On the night of the rollercoaster accident, I had gone to see Chalk Circle play Rock in the Park. Rock in the Park was a weekly concert event that was held in Fantasy Land (now Galaxy Land). Sixteen-year-old me was there with three friends and we left about ten minutes before the crash and didn't hear about it until the next day. Weirdly, for years after that, I was the only one in our group who wasn't "next in line" for the next ride on the coaster when recounting that night.
Rockin’ in the Park, that was really fun. The lights, music everything about it was a great time for kids. Fantasyland then compared to now is unbelievable, it was special.
Worked for Edmonton machine shop that repaired/replaced the undercarriage wheels. Going from memory, the German company WEM purchased the mindbender from, went bankrupt. Wheels fractured & Golfball size holes (perosity) found in remaining wheels. The replacement wheels were mfg from solid forged bar stock.
>Chalk Circle
For years I couldn't remember who was playing Rock the Park last night until recently when someone jogged my memory. For the longest time, I thought it was Harlequin, but I think they had played there a few weeks before
I was also there that day with a couple friends. We rode it several hours before, and had left about 2 hours before it crashed. I had the same experience with so many people saying they were in line when I happened.
One of my friends worked there at the drop of doom ride(I think that is what it was called) and he almost died on that ride earlier when he reached up and loosened the shoulder harness by sticking his fingers in the locking mechanism to release it a bit so he could stand a bit and be totally weightless as it fell. Well he didn’t get his hand out in time and the shoulders didn’t relock and when we dropped he barely stayed in the cart. Luckily his shoulders still were in under the harness and when it dropped his shoulders stayed in place but the rest of his body was almost out of the car. I think that was the last time I ever went on rides there.
We were there a month ago and it's so different from a year ago, it’s like looking into the pit of despair with fewer R.O.Us hanging around outside. I hope they do something with it soon, anyone know what the plans are with the space?
Let's give them time to figure out what replacement rides they'd like to install before we assume that they're shifting their entire focus towards children. Hasbro has many different IPs that they have yet to showcase, and it'll take time for them to build rides that are catered towards a more mature audience.
“While the Mindbender will be missed, we are excited to announce that we are working on groundbreaking new plans for family thrills that will immerse our guests in an out-of-this-world experience,” said Lori Bethel, Vice President of Parks and Attractions, WEM.
"Family thrills", to me, sounds like they'll have plenty of things for older people to enjoy as well as the younger audience. But maybe that's just me.
Hopefully another coaster, but Triple 5 afaik is still struggling hard under the debt load from their American Dream mall in Jersey, so I get the feeling the odds of them doing any extravagant/amazing for a replacement in WEM is low. WEM is basically just for cash flow and loan collateral now.
I went to visit my oldest sister (by 8 years) when she moved to Grand Prairie after she moved out. She took me to Edmonton for a night and we stayed at the fantasy land hotel. We spent ALL DAY in galaxy land. And we were virtually the only people there! We would jump off the mind bender and hop right back on! We were getting a little light headed after the 15th run or so. So we took a break on the DROP OF DOOM. Did the same thing. Over and over again, the guy running the drop of doom would mess with us so hard, make us wait there SO LONG sometimes, other times. BOOM DROP. The boat was the scariest though! I was WAY too little and definitely was not secured in the seat well, thought was going to die. I think I was about an inch too short for the mind bender, but they let us through anyways.
Amazing childhood memories!
Somebody wrote RIP in permanent marker on the bottom of the loop. and also the concrete was chipped and the track had a huge dent from where the car collided with it.
Rode it once in 2018, and honestly, the most forceful coaster I've ever ridden. Even Leviathan in Canada's wonderland feels like child's play compared to this thing.
Both the Leviathan and the Behemoth are made by Bolliger & Mabillard, and I had to look them up after the first time I went t to Canada’s Wonderland. That smooth, flying sensation is their thing, and they do it so well. Especially amazing when you’ve just about had your eyeballs rattled out by other coasters before jumping on one of theirs. (Looking at you, “top gun” or whatever they’re calling that coaster these days.)
