Reality15

12/20, good thing we're starting Coney Island in my Commercial Recreation Systems class the week after spring break.

I was always told that you never go to a drive in to watch a movie. This just proves that theory. It'll be interesting to see how it turns out with more rides. Hopefully the noise of the rides isn't too loud, that would be my only concern.

Here's a hint: there's five pictures all with one thing in common.

I was a bit upset when they said the ride videos would be on the new DVD set, considering I bought the "old" set when it came out so I could have the movies on DVD. BUT! For those of you that are in the same boat, there is a chance! Netflix has the "Bonus Features" DVD available. It's at a "Very Long Wait" right now, but I'm hoping that settles down sometime soon! Anyways, your pictures are really cool. Back to the Future: The Ride was one of the reasons my parents took me to Universal when I was a kid just because I was obsessed with the movies (I was even Doc Brown for Halloween one year). It's nice to see some pictures of the "other" ride in California!

Always glad to help a friend out. Here is the code you can use to put it in your signature: [URL=http://www.themeparkreview.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=41995][img=http://img186.imageshack.us/img186/2843/bigmikereaderrj7.jpg][/URL] I sent it to Big Mike, too, so he can update that post. Getting close to that 100th update, and already a head start on 2009. Can't wait to hear the 2009 schedule!

Big Mike, Just got your package today. Thanks again for the help, especially the blueprint of the new "Wonder Wheel Way", considering this project is about the new developments and how they're looking to improve the area. Hope you find a good picture of you for the 2009 shirt. ;o) Thanks again! -Jon

Apparently you never went to the park during Oktoberfest or a company picnic day. Every year the park was packed during that time. I'm not leaning one way or the other, but they did do decent business. They had what appeared to be one of if not the lowest attendance in the chain, but they still did pretty good business during the heavy season and special events.

Just a thought, but... Could this be what was SUPPOSED to be going in at California's Great America for 2009/2010, but then got delayed? In which case I think a nice new GCI coaster wouldn't be a bad addition to the Carowinds lineup. And ^, after the fiascos that have been the openings of the last few Cedar Fair Intamin coasters, I wouldn't blame him if he burned every last trace of their coaster division's contact with the company.

Isn't Ultra Twister's lift motor currently in use on Roar?

Big Mike, If you have a photo in particular you'd like done, let me know. I just got promoted to Creative Director for the paper here at school, so I think I can help you out with just about any kind of graphic design you might need. Let me know, -Jon

I sure hope they aren't, I'm the TL of Logger's Run up here at Michigan's Adventure. We actually got a bunch of new equipment last year, so I don't think ours is going anywhere anytime soon... at least I hope not.

It's always nice to see a new Big Mike Road Show update at the top of my TPR forum page! Absolutely loved the inside scoop on the Coney Island project. My college capstone is actually about the redevelopment, so seeing those pictures was actually a bit helpful to the project. Stay awesome, Big Mike!

Laser Snake Horse on Fire

Dear god, that's what kids nowadays are watching? This replaces Cookie Monster eating a ton of cookies for every meal? All the better reason I shouldn't have kids, I guess. lol

Happy birthday Big Mike! Your card just went in the mail today, so it'll be a little late.

Actually I had the first year of operation going (the park completed) when I lost the files. I post my updates behind what I build so that I can make sure I show what I want in my updates. But yes, I wasn't very smart for not making a backup, but that's life. A year ago I lost all my photos when my backup failed, then an hour later my computer died. It happens, but it makes me more eager to build bigger and better things. Here's a shot that was supposed to be part of my next update.

I forgot to say it on here, but I ended up losing the park a week ago when I bought a new hard drive. I transferred over all of my custom scenery and game files, but forgot all the files in my My Documents folder.

I actually like the slide tower without that third slide better, it looks much more realistic. Keep up the good work, this looks really awesome.

