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^ & ^^It would be drag to lose an old-school dark ride like Gold Rusher--there was were some pretty cool gags in that one. At least they had an interesting video about the history of the Old Mill in the Garfield queue. Patch fries do, indeed, rule!

Another excellent TR, Erik. I was very happy that I decided to meet up with the group at Kennywood--what an awesome park. The Phantom's Revenge surprised me, too. At first glance, it looks like an Arrow torture device, but it's actually pretty smooth with plenty of surprises. Now if Morgan would reprofile, say, Anaconda at Kings Dominion . . .

^^Mike, you really should go into politics.

HAHAHAHAHAHA! Are you serious?!?! You're joking! You gotta be joking! Negator Skeletor! Ok, sunshine, I'll bite. How did you arrive at this obviously well thought out, sensative, enlightening, yet totally untrue and publicly damaging conclusion, without even getting to know me? That's disgusting! I'm no kid chaser! Now, thanks to your gem of a comment, anyone who reads this thread will immediately think the very worst. Thanks a heap! EDIT: You know, I came to this forum because it looked like fun. I saw people who had a similar sense of off-beat humor, who loved parks and coasters as much as I do. Yeah, it was sarcastic humor, but it was good natured. Yes, a lot of that stems from these people knowing each other a long time. Granted, it takes a while to earn your stripes with any group, and you will get flack occasionally, but in the end, it's all in fun. Being branded a pedophile in front of thousands of people while trying to respectfully join in on that fun isn't what I had in mind. Despite my best efforts, I just haven't gotten along well with some folks since I've been here. Better to move on and preserve the greater harmony. Thank you to those for their kindness. Er, you do realize she was kidding, right? Chirping crickets . . . Apparently not.

Question: Where are you getting this information? It's not posted on KD's Web site yet (aside from plans to include seven mazes and four scare zones). I'm just curious as to where you picked up the names of the new mazes.

Dear Sir, I wish to explain in the strongest possible terms about your choice of a particular trash receptacle as your pictorial representation of your day at Kings Island. Everyone who is anyone knows that the trash receptacles at the opposite end of the park are much more attractive and present a much more positive image of the facility as whole. I trust that you will correct this mistake. Besides, I'm more of a power-box man. Much more sensual than the trash receptacles. So smooth and gray and tingly with current and . . . Oops! Gaylord R. Lympnnoodel, Esq.

Thanks for pointing this out--KD has posted a bit more infor since I added the Haunt to TPR's calendar: http://www.themeparkreview.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=37919 And it appears that they've gone to a Friday-Sunday schedule, too--like BGE does with Howl-o-Scream. Should help spread out those crowds a bit.

Yes, the power boxes, the trash cans, the hospital--you really get a sense of being there (whether you want to or not). I hear that the concrete at Cedar Point is beautiful this time of year.

You're making me want to go to Indiana and Wisconsin, Erik. Damn you! I'm looking forward to seeing more of your Midwest adventures, and it was nice seeing you again at Kennywood.

Well, don't take it too hard, Mike. She is a professional.

How can you go wrong with award-winning material like this? Holiday World's trash cans look awesomely themed!

Everything is better with pie.

^The back kicks serious butt, as Ryan and I can attest. It certainly kicked our butts, seriously.

Thanks, everybody. I might post some pictures from my stopover at Kings Dominion on the way home, but compared to Kennywood, it wasn't a particularly inspiring afternoon.

^Must . . . have . . . more . . . corn . . . I just want to check out Indiana Beach and Holiday World (probably throw in a few other parks in neighboring states for good measure).

Excellent, as usual, Erik--I'm thinking that I might I have to do a mini-tour of Indiana next summer, myself.