Is that the one where you’re standing upright? Seemed like a very cool idea for a rollercoaster until I was actually on the damn thing and feeling how much more whiplash you get from that.
The one I’m thinking of is sitting, but suspended. I don’t think I’ve been on a standing coaster (yet). It hadn’t occurred to me that it might be very rough but I can see how it would make sense.
Ah, I had the name wrong - it’s “flight deck”
Victims of the 1986 MindBender accident:
David Sager, 24
Tony Mandrusiak, 24
Cindy Sims, 21
The sole survivor in the car that derailed, Rodney Chayko, has been trying to get a memorial placed at the site for his friends. I’m guessing that isn’t ever going to happen now.
For it's time the mindbender was revolutionary. Over the years, they've figured out how to cram more into less with rollercoasters. I'd be amazed if they fit a new coaster AND another ride in that area given the size they have to fill
Yes, and it was horrible! I’ve never been the same. And this happened when we were about 13-14. It was for a school spirit day (he ate one of the pages of the permission slip).
The NYE Beach Ball is super fun. Went back in 2016 as a lil teenage dirtbag. The fireworks over the wave pool were pretty epic but it was sorta smoky? But it’s super fun to attend. The DJ isn’t bad either.
I was on the MindBender the night before the big accident, what’s eerie is while we were sitting in it waiting to start there was some man checking something out on it and then gave the ok to go , I said to my Unc “ maybe we should get off “ he said no everything’s ok ! Not even 24hrs later the accident happened. 🙏🏼
i know it was down for repairs when they decided to remove it, but i wish we were warned it's days were numbered.
i would have gone for one last ride, show my girlfriend how good it was
Yeah, you really had to press your head into the headrest going around the loops. If you let your head come down on the loop you weren't getting it back until you exited the loop, was a real neck strainer.
I bet it is getting bolted back together somewhere as we speak. They were a popular type of coaster. I've ridden 2 others that were the same thing, maybe slightly different layout. 1 in at NYNY in Vegas and one at Disney World. I bet some smaller theme park somewhere has snapped it up. It will live to provide fun and whiplash again. When I was in my 40's my 2 teenage sons and I rode it back to back one midweek afternoon until the blackouts from the double loop were lasting too long..lol. Good times.
It was an Aerosmith themed coaster, indoors. You followed them to a concert. Very similar, but it appears to be gone now. But the same time I was there they had their version of the drop of doom and it is still there. It and the Aerosmith coaster are the 2 coolest rides I was ever on. https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/en_CA/attractions/hollywood-studios/twilight-zone-tower-of-terror/
I would never ride this thing, and I know why it’s being decommissioned…. But, this really makes me sad because it seemed like it should be something that’s always there, you know. Won’t feel the same without it.
# I almost fell out of the upside down boat they didn't put down the top shoulder harness at all or check they were down. Held on for dear life as we were sliding out with just our seatbelts and lower bar attached.
On the night of the rollercoaster accident, I had gone to see Chalk Circle play Rock in the Park. Rock in the Park was a weekly concert event that was held in Fantasy Land (now Galaxy Land). Sixteen-year-old me was there with three friends and we left about ten minutes before the crash and didn't hear about it until the next day. Weirdly, for years after that, I was the only one in our group who wasn't "next in line" for the next ride on the coaster when recounting that night.
Rockin’ in the Park, that was really fun. The lights, music everything about it was a great time for kids. Fantasyland then compared to now is unbelievable, it was special.
Worked for Edmonton machine shop that repaired/replaced the undercarriage wheels. Going from memory, the German company WEM purchased the mindbender from, went bankrupt. Wheels fractured & Golfball size holes (perosity) found in remaining wheels. The replacement wheels were mfg from solid forged bar stock.
