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Email me your comments and I'll put them in the Guestbook.

Garry—Todd Hammond here. I was a weekend local at Apple for about a year until it closed. I thought it was the best park of its time. I was from Lima and skated at Mike Hill's alot. Then we built our own ramp in Delphos. My friend Ed Morris and I stayed at your house in California when you lived with Mike Hill and Buddy Carr—remember? You guys lived a couple blocks from the beach. We stayed for, like, a week or so. Just wanted to let you know that the Apple site is great. Its good to see all that again. Thanks, Garry. Email me if you'd like.—Todd Hammond, 12-30-03

Whats up, Garry? I sent you a killer picture. When is this Apple reunion? Did you quit working on the website? Hope not. Got some killer video of Apple from Kevin Tate. Laterz.—Casey Marzetti, 12-10-03

Garry—Just realized my first email was way too short! I was one of the original Worthington Hills skaters that learned to skate at Steve's Rosco's ramp. I have many fond and somewhat foggy memories of both Apple and the summer leading up to it. My earliest memories of skating in Columbus were at Arcadia. I remember one time, a guy (I think it was Pete Kunz) almost drowned when a flash flood came through and swept him down toward the pipe at the end (was that you, Pete?). But most of all, I remember great times with  the Kipp brothers, Greg Mack, Dave Bush, Mike Ohm, Steve Trosko and Wayne Lyons. That was one of my best times as a kid.

I remember trying out for the LeSport team and not making it. I remember going out to some lame-ass skatepark about an hour-and-a-half out of town with Ohm, Bush and some dude named Keith Eastmead who just ripped it up. It was just a concrete parking lot with all types of weird transitions, but the best part was jumping off a rock cliff into a swimming hole about eight feet deep after we were done skating. I remember Trosco building an eight-wheeler and riding his ramp on his knees. I also remember Ohm, Eastmead and Bush pushing me to do my first frontside air on that same ramp and being so stoked when I finally pulled it off. I think Mike said I was even "allowed" to ride with their gang after that! 

I remember the Kipp brothers' Safari Jeep and being amazed that Steve Kipp could skateboard since he was so frickin' tall! Or was that Brad? I remember a little blond kid about nine or ten and all he could do at the time was fakie. Was that Chris Phillips? I remember looking through the plastic while they sprayed the concrete at Apple and feeling like an outsider because I couldn't help. I remember Gene being pissed off because I tried to skate for free the first week after I gave kids lessons for five minutes. I remember hanging with Dave Bush and him proclaiming "Olson's with me," when the pros got to town and Steve Olson staring at Dave's walls full of photos for hours on end. Then in the morning, Olson was in the bathroom forever putting on make-up—or so I thought! 

I remember skating the two-thirds pipe with Brad Bowman and the rush I felt when I did an easy air from the extension into the halfpipe and he said, "Nice job! Keep it up!". I remember Bush trading me his blue and white airbrushed Flyaway helmet for my black Jay Adams model and being bummed out later. I remember the feeling of pulling off a trick for the first time with your buddies there to push you on and how great that felt. The feeling and excitement of everyone's skating being raised to a new level during an intense session. Then my parents told me we were moving to Detroit and I felt so depressed I didn't talk to them for a month.

So, those are my memories. Do they jibe with any of yours? Everything is so hazy and foggy from those days, but I would love to hear from anyone from then...if you even remember me! Take care and thanks, Garry, for bringing-up the best memories from my youth.—Ken Eisenlord, 12-8-03

P.S. I have some great photos of us skating Trosco's ramp. I believe they include The Kipps, Greg Mack, Chris Phillips, Wayne and myself.

Wow. On a whim, I decided to search for Apple Skatepark with my son on the internet. I lived in Worthington, Ohio when Apple was built and was around during both it's construction and opening. I used to skate with Dave Bush, among others, and was around when Steve Olson and Bowman came to visit. In fact, Steve stayed with Dave during his visit. I was fifteen during the the Summer of 1978 and moved at the end of the Summer. I "sessioned" with Brad Bowman in the two-thirds pipe and was stoked when he actually gave me words of encouragement!

Somewhere, there is a 8 mm movie of myself taken at Apple by an Ohio State film student who worked at LeSport in Worthington Hills. I would give anything to find that footage. You may think this is total BS, but I believe that's me next to Kenny Mollica in the picture (red shirt). I'll try to find a period photo for you to confirm. Are you in contact with Dave Bush or anyone else from that era?
Thanks for your time, and thank you for commemorating an important part of my youth.—Ken Eisenlord, 12-8-03

Hi—I just found your cool site and I thought I'd let you know that I'm selling my March 1980 issue of Skateboarder magazine with the Duane Bigelow and Wally Hollyday interview and a Cherry Hill article and amateur contest. Victor Perez won the contest and has two photos. If you're interested, it's on eBay. Cheers.—Steve Kotsopoulos, 12-6-03

