Ok fans........ I did my usual Sunday drive by the part and pulled my car to the side of the road and walked down the driveway with hopes to grab a few good shots of the new entrance. As I'm standing there snapping a couple, this BIG car pulls up to me and the driver rolls down the window.... I turned and said, Looks beautiful! He said, "you like it"? I love it... I'm here taking pictures for the Canobiefan Website... He says... "Oh!, I've heard of it but have never seen it" I said, you should really check it out. A good group of fans that discuss all things Canobie. He asks me if I live local and I said yes... He then asks me, "would you like to come in and check it out? Oh My God! YES!!!!!

Anyway, this owner of the park is very proud of the new entrance and the new Xtreeme Frisbee. The entrance gives you the feeling that you are about to enter a very special place... almost the feeling of entering one of those more Regional or Disney like parks... As you enter, you would never know you are at Canobie... There is NO resemblance to the old entrance.. It's like you are entering a park you've never been to. The first thing you see is a tall spruce tree (that was also moved there) and behind that the Xtreeme Frisbee proudly becomes the focal point to Canobie. I never met someone that had so much passion in the park and what they are doing. He spoke of Family, Children, the Handicapped and the Seeing impaired. "The new entrance and entire park is built with the handicap in mind so that they can enter the park and go anywhere they want" he said.. I plan on putting in conveniences for the seeing impaired such as a special telephone for their use... Very impressed I was....

We spoke about future changes which he visions but he would not go into details. Some of the topics that were discussed and could possibly happen in the future are an Expanded Season, possibly a Christmas Holiday Event, a new family type pool attraction.. They would like to replace the pool with "something that has a low water level" But he did or would not say much more.. I asked about a coaster and he didn't respond... he said, the pool replacement will most likely be next on the list.

I mentioned that I had suggested that the CanobieFan group go to the park one day next year as a group and he ENCOURAGED that. He told me to set it up and ask for him and he'd work with us on passes etc. I may have the opportunity to get a private tour again in the future. He believes that this is good for the locals and Canobie Lake community..

I know I'm missing so much more.. but I'll close by saying... The new entrance is more than you expect... There will be new restrooms and new gift shop at the entrance.... also a new Popcorn stand will be just beyond the entrance. When the entrance is finished it will have stone facings as well to carry the theme from the Parking Lot Gate entrance..

Ok, I hope the following link works for you and gives you a taste of what I experienced today....

http://img176.imageshack.us/slideshow/play...63788924t4.smil

To the "Wonderfully Generorous" man I met this morning that gave me the private tour.. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU! I hope you do check out this website and this posting.

Thanks, NHDEN! And, thank you, Canobie Lake Park! I'm very impressed with what I see. The construction goes beyond the new entrance building that I initially imagined.

I see that the popcorn-shaped popcorn concession stand that was rumored for last season has come to fruition this season.

It sounds as if the wave pool will be the next major project.

I don't really care for that one. But it looks Great!

I'm not sure I believe that he's never seen it.

While Some of the managers and Owners have seen it a couple have not. I know Anthony Berni looks at the site but his Brother hasn't to my knowledge. Then you have the Uliky's and Captels. Sorry if I'm spelling them wrong. But I don't those if they have seen the site. It's becoming a second resource for some managers. I know one food manager dose read the sites and has commented on it.

Well the owner I spoke with asked me when I would post the pictures as he said he would check it out. (He asked me not to use his name) I hope that he does, but I gave him the wrong website address as I told him it was www.canobie-fan.com. But I'm sure if others know it, they will show it to him.

I am still so excited about my visit this morning, I'm 45 years old and I felt like kid in a amusement park all to myself... Hey! I was in a amusement partk all to myself! LOL

BTW, while I was there, the Frisbee had it's lights on in the seat bucket area... He told me they were working on the ride program. Can you imagine if he asked me if I wanted to take a ride on it? :-)

that looks great, i love how the used the tree in the center and all the work they are doing is gonna really brighten up the park. can't wait till next season.

Funny you say that... because something else I failed to mention is that THAT TREE had Christmas Lights on it NOW!

See for youself!

wow thanks for the updateand pictrues and thank u mystery guy!! wow that entrance is really amazing very different i liek it alot i cant wait to talk threw it i got one ? is the matterhorn still up??

Hi Guys,

I didn't get the opportunity to see if the Matterhorn was there or not... With the new buildings and where I was standing inside the park that area of the park was not visible to me. It was basically a straight shot through the new entrance and straight down to the Frisbee. Stood between the Canobie 500 and The Twist and Shout. I'll check next weekend.

Opening day 2007 is SO gonna rock :Ahh: :Ahh: :Ahh: :Ahh: :Ahh:

Anyone think its a bit big?

Be more specific... what's a bit big?

The area inside the park. From the slideshow it looks like it sticks into the park a lot where the pool used to be.

I guess thats why they had to take the pool out to put in the new entrance.

well it was worth it that entrance is very cool lol

Well, it certainly does take up the space where the pool was... However, once you see it and walk through it you'll be very surprised and happy to see WHAT A DIFFERENCE it makes! Keep in mind... other than the pool, Canobie did not lose anything... It was well worth the sacrafice of the stupid pool.