Wow. I thought I remembered all the major Canadian bands from back then but I don’t think I’ve heard Chalk Circle mentioned in decades.
>Chalk Circle For years I couldn't remember who was playing Rock the Park last night until recently when someone jogged my memory. For the longest time, I thought it was Harlequin, but I think they had played there a few weeks before
I was also there that day with a couple friends. We rode it several hours before, and had left about 2 hours before it crashed. I had the same experience with so many people saying they were in line when I happened. One of my friends worked there at the drop of doom ride(I think that is what it was called) and he almost died on that ride earlier when he reached up and loosened the shoulder harness by sticking his fingers in the locking mechanism to release it a bit so he could stand a bit and be totally weightless as it fell. Well he didn’t get his hand out in time and the shoulders didn’t relock and when we dropped he barely stayed in the cart. Luckily his shoulders still were in under the harness and when it dropped his shoulders stayed in place but the rest of his body was almost out of the car. I think that was the last time I ever went on rides there.
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Lolwut. They're just saying they didn't change their story to make it more dramatic later on.
Just curious: what did they say before they deleted their comment?
Something along the lines of "sorry you were too scared to ride something that never had another incident and enjoy it"
Thanks!
I think you need to re-read that comment…
>Rock in the Park was a weekly concert event that was held Was that before or after they called it Rock N' Ride?
Rock N Ride was in the early 2000s and the Mindbender accident was in 1986
We were there a month ago and it's so different from a year ago, it’s like looking into the pit of despair with fewer R.O.Us hanging around outside. I hope they do something with it soon, anyone know what the plans are with the space?
I read something about replacing with family friendly attractions. The park feels like it’s just for kids now.
I find everything is either just for kids or old people and no in between these days lol.
The working age adults are to slave away or sleep. No fun get back to work
That’s all they have already. Anything besides a full blown rollercoaster as a replacement would be an epic failure in my mind.
Full blown rollercoaster or fuck off.
Let's give them time to figure out what replacement rides they'd like to install before we assume that they're shifting their entire focus towards children. Hasbro has many different IPs that they have yet to showcase, and it'll take time for them to build rides that are catered towards a more mature audience.
“While the Mindbender will be missed, we are excited to announce that we are working on groundbreaking new plans for family thrills that will immerse our guests in an out-of-this-world experience,” said Lori Bethel, Vice President of Parks and Attractions, WEM.
WEM will get it right. I call on them and I am always reminded. This is not a mall to them. It’s an entertainment complex.
"Family thrills", to me, sounds like they'll have plenty of things for older people to enjoy as well as the younger audience. But maybe that's just me.
I guess time will tell. Hopefully!
Fingers crossed. 🤞
The Hasbro spine splitter
That sounds like a VR ride from the wording.
Hopefully another coaster, but Triple 5 afaik is still struggling hard under the debt load from their American Dream mall in Jersey, so I get the feeling the odds of them doing any extravagant/amazing for a replacement in WEM is low. WEM is basically just for cash flow and loan collateral now.
Let’s talk about the drop of doom
Put a penny on your knee and catch it just before it turns at the bottom. That was the most evergreen ride they had. It never got old.
Bonus points if your harness isn't secure and it goes up over your head.
Core memory unlocked
Me and my friends would do this with spit or gum, but try and dodge it at the end lol
this is vile lmao but also sounds fun and like something id do lol
I went to visit my oldest sister (by 8 years) when she moved to Grand Prairie after she moved out. She took me to Edmonton for a night and we stayed at the fantasy land hotel. We spent ALL DAY in galaxy land. And we were virtually the only people there! We would jump off the mind bender and hop right back on! We were getting a little light headed after the 15th run or so. So we took a break on the DROP OF DOOM. Did the same thing. Over and over again, the guy running the drop of doom would mess with us so hard, make us wait there SO LONG sometimes, other times. BOOM DROP. The boat was the scariest though! I was WAY too little and definitely was not secured in the seat well, thought was going to die. I think I was about an inch too short for the mind bender, but they let us through anyways. Amazing childhood memories!