GSD—So bummed I never got a chance to skate Apple.  Funny that Schick recalled me accompanying the crew on a trip there—wish I had that memory. PRBL and Steve used to tell me Apple stories and I listened as intently as a child being read a bedtime story. From their tales, I recall a local ripper there, wanna say Rex, that they said used to ride his wheels so loose on the trucks that each one had about a half-inch of play. Back in '81, we had been planning a trip to Apple with my parents at the wheel, but it closed and we made a trek to Surf 'n' Turf in Milwaukee instead. Hope all is well with you. I'm still with NHS, directing the marketing for all our skate brands. Broke my leg two years ago and I'm still rehabbing a badly atrophied right leg, so skating has been very limited. Take care.—Jeff Kendall, 11-22-03

Hey—Just read the site. I used to be on the Pachinko Factory team in Cincinnati, Ohio with Rob Roskopp. I lost contact with Rob when he moved to California. I always heard he turned pro and started working for NHS. I would love to get in touch with Rob if you know how. We actually made it into the Guiness Book of World Records for skating the longest time in a halfpipe. Other members of the Pachniko team were Paul Franke, Shawn Wilson and Steve? Thanks.—John Barber, 11-19-03

Hey, Keith Eastmead—This is Melf. Wanted to say hello and that it would be great to talk to you. Drop me an e-mail. Pete Kunz and myself have been in contact. I think it is pretty cool we have found each other by means of this site. I will wait to here from you.—Melf, 11-10-03 

Garry—Hi, I found a picture on someone's web page of a kid skatboarding at Apple Skatepark in 1980, which brought to mind some old memories. I grew-up in Bucyrus, Ohio, where I met a guy named Mike Musgrave. My friends and I skated ramps and some local contests back in the day, and he approached me about a skateboard park (Apple Skatepark) that he was getting involved in. He offered to take me around to a few current parks to skate, and wanted me to tell him what I liked and didn't like about each park. This was 1978 and I was a junior in high school, so I thought that was pretty cool.

When they started building Apple in 1979, Mike offered me a job. I decided I would take classes at Ohio State and forfeit my baseball scholarship to the University of Toledo. Needless to say, my parents were not pleased! As it turned out, I had a severe car accident in the Spring of '79 and spent six months on my back. I ended-up going to UT. By the time the I could skate again, Apple was going to close. I had lost touch with Mike, and had no idea how things were going. Right before it closed, I was able to go skate it one time.

I was wondering if you could fill in some of the blanks for me? What was Mike Musgrave's involvement in the whole thing? When exactly did the park open (I think it was just about the time I got hurt, Spring 1979)?, and when did it close? The last thing I knew about Mike was that he was divorced and had financial problems.

We spent alot of time at Soaring High Skateboard Park in Toledo when they were drawing up the plans for Apple. I think the other park that had alot of influence was Cherry Hill? As they kept revising the plans, the whole thing kept getting bigger and bigger! I couldn't believe how nice Apple was when I finally got to go. All in all, it probably was good that I never worked there. I may not have taken school too seriously and ended-up a bum on the streets. Thanks for the memiories that you have brought up on your web page.—Joel Tschantz, Toledo, Ohio, 10-12-03

Super site. Well done, man. Good memory of the last time. Thanks for your site.—Jean-Baptiste Sevrain, Belgium, 10-10-03

GSD—It was nice seeing you at ASR. I don't like that show, but it is a part of what we do. I have not forgotten about the Apple interview at all and will do it soon. I hope all is well for you. Take care.—Chris Carter, 10-4-03

Thanks for the history lesson. I had no idea skating had such deep roots in the Midwest. Most journalism associated with skateboarding is always so biased toward how it grew up in the coastal cities. GREAT SITE!—Keith Thomas, 10-3-03

Hey Garry!—Hope you are doing good. I feel that I am way overdue to say this, but better late than never. I just wanted to say how much I appreciate your web site. I know that many others would agree. It's cool to see skaters come together, tell their stories, reflect on and share experiences, etc. It seems that skaters are finding old friends again (myself included), which goes to show you the old saying of "once a skater, always a skater" never dies. I always look forward to any updates you may have. The site is put together very well and I can tell how much hard work you must have to put into it. Thanks again.—Brett Martin, 9-23-03

P.S. On a personal note, Garry, I just want to let you know how I truly appreciate your friendship you have given me in the past 20+ years. Even though we have not talked in recent years, I feel that if you ever wanted to visit Ohio again anytime, you still have a friend here. Attached is a letter I will always remember! Check it out!

Hi Garry—I ran across a few pics from Apple. I've also sent a couple from today taken at Olsner Skatepark in West Palm Beach, Florida. Please give my email info to anyone who is interested in contacting me. It would be great to hear from anyone from Apple. I don't know if I was considered a local. I lived in Toledo and actually used to hitchhike there in the winter of 1979-'80. Then I lived in the park during the summer of 1980. I'm working on tracking down Gene Goldberg for you. I think that they are here in Florida somewhere. I don't know if he would be up for an interview, but it's worth a shot.

Steve Marinak has a site called floridaskater.com. I was wondering if you would consider putting his site as a link on your site? We have a friend who skates whose name is Mike Rogers. He is probably the most dedicated skater that I have ever known. He has a small shop at a local park here and he also runs skate camps at the YMCA. He is constantly promoting skating to the masses and just the nicest guy with the greatest attitude that you would ever meet.