[I split off the winter holiday season at Canobie discussion into its own topic.]

I think that the new entrance is great. It sets up guests' expectations that Canobie Lake Park is a world-class park.

OMG! I can't believe you called the pool stupid! lol just kiddin

I definitely don't think it is too big. it will add allot to the park and the courtyard will be far less Crowded then the old entrance was.

I would imagine just as we get some "inside" details about the park that the average person does not know about (and some times does not care...such as the trash can being painted but to us its cool) that the managers may come here to find out some details that they may not know about and to hear the "low down" on how guest feel about this or that. However they may not want every one to know who if any one directly views the site. When I post things I always post as if the entire park staff is reading it and would not say any thing I would not say directly to them in person.
Of course the site lets us become more expressive then we would when talking to them in person or on a comment card(GRIN).

* Thank you Canobie Lake Park for being there for everyone *
You never miss a place like CLP so much until it's gone, look what happen to Benson's Wild Animal Park/New England Play world in Hudson, NH.

-Dana

Hehee,
I think in the context of every thing regarding the new Entrance Plaza and what has been gained the sentiment is fitting(GRIN).
-Dana

It will be a mile stone for the mark and something to be remembered. I hope the park makes a big deal about it marketing wise and for the guest in the park. It really brings the park into a new era in its history. I have mentioned it in the past but I feel it would be great if the park had some sort of museum or exhibit area set up for the history of the park. I know there are a few things scattered around the park and they have a lot of "artifacts" in public areas and "back stage". A park history area would be something that could be enjoyed by every one but it would be a great addition for older people spending time with the family. CLP has so much wonderful history an area to share it with every one would add to the park.
-Dana

all i know is that entrance is really cool it looks liek your entering a rammstein concert in germany haha with that big arch thing

Ya but it will be allot Quitter!

haha true

The new enterance is ok I guess. I think it will look better once it is finished. Part of me thinks they are only trying to copy Six Flags.

that entrance is way better than six flags and theyve been planning this for a while

Actually 6 flag was the first thing that came to mind when I saw it. But I didn't want to say anything...lol

Hey, when I got to see and walk through the new entrance, I said exactly that to the owner.... This reminds me of something on the scale of Six Flags... The point being.... "What's wrong with that" ?? A smaller regional park with the quality of a national....... Good for you Canobie! But to be honest... I think the Canobie entrance is better than anythinhg Six Flas has done, because this is not just a Entrance facade but a whole new Entrance court yard..

Of course its better, its canobie!

Perhaps but Six flags Copied The Disney and Busch parks. So were actually stying to get back to that Disney level raising the park was at back in the 50's. thing is a larger entrance is needed to bring in a higher volume of guests. This entrance is nothing like SFI's Entrances. were the Ticket area is the main building site with satellite Ticket booths. Look at Canopies. You enter the Building almost like a Train station buy your ticket. Enter a court yard were you meet up with the ticket takers. You then enter the parks main courtyard. not an over crowded main street that points you towards the nearest money making opportunity.

so How is it like SF again?

I'm not saying the way they set up the ticket area is like 6flags. I didn't even know how they where goinbg to set that up. I'm not even saying that it looks exactly like 6flag entrance. It just reminds me of it.

Pardon the way I'm going to put this. your right but it's because you know little else in the rang or park entrances. LC's is upper scale but not large scale. SFNE is on the larger scale but not huge. There are allot for impressive entrances but Unless you travel and have been to these parks you wouldn't know them. so I'm not surprised that SFI entrances are coming to mind because that's all you might know or relate to.

And Daisy this isn't to single you out nor was I singling you out before. but some of the responses seem to be that the upper scale entrance is a bad thing. Canboie is not the Little park we knew from 20 years ago.

well to me canobie is growing alot larger with the rides and stuff i agree its changed alot

I wouldn't say that its all people know. (I mean, it could be the cause but...) I guess you could say that the reason 6 flags entrance comes to mind to people because maybe thats like the main park in NE. And we are from NE.

I don't think its a bad thing that they are doing. I just said the first thing that came to mind was 6 flags. For all I know, the next persons first thought of the entrance could have been cookie's. Its just a thought.

Mostly trying to throughout an position. I know Disney well I've been there 4 times. which is more then most. True SFNE is the High profile park in New England. and it's true its profile will stay in allot of peoples minds.

Wow, I've been to Disney way more than I will mention.. Disney is an experience like NON OTHER.. No Six Flags, no Universal, no Paramount, no Busch Park, no Cedar Fair can ever compare to the experience of a Disney Park

Feel free to mention I know compared to some4 isn't much. But I think the average fora family is like less then once in there life time.

MrCeagle, I would agree.. many people are not fortunate enough to even go once. 4 is many times for most. I've been blessed to have gone 10 times and counting. I've also been to Disneyland in CA once. I'd love to visit Disney Paris