[Game: What's your favourite coaster at this park?]

Banshee

 

Dreamworld

[2016 Oklahoma State Fair Review]

That's an awesome fair! You have two large coasters, some great flats (the drop tower especially), and a flume.

[What's your first ride upon arrival at your home park?]

For Canobie it's the Yankee Cannonball. I can't remember the last time I made it at opening, but unless they add a big new thrill ride like Untamed or Equinox, it's my first ride.

 

For Six Flags New England, it's Wicked Cyclone. Doesn't matter if I arrive at opening or during the day,

[Six Flags Great Adventure (SFGAdv) Discussion Thread]

I walked by Joker. It's still closed with the cars aren't even on the track. You can however buy a Flash Pass to ride it today according to the sign in front of Joker though...

[Six Flags Great Adventure (SFGAdv) Discussion Thread]

Thanks! Considering Superman is only running one train and it's 3:55 right now I don't think I'll make it for the goats but I'll be sure to try a waffle.

[Six Flags Great Adventure (SFGAdv) Discussion Thread]

Cool that gives me some hope. New England is getting their version next year but I was still hoping for an early preview.

 

Like others have noted as the day goes on, it's starting to get quite a bit busier. Where is the waffle cart I'm hearing about located?

[Six Flags Great Adventure (SFGAdv) Discussion Thread]

I'm at the park now. It's a beautiful and not overly cold day. Batman and Nitro are each ~1-2 train waits.

 

Unfortunately Joker is closed. I was expecting it based on a few posts I saw, but still a bit bummed out since that bugger was also closed during my summer visit. Still if you told me I could be riding B&Ms in the Northeast in December a few years ago, I wouldn't have believed you.

[La Ronde Discussion Thread]

Well I don't know about Labor Day weekend, but the people on this board seem to mention that it was closed alot during 2016, also it was removed from their site in June it looks like

 

http://xtremelaronde.forumactif.com/t812p25-avenir-du-cobra

 

Being removed from the website probably wasn't a coincidence if it was indeed down that often. Well while I missed that stand-up, it looks like I saved myself from a headache.

[SeaWorld San Diego (SWSD) Discussion Thread]

I think a spinning, inverting thrill coaster is quite a bit different from a terrain coaster all about air time. I'd love to see one of those Mack spinners, but a SkyRocket II isn't a bad option either. While they're starting to pop up frequently, they're great rides unlike a boomerang or SLC.

[La Ronde Discussion Thread]

Did Cobra run at all towards the end of the 2016 season? During my only visit on the Saturday of Labor Day weekend, Cobra was closed all day with no one working on it and that's not a weekend you'd typically want a coaster down.

 

I'm bummed I missed out on Cobra since I've never tried an Intamin stand-up but by all accounts it doesn't sound like a great ride and the park can use this plot for something new.

[Photo TR: Credit Run in the Northeast]

I remember reading that the plans to sell the park were incorrect but then there was a follow-up story plans to close the park and redevelop it with condos was submitted.

[Photo TR: Jeremy Rides all the RMC's]

Thanks for posting all of these TRs! I've been on 3 RMCs and all 3 are some of the top coasters that I've been on. I'd rank them as Twisted Colossus, Wicked Cyclone, and Storm Chaser. Like you, I also missed Lightning Rod but wasn't even lucky enough to see it testing and fly down that quad down.

 

As for Wicked Cyclone and Boulder Dash, I think you caught both on bad days. Wicked Cyclone, even on its worst days, has really great airtime until after the last zero-G roll. If it's running well, you'll get some good airtime going into the brake run and on those small hills. If it's running sluggish, the final hills don't really give any air. I think I only got the ride in its sluggish state on a really warm summer day like you. Oddly it ran its fastest on the cooler days. The only "bad" ride I had on Wicked Cyclone was last year when the train vibrated really badly, but thankfully that was fixed and not an issue this year.

 

Boulder Dash was pretty smooth during the Haunted Graveyard in October and still had its trademark ejector air. The only rough part (and it was really rough) was that triple up.

[Photo TR: Credit Run in the Northeast]

Bowcraft Amusement Park

 

This trip report is bittersweet, as it may be the last ever one of Bowcraft Amusement Park. Bowcraft was one of those parks I had planned to visit for a few years, but never got around to it (mainly because of Six Flags Great Adventure, blame El Toro). Once I heard Bowcraft was closing, I finally made my way to the park. Bowcraft was the perfect family park. Basically all of the rides were kid-friendly, the park was clean, and the operations (albeit with low crowds) were fast.

 

Crossbow was my primary reason for visiting and it was a solid coaster. The trains were extremely comfortable and open, the latter being something pretty weird but cool for a family coaster. The ride had some moderately forceful turns and decent speed, but there was some vibrating throughout the lower turns. I took a few laps on Crossbow and really wish someone can save it since it's better than your average roller skater or galaxi coaster.

