Last week I was lucky to see a post on Facebook from someone looking to move a bunch of roller coaster and amusement themed merch. What naturally piqued my interest was the large number of pins being offered. There was easily more than 100 pins up for sale through the numerous photos in the listing.
I immediately reached out to the seller and thankfully, I was the first to do so. A few others inquired about the pins not long after my message was received. I was given first dibs on whatever I wanted out of the lot. This resulted in 59 brand new pins making their way into my collection. Well, technically I grabbed 62, but I three were for Sam.
I already added all 59 pins to the Pin Collection here on the site, but have included all them here on this blog so you can find them easily. This is quite the haul, showcasing older pins, pins featuring defunct rides, renamed rides, and even some from defunct parks. Let’s take a look.
American Coaster Enthusiasts
Until I picked up this pin lot, I only had one pin from the American Coaster Enthusiasts (ACE). I bought it from their shop the same day I became a member in 2020. What I was most interested in with these pins were the ones that focused on parks like Idlewild and the Santa Cruz Boardwalk. I also was excited to purchase the ones with Twister II from Elitch Gardens and a button of Skyrush from Hersheypark.
Belmont Park
I have always loved boardwalk/beach parks ever since I was a child. All of the ones I have visited thus far have been on the East Coast of the United States. It has always been my aim to visit some of the famous West Coast parks, especially Belmont Park, home of the Giant Dipper. Not having a pin for either this park or the coaster made this one a must grab.
Canobie Lake Park
Canobie Lake Park is on my bucket list. I really want to ride Untamed and the Mine of Lost Souls dark ride. I couldn’t pass up the chance to add a second pin from this park to the collection. I have only ever seen the one I already have prior to seeing this lot up for sale.
Dollywood
Dollywood has been a hard park to collect pins for. While I do find some on eBay, they’re never for the coasters. I didn’t find them in two visits to the park either. This lot, however, had a bunch of Mystery Mine pins as well as some for Thunderhead. What perplexed me most, though, was the Dollywood Official Pin Trader pin. I didn’t know they had a pin trading program. Maybe it has been discontinued? If anyone knows, please inform me.
Dorney Park
Dorney Park is another park I’ve had limited luck with when it comes to finding pins for their coaster collection. I’ve had a few hits over the years, but in this haul, three major items stood out. The first are the two Hercules pins. Second is another awesome Hydra pin. Both Hydra pins designs are among my favorites of the close to 500 pins I own. Last, a Voodoo pin – a name the coaster had for only one season before being renamed Possessed.
Geauga Lake
Had this pin not said Geauga Lake on it, I probably wouldn’t have grabbed it. I tend to focus on the pins with rides, park logos, and things that scream “amusement park.” There was no way, however, I was passing the chance to finally get a pin from Geauga Lake. I’ve long sought after one from this defunct park. Hopefully one day I’ll be able to find some of the ones themed to their coasters, if any were ever produced.
Indiana Beach
I picked up this large plastic button from Indiana Beach simply because I adore the park. I had one visit with Mindy back in 2018 and fell in love with the park’s atmosphere and setting. The rides were also great and I was so happy the park sold pins and I grabbed a few before leaving the park. When I saw this lot, I figured I’d go ahead and add this button to my collection as well. Why not?
Kennywood
Hey! Another Kennywood arrow. Soon enough I’ll have enough of these arrow logo pins to use to point the way for a highway detour. Only a few more left to go. And yes, every one of the ones I have is different in some form or fashion. Whether it be size, anniversary versions, or even one that lights up, no two are alike.
Kentucky Kingdom
During the trip to Indiana Beach in 2018 with Mindy, we also visited Holiday World and Kentucky Kingdom. Sadly, there was only one pin being sold at the park – a standard logo pin. When I saw the Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom pin in the lot, I had to have it. I also really wanted the Kentucky Flyer pin. The small buttons I also grabbed simply because they showcased the park’s coasters, with an Eye of the Storm thrown in the mix too.
Kings Dominion
Another pin to feature a name no longer in use by their park belongs to The Italian Job Turbo Coaster pin I picked up in this lot. Since Paramount no longer owns Kings Dominion, the coaster now goes by Backlot Stunt Coaster. What makes this pin extra special is it is from the coaster’s debut season and is marked accordingly.
