The Stars Have Aligned at Cypress Gardens

For over 40 years, the Starliner, a wooden coaster, thrilled riders at the Miracle Strip Amusement Park in Florida's Panama City. When the park closed in 2004, the woodie could have ended up at the junkyard. Instead, Cypress Gardens' owner Kent Buescher came to the rescue and bought the classic ride. He moved the Starliner, piece by piece, to his Florida park, spiffed it up, and reopened it a few days ago. At 65 feet, it's not in the same league as some of today's lumbering giants, but the resurrected coaster is bigger and faster than any of Cypress Gardens' other thrill machines. It's great to see the coaster saved from the wrecking ball and bringing joy to another generation of riders.

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