redfoot12

^Sounds good! It's been far too long since I've had my Intimidator fix (circa 2011?).

Contributed! Good luck!

I'm surprised I haven't seen this one mentioned but mine was Space Mountain (Omega side I believe) at WDW in 1984. My first non-Disney Arrow was Anaconda. Maybe I didn't have much to compare it to back then but I think it actually was pretty fun when it first opened (1991). Not so much nowadays.

Someone earlier mentioned a terrain wooden coaster. I always thought Big Bad Wolf's area would have lent itself well for a terrain woodie. Oh well. Too late now.

I loved Yogi's Cave. Treasure cave... not so much.

Kings Dominion has only removed three, and they have 14 now... so there's a possibility that we could have almost no Cedar Fair-owned Arrow Loopers anymore. Every time I go to Kings Dominion, even with a hour wait for Dominator, Anaconda was always walk on. Perhaps they could be like BGW: Pull it out on a anniversary. As much as I like the ride, though, it seems they always had their worst operators there. It would be a smart (but somewhat upsetting) move for the park in my opinion. 2011 would have been its 20th. I don't want to wait until 2016 for them to get rid of this not really classic ride!

Alpengeist for me as well This thread got me thinking about the rumor about how Drachen Fire was almost a B&M project.

Great pictures as usual, PKD! Need to get up to that area again.

I got in two rides on Verbolten Sunday evening. Both fun rides, but with the same story program. I give it a solid 7.5 or 8 out of 10. This is the type of ride I really look forward to riding with my nieces who are each 8 and 10. They're both big enough to ride the larger B&M's but Verbolten packs some of the unique elements of a Disney-style coaster.

Verbolten Sunday night (May 20)

It'd be a crime if I didn't make both!

Wow - Avogadro's Number used on TPR. I never thought I'd see the day. Good Job Sir!!! Ha--I was going to post this same thing the other day!

I remember when Anaconda was being built throughout the 1990 season. At one point it seemed like it was in the same state of disrepair for several months, with no apparent progress being made. That'd be interesting if the ride's design plans went through an overhaul halfway through construction. I wonder if it was a case of the original coaster's design being in conflict with the planned water park.

Just curious, but are there any older members who remember riding Anaconda in its early years? I rode it on opening day in 1991 and throughout 1991-1992. I remember it being a really fun ride (even though you still had to brace yourself for the transitions after the MCBR). I definitely remember liking it more than Drachen Fire (which I rode in 1993). However, at the time, my coaster experience was pretty limited. The only non-KD coasters I had been on when Anaconda opened were Big Thunder Mountain and Space Mountain. Anybody else care to chime in?

Wait... am I missing something? Other than Verbolten, why is 2012 such a big year for Va? Windseeker at Kings Dominion. I was hoping you knew about a secret Intamin prefab being constructed at an undisclosed location...

Wait... am I missing something? Other than Verbolten, why is 2012 such a big year for Va?

^Well, I'd hope construction kinks have been worked out by now.

^Ha--It's interesting to read the comments below that article and see how the locals feel about the state of the park.

I got the feeling Cedar Fair was trying to do something with the park but they were getting stonewalled by the city and stadium plans.

Like the Christmas Story reference!

^Were the attractions open or did you just not want to spend any more time in the park?

Also, are you saying that you believe Loch Ness Monster is a better coaster than Griffon?

^I liked LNM when I first rode it in the early 90's (it may have even been my favorite coaster for a while) but it just doesn't do much for me these days (and can sometimes be downright painful). I have a feeling you're right though. It's such an industry icon that it may be quite a while before it goes anywhere. The uproar when the end of BBW was announced will be nothing compared to what it will be like when LNM gets chopped.

^^I know I'll get some flak for this but I wouldn't mind seeing Loch Ness Monster enter the end of its "service life" within the next few years. The track of land that LNM sits on would lend itself well to a nice terrain wing rider or flyer.

^Probably a regional thing with me living not too far (relatively) from the park.