A couple of weeks ago Mike was diagnosed with a very rare form of cancer that is in his sinus area right in front of his brain. He is scheduled to undergo a sixteen-hour surgery in two weeks. My understanding is that the doctors basically have to split his head in two to remove this cancer. My friend and fellow skater, Chris Conway, is working on putting together a charity event to raise money for Mike, which is tentively scheduled for sometime in November. Steve's number is (561) 272-5883 x202 and his email is steve at midrangesupport.com Any awareness that we could raise for Mike would be greatly appreciated.—Jay Brentlinger, All Access Sports & Event Marketing, www.4allaccess.com, 9-23-03

Garry—Thanks for the positive words about my skating. I get stoked when I hear my friends say stuff like that, but really I am just having a good time skating for now while my body will allow it. It never matters how well you skate, just so YOU are having fun. Even if it's just kickturns and carves.

I did get to see the construction photos of the Skatepark of Lake Forest. Its looks like its going to be killer! And of course, with Wally Hollyday building it, you have all the right ingredients. I have always thought that a keyhole like Marina's would be great to rebuild. To this day, It is still the best keyhole I have ever ridden.

Yeah, let me know when to come to town and maybe we can get together at the D.O.?  The last time I was there (around a year or less), it was a bust, but they were always just telling us to leave.

As far as that old letter from you, I thought you would get a kick out that. I think it would be rad to see it in the web site! I think a lot of skaters would enjoy reading it, also. Thanks, Garry. Keep assaulting!—Brett Martin, 9-14-03

My name is Keith Eastmead, and I recently fell across your article with Kenny Mollica and Pete Kunz. I was the Keith Eastmead they were talking about in the article. It's pretty cool that those guys mentioned me. I was not around very long in Columbus, but I had a great time in the short time I was there. I was a San Francisco skater who rode the hills there, as well as Signal Hill down in LA and Upland Pipeline. At the time, I really didn't enter contests. Roseville, Michigan was the first one I seriously entered, and I am proud to say I won the 18 & over pool riding contest, so it was nice to see that those guys remembered me. What I am really emailing you about is the fact that I would like to email Kenny and Pete. If you could email me their email address I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you.—Keith Eastmead ,8-31-03

P.S.  How would I go about getting a copy of Skateboarder magazine, Volume 5 number 6, January 1979?

Hey—I have been wondering what the hell happened to you. Odd that I should come across your Apple thing. I read an interview with you on the internet a while ago. How's life? As I said in the previous letter, I have been guiding rafts in West Virginia for the past six years. It was great for a while, but I am starting to get fatigued with the Southeast in general. I am thinking about going out to California next year to guide rafts. Most of the rivers I have considered guiding on are in Northern California. I hear good things about them. They are not as violent as the Gaully or the New at high water, and that kind of appeals to me as I drift into middle age. Some days, after taking a bunch of little kids down a river they have no business being on, the idea of being a pontoon boat guide appeals to me.

In regards to your interview, Robert [Hamrick] named the puppet Harry The Boneless One, I just ripped off the name for the move. I think I spent most my skateboarding career trying to correct the the idea that I invented the boneless one. Eventually, it just got too complicated and tiresome to go over the whole thing. I just accepted the beer from whichever kid bought it for me. I don't know why the hell they thought they should buy me a beer because they thought I had invented the boneless one. It was cool to see that it still survives in that Tony Hawk skateboard game, though. Anyway, good to see that you are still in action, write if you have the time or interest.

Oh yeah, as far as I know, Robert is still living in Cincinnati. I don't know if he is still playing in bands or not (he did get really fucking good on his guitar), but I think he took some class in Microsoft Windows tech manegment or something like that. The last time I saw him was at some wedding. I think he only came to see what the hell I was going to say in the service. I have one of those Universal Life Church minestry diplomas. It alows me to perform weddings and I can get a twenty percent discount with Greyhound if I can prove I am on official church buisness. Whatever the hell that could be, I dont know.—Mark Mounts, 8-29-03

Wow, who would have thought? I am living in West Virginia. I have been guiding rafts on the New and Gually rivers for the past six years. The last time I picked up a skateboard, I was promptly kicked off the ramp I was riding. Can't really blame the guy. We were climbing on this wall in an abandoned school and there was a nice little ramp in the room next door. However, it was chained up and locked. But, hey, that's what the tool box in the back of the truck is for. After we had unbolted the chain, we had about a half hour of skating before the guy who built it came in. At first, he was really happy to see other skateboarders and asked us where we got the key. Then he saw the chain piled up on the floor with all the bolts skatterd around it. It was just like old times. Reminded me of the time a couple of us got busted skating in some beer vats. At least I wasn't charged with criminal trespasing and fined one hundred and twenty-five dollars.—Mark Mounts, 8-29-03

Hi Garry—Apple reunion...let's do it! I think that Louisville would be the best place. The city is interesting and the park is incredible. I met Kenny and his crew down there a couple of weeks ago. It would be a blast. If we could set a date soon, more people would have time to make travel arrangements. By the way, did you receive the Apple bumper stickers and newsletter that I mailed to you at your employer? Thanks.—Jeff Kasson, 8-18-03

