Nova Scotia

Upper Clements

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ARTICLE AND PHOTOGRAPHS
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PERMISSION FROM THE AUTHOR ©

Upper Clements Park
(1989 - 2019)

Upper Clements Wildlife Park
(1977 - 2009)
(With a closure gap for
the 1993 and 1994 seasons)

Upper Clements Adventure Park
(2012 - 2019)

    Owned or supported by the Nova Scotia provincial government for most of its run, UCP was located in western Nova Scotia near an arm of The Bay of Fundy called The "Annapolis Basin". The land was previously owned by Peter Presceksy who had moved from Mount Royal, Quebec to work on highway construction. His home was included in the sale, and it would initially became "The House of Illusion", then an indoor greenery, and finally an art gallery. It was known as "The Stone House" because its outer covering was made of rock.

    Over the years, UCP had at least 40 rides and attractions including two Miniature Golf courses, a wooden Roller Coaster, Flume Ride, Waterslide, Go-Karts, Bumper Boats, and numerous Flat Rides. Along with these were attractions aimed at younger guests: costumed characters, kiddie rides, a wading pool, play areas and structures, and at one point, pony rides. (See the Park's Brochure.)

    Built on 10 hectares of fairly heavily-wooded land of moderate hills, the park's theme was "Nova Scotia in the 1800s". All building styles reflected this -- some actually from the era, others were reproductions. Park locations and attractions took their titles from local place names, many from the historic past.

    The government budgeted $13 million to construct the park, but ended up paying out $18 million. Almost another $5 million was spent to run the park and develop it further during its first four or five seasons. UCP first opened 1989, June 23 with NS Premier John Buchanan in attendance to officiate. (June 26, from another source.)

    Across the main highway was a rural animal sanctuary, The Upper Clements Wildlife Park. This had opened in 1977, and it eventually became connected to the amusement park, both in agreement and by a tunnel under the main highway. A free shuttle then went between the two parks. The 16-hectare wildlife area eventually had 200 animals and birds across 30 species that were native to Nova Scotia -- most in large, open-air enclosures. Patrons walked around a winding, circular path through the woods that took them to each enclosure. Other trails went through forest that covered 405 hectares. As time went on, the Wildlife Park also came to have a farm exhibit, and a canteen and gift shop.

    Getting back to the amusement park, as one approached the entrance from the no-charge parking lot, outside on a short rail section was a Canadian National Railways (CNR) steam locomotive with tender, box cars and caboose. One could board the locomotive and look around. In the early years, a museum/tourist display was inside the box cars, but it closed in the mid 1990s. (The locomotive and tender would be moved to a museum after the park demise.)

Park Entrance 2014

CNR Locomotive

    Moving past the park entrance, one emerged into the Village Square with some personnel dressed in period 1800s clothing. There were gift shops, a small gazebo bandstand, and food concessions. From there, you went to the various ride locations by several different routes.

    The "Tree Topper" roller coaster station was themed as "Torbruk Mines", covered in rough-cut planking as though it were a mine entrance. Inside was a single train of five cars having a seating layout of 2 X 2. These were from the Philadelphia Toboggan Company, and had single-position lap bars, seat dividers, one seat belt for each pair of riders, and no headrests to obstruct riders' views. Skid braking was employed. Because the course was so short, only one train was required. As such, there was no transfer track needed.

Tree Topper The train has just passed a turnaround and has advanced to the first of a run of increasingly deeper dips. Soon it will dive into the lowest part of the ride and attain its top speed.

    The ride layout was the one of the last designed by William Cobb; only one other would open after this, located in Italy. He made the UCP coaster a terrain model whereby it was built onto the side of a hill. Thus, it had a short lift for its later, maximum deep drop. An estimate of the total spread from lift hill peak to the bottom of the lowest drop was 18 to 22 metres. Its total length was given as 323 metres (357m and 426m from other sources). Ride duration ranged from 60 to 80 seconds.

    The top speed stated in the park's brochures was 75 km/h, but ~56 km/h is given from Internet sources. Since the longest drop was around 11 to 13 metres into a ravine, mathematically this returns a non-resistance speed of between 53 and 57 km/h, so the former speed specification seems high. However, the top speed at the bottom of this drop would be faster than from `zero' because the train had already taken three smaller drops and was at speed as it approached the big drop. So if the train was moving at 20 km/h at the top of the hill, this must be added to the `drop from zero' calculation. Then taking air and mechanical resistance into account, it's possible that the top speed may have been in the 60 to 70 km/h range on a hot, fast-running day.

