Electerik

Ah, yes, the trouble with writing.... ...and being your own boss, perhaps?

Very nice! Is that all free hand? Or do you have to carry a tripod around? /Sorry if that's a stupid question. I only use cameras I can carry in my pocket.

^ Dude, my name is right in my screen name! And I sign every post with my full name! It's ERIK!!! /Good to see you, moosh.

Owned by the same people, bigger in scope, but not quite as cheesy (unfortunately) as Earthquake, comes the Jurassic Jungle Boat Ride! We survived! Verdict: Not quite good enough to stand on quality, not quite cheesy enough to succeed on charm. Plus, it’s really expensive. Unless you live here, or just have to ride anything with a dinosaur in it, it’s probably not worth your time. Just ride Blazing Fury while you’re at Dollywood instead. ...a giant disembodied snake head pops out of the wall. Then you’re slowly lowered back down (if you’re in the front...if you’re in the back, not much really happens). The doors open, and you’re free. Ta-da! This photo is slightly out of order, but I want to use it to explain the ending of the ride. You cruise up to the closed exit doors and stop. Then, for no storyline reason I can fathom, the front of the boat is slowly lifted up about five or six feet out of the water, and... Luckily, he's not interested in us. Uh-oh. This one doesn’t seem so bad. GAAHHHHRRR! Hey, what’s that up there? I will eat you! - Rather than continuously moving through the attraction, the boat frequently stops so that you can be better menaced. The doors open into a prehistoric world of fog machines and cargo netting. More creepy fake customers. A T-Rex defending its waterfall. I’m friendly! The track leading to the entry doors. It’s worth noting that at no point is the boat free floating. Misty's "waiting for a boat" face. Cost? A whopping $13.99 for adults! But fear not, no sacrifice is too great for you, my loyal readers!

Belle Island has been under construction for over three years now. I wish I could be more hopeful--but last I checked, they had filed Chapter 7. Work has stopped because they are no longer able to pay their contractors. To my knowledge, there is still no amusement equipment on site. /Not trying to be a jerk here. Just don't want anyone to get their hopes up on this one.

Thank you for posting this. I don't think I've ever seen this park before. Shame it's gone. It looks fun.

Very nice so far. But where's the Arnold's Park love?

Do you like ice cream? Because Sandusky is home to my favorite ice cream store anywhere, Toft's. Map of the Area Toft's New CP Flavor /"Caveman Chocolate" FTW!

That park layout/map is the coolest thing I've ever seen. (I'm guessing the lake is man-made...?) Now they just need to figure out how to connect South America and Africa! /Nothing wrong with your captions, Hanno. Some people are just rude.

^ Well, there might be one already: www.wahooziplines.com. But I haven't been by there yet to check it out. And, of course, Dollywood is putting a little something like that together this year. Looks pretty fun. Thanks again for the report!

Yes, Sea Dragons! Uhg...Octopi. /Terrifying. And now venomous!

Great TR! I have to admit that you had me scratching my head over this, at first: Anyway, it's always nice to see parks from off the beaten path!

Interesting TR. I guess you were just showing the things that were new...? I'd like to see more of the coasters!

Thanks for the TR! Looks like a really fun park.

I never did get mine. I sent them an email and they suggested that I just wait longer.

Before this visit, and despite living in towns that had them for at least the last eight years or so, I had never been to the Dixie Stampede. What can I say? I’m just not a show guy. Still, when the opportunity arose to go for free, for the fourth year in a row, I finally gave in. And...well, it wasn’t bad, actually. In fact, I kind of enjoyed it. Fair warning, though: Photography of the actual show is not permitted. But that’s not to say that there’s nothing to take pictures of.... And then abandon it by the side of the road. Here you can stuff your own cute, lovable critter. Giant Dolly Parton orders you to exit through the gift shop. The Master of Ceremonies guy putting up his horsy. The main arena. The menu is printed on the napkin. Now that’s efficiency. ...and then settle in for the show. ...try to figure out which stall to use if you're from California... ...drink some fruity stuff from a souvenir "bootmug"... ...watch some pre-show entertainment... ...get your photo taken... You go in here... The ticket booths and a lady who's wondering why I'm taking a picture of them. The entrance is around to the side. The Dixie Stampede, as seen from the Parkway.

