As exciting as it was to launch a new website design two years ago, it was disappointing to lose so many of the early HoliBlog posts.

For you see, we were the first park in the world to create its own blog (our first post was April of 2005), so it was hard not to get all sentimental.

Our "new" website incorporates WordPress, while the original HoliBlog was in the Blogger platform. Long story short, the old posts had to be transferred individually and therefore many didn't survive the launch.

Flash forward to today: we had a media request to list a few of our favorite HoliBlog posts from over the years, so it was high time to go dig up and re-post some oldies-but-goodies.

Here's the first; more to come soon:

Please remove your sunglasses before riding, sir...

If you follow us on Twitter, you know I'm a member of the IAAPA Communications Committee.

Chair, actually, as of this week. We had our first teleconference yesterday afternoon and I must say it was great fun.

Although we did our best to be strategic, forward-thinking and professional, an occasional pun or park story squeaked through, halting all rational thought.

One item on the agenda was to build a list of story ideas. The economy, hiring, what's new at parks, green initiatives, that sort of thing. This would help the IAAPA communications staff to be prepared (and also to help them prepare the membership) for any media calls they might receive.

Given the national events on Tuesday, I suggested there might be First Family visits to some parks this summer. Those cute little Obama girls deserve to get out once in awhile, don't you think?

One of our members jumped in: Oh, no -- you don't want that! We hosted President Carter's daughter back in the '70s and it was a horrible day. Amy had a good time, but those Secret Service agents kept puking on all the rides!

We had a presidential visit long ago...

Pre-presidential, actually. This photo of Ronald Reagan plus Will's two grandfathers was taken in March of 1955.

Thankfully, there are no reports of a regurgitating Gipper on that day.

Originally posted 1-23-2009