1992 April Fools Day hoax edit
On April 1, 1992, WNOR-FM 99 disc jockeys Henry "The Bull" Del Toro and Tommy Griffiths began a prank on their radio show wherein they issued a warning that morning that Mount Trashmore was about to explode, due to a build-up of methane gas, and launch debris all over Virginia Beach. For the following hour, they continued the prank by issuing further fake news updates. Other station employees joined in on the prank during the show and the hoax climaxed with the two men claiming that the city was telling residents near the park to evacuate. Over an hour into the program, the police showed up at the radio studio. The broadcast continued for about an hour and fifteen minutes before the station ceased the transmission after local police arrived at the studio. A formal FCC complaint was later lodged against the studio which ultimately resulted in the temporary suspensions of numerous studio employees including the two disc jockeys. [1][2]
Sledding edit
From the park's opening in 1973 onward, sledding at Mount Trashmore had been a popular activity for residents following a considerable snowfall. In 1994, the city banned sledding from the steeper north and west sides of the hill. Despite the policy change, many people would continue to sled in that area. On Feb. 3, 1996, over 5,000 sledders filled the hill with hundreds of them carrying various household items to sled on and proceeded to run into fences, trees, and parked cars. Over 20 people were injured that day with 13 of them needing to go to the hospital and 2 of them needing surgery. The city proceeded by starting to prevent access to the hill before closing the park entirely. One mother later sued the city after her daughter was injured in the park. The city later settled with her for $33,600. By 1997, a city committee recommended policy changes including no more sledding on the steep slopes, no more canoes, surfboards, or car hoods, and bales of straw would be placed in strategic places on the hill. Finally in 2000, after a few years of the limited permitted sledding the city banned the activity entirely.[3]
Skate Park edit
In the early 1980s, the park's first skateboarding area was constructed which consisted of two asphalt snake runs next to the park's smaller hill. A vert ramp and half-pipe were installed after the initial construction. By 2003, the city committed $300,000 to build a fully dedicated skate park section of the park.[4] The park is located in the northeast corner of the park, where numerous professional skateboarders have made appearances, including Tony Hawk.[5]
On August 16, 2006, a three-alarm fire damaged a significant portion of the skate park. Half of the skate park was destroyed, including it's bowl and pyramid, save for the recently installed vert ramp.[4]
- ^ Hays, Jakon; Watts, Maureen (April 1, 2020). "The best April Fools' hoax in Hampton Roads history? The Mount Trashmore explosion". The Virginian-Pilot. Retrieved October 11, 2020.
- ^ Worrell, Kris (April 2, 1992). "WNOR PRANK EXPLODES IN STATION'S FACE". Daily Press. Retrieved October 11, 2020.
- ^ Davis, Marc (January 26, 2008). "Snow tradition at Mount Trashmore slides into oblivion". The Virginian-Pilot. Retrieved October 12, 2020.
- ^ a b Bourne, Duane (August 16, 2006). "Fire damages skateboard park at Mount Trashmore". The Virginian-Pilot. Retrieved October 11, 2020.
- ^ "Mount Trashmore Park, Virginia Beach". XtremeSports.com. June 5, 2013. Retrieved October 11, 2020.