A Rollercoaster, a Wedding Dress, and 50 Years of Love: The Garlock Story
“You tell people the story and they go, that is really neat," says Rick Garlock.
On May 25, 1976, Valleyfair opened its doors for the first time.
Just 12 days later, on June 5th, one local bride took the ultimate plunge- twice.
“After the ceremony the groomsmen took me aside and said, ‘we’re going somewhere,’ and I said ok," Nancy Garlock recalls. So, we came over here (Valleyfair) to the gate and they (groomsmen) say, ‘We want to put her on a rollercoaster,’ and I say no…no.”
Front gate associates initially turned away the newly married Mrs. Nancy Garlock, but one ‘no’ wasn’t going to stop these determined groomsmen.
"They went to the back gate and they let us in. They did parade us through though; they didn’t just let us walk in. They took us by the barbershop quartet, we had a little song, then they put me on the rollercoaster up the back steps and away we went," says Nancy.
Fully dressed in her bridal gown with veil in hand, Nancy and the best man rode the park’s original rollercoaster, High Roller.
While Nancy screamed and gripped her way through the ride, Rick found his own unique mode of transportation that day.
“That’s where the women took me, to a bar, and then to get me back to the reception there was a guy at the bar with a boat and trailer, and he hauled me back to the reception and I sat in the boat," says Rick.
Today Rick and Nancy Garlock are celebrating 50 years of marriage, and Valleyfair is celebrating its own milestone right beside them.
“We get along pretty well after 50 years," Rick says. "Not a lot of people can say that.”
All because two people took a gamble…on love.