 

The rest of the park had an interesting mix of rides. There were some rides with relatively large footprints considering the park's small size such as the Speedway car ride and the Train. Then there was a mix of classic flats such as the Paratrooper or Tilt-a-Whirl and newer flats like the Swinger and Drop Zone. They also had a kiddie coaster, which I of course rode.

 

As a roller coaster enthusiast, I'm sad to see any park go, but this honestly wasn't a park I would have made plans to return to in the near future due to its lack of thrill rides. But for what Bowcraft was (a nice family park), it succeeded and will be missed by its targeted audience.

And the even more creatively named Balloons.

Big Bertha, I'll throw balls in your mouth any day.

My first and last ever visit to Bowcraft.

Look at those twisties.

The trains were pretty sweet.

Crossbow was a solid family coaster. Nothing too wild, but better than a clone.

I don't know what's worse- riding a kiddie coaster with kids or all alone.

With these crowds, alone was what I did.

For those graduating the Frog Hopper, there's the Drop Zone. Over twice as tall!

Doesn't that look fun?

Bowcraft was a nice little park highlighted by that coaster in the back.

I miss Canobie's Paratrooper.

At least the bumper cars have a creative name.

More animals and a Red Coat soldier. That's a better story than Adventure Express.

There are animals.

The park also has/had an elaborately themed car ride, Speedway.

And the creatively named Swinger.

And several flats scattered throughout like the Tilt-a-Whirl.

Despite the park's small size, they had some rides that took up a lot of space like the Train.

[Apex Parks Group acquires Martin's Fantasy Island]

My visit in 2010 was pleasant and the park reminded me a lot of Funtown USA. It's a shame that it sounds like it has gone downhill. The park wasn't overly crowded, but they had a nice collection of rides. Silver Comet was a really good woodie with a great mix of laterals and airtime. I just thought the park needed another big coaster to go with Silver Comet.

[Dorney Park and Wildwater Kingdom Discussion Thread]

My rides on Thunderhawk have always been pretty bumpy unless I ride in the very front, so I'm glad to see the park taking care of their oldest coaster.

[The Knott's Berry Farm (KBF) Discussion Thread]

Providing cups is much more convenient. Not only does it save you from carrying one more item, but it means you don't have to remember to bring it.

 

I either lose or forget the cup. To try and not forget my Six Flags one last year, I kept it in my car but the heat of summer caused it to deform.

[10 Attraction Game]

Carousel (Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, Looff, 1911)

Phoenix (Knoebels, PTC, 1985)

Splash Mountain (Disneyland, Hopkins, 1989)

Garden Grill (Epcot, 1993)

Amazing Adventures of Spiderman (Islands of Adventure, Universal Creative, 1999)

Boulder Dash (Lake Compounce, CCI, 2000)

X2 (Six Flags Magic Mountain, Arrow, 2001/2002)

Radiator Springs Racers (Disney's California Adventure, Walt Disney Imagineering, 2012)

Fury 325 (Carowinds, B&M, 2015)

Any ARM/Larson Drop Tower (year can vary)

 

I only picked rides that I've been on. I'm kind of shocked I don't have any Intamins or RMCs but the best ones I've been on from them are blocked by a different ride (Millennium Force by Boulder Dash in 2000, SkyRush by Radiator Springs Racers in 2012- SkyRush is better but wanted some variety, and Wicked Cyclone/Twisted Colossus by Fury in 2015).

[Photo TR: Credit Run in the Northeast]

Adventureland

 

After visiting a friend in Connecticut and dropping them off Sunday morning, I had an ambitious plan- hit five new parks in one day (Adventureland, Bowcraft, Land of Make Believe, Camelback Resort, and Party Zone U.S.A.). Originally I was only going to hit Adventureland and Boomers, but news broke that Bowcraft was closing (thanks TPR Forum) so I modified my plans. Boomers didn't survive, but Adventureland did and I'm glad I visited this compact park.

 

Adventureland really packs a lot into a small space while still having very nice landscaping around rides such as the flume, Antique Cars, and Ladybug Coaster. I had heard the park was small, but I didn't realize just how narrow the park was.

 

The real reason for my visit was to try their new Mack spinning coaster Turbulence. Prior to riding the Knott's Berry Farm's Sierra Sidewinder was my favorite spinner since it was the most forceful and spinniest of them. Turbulence was just a hair better than Sierra Sidewinder. After hearing the ridiculous Turbulence song going up the lift, the coaster is non-stop spinning and directional changes. Considering how compact the layout is, more parks really need to add coasters like this. It was glass smooth and I would have loved to ride it more if time permitted.