Hi, Garry—T hanks for Melf's email. He was a good friend for a long time. Dave Bush's interview--or the lack of--was interesting. We all remember sitting in his room staring at all of the pictures on his wall. Jeff Kasson's interview was also very well-given. Next time I'm in Ohio, I will be looking him up--along with Kenny Mollica, I hope. Sounds like Mollica still shreds. I've been skating a lot this summer. I took 5th place in the Florida Old School Pool Contest (thirty-eight and older). We are getting another concrete skatepark with pools built here this Fall, so that will be four pools to skate within a half-hour drive—not bad. Skate safe.—Pete Kunz, 8-15-03

From an old fart to you...doin' it since 1978 and onward: Crystal Lake, Illinois...Kansas City, Kansas...Euless, Texas...South Bend, Indiana...Chicago, Illinois...currently in Minneapolis, Minnesota. I discovered your web site by sheer chance. It's one of the best sites I've ever visited for its raw inspiration. I never skated Apple, but, damn, this site brings back memories of a bygone era still very much alive in the hearts of beat-to-shit motherfuckers like me. Cheers.—Chooch, 8-14-03

Garry—I just spoke with Mike Grau and we were thinking the third or fourth weekend in October would be good for  an Apple reunion. Rob Roskopp said he would come, and I am sure many more would, also.

Posssible dates :

October 18-19, 2003

October 25-26, 2003

Can you post something up on the web site, since all of the Apple alumni meet most often there? I will do whatever you want in terms of organizing, finding people, hotels, party spots, etc. This is gonna be a blast! I skated Louisville on Sunday, and I hate to say it, but it BLOWS Apple--or anything else I have ever skated--away by miles. Sick, I tell you, sick.—Kenny Mollica, 8-14-03

Hi Garry—I just got done enjoying your Apple site...again. Skating tough up here in the Santa Barbara wilderness.—Detters, 8-13-03

I was down at the Florence Skatepark in Northern Kentucky last evening and ran into Kenny Mollica. His skating is still powerful and FAST. I knew who it was the minute I saw him fly through the park and carve at least ten obstacles in one run (the kiddies today can't do that, you know). The last time we were together, we were battling each other in the longest carve contest in the egg bowl at Apple (we had to carve above the blue tiles, which usually meant two wheels wrapped over the coping). We were carving in the neighborhood of twenty-five feet plus). I dont remember who won, but we kept pushing each other to the brink. Anyway, it was great to see Kenny, and we both want to get a reunion together in Louisville or someplace. Maybe we can even get Dave Bush and his band to play at the event!? Out.—Michal Grau, 8-11-03

Garry—I’m wondering if you can give me Mollikeesy’s contact info. I lived through many of the Colorado years and a whole lot of the Dead shows with him and would like to get in touch before he comes out for La Costa again. I’m in Encinitas, too. Thanks.—Rob Hylton, 8-6-03

What do you want? A free, un-stuck, mustard yellow Apple sticker to post my last note to the board? It's certainly worth it to me to make the connection with Schick, who evidently stumbled onto your site. That's the guy that originally got me--and, by social extension, Jeff Kendall--skateboarding. Ackowledging that Kennedy first found vert through a couple of troubled older kids named Swest and Forest. Heck, I'd be inclined to unload my whole sticker collection to "The Keeper of the Flame" if he wasn't such a bitch and put me in contact with my buddy. Best.—Bob Pribble, 8-4-03

Just wanted to say hello to you guys! Brings back some GREAT fucking memories. Pete, don't forget that I rode the moped in the egg bowl after the first layer of shotcrete was put on, also (yes, before the smooth layer). I had that moped wide fucking open when I was dropping in! Great time. Yes, Peter Drotlef and I built the forms for the two thirds pipe and some other stuff in the park. Some of those days would get pretty foggy. I still skate, mostly long boards--just got a forty-eight inch Gordon & Smith Fiberflex with some Kryptonics. Good to see these companies still around and still in it--just like us thirty and forty year olds.

I live in Honduras, Central America now, but get back to the States often. I have family in Ohio still. Just got twenty-one stitches in my arm--the hills are pretty fast in Honduras. Love to hear from you guys: Pete Kunz, Keith Eastmead (what ever happened to him?), Mike Ohm, Kenny Mollica, Dave Bush, Jeff Kasson, Rob Roskopp. Wally Hollyday and Peter Drotlef, too, if you are out there. Skate safe.—Eric Melfi, 8-1-03

P.S. Mollica, It was my sister's moped--not yours. By the way, WHERE DID YOUR FUCKING HAIR GO?

P.P.S. I have some GREAT Apple pics. I will have to dig them up next time I am in the States--they are all in storage.

