You know the one, like in this cartoon. I think it’s somewhere on Coney Island, which I will probably never visit.
So, what’s inside? Is it like Pirates of the Carribean without the pirates? I’d always assumed there were the kind of corny displays that Macy’s has at Valentine’s day, with store dummies hand in hand.
But i want to know for real.
Well, I’ve never actually been in one. 
But I never assumed there were corny displays inside. Just a simple canal through the tunnel, dark. You know… nothin’ to detract from the romantic mood. 
Asbury Park had a ride that people there referred to as a Tunnel of Love, though I don’t think that was the ride’s actual name.
It wasn’t a boat, though. It was a rollercoaster that just went through a bunch of dark tunnels and passages, with scary images and small spooky props that would drop down in front of you, creepy noises, etc. The idea being that a couple would cling to each other in fright I suppose.
I think the concept for the classic boat ride ‘tunnel of love’ is the same, but, I could be wrong.
Well, there’s smooth muscle bands, various glands for secreting lubricant, and the cervix, for certain, and there may or may not also be erogenous nerve ending clusters.
…Oh. You mean the other kind of Tunnel of Love.
SERIOS QUESTION PLEASE.
No cheap jokes? On this Board? What are you thinking?
Seriously: I always assumed it was just a make-out place, and so it was either completely dark the whole way, or mostly dark with occasional breaks for – I don’t know – little cutesy diotramas or colored waterfalls or something. But I expect that, in a real Tunnel of Love, the main attraction was your date.
Admittedly, I’ve never been in one, so this is sheer speculation.
But I do recall a cartoon (in Playboy? that showed a Tunnel of Foreplay in a cartoon with someone saying something like “Well, at least they’re honest about it.”
I believe there were exhibits that would jump out at you; the idea was that they’d startle the girl and have her jump into the guy’s arms.
This site has a little bit about “river rides” in which it includes the Tunnel of Love. My impression from combing Google is that Tunnel of Love is a generic term for any dark, enclosed ride where you and your best gal can privately canoodle for five minutes.
I took a look to see if wikipedia had anything relevant to say. (search took me to a Springsteen album first. 
)
That one sounds romantic actually. "a series of dioramas of scenes from around the world for visitors to pass by serenely in their boats. Taking a ride on this attraction, it is easy to forget the location of the park and modern life. You cannot believe the ride can possibly be as long as it is, in the space the ground occupies. "
Was popular back in the day when couples couldn’t have public displays of affection and lived with their parents until marriage. This is why ‘Love Hotels’ are popular in Japan - the Japanese equivalent of the Love Tunnel, only you can go all the way!
I’ve never been in a Tunnel of Love, but I can state definitively that there isn’t one at Coney Island. Perhaps there was back in the day (wouldn’t surprise me), but I’ve been going there for six years and have never seen one.
Bolding mine.
So, “It’s a Small World” is a Tunnel of Love? Who knew?
This site has a list of operating ‘Old Mills’ - looks like Rye’s Playland has one, as well as Kennywood in PA and a few other places.
I don’t think that song qualifies as “serenely.”
I never heard the ride called “The Old Mill”.
The one in Rye, N.Y. was the scene of a child’s death last summer. Somehow or other he got caught under one of the boats and drowned – real tragedy that no one foresaw. It was a slow-moving ride that was thought to be very safe.
I’ve always heard “old mill” as a name for a completely different ride, one with log-shaped boats on a roller-coaster-like water course. An old mill ride is mostly out in the open, and the riders are generally more restrained, neither of which is conducive to snuggling.
I’ve never heard the term ‘Old Mill’ either. But the site I linked to had them listed as such.
And a Google search turns up quite a few sites that seem to link them and describe them as being synonymous.
The kind of ride you’re describing I’ve always referred to as a log flume. Mostly because that was what I remembered the one in Great Adventure being called. But Old Mill would work just as well for that one now that I think about it, although like I said, I’ve never heard the term ‘Old Mill’ to describe either.
Here’s the story.
Preliminary Report on Child’s Death at Rye Playland
Eyewitness News’ Tim Fleischer
(Rye-WABC, August 25, 2005) - Investigators looking into the death of a 7-year-old boy at Rye Playland are tonight revealing serious safety concerns.
Eyewitness News reporter Tim Fleischer has the details.
Off limits to the public, the “Ye Old Mill” water ride remains closed as the investigation into the tragic death of a seven-year-old boy continues.
The ride through a darkened tunnel has been intensley scrutinized by labor investigators who now have found what they describe as violations, issues they want addressed following the fatal accident.
Joe Montalto, Playland Director: “The fact that it can happen would necessitate us taking some steps to mitigate this from happening again in the future.”
Labor investigators want to see the park provide a guard and or a electric trip wire for a 14 inch open space between the two conveyors. They want assurance that there is a minimum of four operators on duty at all times. And provide a height limit sign that is clearly visible.
The boy, riding alone in one boat, did not come out at the end of the six minute ride. His body was later found under the conveyor belts. An autopsy reveals he died from blunt trauma to the head and his death was ruled and accident.
A State Department of Labor spokesman says, “We are awaiting the final Connecticut medical examiner’s autopsy report for review before issuing a final report.”
Investigators were also concerned that two of the four operators had taken a break.
Andrew Spano: “It should not have happened. It’s a 93 degree day. They were thirsty. Two of them went to get a bucket of water. It had no effect on what happened inside the ride.”
Playland officials have installed new warning signs concerning dark rides like the old mill and allow parents to ride for free with their children.
Laff in the Dark: The World of Dark Ride and FunHouse Amusements.