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I usually don't mind rides that have always been named "Coaster" or "Roller Coaster" (I think it's kinda cute). But I totally agree that it's pathetic to replace a cool name like Manhattan Express or Tree Topper with "Roller Coaster."

Funny; I'm the opposite. I adore the one at SFGAdv (it's actually in my top 25 steel), but I'm not a major fan of the one at SFGAm. And, though I'm often biased towards the first ride of a given kind I experience, Great America's was actually my first S:UF, and second flyer after Tatsu. It's probably just because I rode SFGAdv's version at night in the back row, though, which of course was more disorienting than my day rides closer to the middle at SFGAm.

Very interesting news. I wonder what the "adjustments" would be. Padding? Or a way to prevent the bars from lowering further during the ride?

I never really thought about the extra thrill potential from both rides running at once. I probably wouldn't mind too much if I didn't get to experience that, but I can see how it would provide some added intensity.

^^^^^I've wondered about taking Amtrak there before, but not sure I'd ever have a reason to (prices aren't always better than flights for long trips, and sometimes I just road trip it down there). At least it's an option, which can't be said for many parks. Anyway, sounds like a great park day! And of course I'm always getting more and more psyched about the long-awaited new coaster.

Sure have! The wooden coaster is pretty unusual in this day and age and I personally find it amazing. Other than that, though, I've actually only done Corkscrew (kinda small, but not the worst coaster ever). I need to get back there for the kiddie coaster and the flats! But mostly...for Coaster.

I've only been to the east coast once but I thought it was much hotter over there than in CA. Most places in California have very temperate weather. I'm pretty much scared to leave the West Coast long-term since I'm so used to the reasonably mild weather here. I don't know how I'd deal with the high humidity, extreme heat and cold, and frequent severe weather events that seem to plague most of the rest of the country!

What? I'm pretty sure that's my favorite part of the ride! They better get that taken care of.

Thanks for reminding me how annoying stacking is on Bizarro. That left a bad taste in my mouth, and unfortunately I don't have the deep affection for the ride that most others do to help make up for it in my mind.

^Finally, someone who thinks like me. I do the same, except my private list is on an Excel spreadsheet rather than a Word document. All three sites have their advantages and (sometimes deep) disadvantages, and since I genuinely love counting for personal reasons, it doesn't bother me to update all four of my lists. CoasterCounter pros: It's a wiki, so you can add any coaster plus all kinds of details. The spinoff Ridecounter helps you keep track of any and all non-coaster attractions. You can rank your coasters (great for Mitch's poll), count laps and discover fun stats about your riding history. CoasterCounter cons: You can only share your main list and lap count, with coasters and flats combined (can be tedious to view if you've ridden many flats and keep track of them all). Unfortunately, rankings are private. It's fairly user-friendly but has some shortcomings in that realm. The wiki aspect can make some entries, especially non-coasters, a real cluster to sort through. CoasterFanatics pros: You must rate each coaster, which gives you intriguing stats on your preferences, contributes to collective ratings, and allows you to sort your list by rating to give you and others a snapshot of your opinions. There's also a handy personal calendar feature to document trips. CoasterFanatics cons: BADLY outdated (a few years and counting). No traveling coasters. Therefore, not ideal for credit count showoffs. Coaster-Count pros: Comprehensive coaster database including traveling coasters and controversial credits such as Butterflies and mountain coasters. As far as I know, it's updated frequently with information submitted by users. You can learn a quite a bit about your own coasting achievements and compare lists with others. There's also a fairly extensive trip planning feature. Coaster-Count cons: Although it allows you to be a liberal counter for the most part, there are a couple counting quirks. You can count each side of a Mobius coaster as a separate credit, which is so unusual in practice as to be pointless. But apparently you are actually blocked from counting a relocated coaster as a new credit (though unpopular, this practice does appeal to some of us credit whores). It also hasn't struck me as the most "trendy" counting site among TPR members, so it may be harder to find friends to stalk. It lets you do and see a lot, but it's not always intuitive to use. And that, my friends, is what a a full pot of coffee does for me.

^I've been told that, um...highly appetizing practice is called "halfy hunting." I should probably feel more ashamed that I know that.

^The lead horse, or king horse, is the biggest, most ornately carved figure on the outside row. It's often an armored horse.

^I used to find it confusing that there was absolutely no tie-in to the song "California Dreamin'." But now I realize there's no call for that and it wouldn't fit in with the nature of the park.

For some reason I'd gotten the idea that 1.3 was always the best on rides with three-row cars (not just on Phoenix, Magnum, Morgan hypers, etc.). That's what I did on Judge Roy Scream, but I'm trying to teach myself to go to for middle rows in the future.

I do understand the reasons given for one-sided loading and unloading, but it still strikes me as odd that there wasn't some creative solution that wouldn't negatively impact another aspect of the coaster, station and park. It's not like these problems weren't predictable.

So Gillian's Wonderland finally joined the other Jersey Shore parks and got themselves a Gravitron. I ride every one of these I see, so I'm pleased. I don't know when I'll be back, but I will, 'cause I need credits there.

