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did a quick half lap of the park to see the progress on the upcoming project… for those wondering, this is the extent of the 50th anniversary decorations. Big miss IMO to not reopen sky tower and the museum they used to have up there as part of this. the new mask policy. They are not checking vaccine status, so it’s on an honor system. I saw maybe 10 people wearing masks (the employees still are), so if you’re still worried about COVID even after you’ve been vaccinated, theme parks are most certainly not somewhere you will want to visit. For those who aren’t worried, come on back and enjoy the parks back to full operation! food service still appears to be a struggle. I overheard chatter from an employee talking to another employee that the mobile app ordering may have crashed. Tidal Wave is gone and the construction fences have engulfed the entire area that used to be tidal wave, the plaza in front of RRv, and green lantern. There’s no good spots for aerial photos (follow the rules, no loose articles on rides!), so iPhone camera lens strategically placed up against the fence is the view we get. Looks like still very much in demolition mode and not construction for new ride yet.

Stopped in for my first visit of the season today and had a great time as usual. Park wasn’t as crowded as I expected but the gold FP helped us get more done than we would’ve in 6 hours. Also, idk If it was a Saturday and they were expecting it to be super busy, but when we pulled into the lot at 9:15 they let us straight in and thru security and then thru the front gate right away. We got the flash passes squared away by 9:45 and when we got to Devil at 9:50 they let us right on and seemed to have already been cycling trains for a bit. Love to see that from Six Flags. Operations were pretty solid across the park, Bizarro sucked as usual but everywhere else seemed really solid, walk of shames were really slowing Toro down tho. Rides: Jersey Devil (x1)- Not going to get too in depth since everyone in this thread already seems to have this covered and I only managed to get one ride in the front seat. It’s a great ride, it has some fun moments of airtime (especially the first camelback), cool inversions, and the turn around caught me by surprised with how forceful it was. And as Bill said in his review, the return run of airtime hills is a lot like Nitro’s just on a smaller scale. It’s probably my 3rd favorite ride in the park, behind Toro and Nitro, but hopefully at some point this year I can snag a backseat ride as the ride looks absolutely wicked in the back. El Toro (x5)- the greatest coaster on the planet was in top form today. What can I say that hasn’t been said? The ride is absolutely spectacular and my rides in 6-2 were as smooth as I’ve ever experienced. Much better than my rides last year on my one trip when they were filling only like 8 seats and it was bouncy as hell and slow. Nitro (x3)- Nothing much to say here, the ride is absolutely spectacular and is one of the most underrated coasters I’ve ever ridden. Still my favorite B&M Hyper. Batman (x1)- How a 28 year old B&M that is this snappy and thus forceful is still glass smooth is mind blowing to me. Such a terrific ride. Skull Mountain (x1)- The drop in the back is still nuts but there’s a lot of gaps in the building now letting sunlight in hopefully that gets fixed. Kingda Ka (x1)- I’m in the minority but from the front seat I prefer this over Dragster (albeit slightly). I’ve just always felt the launch on this hits much harder than Dragster and I’m not big enough that the OTSRs bug me and obviously it’s glass smooth in the front. Also, it’s so nice not needing to wait forever for it now that Zumie can run with it. Zumajaro (x1)- We had a Ka train launch when we were about 3/4ths of the way up and the tower started shaking like crazy! Absolutely my craziest ride on Zumie since it opened. It honestly adds so much to the experience. Superman (x1)- I used to really like this ride but over the last few years I’ve kinda soured on it. I’m just not a big fan of the way you lay on flyers and this one is so boring outside of the pretzel roll Bizarro (x1)- As always a fun relaxing floorless with some nice forces for a B&M. Not much to say here expect for it somehow still has the worst crew in the park for like the 10th year in a row. Another fantastic day at the park. If I could just drop Superman from SFNE (my home park) into Great Adventure I would literally never leave. Can’t wait to return and hopefully grab some back seat rides on JD. Pics:

^^Great report. I think I would die if I was on Zumanjaro and they launched a Kingda Ka train.

