Been there a couple of times in the 80’s. It was truly a right of passage and was a lot of fun. As for the deaths, the week I was there someone got electrocuted in on the kayak ride. When I went on the motor boats, the kid running the ride gave us one warning; “if you stop the boat it will sink.” My buddy stopped the boat, it sank.
During the same trip, my friend wiped out on the alpine slide, ripping the skin off his shoulder. Injury looked hideous and first aid wanted to send him to the hospital. Instead we drank more and went on the bungee jump. You had to weigh less than 225 to go on the bungee. I started the day at 225.5. When I went on the jump, I weighed 224.5. I ran around the park from ride to ride to make the weight. I went right through the air cushion and banged my back. If it wasn’t there, I would have been another statistic.
Best ride of all was the zero gravity water slide. You basically dropped 90 degrees the first 20 or so feet then you hit the slide. That ride removed more boys bathing suits than Kevin Spacey.
Overall, the park was great. Can’t imagine another park will ever be like Traction Park.