After hearing reports of the success of the Cyclone at Crystal Beach Park and the Lightning in Revere, Massachusetts, Nicholas and Joseph Schenck, the owners of Palisades Park, decided to buy their own Giant Cyclone Safety Coaster in 1927. Construction of the Cyclone ran into difficulty when dealing with the uneven, rocky terrain and limited space. Indeed, the coaster sat quite near the cliffside of the Palisades. The coaster opened mid-season on September 10, 1927. As with other members of the "Terrible Triplets", the coaster dealt with many maintenance issues during its existence and spent considerable periods of time standing but not operating. A modern roller coaster designer commented that this may have been partly a function of the additional wear and tear caused by the construction adjustments necessary for the Palisades terrain. Although the first Palisades Cyclone was built on a steel frame, fire played at least some role in its destruction. A major fire at the amusement park in 1934 destroyed some of the coaster's wooden track. This, combined with a reputation in the community for danger and decreased ridership, led to its ultimate demolition.
Ride experience
As with the other Giant Cyclone Safety Coasters, the first Cyclone at Palisades was notorious for a rough ride. Although no fatal incidents were reported, park operators reported occasional broken ribs and collarbones. It is thought that this coaster may have been the roughest of the "Terrifying Triplets". The steel structure of the coaster on the unforgiving Palisades terrain, combined with design adjustments needed to accommodate the terrain, are thought to be partially responsible. The spiral element common to Giant Cyclone Safety Coasters was the tightest on this coaster, as were the turns. The ride incorporated the rapidly undulating "Jazz Track" which was common throughout steel-framed Traver coasters. A lack of repeat ridership was a particular problem for the income the coaster created. Only about 10% of riders were re-rides. "Cyclone watching" became a popular pastime and the park's ownership considered giving a prize to anyone who rode the coaster three times in succession.
1945 Coaster
The second coaster was a traditional wooden coaster built by Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters. The coaster was built partially from the remains of a previous coaster known as the Skyrocket. The Skyrocket had operated between 1926 and 1944 when it was destroyed by fire. This second Cyclone operated on the Palisades until the park's ultimate closure in 1971.