So I wrote the park directly as well as corporate, and they are refunding my ticket! I am sure they usually don't care about making people happy, but my tale of woe must have moved them. I posted the same comments on the park's Instagram page and was met with a hostile comment: "This is the best park in Colorado, and if you don't like it. just stay the f*ck home!" Umm...the best park in Colorado when there is literally one other one, also run down and barely open. And I have never been, but it looks like Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park is a better park than either Lakeside or Elitch!

Did anyone know that this was a thing? We popped by yesterday for a few hours and saw the signs up everywhere but don’t see any announcement aside from the signs in the park:

For now .... My first Friday night at Playland (18th), was 'okay'. Nothing special. Several rides, including Coaster, were still down. And the damned (true) nightfall didn't happen until I was leaving the place! I stuck around for a couple of hours and took pix. No more, no less. Next time, I shall go a bit later to the park. And photograph, accordingly. Here's one pic (from PNE) for tonight. More (of mine of "that night") to follow.... Ooooooooooo.

In the last two days, I made two loaves to take to a picnic, a friend had organized down in Stanley Park. Both turned out good, although I think I need to consider putting a 'slash' in the top of the cheese loaf before it goes into the oven. The cheese-jalapeno loaf seems to 'bleed cheese' again. No big deal. I gave it to our host for the picnic, so I hope they enjoy it. The Olive Rosemary loaf . I named it 'O'mmmmm. The cheese jalapeno loaf. Ooozing cheddar cheese, but what the heck, eh? Haven't 'named it', yet.

The SF parks, Hershey, and Knoebels have as many smoking zones as ever (and they are appreciated!). I think CF is the only chain who used COVID as an excuse to go smoke-free.

The park has quietly updated the hours for a few operating days in the coming weeks: Friday, June 25th - 8pm close (previously 7pm) Saturday, June 26th - 9pm close (previously 8pm) July 2nd through 4th - 10pm close (previously 9pm)

My first visit to Halloween Horror Nights was Jack's first year. Our little group loved it when he popped up in other attractions like Earthquake and Terminator.

@Nrthwnd I love George Motz, few other people have a passion for burgers like him. I highly recommend his book Hamburger America: He also has been a main guest for the Burger Show on the First We Feast YouTube channel (Hot Ones). Many of his videos outline all of the regional burger specialties across the continent, including how to make them (which look to be the foundation for that other book you found). Truly a burger historian! Here are two of my favorites, but there are plenty more, including a cool tour of Texas spots:

He killed 16 Czechoslovakians! Seriously though, love the little touches. Was waiting for this to finally get installed.

I actually applied for and have been accepted to go work for Dollywood guys. Wish me luck!

I mean... these are the people that they're dealing with

Tempted to go check this out for my birthday because the design looks fantastic. I've seen a lot of Korean versions of musicals here but they've nearly all been of musicals I'd previously seen in English. I think the only one I saw in Korean without previously seeing an English version was Aida, and I was totally lost. I'm assuming the musical doesn't stray too far from the movie so I should be fine for this though, anyone who has seen the Broadway version can cofirm?

Well, just got back from Denver. Highlight: graduated from University of Denver with my MA in Creative Writing. I did the entire degree online and ended up with a 4.0! Lowlight: Elitch Gardens. I had visited the original park in 1980 and loved the Wildcat and Mister Twister. I had read horror stories about this park, but I wanted to get the credits. Upon arrival, I was greeted by a sign which listed two rides as being closed. Once I was in the park, turned out the majority of the rides were closed. Half of the coasters were closed (Half Pipe, Sidewinder, and the kiddie coaster) and most of the flats as well. I did ride Mind Eraser (Vekoma SLC...painful) Boomerang (Vekoma boomerang..also painful) and Twister II. It was ok but nothing like the original. Went on the park's website, and none of those rides (other than Half Pipe) are listed as closed. Pissed. I emailed the park and am hoping for a full refund but I doubt it. Advice: avoid this park unless you like being disappointed.

