1. The One And Only Blue Diamond Park Ferris Wheel
There’s not always much to do in
Delaware, but Blue Diamond Amusement Park brought a roller coaster to the state and Delawareans couldn’t have been more thrilled. Even if it was a small carnival that decided to stop travelling. But in 2008, Blue Diamond Park sold off their rides and it has since been transformed into a Motor Cross park.
2. Cake (And A Show) At Three Little Bakers Dinner Theater
Starting off as a bakery in Wilmington, the Immediato brothers expanded to create the Three Little Bakers Dinner Theater to pursue their love of theater and included their famous bakery. Three Little Bakers Dinner Theater was a popular landmark for decades but unfortunately had their final curtain call in 2007.
3. The Real Rehoboth Beach Bandstand
For more than 50 years the Rehoboth Beach Bandstand has brought live entertainment to the popular Delaware beach town. But the Bandstand that you see today isn’t the Bandstand that it always was. The old one was torn down in 2000 with the new venue built in 2005.
Most people were pretty sad to see the old one go, and agree this new one just isn’t the same.
4. Joe Biden Riding Amtrak Like Everyone Else
Joe Biden is something of a rock star in Delaware. Before he was the Vice President, he was the Senator of Delaware. He made headlines for taking the daily commute to his job in Washington DC from his home in Wilmington.
But then he got his fancy job in the White House, so no one sees him on the train anymore.
5. Three Tons Of Chicken At The DelMarVa Chicken Festival
For 65 wonderful years, the people in Slower Lower traveled to the DelMarVa Chicken Festival for a day of food, fun, festivities, and to watch three tons of chicken cooked in the world’s largest frying pan.
Sadly, those days are quickly drawing to a close, since it was announced that the last chicken festival will be in June 2014.
6. Girls' Night Dinners At Dewey Beach Club
For more than 25 years, the Dewey Beach Club was a favorite place to eat and socialize for both locals and tourists. They had great ambiance and perfectly mixed drinks. But, they couldn’t seem to keep up with the new bars that began popping up in the booming area and in 2008 they said goodbye.
7. The Cast Of Dead Poets Society At. St. Andrews
Before Joe Biden became the Veep the "Dead Poets Society" filming in Middletown at St. Andrew’s School was the biggest thing to happen to Delaware since forever. Everyone tried to get around the school to take a peek or become an extra in the movie.
And then, as movies do, they wrapped up filming and were gone. But the memories remain.
“Oh Captain, My Captain…”
8. Date Nights At Naaman’s Drive In
One of the favorite Delaware drive-ins was also one of the very last to hang on. While many of the other drive-ins in the state closed down in the '60s and '70s, Naamans endured but finally closed up shop in 1987, much to the dismay of everyone around the state.
9. Merry Go Round Trucks In Your Neighborhood
Think Mr. Frosty times a million. The excitement kids felt when the Merry Go Round truck came to their neighborhood was unsurpassed. Of course, these were the days when milk got delivered to your door, too.
So, maybe it was a simpler time, but I’m pretty sure these trucks would still make a killing.
10. Geeking Out At Between Books
Between Books was much more than a bookstore that specialized in fantasy, horror, sci-fi, graphic novels, and comics. It was a local haven for anyone interested in the genres. Between Books offered writing workshops and the owner read the manuscripts of customers and provided feedback at no charge.
Loyal customers grieved a little (okay, a lot) when the store lost its lease and had to close their own chapter in 2013.
11. The Best Day Ever At Ogletown PuttPutt And Car Wash
If you didn’t spend your childhood putting the mini golf course and begging your folks to go through the car wash, then you’re definitely not from Ogletown. This was a favorite spot for the families in the area and no one quite got over the boring Maryland Bank taking its place.
12. The Best Part Of Christiana Mall
Christiana Mall is more popular today than it’s ever been. But as it continues to expand, there is one thing notably missing: The Galaxy Arcade complete with pinball machines and Spy Hunter.
Every time you’re in the mall getting attacked by mall kiosk salespeople, you can’t help but wish Galaxy was still around so you could take out some aggression on a heated game of Whack-a-Mole.
13. Driving To Work With Barsky In The Morning
Most of Delaware’s radio stations hail from the Philadelphia or DelMarVa regions. In the 1980’s there was no one more popular on morning radio in Delaware than Barsky on WOGL, ranking number one in his time slot for years.
He changed stations to Y100 and WMMR over the years before eventually leaving the city in 2008 for radio shows in Texas and then Florida. Sigh.
14. Late And Great Nights At Cloud 9 in Rehoboth
Opened in 1993, Cloud 9 was the most popular destination for nightlife in the LGBT community that was one of the first of its kind in the area. But there’s no more dancing and no more late night drinks after long days at the beach here, because there’s no more Cloud 9. They closed up shop in 2012.
15. Wilmingtonians Singing Off-Key At The Del Rose Café
For 51 years, Del Rose Café was a fixture in Wilmington’s popular Trolley Square neighborhood as an Italian “red gravy” tavern. But even the loyal crowds and fun karaoke nights weren’t enough to keep the Del Rose open. They closed their doors on Memorial Day weekend of 2013, much to the chagrin of locals.
16. The Weird But Wonderful Delaware Toy & Miniature Museum
Antique toys and vinyl figures filled the Delaware Toy Museum, a kitschy and slightly strange museum in Wilmington. Unfortunately, the toys were forced back into their boxes when the museum closed in 2007 due to financial difficulty.
17. Globetrotter-Like Bartenders At Kahunaville
Source: Unicahome YouTube
Kahunaville was a popular spot for nightlife in Wilmington for thirteen years located on the growing Waterfront. Out front of the club sat a giant volcano that became somewhat of a landmark in the area. But the owners abruptly announced that they would be closing in November of 2006, shocking employees and patrons. And just like that, the club and volcano were gone.
18. Indiana Jones Days At Delaware Archeology Museum
Archeology buffs could search through the geological, history, and cultural exhibits like arrowheads, ceramics, and bone tools that were used in Delaware during the 17th to the 20th centuries. Located in the Old Brick Church in Dover, the Delaware Archeology Museum closed down due to budget and financial restraints, causing the state to lose another treasure.
19. High-Class Art And Culture At The First USA Riverfront Arts Center
In the '90s, the First USA Riverfront Arts Center is where locals could go for the performing arts. But after a financial dispute in 1999, the center closed down. It was later converted and reopened as the Chase Convention Center.
20. A Game At The Scrimmages Sports Bar
Scrimmages Sports Bar tried to hold on for fifteen years and not without the help of the locals who often frequented. The owners even turned to the show Restaurant Impossible in an attempt to breathe some life into the bar. But, it appears that Scrimmages just wasn’t meant to be, closing the doors for good in 2013.
21. Crab Cakes (And Drama) At Rascals
Another bar that the Restaurant Impossible crew couldn’t save, Rascals in New Castle served Louisiana crabs and St. Louis BBQ. It was a great concept, but the execution was never up to par and the place became more popular for its failures than its food and Rascals was forced to close.
