Naples Island Roller Coaster House

When Christmas 2011 was close at hand, the ferris wheel was in need of renovation. Years before, Dad (Miny) had replaced the original seats with cut out canisters and placed different little stuffed animals in them. The canisters and animals had seen better days so we decided to rebuild the original seats, buy marionettes at Olvera Street in downtown LA and place them on the seats as a tribute to our growing group of Latino friends and families. The ferris wheel was painted white, the seats red and the motor box top green - the colors of the Mexican flag. It looked "fabuloso" again and was ready for a new generation!

Here are some photos from the 80s I found recently of my Dad, Miny Poe, working on this beloved roller coaster and getting it ready for the holiday crowds

Look for the Roller Coaster this year at John Huntington's home just six houses away from the original site on Rivo Alto Canal. John's house is the one decorated with lights like a Santa Claus face. Please thank John for continuing the tradition!

Our matriarch, Fern Poe, passed away on February 9th and the house she and my father built in 1952 has been sold to a wonderful family. The famous roller coaster will live on in the yard of good neighbor John Huntington just about six houses from the original site. Thanks to John, a wonderful tradition will survive.

The hostess, Fern Poe, with her granddaughter and great granddaughter