Great report. I also just moved to Florida this week and BGT is going to be my new home park as well.

I had a wonderful first visit to the park today. It was everything I had hoped for and more. I am extremely excited to now call this my new home park as I move across the country from California to Florida. The weather was absolutely perfect. Clear skies all day and relatively manageable humidity, coming from someone who grew up in the dry desert out West. Even yesterday at SeaWorld Orlando was also perfect. We really lucked out with weather so far at these parks. BGT is interesting because there is no clear stand-out coaster (yet), and there is also not a single bad coaster. The lineup is solid and Iron Gwazi will only add to that. I was able to ride every coaster in the park, some multiple times, and we are going back for a second day tomorrow. Cheetah Hunt is awesome. It is glass smooth, has comfortable trains (I know some do not like those Intamin OTSRs, but since Cheetah Hunt isn't whippy and snappy like I305 or Maverick, they were perfectly fine for me), and features a totally unique and great layout. It doesn't produce any significant positive or negative G-forces, but it may be my current favorite coaster in the park for its re-rideability, length, and uniqueness. Kumba met my expectations, which were already quite high. I am not going to say it was perfectly smooth and comfortable, it definitely has some old-school grit and intensity which can lead to some shakiness, but that didn't take away from the ride for me. This coaster has put in WORK with year-round operations for over 28 years, so I am surprised it still runs so well. It hauls a$$ through the layout. I only got 2 rides on it today and I plan on riding it a few more times tomorrow (and of course, from here on out) since I now live here. This is a ride that I can see really growing on me, like Riddler at Magic Mountain did. I can see why it gets the hype, but I can also see how somebody may not like the ride. My brother said it was a one-and-done. I tend to enjoy coasters with bone-crushing intensity and grit (I actually miss Green Lantern at SFMM, I'm not kidding), so Kumba gets a thumbs up from me. SheiKra was my first dive coaster with "regular" restraints since the only other one I've ridden is Valravn. What a difference! Even with a simpler and less exciting layout, those drops are WONDERFUL when there isn't a vest crushing you. I have yet to ride in the front but the back row had great pull down both drops, and a sweet near-miss on the right side of the train when coming out of the immelmann. Montu, as expected, delivered. I am not sure where exactly it places in my list of favorite Inverts, but it is up there. I really, really like Banshee but also haven't ridden it since 2017. Montu feels very similar to Afterburn for me, just longer. The trenches are great and inversions are forceful. This one will also take a few more rides to get a better feel of it. Often I need multiple rides on coasters to get a good feel for them, but even my first impression of Montu is high. This and Kumba are a very strong one-two punch for those who love old school looping coasters that perfectly encompass some of B&M's best work. The rest of the lineup is also great. Tigris is good, but just like Electric Eel back home which I'm used to. Cobra's Curse was loads of fun and super unique and pumping out cars like nobody's business. Scorpion was solid and Sand Serpent was fine. The star of the show for me, honestly, was Falcon's Fury. I'm a sucker for drop towers but this one is on a whole new level. WOW! Perhaps my overall favorite ride in the park. Also got a chance to ride it at night thanks to the park's 10pm closing and it's just fantastic. There's really nothing else like it, except in Sweden I suppose. I'm stoked to make this my "new Supreme Scream", but infinitely better! I didn't take many photos since I spent so much of the day exploring and riding, but perhaps I'll try to take more photos tomorrow if the clear and sunny weather forecast holds. Overall LOVE this park! And once Iron Gwazi opens it will be even better.

Heading to Denver next week to graduate with my Master's degree! While there, I am planning to hit Elitch Gardens. Any discounts other than the $20 off from their website? Was really hoping to visit Lakeside as well, but it doesn't look like they will be open til later in the summer. Any other must do or must eat in the city? Thanks!

Whatever it is, it's sure to be the most exciting amusement park attraction added in Missouri for years to come, as history has proven.

I have a craving for one right now. Or a couple. These will be fine, for now. (o;