JACKSON – Bigger, better and abundant, Jackson Day filled Johnson Memorial Park once again with attractions, vendors, community booths and a whole lot more on a sunny Sunday.
The township’s most memorable day of the year was a tribute to the community and an occasion for residents and visitors of all ages.
A unique attraction this year that paid homage to an attraction long associated with the community was provided by Six Flags Great Adventure, a Kingda Ka Roller Coaster car where many people lined up to get a photo while sitting in it.
Jackson Day Committee Chairman Ray Cattonar was very proud of getting that item to this year’s event noting that Kingda Ka was a legendary rollercoaster that provided thrills for decades until its time ran out earlier this year.
The rollercoaster was literally imploded to make way for a new attraction that is being planned at the site. Bringing a piece of that history to Jackson Day marked the first time that Six Flags Great Adventure was part of Jackson’s big day.
“I am a big roller-coaster fanatic. I rode this 27 times,” Joseph DeRosa, a teacher of Westville, remarked. “I am going straight to Great Adventure after this but I had to come out and see this first. I was there for its final weekend having heard all these rumors that it was going to close forever.”
“At first, I didn’t believe them until I saw the survey markers around the ride and then I knew something was not right. I rode it before it closed and another fun fact I was on the very first train on the final weekend in the front row,” he added.
DeRosa told The Jackson Times, “I was devasted that they closed it on such short notice. For me Kingda Ka was not just a roller coaster, this was my childhood basically. It was this roller coaster that got me into other giant rollercoasters throughout my lifetime.”
“The launch was my favorite part of the ride. I remember back in 2007 when I first started riding this, waiting hours in line just to experience the launch and it was the most incredible launch I ever experienced in my life. I have been on 172 rollercoasters throughout the world,” he added.
“When this closed it affected me emotionally because I will miss that launch but it was also a place where I met a bunch of my friends and a place I took my fiancé and all my family members. It was just a very memorable place for me,” DeRosa added.
Cattonar told The Jackson Times, “I am on cloud nine” referencing the turnout for the attraction. He even built a short PVC pipe track to add to the display of it for the photo ops at the attraction. “I also built the sign in the front. We are really paying a good tribute to it and we were very happy to provide it.”
“This was a miracle to pull off. Six Flags provided the actual banners that were at the station and they trusted me to handle it.” Great Adventure also provided a few monsters from their Fright Fest show during the afternoon.
Cattonar is gearing up for his chance to be a monster at an upcoming charity fundraiser at the theme park. “You work there for eight hours and they give the money to charity. My son talked me into it.”
Music has always been a popular feature at Jackson Day and the Black Ties Band and the Suyat Band didn’t disappoint attendees. There was also the return of the popular drone show which Cattonar got added to the day’s agenda a few years back.
Jackson Day always features rides and this year professional ATV racer Nick Gennusa from Facility 15 came out along with Empire State Monster Trucks.
A variety of food vendors and a beer garden were once again present. Various community organizations, businesses and politicians were busy promoting themselves.
Township officials and members of the Jackson Day Committee expressed a heartfelt thanks to all sponsors for helping make this event possible, with a special thank you to Six Flags Great Adventure, Optimum, Walter Earle and the Driving Academy for their generous donations.
