# Touristy things you went to that don't exist any more **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 14, 2026, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/touristy-things-you-went-to-that-dont-exist-any-more/1030073 "2026-05-14T17:32:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 13
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2026, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/touristy-things-you-went-to-that-dont-exist-any-more/1030073/241 "2026-05-20T15:31:04Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > Same here, we needed gas while driving west from Willcox last month so it was the obvious place to stop. I forgot, it also had a Dairy Queen which was the biggest draw. [![Imgur](https://i.imgur.com/JkVNGKQ.jpeg "imgur.com") ](https://imgur.com/JkVNGKQ) ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2026, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/touristy-things-you-went-to-that-dont-exist-any-more/1030073/242 "2026-05-20T15:47:10Z")
> [@blondebear](#): > > I came across an extinct attraction I wish I had been able to see when it was open: the Wairere Adventure Park Camera Obscura. There are still a few operating camera obscuras (obscurae?)šŸ™‚ [https://www.atlasobscura.com/lists/camera-obscura-places](https://www.atlasobscura.com/lists/camera-obscura-places) There used to be one in the Pavilion at Salem Willows in Salem, Massachusetts. Iā€™m trying to find out if any of its parts still survive. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2026, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/touristy-things-you-went-to-that-dont-exist-any-more/1030073/243 "2026-05-20T16:08:30Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > I forgot, it also had a Dairy Queen which was the biggest draw. When I went on a rare trip to El Paso a couple years back I stopped to take a break at that DQ and have a look. They donā€™t charge extra to look at it any more. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2026, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/touristy-things-you-went-to-that-dont-exist-any-more/1030073/244 "2026-05-20T16:33:33Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > There are still a few operating camera obscuras (obscurae?) One that still exists in Whangārei, New Zealand is the very cool [Timatatanga Hou](https://www.wdc.govt.nz/Community/Community-Facilities/Camera-Obscura-Timatatanga-Hou) (ā€œnew beginningsā€) camera on the banks of Hātea River ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2026, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/touristy-things-you-went-to-that-dont-exist-any-more/1030073/245 "2026-05-20T16:35:26Z")
And one in the [Castelo de Sao Jorge](https://castelodesaojorge.pt/en/agenda/camera-obscura/) in Lisbon, Portugal. We thought it was fascinating. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2026, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/touristy-things-you-went-to-that-dont-exist-any-more/1030073/246 "2026-05-20T16:52:36Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Also the Los Angeles version of Busch Gardens. > > Edit: actually in Van Nuys. We went there only once. My dad realized he couldnā€™t actually drink enough free beer to zero out the price of our combined admission. There was a boat ride and a bunch of exotic birds, but what I remember most was the hanging monorail tour of the brewery. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2026, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/touristy-things-you-went-to-that-dont-exist-any-more/1030073/247 "2026-05-20T21:17:51Z")
> [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#): > > Before the Internet, I was almost certain The Thing? was a gag with a VW jeep at the end of the tour. I saw an advventure park/arcade sort of place that advertised ā€œthe human crane experienceā€. I figure that means you wade into knee-deep water and then stand on one leg. > [@CalMeacham](#): > > There used to be one in the Pavilion at Salem Willows in Salem, Massachusetts. Iā€™m trying to find out if any of its parts still survive. Iā€™ve been looking for cool stuff to do in the Salem area recently. ---
**Author:** ![Stana\_Claus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stana_claus/32/13874_2.png) [@Stana\_Claus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stana_Claus)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2026, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/touristy-things-you-went-to-that-dont-exist-any-more/1030073/248 "2026-05-21T13:35:31Z")
Iā€™m surprised that nobody has mentioned Astroworld (Houston, TX). Or maybe I missed it upthread. Anyway, we used to go there quite regularly, but now itā€™s just a big empty space across the highway from the Astrodome and the NRG stadium complex. Itā€™s kind of depressing for me whenever I pass through Houston. You can also add me to the list of folks who had visited Opryland and Dogpatch USA back in the day. And my wife and I stayed in one of the cabins on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon for several nights only a couple of weeks before the wild fire swept through and wiped out that area last year. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2026, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/touristy-things-you-went-to-that-dont-exist-any-more/1030073/249 "2026-05-21T13:46:36Z")
> [@Stana\_Claus](#): > > Iā€™m surprised that nobody has mentioned Astroworld (Houston, TX). Which reminds me: Astroland in Coney Island closed down in 2008 and was replaced by Luna Park (not to be confused with the original Luna Park, which closed in 1944). ---
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2026, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/touristy-things-you-went-to-that-dont-exist-any-more/1030073/250 "2026-05-21T17:16:17Z")
Luna Park is also in Australia, Melbourne and Sydney. I wondered if they were related and; inspired by the original US park. ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2026, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/touristy-things-you-went-to-that-dont-exist-any-more/1030073/251 "2026-05-21T18:08:25Z")
I made several trips to the Pate Museum of Transportation when I was a kid. Lots of old cars and WWII to Vietnam era military aircraft, a minesweeper, a Gemini capsule, and a working periscope. Loved the place. Unfortunately after Pate died it ran into money problems and had to shut down. > **[Pate Museum of Transportation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pate_Museum_of_Transportation)** > > The Pate Museum of Transportation was a transportation museum located in Cresson, Texas. > A.M. "Aggie" Pate Jr. acquired the first car in 1948 in high school. After becoming president of Panther Oil and Grease in 1965, he began planning for an automobile museum. The original idea included a vintage gas station and was called Gasoline Alley, but the scope expanded to include all forms of transportation. > The main building was opened on 2 August 1969 and three months later the museum had 26 cars. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2026, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/touristy-things-you-went-to-that-dont-exist-any-more/1030073/252 "2026-05-21T21:41:40Z")
