Good-bye, old friend...

...you nauseated me no end.

Even walking by the Virginia Reel was a challenge to some.

Turning and spinning wildly.

The air full of the sweet scent of funnel cakes.

(Whose wicked idea was that? Putting a tilt-a-whirl right next to a funnel cake stand?)

Interested in the ride's history?

It was manufactured by Sellner Manufacturing Co., Inc., in Faribault, Minnesota.

The ride was originally sold to G.E. Dickson of Paducah, Kentucky, on June 7, 1957.

In 1960, was sold to F.C. Shafer of Evansville, Indiana, who operated it at Mesker Park (which closed in 1975).

In 1976, it was sold to Holiday World and named, incredibly, Tilt-A-Whirl,

When Santa Claus Land became Holiday World, the ride's name was changed to the Virginia Reel, as it was in the 4th of July section.

And now, it's moving on (I don't know where, though...) in order to make room for the walkway for the new Thanksgiving section.

By the way, the original plan was to add a new tilt-a-whirl for next season. But when we had our Frank Capra moment a few weeks ago, that was one of the items (probably the only one that a park Guest would notice) that slid over to the "Maybe Next Year" column.

Speaking of Mr. Capra, isn't it interesting that one of his most popular films, It's A Wonderful Life, was released in 1946?

That was the same year Louis J. Koch opened Santa Claus Land.