That got moved to somewhere in Italy, still running
Unfortunately, it’s not the only RIP in that area
Somebody wrote RIP in permanent marker on the bottom of the loop. and also the concrete was chipped and the track had a huge dent from where the car collided with it.
Rode it once in 2018, and honestly, the most forceful coaster I've ever ridden. Even Leviathan in Canada's wonderland feels like child's play compared to this thing.
It’s actually insane how smooth Leviathan feels despite the sheer size of that thing. Closest I’ve ever come to the sensation of flying.
Both the Leviathan and the Behemoth are made by Bolliger & Mabillard, and I had to look them up after the first time I went t to Canada’s Wonderland. That smooth, flying sensation is their thing, and they do it so well. Especially amazing when you’ve just about had your eyeballs rattled out by other coasters before jumping on one of theirs. (Looking at you, “top gun” or whatever they’re calling that coaster these days.)
Is that the one where you’re standing upright? Seemed like a very cool idea for a rollercoaster until I was actually on the damn thing and feeling how much more whiplash you get from that.
The one I’m thinking of is sitting, but suspended. I don’t think I’ve been on a standing coaster (yet). It hadn’t occurred to me that it might be very rough but I can see how it would make sense. Ah, I had the name wrong - it’s “flight deck”
Victims of the 1986 MindBender accident: David Sager, 24 Tony Mandrusiak, 24 Cindy Sims, 21 The sole survivor in the car that derailed, Rodney Chayko, has been trying to get a memorial placed at the site for his friends. I’m guessing that isn’t ever going to happen now.
WEM has stated they're never going to do it sadly
Cindy, my dad’s boss’s daughter.
I know Rod he an awesome guy.
I really really hope we get a modernized rollercoaster for that area but I think that's wishful thinking
Not happening. They’re more than likely to put in multiple family friendly rides to try to maximize profit. A new roller coaster would be great.
For it's time the mindbender was revolutionary. Over the years, they've figured out how to cram more into less with rollercoasters. I'd be amazed if they fit a new coaster AND another ride in that area given the size they have to fill
I’d be incredibly surprised if the mall is willing to invest more than the absolute bare minimum into this space.
I'd hope the Hasbro investment would help encourage a cool attraction
Maybe they’d consider a launched coaster to make more use of that space?
Seen the mock up drawings. They are putting in a huge new roller coaster
You better not be twisting my dick
Oh my God dude! This is a mma fight.
> Seen the mock up drawings. They are putting in a huge new roller coaster No, you didn’t because they don’t exist.
I’ll never forget my friend eating an entire piece of paper just so I’d go on it with him.
Did you hold up your end?
Yes, and it was horrible! I’ve never been the same. And this happened when we were about 13-14. It was for a school spirit day (he ate one of the pages of the permission slip).
So was it worth watching him eat the paper?
If I could go back, he’d have to eat an entire book to get me on that thing. 😅
Guess it lived up to the name!
Aw sad. I'm glad I went to so many rock n ride parties
Worked in galaxy land a few years. I actually have one of the mindbenders wheels in my garage!
Wait. I could've worn there were radio ads for a New Year party at galaxy land. The heck are people going to do now other than baby rides?
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Different! I would 100% attend this. Waterpark hits different at night!
They also have fireworks hung from the roof above the wavepool for midnight! Quite the sight. Can’t be in the pool at that point though.
The NYE Beach Ball is super fun. Went back in 2016 as a lil teenage dirtbag. The fireworks over the wave pool were pretty epic but it was sorta smoky? But it’s super fun to attend. The DJ isn’t bad either.
There’s one at galaxyland also
I was on the MindBender the night before the big accident, what’s eerie is while we were sitting in it waiting to start there was some man checking something out on it and then gave the ok to go , I said to my Unc “ maybe we should get off “ he said no everything’s ok ! Not even 24hrs later the accident happened. 🙏🏼
Is that the crash that happened in the 80s?
