The Labor Day weekend seems a natural occasion to look back at the summer just gone by – to remember the best rides we’ve enjoyed so far this year as we head into another school year or long stretch back at work.

But why stop at one summer? Why not look back at some of our favorite attractions from long ago – so long ago that they’re not even around any longer?

Yep, it’s time to fire up the Wayback Machine and take a trip to remember some of the best local theme park attractions from the past. Or, as a cynic might call them, “The Best Local Theme Park Attractions That Apparently Weren’t Good Enough to Stick Around Until Today.”

Whatever the cynics might say, we would bet that more than a few theme park fans still wish that some of these attractions were open to welcome visitors today.

Click on the slide show to find out which ones I like.

What are some of your favorite theme park attractions from the past? Tell us with a comment here or email us at themeparkinsider@gmail.com.

Robert Niles is the founder and editor of ThemeParkInsider.com.