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Meanwhile, back at the Loch Ness Monster, TPR members were dazzled by the ride's awesome technology. Yep--that's looking pretty 1970s there. But it works. Here's the most high-tech piece of equipment in the room. Gone, but not forgotten. It's rather expensive to get burned anywhere else at Busch Gardens. It would be nice to able to take this short cut to Griffon every day. My god! Those people are going to crash into that building! Here's a view of Nessie that you don't get every day. According to our tour guides, the Loch Ness Monster isn't going anywhere--except up this lifthill. On to Griffon. Behold the backside of Griffon! "You can't fool me, I'm Canadian! That's a big wheel!" Looking across the shop toward the station. "Not too many people know this, but B&M wheels have a delicious creamy center." Another awe-inspiring piece of high-tech equipment. Another look at the station from the shop. Fascinating, no? You have to like any ride that has a technician named "Killer." Griffon shows its impressive profile. You get pretty good views of the Loch Ness Monster from here, too. I remember when this section was almost completely hidden by trees. Griffon may be "mythical," but the control room is not. Yes, I know where they stash the Illiuminights balloons--but I'll never tell! Almost time for lunch--there's the Festhaus in the distance. And look who's in the employee cafeteria--Nicole from Team TPR and Coasting for Kids! Meanwhile, KT was nearly swallowed by a giant penguin! "Yep. It's like Christmas every day here in the old stall. That's for sure." I highly recommend taking a night ride on Verbolten. Rick Moore, this machine is calling you! The yellow train is even more terrifying after dark! Canada supports night rides on Verbolten! And that's a wrap for East Coast Bash 2012! Thanks for reading.

They even gave up on the sound effects and fire, Adam. You just stop for a moment, then "take the tunnel." Part 2: Busch Gardens Williamsburg I live about 20 minutes from BGW, so I can go there pretty much whenever I please during the season; yet, I still enjoy TPR events there. Why? ERT, my fellow TPR members, and the backstage tours. I've been backstage a couple of times over the last few years, and actually thought about passing on it this year, figuring there wasn't much that I'd hadn't already seen. But I was wrong about that. Even though I've been inside Escape from Pompeii, Verbolten, Loch Ness Monster, and Griffon before, they showed us some stuff and areas I still hadn't seen. Definitely worth the time! Once again, my thanks to Busch Gardens, Robb, and Elissa for another great day! ECB Day 2 began bright and early with ERT on Verbolten (the "New Hotness") and Mach Tower (the "Old Hotness"?). Here's a look. Yep--it's nothing but glamor behind the scenes at ECB, Day 2! Where else do you get to rip tickets with Robb and Erik? Larry wants everyone to know that you will never see the Mr. Grumpy shirt again. He has officially retired it--although he promises to remain grumpy. And hordes swarm over BGW for ERT on . . . . . . Verbolten! "Don't look back, as you brave the Black Forest!" (Even though you are told countless times not to go there. Wouldn't be much of a ride if you didn't take a wrong turn now, would it?) Let the backstage tours begin! First stop: Verbolten. The Black Forest is in that green building on the left. Oh no! Those poor people are in the EVIL YELLOW TRAIN OF DOOM! As Gerta says (about 1,000,000 times a day), "Auf weidersehen!" They didn't even take us back here during the Verbolten Media Day. Well, Gerta warned them that the "Black Forest ist verboten!" Not a good sign. You fools! Can't you read German? The Drachen Fire station may not be haunted, but it has been infested with vampires in the past. This is most sophisticated control room at BGW. Here's what the operator sees when a train enters the drop section. (Oh, darn! Did I give away the surprise?) Next stop, the ruins of Pompeii. Rumor has it that there's an abandoned subway line in here that's infested with homicidal Italian zombies. You know, considering the volcanic eruption and the passage of about 2,000 years, that door looks to be in pretty good shape. These ancient Roman stairs have held up well, too. See those two big black buttons in front of the operator? Those are for FIRE! Here's where a ride op monitors the top of Pompeii's big drop. Just wait for a boat, jump out, and go "boogieboogieboogie"! If you could open this window, you could drop water balloons on passing boats--just to add insult to injury. Time to go behind the scenes at the park's last remaining Arrow coaster. Some may weep. "Now, these are what we call 'wheels' in the trade." Yes, that is a wheel. We coaster enthusiasts are rather savvy that way. This is the "mole hole," which technicians use to inspect the underside of a train. I'd show you a close-up picture of the hole itself, but such coaster porn would violate the site's Terms of Service. Welcome to a somehat-less-sophisticated-than-Verbolten set of controls. I think people should wear indicators like this--just so you know they're OK. One more set of pics to come.

^It's definitely in my top three--and it's only about an hour away from my house. Woo hoo!

Whenever I've been to the park, Perilous Plunge hasn't been running.

I've never understood the infatuation with Wawa. Yeah, their sandwiches are OK, but you're still buying a gas-station sandwich.

This will pave the way for "Underground Cedar Point" tours in the future.