GSD!—We met briefly in Cincinnati, Ohio at the Doctor's Office banks in Clifton in the early or mid '80s. I was the original owner of the Apple Skatepark sign, and I sent it to Skatelab to live on in infamy. Anyway, I made it to Apple a dozen or so times when it was open. I still have a baseball cap from there and twenty or so pics of the place. I will do what I can to scan them and send them your way. As for the baseball cap, make me an offer and it's yours. Great to see that people still care about what was going on back then! Thanks.—Chris Snyder, 7-31-03

Garry—What about an Apple reunion at the old Apple building, or, better yet, at the Louisville skatepark or someplace like that? I would love to see those guys again and it is great that you are keeping us all infamous! I have a shitload of photos and stuff from the park, including old newletters that Ronn Dudley and I made. Please forward my contact info to my old egg pool doubles partner, Jay Brentlinger! Thanks.—Michal Grau, 7-31-03

(P.S. I still owe you an interview—sorry.)

Hi! I'm Matt, originally from Dayton, Ohio. My uncles skated at Apple, but, alas, I was only four years old when it existed. I don't have any info for you, but I was wondering, have you any idea where I could find your GSD Banks / Curbs model circa 1985? It was my favorite board--the first board I ever ollied, handplanted, etc. I miss it dearly. I look everywhere for one. Anyway, I hope you know where I can get one. I'd be so stoked! Take care, and thanks!—Matt Schulz, 7-29-03

Hey, Steve Schick. I saw your posting in the Apple Skatepark Guestbook. Too ironic. You mentioned first going to Apple on my birthday when we were early teenagers and then your post on Garry's site was done on my thirty-eighth birthday, last April 24. To refresh your memory, Jeff Kendall did not make that trip--or any trip--to Apple. He did not even skateboard at the time. The fourth skater on that first trip to Apple was Greg "Bo Bo" Wainscott. Recall how he went berserk and tried to throw blows at us after learning that we ditched him when Chip's sister or your family took us to Apple the next time. We never did skate with him after that. I wonder what good old Bo Bo is doing these days? My last contact with him was a random conversation at a college party at Indiana University. He was on some Sylvester Stallone trip, as I recall.

One of my clearest memories of Schick at Apple was the time that he bought a brand new aqua blue Powell Jay Smith snub nose from the pro shop and decked it out with super-gnarly fluorescent green grip tape that would ultimately shred the skin completely off his fingers while riding Apple that day. I recall some serious skin being lost while riding the kidney. The deck Schick rode during our first visit to Apple was that Santa Cruz Steve Olson checkered rig, and I remember him doing cool frontside airs at the lip in the halfpipe.

Another clear memory from an Apple trip was when Steve and Chip teased me to no end while riding in the car back to Indianapolis for being too dense to comprehend that the word "sheet" meant "shit" in the early Thrasher “Wild Riders of Boards" series, an excerpt of which Steve had read aloud in the back seat of the car--much to the chagrin of my parents sitting up front. I never did quite get that story line, but how was a sheltered, self-absorbed kid from the Midwest supposed to relate in any way to the NorCal lowlife-style? Some things you've got to see first hand to understand and appreciate.

Schick, drop me a note. I have lost all of your contact information since we last spoke five or so years back.—Bob Pribble, Annapolis, Maryland, 7-28-03

How do I get in touch with the company who makes Charles' Chips or Charlie's Chips, please (in the cans, etc.). Thanks.—GordQG, 7-27-03

I never visited Apple, but I remember my brother Dennis coming home with stitches in his head after skating there and him asking me to wash the blood out of his helmet and shirt before Mom saw it and freaked out! One of our closest teenage moments!—Cheryl Brinkley, 7-4-03

Those shots in the Dave Bush interview look really good. Everyone says the site just keeps getting better and better.—Kenny Mollica, 7-3-03

Hi. My name is Sage. I was reading your site and noticed my mom's name (Laura Thornhill). I'm well aware that she is a retired pro skateboarder and I have heard all the stories to be told, but I just thought if you ever wanted to intervew my mom, you can just email me back. Thanks alot.—Sage Caswell, 7-1-03

P.S. Her last name is Caswell now.

Hey Garry—It was a p retty good site until you started bashing people like I read in the Dave Bush interview. Kinda lame. It's been, what, twenty-two years later? This punk still skates a mean pool (LOL).—Casey Marzetti, 7-1-03

I fouled up. I noticed when I drove past Apple (damn it, that's what it still is to me, so that's what I'm callin' it) that the business in the 5100 part of the building (5080 is the right-hand half if you're looking East) is called Davis Alterations (the whole deal is called the Nulook Center). This week, I'll get those photos for you, assuming they let me--probably tomorrow. I'll get shots of the whole area so you can see / use them, as well--maybe even some of the Blood Bowl. I'll get 'em most likely tomorrow. 'Til then.—Nick Schuld, 7-1-03

Wow. I didn't know how much of the building had been the skatepark--some of it does seem unused. As a final note, that suit place (Nulook) is hiring. I could go sell suits from the halfpipe, I suppose, since I'm out lookin' for jobs as we speak. Thanks for writin' back.—Nick Schuld, 6-30-03

I was driving by the former Apple Skatepark and then turned around to go inside. I went up to the door and asked the guy there if I could walk through the warehouse. He said, "Sure." As I walked by, the security guy followed me. I was standing in the egg pool at one point and then checked out the rest of the place. You could still see the outlines of all of the pools. They still even have the double glass doors where you could see in. 