    Realise though, that a park sign stated the drop was 8 metres, but this returns a speed of only 45 km/h, which is low for their top speed specification, and still well under any Internet reference speed seen for this coaster. However, if one adds the 20 km/h to this, we arrive again at a rate of speed in the mid 60s, excluding air resistance and mechanical friction. On another hand though, if the approaching speed was 30 km/h, adding this to 45 km/h would equal the 75 km/h given in the park's publicity. There are `ifs' involved, but until further confirmation is found, the speculations discussed here will stand.

    The upside of the big drop had a violent zig-zag track for a few seasons, but this was removed around the 3rd season due to complaints from the public. (I imagine too, that maintenance for a section of zig-zag track, where the train is at its maximum speed, would have been high. So removing it would have been a cost-saving exercise, as well.)

    From the top of the big drop, one could look down into a valley area where the park's man-made Ryerson Lake had an Amphitheatre, Boardwalk, Bumper Boats, and Mini Golf, among the attractions there.

Ryerson Lake

    The "Evangeline Train" (Severn Lamb) was a miniature railroad that was made to resemble an 1860s train called The "Evangeline"; it was the first train to run widely within Nova Scotia. The park's version had a diesel-powered locomotive that hauled people in three open-sided cars on a 900-metre run from The Village Square (Aylesford Station) near the park's entrance to a wooded section at the far side of the park (Windsor Station). Track gauge was 600mm. The passenger cars each held 24 people, had polished fibreglass canopies, and the wooden seats were stained & varnished in a reddish tint.

    At Aylesford Station there was no room for a turn-around track loop as there was at the other station. Instead, a unique turntable setup was built whereby the engine was driven onto the turntable and detached from the train. The engineer then manually rotated the turntable around so that it lined up with a track beside the incoming one. After locking the turntable in place, the engine was driven out onto this track whereby it passed the waiting passenger cars, went through a switch, and was reversed to meet with the other end of the train where it was reattached. Meanwhile, the conductor unlocked and rotated the turntable a little further to line up with the incoming track so it would be ready to receive the engine on the next trip in, and returned the switch to its `incoming' position.

Evangeline Locomotive and Tender

    "Evangeline Train" moved VERY slowly, but gave a good overview of about 75% of the park. It crossed two trestles during the complete round trip, and from the first trestle, gave an excellent view along the park's lake. The final section went through woods at the far corner of the park where it pulled into Windsor Station near the park's main restaurants and bakery.

    The return trip ran along the same route, save for a track loop past Windsor Station that went around the bumper cars/kiddie rides location where it crossed the second, shorter trestle, and then through a switch to return to the main line. (After the park closed for good, this train would be sold to Trueman Blueberry Farms in New Brunswick to be used as an attraction.)

    The park had an Intamin flume ride called The "Sissiboo Sizzler". It had been at Expo 86 in Vancouver as the "Caribou Log Flume" before being purchased for this park and stored until it was time to be erected. There were 461 metres of flume, two lift hills with drops of 12 and 9 metres, log-style boats, and boarding/disembarking by turntable. The "Sizzler" always ran smoothly with the boats floating well free of the under-wheels, and at a good pace. This ride was named after the nearby "Sissiboo Falls".

    Much of the flume-trough layout was on stilts, so that from its highest point, one could look over one's shoulder past the tree tops to see a great view of the Annapolis Basin.

Flume Ride Layout From left to right: First Lift Hill, First Drop, Second Lift Hill, Second Drop.

    This ride had a unique way to embark and disembark from the log boats. As mentioned, there was a wide turntable surrounded by a narrow channel into which the boats would be funneled at the end of the ride. The channel followed the curvature of the turntable so that the boats would be "locked" in step with it. Riders would exit onto the turntable as it slowly turned and go up a central stairway that led back to the midway. The boats would continue around where the next riders were waiting to board. Then their boat would be directed into the initial trough that led to the first lift hill.

Flume Ride Turntable

    A beautifully restored Eyerly "Rock-O-Plane" (variously called "Rock-O-Planes" and "roccoplane" by the park), came to UCP in the early to mid 1990s. This ferris-wheel-style ride ran very quietly, and had well-working brake mechanisms. Each enclosed car's riders could control its brake so as to stop the car at will from turning with the ride, and thus allow it to be at any angel, even upside down.

