cfc

^I rather like Great Bear, too. I think it's a bit underrated.

Or is that just what THEY want you to believe?

^Did you sit on a wheel seat? If so, the "spine adjustment" isn't too surprising.

I'm very impressed with the amount of detail crammed into these models. If the park lives up to them, it will be spectacular.

Mitsui Greenland was my favorite "traditional" Japanese amusement park back in 2007. That dark ride with the headphones was actually kind of creepy.

^The results of my first ride on Drachen Fire, before they reprofiled it, were a nasty headache, nausea, and huge bruises on either shoulder.

I was never of fan of Drachen Fire, but those photos are pretty cool.

I caught Shaun the Sheep last weekend and enjoyed it--another good, low-key piece of claymation from Aardman. Although I have nothing against computer-animated flicks (hey, times and technology change), it's nice to see a piece of "hand-on" stop motion for a change.

Backlot's launch and helix are pretty intense.

No seat belts and airtime galore. It's worth the trip to Knoebels just to ride it. I haven't been on many good wooden coasters, but it's easily the best. Exactly! Gotta love buzz bars without seat belts.

Guess you didnt eat at kd for the bbq and brew fest.... No, I didn't get up there for the BBQ Fest, but I did for their Spring Bloom Festival, which had some good offerings, but was pretty modest compared to Taste of the Carolinas. I'm hoping that KD will continue to improve their food, though. The park is moving in the right direction.

^Airtime everywhere. Phoenix is the best of the old-school wooden coasters, and Knoebels takes great pride in it.

Completely agree. A mine train, or even something a bit more aggressive like a Powder Keg type ride would be awesome for the park. More parks need rides like Powder Keg!

I definitely give Carowinds the edge when it comes to food; their Taste of the Carolinas festival last spring was very good.

Phoenix is so wonderfully deceptive. When I first saw it, I just sort of shrugged because it looked like "just another old wooden coaster"; then I rode it, and all doubt was removed about its greatness.

I think Dive Machines are single best ride that B&M makes.

If your ride experience lasts for more than 4 hours please seek medical attention immediately.

"You shall not pass!"

Disney's Animal Kingdom

As I recall, the Carousel Inn was a pretty popular hotel.

Seeing the photos from the haunted-jail restaurant makes me doubly sad that I had to back out of the Japan trip--unless those were just some Percocet-fueled illusions Robb cooked up.