Before I left, some guy asked me what I was there for. I told him I wanted to look at the old skatepark markings just to look back on old times. He told me that he knew it used to be Apple Skatepark and that Mr. Goldberg took him for $80,000 dollars. He also told me to call if I ever find Mr. Goldberg. I kinda laughed, because the guy was a real jerk.

So, for anyone who wants to know, Apple is now a suit warehouse. Some factory people are in there sewing suits on the halfpipe (LOL) and the rest of the pools. It was a trippy and sad situation. A lot of people thought UPS was still there, but they have been gone for years. —Casey Marzetti, 6-6-03

Hey Garry—I live two bl ocks off Arcadia, right up from the Blood Bowl and, after finding your site, I went over to the former Apple Skatepark building (I never knew where it was before. I'm twenty-eight and lived in Lancaster when Apple was open). UPS is out and the place is up for lease. I'm at least going to call the realtor so I can snoop around and take some photos.

A bunch of ramps and skateparks have popped up around here (Dodge, Worthington, Dublin, Reynoldsburg, M3D, The Flow, Lancaster, etc.), but I'm sure they don't contain even a fraction of Apple's glory (in fact, they're mostly badly poured and / or built. Why did people forget how to build skateparks between the ’70s and now?. Plus, I DESPISE this Skatelite crap everything wooden is plied with these days).

So, my question is: How possible do you really think it is that Apple is still under there and reconstructable? If it's a matter of shovels, jackhammers and some new pool coping, I'll do anything in my power to buy that fucking building! Lemme know what you think and I'll get back to ya after I make it over there. Cheers.—Nick Schuld, 5-31-03

P.S. Someone in the Guestbook mentioned the P&D Banks. Are those sorta behind Anheiser-Busch? Those are the only decent banks I know of around here, but I've never heard them called that. We always called 'em Twelve Banks.

Wow. Those Apple Newletters are sad. You can almost feel the desperation as you read through them. I can't thank you enough for this web site—it just keeps getting better and better.—Bruce Hill, 4-27-03

What a fortunate find fro m a Google search. Being from Indianapolis, I probably skated at Apple seven or eight times. The first time was when myself, Bob Pribble, Chip Jones and Jeff Kendall went on Pribble's birthday when I was fourteen. We had no idea that a contest / demo was going on that day. I walked in the front door and saw Dave Bush and ran back out and told the others, "Duane Peters is right inside the pro shop!". Well, it was not Duane, of course, but we did get to see David Andrecht that day, and I think Bert Lamar was there, too. For the record, those giant boardslides of Andrecht's were in the kidney, not the egg. They are forever burned into my brain and I know it was the kidney.

Apple was my favorite place in the world as a Midwestern teenager, and to this day, I dream of buying the place if it is still underneath a thin layer of concrete and gravel in that warehouse. Thanks, GSD, for the site, the pictures and the memories. I will check back often.—Steve Schick, Richmond, Virginia, 4-24-03

I found these photos a while back and forgot to send them. Better late then never, I guess. We lived in Indianapolis and Apple was a few hours away. Only went once and El Gato was there. I remember him farting into the PA system microphone! I learned how to jump the canyon in one of the pools and he was stoked watching me. How cool! Anyway, my friends and I stayed for two days and had a blast. Also included are my park badge and some shots of me on my Alva pig at home and my buddy's Alva puke in his van. Great site! Later.—Kevin Curts, 4-22-03

Thanks for creating and maintaining this web site. I have enjoyed looking back at the best park I ever skated. Now I am looking for my old Apple ID card. I skated Apple with Chip and Mark Dumstorf and Mike Willett from Louisville, Kentucky. I worked part-time for the Sidewalk Surf Shop, a skateboard shop in Louisville. All of us were on their team. The shop is long defunct, but there is a great skateboard scene here currently. Anyway, I have a few photos from Apple, but we mostly went there to skate, not to take pictures. It is hard to believe that it will be twenty-five years next year. I guess we all have gotten older, but I still love the sport, and it looks like everyone else from that era does, too. I am sending you two jpeg files of the Apple brochure, front and back. I am glad that I could contribute to the site, I guess most of the brochures ended up in the trash.—Joan Brotzge, 3-31-03

Hey Garry—WOW. Apple never died, did it? It's lived on in the memories of people like you and me. My name's Andy. My big bro is Gnarly Charlie. I never thought I'd see anything about Apple ever again. A distant memory? Not so. I've never forgotten, and I guess a lot of others won't forget, either. The shape of those pools shaped my life. I'll see if I can dig any stuff up. I'm sure I have some photos, shirts, whatever. I vaguely remember a photo Kevin Tate took of me doing a frontside air over the canyon of the egg. I'll see if it was saved. It may be a while, though.

