Metro Vancouver thrillseekers will be flocking to Playland this weekend as it opens for the season, but we thought it would be fun to look back at one ride that might be considered iconic to some, and death-defying to others: the Wild Mouse.
We can’t take all the credit. Someone shared a post to the Old Vancouver Facebook group asking followers, “Who amongst us has *not* had a near-death experience on the old Wild Mouse ride?”
Despite the pain it caused some riders, many said they miss it.
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First, some historical facts about the Wild Mouse, which was also once called the Mad Mouse.
Joe Schwartz (RCDB)
Like many attractions at Playland, the Wild Mouse wasn’t an exclusive, but instead, a type of ride that existed and possibly still exists at theme parks worldwide. In fact, a Wikipedia page about the Wild Mouse ride suggests it has been a feature at over a hundred parks around the world, dating back to the 1950s.
Focusing on Playland’s version, the Rollercoaster Database says it was in operation from 1979 until it was removed in 2008. The Playland Wild Mouse allowed two riders per car, and the track was 500 feet long.
She has no idea about the pain that awaits her. (Peter Fleischmann/RCDB)
According to Coasterpedia, one of the primary features of the Wild Mouse was tight, unbanked turns, which gave riders the impression that the car would fall off the track.
While no one fell off the tracks at Playland, it wasn’t uncommon to walk off the ride feeling a little… sore. Over the years, many people have shared memories about their experiences on the Wild Mouse, and many of those memories involve pain.
“The Wild Mouse was a ride one was happy merely to survive!”
Someone else remembered, “Was certain I was going to die.”
They weren’t alone. Many comments about the ride were about people thinking they would die. Others who shared their experiences made it clear that the ride worked as intended, with many saying it felt like they would fall over the edge.
“I always thought the cart was going to go off the track on that ride, then it would jerk around the corner at the last minute.”
Then there were some masochists who had no issues with it.
“I loved that ride, the best ride!”
Another person didn’t mind the fear it induced, saying, “Terrifying.. but I loved going on it.”
If you never got to experience yourself, there are many old videos on YouTube of the ride in action:
Since the days of the Wild Mouse, many other classic rides have gone extinct, replaced with more modern and speedy attractions. But for the OGs who grew up with rides like the Wild Mouse and the Music Express, we’ll always have the trauma of the pain we endured on these beloved attractions.
What ride that no longer exists at Playland do you miss the most? The Corkscrew? The Revelation? Let us know in the comments.