The TR that just keeps on giving and giving and giving . . . I see you up there, Garfield! You keep your goodies to yourself! Thanks for reading. This is Kennywood's "old mill" boat ride, which has been here for ages. But Garfield took it over some time back. And, of course, the chance that Garfield might show us his "goodies." Surely the vet snipped those off long ago. You know, the scariest thing about this ride was the wait. "Hello! I'm Angus McNasty, and I approve of the following attraction. I now return you to our regularly scheduled TR, which is already in progress." Now what awaits us in here? Oh, skeletons, giant spiders, oncoming trains--the usual stuff you find in any old mine. I'm glad they pumped out the mine first. Alright, it's cheesy, old-school dark-ride time! Excellent! . . . to get into one of these little cars. And with that, Ted and Catrina roared off into the sunset. Thanks for showing me around your home park! Believe it or not, Casey managed . . . You know, I'm not that into car rides, but Kennywood's electric version really hauls. As are Paul, Ted, and Catrina. Just imagine a Scrambler as designed by Evel Kneivel. (The guy in the middle car is just so into it.) Next up was the Kangaroo, which gives new definition to the term "extreme hairtime."

It's cheap, coaster-whoring time, folks! Here, Professors Casey, Ted, and Paul show us the result--all in the name of science! There's still more to come. Our question: "What level of wetness would result from stuffing four good-sized men in one log?" Here we see our "control" group. Yes, science was very much on our minds at Kennywood, as TPR is very much interested in all facets of "wetness." . . . then do it all over again! While bouncing people out of their seats, of course. . . . leap to the top of another hill, . . . Why, it allows said rodent to leap deep gullies at a single bound, . . . This coaster answers a question that has plagued scientists for ages: "What happens when you strap a Lockheed jet engine to a rabbit's butt?" Yes, we all feel very cheap and used after riding this one. Casey is considering a second career as a coaster support. That's the kind of sugar Casey likes! The Lil Phantom's vengeance isn't as intense as his old man's.

Meanwhile, back at the Phantom's Revenge . . . Just viewing this photo has caused your "bad" cholesterol to shoot up by 20 points! Call your physician immediately! Then come back and check out more of this TR! Our intrepid band, thoroughly disoriented after our passage through Noah's Ark, awaits the attraction's bizarre, completely random climax (which I will not reveal here). I shall go mad! Stark raving mad! But what's this? Do I detect the Phantom's fiendish machinations again? You know, after taking the Phantom's horrible vengeance, a nice walk through Noah's Ark might be just the ticket. "All this and more I promise you, fools! Bwa-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!" . . . only to face my Plummet of Peril!" . . . to the feel the power of the heavens . . . "But you will be vomited back up by my Tree of Despair . . . "But then comes the Drop of Doom!" "My Lifthill of Lethargy will torture you slo-o-o-wly, ever so slo-o-o-o-wly!" "This looking glass will give you a glimpse of your sorry fate!" "Yes, I have toyed with you long enough! Come to papa, losers!"

Oops! Hit "submit" instead of "preview." Moving right along . . . "This is a message from Devo Inc. All mutants will be prepared to 'whip it.' Whip it good.'" More to come. "Rats! Thousands of rats! Millions of rats!" "Aghh! The button does nothing!" "Wow! Who knew a city sewer had such purty blinking lights! I wanna be a sewer worker!" Remember kids--flailing about like a spastic in a blender is a very bad idea. A bunch of us decided to leave the Phantom to his evil plans and ride Exterminator instead--the ride where you're the rat. "And the burning sun will force desperate women to marry tall coaster dorks just for the extra shade!" "Yes, the pounding techno and rock and roll from the nearby Musik Express will cause the young to experience violent seizures!" "My vengeance begins when I force you to stand in the blazing sun, wondering if the ride will ever open! Bwa-ha-ha-ha-ha!" "Yes, I, the Phantom, will exact my horrible vengeance upon you--just as I have done to this sad-and-pathetic fool!" "Lost Kennywood"? But it's right here, isn't it? But you saw them here first! (Well, unless somebody has already posted while I'm typing this caption. One does what little one can.) I'm willing to bet that you'll be seeing a lot of similar photos over the next week or two. I love the chrome-covered trains. It's like riding in a diner from the 1940s. I'd actually read a bit about this coaster when I was 13 and have wanted to ride it ever since. And so am I. Ryan is ready to race. You see, when you board the train in one station, you actually exit in the station on the opposite side at the end of the ride. To contemplate this is to invite madness! First up was the Racer, the park's mobius coaster.

