What Would You Consider the "Theme Park Dark Ages"?

[Scoobert McDoobert]

I know this sounds like a dumb question, but sometimes I truly think about when the "theme park dark age" was? Is it right now or was it a long time ago? In my opinion, it was from 2006 to 2010. This was a period of either major corporate shake-ups (Six Flags' hostile takeover comes to mind), or companies leaving the industry entirely (Paramount Parks especially). Rides made during this time were also either not very good or not very unique. I honestly don't know is there is a general opinion on what a "theme park dark age" is, and if there is, just let me know.

 

[East Coast Mariner]

Long term, it's probably the 1940s, '50s and '60s. Then there was the coaster renaissance with the '70s Charles Dinn and John Allen woodies like Racer and Beast.

More recently, I'd agree it's something like 2006-2018 (at least from my personal point of view). The old old-style B&M/Intamin hierarchy seemed to disappear, as budgets tightened up and we approached the Financial Crash. Then, about 10 years later, that all seemed to have been replaced with the multi-launched LSM coasters, RMCs etc.

 

[James F]

WW1 and WW2 were a dark time for all so that's a given. Any finniancal crisis usually has a negative impact on parks, whether it be the great depression of the 1930s or the 2007-2008 housing crisis. Considering today's cost of living crisis I would say that there is currently alot of uncertainty within the industry which could lead to a bit of a drought in terms of new exciting additions.

 

[Rollercoaster David]

When Camelot was around?