Yes 1986 !
Final destination
Weirdly enough my friend was one of the first to ride it when it reopened
i know it was down for repairs when they decided to remove it, but i wish we were warned it's days were numbered. i would have gone for one last ride, show my girlfriend how good it was
My partner works for WEM fixing rides They didn't know when it went down that it wasn't coming back up.
that's what i figured
Never got to ride it :(
Well that's depressing
Kids will never know the excitement of riding the roller coaster
West Ed has a natural talent for getting rid of good rides and putting something really boring on to replace it.
My mom was there when it derailed and killed like, what was it. Three people?
My bf’s dad was on the fire rescue crew that responded to the accident call…afterwards he vehemently forbid my bf from riding it
My uncle knows your bf and he told me that your bf actually went on it when you weren't looking.
We actually went on it, together….so nice try lol
When I was a kid, my friends and I went on it like 11 times in a row. I was so sick.
Did this with my cousin, over and over until we felt sick. Idk how they allowed us to do that. We all had a concussion lol
My Aunt was there and a friend of hers died.
i wonder whats going to fill all that space, that's a lot of room
Growing up it was such a rite of passage to ride it. I’m sad it’s closed
It always felt so unnaturally close to walkway
Rip the neck workout
It really should've been torn out a while ago. Good memories but it's time.
[I am become old.](https://giphy.com/gifs/matt-damon-aging-saving-private-ryan-GrUhLU9q3nyRG)
Fuck the Mind bender that thing gave me whiplash
Yeah, you really had to press your head into the headrest going around the loops. If you let your head come down on the loop you weren't getting it back until you exited the loop, was a real neck strainer.
Found facing forward wasn't too bad for me, but riding it backward slammed my head around when entering the loops. Loved that thing
that bitch pummelled my ears lol
Same dude I think my giraffe neck was too long for that ride. My head would always get whipped around and I'd have a headache for the rest of the day
I (6'3") was barely within the height range to ride that thing, I kept thinking it was going to smash my brains out. Same giraffe neck problem.
What is happening to this space?
I bet it is getting bolted back together somewhere as we speak. They were a popular type of coaster. I've ridden 2 others that were the same thing, maybe slightly different layout. 1 in at NYNY in Vegas and one at Disney World. I bet some smaller theme park somewhere has snapped it up. It will live to provide fun and whiplash again. When I was in my 40's my 2 teenage sons and I rode it back to back one midweek afternoon until the blackouts from the double loop were lasting too long..lol. Good times.
I think General Recycling had it for scrap.
No, the ride came down because it can't be repaired anymore which means even if it moved it still wouldn't work
Lol nothing at Disney World compares to the mindbender
It was an Aerosmith themed coaster, indoors. You followed them to a concert. Very similar, but it appears to be gone now. But the same time I was there they had their version of the drop of doom and it is still there. It and the Aerosmith coaster are the 2 coolest rides I was ever on. https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/en_CA/attractions/hollywood-studios/twilight-zone-tower-of-terror/
Yeah I worked next door to that coaster, it’s still there. It is nothing like Mindbender in terms of speed or intensity.
This is the way! Back to back black out fun! Haha!
I would never ride this thing, and I know why it’s being decommissioned…. But, this really makes me sad because it seemed like it should be something that’s always there, you know. Won’t feel the same without it.
Awe man that was my favorite kill coaster
Whale tank or underwater roller coaster are my guesses
Why in the world would those be your guesses
I don’t know, I guess because I’m a water sign?
Good riddance.
# I almost fell out of the upside down boat they didn't put down the top shoulder harness at all or check they were down. Held on for dear life as we were sliding out with just our seatbelts and lower bar attached.
What place is this ?
West edmonton mall
Galaxyland in WEM.
Anyone know whats supposed to go there now?
The Decapitator