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Where I think there's going to be a weird divide is when a chunk of the population has been vaccinated, and another chunk of the population hasn't. The ones who have been vaccinated aren't going to want to social distance on the rides, wear masks in the heat all day, etc. while it's still going to be pertinent that the non-vaccinated people do those things. I don't see a way for parks not to have the same rules for everyone, so it's likely going to be a struggle to enforce the rules across the board. I just got vaccine #1 and I am STOKED at the idea of visiting parks with that extra bit of safety, but I also fully intend to follow park rules, if anything, to set a good example for the non-vaccinated people. However, I don't have enough faith in humanity that others will feel and do the same.

The construction crew is fighting the Swedish winter in order to complete Monster.

Testing is currently weel under way, and it hauls

I doubt you'll notice a difference. Same profile and the old track is to new to have much wear. If anything it might be more intense with the new track (less track flex so curves are tighter and less drag from the deformation)

Hey everyone, so this is my trip report of my visit to the park just after Christmas. This was my #3 most anticipated park in the US (#1 is Hershey, #2 is Fiesta Texas) to visit of the parks that I have not been to yet. I always try to temper my expectations, but I'm like a kid in a candy store so I wasn't exactly able to do that. With that said, the park EXCEEDED my expectations. As far as travel, I'm from the Detroit area and I flew Spirit and stayed in the Econo Lodge that's on the other side of the freeway from the park. I did this trip solo so I decided to do it cheap. Normally I'm a travel snob, meaning flying nice airlines and staying in nice hotels. Normally when I'm walking through the airport I'm laughing at the people waiting to get on a Spirit or Frontier flight knowing that my plush could-like Delta seat with 100 miles of leg room is awaiting me. But I wanted to see how bad it really is. So since I was doing this trip solo I bit my tongue and went for the cheapest options. And the verdict is that Spirit sucks, I mean they really suck. The seat was ok, but the leg room sucked. Luckily there was nobody else in my row and I was able to maneuver myself into a decent position. Econo Lodge on the other hand wasn't bad at all. The bed was surprisingly really comfortable, there was no mirror on the ceiling above it, and surprisingly no shag carpeting. I was basically expecting some seedy whore house like you can find up and down Michigan Avenue in Detroit. Obviously I'm exaggerating, but not by a lot... Honestly, for my next trip I would not rule out Econo Lodge like I have in the past. Ok, so on to the park itself. I arrived 2 hours before the park closed and it was completely dead. I went right for Twisted Cyclone and wow, what an awesome ride. I had heard mixed reviews on it. Some really liked it and some thought it was underwhelming and short. Could it be longer, yeah, but I didn't come off it thinking it was a short ride. Every element delivers and the highlight is that incredible wave turn. I mean, that's what a wave turn should feel like (talking to you Orion). It's definitely a back row ride like most RMC's are. I rank coasters on a scale from 1-4, 4 being elite, 3 being good, 2 being fun, and 1 is I got the credit but I'll never ride again. Twisted Cyclone is definitely a 4. In fact it's my 3rd favorite RMC after SV and Twisted Colossus. Better than Lightning Rod, Twisted Timbers, Storm Chaser, and Goliath. Then I got on Goliath and I had some major expectations for this B&M Hyper. It exceeded every single one of them. The first drop actually kind of sucks when compared to just about every other hyper coaster I've been on, but the rest of the coaster is fantastic! Every hill delivers really good airtime, and that helix is one of my favorite elements on any coaster. Extremely forceful and incredibly intense. That's why I love roller coasters, for moments like that! Goliath definitely get's a 4/4 from me. If it had a better drop it would easily be my favorite hyper, and because it's the most recent one that I've been on right now I'm inclined to say that it is my favorite hyper with Mako and Behemoth right behind. The other coaster I rode before the park closed was Dare Devil Dive. This was a good ride. The first half is awesome, starting with a 95 degree drop, which is the best drop in the park IMO. And then it goes through a few pretty intense inversions and this one element where you feel like your about to go upside down, but you don't, it was a weird and fun sensation. The second half though is just kind of blah, it doesn't really do anything. It also only has lap bars which was great because I think over the shoulder restraints could have ruined that ride for me. If the second half was more like the first half I'd probably give it a 4, but I think a 3 is more where this coaster is at. Really fun, but could have been elite. The next day I returned and again it was completely empty. Is this normal for the park at this time or was this probably COVID related? I was planning on getting flash pass, but obviously that was a nice surprise. First ride was the mine train. It's just an average mine train. It get's a 2. Then I made my way to the back of the park, I looked at Superman, and said screw it. If you know me, and I don't know why you would because I post like once every 3 months, buy anyway... I HATE flying coasters. I love the idea, but I hate the execution. It's just not comfortable for me. So I skipped it. I was surprised to see Great American Scream Machine running because I was under the impression that would be closed, but it was open. I heard this was actually a great coaster before they put the Georgia Cyclone trains on it. After riding that is my assessment as well. Well actually I don't know if it was good before, but it was a very rough and uncomfortable ride. It's better in the front, but still too rough. 2/4 because the layout is actually really good and there were some enjoyable moments. I was also surprised to see Blue Hawk running as I was under the impression that this was also going to be closed. This was the surprise of the park for me. I thought it was very comfortable, smooth, and surprisingly somewhat intense. And I also really liked the setting river the water. I give it a 2.5/4. Not good enough to be a 3, but better than a 2. I saved the Batman clone for last and I've heard that this is actually the best of the Batman clones. And because of those expectations it was a let down. I mean it was fun just like all the other Batman clones, but not any better IMO. Still a really good ride though. 3/4. I skipped the stand up. Again, I've heard it was the best stand up but I HATE stand ups. So being the best stand up to me is like being the cleanest prostitute at the corner of Michigan and Livernois... Overall I thought the park was really fun, and really nice. I think Six Flags overall gets a bad rap that's undeserved. Maybe I just happen to visit their parks on good days, but I've never not had a good Six Flags day. The park was clean, employees were friendly, and the overall atmosphere was enjoyable. Overall I'd give the park a 3/4. Obviously I didn't get on Mindbender or any water rides. So it possibly could be even better if I visit in the summer, which I most likely will at some point. As far as how to make it better, I think at least for me, tuning the stand up into the floorless would be nice, and adding a launch coaster. I think that's the most obvious gap in their lineup. But overall I had great time, a lot of the coasters met and/or exceeded expectations, and I'll definitely be back!

