DougMJr

Curious as to what started the blaze. Glad to hear the coaster itself wasn't damaged in any way, that would be tragic!

SLCs lost their luster for me a while ago. Partly because their rough, partly because they are clones (I still like the Batman clones though). I'm not a fan of the B&M wing riders I have been on, perhaps the ones overseas are better? Zamperla Twister Coasters/Spinning mice are another coaster that has lost its appeal for me. Needless to say I'll ride all these coasters, but they just don't really "do it" for me.

Photos seem to be working fine here since the update.

I don't think this topic has been beaten to death, but it definitely has some bruises and broken bones. It's a simple answer really, the cost. When top thrill dragster cost $25 million alone, imagine double or tripling the length of its layout. Plus the added wear and year on trains, it gets costly.

^It's custom but borrows a lot of elements from the traditional El Loco model. Look back in the thread to see photos.

TPR has changed my life for the better and has enabled me to develop really good friendships with people all over the globe. It's hard to believe that less than 4 years ago I became a member on this forum. Before joining TPR I wasn't really a part of any enthusiast community, I had heard of ACE but couldn't really push myself to purchase a membership. In 2009 finally stumbled across a TPR video uploaded on Robb's channel, it was the I think. After that I found the forums and I lurked for a year before finally creating an account. Finally, on July 14th 2010 I made my first post to the forum! I spent a lot of time posting in the "Random, Random, Random" forum that first year, playing the thread games, and just getting my bearings. I wasn't as educated about coasters back then than I am now, so I mainly lurked in the main forum. I have to say that TPR has taught me a lot about theme parks, roller coasters, and life in general. I slowly got to know who was who on the forum and began to really feel at home with this community. It wasn't hard to start making friends. I think 2011 was my peak as far as activity in the forums goes because at this point this was really the only way I was participating as an enthusiast. I didn't have the funds to travel, but I hoped to soon change that. I signed up for the 2012 "New Hotness" tour, but sadly had to pull out because my 2001 Chevy Malibu's brakes decided to quit while I was driving down a busy 4 lane highway. My travel funds were mainly used to purchase my current vehicle, but I did have enough left to attend East Coast Bash that year. I have to say, for anyone who cannot afford a full tour the bashes are a great alternative! After two awesome days at KD and BGW I knew I had to get on a tour for 2013! I signed up for the Texas/Midwest tour as soon as I had my deposit money ready. The benefits of signing up for a tour begin as soon as the private forum opens. If you are active on it and open up a little bit about yourself you will make friends before stepping foot on the bus! I could write a novel about my experiences on the tour, but instead I will just say that it was without a doubt the best time of my life. I'm hoping to go on Mini New-Hotness this year if I can get the time off work, and I am really jealous of everyone lucky enough to go on the Scandi tour. Thanks Robb and Elissa for all the work you do both on and off tours (and Kristin for handing out wristbands and Q-bots!). My life would be drastically different had I not stumbled across your content back in 2009!

The layouts are really the tell-all. It's not always 100% accurate as A.J. said, but after familiarizing yourself with their builds you kinda get the eye for it.

I'm a huge fan of the techno rave thump thump thump you get with some Musik Express's and funfair rides.

Such a shame seeing the domino effect BNL has caused by dropping out. I doubt that these bands actually really care, they just want to hop on the animal activist free publicity bandwagon. I'm not saying that Blackfish didn't "expose" some controversial issues, but for me personally if that film was 100% true I'd still be OK with SeaWorld. Of course having an Orca in captivity isn't ideal for the Orca. Of course captive Orcas kill humans more often than Orcas in the wild, because really, how often do people run into killer whales in the wild? These trainers were in the water with them EVERY SINGLE DAY! Of course there is increased risk! The film, if anything, made me miss the days when SeaWorld had more liberty to show off what these animals are capable of.