Kings Island
I have a lot of Beast pins, but I was shocked when I saw this one. I own a few Six Flags Magic Mountain (SFMM) that are of a similar style – logo dangling from a metal box frame. As a matter of fact, when I first saw the pin in the lot photo, I immediately assumed it was another SFMM pin until I zoomed in on it. It also has the added bonus of saying “Paramount’s Kings Island” on it.
Speaking of Paramount, the Top Gun pin was neck and neck with the Hercules pins for the one I wanted most out of this lot. With this site’s name based off the popular movie quote, it was a must have.
Knoebels Amusement Resort
In recent years I have acquired a good number of Knoebels pins from the park and numerous eBay auctions. I had never seen any of the ones above, so I made sure to include them in my selection.
Knotts Berry Farm
Knotts Berry Farm has a ton of pins on eBay, but not many of them are focused on the roller coasters. I’ve seen this Xcelerator pin a handful of times, but it’s always way overpriced. I’ve always wanted it, but was not going to pay $35 or more for it. I’m glad it’s finally in my collection now. As for the Snoopy one, I decided to get it because it’s a slider pin and does have a coaster in the artwork.
Lake Compounce
In 2018 I did a multi-park excursion that included Lake Compounce. I got some really bad rides on Boulder Dash, but I was able to pick up a pin set that included pins for Boulder Dash, Wildcat, and Phobia Phear Coaster that day. When I saw the two pins above being offered, I decided to go ahead and grab them too. The Boulder Dash pin is a different design and having one of the park’s skyline is nice too.
Lake Winnepesaukah Amusement Park
I spent a few hours at Lake Winnepesaukah in 2019 and absolutely loved the park. Their gift shop, thankfully, sold a Cannon Ball pin. When I saw this one for Boat Chute, I had to have it. Talk about one of them most unique rides I’ve been on. This was one of the rare exceptions when I bought a non-general park or non-coaster ride pin.
Lakeside Amusement Park
Truth be told, I know very little about Lakeside Amusement Park. I don’t hear many people talk about it and even their website doesn’t really show much in the way of their ride line up. When I saw a pin from this park being sold in the lot, I decided to scoop it up on the fact that it just seemed to one I’d probably never see again.
Rye Playland
I can honestly say that I was massively bummed out that Rye Playland didn’t have any pins for sale during my 2018 visit. I looked everywhere. I had a hard enough time finding a proper gift shop. I left the park loving the rides and park atmosphere, but sad I had no pins to show for it. Now I have one and one for a Zamperla Flying Coaster at that.
Silver Dollar City
Oddly enough, I only had one item in my Pin Collection from Silver Dollar City – an Outlaw Run button. I’ve always hoped to find more pins from this park and I finally did. Now I just hope to find some of their coaster collection moving forward.
Six Flags Great Adventure
I’ve seen most of these Six Flags Great Adventure (SFGAdv) pins above on eBay at one time or another for outrageous prices. I always pass on them, but since the seller was offering all of them to me at very reasonable prices, I went ahead and grabbed them. I’m happy to have some pins for something other than Nitro, Kingda Ka, and El Toro from this park when it comes to coasters. It seems like Six Flags doesn’t do much in the way of merchandise for their DC Comics themed attractions. Sure, they’re do the generic Superman, Batman, Harley Quinn shirts and such, but I’m talking ones themed to the rides/coasters.
Six Flags Great America
I rarely see pins from SIx Flags Great America (SFGAm) for sale. I have come across ones for for American Eagle, Raging Bull, Viper and X Flight on both eBay and from another Facebook seller. I was so happy to see pins for Little Dipper and Whizzer. The American Eagle and Viper ones I also grabbed since the designs were different than those I previously obtained.
Six Flags St. Louis
My first pin from Six Flags St. Louis (SFSL) also happens to be one featured a coaster that was renamed. The Evel Knievel coaster only lasted from 2008-10 before being renamed American Thunder. To be honest, I totally forgot that it had that name until the pin reminded me when I saw it in this lot. It was a must have.
