Last week we took our annual family trip to Knoebel’s
Amusement Resort, a wonderful amusement park filled with family friendly rides
as well as plenty of water rides, thrill rides, and kiddie rides to make the
entire family happy.
Oh, yeah, and did I mention the food? The Food Network rated
Knoebel’s food “The Best Amusement Park Food in America.”
So, we arrived, ate lunch, rode the rides, and had a great
time!
There was, however, one kid who didn’t have such a great
day, and I have a feeling he didn’t have such a great ride home, either.
Here’s why …
We put a few of the kids on a ride called “Roto Jets,” which
is basically a bunch of rockets that spin in a circle while also moving up and
down.
Anyway, three of our kids, along with their cousin, were
just starting the ride when a kid stood up in the rocket behind my son. The
ride operator yelled for the kid to sit down, but he wouldn’t sit. The man then
stopped the ride, gently and safely, making sure that all the rockets slowed
down and descended from way up there.
But before the rockets could descend or stop completely, the
boy jumped from his rocket to the inside of the ride, where the spinning arms
that operated the rockets missed his head by a fraction of an inch, while the
ride continued to move, slowly coming to a stop.
The operator stood, pointed and yelled at the boy to freeze
and not move a muscle.
The ride stopped, the operator, surrounded by several park
officials, picked the boy up and he ran to his parents, who walked away with
him.
I’m writing this down for several reasons.
First, I want the park to know from an actual witness the
events as they happened, as they seemingly took no names or statements at the
time, and did not detain the boy or his family to take a statement.
Secondly, I want the park to know that in my opinion the
ride operator acted superbly in a frightful situation. He remained calm but
stern, only yelling to keep the child from being killed. I’m not sure I would
have been as calm as he. Excellent job!
Finally, I want to reiterate to my children, just as I did
when it happened, that rules exist for a reason, even on park rides.
- Yes, you have to fasten the seat belt.
- Yes, you have to be tall enough to ride.
- No, you may not stand up while the ride is moving.
The man who was operating the Roto Jets averted a
disaster. He is a hero.
That is all.
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