Thanks for the comments! It's like we're supposed to be confused. The company realizes it's good PR to insinuate that the carousel will return to the mall. However, we're suspicious due to a lack of concrete evidence this will be the case. Furthermore, the carousel has been de-listed from the National Register of Historic Places, which isn't exactly a good sign. Chuck - I'll definitely be listening to that song again. Good stuff!

^And better yet for me, they're three of my top favorite Batclones. I could not be more freaked out that they made them into plushies...but at least they don't talk (I hope).

^Late last night, I spent some time researching and reading Ray Bradbury. He's my favorite author, but it's been several months since I last completed any of his works ("Somewhere a Band is Playing," which I think I need to revisit soon, and "Leviathan '99"). Apparently I did all my searching before the news broke. It may be cliched to suddenly give someone lots of attention and appreciation following their death, but I think I'll rededicate myself to reading (and re-reading) more of his books and stories. I'd been planning to, anyway. Rest in peace.

^^I'm all for anything that would get them to consistently run both sides on the same day, preferably racing. And not just because I need one of the credits.

I'll post a list of rides that seem to have wide appeal, and strongly say "amusement park" to me. This doesn't represent my "dream park" (there are other threads for that), but it may not reflect current industry trends, either. Coasters At least one wooden coaster At least one looping coaster At least one moderate family coaster (Wild Mouse, etc.) Kiddie coaster Other rides Dark ride Classic carousel Ferris wheel Log flume Scrambler Tilt-a-Whirl Drop Tower Good bumper cars Train ride Wave Swinger or Yo-Yo Wide assortment of flats at various thrill levels Kiddie ride section A few adult-friendly child-oriented rides (i.e. Rock'n'Tug, Flying Elephants, Teacups)

Recently, I visited three parks that were closed due to rain, IN A ROW, within two hours. One of them even had rides running and opened their gates for about a minute before closing. Then I ended up at a chain park on a Saturday afternoon. I've had a decidedly bad day that I don't talk about anymore because I am now on good terms with the park. Plus, I fear that unrefined enthusiast behavior on my part may have played a small role, and I don't need to draw any attention to that! Otherwise, whether it's due to luck, a positive attitude, or the current state of the industry, I generally have mostly-to-completely good experiences at parks, with some mediocre ones mixed in here and there.

Hotel Breakers may be dated, but it is totally worth it for the convenience of being on-site. Just make sure that if the early entry is a selling point for you, you can commit yourself to actually using it. I had it available for three days and only used it once.

That reminds me, I love riding Lightning Racer during ERT because people purposely divide up unevenly so one train will win by a wide margin. But I've definitely heard that Lightning ends up winning more often.

