BERTRAND ISLAND AMUSEMENT PARK, NJ - Wildcat roller coaster

[poal0069]

i installed natural gas lines to the new condos....

[perryfarm]

PUKE I went there when I was 6 with my nine siblings for 5 cent night,ice cream, hot dogs,rides,cotton candy, trip to the moon, the ride that the bottom fell out, all I know is that we had a car that had no back seats, and had apple crates and the little guys(me) sat on the floor, well after a few of the rides, hot dogs, ice cream, Dad said "what do ya think trip to the moon" This was before the ride home which was at least 60 min. in a 52 nash ambassador,wasn't long before all hell broke loose

[charrmmee]

thank u 4 th ride - i rode it hundreds of x's & fantasize whenever i wish - what a memory - those were th days

[kevingdoyle]

Thanks for the video. I remember Nickel Nights in the 60's with fond memories.

[Dontana69]

If I were loaded like Trump, instead of golf courses, I would be PRESERVING AMERICANA for future generations to enjoy! I just don't understand how the pyramids can survive and a simple amusement park can't last 100 yrs?!

[evilunixuser1]

Went to B.I back in 1979, part of my grammar school trip. Great memories.

[boaterbil]

I rode that old wooden coaster many, many times

[dosha26]

I remember this place when I was a kid. Lots of great memories. To bad all the historical jewels are slowly but surely disapearing.

[xraycat30]

Very cool vid. I have a strange affinity for places of the past and abandoned things.

[spinalworm1]

And don't forget Nickel night! and the lost river ride.

[DaddyClb]

Looks like it was a very cool out & back coaster. So sad to see them all disappear!

Thanx, swampfoxer...you're the best!!!

[satisfaction2000]

That brings back nice memories.

[NickyNeon]

Oh, I remember when your dad used to take us to Bertrand's Island. He used to try to get me to ride that rickety wooden rollercoaster.  No thanks! My Dad used to take us but he never tried to get me on that crazy thing. The good old days!

[ffej980]

i was at the park many times...the last few years the crowds just were not there...and the place closed...as far sa the roller coaster fire...if i remember right it was near the motors that powered the coaster...i dont remember the airplane crash though

[BabyJaneHudson]

@ffej980

I remember going there many times. I remember it getting a bit seedy near the end.

I also remember the fire and the kid who died from falling out.

[rlgn1950]

Oh thank you so very much for this video. It sure brings back memories from my teenage years. I have some old video from here that I really should transfer & put it up.

[PrincessLibya]

My last name is Bertrand!!!

[fiddlerpin]

One day I rode the coaster there. It was 2 rides for the price of one. When the coaster came in to the station the first time, the guy said everybody out. I said where's my free ride and he said not now that they had to fix the track. I said no way. Guys were climbing up the track with 2x4 lumber and nails. The Boomerang was the best and very dangerous ride.

[zepsdrummer]

I remember watching them bull doze it down in 85 . You can go to the Lake Hopatcong Historical Museum and see many wonderful pictures of Bertrand Island. I'll never forget how much fun we had there as kids and teenagers.

[vulcangunner58]

I lived in Hopatcong from '71-'79, (12-20 yrs.old) and used to hitchhike over to "The Island" on Summer weekends...Some good memories!

[popsnacks2]

what happen to it?

[boaterbil]

@popsnacks2 When Action Park, (now Mountain Creek) opened, the people just didnt go to BI. It Was sad. The condos took years to be built after the park was torn down.

[charrmmee]

fantastic. thanks. felt like i was on it again. i rode it about 5,000 times, mostly nickel nite. i luved that place. extremely fond memories.

[heydan27]

Wow - what a great memory.

Thank you so much. I last rode this coaster in 1978.....again, thanks?

Anyone have video or photo of the old Jet Star coaster in Olympic Park, NJ which closed in 19 65?

[sandpaper567]

does anyone remember the fire. Think it was in '75 or so. anyone have any pictures or videos of it.

[jimmyhd1969]

I think the fire was in 1970. Also a small plane crashed into the coaster in 1973.

[Paneeks1960]

Swampfoxer, You have the BEST coaster videos on the whole of YT. Each one of the classic video's such as this Wildcat footage takes you back to that time and place. They are quite amazing and I have to say "many thanks" for sharing them with other coaster fanatics such as myself. My ultimate video request would be to have a video of either of Revere Beach's coasters, the Cyclone or the old Lightning! Since I never saw the Cyclone running, just standing, it would be great.