 

I also took rides on the Ladybug Coaster (nice theming, but pretty meh coaster), Crocodile Run (weird water whip ride, pretty fun but I drove careful to stay dry), and the Drop n Twist tower (tilting was interesting off ride, but not super noticeable on ride).

Unfortunately the nice looking log flume was closed with it being September.

There's also a nice set of Antique Cars.

Yet the whip on water was open.

Frisbee was arguably the park's most thrilling ride.

I really wish a second rider wasn't needed; I've heard this ride was awesomely bad.

Oh yeah there's also a very nicely landscaped junior coaster next door.

So many flats packed into a small area.

Welcome to Adventureland, the world's narrowest amusement park. Props to the park for fitting so many rides in.

And Stinky Feet.

Every park should add one of these Mack spinners.

I couldn't help but laugh cresting the hill as "Turbulence" was blasted over speakers. Oh the music of the 2010's.

Turbulence was amazing. Fast, great layout, and non-stop spinning.

[Wait, Giovanola made an invert?]

I'm more intrigued by Tower of Terror.

 

But Anaconda looks like a Batman the Ride inspired layout.

[Photo TR: Credit Run in the Northeast]

A lot of Ski areas have conflicts of interest with summer activities (like Camelback for example which has a water park in the ski area) and that can play a role in opening and closing dates. Killington keeps these things away from Superstar so they can be ready to light it up with snow guns at a moment's notice as soon as they see a snow making window. They also keep skiing on it way later than normal people would.

 

I can't believe they saw the snow stop and just kept going down the muddy/dirty hill.

 

Ah the Beast of the East. Once we get a little better at skiing we need to head up there in June to ski Superstar and ride the Mountain Coaster. This place is famous for making an ungodly amount of snow on one trail (Superstar), including a massive stockpile up top known as Superstar glacier, so they can try to stay open until June and win a dick waving contest with the other eastern ski resorts. They're always the first to open and last to close in the east and they're on my bucket list simply because of their arrogance. It's wonderful. Last year they were skiing superstar on 90 degree days.

 

Generally be the end of this the trail looks like this, but they ski it anyway.

 

I'll have to find my photos, but a few years back the superstar trail had so much snow made on it, that while skiing you were higher up than the lift at one point of the trail near the top.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

That sounds both awesome and questionable in terms of safety.

[Top/Favorite Hyper Coasters]

18(103). Superman (SFNE) I used to love this ride, but this year is ran so horrible no airtime and the train was just vibrating non-stop you could hear in the queue line it was bad.

 

I think you caught the ride on a bad day. It was running as best as it has been since Bizarro and my rides were spread through spring, summer, and late October. Now the VR implementation was a disaster though.

[Top/Favorite Hyper Coasters]

1) SkyRush (5)- Arguably the most powerful air-time of any coaster and an outstanding drop.

2) Goliath- SFOG (7)- Faster & more forceful than other B&Ms with the same comfort.

3) Superman the Ride (8)- Unique layout, powerful air, & intense helixes.

4) Phantom' Revenge (11)- Short but very strong air time and the legendary second drop.

** Goliath- La Ronde (12)- Basic layout but tons of floater air on every hill.

5) Behemoth (13)- Great first drop, tons of floater air, but a little rattle.

6) Apollo's Chariot (15)- Great setting and really good drops, not as intense as previous hypers.

7) Nitro (17)- Just a tad worse than Apollo's Chariot for air, but better helixes.

8) Ride of Steel (18)- Great airtime, but could be higher if straight sections removed.

9) Magnum XL-200- Intense air (painful if ridden incorrectly) and a great setting.

10) Intimidator- Floater air on every hill but not intense at all.

11) Diamondback- Great first half and then the trim tames the second half.

12) Steel Force- I've gotten some great rides and some rides without much air at all.

13) Goliath- SFMM- I'd rather hills over helixes. Good first drop though.

 

** Technically not over 200 ft, but it's so close I added it to the list.

[Game: What's your favourite coaster at this park?]

T3!

Holiday World

 

Voyage

 

Marineland

 

Dragon Mountain. Easily the best coaster in that park, but not the best ride (Sky Screamer is the best S&S tower). I won't be back agaib unless they add a better coaster since the rest of the park is so bad.

 

Fuji-Q

[Cargo Shorts. Your thoughts?]

I have to wear something with a zippered pocket to give me a sense of security that my phone, wallet, and keys will be safe. For the summer, that means cargo shorts. Only time it gets tight is if I need to hold onto a Q-bot too since I don't fully trust that lanyard (I've gotten a few that started to tear).

 

In the fall/winter, I wear a coat with a zippered pocket.

[GAME:: THIS or THAT]

tunnel

 

Living near Boston, your response makes me cringe. Oh how I hate the Big Dig.

 

I'll go with Apple. I love the interface.

 

Dachshund or Golden Retriever