When my friend James told me that he wanted to try out the Naval Park’s Motion Simulator Ride (located inside The Barn), I told him that he was nuts. At the same time I was laughing my ass off just thinking about him climbing into the contraption that looked like a shuttle from Star Trek. In the end, we ended up buying a couple tokens after Roy Gore (the operator) told me that I would regret not going on the ride. Thanks to Roy’s coaxing, James and I had an absolute blast riding around on a Harrier jet and trying to stay in our seats.
I’m telling you that this simulator is something that you have to try this summer. For $3 you get a ride that lasts as long as a rollercoaster, and the movie screen situated in front of the craft gives passengers the same queasy feeling as the first drop of The Comet – complete with the rough and rumble ride of the tracks. There were a couple of times that I actually looked at the ‘panic button’ in front of me as I found myself soaring over tree tops and then down into a ravine. Thankfully I had not eaten* right before testing the simulator ride.
Roy told us that the rides continue to change from day to day, which means that you might actually end up on a rollercoaster or a speed boat – you never know. You can fit a bunch of your friends inside too. Guaranteed to laugh your asses off too. I am definitely going to try this gadget out again… even if it’s to ride around on the Harrier jet program again!
*There’s no cafe or lunch spot unless you can track down one of the hot dog carts. Can someone please open a friggin cafe on the first floor of the Naval and Serviceman’s Building? Is it too much to ask? I also hope that the powers that be are considering making room for the solar carrousel – a ride that has deep roots in Greater Buffalo and is GREEN!