Amongst our childhood activities growing up – for the most part – in the municipality of Surrey, British Columbia, Canada including the neighborhoods of Guildford, Whalley & sometimes Newton, we had many excursions out n’ about. With a whole batch of boys, finding activities which were relatively inexpensive and mostly/often outside to help use up energy and getting us into nature and into the weather was key. ALong with lots of visits to Canada Games Pool and Bear Creek Park, we also did piano lessons, were serious about homework/schoolwork, science fairs, run for fun, cub scouts and a lot of church activities (which we won’t get into now).
One of our favorite places to go Flintstone Village – which has kind of a confusing history about whether it was actually licensed by the Flintstones rights holders (Hannah Barbera?), and i’m unclear of what became of it and when (as I understand it was changed to something like “Dino-land” and there was some intellectual property conundrum associated with it), heck maybe its a housing development now.
Anyhow, Flintstone Park or Village or whatever the official name is/was, was right off the Trans Canada highway near Chilliwack so instead of rolling on dangerous/exciting rides or somewhere with high prices for everything from food to attractions (looking at you PNE Playland), and long lines to go along with it, Flintstone Village was low-key with lots of places just to lounge around + you could bring your own picnic, and the “rides” were mostly activities involved doing things like mini putt-putt golf with goofy clubs as though you were indeed, a Stone Age family, paddling around in boats (of course without lifejackets) which were rectangular with some sort of odd paddle which made it comical to try to get around which encouraged splashing and crashing, and there was also some sort of little train thing to roll you around, and notable were lots of giant dinosaurs to climb around on, pose with although being made of concrete and out in the scant summer sun, became quite hot as i recall.
Going through the snapshots, I think they chronicle at least three five different visits judging by outfits and ages, and somehow show the low-key nature of the park as we spread out for picnics, other people were simply sunbathing while we were clambering around, plus snaps capturing some of the interactivity of the games which you “did something” rather then lining up to sit in a seat with dodgy safety measures (looking at you again PNE Playland).
But most importantly, get to see my dear brothers at different ages in different modes of our life – I especially love the shots of us together clambering around on the dinosaurs – somehow it seems like such behavior wouldn’t even be allowed, or wouldn’t be considered “fun enough” – The snap of us on top of the stegosaurus is even printed and framed and hang sometimes in our rotating home gallery to the amusement of my little guy who loves dinosaurs – and of course, also ninjas, bees (all kinds), bears, especially my bear stories, suitcases, waving at trains and airplanes and wearing his red trucker hat… Yep, it all checks out with this crew
Bob always seriously contemplative distracted as he was thinking about being somewhere else, Dan looking perfect in every photo and strategically figure out how to win each game, James being a cute little guy doing his best to stay up, and Andrew who as the 5th boy is so often out of the photos (but definitely got the most toys growing up) even makes some appearances in a baby playpen (maybe not). Me, of course sporting various glasses and belt buckles and doing my best to look cool (and I’m also noting that my neck seems to have this tilt from a very young age but anyway), I’m doing my best to be cool – but hey I’m just happy these photos exist, and dear Mom took the time to scan them and always have us dressed up, well fed and having fun and Dad behind the camera (which i have no recollection of him ever doin)g.
Arranged per trip – moreoreless – based on outfits and ages, with likely errors and with minor captions, tell me if inaccurate
Thanks Dad and Mom for taking us to this place before *everything changed* in our family’s world (and paying for the developing of slide film
Asides
when I shared some of these snapshots on another *social* channel [FB], there was a lot of memories coming out and a lot of conversation about name changes, downfall, something changing but with these great snapshots, it will always remain the same to me
As it turns out, my friend Rebecca (Miss 604) has a full blurb about the “Dusty’s Dinotown” closing down, my Mom commented on it *and* R mentioned it in the FB post above) – sheesh i’m trying my best :)
*and* i posted a comment pre-saging this post in 2010, ergo: “Somewhere i have family slides of going there for brother Dan’s childhood birthday and paddling in the square canoes, foot-pushing the cars and exploring the buildings. Must be a surreal cartoon ghostland.”
and Mom added similar, “Here’s a picture at Flintstone Park circa 1978 with 4 of my sons. Bob, Dave (aka Uncleweed), Dan & James! I was preggers with son #5 at the time (Andrew). We went to the park several times over the years and had terrific family fun times there. Sorry to hear it is soon a thing of the past.”
Heck even dear departed Derek K. Miller chimed in – sigh
What have you got to say about this Flintstone-Dusty-Park-Village attraction?
Parting Mammoth
Parting Mystery
