As an employee of SDC in the late 70's and early 80's, we had a pass exchange program benefit to visit Dogpatch. I went to the park maybe three or four times then, and I always thought it was completely second rate compared to SDC. I worked at the diving bell, so when Dogpatch put in a simulation ride called Lil Abner's Space Rocket, I had to go down and try it out. It sat in the open and those waiting in line could see the rocket moving up and down and back and forth on the trailer it was mounted on. Really lame. At the diving bell, we had all sorts of theming, props, live actors playing Junior Dugan, and line activities to "convince" visitors they were getting to go on a submarine ride. The cheap simulation rides you see at shopping malls today are about the same level as the rocket ride at Dogpatch. One thing I did like about Dogpatch. They had a "Mad Mouse" rollercoaster, similar to the one I remember riding as a kid at the now long defunct Chain of Rocks Park along the Mississippi River at St. Louis. I don't want to slam Dogpatch too much, though. Richard Young who has worked at SDC since 1980, played various roles at Dogpatch in the 70's. I worked with Richard in the early '80's at SDC. He is a class act, a great guy with a good sense of humor. Another fellow I worked with at SDC cut his acting teeth at Dogpatch. His name was James McKay, and I worked with him at the diving bell in 1980. We both played Junior Dugan.
