I used to come on holiday in Kent and me, my brother, cousins and my grandparents would stay in a caravan for a few weeks in summer. We'd visit Dimchurch and Folkestone when all the craze was Beanie Babies and scented gel pens. We came here one year and it buzzing so much, the happiness I saw on other children's faces and riding this beauty and the log flume. I was never allowed on the Magic Mouse but in the Dome me and my nan would put endless amounts of 2p's in. Missing it a lot.
Nice video by IMansfield. I was there with him this year (this video may even have been from when i was with him at Rotunda - not sure). I rode it in July 1997 with him and also went to Chessington and Dreamland.
So depressing, Id take this over shitty art any day, but no "Folkestone is gonna be an Art Town!!!!" Despite the fact Both Brighton and Margate nearby allready do that A LOT better than us, Get a fucking grip Folkestone, do something the people actually want.
Wasn't this the same rollercoaster the The Dome Arcade?. Such a shame they got rid of this and the park, wasn't the ground used for the one-day music festival there in 2009?.
What a lovely video of the Runaway Coaster. The old girls gone now. She was found in a field in Holland, lovingly restored then bulldozed by the great Jimmy Godden. It could have been saved , instead of ending up on a large bonfire. Money and Greed. Dreamland Margate went the same way but hope is on the horizon in the form of a Heritage Park. I have fond memories of both parks.
My whole childhood has been wiped out in Folkestone. I moved away in 97.
The Rotunda, dammit i remember the 2nd arcade dome being BUILT, the fairground, the harbours gone to pot and theyve knocked down my bloody school as well ive noticed on a return trip recently.
aww i miss rotunda, it was the highlight of my weekends, i used to love that magic carpet ride near the seafront, this runaway train used to scare me as the bars used to move when you were going down the hills plus my cuz winded herslef on them! lol i thought she was dying lol
Roller coaster looks great in the vid - Shame its gone - Was one of world's oldest roller coasters and one of only 2 "figure eight friction" coasters left in the world - What a waste!
haha that ride was dangerous, first time i got on it i was like 'wtf? a wooden roler coaster?'
i used to be down the rotunda all the time when i was a kid, i remember when the bounty was there and that blue coaster in the corner and the go-karting
I think it is good that the roller coaster has gone. Not only was it boring but it was dangerous too. Also Sentinal3131, SAGA does not own that land nor does it own everything in Folkestone. Roger de Haan owns it and the Creative Foundation which buys run down shops and does them up. He did used to own SAGA though. Sorry if this post sounds rude, it's not meant to!
Jimmy Godden used to own the rotunda site, but when the Runaway was demolished it was actually owned by Roger de Haan. So for once we cant blame Jimmy. Fair enough the park wasnt making money BUT the coaster could have been saved and moved to a park where it would have continued to bring joy to many. To demolish such a historic and rare peice of amusement park history was a travesty.
I remember when i lived in Folkestone , a story that Jimmy Godden got that coaster from Germany ! is that right ? and hallo to anyone in folkestone from Gibby in florida ;-)
i totally agree i used to live down the front and spent many days on the rotunda getting days passes every weekend those days are gone now forever jimmy is utter prick!!! he just let it all fall apart cuz it wasnt making enough money!!!!
I went to Rotunda in Folkestone today where this Rollercoaster was. It was so sad. The rollercoaster was just chopped up and the motor was left in a pile next to it. All the rides have gone, even the great log flume and ghost train. The Rotunda arcade is being demolised at the moment. It is so sad to see the empty concrete area where the rides where, even the market has moved up the town. Part of my youth has gone forever!