^It was interesting seeing the whole "spaghetti bowl" lit up, but I305 after dark is not to be missed. I'll post the BGW photos tonight.

You can't fool me--this is Kings Dominion!

I imagine drinking would help--a lot.

It looks like they've made some great improvements to this park. Past trip reports have never made me interested enough to visit the place (as it seemed to be just one step above the old Cypress Gardens Adventure Park), but they are moving in the right direction.

Thou hast spoke aright. That's Shakespeare for "Word."

I think any ride that's as "twisty" as I305 would benefit from the softer restraints; however, I do think the harder Maverick-type restraints work well enough on rides like Cheetah Hunt at BGT and Superman at Warner Bros. Movie World in Australia.

Virginia hasn't seen an onslaught like this since Grant beseiged Petersburg--TPR's East Coast Bash at Kings Dominion and Busch Gardens Williamsburg (Saturday-Sunday, August 4-5)! It's pretty hard to top what Robb and Elissa put together for Theme Park Review's Bash events, and it's always great to see one come to the Old Dominion. Day 1--Kings Dominion What's better than having ERT on Volcano and Intimidator 305 first thing in the morning? How about I305 and Dominator ERT after dark, with lights-on rides on Flight of Fear thrown in for good measure? These sessions made great bookends for a great day at KD. Or maybe they were the bread in a "TPR Quest sandwich"? Just pick the metaphor that suits you. It was, as usual for August, blazing hot and drippingly humid at KD, but Fast Lane is a good way to take the edge off a Virginia summer's day--and our group made good use of it (especially for extra night rides on Volcano and I305, which had outrageous lines on Saturday). I think KD handles Fast Lane very well--definitely a must on a crowded Saturday. Here's a look at the first day of East Coast Bash 2012. Hmm--I hope all these people are in the right place. Yep--I guess they are. May the power of Pink Snoopy bless and protect you. Virginia law requires at least one photo like this in every trip report regarding Kings Dominion (fountains optional--they came on just a minute or two later). Volcano is always a good way to start the day--Canadians and Americans agree! But we did spend the lion's share of the morning ERT on this beast. That is, the one on the left, not on the right. Brad, Skipster, and Erik, START YOUR ENGINES! It's been said many times before, but still bears repeating: This is what an ERT session should be like. I305 was running great that morning . . . . . . and even better that night! Flash forward to lunch! And remember, it isn't TPR Quest . . . . . . until someone gets hurt! There is no way that this will end well (there was one good face plant during this little race). You all want the official KD "hippie" bear--admit it! And it wouldn't be a Bash without a backstage tour, would it? KD now takes you even closer to I305 than it has in the past. Here's a shot that you definitely can't get on the "right" side of the fence. "Hello! It's me, Rebel Yell! You can take pictures of me, too! Hello?" The power behind the ride. "YOU . . . SHALL . . . NOT . . . PASS!" "Welcome to Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom! From the safety of my blind some two miles away . . . . . . I can observe the herd of coaster enthusiasts in their natural habitat. Be very quiet! They're easily spooked, and will run toward the nearest buffet!" Oops! Houston, we have a problem. I305 is stuck on its lifthill. One last look at I305--backstage. Can you see the nice, pleasant ride through the not-so-pleasant one? Don't worry--the train became unstuck shortly after I took this picture. T-Rexes like coaster enthusiasts because the latter tastes like funnel cakes and bacon. I think Haunt may have something to do with evil clowns this year. Just a hunch. Darkness starts to fall on Kings Dominion. Yay for Fast Lane on Backlot Stunt Coaster! (But boo for none of the effects working.) How about a night ride on I305 before ERT? Yay for Fast Lane again! A moody, atmospheric shot of the I305 station--sort of looks like you should see some guy in an overcoat and fedora somewhere, doesn't it? Time to START YOUR ENGINES again. My god! A UFO! Well, it's as much a "UFO" as the one the media made such a big deal out of last year. The Eiffel Tower looks pretty tonight; during Haunt, it will look evil. This is the first time I've been at the park late enough during the summer to see "Snoopy's Magic Christmas" . . . . . . er, excuse me: "Snoopy's Starlight Spectacular." A look down the path behind the Eiffel Tower. This will be a scare zone during Haunt; however, of you're an epileptic, you'll probably find it pretty scary now. Yes, this pretty much sums up my experiences with women. OK, the Eiffel Tower does look a little creepy now. There's that UFO again! From the looks of that themed wall, I think Medieval Macabre will be in the Dodge'em building during Haunt. Just another hunch. Almost time for our nighttime ERT on I305, but first . . . . . . some explosions! Looks like Anaconda took a direct hit! Whether this is good or bad is up to you. My thanks for Kings Dominion and TPR for a great day! Next up is Busch Gardens Williamsburg.

^Being as it's all over Facebook and other socia media sites, it's a bit hard to avoid.

