Miss you, Backdraft! The top 10 theme park rides we loved and lost

Remember Backdraft? The PeopleMover? Back to the Future? Those are among theme park rides that closed despite having a big fan base. Backdraft, a special-effects attraction that opened in 1992 at Universal Studios Hollywood, was replaced this year with Transformers: The Ride-3D. The life span for a theme park attraction can be as short as five years or as long as 50. Southern California’s high-priced real estate means parks often scrap older attractions to make room for new ones. But the memories remain. “I loved getting shrunk in the Might Microscope when I was a kid,” said Robert Niles, author of the Theme Park Insider website. “I know that many other fans share a love for the old Adventures Thru Inner Space.” Below are the top 10 most popular theme park rides that were closed.