# 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:** 9
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2026, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/touristy-things-you-went-to-that-dont-exist-any-more/1030073/161 "2026-05-15T22:42:15Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > And for various degrees of “don’t exist”, I nominate the dinosaurs at Cabazon, CA, most notably featured in Pee Wee’s Big Adventure. Oh the dinos are still there, but they have been taken over by christian nut jobs that claim dinos as we (science based) understand them never existed. From wikipedia- > Since 2017, visitors to the site have reported that the creationist material has been removed from the attraction ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2026, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/touristy-things-you-went-to-that-dont-exist-any-more/1030073/162 "2026-05-15T22:45:32Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > From wikipedia- Good! ---
**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 15, 2026, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/touristy-things-you-went-to-that-dont-exist-any-more/1030073/163 "2026-05-15T23:17:39Z")
Just down Beach Blvd. from Knott’s and the Alligator Farm was Movieland Wax Museum with it’s ridiculously huge sign (the highest in Orange County according to Wikipedia). Outside was a full scale replica of Michelangelo’s _David_ because, well, what brings to mind Hollywood more than Renaissance sculpture? My favorite exhibit was Frankenstein’s monster which was a nighttime scene with a fog machine, thunder, and lightening. I tried to find a photo but they apparently changed the scenery regularly. The museum closed about twenty years ago but it took them forever to tear down the building and that towering sign. For years the building was barely obscured by a Starbucks built on the former parking lot. [![](https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/media.myelisting.com/listings/8/193075/7711-beach-boulevard-buena-park-ca-90620.jpg?tr=w-800) ](https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/media.myelisting.com/listings/8/193075/7711-beach-boulevard-buena-park-ca-90620.jpg?tr=w-800) ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2026, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/touristy-things-you-went-to-that-dont-exist-any-more/1030073/164 "2026-05-15T23:44:07Z")
I forgot that one. I went to Roadside America and I remember hearing about its closing later. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2026, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/touristy-things-you-went-to-that-dont-exist-any-more/1030073/165 "2026-05-15T23:48:30Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > How about the Memphis Pyramid? It was a sports and entertainment complex, now it’s a Bass Pro Shop. I never went there when it was a sports venue but I’ve been there when it was a Bass Pro Shop. But as far as I know, it’s still open as a Bass Pro Shop. ---
**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 15, 2026, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/touristy-things-you-went-to-that-dont-exist-any-more/1030073/166 "2026-05-15T23:57:38Z")
Did you enjoy Kate Smith singing, “God Bless America,” at the end of the “day”? With the Flag and the Statue of Liberty projected on the back wall? ---
**Author:** ![JohnGalt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johngalt/32/184_2.png) [@JohnGalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnGalt)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2026, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/touristy-things-you-went-to-that-dont-exist-any-more/1030073/167 "2026-05-16T00:35:31Z")
The **Flintstones Bedrock Village** in Custer South Dakota closed in 2019. It was a good place to go to unwind after visiting Mount Rushmore and the Crazy Horse carving. It had a little train ride through an Old West town, eventually ending in Bedrock and a bunch of houses and buildings similar to what you’d see in the cartoon. Best of all, they had an air-conditioned mini-theater showing old episodes. We were glad to let the kids veg out in front of a TV for awhile, where it was uncongested and cool and quiet. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2026, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/touristy-things-you-went-to-that-dont-exist-any-more/1030073/168 "2026-05-16T00:38:44Z")
It wasn’t a major pull for me. I was there to see the miniature houses all laid out in a town. This reminds me of something similar near to where I am now. There was a guy who was big on model trains and had some money, so he decided to open his own model train store. It was the kind of place you’d go to even if you had no particular interest in model trains. This guy opened a large store that encompassed several rooms and he had his own model trains and miniature towns spread out on display throughout the store. He had even set up tracks that ran through tunnels in the walls so his trains would make a circuit of the entire building. But he decided to retire in 2010 and he closed down the store. ---
**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 16, 2026, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/touristy-things-you-went-to-that-dont-exist-any-more/1030073/169 "2026-05-16T00:53:47Z")
> [@JohnGalt](#): > > The **Flintstones Bedrock Village…** The one in Valle AZ is on the verge of extinction. The owners of the property, Raptor Ranch have it on life support in a state of benign neglect. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2026, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/touristy-things-you-went-to-that-dont-exist-any-more/1030073/170 "2026-05-16T01:19:45Z")
The big piers in Atlantic City. One thing I especially recall is the diving horse at Steel Pier. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2026, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/touristy-things-you-went-to-that-dont-exist-any-more/1030073/171 "2026-05-16T01:22:53Z")
Silver Beach in Benton Harbor, MI. It was a school trip destination for my class. Deer Park near Muskegon, MI. Later turned into Michigan Adventure amusement park. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2026, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/touristy-things-you-went-to-that-dont-exist-any-more/1030073/172 "2026-05-16T01:37:07Z")
> [@DesertDog](#): > > We didn’t go downtown so I don’t know how Fremont Street is faring. Well, aside from the fact that it’s now closed to vehicle traffic and has an LED canopy over it, it’s more or less frozen in amber. (Also there’s a zipline now.) One of the odd changes that’s happened in Vegas in the past decade or so is that the Sahara closed, was remodeled and reopened as the SLS, one of its towers was spun off into a separate hotel called the W, they both closed again, and then reopened as… the Sahara. I stayed there when it was the SLS. It was nice. The second night there, the toilet in my room broke and they upgraded me to a honeymoon suite with a mirror on the ceiling and a peephole in the wall that opened into the shower, which was weird. ---
