Tag Archive for 'Clifton Hill'

Visit to Ripley’s Moving Theatre

Published
by
Graham
on October 6, 2008
in Niagara Falls Attractions
. 1 Comment

Up until a few weeks ago, one of the attractions I had never been to was Ripley’s Moving Theatre. This is at the top of Clifton Hill in what used to be the Houdini museum (before it burned). I have been on the FX Ride Theatre (Cosmic Coaster, FX Thrill Ride, whatever you want to call it) before, and assumed it would be similar. I don’t know if the company providing the movie and hardware are the same (I assume they are), but the rides are totally different.

At FX Ride Theatre, the entire audience is on the same platform. There are several rows of seats and the entire platforms moves together. The platform takes up less than half of the room, and the screen fills the width of the room.

At Ripley’s Moving Theater, there are 4 rows of seats, but each audience member is in their own seat.  They all move at the same time, but you are sitting “alone”. The rows are as wide as the room, as is the screen. Of course Ripley’s Moving Theater also has wind, water/mist and snow effects. Neither theater is 3D.

The setup makes the experiences different. It seemed that FX Ride Theatre was smoother, but Ripley’s Moving Theater gave you more of an “experience”. Now, I have to admit, I’m not much of a rides guy, so I’m not the best person to be doing a comparison. However, I’m sure if you enjoy rides, you’d enjoy either.

The Ripley’s Moving Theater official web site describes the attraction this way:

Experience the thrill of Ripley’s Moving Theater! Every bump, dip and turn will have you soaring with excitement as the only live action theater in Niagara Falls offers you a chance to participate in the ride of a lifetime. Get in the action! Feel the state of the art mist, snow and wind effects combined with digital dynamic surround sound sweep you into our world of entertainment. Catch the exhilaration of our two consecutive adventures playing continuously daily at Ripley’s Moving Theater.

As of the time of this posting, the 2 movies you see/experience are Motion Madness and Monster Trucks.

Casino Niagara lease renewal not so ’simple’

Published
by
Graham
on October 6, 2008
in Niagara Falls Casinos and Gaming and Niagara Falls News
. 0 Comments

From the Niagara Falls Review:

Talks to keep Casino Niagara at its Falls Avenue location are still ongoing – more than a year after Premier Dalton McGuinty told Ontario Lottery and Gaming to make a deal to extend the casino’s lease.

Behind the scenes, the landlord Canadian Niagara Hotels has offered what it calls a “substantial” rent reduction, OLG is “engaged” in the talks but “exploring a number of options,” and Mayor Ted Salci says the uncertainty prevents both city and private-sector projects in the Clifton Hill area from going ahead.

“We are not panicking, by any means. We are concerned,” Salci said last week.

S Maracle Photography: The Girlies….

Published
by
Graham
on October 6, 2008
in Niagara Falls Trips
. 0 Comments

Someone with a Blogger blog posted about a recent trip to Niagara Falls:

Here are a few shots of Brooke and Keturah taken while we were in Niagara Falls at various locations:

1st and 2nd-taken at Butterfly Conservatory
3rd and 4th-taken on Clifton Hill outside of the Ripley’s Museum
5th-taken at Victoria Park
6th and 7th-taken at the Glow-In-The-Dark golf

Big changes in store on Clifton Hill

Published
by
Graham
on October 1, 2008
in Niagara Falls Developments and Niagara Falls News
. 5 Comments

From Niagara This Week:

One of Niagara Falls’ oldest hotels will close its doors forever in two weeks, making way for further redevelopment on the ever-changing Clifton Hill.

The Quality Inn, which first opened in the 1950s, will close Oct. 13, completing a series of changes already seen throughout the once expansive property.

Once considered the largest hotel in the area, the inn featured the Fallsview restaurant and the popular Thunderbird Room night club, which hosted regular live entertainment for locals and tourists alike.

According to Pat Clary, the hotel’s director of marketing, the inn will be demolished and replaced by various retail establishments and restaurants.

“The hotel isn’t being sold, it’s closing,” Clary said. “This is merely because the land was not being used properly.”

The property is still owned by the Oakes family, the iconic family behind many businesses on the Hill.

Culture festival a success: Parks chair

Published
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Graham
on September 29, 2008
in Niagara Falls Events and Niagara Falls News
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From the Milton Canadian Champion:

A new international festival that showcased the sights, sounds, tastes, and experiences from different countries to Niagara Falls locals and tourists was a complete success, said Niagara Parks Commission chairman Jim Williams.

