As a kid, going to Miracle Strip was like going to Disney World. The place was huge. Didn't like that Haunted Castle and it took me a couple of times to get brave enough to walk through the Old House....but once I did it, my parents just parked themselves on a bench outside it while I walked through about 2 dozen times. Always pretended the reason I wouldn't ride the old wooden rollercoaster was because the line was too long. Had to get a little older to get the nerve to ride it.
I admit, the damn rollercoaster was scary. Felt like at any moment it was going to fall apart, as if on its last leg every time I rode it.
The log flume, now that's where it was at.
Was down there back in mid Sept, and drove the little road that runs between Alvins/Water Park and The Amusement Park (connects Front Beach to Middle Beach). Very sad indeed.