I should clarify that the only part of El Loco I found rough was the dive loop/stall and subsequent pullout - the one mid-ride, before the second brake run. It has some funky profiling that introduces laterals while being suspended upside down, and the pullout also veers to the left and shakes a bit. It appears that the similar element on Steel Hawg is perfectly straight and in-line, hence why I imagine it is smoother. Outside of that one moment on El Loco, the ride is very smooth and fun. The cars track well. There is just weird profiling on that dive loop, which I'm sure is due to the space constraints they had to design around. I suppose "rough" was a poor choice of word. I guess "funky profiling that shakes you around while hanging upside down in a hard metal seat and restraint" is more accurate! Still a fun ride!

You're basically looking at it. Keansburg in NJ has one but it operates pretty infrequently and the place is basically a permanent shithole carnival.

Have you been to Conneaut Lake Park?

Replying to a 14 year old comment, whoa.

Enjoyed the video! This is a park that for years, a construction update was basically ten minutes of unedited video showing someone drill a screw into some metal, if you even got an update at all. I appreciate the effort they're putting into making the updates digestible and entertaining. I like the "over the fence" construction peak nod, too, lol.

That is super disappointing to hear about the 50th. I was really looking forward to it before the virus that shall not be named happened. Particularly after what a source told me the original plan was. On a vaccine note, which totally affects all theme park operations., as well as all the rest of daily life, I guess I just look at it from an historical perspective since I am a history teacher. When you look at the numbers of people throughout time that have died or been disabled from infectious diseases versus the teeny tiny amount that have suffered any permanent ill effects from a vaccine (including G. Washington vaccinating his troops against smallpox which was a lot more dangerous then but still helped us win the American Revolution) it seems a no brainer to me.......but of course I do support that everyone has the right to make their own decision about their body.

Well that is extremely annoying and will only drag this on longer. I have a couple of friends in the medical field that have already gotten both shots with no side affects other than a sore arm. Most of the teachers in my school are planning on getting it, so I am hoping that is just your corner of the metro area and not indicative of the greater populace. I personally will knock people over if they get in my way to getting the vaccine.

Closest I've seen was a portable Dragon Wagon pulling out of a gas station. Not going to lie, I thought about following it for a split second until I realized how sad that would be.

And Bullet in Mexico which is kind of like a Shuttle Loop. I really wish I'd headed out to Flamingo Land to try it many years ago instead of deciding on going to Drayton Manor to try out a stand up coaster instead.

Meanwhile the truck driver was probably confused why he was being tailed by someone with a camera.

I spotted Quimera/ Triple Loop on the move from Mexico to Indiana today headed north on I-55 in southern MO.

I give the new owner credit for not only reviving what was thought to be a dead park, but pursuing an aggressive growth plan that will help to entice guests back and reestablish a relationship with regional visitors. I’ll be very curious to see how they approach refurbishing these Schwartkopfs and if these additions are enough to spur a turnaround for the park, given how rough the last few years have been.

That's one of those things that just seems way too good to be true. However, seeing the recent timeline of events at this park, it seems just about anything is on the table.

I'd prefer the rides Kennywood is removing if Indiana Beach wants to focus on classic rides.

Two of the four challenges that have deeply impacted my life this year. All I'm missing is a murder hornet nest in my backyard. What a year.

the past 36 hours have had both Larry King and Hank Aaron, but the 1st death late on Thursday night hit me hard: Mira Furlan. best known in the USA as "D'Lenn" from "Babylon 5" or as "the French Woman" from "Lost", she was also quite an accomplished musician/singer. it was a shock too, as most outside of her former castmates on B5 didn't even know she had been ill. (she passed from complications of West Nile Virus) Rest In Light, Mira. https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-55763658