I do! It was as close as I could come to being a lion tamer.

I also remember the rollercoaster as the "Monster Mouse", but never rode on it, as I wasn't a person who would go on rollercoasters in the first place. I remember it being just across from the snack bar (painted brown?), where my Mom and I would sit down to a cheeseburger, fries, and a soda, and watch the coaster run with screaming patrons. Went on the Himalaya twice, and it was a "cool" ride because of the rock music blasting from it. Rode the Tilt-A-Whirl a couple of times (I seem to remember the cars decorated with a clown motif), the carousel a lot, as well as the ferris wheel and bumper cars. I'd then want to see the zoo, and then end the day with the miniature train.

By the way, as I'm writing this, I found these:







Great memories, folks. Thanks for sharing!


--Saginaw

[cajunmike]

I remembe those rides. As a matter of fact I went on a second date with a girl to Forest Park. It seems like yesterday but that was in 1969 ! Had to borrow my brothers 1965 Chevy Impala S.S. as I did not think she wanted to ride in my old car !

[801hme]

GREAT PICS SAGINAW!!! You just made my day...

[801hme]

Well, we all remember it was a Mouse. I thought it was the Mad Mouse. What source might have a definitive answer?
When some local broadcast station was showing "Walker, Texas Ranger" late at night on weekends a couple of years ago, we got hooked on the goofusness of the show, but we really got sucked in because of the, literally, local color. There was one episode that had lots of scenes shot at the Forest Park amusement park and I ignored the plot (plot?) completely, waiting for glimpses of that then-intact part of the park. (They also used local actors, so I was similarly distracted when the bad guys blew up Mr. Peppermint. He was portaying a Judge, but I knew he was Mr. Peppermint.)

According to this website it was a Monster Mouse. They also have a little info on the parks owner.

http://www.rcdb.com/id1843.htm

[Saginaw]

GREAT PICS SAGINAW!!! You just made my day...

Glad to oblige, 801hme! I rather enjoyed finding those pics, as they took me back to those carefree days of my youth.


--Saginaw

[lcbrownz]

Well, we all remember it was a Mouse. I thought it was the Mad Mouse. What source might have a definitive answer?
When some local broadcast station was showing "Walker, Texas Ranger" late at night on weekends a couple of years ago, we got hooked on the goofusness of the show, but we really got sucked in because of the, literally, local color. There was one episode that had lots of scenes shot at the Forest Park amusement park and I ignored the plot (plot?) completely, waiting for glimpses of that then-intact part of the park. (They also used local actors, so I was similarly distracted when the bad guys blew up Mr. Peppermint. He was portaying a Judge, but I knew he was Mr. Peppermint.)

I remember that episode. Jerry Haynes really looked old.

[FW Kid]

I remember as a child and young teenager riding the roller coaster. If I'm not mistaken it was called the Mad Mouse. Use to ride it at least 10 or 11 times when we went to the zoo. There was also a large merry go round.

[earlbutkus]

I remember the Monster Mouse very well. In fact, it was the scariest coaster I've ever ridden because it was so rickety. You always felt like the car was going to fall off the track and you sat so low that you can hardly see the track anyway.I once dreamed that I was riding it and the car left the track and I landed upside down on the concrete! A simple roller coaster , but  loads of fun back in the day!

[stevee]

I remember the Monster Mouse very well. In fact, it was the scariest coaster I've ever ridden because it was so rickety.

 

 

Yeah, I have fond memories of that ride, rickety is a good description