Thanks, Michael. I really appreciate that. Part of the inspiration for this thread is the private messages I occasionally get asking for advice on the area. And, also, it gives me a place to post all of my lame mini golf photos. It's funny you should say that.... Gatlinburg's other observation-type attraction is the Sky Lift. Down the mountain, over the river, across the road, through the hotel parking lot, and back into the station. Not bad, eh? Aw, don't be sad, Smisty. The ride down is the best part! Time to head down. Why they call them the Smoky Mountains. (Note: This is not actually true. Just go with me here.) It's a pretty nice view. At the top are an observation deck and a really typical “I’m with stupid…on the moon” gift shop. Animatronic! (Sorry, I scream that whenever I see one.) Smile for the on-ride photo. The view up is, well, pretty much just dirt at this point. Yes, you go right over the Gatlinburg Inn’s parking lot. (A famous song with a Tennessee connection was written in one of this hotel’s rooms. Anyone?) ...and the other is at the top of that there mountain. It's a bit overpriced at $12.00 for adults, but it's still fun. Basically, it's a chair lift. One end is right on the parkway... And that's the Sky Lift.

^ Well, sure. The problem is still that they tell you one thing at the beginning of the process and another at the end. Your argument makes sense from the standpoint of someone who was going to buy one at full price at the gate anyway. But the whole point of offering discounts is to get people to buy something they might not have otherwise. Why not just be honest, if you're an honest company?

My personal theory is that whichever type of coaster was built first by the company got the "obvious" designation. Thus, "SC" would be a Standing Coaster and "FC" would be Floorless. Didn't we already semi-establish that Flying Coasters were "LC" (for" Laying Coaster") or was I just imagining that? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0HSD_i2DvA

The $5.00 isn't really the problem. It's the deception. Tax notwithstanding, they advertise it as $30.00--but then when you try to buy it, it's $35.00. They've already lied to me and I'm still in my house. What's going to happen when I get there? Perhaps they won't run the rides efficiently to save on maintenance costs or to try to sucker me into buying a Flash Pass. Oh, wait.... Before my trip to SFOG in March, I hadn't been to any Six Flags in over five years. And I hadn't owned a Season Pass since 2000. I went back because everyone kept telling me that things had gotten better, and I didn't want to be pigheaded. I saw some things I liked, and I saw some thing I didn't like. I also bought two Annual Passes online, and got hit with an extra $10.00 I didn't expect. And I didn't like that. But I paid it anyway, because I'd already made plans based on the false information Six Flags had given me. Which is exactly why they're doing it this way. Look, I'll light a $5.00 bill on fire right now if it'll convince you that my problem isn't the money, it's the deception. Yes, I went anyway. But, yes, I am holding it against them. And they only get so many of those before I stop going again. I'm sure they don't really care. Obviously, they're doing just fine without my money...right?

^ That's because the mainstream media makes more money off a panicked populace than a calm one. Oh, and I completely agree with ginzo: /It ain't exactly Captain Tripps //What you need to know to protect your children. Tonight at 11.

I don't think they're much of a deal; They only get you into Six Flags. Now the $200 Busch Platinum Pass, that's a deal. ...that pass only gets you into the Busch family of parks? How is that any different? Um, because they're good parks. Sorry, I was being snarky. Perhaps I should have made it more obvious. /Yes, I'm a Six Flags basher--I admit it. It's their fault, though. //Actually, I have both. But I've used the Busch one way more.

I don't think they're much of a deal; They only get you into Six Flags. Now the $200 Busch Platinum Pass, that's a deal. People who thought the tickets were going to be one price, only to discover at the very last minute that they were higher...? /Eh, whatever. But it's still deceptive.

^ Thanks! I'm not sure how necessary it is, but I'm having fun doing it. Hillbilly Golf Yes, Misty, you won. You don't have to brag about it. Actually, you don’t quite putt your way all the way back down. You have to take the funicular again...not that you wouldn’t want to anyway. The 18th hole is an outhouse. (I’ll let you make your own “two stroke” joke here.) Honestly, I'm pretty fond of this place. If you were only going to play one mini golf establishment in the area, you could do worse. Pretty good overview of the place. And now here's a thing. Does my fatness make me look fat? Both courses are very shady. This is good choice for an outdoor activity on a hot day. This is my friend Seth. He took a break from hiking the AT to play some mini golf with us and enjoy a cola. There are two courses, and they both run back down the mountain. Why would anyone want a barrel of mildew? (Actually, it says MTN.DEW, but I’m not sure that’s any less weird.) Up we go. Basically, there was just enough room by the road for a ticket shack, so they built a funicular up the side of the mountain. On a nearly unbuildable plot of land in Gatlinburg exists a mini golf course like no other.

Thanks for the TR! You've got some good ones in there. Just to be pesky, though: You introduced "Kelly," but she's never in any other pictures.