DOGPATCH SOLD!!!

[White Rabbit]

We caught trout once when we went there as kids, and had the restaurant cook them for us (they let you do that, cost a lot, though, I think).

Biggest thing I remember was the tricycle races. That was an awesome thing if you were a little kid.

And I never did get to meet the fucking Shmoo. Daisy, Abner, but no Shmoo.

[ropingk]

what was Shamoo suppose to be anyway???

[White Rabbit]

what was Shamoo suppose to be anyway???

Here's the official answer from the Li'l Abner site:

The Shmoo first appeared in the strip in August 1948. According to Shmoo legend, the lovable creature laid eggs, gave milk and died of sheer esctasy when looked at with hunger. The Shmoo loved to be eaten and tasted like any food desired. Anything that delighted people delighted a Shmoo. Fry a Shmoo and it came out chicken. Broil it and it came out steak. Shmoo eyes made terrific suspender buttons. The hide of the Shmoo if cut thin made fine leather and if cut thick made the best lumber. Shmoo whiskers made splendid toothpicks. The Shmoo satisfied all the world's wants. You could never run out of Shmoon (plural of Shmoo) because they multiplied at such an incredible rate. The Shmoo believed that the only way to happiness was to bring happiness to others. Li'l Abner discovered Shmoos when he ventured into the forbidden Valley of the Shmoon, against the frantic protestations of Ol' Man Mose. "Shmoos," he warned, "is the greatest menace to hoomanity th' world has evah known." "Thass becuz they is so bad, huh?" asked Li'l Abner. "No, stupid," answered Mose, hurling one of life's profoundest paradoxes at Li'l Abner. "It's because they're so good!"

Ironically, the lovable and selfless Shmoos ultimately brought misery to humankind because people with a limitless supply of self-sacrificing Shmoos stopped working and society broke down. Seen at first as a boon to humankind, they were ultimately hunted down and exterminated to preserve the status quo. (Thought extinct after the 1948 adventure, one Shmoo always seemed to escape to Dogpatch's Valley of the Shmoon to form a new colony and a later plot revival by Capp).

[ann_marie]

That is seriously fucked up. This is the first I've heard of a shmoo. A shmoo's hide could be leather or lumber??? WTF? Whoever created a shmoo was on some serious druqs.

[ropingk]

WOW that is all I can say I thought I knew about Dogpatch but I had NEVER heard anything like, that I knew that Shamoo was Big and White but I never knew anything else I think I might be glad i didnt
I think ann_marie is probaly right.............

[dogpatchexpert]

I just went exploreing up that a few days back. Its got worse the new owners will have alot ALOT of work. Trust me it looks bad...

[holeeroler]

These links are probably scattered throughout this forum but if you don't want to have to wade through the many different Dogpatch discussions here - look no further!


Indepth history of Dogpatch USA:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dogpatch_USA

This is a great source for Dogpatch USA enthusiasts:
http://users.aristotle.net/~russjohn/at ... patch.html

More history and nostalgia regarding Dogpatch USA:
http://www.roadsideamerica.com/tips/get ... tionNo==46

History and a personal account of Dogpatch USA:
LINK

Discussion board about Dogpatch USA:
http://themeparksonline.org/tpoforum3.a ... &forumid=1

News about the sale of Dogpatch can be found at these 2 locations:
http://www.nwanews.com/story.php?paper= ... oryid=8748
http://www.nwanews.com/story.php?paper= ... ryid=43586

Another Dogpatch USA news article:
http://www.nwanews.com/story.php?paper= ... yid=102174

An interesting website about a snake groups trip to Dogpatch USA:
http://www.snakesofarkansas.com/index.p ... d_trip.php

1971 family photo's of Dogpatch USA:
http://community.webshots.com/album/178911767iCtFka

1972 family photo's of Dogpatch USA:
http://www.albertsplace.com/dogpatch.html

Photos from an UE to Dogpatch:
http://www.pointedstick.net/colter/plog/04/dogpatch/
http://www.pointedstick.net/colter/plog/04/dogpatch/2/

The Roller Coast Database features some interesting informaton about the roller coasters of Dogpatch USA and even tells you where they are now!:
http://www.rcdb.com/pd103.htm

Some more from the crazy snake people:
http://snakesofarkansas.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=295
A message board where people discuss Dogpatch USA can be found at:
http://www.getawaysaver.com/forum/archi ... -3751.html

An interesting article about couples who met at Dogpatch USA can be found at:
http://www.nwanews.com/story.php?paper= ... ryid=22310

[GatsbyfromMC]

Wow, you've been busy....

[pangiya]

This is going to tip my age... (and bring into question my tastes) but I actually had my honeymoon at Dogpatch. (Still married, thanks for wondering.) It was one of those free vacations if you waste half the day in a time-share brainwashing session. We didn't buy. (like two teenaged elopers glomming on to a free Dogpatch honeymoon could afford a timeshare!) The interesting thing is, one of the pitches at the time was that they were building a SNOW ski slope, and were planning to bring in snow-making equipment. They showed us the itty bitty steep hillside being cleared. Having grown up in Colorado, I got a stich in my side from laughing so hard. Anyone come across a ski lift down there?

[bluecookies]

This is going to tip my age... (and bring into question my tastes) but I actually had my honeymoon at Dogpatch.

That is sweet! I was planning on going to Niagra Falls for my honeymoon (about 3-4 hours from my house in MI). But the wife wanted to go somewhere with a beach. I ended up doing something different, was glad I did though

[Willard]

I think the ski lifts and what ever else they used for the ski resort thing was taken out after the first couple of years flopped.

[Capn Jon]

We had heard that there was activity at Dogpatch, so we took a run over there this afternoon. It's amazing how much better it looks! The people who bought it have put a lot of work into cleaning it up. There's no signs to show what it's going to be, but there were workers on the site when we got there. It looks like the majority of the place is going to stay the way it is, all the cabins and the majority of the other buildings look like they were left alone.
We plan on keeping up with the progress.

[bluefox75]

I transferred to Harrison in late 2000 and was excited about the proximity of Dogpatch. I got a chance to wander the park about 6 months before it sold. It was bittersweet really.

I work at the Harrison Daily Times and before it was sold this last time, we had new rumors about it every 3 months or so. When I was there, it was really sad to see the destruction and remains of so many wonderful memories. A good friend of mine, who accompanied my wife and I, has a blog and posted his pictures. Check it out: http://www.pointedstick.net/colter/plog/04/dogpatch/

and

http://www.pointedstick.net/colter/plog/04/dogpatch/2/

I do know the Hub, located at the old ski lodge at Marble Falls, above Dogpatch, was recently denied a liquor license.
I think they're trying again.

[GatsbyfromMC]

So what new rumors have you been hearing?

Alot of things float around

[bluefox75]

The rumors were usually that so and so bought the park, or some big company was looking to turn it into this...
Y'know, what small-town talk would usually produce.