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But before you laugh, consider this: The amusement park, like pop music, is one of the few quintessentially American art forms. From the time more than a century ago when tourists first flocked to Florida’s beaches, through the birth of Walt Disney’s dream in the swamps outside of Orlando, Florida has been the epicenter of our national obsession with amusement. Ironic, then, that the relentless pursuit of recreation – the very same that has given birth to these beacons of family fun – is the same instinct that often leads to their demise once they are no longer the new kids on the boardwalk.

A fortunate few have stood the test of time. While you’re exploring the Sunshine State’s attractions, consider slowing your sprint to the latest-and-greatest, and take a moment to appreciate these classics.

This ride is actually old. For 40 years, the Starliner thrilled riders at the now-defunct Miracle Strip Amusement Park in northwest Florida, providing teeth-rattling thrills to generations of adrenaline-seekers. While its 65-foot first drop sounds tame by modern megacoaster standards, the ride’s near-70 mph speed still ranks it among the swiftest of the woody coasters.

When the Panama City Beach park closed in 2004, Kent Buescher became the Starliner’s savior, just as he resurrected Cypress Gardens, the original central Florida theme park, which had closed in the post-9/11 slump. Faithfully rebuilt with fun, floating airtime and tightly banked curves but without intimidating loops, the coaster complements Cypress Gardens’ family-friendly rides and world-famous horticulture. Cypress Gardens, like the coaster, has had its ups and downs, but it looks like it, and The Starliner, will stay classics.

The Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney World’s original park, was a far different place in 1971, with no Splash Mountain, Pirates of the Caribbean or Space Mountain. But The Haunted Mansion has been there since before opening day.

Because parts for the Florida ride were built alongside the Disneyland original, the attraction was ready six months before the rest of the park. Millions have boarded “DoomBuggies” for a mirthfully macabre open house with 999 “grim grinning ghosts” set to “X”, Atencio and Buddy Baker’s haunting song.

After suffering years of decline, the Mansion has recently been rehabilitated with new and improved special effects, including a marvelously mobile Madame Leota and an eye-popping attic bride. Be sure to check out the tongue-in-cheek tombstones in the queue – one may be looking back at you!

E.T. Adventure
What: Suspended dark ride
Where: Universal Studios Florida, Orlando
When: Opened June 7, 1990
Web: www.universalorlando.com

So we know we are pushing it a bit calling something built in 1990 a classic. Still, Universal Studios has gone through massive changes since its opening, and nearly all of the original headliners – Kongfrontation, Ghostbusters, Alfred Hitchcock, Hanna-Barbera – are now gone.

E.T. Adventure, on the other hand, has outlasted the original Hollywood version and is still going strong. Two of the most memorable elements occur before you even climb onto the signature flying bicycles: the “passports” encoded with your name (used to allow E.T. to greet you in the finale); and the atmospheric forested queue.

The ride is like a high-tech Peter Pan’s Flight, with a breathtaking flight over a miniature cityscape and colorful characters pulled from the little-known sequel novel, E.T. and the Book of the Green Planet. Though some of the animatronics show their age, the spectacular sets and charm still shine.

O.K., we agree it’s not a ride, but we couldn’t resist putting this on our favorite list. Gatorland, which first opened in 1949 as Snake & Reptile Village, is one of America’s last classic roadside attractions. Its mix of eco-friendly education and home-spun fun makes it an oasis amid flashier attractions. You won’t find any rides here faster than an old-fashioned steam-engine train, but there are plenty of thrills to be found waterside at dinnertime.

In 1983, the park began to dramatize the alligators’ feedings by hanging grocery-bought chickens on a wire over their pool, and the Jumparoo was born. Today the show has evolved to include cornpone comedians in a gator-feeding competition, but the strength and agility of the park’s namesake reptiles make them the true stars. Just try not to feel guilty afterwards while munching on the delicious ‘gator ribs at the on-site smokehouse.

Orlando is a tough town for haunted houses. Over the years, fabled walk-through spook houses such as Mystery Fun House and Terror on Church Street (along with not-so-fabled ones like Kissimmee’s Haunted Mansion) have come and gone. The most recent victim of Orlando’s haunt curse was Skull Kingdom, whose iconic fortress façade was demolished to make way for high-rises.

One haunt, however, has managed to hang in there, delivering frights for more than a decade, about an eternity in amusement park years. Halfway down Old Town’s midway, which is filled with familiar carnival contraptions, sit two dilapidated stories of boos. The maze’s 20-plus spooky rooms aren’t nearly as elaborate as one of Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights houses, but it’s a much gentler way to introduce the kids to the thrill of an old-school scare.

Lakeside Carousel
What: Wooden Carousel
Where: International Market World, Auburndale
When: Built 1909; at current location since 1996
Web: www.intlmarketworld.com

Halfway between Orlando and Tampa, amid a sea of flea-market tables and food vendors, hides a genuine antique that’s one of the last of its kind. By the time International Market World, Polk County’s mecca of bargain shopping and bluegrass, was built in 1981, the vintage merry-go-round it hosts was already 72 years old. This is one of only 16 surviving carousels that still dispense rings for you to grab at as you ride. (In case readers don’t know, grabbing the ring happens when a rider on an outer horse reaches out to grab a brass ring; most parks have eliminated the rings.)

Built in Philadelphia, it ran on steam until it was converted to electricity in 1930 while installed at Harveys Lake, Pennsylvania. The ride was passed down through the Wintersteen family until the original owner’s great-grandniece leased it first to Old Town in 1987, and then to International Market World. Go for the brass!

Ripley’s Believe It or Not!
What: Museum of oddities
Where: Castle Warden, St. Augustine
When: Opened December 1950
Web: www.staugustine-ripleys.com

Two hours north of Orlando is the oldest continuously occupied European city in the country. Founded by the Spanish in 1565, St. Augustine is famous for its historic buildings and beaches, but few know it’s also home to a worldwide entertainment empire.

Starting in 1918, Robert Ripley shared exotic oddities with the world through cartoons, radio and television. Ripley opened his first temporary “Odditorium” at the 1933 Chicago World’s Fair. The St. Augustine Believe It Or Not! opened a year after Ripley’s death and was his first permanent museum. It remains home to his personal collection. It may not have animatronics, but it does have a mummified cat. And the 1887 Moorish Revival castle in which it’s housed is an attraction in itself.

While Daytona’s Boardwalk has changed, one favorite has not been lost. It’s the carousel. Locals love it, and have generations of photographs to prove it. For decades, the merry-go-round was at Daytona’s Boardwalk, but it was moved to Daytona Lagoon at Oceanwalk Village when the Boardwalk was redeveloped. The park, including the Lagoon Waterpark, go-karts, miniature golf and laser tag, is mostly for older kids, but the carousel appeals to all ages.

Skyride Over the Serengeti Plain
What: Aerial tram ride
Where: Busch Gardens Africa, Tampa
Web: www.buschgardens.com/BGT

Busch Gardens Africa in Tampa, which opened in 1959, is known for its newer, high-stakes thrill rides like Gwazi, SheiKra and Montu. But its more venerable attractions still attract crowds. Visitors still line up for the Skyride, an aerial tramway built in 1974.

No Tinker Toy trip this Skyride, Busch Gardens’ tramway departs from a grand station worthy of a major metropolitan city. The station also houses the massive gears and wheels that propel the whole cable system. The Skyride sits near the park entrance and Nairobi Gate and takes visitors in bucket cars across the Serengeti Plain to see the park’s African animals, including giraffes, elephants and zebras.