Say hey to Sean, Chris, Witney, the Kipp bros, Wayne and anybody else who checks in. Forward my email address if they want to get ahold of me, or find me to exact retribution. My personal email is VTUSTInspector@Hotmail.com I do environmental complaince stuff in Vermont—trying to keep people from spilling oil and that sort of thing. Mostly I deal with gas stations. Anyway, killer site.—Andrew Shively, State of Vermont Agency of Natural Resources, UST Program, 3-17-03

Dude—Nice work on the Apple page—great memories from the 7th and 8th grade.—Rich Rapp, Director of Operations, Copper Vacations Inc. "Have a Copper Day", 3-12-03

Garry—Thanks again for this site. I check back sometimes and am always pleasantly surprised that new photos and interviews are being added. I read Jeff Kasson's note and wanted to let you know the Westerville skatepark is now going to be street only, bowl to be added later (yeah, right!). I was so pissed, because Jeff and I were at the final meeting and they were all in favor of a bowl. Bastards.

We are getting a wooden park in Pickerington and some church in Genoa township (Westerville / Delaware county area) built a halfpipe. There is a new park going in near Easton (Sunbury road / 270 area) called Godz Extreme, built by some church. It will be wooden—allegedly with a wooden bowl. Maybe if we all pool our money together, we could reopen Apple as a private skatepark. What do you think? I read that Pete Kunz still has the blueprints.

Does anyone know what happened to Eric Melfi? I went to school with his sisters and he was older, but I used to skate his driveway ramp—you know, the 45 degree, 4' x 8' kind. His mom used to tow him around the neighborhood behind his moped. He had this fiberglass skateboard made by the Cal 240 people. Last time I saw him, he was building the park. I stopped by one day when it was being built. Thanks again.—Bruce Hill, 2-23-03

I love your site, Garry! I have a site dedicated to Skatopia Skatepark of Southern California at http://skatopia.net/ I will be placing a link to your site on my site. Keep up the good work!—Ken Hada, 2-23-03

Garry—Just wanted to tell you that the Apple Skatepark site is great. It's interesting to read about all that history. Being a teenager in the '80s in New York City, we used to watch the Oceanside Streetstyle contest video from 1985 over and over again. Love your runs—true style. Best of luck!—Scott Rothschild, Meeting Planner, Meetings Dept. American Institute of Chemical Engineers, 2-17-03

Hey, I'm an old friend of Mark Mounts and I used to skate D.O.  EVERY DAY in the mid to late '80s. I even met you once when you came back to Cincinnati for a couple of days. My name's Gunner Griffith. I was just checking out Bob's Trick Tips and he was teaching the frontside boneless one and mentioned he'd love to know how it got named. I just sent him an email about you, Mark and Harry the Boneless One. Then I was thinking about Mark and figured I'd search the web to see if there was anything on him to be found and I came across your write-up on Apple. What a trip. I was just trying to remember your last name, too, before I found the Apple site. 

I live up in Ojai, California now, which is by Ventura and Santa Barbara. I have a 6.5' halfpipe in my back yard, so if you're ever heading up this way, send me an email and come up. Living in Encinitas, you must surf, yeah? I surf up here all winter now —mainly Surfer's Point at the Ventura River Mouth. I'm kind of tripping on not thinking about D.O. at all lately and now it all comes rushing back. Mark Mounts is a killer guy. Do you still keep in touch with him? 

Thanks for doing the Apple web site. Good to know you're still out there and active in the skate world. Send me an email if you feel like it. If you know Mark's email address, definitely send it to me. Hey, what about P&G banks? Did you ever skate there? And the Blood Bowl? That place was hideous. Actually, I think Cincinnati was great for street skating. I almost miss it.  Take it easy, bruddah.—Gunner Griffith, 2-8-03

Garry—I met someone named Jeff at a meeting about the new public Westerville, Ohio Skatepark, and he mentioned a rumor about Vans reopening Apple, as UPS is moving out, and the bowls were just filled in. Have you heard about this? I found my two Apple membership cards. I'll get them to you someday if I find someone with a scanner.—Bruce Hill, 1-18-03

Bruce—That is just a rumor. An apparel manufacturer called Nulook Clothing now occupies that building.—Garry

I am from West Virginia and met you at a contest in Dayton. You were with the Ridge for a streestyle contest at Hara Arena. If you can give Ridge my email address, I would appreciate it. I'm opening a small shop in Princeton, West Virginia. I skated with Ridge (very little), Rick Summerfield, Chris Sgt. Carter and John Wittpenn. I moved to Huntington just after Bryan moved to Cali. Guys from my town that went to Apple include Mort Taber, Mat Taber, Gary Anderson, Steve Litton, Scott Cable and Marc Fuentes, who attended Apple regularly. He may have some stuff. I went once. When I see them (the ones still in West Virginia), I'll let them know about the site. Still skating at thirty-five.—Ben Barkey, 1-12-03

P.S. I had a few copies of your Skate Fate zine when it was from Ohio, but they are gone now. After Apple shut down, I would travel to Surf Ohio about once per year and ride the tiny mini-ramp in the Winter...jonesing. I was also a big fan of your GSD fish deck—I had four or five and liked them. Peace.