**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 16, 2026, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/touristy-things-you-went-to-that-dont-exist-any-more/1030073/173 "2026-05-16T02:29:59Z")
Outside of Boston there were a number of amusement parks that don’t exist anymore: - Paragon Park on Nantasket Beach in Hull - King’s Castle Land in Whitman - Whalom Park (mentioned above) in Lunenburg - Lincoln Park in Dartmouth - Pleasure Island in Wakefield Lots of restaurants have closed down but a few were destinations with some touristy distinctions: - The Hilltop Steakhouse in Saugus. The giant cactus sign and plastic cows live on in some of the developments in the area. - Medieval Manor - at utensil-free establishment offering dinner and a bawdy show for 43 years. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2026, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/touristy-things-you-went-to-that-dont-exist-any-more/1030073/174 "2026-05-16T03:37:10Z")
> [@Hari\_Seldon](#): > > The big piers in Atlantic City. One thing I especially recall is the diving horse at Steel Pier. This reminds me that I’ve been to two Playboy Clubs. One in Atlantic City and one in Buffalo. They’re all closed now. (I think the Buffalo one was the last one in operation.) ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2026, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/touristy-things-you-went-to-that-dont-exist-any-more/1030073/175 "2026-05-16T03:48:32Z")
And, of course, Wonderland, about which our own @CalMeacham has [written the book.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wonderland-video/1021575) ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2026, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/touristy-things-you-went-to-that-dont-exist-any-more/1030073/176 "2026-05-16T04:49:53Z")
> [@commasense](#): > > Wonderland Heh. In San Diego in the '90s, “Wonderland” was the name of a MASSIVE video arcade that had something like 200+ machines in an old warehouse, lined up in aisles like it was a grocery store, and the selling point was that the games all took nickels instead of quarters! You had to pay admission to get in (I think it was like $2) and they would kick you out if you were loitering or not actively playing games, but the place was a utopia for kids my age. Mortal Kombat was all the rage at the time and they had an entire wall of machines that people would wait in line to use, so it was constantly PvP. I wasn’t good enough to beat any of the adults I inevitably wound up matched against, but it was nonetheless good fun. That place must be 20+ years gone now. ---
**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 16, 2026, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/touristy-things-you-went-to-that-dont-exist-any-more/1030073/177 "2026-05-16T15:19:45Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > Lots of restaurants have closed down but a few were destinations with some touristy distinctions: > > - The Hilltop Steakhouse in Saugus. The giant cactus sign and plastic cows live on in some of the developments in the area. I went there once for a Dopefest. ---
**Author:** ![mixdenny](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mixdenny/32/2962_2.png) [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2026, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/touristy-things-you-went-to-that-dont-exist-any-more/1030073/178 "2026-05-16T16:47:18Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > The Bubbleator. It was a humungous dome elevator with a 360 degree view, and it was a slow ride. Awesome! ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2026, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/touristy-things-you-went-to-that-dont-exist-any-more/1030073/179 "2026-05-16T17:04:59Z")
> [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#): > > Just down Beach Blvd. from Knott’s and the Alligator Farm was Movieland Wax Museum Thank you! I knew I was forgetting one more attraction in that immediate area, but couldn’t dredge it out of my memory sludge. That was it. Other long-dead SoCal theme shopping venues as tourist attractions: > **[Alpine Village - LA Conservancy](https://www.laconservancy.org/learn/historic-places/alpine-village/)** > > Alpine Village is the first legacy business to be designated a County historic landmark. > **[Torrance's Alpine Village closes after more than 50 years](https://www.cbsnews.com/losangeles/news/torrances-alpine-village-closes-after-more-than-50-years/)** > > For more than 50 years Alpine Village in Torrance has been a well-known spot for the South Bay's German-themed needs. And the nearby but unrelated > **[Ports O' Call Village](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ports_O%27_Call_Village)** > > Ports O' Call Village, located along the Port of Los Angeles main channel in San Pedro, was an outdoor shopping center that featured souvenir and gift shops, restaurants, sweetshops, fish markets, and quick-service eateries. The "seaside village" encompassed 15 acres of shops, restaurants, and attractions. A promenade of cobblestone streets connected specialty shops, which featured "an improbable mix of New England, Spanish Colonial, and Asian themes." The complex operated from 1963 until 2 P... Which is most sincerely dead, but a replacement center has been started on the same site and is now (perpetually?) stalled in a half-built state. ---
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2026, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/touristy-things-you-went-to-that-dont-exist-any-more/1030073/180 "2026-05-16T18:01:03Z")
> **[Pirates World](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pirates_World)** > > Pirates World was a 100-acre (40 ha) pirate-themed amusement park in Dania, Florida, that opened April 8, 1967. Developed by Recreation Corporation of America, it was located on the north side of Sheridan Street between U.S. Route 1 and A1A. With the opening of Walt Disney World in 1971, attendance dropped drastically, and the park was closed in 1973. > Pirates World was successful in its early years, but in 1971 Walt Disney World opened in Florida, which took much business away from the theme p... Went a few times as a youngster , steeplechase ride scary as shit, legendary for snake hidey holes. Park probably best known as concert venue older sibs saw some GOAT rock bands. I was too young. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/touristy-things-you-went-to-that-dont-exist-any-more/1030073.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/touristy-things-you-went-to-that-dont-exist-any-more/1030073.md?page=10)