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Just got back from a whirlwind 3 days! Flew Orlando to Louisville, did Kentucky Kingdom for a few hours, then drove north to Kings Island. Spent about 5 hours there on Thursday (pretty dead and rode everything!) then went back for CoasterStock on Friday and Saturday. Highlights would be the Beast walk back and the book signing. If you haven't picked it up yet, you should! Also met a few TPR folk along the way. Weather was great Thurs/Fri, rain on Saturday. Looking forward to next year and the 50th anniversary of KI!

Was so great to meet you pianojohn and that was such a great ride on adventure express that we all did together and of COURSE the carousel ert im still traveling but will get a a report up in the next few days but yeah. Y’all should go its a great park

So, on my way back from Lakemont Park today (report here), I stopped by Adventure Park USA to get the Zamperla Windstorm credit, Wild West Express, that I didn't get on my first trip here a few months ago, and maybe take another spin on the Wildcat. Well, first off, the Wildcat was still running just one 4-seater car. No others were anywhere in sight. Thus, it had a line, that I estimated at about a half hour. So yeah, let's skip that. I added $8 worth of points to my card, and headed over to Wild West Express, for a one-train wait. Amusingly enough, the card/wristband scanner was nonfunctional, so the lone ride op was just letting everyone on if they had something to show. $8 down the drain LOL. Anyway, WOW this surprised me. I'd never been on a Windstorm before (in fact, the only Zamperla coaster I had been on before this was a horrible Volare at Rye Playland), and this was a LOT more forceful than I expected. Particularly in the weird not-quite-an-upside-down-inclined-loop shown here, and yeah there were no trim brakes in use anywhere. The helicies were also quite forceful for what it is. After that, it was back on the road home. A worthwhile stop on a trip that was otherwise a waste of time (seriously, read the Lakemont report). Farewell, Adventure Park USA.

So, in the aftermath of my cancelled Western PA Trip (which would have encompassed Lakemont, Idlewild, and Kennywood), I decided today to take a ride out to Lakemont (about a 3.5 hour drive) to get their credits, namely Leap-the-Dips. Being able to say you've been on the world's oldest operating coaster carries are certain amount of coaster nerd cred, haha. Knowing that this place is kind of a shithole, and occasionally decides to not run rides even on perfect-weather Saturdays, I checked their website and social media for any news of closures. None found. Good news? Of course not... Underneath that little bit of red magnet in the bottom right corner of the park map, is in fact, Leap-the-Dips. God damnit. Upon closer inspection, there was a nice sign out front saying that it was "closed for maintenance," but notably in the hour I spent at the park, I saw no one working on it. I was both amazed and not surprised at all that anyone could very easily walk up and sit in one the car that's on the course. Anyway, made my way to the other end of the park, dropped the $6 and change for 6 tickets, and hopped on Skyliner for two solo rides - one in the front row and one in the 2nd to back (they weren't seating anyone in the very back row for some reason). Decent enough for a woodie of its vintage, especially in the back where I caught a couple of pops of air, but holy crap is that first valley at the bottom of the main drop a jarring jolt. As everyone knows, the only other rides they have beside the two coasters is a train ride, go-karts, a kiddie coaster, drive-'em cars, and a laughably sparsely decorated kiddie monster trucks ride. Oh, and a "water park" consisting of two kiddie splash ponds. So yeah, nothing else here for me. The mini-golf looked kinda cool, but who plays mini-golf by themselves? I did try a burger from the Lakeside Cafe, for $6.75, which was disgusting and barely edible - I finished about half of it. Which isn't saying much, since it was tiny (quarter included for size reference). After that, I took off and headed home (with a slight detour to Adventure Park USA for the Zamperla credit there). Kinda a waste of almost 500 miles worth of gas, but whatever. I'll try stopping by sometime on my way to or from Ohio parks in the future to get on Leap the Dips. At least the place is pretty? Aside from the rides...yeah, seriously, paint the coasters. Lots of pictures incoming.... So long, Lakemont. Please, can Knoebels save these coasters?

You're right, but you're also exceedingly optimistic.

There's been a great TPR showing today, even a TPR poncho! I missed what his username is so reveal yourself!

Yes, it's not surprising because more often than not when an accident like this happens, it's not normally just one mistake but a series of mistakes. See also: Smiler (Alton Towers), Thunder River Rapids (Dreamworld) etc.

Seriously, how do people not just turn around and go home? If I saw that awaiting me I'd know full-well that the day would be horrible.

Looking forward to plenty of pictures and TR's. (please)

Wow! That Ferris Wheel car is crazy! I know our friend Jack would pretty much die!

"The cart did not derail." - Six Flags "What happened then?" - World "The rear wheels came up off the track." - Six Flags "So, they derailed?" - World "No." - Six Flags

While I agree fully, it’s not so much the closing down for rain that’s the aggravation though… it’s the “we need to wait and make sure it’s not going to start raining again so we’re just going to keep everything closed even though it’s not raining anymore” that takes anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour. If the rides never close down then you can make your own decision if you want to jump in line and get pelted by rain drops or not. But Cedar Point is apparently content with their rain policy, which they say is in the name of “safety” to the detriment of the entire experience.

Wow, some of what is being alleged is really, really bad for the park. As bad as it gets, basically. https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/2021/07/09/adventureland-park-fatal-accident-2021-raging-river-ride-11-year-old-drowned-michael-jaramillo-david/7912842002/ Summary: The emergency access gate was chained, so first responders struggled to get in. When the ambulance did get in, they were furthered barred by stored fireworks. Bystanders called 911, not the park. Park security was not immediately notified. Employees did not use the emergency release valve to rapidly drain the ride. Employees watched and did not act during the emergency. A sixteen year old boy remains on life support as well, though there does seem to be some hope for a recovery there thankfuly. This very well could be a lawsuit on the level that pushes out ownership if this level of negligence can be demonstrated in court.

There is a a cell phone video circulating from the boat behind them. They all witness the boat overturned and it's basically them yelling that they are about to get hit by their boat, and then freaking out with what they are going to do next after passing it. You can see some of them in the water getting out of the trough. I didn't look too closely and it was a one and done for me. Scary **** do not recommend. Makes me feel uneasy.