Where to
start...
The Clown Ramp was
ground zero for the Dallas skate scene in the mid 80s. In its
previous life, (I think in Chicago), it was some sort of electronic
skate game, which explains the wild paint job. Skating was free and
it was lit at night, so there was always someone riding or just
hanging out. If you were ever stuck in Dallas without a car, all
you had to do was make your way to the Clown Ramp and you could
score a ride home.
The abundance of
action there drew lots of attention, especially on the weekends.
Everything from vagrants, drunk bar patrons and hookers to
families, cyclists and police officers. Eventually, the Blue Ramp,
(a future cache in this series), was brought over and the two ramps
were joined together to make an impressive structure behind Del
Taco.
Then of course were
the contests when pros from all over the country would converge on
Bachman Lake for the weekend. They almost always wanted the locals
to take them to our favorite local skate spots. We'd take them
around town and session for a few hours. Sometimes we just had the
stories to tell but other times they'd score us free gear from
their sponsors or at least some stickers.
The decline of
skateboarding's popularity in the late '80s eventually lead to the
ramp being dismantled and hauled away.
This is a picture I took
of my buddy Craig doing a backside ollie just below the coping.
It's not a breath-taking trick or anything, but I liked how the
shot came out.
Jeff Phillips was a pro from right here in Dallas. He had the
Clown Ramp wired.
Unfortunately, he committed suicide in 1993.
This was back when Tony Hawk was still trying to establish himself
as a pro skater.
You could safely say that he succeeded.
Ammo
box. A hike down the bike trail with a light bushwhack at the
end.
**Note the parking coords**
Night caching is not recommended on this cache. Please rehide as
found to avoid pilferation.
Congrats to sjpowell66 &
mctwin on the co-FTF!