Evenin' all, I hit the road on Friday, Aug. 10; spent "a night, not a fortune" at an Econo Lodge in Greencastle, PA; and used $5.75 worth of the PA Turnpike to meet the Midwest tour at Kennywood on Aug. 11. I've heard a lot about this park over the years, but this was my first visit, and I have to say that Kennywood exceeded my expectations. What an awesome, eccentric traditional park! Rides you don't see anywhere else, great coasters with truly bizarre layouts, and good food at fairly reasonable prices. All that, plus lots of of folks I haven't seen since the UK trip last year, along with you wacky Midwest trippers--good times, indeed! My thanks to Robb and Elissa for the opportunity to hang out with the group for a day. As usual, here are my coaster rankings, not from "good to bad," but from "awesome to pretty damn good." The Phantom's Revenge--What do you get when Morgan reprofiles an Arrow multi-inverter and fits it with new restraints? You get an awesome, insane airtime machine! I understand that the original "Steel Phantom" was a real head-and-jaw breaker that nobody liked, but kudos to Kennywood for making something great out of something bad. Once you get to the top of its slow lifthill, the Phantom doesn't let up until you're back at the station. The Exterminator-- Best spinning mouse ever, thanks to it also being a cool, cheesy dark ride. The themeing is unique (you're the rat being chased by a team of exterminators through the city sewer), and the spinning portions are wonderfully disorienting. Plus, I didn't feel like I wanted to hurl afterward, which is always a bonus. Thunderbolt--A great woodie with one weird layout; hell, it tosses you from your seat before you even reach the lifthill. I also love the cool-looking trains. Jack Rabbit--If you want to know what true ejector air is, sit in the back row of this little sucker. With only a seatbelt to hold you in, this wascally wabbit shoots you straight up then slams you back in your seat (again, before you even reach the lifthill). Kennywood uses its terrain beautifully. Racer--This mobius racing coaster might better be named "The Ambler," because it really doesn't pick up much speed. But the racing is a plus, and you're close enough to slap hands with riders in the other train. Lots of fun. Lil Phantom--Yeah, I whored the kiddie coaster. What's it to ya, punk? The park also has a cool, old-school dark ride (Gold Rusher); an "old mill" (Garfield's Nightmare); and a number of one-of-a-kind flats (such as the Kangaroo and the electric Auto Race). When I left the place at 6:00 that night, I thought, "Why haven't I been coming here for years?" Here are the pics. . . . two of whom are named "Chuck." . . . and, of course, crazed coaster dorks, . . . . . . historic artifacts from the past, . . . Well, there are statues of Great Patriots, . . . OK, here's Kennywood. And what does one find here, you might ask?

^The "big three" restaurants at Euroburg are the Smokehouse in New France, the Italian restaurant in San Marco, and the Festhouse in Oktoberfest. You can clearly see the James River Ghost Fleet from the top of both Griffon and Apollo's Chariot. It's a bunch of decomissioned navy ships (they filmed some of the movie Virus there).

Thanks to you and Catrina for being a great host and hostess for Kennywood, Ted. It's an excellent park, where the rides are wonderfully eccentric and the food is good. The Gold Rusher dark ride was cool--even Garfield's Nightmare was appropriately trippy.

It was great meeting up with the group at Kennywood on Saturday--and getting together with some of the TPR UK Trip veterans again. This was my first visit to Kennywood--that park is awesome! I'll post a TR in a day or two.

Even when the park was still a "working" studio, the backlot tour was basically just killing time until the tram got to Catastrophe Canyon. Using this space for something new is essential, I think. I love the front section of this park, but the back isn't very inspiring.