Flyer Comet was a
wooden roller coaster
A wooden roller coaster is a type of roller coaster classified by its wooden track, which consists of running rails made of flat steel strips mounted on laminated wood. The support structure is also typically made of wood, but may also b ...
located at
Whalom Park
Whalom Park was an amusement park located on Lake Whalom in Lunenburg, Massachusetts, that operated from 1893 to 2000. The site was redeveloped into a 240-unit condominium complex.
Whalom Park was established in 1893 by the Fitchburg & Leominste ...
in
Lunenburg, Massachusetts
Lunenburg is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 11,946 at the 2020 census.
History
Lunenburg was first settled by Europeans in 1718 and was officially incorporated in 1728. The name stems from one of t ...
. The roller coaster was built in 1940 and operated until is permanent closure in 2000. In 2006, after the lift motor and part of its electronics were gutted, Flyer Comet was demolished.
The tracks were then reclaimed by the park.
Flyer Comet was located next to the amusement park, Whalom Park, which operated until 2000. The ride consisted of a wooden wheel with stop buttons built into its outer rim. The main building was located underneath the ride and passengers sat on benches inside of the building. The outside of the building was covered in glass to hide the rollers so they could be easily discovered.
History
When the 1923 Shooting Star roller coaster was destroyed in 1938 by a hurricane, Whalom staff hired the
National Amusement Device Company and designer
Vernon Keenan to create a new coaster for the park. Many parts from the Shooting Star were used to construct the ride, which was then called the Comet. The ride was Whalom Park's third roller coaster since the park opened in 1893, and no new coasters ever replaced it or were added to the park.
Whalom Park was bought by Global Developments in 2001. They started clearing the land on October 10, 2006; the roller coaster was dismantled on October 18. The area was redeveloped into Emerald Estates.
Themes
The entrance to the ride was decorated with shooting stars and comets. The Black Hole tunnel was added over a hilly portion of the track in 1990, and was meant to add to the space theme of the ride.
References
{{reflist
External links
New Whalom Park Ownership Program Official siteAngelfire’s Whalom Park PageOn-Ride Flyer Comet Video
Roller coasters in Massachusetts
Former roller coasters in Massachusetts