Thanks for the comments. Someone on the Atari forums figured out that the ride is Double Loop, which (we're pretending) the Pikes bought at the Geauga Lake auction. I'm posting this update fairly close to the last one because I plan on being away from the internet for the next few days, so I wanted to get one last update in before I go. [YEAR 0] CONSTRUCTION UPDATE #2 ================================================== A month after my first visit, I headed back to the Edgewater site to see what all has been done since my first visit. Lucky for me I live only a half hour away in Grand Rapids so I can make the trip often. And I'll leave you with this shot of Double Loop. None of the station, handrails, or anything else has been completed yet. And that's this month's visit, I plan on going back in another month to see what's been done. Hopefully a few more rides will be up by then. Meanwhile, over at the Double Loop site, looks just a few more track sections in the high points of the ride have to be put up. They were in the process of pouring the last of the concrete while I was taking pictures. In addition they've started working on the main entrance plaza. It reminds me a lot of something you'd find in Mackinaw City. Construction on Double Loop is already well underway, with most of the track in place already. No more track here, you know what that means... The storage area now has a sign with the park's logo, and the second storage warehouse has been finished.

[YEAR 0] CONSTRUCTION UPDATE #1 ================================================== Just the other day, I was reading the Grand Haven Tribune and noticed an article announcing a new amusement park downtown. So, I decided to head over to the land they purchased and see what I could find. A view of the entire park. Not much to see at the site right now, but I'm sure vertical construction will start soon. I plan on making another trip back to the park soon, so I should have more pictures then! Another shed was under construction behind the first one. A close-up of the track being delivered. Looks like some kind of steel track from Arrow or Vekoma. The first storage shed. The door was closed so I don't know what was inside. Here's an overview of some of the storage area. Looks like they've got some equipment to start work. Some of the staff including park inspector Bob Donaldson was there to help unload things. Speaking of deliveries, it looks like a load of track was pulling up while I was taking pictures. Looks like they've already got some storage sheds up to receive deliveries.

Hey Big Mike fans! Just thought I'd let you know that Big Mike's podcast premier is now available in mp3 format for everyone to listen to! We figured this would make it a lot easier to those that don't have iTunes to listen to our interview with Big Mike. You can see the episode description and download the mp3 by going to: http://www.cheezonastick.net/episode.php?id=1 From the Cheezonastick news room in Grand Rapids, we'd like to wish the Big Mike Road Show a happy holiday season and a fantastic new year! We look forward to the 2009 season and all the travels that are yet to come! Thanks, -Jon Roost Cheezonastick Editor in Chief

I worked on the 2007 Maverick crew, here's the full playlist (not in order): # Aces High - Ennio Morricone # Maverick Theme Song - Cedar Point # Sixteen Tons - Tennessee Ernie Ford # Magnificent Seven - Ghost Rider Orchestra # He's a Pirate - Pirates of the Caribbean Soundtrack # Run Free - Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron Soundtrack # Moon-doggy, part 1 - Marc Daine and the Jazz Cowboys # Tornado in the Barracks - Mask of Zorro Soundtrack # Apache - Dillingers # Frisky - Marc Daine and the Jazz Cowboys # The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly - Ghost Rider Orchestra # Mule Train - Frankie Lane # The Big Country - Ghost Rider Orchestra # The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance - Ghost Rider Orchestra # The Indians - Ennio Morricone # Moon-doggy, part 2 - Marc Daine and the Jazz Cowboys # Dallas - Floyd Cramer # High Chaparral - Ghost Rider Orchestra # Denim and Demons - Marc Daine and the Jazz Cowboys # Even Cowboys Like a Little Rock and Roll - Chris LeDoux # Ghost Riders in the Sky - Ghost Rider Orchestra # The Ride - Mask of Zorro Soundtrack # For a Few Dollars More - Ghost Rider Orchestra # True Grit (Rooster Cogburn) - City of Prague Philharmonic # A Fistful of Dollars - Ghost Rider Orchestra # Bonanza - Ghost Rider Orchestra # How the West Was Won (Prelude) - True Grit Soundtrack # Wild Wild West - Billy Strange # Guns Don't Argue - Ennio Morricone # Sandstorm - James Newton Howard # Plaza of Execution - Mask of Zorro Soundtrack # Zorro's Theme - Mask of Zorro Soundtrack # Hang 'Em High - Ghost Rider Orchestra # Rawhide - Frankie Lane # Lucious Cake Waitress - Marc Daine and the Jazz Cowboys

Here is the link to Big Mike on the CheezCast: http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=299679412 You must have iTunes to download the podcast, Big Mike's segment is near the end.