There was talk of it being moved to a park in Cornwall but nothing has happened yet. Sadly it isnt a listed building so it could easily be demolished without warning.
who votes they build another amusment park in its place, thumbs up if you do!! xx
ZaraJayneGroves 2 weeks ago
I used to come on holiday in Kent and me, my brother, cousins and my grandparents would stay in a caravan for a few weeks in summer. We'd visit Dimchurch and Folkestone when all the craze was Beanie Babies and scented gel pens. We came here one year and it buzzing so much, the happiness I saw on other children's faces and riding this beauty and the log flume. I was never allowed on the Magic Mouse but in the Dome me and my nan would put endless amounts of 2p's in. Missing it a lot.
alexandermarkalpe 3 months ago
To think, they demolished this rare historical gem and put up a bell on a rope in its place. No wonder this town is rubbish.
imansfield 4 months ago
Nice video by IMansfield. I was there with him this year (this video may even have been from when i was with him at Rotunda - not sure). I rode it in July 1997 with him and also went to Chessington and Dreamland.
prittstick1ify 7 months ago
So depressing, Id take this over shitty art any day, but no "Folkestone is gonna be an Art Town!!!!" Despite the fact Both Brighton and Margate nearby allready do that A LOT better than us, Get a fucking grip Folkestone, do something the people actually want.
canthaguild 9 months ago
Great little vid :)
misscoyotelove 1 year ago
Wasn't this the same rollercoaster the The Dome Arcade?. Such a shame they got rid of this and the park, wasn't the ground used for the one-day music festival there in 2009?.
MarcusBowen 1 year ago
How tame compared to the offerings today?! It reminds me of the "Little Dipper" at Blackpool! Nice Footage though. 5**
waldenhouse 1 year ago
Funny, we used to knock the rotunda. However, I used to have many a laugh there with my sons'. This ride was one of them.
Miss it now!
297250142 2 years ago
What a lovely video of the Runaway Coaster. The old girls gone now. She was found in a field in Holland, lovingly restored then bulldozed by the great Jimmy Godden. It could have been saved , instead of ending up on a large bonfire. Money and Greed. Dreamland Margate went the same way but hope is on the horizon in the form of a Heritage Park. I have fond memories of both parks.
tenterden16 2 years ago
i miss this place
collywog1 2 years ago
i loved sundays there,market,seafood,fun fair,good old days,and rock band magnum at lees cliff hall.
Bertwatlings 2 years ago
GOOOOOOOOOD TIMES
eyeballface 2 years ago
My whole childhood has been wiped out in Folkestone. I moved away in 97.
The Rotunda, dammit i remember the 2nd arcade dome being BUILT, the fairground, the harbours gone to pot and theyve knocked down my bloody school as well ive noticed on a return trip recently.
hawkeye448 2 years ago
its not quite stealth is it?
johnsendell1 2 years ago
aww i miss rotunda, it was the highlight of my weekends, i used to love that magic carpet ride near the seafront, this runaway train used to scare me as the bars used to move when you were going down the hills plus my cuz winded herslef on them! lol i thought she was dying lol
liese1986 3 years ago
@liese1986 Wasnt that the Ali Baba??? that was quite a ride!
kaihiwatari111 1 year ago
I was always too young to go on it back then, shame.
I remember back when it was just sitting in Folkestone 2 years ago doing nothing, which was sad =[
tuckin4u 3 years ago
someone died on that ride O.O
R I P
OoDeeAlioO 3 years ago
No they didnt. A young girl did die on the Caterpillar rollercoaster a few years earlier but there were never any accidents on the Runaway.
imansfield 3 years ago
shit, how'd that happen i used to ride that
RandomGeorgeAUS 2 years ago
@imansfield No accidents alltho on a few occassions the cars got stuck.. still miss the rotunda tho
canthaguild 1 year ago
Our coaster was shit tbh. It wasn't good at all
ShauniWTF 3 years ago
Roller coaster looks great in the vid - Shame its gone - Was one of world's oldest roller coasters and one of only 2 "figure eight friction" coasters left in the world - What a waste!
morgrp 3 years ago
haha that ride was dangerous, first time i got on it i was like 'wtf? a wooden roler coaster?'
i used to be down the rotunda all the time when i was a kid, i remember when the bounty was there and that blue coaster in the corner and the go-karting
rip rotunda
sk1nz 3 years ago
@sk1nz IUmm what ride was the Bounty??? i miss th rotunda as well..
kaihiwatari111 1 year ago
Aww I Remember Going There For My 10th Birthday. Shame It Got Taken Down Its like The Only Amusement Place Near Where I Live.