Thanks, Rob/Boston

[moonracer1]

We lived accross the cove from Bertrand Island. From my bedroom window I could see the top of the roller coaster and all summer long we could hear the faint screams of the riders. Great stuff here.

Thanks for sharing.

[cMeSeeU]

I am pretty sure the park closed due to a culmination of factors, like rising liability insurance, and the serious beating they took when Six Flags opened in NJ.

[ffej980]

i was there the last several years...business had fallen off..and the property was worth more than continuing operating...there are pictures of the park on the net after it closed...you just have to look...

[4everdisco]

We used to drive up on sat nites after clubing in ny, buddy of ours owns a house on the lake,go boating on sunday,and bertrands on sun nite,summer of 79

[60sThru80s]

In the early 70's Bertrand's Island WAS summer. Nothing else was.

I've still got a ton of unredeemed Skee-Ball tickets.

[fiddlerpin]

Thanks for posting. One day in the early 80's I got to rides for one ticket. When the coaster came in the first time the ride operator said all off. I told him I had two rides for one and he said not now cause they have to fix the track. Needless to say I didn't take that 2nd ride! That coaster sat for years in a vacant lot. Should have grabbed it.

[fa0798]

We used to come up from Morristown on nickel nights....what a great time it always was until toward the end....

[mrbigpaws]

I lived there the hole time the park was open, I was also when of the last ones to ride it . me and my dad sat in the second car from the front. all I can remember is that BIG hill and climbing up. i though the car would come off the tracks. in wich it did a few times. that use to send some one on the ride before they ran the ride every moring . thanks for the video

[joechill1]

Great film footage! Anyone have a clip featuring the Lost River or the Haunted House?

[mcclutch86]

Thanks for the memories

[jimmyhd1969]

You can see the last images of the coaster in the 1985 film The Purple Rose of Cairo.

[reichec]

They paved paradise and put up a parking lot (ugly condos)

[cMeSeeU]

Worked there 81& 82, how about taking the first test run of the day standing up and backwards the whole run..... we were sick kids....

It is a shame it had to close.

[popsnacks2]

why did it close

[TylersTown]

fond memories

[jimmyhd1969]

The park was opened in 1912 not 1925.

[swampfoxer]

The 1925 opening is referencing the coaster, not the park.

[jimmyhd1969]

My apologies.

[miserabowl]

I remember as a kid seeing teenagers standing up on the rollercoaster....and couldn't wait to try myself.  The Boomerang was soooo unsafe (smashed fingers, whiplash, etc) but tons of fun!! What great memories of a by-gone era.....when parents didn't sue!

[ffej980]

i rode the Bertrands island roller coaster so many times...but heres the trick...to show you had balls you had to stand up and slap the board on the top of the first uphill ramp...been there done that...

[shinevrything]

yeah such memories hahaha i love to ride on a vintage rollercoaster

[RedzyVernville]

such memories!! My mother went here growing up and she took me all through my childhood.All through the 70's and right up yo when it closed..Such a bummer...Remember the boomerang??

[ffej980]

the boomerang...the lost river...the funhouse...the boat ride around the lake...the rocket ride...you name it...i rode them all...and played the midway ...besides...thanks...

[ffej980]

on another note ...the original merry-go-round from bertrands left before the park closed...it wound up at circus world in florida...where i got a ride on it...and now it sits dismantled somewhere in michigan

[ffej980]

gone but not forgotten...and we still miss bertrands...

[deeppipeinhaler]

OMG!! I was the operator of the Wildcat Coaster from 1979 through 1982. Unlike today's coasters, there was usually only one ride operator running the coaster. There were no seat belts or restraining. Just a metal bar attached to the seat in front of you. Needless to say, you hung on. The brave would stand up out of their seats going down the first hill (80 ft. drop). You could ride the Wildcat as many times as you liked with pay one price for the park of only $2.99 in the summer of 1979.

[njkenny]

OMG OMG OMG!! I love it!! Where on earth did you find this footage!!? I have a vid montage up you might be interested in seeing.

[abigllama]

Wow those double downs look insane, esp the first one with the twist before the turnaround. That coaster is pretty compact but looks like it packed a hell of a punch. Great video swamp and thanks for your work!

[fncz]

GREAT!!! I rode this several times one day in Sept 77.. I recall it was insane and fast!! Wound up on the lap of the guy I was riding with on the double dip......Thanks again KR!!

[sjtom57]

Another nice vid, as always. You wouldn't happen to have any vids of the long gone Riverview Beach Park in Pennsville, NJ would you? I believe their woodie was called the Humming Bird.