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July 19, 2005

Taken for... er... Going for a Ride

Took the fami to Allaire State Park this weekend to ride on their narrow gauge, steam engine line, and stroll through the historical buildings of the small company town that sits on the site.

[ image: waterTower by one.o.eight ©2005 ]

Paid for parking.

*Parked*

Paid to ride the train.

*Paid*

(Adult priced tickets for all, including the youngest.)

*Ookkaayy*

Paid to be allowed into the buildings of the historical town.

*Blink*

*Sigh*

*Paid*


All-in-all, an "inexpensive" day at a state park that managed to suck almost $70 [$50**] out of my pocket! Which leaves me wondering which part of the whole affair was actually state funded. It's a state park after all. But then again, New Jersey has been nothing but surprises. Damn tollbooth mentality.

The train ride featured a robbery of a different sort, which proved silly at best but fun nonetheless. I think the actors robbing the train were having more fun than the spectators.

And while I'm no train expert, the engine pulling the train looked a lot like a little diesel switcher. My train philosophy follows that if it hisses and spits and puffs and chugs and gives off breathy gasps and whistles reminiscent of the wails of tormented souls, then it's a steam engine. And if it rumbles and purrs and barely complains when it's put to work, and whistles like it's going through the motions for the steam engine set, then it's a diesel. As I heard nary a wailing soul, I conclude this engine must be a diesel. And call me crazy, but if you're going to advertise a steam engine train ride, you damn well better have a howling, hissing, little spitfire lashed to the front of the cars!

*peers into empty wallet*

The historic buildings were nice, the working blacksmith and carpentry shops in particular, but I found it irritating that no photography was allowed inside any of them. With the exception of the main house, none housed anything that could have been damaged by flash photography. If you didn’t pay admission, you could only peek through the windows. Admission gained you only admission to the buildings, nothing more.

*disappointed and broke*

Conclusion: this park sucked.

[** Ok, ok. I've been "asked" to downgrade my previously declared rip-off quotient... as I can't produce receipts to support my claims. Jeez! Didn't know I was going to get audited, hon! *grumbles*]

Posted by Tacitus at July 19, 2005 10:05 PM

Comments

I thought you said *histrionic* buildings at first. Heh. Colonial Williamsburg is like that, you know, with the parking and the paying. But without the narrow gauge steam diesel railway. But you did say it was a company town - and how else is a company supposed to make money?

Posted by: Rob at July 20, 2005 11:40 AM

A point that was not lost on us. I'm sure if we'd asked they'd have been more than happy to extend us credit for the costs of admission (at 100% interest of course).

One creepy thing: the guy who owned this place back when it *was* a company town was the central focus of everything. Mr. Allaire did this, and Mr. Allaire did that. His greatness was such a recurring theme throughout the exhibits that on more than one occasion I had to wonder if he had not in fact been a local deity.

Posted by: Tacitus at July 20, 2005 02:55 PM