Summer Archives : The Retro Network

The Wild History of Action Park and the Chaos That Closed It

Action Park delivered wild, barely supervised thrills where concrete slides, brutal wave pools, and experimental rides made danger part of the fun and ultimately part of its downfall.

SeaWorld: From Dream to Destination

Mickey Yarber

SeaWorld felt like stepping into another world, a place where dolphins danced, orcas soared, and childhood summers smelled like saltwater and sunscreen as the ocean came alive right in front of you.

Holiday Inn Holidome: A Lost Landmark of Family Travel

Mickey Yarber

Holiday Inn Holidomes turned ordinary hotel stays into indoor adventures, where warm air, glowing string lights, and the sound of splashing pools made every family trip feel like a mini vacation.

We Still Remember Suddenly S’Mores

Mickey Yarber

Warm graham, melting chocolate, and a marshmallow puffing in the microwave. Suddenly S’mores turned an ordinary afternoon into a tiny burst of campfire magic.

Sliding Through Summer on the Crocodile Mile

Mickey Yarber

The Crocodile Mile turned an ordinary backyard into a full summer adventure. One sprint, one dive, and suddenly you were sliding through a giant crocodile like the star of your own Saturday morning cartoon.

Lifestyle

Opryland USA: A Theme Park Built on Music and Memories

Mickey Yarber

Opryland was a theme park built on music, family, and pure Tennessee charm.

Stuckey’s: The Roadside Oasis That Defined the American Highway

Mickey Yarber

Stuckey’s was the bright blue promise on the horizon, a roadside oasis where pecan logs, souvenirs, and pure Americana turned every family road trip into something a little more magical.

Panama Jack and the Rise of 80s Surfwear Style

Mickey Yarber

Panama Jack captured the carefree spirit of 80s beach culture, growing from a Florida sunscreen brand into a nationwide symbol of sunshine, surf style, and tropical vacation vibes that still spark nostalgia today.

Super Soaker 50: The Backyard Blaster That Ruled the Decade

Mickey Yarber

In the summer of 1990, backyards across America were transformed into splash zones thanks to a revolutionary new take on an old toy: the Super Soaker 50. Sleek, pressurized, and wildly powerful compared to the

House Rules Backyard Summer Games

Kevin Decent

My brother and I spent a lot of time at our grandparents home over the summer. There were dinners I still crave. I would never grill a hamburger the way my grandfather did but I

Enertech Water Guns: The Realistic Water Guns That Created Controversy

Mickey Yarber

Before the neon splash of Super Soakers dominated backyard water warfare, a more intense breed of water guns made waves in the mid-1980s. Enertech water guns, manufactured by LJN Toys, stood out for their jaw-dropping

The Last Summer I Saw My High School Friends

Kevin Decent

My son recently graduated sixth grade, and it’s a big time of transition for him. He’ll be going to a new school for seventh grade. New building, new teachers, new classmates. No guarantees that he

When Ernest Went to Splash Mountain

Mickey Yarber

Before the rise of influencers and viral ride-throughs, there was Ernest Goes to Splash Mountain, a gloriously goofy, half-hour TV special that aired on July 7, 1989, just days before the grand opening of Splash

The Retro Resurgence Podcast – Episode 20 | RR Jeopardy – Summer Edition

Chad Droze

Episode 20! The Inaugural RR Summer Episode! A whole lotta nostalgia packed into one summertime themed episode. Listen to the guys battle as they play a few rounds of RR Jeopardy for the bragging rights

TRN Round Table: Vacations and Road Trips

Mickey Yarber

The fine folks from all around the Network have come together to share stories of memorable vacations and road trips throughout the years. We’re combining them all into one long, omnibus-like post for you to

TRN Time Machine Podcast: Jason and Mickey’s Summer Memories

The Retro Network

The TRN Time Machine podcast is back! As a way to honor Jason’s podcasting legacy, we’re re-releasing classic episodes from the original Retro Network Podcast, as well as classic episodes from the early days of