The [Military Vehicle Technology Foundation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_Vehicle_Technology_Foundation) in Portola Valley was a fantastic private collection of 200+ armored vehicles and associated hardware. I visited a couple of times before the owner died and everything was sold off. The photo below was the visitor parking area. The buildings behind it and another one across the driveway were completely jammed full of tanks and other military vehicles. [![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AP1GczPD0QmCN73XFwN18_SDSQgE3v3eZrOY6oT1k30enkjYhemSzoiXsVhgszOl38NDssintI3ccN5qDjR1_Ow5U9X1IzXw2quA8lO9V5gU9YvtSXdoQyR0zGsrcZ4iMYOY2QGR2wz9chIwqHtQMG5iRyekYg=w1600-h675-s-no?authuser=0) ](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AP1GczPD0QmCN73XFwN18_SDSQgE3v3eZrOY6oT1k30enkjYhemSzoiXsVhgszOl38NDssintI3ccN5qDjR1_Ow5U9X1IzXw2quA8lO9V5gU9YvtSXdoQyR0zGsrcZ4iMYOY2QGR2wz9chIwqHtQMG5iRyekYg=w1600-h675-s-no?authuser=0) The majority of the collection was bought by the Collings Foundation and is now on display at the [American Heritage Museum](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Heritage_Museum). ---
**Author:** ![P-man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/p-man/32/3606_2.png) [@P-man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/P-man)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2026, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/touristy-things-you-went-to-that-dont-exist-any-more/1030073/253 "2026-05-21T23:38:46Z")
I went there both when I lived in Brooklyn and when I brought the kids in the early aughts. Of course we got dogs at Nathanā€™s as well. ---
**Author:** ![Mark\_Finn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/34f0e0/32.png) [@Mark\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mark_Finn)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2026, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/touristy-things-you-went-to-that-dont-exist-any-more/1030073/254 "2026-05-22T14:49:23Z")
Re: post #1 about Seattleā€™s Bubbleator - we ā€œrodeā€ it as a family in 1962 (basically it was a large elevator between the ground floor and the next floor up in the Science pavillion). It was later disassembled and placed in storage until 1985, when a Seattle man bought it, and moved it to his new house in Des Moines, where it became a greenhouse. The complete history: [The Bubbleator at Seattle Center carries its final passengers on October 1, 1980. - HistoryLink.org](https://www.historylink.org/file/22592) ---
**Author:** ![Mark\_Finn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/34f0e0/32.png) [@Mark\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mark_Finn)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2026, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/touristy-things-you-went-to-that-dont-exist-any-more/1030073/255 "2026-05-22T14:54:59Z")
The whale in Montrealā€™s Lafontaine Park. You could walk into its mouth. It lasted until the 1980s. [A blue whale statue that used to be found in Jardin Des Merveilles, a former childrenā€™s zoological garden has been located in Parc La Fontaine , in Montreal, Canada. Apparently, the whale housed an aquarium inside it, and it remained so until the Jardin Des Merveilles was closed in the late 1980s. : r/submergedanimatronic](https://www.reddit.com/r/submergedanimatronic/comments/1jdlmx1/a_blue_whale_statue_that_used_to_be_found_in/) ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2026, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/touristy-things-you-went-to-that-dont-exist-any-more/1030073/256 "2026-05-22T15:04:41Z")
Uncle Beazley, the fiberglass triceratops, is no longer on the National Mall in DC. But heā€™s not really gone. They moved him to the zoo in 1994. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2026, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/touristy-things-you-went-to-that-dont-exist-any-more/1030073/257 "2026-05-22T15:18:07Z")
I remember watching his show on TV the first time it was shown. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2026, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/touristy-things-you-went-to-that-dont-exist-any-more/1030073/258 "2026-05-22T17:41:30Z")
> [@teelabrown](#): > > My family always stopped at Pea Soup Andersenā€™s restaurant in Buellton, CA when traveling north. I loved Pea Soup Andersenā€™s. I was sad when it closed. Saw @DrDeth mentioning P.O.P. I was never able to go there, which I was extremely disappointed about. Our next door neighbors got the concessions contract when it was being auctioned off, and I worked for them that weekend making hot dogs. The closest I got. Of course, when it closed, they found out that the hanged man outside one of the rides was an actual corpse! He also mentioned Santaā€™s Village. I thought it was completely gone. I still remember the ā€œNorth Poleā€ they had. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2026, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/touristy-things-you-went-to-that-dont-exist-any-more/1030073/259 "2026-05-22T17:50:52Z")
> [@carrps](#): > > I loved Pea Soup Andersenā€™s. I was sad when it closed. > > Saw @DrDeth mentioning P.O.P. I was never able to go there, which I was extremely disappointed about. I dislike peas. It was- just okay. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2026, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/touristy-things-you-went-to-that-dont-exist-any-more/1030073/260 "2026-05-22T17:51:47Z")
> [@Mark\_Finn](#): > > The whale in Montrealā€™s Lafontaine Park. You could walk into its mouth. There was one of the same size at Erie Zoo in Pennsylvania. There was a plexiglass viewport but it was always dark when I saw it in the late 70s/early 80s. I canā€™t find what was supposed to be behind the glass, and this reddit thread confirms that it wasnā€™t very viewable in the 2000s either. But at least it has a picture of the whale. https://embed.reddit.com/r/submergedanimatronic/comments/150fzm7/erie_zoo_whale_image_not_mine/?embed=true&ref_source=embed&ref=share [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/touristy-things-you-went-to-that-dont-exist-any-more/1030073.md?page=12) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/touristy-things-you-went-to-that-dont-exist-any-more/1030073.md?page=14)