This is my shortlist for what I believe makes a park successful in no particular order. 1) A Viable Market - One cannot force a market, or force one's way into a market. Hard Rock/Freestyle Music Park is a prime example of this. The market couldn't adopt a park of that size that quickly and it went under. 2) Know One's Market - Who is coming to your park? Thrill seekers? Tourists? Families? What do they want? Maybe that YOLO Coaster isn't the best idea when little Timmy is too short to ride anyway and rode all the kids rides three hours ago. 3) Organic Growth - By this I mean a park should grow with its audience. This isn't to say a park cannot invest in capital to try to proactively grow their audience, but it should stay within a reasonable measure of their current market. 4) Value vs Price - This is simple and applies to parks of all sizes, from Knoebels to Disney World. Does the value of entertainment/food/merchandise inside the park have a value equal to the purchase price or admission? This doesn't mean that parks should be cheap, many times it means quite the opposite. 5) Management, Maintenance and Consistency - Keeping rides up and running, keeping midways clean, having trained and friendly staff, and ensuring outstanding customer service are all part of maintaining a consistent positive customer experience. Ensuring that guests have a great time every time will make them want to come back, and perhaps bring their friends with them. DISCLAIMER: I am not an economist, so really I have no idea what I'm talking about

The Texas/Midwest cost me around $3,600 this past summer. Worth every single penny. However my off-tour trips I do on a tight budget. I think last time I did Tampa/Orlando it cost me $650 for everything. (Didn't have to pay for Busch Gardens Tampa and stayed with a friend).

Or Velocity, or really anything but RoS.

I actually think there is a better chance of them changing the name than there is of painting as that is what they did with SkyCoaster (RedHawk).

Not that they would do this, but a random thought I had is they could easily rename RoS "Vortex." Re-paint the station and use the "V" pattern on the side of the station as a base for the sign for the name. Perhaps give that side of the station a cool LED lighting package. Here is the station for those who don't know what I am talking about.

Well, right now it looks like I'll be in Vegas sometime in 2015. This will most likely be my first El Loco and a new Vegas credit is always welcome!

This isn't the nicest train I've seen by a long shot but I think the Vinyl wraps on the trains for Darien Lake's Viper was a really nice addition for 2013. Lookin' Sharp!

I watched Blackfish at the request of a friend and I have to say even if everything in that film was 100% true I'd still go to SeaWorld. The trainers all seemed to be trained and management seemed to take safety really seriously. In an alternate universe where SeaWorld did not have Killer Whales some activist group would be protesting claiming they were not doing enough to raise awareness about marine-life. Also, BNL not performing is not big loss. This is coming from somebody who does enjoy their music.

You might be a coaster nerd if the background image for your phone, laptop, tablet, and gaming console are all roller coasters.

For my home park, phone in waterproof case and wallet. For "casual" days at parks I only get to once a season, I bring my phone in a waterproof case, wallet, and my waterproof pocket video camera. New parks with credits I bring my phone in a waterproof case, wallet, my waterproof pocket video camera, and a water bottle. This sometimes requires me to need a drawstring backpack. If I plan on going to an attached water park I pack a suit and towel in a drawstring backpack.

I'm am in the same boat as you. I thought if it was going to be built it would have been built in Vegas and then run out of funding halfway through. I actually feel better about it being built GA.

Glad to see a couple flats from this park coming to WNY. Perhaps Darien Lake will get a hammy down or two, but I'm not getting my hopes up.

I saw what I would guess is a weave fly off of somebody in the front of the train and past my head in the back of the train on Ride of Steel at Darien Lake. When the train came back into the station I couldn't make out who lost it.

^I was lead to believe that UFO was undergoing refurbishment and will be back this season.

I can't believe I paid $14 to get the shit kicked out of me. I was so credit hungry at that point in my life that I think it is safe to say I was the biggest whore in Vegas, which is saying something.

I feel like this Halloween season has been really bad both inside and outside the amusement park industry in regards to people getting offended by LITERALLY EVERYTHING!