I'm going into my third year of seasonal park employment, and let me just tell you I've had my fair share of the "ups and downs" of the ride operations atmosphere. This is going to be one of my longest posts yet, so be prepared. At the start of April 2007, I decided I wanted to switch my college major from Computer Science to Hospitality and Tourism Management. Of course, in doing so, I realized that I probably needed to start getting experience (and a job, for that matter) in the field, so I hesitantly applied to work at Cedar Point. A few people I knew had worked there before, and they told me mixed reviews. They told me the people were fun, the hours were long, the housing sucked, and it was a great experience. Being someone that likes things clean, organized, and fresh, what kept me away from applying earlier was the housing situation. Old, dirty dorms that you share with three other people really did not sound all that appealing. But I applied, and the next day I got my phonecall interview. After telling them a bit about myself and how much I knew about the park and rides, I was offered my choice between Top Thrill Dragster and Maverick. Being its first year of operation, I obviously chose Maverick. (A friend of mine who applied with me then in turn was offered the Top Thrill Dragster position) May came around, and I headed down to Cedar Point the day before my processing in, and I felt as though I had made a huge mistake. The housing was like a prison, I shared a dorm with three guys that were messy, binge drinkers, and probably could have kicked my ass, and I was terrified enough I drove all the way back home (four hour drive). The next morning I woke up and almost didn't head back. I was ready to end my Cedar Point experience after having less than 30 minutes in housing. But in the end, I headed down that morning, processed in, and ended up in a dorm with the friend from Dragster (a month later we were placed with another friend of mine who came down after his school got out). Three days into training day, we were told our ride (Maverick) wouldn't be opening to the public so they would be moving us to different rides. Needless to say, I was furious at the fact that I was being sent to a different ride, and of all people on my crew, I was the only one being sent to a non-coaster ride. I headed over to Snake River Falls (large splash boat for those that aren't familiar) and had the worst attitude I could have ever had. The next few days, I felt like I became a part of the crew over at Snake. Seen as how it was a very small crew, I was able to take a somewhat leader-like roll and helped my TL train employees as they processed in. From what was my (at the time) worst park experience to one of my favorite, I began realizing that summer wouldn't be too bad. I worked opening weekend on Snake, and was told that the following week I would be transferred to the railroad. I felt defeated, because I couldn't just have one crew. I was taken away from Maverick, then Snake, and now I was with a completely new crew. My first day on the train was miserable, I worked two different crossing locations all day, and hated it. But gradually I was trained to be a load attendant and then finally a conductor, and for the next two weeks I was normally found on the back of the train for my entire shift. Finally, I was sent back to Maverick two days before the ride opened, and had to adapt to a whole new atmosphere. Working a major ride was different than my last two rides, it was fast paced, constant people, and made me feel like the crew was my family. Maverick was and still is my "home ride", I feel like I could go back there any day and it would still make me feel like I was at home. Late July a family emergency popped up and I was forced to quit two weeks short of completing my contract. In doing so, I was put on the no-rehire list for Cedar Point, so my time there had already come to an end. In December, I decided to try for something closer to home at Michigan's Adventure. I had been going there my entire life, knew the park inside and out, and felt like I could operate any of the rides already. My experience at Cedar Point had payed off, and I was accepted as a Roving Team Leader. Michigan's Adventure was a whole new ball game for me. It didn't have the housing that I hated at Cedar Point. Crews were smaller, often manning one-operator rides where interaction was very low between staff members. And the fact that I was leading a different crew every day made me completely rounded when it came to operating rides. In June I was offered the TL position on Adventure Falls, and gladly accepted it. I finally was in charge of my own crew, and, going back to my first year, it was like being right back at Snake. I spent the rest of the summer heading up the Ad Falls crew. This year, I do plan on returning for yet another "summer of fun" at Michigan's Adventure. Is it a fun job? Sometimes. Sure, you have to deal with the occasional problem that isn't enjoyable, but in the end, I have to stick with something I told all my crews during training week the past year. "Your job is what you make of it. If you have fun while you work, you're going to enjoy yourself. If you're here just because you think you 'have to be', then you might as well walk out the door right now." So there is my huge essay on working at a park and my experience with park operations. I really didn't intend for this post to get this long, but when I get started talking about my time working with parks I tend to ramble on and on. If anyone has any questions about working in parks or one of the two parks I worked at, feel free to drop me a line and I'll try my best to answer it. -Jon "Fingers hurt from typing too much" Roost

Thunderhawk at Michigan's Adventure has them as well.