If you grew up in North Georgia, chances are you went to Stone Mountain Park as a child to ride the train and the Sky Summit ride. Both have been major park attractions for a long time, and they're celebrating big birthdays this year.
This year the Summit Skyride is 50 years old. The scenic lift opened in 1962.
Metro residents Thomas and Gloria Daly visited the park in 1966. The Dalys are the parents FOX 5 photographer Mike Daly. They saw the Robert E. Lee riverboat and later boarded the Helvetica 2 for an air-conditioned lift up the mountain.
It's a 3-minute trip people still make decades later. First time rider Neko Anderson of Atlanta says the ride was not scary. And rider Diane Babrielli called the ride up "nice."
"The very first one was two red cars, and it was a little further down the mountain," said Jeanine Jones of Stone Mountain Park.
When the ride opened 50 years ago, it was one of two new attractions at the park. The other was a scenic railroad. The little yellow depot is now a big brick one. The thrill of the ride is the same as in the 1960s.
The riverboat Robert E. Lee did not fare so well over the years.
"The Robert E. Lee, which was our very first riverboat at the park, is actually a fish habitat in the lake...currently," said Jones.
Click the videos to watch Paul's live report from Stone Mountain Park! Information: Stone Mountain Park 1000 Robert E. Lee Drive Stone Mountain, Georgia 30083 http://www.stonemountainpark.com/
