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^Are you sure it wasn't this guy instead of a deer?

How long has Kings Island been using the "Austin Powers" font?

The Intamin cable is jealous of the "Year of Zierer" and will do anything to stop it.

Looks like the new "roadkill" show element didn't work out. My guess is that they needed a part from Zirer, hence the delay. Mach Tower has been down for a few days, too, I hear.

^^Kara, it was a pleasure raising funds for Give Kids the World. My thanks to you, GKTW, and the Cedar Fair parks for putting on such an excellent event!

^I'll be quite happy if it's a good hybrid of Big Thunder and Everest.

Maybe the Vatican needs to authorize an exorcism of demons from the Intamin cable. That's too bad--the ride looks fun.

I think the station looks a little better than your average Cedar Fair station (the clock tower is a nice touch), but it is rather generic.

^Exactly--I like those Gerstlauer Bobsleds, too (particularly the one at Tripsdrill).

^He needs the power of a Kahuna to conjure up the cojones.

^I've been curious about this one. Looks like a launched Rollerskater on steroids.

^But did the pigs fly?

Forget the Hi MIler! Forget the Windstorm! It's all about the pig races!

^^Would it involve them wandering around a maze pointing out how "fake" everything is?

Maybe they'd be better off scrapping Cliffhanger and putting in a better coaster somewhere down the road--if the park proves viable.

Great job, Fran and Larry! Hell, I had a hard-enough time doing an hour on Anaconda on Sunday.

Verbolten Passholder ERT Session Busch Gardens is offering Verbolten ERT to its passholders (including platinum passholders) during the month of June: Thurrsday-Friday, 9:30-10:30 am, and Saturday-Sunday, 9:00-10:00 am. This is a perk too good to pass up, so I broke my own rule and went to the park last Saturday. My usual policy is to avoid the park on Saturday because of crowds. But going there for the ERT at 9:00 Saturday morning and leaving around 1:00 pm gave me the chance to hit all the big rides with minimal waits before the real hoards come in that afternoon--as myself and a surprise guest discovered. Let's have at look at the Verbolten Passholder ERT session. Saturday, June 9, 8:50 am. It was quiet in the France parking lot. I was working the day watch for Theme Park Review. My partner's Bill Gannon. My name's Friday. (That's for the Dragnet fans out there, if there are any.) You need to show your pass at this checkpoint by Pompeii. By noon, this area will be jammed with people. No need to dodge strollers, ECVs, and obnoxious teenagers this time of the morning. By noon, this queue will probably be full. Just walk in the station and onto a train . . . . . . unless you want the very front (then you have to wait for a train or two). The park was running four trains and using both loading platforms. In comes the blue train . . . . . . and out goes the green. Those kids in the front row don't look too sure about this. But there's no turning back now--the Black Forest wants you! I made this drop seven . . . . . . or eight times. Saw all three "stories," too. Whee! Happy passholders posing for the camera. Hmm--you never know who you'll bump into during passholder ERT. Right, Mike? That's all for now.

^Do you mean "Sea Hunt"?

I don't find Verbolten to be "rough" at all, either. You do feel more of a kick from the backseat during the launches, but that's about it.

^All I've heard is before the end of the summer--but there's been no formal announcement.

^I don't think Rebel Yell's exit has to do with getting people to play the games. The station was very different when this ride was first built, and the paths in and out have have been sort of "Frankensteined" over the years.

Ghoster Coaster at Kings Dominion.

^If it's the same system as Jimmy Neutron, it's a 3D movie in which the seats move. (That is, there are a certain number of seats on a platform, and the platform moves.) At least that's what I remember.

^I vote for a smoke ring and a full margarita bar.

^I've never been a fan of Colossus--a few inversions too many for my taste. Swarm looks like fun, though (and I did enjoy Wild Eagle at Dollywood).