Laura's Ongoing Photo Thread The Merry-Go-Round Broke Down: Farewell to the Jantzen Beach Carousel (this post) Laura Braves Elitch Gardens...on a Saturday! (page 2) Mile High Fleas 'n' Fun: Mile High Flea Market (Henderson, Colorado) and Heritage Square Amusement Park (Golden, Colorado) (page 4) "Good" Old-Fashioned Lakeside Amusement Park (page 5) A Carousel Caper (Yes, Another One!) (page 7) SOLVED! A Carousel Caper (page 8) Laura's Island Getaway: NYC Really Has it All! (page 8) Six Flags America Shenanigans (page 9) _______________ Remember Jantzen Beach Amusement Park in Portland, Oregon? If so, you're old. Sorry to be blunt. That said, I am not without my own memories of Jantzen Beach. Shut down in 1970 and transformed into a shopping mall by 1972, Jantzen Beach SuperCenter kept only one relic of its former days: its 1921 C.W. Parker carousel. This historic ride provided a beloved link to the past for Jantzen Beach visitors young and old. That is, until recent demolition and redevelopment plans threw a wrench into the mall's merry ways. The center's owners have spoken in carefully worded terms of plans to save and restore the carousel. However, sharp-eyed community members pored over site plans and noticed a glaring omission: lack of a dedicated merry-go-round space. Through blogs and social media, worried citizens banded together to spread the word and voice their concerns through online posts, informal gatherings at the mall, and various other forms of community involvement. Researching the ride's fate, I learned a local carousel group had organized a wake for the classic machine, to commemorate its last ride on April 22, 2012. I decided this would be the perfect opportunity to reacquaint myself with a merry-go-round I hadn't seen since the 90s. Meet the Jantzen Beach SuperCenter, slated for a million makeover, possibly sans carousel. One of my photos got posted out of order, sorry. Oh, wait, I lied. This is what the mall looks like DURING normal operating hours. The mall is swimming with references to its past as an amusement park with rides, pools and picnic groves. The closure of a classic merry-go-round is cause for celebration in these parts. There was cake. Today was a BIG DAY for me, my very first carousel ride! The merry-go-round is nestled in a custom glass-walled space near the food court. I mean, it WAS. Please note that shoes are required on the carousel at all times. Don't be like this young miscreant, who had to have his shoes nailed on because he kept breaking the rule. What would be the lead horse on many machines, but didn't make the cut on this one. Such a shame; that armor cost a fortune! As you can see, the carousel was made in Kansas. (Although the ride was carved by prisoners, there was nary a ball and chain or black-and-white striped saddle blanket to be found.) The largest surviving Parker machine and one of only five of its scale produced, the carousel features 72 steeds. At 10 mph, it is rumored to be the world's fastest merry-go-round. This is the larger of two chariots. Fortunately, the carousel was closed shortly before Oregon's ban on Native American mascots and thus avoided hefty fines. Put your hands over your eyes, 'cause peek-a-boo manes are a Parker hallmark. Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the REAL lead horse. (Someone hand me a bucket of water, because this horse's hair has been whipped up into a "flame mane.") Patriotism is another Parker trademark. His company produced mostly modest portable machines, but this park model is an impressive four-abreast. Walking through the mall, we come to a history display about the carousel and amusement park, featuring three sorry (but proud!) fellows who always got picked last in gym class. Before a 1995 restoration project, visiting enthusiasts noticed a horse (left photo here) who looked, well, a little different from the rest. They decided to call him "Hector." After removing years of paint, restorers revealed several prominent swastika carvings. The horse was then re-nicknamed "Herr Hector" and banished to a display case in the mall. Since this is a family-friendly exhibit, community outrage sent Hector all the way back to the Leavenworth, Kansas penitentiary of his birth. (Actually, it is said he may someday become a Smithsonian exhibit. Take that, haters!) Anyway, the display was then made safe for the curious eyes of children. Here, we learn all about stripping. After a horse is restored, it is ready to return to its crowd-pleasing career around a pole. Like many classic parks, Jantzen Beach was once home to a fun house. Just what kinds of fun, I'll leave up to your imagination. At Jantzen Beach and a few other parks (Oaks Amusement Park being the sole survivor), Oregon boasted its fair share of old-fashioned flat rides. Eyerly, of O-Plane fame, was an aircraft company based in Oregon. Here also was a popular predecessor to Wave Swingers and Yo-Yos, the Merry Mix Up. AND WHAT ELSE DO WE SEE? OHEMGEEZ IT'S TEH BIG DIPPER!!!!!!1 At the time of my visit, these BIG DIPPAR LIFT HILL CABLES were in the display case. However, they are now thought to be in the possession of a certain high-profile dignitary. The park also had a choo-choo ride to appease the local railfans. AND A BYGGE DIPPRE OF MOIST HI IMPROTANCE!!!!!1!!! Let us calm our fluttering hearts for a moment with a view of the old picnic grounds. No word on whether the park routinely sold out of gravy during events. Jantzen Beach Amusement Park was once home to a 1921 C.W. Parker carousel, which survived the park's demolition to become part of a mall at the site. I know, it's easy to forget about when you have TEH BIG ZIPPER to concern yourself with. Here we have a standard ride ticket, as well as an early Fast Lane system for those who could afford to throw money away. Kiddie choo-choo, flat rides and the edge of the original carousel pavilion. The park also had a Tumble Bug. Aww, how adorable, a Tumble Bug. Don't you just love saying Tumble Bug? This sign was removed after yellow and brown paint was banned in Oregon. Jantzen Knitting Mills was a swimwear company, so of course the park had pools and a bath house. I myself own a Jantzen skort. Yes, a SKORT. A cheery old advertisement for the park, which was one of several to call itself "Coney Island of the West." And now, a selection from my personal archives: a postcard showing the park's location by the Interstate Bridge connecting Oregon with Washington. Complete with a HUGE GIANT LADLE for your viewing pleasure. Returning to the carousel, we find Proof of Parker (or a skilled plagiarist): one of two Parker plaques, this being the inner one. In the past, names and photos of local children were added to some of the horses. Amy was a young girl who frequently visited the carousel on the way to cancer treatments, falling in love with this "baby horse." After her tragic death, the horse was named in her memory. During the last restoration of the carousel, nearly all names and photos were removed, but the tribute to Amy was kept. Amy's row of "baby horses" is a highly unusual SIX abreast. (No operating carousels are fully six-abreast, as the few built were too heavy to run effectively.) The other remaining named figure, Terri, honors a former long-time employee. This was her son's favorite horse. The smaller chariot promises a roaring good time for one lucky couple per ride! Black and brown don't go together, but I couldn't resist taking this beauty for a ride. The bell rang to signify the start of the final ride. The beginning of the end. There is something wrong with this picture. Do you know what it is? The lights are out. It's the end. Some of the horses cried out in fear and anguish. Others hung their heads in sorrow. The little ones took it especially hard. Even Taco Time knew it could not live on without the merry-go-round. We now pause to reflect upon the latest of several merry-go-rounds to depart the once vibrant Portland carousel scene. Don't let this beautiful floor mat become meaningless to future generations. Think of the children! This is the last photo in my report. Goodbye! BAZINGA.