Farewell Whalom Park Mystery Cache
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(regular)
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in our disclaimer.
The cache is *NOT* at the specified coordinates! Do *NOT* attempt
to enter the fenced area of the park under any circumstances. The
cache is located within 3 miles of the posted coordinates.
BACKGROUND:
These false coordinates mark the site of the former Whalom Park -
an amusement park dating back to 1893. According to Wikipedia, it
was the 13th oldest amusement park in the US.
For me though, it was a place of memories. I spent a lot of time in
this neighborhood and I remember many summer days hearing the
"toot-toot" of the little train that went around the circumference
of the park, and the collective screams and rumble of the roller
coaster as it sent riders down the big hill. I even remember
occasionally smelling the cotton candy and popcorn when the wind
was right - or maybe that was just the wishful thinking of a child.
I remember the ferry that gave rides around the lake, and that big
bump on the giant slide, where you almost lost your burlap bag. I
remember almost always being fearful of the old wooden coaster
(which I knew was older than my grandfather) that creaked and shook
with every pass - yet I never gave up an opportunity to ride it,
desperately hoping that it would hold together for just one more
ride. There are so many more memories...the freaky clown at the Fun
House; thinking I could pass my friend's car the Turnpike if I went
fast enough; trying to hold down my stomach at the Trabant; the
cool breeze while playing Skee-ball near the waterfront; roller
skating and the skinned knees that followed; fireworks over the
lake, etc.
...but it is all over now.
In the fall of 2000, Whalom Park closed its gates for good, ending
the century-long run as a vacation destination for New England and
beyond. Some say that the end was inevitable - as much a matter of
scale as anything else. With Disney and Six Flags parks popping up,
this historic park was just unable to compete and developers were
eyeing the property for condos.
In 2002, the carousel was broken up and the antique, hand-carved
animals were sold off at auction. That same year, the grand old
ballroom was destroyed by a massive arson fire, and in Oct 2006,
the final demolition began. Piece by piece the buildings, rides and
the old wooden roller coaster were taken down in preparation for
the condos that would soon be erected. By 2007 nearly all of the
buildings were gone and it is just a matter of time before the
now-barren scene changes once again.
Since the park has closed, a grass-roots effort has been organized
with the goal of saving the remnants of the park, re-buying them
when possible, with the hopes of maybe re-opening Whalom Park
elsewhere. I wish them luck - but to me, it will never be the
same.
And so we come to the cache - ah yes, that. You do NOT have to
ever have been to this park to solve this puzzle! There are two
parts to this puzzle - as you will see. There is a lot of great
information out there for you if you know where to look. Beware -
not all of the online sources are accurate, so you may want to
cross-check some of your info.
I invite everyone to share their Whalom Park memories in the logs
here. This will be our memorial. Also, there is a $5 Dunkin Donuts
gift card for the First to Find. Good luck with the hunt!
I will be glad to provide a puzzle hint if you are really stuck or
to verify solutions to the puzzle by email. Here is what you need
to know to get started:
N42 3A.BCD W71 4E.FGH
TRIVIA: (Note: No plurals. Ignore only spaces and
articles.)
A) What is the type of animal that once went down the water
slide?
B) A ride like this one was featured at Whalom. What is its name?
C) What primary color was the top of the roof of the Carousel
building? How many goats were on the ride?
D) Whalom Park was featured in a pop music video in the 80s. What
is the name of 2nd ride featured in the video? What is the number
of spinning vehicles featured on that ride?
E) Name of last significant addition to the roller coaster and year
added?
F) What was the roller coaster length (in feet) at time of closing
& what was the year the park opened?
G) What was the name of original roller coaster and the year it was
built?
H) A Wisconsin faucet manufacturer created a key component for the
Turnpike ride. What is the manufacturer name and the general name
of the part?
CLUES:
A) add, then subtract 91
B) add, then evaluate, then subtract 1
C) add, then add number of goats, then subtract 48
D) add, then subtract number of "vehicles", then subtract 78
E) add, then add year, then subtract 2109
F) length-year-738
G) add, then subtract year, then add 1688
H) add, then drop first and last digits
You can check your answers for this puzzle on
Geochecker.com.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
junyr = 3 14 7 18 11