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You know, I've always been suspicious of those water-filled dummies--creepy looking bastards! Thanks for the video, Robb--the ride's looking good.

Get a park map--it lists the opening times for the various sections. Germany (where Big Bad Wolf and Alpengeist are located) opens last at 11:00. If you head for Griffin first thing in the morning, you should be fine.

KD's Grizzly needs one to go with its awesome bear statue.

^Alpengeist has never had a single-rider line--but it sure could use one.

^Let's say that it apparently has a single-rider line again. BG opened this line on AC a few years back, but two seasons ago, they closed it. (They even posted a sign in the queue saying that there was no more single-rider line.) Not sure why it's back, but I hope it stays.

You probably did OK.

Your complaint has been duly noted and logged. Thread locked. Please restrict this sort of inquiry to a PM. Thank you, Chuck

Thanks for the video, Matt--Six Flags really went nuts with this thing (in a good way).

The day after Memorial Day should be perfect--light crowds and good weather (unless a t-storm or two rolls in). I think you can get all the coasters in easily, but if the crowds seem a bit heavy, there's always Quick Queue. I'd recommend using Hotwire to book a hotel--you can probably get a two- or three-star place for a pretty reasonable price. The hotels near the park tend to be pricey (Kingsmill area), but there is a Days Inn across from Water Country USA (about five minutes BGW) that might be a good bet. You might be able to find a deal on the tourist strip on Richmond Road (where there is the usual assortment of chain hotels and restaurants). There is a Motel 6 on Rt. 60 (aka Richmond Road) that used to be OK. But avoid the Family Inn, unless you really like trains. Good luck.

Hmm--you might want to try riding it, then getting back to us on that. I'm sort of intrigued by the stand-up Falling Star and pirate ship, too.

Very nicely done--should be a big hit with families. I had my first experience with a Splash Battle ride at Dollywood last year and got absolutely soaked (those cannons give you quite the upper-body workout, too).

And what should the park have said in their ad campaign. "Griffon. You will be disappointed"?

^The Clydesdales are here this season, but the donkey is not. Why they had to lay off the donkey is something I'll never understand.

May 10, 2009--Bud and BBQ First off, Happy Belated Mother's Day to all you mothers out there. Did you remember to call your mother? If so, what exactly did you call her? Mother's Day aside, last weekend was the first of two Bud and BBQ festivals at Euroburg. Being as we have no idea how long BGW will be a Busch park, this may be the last one. Who can say? So, I decided I should check out the BBQ action, if not the .38 Special concert (next weekend is the Oak Ridge Boys). I hit the park around 3:00, and they were using the auxillary parking lots, which is usually a bad sign. But despite all the cars, the only ride with a fairly long line was the Big Bad Wolf--I guess a lot of people were there for the food and the show. Think of Bud and BBQ as Busch's micro mini-version of the Epcot Wine and Food Festival. Everything (that is, three BBQ tents) is in Germany, and the concert is over where Drachen Fire used to be. It works like this: you can buy a "sampler" or a "platter" (includes beans, cornbread, and coleslaw) at each tent (one for sandwiches, ribs, or wings), or for $30 you can can sample something from each tent. (You're only allowed one entree and side dish per tent. It inlcudes three nonalcoholic beverages, too.) For $40, you can watch the concert from a "sky box" and enjoy an all-you-can-eat buffet of ribs, sandwiches, wings, and various desserts and sides (beer costs extra). I decided to just try out the wings, because I've never had wings at Busch and they only offer them during this festival, I think. Here's a quick look at Bud and BBQ. (You can get your BBQ fix next weekend, too--Oak Ridge Boys optional.) One last look at Griffon from the England parking lot--thanks for reading. Yes, we still have some of our official Anheuser Busch benches. What? A two-train wait for Nessie's front seat? Works for me. Whee! I hit Griffon's single-rider line on the way out, but the regular line was only 15 minutes. I grabbed some Vanilla Bean Mousse at the Festhouse Kaffee for dessert--it was pretty good. And here they are. The verdict: the Hot 'n' Spicy sauce was pretty good, as was the Roasted Garlic and Honey. The Mild was "meh." The beans and cornbread were surprisingly good, and a Bud Lime went pretty well with the meal. No threat to Buffalo Wild Wings, but decent. Cost with a season pass discount: $14.01. I went for the sampler platter. But I was interested in wings. . . . and the rib prices. Here's the rib tent . . . OK, here's Heather. They were actually pretty good (a southern-rock cover band). OK, I'm willing to bet that not one of you guys is named "Heather." Here's what the sandwiches and drinks will set you back. Bring on the grub! This is the sandwich tent. OK, I'm not here for .38 Special. As is this--Happy Index Updating! This is for you, Larry. "Torture, torture, it pleasures me!" . . . the single-rider line was open again! (They haven't used this line for two years.) Despite the good-sized crowd, Apollo's Chariot had no line at all--plus . . . Yay! It's Daisy Day at BGW! I have no idea what this means--maybe free beer if your name is "Daisy"?

^^And you could've brought back the "mad scientist" from the old commercials: "Zee Time V-ar-r-r-r-r-p!"

^^Actually, swine-flu "hysteria" has pretty much died down in the U.S. (Actually, I think the media outlets were more hysterical than the people about it.)

I've moved the RnR topic here, where it belongs. Please don't post separate threads for rumors.

But where are the Smurfs? This looks like a pretty cool concept--must better than the "wham bam thank you mam" ride of today (which is fun). Too bad they didn't use some "lava" effects in Volcano today (they'd be much more interesting than bare walls and tarps as you return to the station).

^That being said, I support the "SoB into gigantic water ride" plan. KI, make it happen!

No. Rather glad that I can't, actually. Applebee's--lamest float for the lamest restaurant ever. This does remind me of the Apricot Fiesta Parade in my hometown of Patterson, Calif.--except that we had "The Portugeuse Rat Patrol!" It was the brainchild of one Mike Mattos, who made a fortune by inventing and patenting a special box for unreeling baling wire to keep it from kinking up and tangling (yes, he was the Baling Wire Baron of Stanislaus County). He had a bunch of WWII-era Jeeps, a couple of halftracks, and his own homemade tank (the cannon shot bubble gum).

I agree. Th. Star Trek "reboot" was much better than I thought it would be.

^^I look at Holiday World's theming this way--it's like somebody decided, "Hey--let's build our own amusement park on granpa's farm!" That being said, the park has a very nice setting and seems well kept up. Fourth of July is the weakest of the themed areas (I think Halloween comes off the best).

Yet you rode it with us on Saturday. I'm touched. And you're "tetched." Erik said that last Saturday was his last ride ever on SoB.

^^That would be the best choice.

The rule of thumb is that you need to have at least 50 posts--but it probably wouldn't hurt to e-mail Robb and ask.