    The operators would run the "Rock-O-Plane" both forward and then backward during each session. When it was not busy, duration times were greatly extended, with riders sometimes getting to go in each direction more than once.

    Other attractions at UCP were two climbing towers connected by a netted-in rope bridge (underneath which was a small zipline); a Maze, which was replaced after five or six seasons with a 12-tub, Eli Bridge Ferris Wheel and a Duce/Exasco Bumper Car layout; a Carousel (Chance); Gould Antique Autos (a center guide-rail, gasoline-powered car ride), named here as "Digby Motors", Kartworld Bumper Boats (with kiddie and adult boats inside two, large separated areas on the shore of Ryerson Lake, and the kiddie area supervised by an attendant standing in the shallow water right with the boats); "Pedal Boats" (that allowed riders to go pretty much anywhere on the lake and to explore its little coves); Indoor and outdoor 9-hole Mini Golf (the outdoor one was on a peninsula on the lake that was in the shape of Nova Scotia); and Zamperla "Convoy Trucks" and "Red Baron" rides.

    As mentioned earlier, there were several play areas with rope swings, tube slides, and rope parapets, and a play area on the lake called "Pirate Island" with a pirate character in residence to interact with the children. The latter area became a picnic space later in the park's life.

    Food concessions over the years included Atlantic Subs, The Aylesford Station Canteen, Boardwalk Snack Shop, "Call of the Wild" restaurant (which served alcohol and great pizza), Chocolate Fantasy, Coaster Canteen, Cotton Candy Canteen, English Century Farm Market, Fiesta Foods, an Ice Cream Parlour, Josie's Cotton Candy, Kedge Lodge, Lake Monroe (or Munroe) Canteen, Natalie's Station Stop, Sarfina's Tea Room, Tom's Pizzeria, Willani's Bakery, and Will-an-I's Eats and Treats. (It is not known if these last two were the same, or if Will had two locations in the park.)

    Merchandise was mostly artisan based. There were locally-made candles, ceramics, clothing, leather crafts, soaps, stained glass, and so on, with many that displayed the UCP logo and/or name. There were also working blacksmith and pottery shops where you could watch some of the handicrafts being made.

    An Amphitheatre was built into the hill that overlooked the lake. At the lake's edge was a stage, and a dressing-room area within old-style buildings. Other performance areas were the Village Bandstand, and the Food Court Bandstand. These had smaller acts to entertain as people strolled, or at the latter, ate their meals. Live entertainment included the best of Nova Scotia solo artists and bands across all popular genres of music, and clowns and magicians, some of whom also strolled the park.

    In the early seasons, there was the unique Glooscap Theater, in which a talking 3-D face told native tales of Nova Scotia accompanied by images on screens, one on each side of the face. The building itself was a replica of a historic Nova Scotia eight-sided barn. The "Glooscap" name was later retired to become the "Troup (or Troop) Barn" when it came to house a games arcade, and for one season, a laser show. This was also where a 9-hole indoor Miniature Golf course came to be placed.

    For 1991, the single admission pricing changed to a graduated one whereby admission was free on up to a few dollars, with rides and attractions then individually priced. The single-admission bracelet was still in place; an $8.00 extra charge got buyers all-inclusive access. This was an incredible deal for the time.

    By 1993, the government decided to get out of the amusement park business. Declining attendance, partly due to a run of poor weather and an economic recession, along with rising operating costs prompted this decision. Another factor was that the park was located away from major population centres; the largest, Halifax, was two hours away by car -- meaning a four-hour round trip. Saint John, New Brunswick was closer by water, but that required taking a ferry which added greatly to the cost of the day. Expensive and/or time-consuming trips resulted in persons from those centres coming less often. In addition, a military base in the area closed in 1995, while a training camp began to lessen its numbers.

    A Hong Kong group of 16 businessmen called "Amsdale Resources Management" leased the parks starting for the 1994 season. Although ARM invested $500,000, they shortened the season, reduced the number of staff, closed the Wildlife Park to the public, and raised prices. Attendance over ARM's lease period of three years dropped another 20% or so to 70,000. To compare, the peak attendance to date had been 280,000 in 1991. (In 1995, the Wildlife Park would reopen to be run by a not-for-profit, community-based society.)

    The NS government then sought others to run the park. A local group called "The Hanse Society" (later to become the "Upper Clements Parks Society") was awarded a 10-year lease which started in 1997. An annual grant of $310,000 was provided toward operating expenses. The Society had a lot to do; many of the items on the 91-page inventory were missing or broken. However, by the 2000 season, quality entertainers were being booked, and park characters such as train engineer "Clarence", "Captain Kid Ryerson", and "Clementine" the park's main mascot had been brought back. Added to the attractions list was the large "Fundy Splash" waterslide. This had three loops over its 106-metre length.