Garry—Yes, terrific job on the site. The yellow Apple logo on the splash screen warped me back twenty years in a flash. It's also great to see that I wasn't the only one affected by the park and its demise.  What's really interesting is all the comments from people who never even saw the place, but can tell from the pictures—and probably sense through your dedication in building the site—of what a great spot it was. I realize that you probably don't want to become a lost and found service, but after reading the Guestbook, I came across many old skate buddies I'd really like to get back in touch with. If you don't mind sending me the addresses of: Britt Parrott, Lyle Donoho, Jay Brundege and Bill Danforth, I'd really appreciate it (or at least forward my address to them). Thanks, and let's dig the sucker up!—Paul Patterson, Freiburg Germany, 1-10-03

I wasn't a regular, but one of those in the rest of the world that still considered Apple to be the best park ever made. At the time Apple was open, I lived in Nashville, Tennessee and visited my grandparents in North Robinson, Ohio (look it up on a map) twice a year and made my parents stop every trip coming and going  (thank goodness for the International Mall / Food Court around the corner to keep them busy so I could skate longer). Waiting for these trips was like waiting for Christmas (well, it actually was waiting for Christmas).

I have skated Upland, the Big O, Apple's sister park in Huntsville, Alabama (built by the same guys), a bunch of rinky-dink parks here and there, and, more recently, many of the Vans parks and all the parks in and around Phoenix, and I have to say that Apple has them all beat. The concrete was so smooth and there were endless lines in the pools. I just wish I would have had more time there to master them. I learned from the 'zines that Apple had closed, but I still had my parents stop there in homage on our next trip. I couldn't believe that someone could take such skating perfection and just fill it up with concrete to make another damned UPS depot!  That is my last real memory of Apple—all the other ones are just dreams. The pain of the locals must have been greater, but they should consider themselves extra lucky to have ever had Apple—even if for a couple of years.

I now live in Freiburg, Germany, in the southwestern part next to Switzerland and France. We have two metal vert halfpipes that see quite a bit of action. An indoor park in Basel, Switzerland has a good vert scene. Nearby Baden Baden has a concrete half capsule that is fun, but other than that, there is not much other concrete (the rare pools in Germany are, by regulation, all square bottoms). Two hours away is the Winterthur, Switzerland Skatepark with the wooden over-vert capsule, and five hours away is the Dreamland-made concrete park in Rattenberg, Austria with its amazing half-ball, "The Cradle".  See the pics of these two parks with Omar Hassan in the latest Thrasher (December 2002, Issue 263). The Dreamland park is sweet, but no Apple. So, if any Apple skaters make it to Germany, give me a ring and I'll set you up with some skating. Long Live Apple to the core!—Paul Patterson, 1-9-03

Hi Garry—Good job on keeping the Apple site open, really awesome. I got back from Alaska last month (I was up there fixing and flying airplanes since last May) and was so blown away to see my interview and then all the notes from all the Apple locals—Greg Mack, Wayne Lyons, Casey Marzetti, Jeff Kasson and Sean Patrick. We all skated and snaked each other so much that I can still see their faces and hear their voices shouting while dropping in. A note to all—the kidney pool at the YMCA Skatepark in West Palm Beach, Florida is as perfect to carve as Apple's kidney , minus two feet of vert, which, at forty years old, is just fine. Come on down and skate. A correction from the last time we spoke—it's been twelve years since I talked to Dave bush. I cant wait to hear his interview. Lies! It's all lies! Ha-ha-ha. Skate safe.—Pete Kunz, 1-8-03

Hey Garry—Sorry I haven't gotten back in touch with you. Things here have been total chaos. I leave tomorrow for Florida. I'll be gone for a week. When I get back, I'll do the interview. Thanks for being patient. I got to skate the new Clairemont pool yesterday. It was designed by Wally Hollyday and the shape is just like the tear drop pool at Cherry Hill and the square pool at Upland combined. Only the Clairemont square pool is only ten feet deep. But, it was so much fun. I can't wait to skate it again. I'll get back with you as soon as I get back from Florida.—Dave Andrecht, 1-8-03

As mentioned on the Apple web site, someone does have to build some sites about the old skateparks in Cali. Many were pictured in Skateboarder . Upland and the Big-O are just two of the great parks from the old days. I'm sure someone has just as much stuff as the Apple web site and it would sure be nostalgic to see the memories. I bought Skateboarder from 1977 to '81and to do something in remembrance of these parks would do them justice. Still skating after twenty-six years.—Angel, 1-3-03

Garry—Thanks for the e-mail. Your interview with Pete Kunz was the best yet! The details of Apple's construction was awesome. Keep up the great work.—Paul Pellerin 1-2-03

P.S. I'm still skating. I've started organizing meetings with city councilors and skatepark builders to build a decent skatepark in South Portland, Maine.

Man, your site rules, Garry. I would love to contribute more. I will be taking better pics of the Apple T-shirt and a separate pic of the sticker for the site. My sister-in-law is in Ohio now. I am sending her over to the UPS building to take some pics of the inside and outside. I would hope she can get permission—being an aussie and all, they may treat her a little differently and allow her in to take some. I have added a couple of Lakewood Skatepark items to the front page of my site. My friend took some pics of the demolition in '82, so I posted those under the Lakewood sticker, and the same with Skatopia, which was our park in New Zealand. The pics will come soon.—Tone, 1-1-03

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