Fascinated by Fascination

I'm a sucker for carnival games.

I don't go nuts like some people who spend $100 to win a giant bear that's only worth $7.50.  

Instead, I play because I like the challenge of trying to beat the game.

Because prices have gone up on admission, food, drinks and souvenirs, I don't play as many games as I did a few years ago.  However, on a recent trip to Knoebels, I found a game that grabbed my attention and monopolized my time.

Fascination.  The game is simple and very, very addicting.

Fascination was all the rage in the 1950's.  You couldn't go to any amusement park in the United States without finding a Fascination Parlor.

The thing that I like about the game is that you can play for hours without spending a whole lot of money.  It's a very social game because you can sit with friends and talk trash as you win and lose.  It also provides a nice break from riding and eating during your theme park day.

Plus, if you're lucky, you might even walk away with some prizes.

Sadly, there are only around a dozen places where you can play the game these days.  Places like Cedar Point, Hersheypark and Kennywood removed their Fascination Parlors to make room for new attractions.

But you can still visit traditional amusement parks like Knoebels and Indiana Beach and spend a few quarters trying to beat all the other players in this fast paced game.

I wish more parks had games like this.

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