Here is the concept art for Cedar Point's new ride, which will be "officially" announced tomorrow. It will the fifth B&M Wingrider to be built--and the largest and tallest one to date! Gotta love how they're using the park's main entrance as part of the ride. Cedar Point is the Gatekeeper!

^That makes sense to me. I remember thinking this when DCA was being built: "Why does Disney want to build a 'California-themed' park when Knott's is just down the road?"

One of the best indoor coasters, anywhere.

Are we talking about the same park? Six Flags Over Georgia. Although Dare Devil Dive seems to due them justice. Has a nice twisty layout, something you'd find on a LSM intamin coaster. My mistake for thinking "Texas" in the "Six Flags Over Texas Discussion Thread." But "dire" is still overstating it for SFOG. Shall we stay on topic now?

I think "dire" is overstating it just a wee bit. Besides, they do have a launched coaster--Mr. Freeze (even if it is a shuttle).

It would require this. The power of Christ compels you! The power of Christ compels you!

Yes, if the park is doing well without a major ride addition, it's probably a good idea to focus on improving infrastructure and existing attractions. I'm glad to see them giving the park some more TLC.

BGW's Wolf Pups Media Day Wolf Valley at Busch Gardens Williamsburg has three new pack mates this year—pups from Colorado and Idaho named Boise, Beo, and Kaya. The park gave the media an up-close look at their new additions, providing access to the two of the pups, Beo and Kaya, in their Wolf Valley habitat on Friday, August 10, 2012. This is the first time the park has let someone other than trainers walk around in Wolf Valley, and it was a very enjoyable experience getting close to the pups as they played and circled around us. “Wolves are an incredible animal,” said Jay Tacey, the park’s manager of zoological operations. “But they are also one of the most misunderstood.” For example, despite the wolf’s reputation in fairy tales and folklore as a sinister, vicious predator that threatens young children, there is no known instance of a wild wolf killing a human being. Wolves were also found to be a "keystone species" when they were reintroduced to Yellowstone National Park. Many species of plants, which had been long absent, started flourishing when the wolves returned. Why? Because the wolves kept other animals (their prey) on the move, rather than allowing them to overgraze areas of the park. Beo and Kaya are, indeed, very inquisitive, friendly pups who seem to enjoy the company of humans. They came to the park from an animal-care facility in Colorado, and according to their trainers, were very happy to meet new people when they were adopted by Busch Gardens. This is notable, as wolves tend to develop a fear of humans when they reach 10 to 14 days of age, according to Jay Tacey. Boise wasn’t with his new pack mates today, but his story is a bit different from theirs. Boise is a rescue animal who was found, in poor health, wandering down a road in Ketchum, Idaho. Some passersby, thinking he was someone’s dog, took him to a local vet. The average lifespan of a wolf in the wild is about four years. Boise is comfortable among his pack mates, but still a little skittish around people. He’ll eventually join the others in Wolf Valley, once he becomes more acclimated. Wolves are a social animal and tend to be more successful in groups. My thanks to BGW for this close-up look at their newest residents. Kevin Crosset, the park's head of public relations, welcomes the group to the wolf pups' very own media day. Hmm . . . Unless I miss my guess, we will encounter wolves somewhere in this vicinity. Jay Tacey told the group a bit about the wolves and the park's animal exhibits. They were "elated" that the three pups got along so well when they first met-as though they'd always been members of the same pack. "OK, here are your wolf pups. Now I gotta take some baby elephant with big ears to the circus." Noted. SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment has "one of the largest animal collections in the world." It's been interesting watching BGW expand their animal exhibits over the years. This way to Wolf Valley. Megan Golsson, a trainer in charge of Wolf Valley, took the group in to meet Beo and Kaya. But first she had to get two bags of treats (aka, "postive reinforcement"). All the SeaWorld parks use positive-reinforcement techniques when training their animals. Say hello to Beo and Kaya. Animal care specialist Kendell Thomas with Mia, a German shorthaired pointer who acts a a "mother" to the pups. Wolf pups tend to exhibit "alpha" behavior, so a domestic dog is used to make sure they learn proper "submissive" behaviors, which will make it easier for the rest of BGW's pack to accept them. "Your destiny is to be the wicked ruler of a corrupt kingdom . . ." Oops! That's DarKastle, not Wolf Valley. Sniffing up anything interesting, guys? "Am I not adorable? You must admit it is true." "Holding still is one of the hardest things you can ask a wolf to do," said Megan. "May I have some more 'positive reinforcement,' please?" "Best take this pic now, folks. It's tough for us to stand still!" From the wolf's point of view--humans are so entertaining. The wolf stalks its "prey." "A-w-o-o-o-o-o!" Here's your last chance to touch a wolf. "Goodbye, folks! Thanks for all the positive reinforcement!" And my thanks, again, to Busch Gardens for this chance to meet their new wolves. And in case you're curious, this is Boise. Thanks for reading.

I'm anticipating that a number of Chinese SLC knockoffs will make this thread come the end of September, after TPR's visit.

^Now that would be interesting to watch.