    In addition, a symbiotic-agreement was in place with the Wildlife Park, whereby paying admission at one park got you into the other. (A rides bracelet or tickets was extra.) These funds would be split between the two. This apparently happened in 2000 and the tunnel connecting the two parks reopened.

    For one season, a travelling exhibit from Discovery Center Halifax came to the park. It featured hands-on science-oriented presentations that demonstrated holography, polarization, light spectrum, reflection, refraction, and so on. This was put inside the former Village Artisans Cooperative building in the Village Square.

    Also on site at this time, the Stone House had become an Art Gallery.

    By 2001, the season was running from May 15 through October 15, with the early and late dates being weekends only. Attendance rose.

    New sometime around the 2003 season was the Entertainment Pavilion. This was built to the left of the entrance, and sat on the location formerly occupied by the Maude Lewis house. It had a fairly large stage, lots of seating, an excellent sound system, and acoustic curtaining. Next to it was a raised, open patio with a perimeter railing. It occupied where the Clifton House gift shop had sat. Both buildings were apparently demolished, not moved. This greatly opened up the main courtyard just inside the entrance.

    For a number of seasons, there was a Go-Kart track, but the concessionaire, Action Amusements, were not making enough money, and so eventually left. For 2003, "Pedal Cars" were put on the track. These consisted of one- or four-seat cars with open-style wheels much like a tricycle, except there were four, same-size wheels. Riders would race one another round the track through each's own motivative power.

    Also for 2003 was a new Bumper Car setup. Ride Development Corporation cars were placed on the old 10 X 20 metre layout which had its sides and roof removed. The electrified ceiling was not necessary because RDC cars were gasoline-powered, with rubber bumper-boat style surrounds. They were radio-controlled by an operator for stops & starts.

    Gone were the kiddie Bumper Boats, but the adult ones survived. Still included in the full-price, all-inclusive admission ($18.00 for 2003) was the Upper Clements Wildlife Park.

    In 2005, Gregg Gaul was hired as General Manager. The park continued to draw more visitors so that by 2006, the park was operating with a $200,000 surplus. One day in August of that year, the park saw 3,000 come through the gate, a number not seen in three years, and overall numbers were up 4.5% from 2005, and up 22% for the Wildlife Park. Some of this increase was attributed to agreements with the Canadian Automobile Association and the Air Miles group which brought a higher park profile to the public through their promotions. Many other sponsors were brought on board, such as a radio station, retailers, a hotel and ferry company. UCP also instituted $5.75 rates for seniors that did not want to go on rides, but did want a day in the park. This price bought admission to both parks along with all the entertainment, and limited rides on the train.

    In 2007, the NS government sold the park to the Hanse Society for $1 million, and still provided the operating expense money for that season, plus an additional $1.3 million for improvements. By the following year, the Society applied for tax-exempt status as a not-for-profit entity, and it took over some of the concessions in the park from their private owners, especially the food operations. They also expanded the "Park after Dark" concert series, and promoted school visits.

    The Upper Clements Wildlife Park was shut down at the end of the 2009 season because attendance had dropped too low to sustain it. (This may have been fallout from the 2008 recession.) The animals were set free or relocated as necessary. However, the area was redeveloped into an "Adventure Park" which opened in 2012. There were fourteen bridges and two ziplines.

    Despite all this, attendance never fully covered the costs of running the parks, and the financial difficulties continued to be the amusement park's undoing. After two deteriorating years, the park never reopened after the 2019 season. The final straw was the Covid-19 shut down in Canada that directed people to stay at home to lessen the spread of the disease. This started in 2020, March, so the park did not open that year. Given the prospect of at least a few more years of no or low attendance, it was decided to close for good.

The park's assets were purchased by the Municipality of
the County of Annapolis in 2020 for $600,000. Viewing
was set for September of that year, and items were
expected to go onto the auction block that fall.

It was expected that a private school would be built
on the property. However, the Supreme Court of Nova
Scotia ruled resolutions made by the former Annapolis
County council regarding the transfer of Upper Clements
Park lands to a developer were illegal. The new county
council will now decide the fate of the land. As of 2023,
most of the attractions are gone or demolished, and the
area remains abandoned.

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