“It was absolutely a success. We had tourists and locals who really enjoyed the festival.”

The parks commission introduced the new Celebrate Cultures festival in early September to the Clifton Hill area for a period of three weeks throughout the month.

Williams said all three cultures — Argentina, Japan and China — were enjoyed by people from all over the area.

Note: I was out along the parkway every day, and I never noticed a thing going on. I admit that I was on the other side of the road, and I didn’t walk all the way down to Table Rock place, but I was regularly along the parkway between Clifton Hill and Murray Hill, and there was never anything that drew my attention over to the other side of the road.

It’s Sherendipity >> Birthday Countdown, post 12/29

Published
by
Graham
on September 29, 2008
in Niagara Falls Trips
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Someone with their own website posted an old picture of her family in one of those “going over the falls in a barrel” sets:

This was my first trip to Niagara Falls. This photo booth was on Clifton Hill and was set up as this creepy plastic half barrel, that you stood behind and pretended that you were getting your picture taken, as you plummet over the Falls.

Quality Inn Clifton Hill closing (Clifton Hill Resorts Update - September 25, 2008)

Published
by
Graham
on September 26, 2008
in Niagara Falls Developments and Niagara Falls Hotels
. 10 Comments

On Tuesday I received the latest issue of the Clifton Hill Resorts Update newsletter. They have finally announced officially that the Quality Inn Clifton Hill is closing as of October 13. The same information was then posted on the Clifton Hill blog. Here is how it appeared in the newsletter:

First off, that’s a great looking sign! Who knew they had 4 pools?! As for memories, I never personally stayed at the Quality Inn, but I know of and have heard from many people who have stayed there, and loved it. It certainly wasn’t the fanciest hotel around, but it was clean, had a nice indoor and a beautiful outdoor pool, and had an excellent price.

One thing I did think was interesting about the announcement was that there was nothing mentioned about what will be happening with the space/land other than it is being torn down “to make way for new developments”. What are those new developments? It will be interesting to see what comes next.

I did a quick search on the Internet for information about the Fallsway Motor Hotel, and I actually came across a couple of auctions (one of them was Italian) where they are selling an old brochure from 35-40 years ago. There were also auctions for “swizzle sticks” and even an ashtray. I also came across a site for an Elvis tribute artist who performed there.

Fee free to leave a comment about your memories of the Fallsway Motor Hotel, the Quality Inn Fallsway, or the Quality Inn Clifton Hill.

A little of this, a little of that….: Vacation Day #4: Niagara Falls on the Canadian side

Published
by
Graham
on September 26, 2008
in Niagara Falls Trips
. 1 Comment

Someone with a Typepad blog posted about a recent trip to Niagara Falls (including pictures):

Our day at Niagara Falls was awesome- the weather was perfect. It was low 70’s and sunny, along with a bright blue sky. We parked near the Fallsview Casino and headed towards the Falls and the Table Rock area. I took a ton of pictures, but I picked a dozen (or two) of my favorites. We were going to go on the Maid of the Mist, but we didn’t want to chance getting wet from the mist with it being in the low 70’s. We walked all along the Falls, and then up Clifton Hill, and then back to the Fallsview Casino area. I like the Canadian side of the Falls better- the view is amazing, plus there are so many beautiful flowers and landscaped areas on the Canadian side.

Pappa and Gramma’s Road Trip: DAY 6 NIAGARA FALLS CANADA/USA

Published
by
Graham
on September 25, 2008
in Niagara Falls Attractions and Niagara Falls Trips
. 0 Comments

Someone with a Blogger blog posted about a recent trip to Niagara Falls:

Went to Clifton Hill which is an area of many tourist attractions. Went on the 4D movie ride. It was so much fun. We felt like we were driving monster trucks. When we hit the water, water sprayed on us. Then, we rode snow mobiles and it got very cold and it started snowing on us!

Dave & Buster’s (?) update

Published
by
Graham
on September 24, 2008
in Niagara Falls Developments and Niagara Falls Dining
. 11 Comments

So far we’ve heard that the old Hilltop Hotel/Pilgrim Restaurant could be a McDonald’s, an East Side Mario’s, and now Dave & Buster’s. Whatever it is going to be, here is what it looks like now. As you can see, most of the windows are in, and they’ve put up the sign structure without the actual sign.