That Ride Was Dangerous Though! Our Bars Rattled And It Was Really Bumpy Almost Lost My Hat On It Haha.
Rollercoastergirl92 3 years ago
I think it is good that the roller coaster has gone. Not only was it boring but it was dangerous too. Also Sentinal3131, SAGA does not own that land nor does it own everything in Folkestone. Roger de Haan owns it and the Creative Foundation which buys run down shops and does them up. He did used to own SAGA though. Sorry if this post sounds rude, it's not meant to!
Beanieguy1 3 years ago
why did they tor it dowm?????
rct3lover1823 3 years ago
Ahhh, can't believe we used to ride that rockety piece of shit.
Rest in peace Rotunda!
Krafty89 4 years ago
omg this video is really old i remember this i watched some of it get smashed aswell it was well sad
dizzy9306 4 years ago
AWWH. I LOVED THIS. So rough though! Can't believe its gone.
YuccaPucca 4 years ago
SAGA owns it. saga owns everyhing in folkestone. unfortunatly...i work for saga....great
Sentinal3131 4 years ago
me too lol, enbrook
sk1nz 3 years ago
cool. what department? im a fnol/query but im moving to CSG soon.ive probably spoken to you before if your in total loss, ftv or cs..meh..i hate saga
Sentinal3131 3 years ago
i have a picture of me stood next to that when i was about 6 or 7
staviation 4 years ago
Yeah, i have no idea who Jimmy Godden is... is he like who owned it...
And if it wasn't make it money you WOULD close it.
Sure, i miss it, but come on...
BloodBoots 4 years ago
Jimmy Godden used to own the rotunda site, but when the Runaway was demolished it was actually owned by Roger de Haan. So for once we cant blame Jimmy. Fair enough the park wasnt making money BUT the coaster could have been saved and moved to a park where it would have continued to bring joy to many. To demolish such a historic and rare peice of amusement park history was a travesty.
imansfield 4 years ago
I remember when i lived in Folkestone , a story that Jimmy Godden got that coaster from Germany ! is that right ? and hallo to anyone in folkestone from Gibby in florida ;-)
gibbyl68 4 years ago
i totally agree i used to live down the front and spent many days on the rotunda getting days passes every weekend those days are gone now forever jimmy is utter prick!!! he just let it all fall apart cuz it wasnt making enough money!!!!
spikeysteved 4 years ago 2
I went to Rotunda in Folkestone today where this Rollercoaster was. It was so sad. The rollercoaster was just chopped up and the motor was left in a pile next to it. All the rides have gone, even the great log flume and ghost train. The Rotunda arcade is being demolised at the moment. It is so sad to see the empty concrete area where the rides where, even the market has moved up the town. Part of my youth has gone forever!
NickDanton 4 years ago
mine too, my first proper job was there: 12 hours shifts, 6 days a week... rest in peace Rotunda. and thanks for sharing this video!
anbanana 4 years ago
jimmy godden is an annus!
sg2790 5 years ago 2
i loved rotunda and dreamland,shame they no longer exist. damm you jg
sammyandmikey 5 years ago 2
I wonder what they are ganna do with the coaster now. Its sad. Do you think they will move it somewhere else? Cos it must be listed
emmalovesmani 5 years ago
There was talk of it being moved to a park in Cornwall but nothing has happened yet. Sadly it isnt a listed building so it could easily be demolished without warning.
imansfield 5 years ago
it was sadly demolished recently, its now gone forever
BigTylerAustin 4 years ago