Geauga Dog

I enjoyed your TR and it's okay you didn't post photos as there are plenty of photos of the park on the Net. I love taking photos at parks but I don't really post them as many are the same that you find in other's trip reports. BTW I would gladly be stuck in the lay down position on Firehawk over the flying position on a B&M like SUF. Just a few minutes stuck on a brake run due to stacking and my ankles start hurting.

I looked at that empty space a few times during my recent visit and tried to envision what could go there. With the slight elevation change I'm not sure what could go there that wouldn't need expensive excavating to level it. A coaster does seem like a logical choice but for some reason I'd like to see something else there since Shipwreck Falls takes up a portion of it. I agree that Sling Shot needs to be relocated. Stick it where Twister is now.

After seeing the high res images it sure looks real - and I am very pleased with how it looks in particular the dive loop/wingover/downward spiral after the mid-course. No complaints here.

I would hope that if the park has been sold that it will be announced sooner than wait until the next season is about to start and that it will be the end of having different owners putting their hands on the property. While the park did look good on my recent visit you can obviously see where too many people have put their footprint on the park and it doesn't flow evenly across the park. PARC - Just plop Motocoaster in the most unusual spot where the old swimming pool used to be and do nothing around it to enhance it. HERSCHEND - Rowdy's Ridge and the Boardwalk look great but at the same time making the other areas around them look a little more worn down. PREMIER v2 - Can't fault them as they just took over this year but they at least filled in an open hole with Rolling Thunder.

So far from what has been announced and what seems likely at the moment: CP Dive Coaster/Valravn - I love Griffon and am happy that I'll have one only an hour from me. Monster - Been wanting to go to Adventureland for a long time and next year will be a good chance to visit. I can't help but be excited for this ride, Storm Chaser - I wanted to wait to see what KK had in store for the former Twisted Twins before venturing to the park and now it will make a Kings Island, Kentucky Kingdom and Holiday World trip one of the most thrilling mini-vacations next year. Really look forward to hearing more announcements within the next month.

Thanks for posting that photo. I really like that entrance concept - very original compared to today's entrances. If anything they should do a Viking ship as a new entrance into Scandinavia if a new main gate is built.

A Maurer Sky Loop would be unique. X Coaster at Magic Springs is the only one in the U.S.. Sure would be better than a Vekoma boomerang.

I think Holiday World is already a destination park as it stands today, heck Splashin' Safari is its own destination by itself, but adding Thunderbird just sealed their future as a major player in the industry. It will be interesting if any of the perks will change as the years go on like the free soft drinks and free parking.

Thank you for your coverage of a couple of parks we don't read too much about in the forums. As much as I love many of the larger parks I've been to I have taken an interest as of late in more of the smaller/mid-sized parks and Frontier City seems like a park that I would thoroughly enjoy. Looks to have a decent selection of rides and who can go wrong with a Schwarzkopf looper? The theming of the western buildings look great and even though Brain Drain doesn't sound like a Wild West name they sure did a fantastic job in making it fit in with the rest of the park.

Anyone have any photos of the entire former Americana gate? I was at WoF in 1989 for the ACE Spring Conference for the opening of Timber Wolf and don't remember seeing it since we always entered through the Scandinavia gate.

I did not try the test seat even though it is there for a reason I'd feel awkward trying it. I feel like people are staring at me.

Just got back from finally enjoying a day at Darien Lake and here's a quick TR. Though I didn't ride much due to dealing with a headache most of the day, I did have a very good visit I got there about 9:30 after a four hour drive and the park didn't get somewhat busy until a little later in the day. I'm not going to complain about the one train operation of the coasters as that's been hashed out to death on that topic already though I will give the park credit for adding the second train on Viper in early afternoon as there was a good sized line forming. My first ride was on my favorite coaster, Viper. I was one of only five on the first train out this morning. Sitting in the middle of the train I had a smooth ride. Couldn't help but notice how overgrown the old mini golf area is (did they just let it grow like that or did they actually remove the remnants of the old golf course?) I really like the headchopper effect on the approach to the corkscrews - it looks like you get a little close to the trees right there. Viper would be the only ride I would ride more than once today and the second ride was in the back seat. A little more bumpier than my morning ride but excellent just the same. Love the look and sounds old Arrow coasters make so that alone made my day. Was going to hit Rolling Thunder next but it wasn't quite ready to open so I headed towards Predator next. The last time I was there Predator opened a little later than the rest of the park, I think 11:00 but it was open and gathered a quick ride. I usually go for a front seat ride but with the line already about a five train wait I opted for 2-1 since it was a little shorter. I do like Predator's compact layout, would love to see Gravity Group or GCI do a modern take on it, but after my ride all I can say is DIE, PREDATOR, DIE! Now I usually hit this ride once every visit and I am aware of what kind of ride I'm in for but Predator did something to me that had never happened to me on a coaster before. As the train crested the hill before the low banked turn next to the lift hill, I got a nice pop of air that slammed into the left side pelvic area into the lap bar. That resulted in a dull pain that would end up bothering me off and on afterwards. I'm still feeling it though it's not as painful as it was when it first happened. Headed over to Boomerang next. I see where other formers were saying it's slow but for some reason I really like that. it gives you that moment of suspense not knowing when the train will be released. I have always thought this was one of the better ones, most likely due to the then-newer style of trains, I like to call the bullet trains, Vekoma created for the ride. Then I noticed Rolling Thunder was running and I began to walk over that way. This is about the time the headache started as I hadn't eaten breakfast yet (and I had been up since 4:15 this morning). I usually like to eat at Beaver Brothers (a bit pricey but decent) but I was already by Viper so I checked out a few options there. Ended up at Subway next to Rolling Thunder. Those poor workers - between the thunderous Rolling Thunder next to it and Viper's loud yet classic lift hill it's any wonder they can hear people's orders. After Subway I went to Rolling Thunder. I do have a strong stomach so I can handle rides right after eating. I have never ridden a Larson Fireball/Ring of Fire/Super Loop before though I have seen them at plenty of carnivals. They never looked safe to me since they are held up by cables. The limited space RT fills compared to UFO really opens up the area around it. They had the LED lighting on and I was impressed by all the changing colors. I would love to see a night photo of them as I'm sure it's quite a sight. The "train" looks a little confining but there was plenty of room. I really enjoyed the ride. Not sure about these being at various Six Flags parks but I think it fits great at Darien Lake. After RT I did a bit of walking around the park, taking in the sights and atmosphere. I'm not much of a power rider anymore so I usually like to walk around, watch people have fun, and just enjoy being in an amusement park. Eventually I made it over to Blast Off for a ride. This was probably the fastest crew of the day (though Viper's crew was doing pretty good after they added the second train later on). This is still a decent Space Shot tower that seemed to have a bit more force to it than CP's Power Tower and that could be due to the smaller size. I have been apprehensive about Intamin coasters with seat belts and lap bars since they shortened the belts years ago as I have had issues with them. Last year I was able to just barely fit on Dragster yet I still cannot fit on MF and two years ago I had issues with Ride of Steel's belts that I just gave up and walked off the ride. I wasn't going to try to get on RoS for fear that I would have the same issues again but I went ahead and got in line. The whole time I was in the station I kept having that thought come over me - am I going to be able to ride this time? Will I be able to fasten the seat belt? Well this time I was able to fasten the seat belt - and with little to no trouble - therefore I finally got to ride RoS. It's not among my favorite coasters but it is an excellent ride. Sitting towards the back of the train, getting whipped over the top of the lift, hands up all the way, it was one of the best feelings I've had on an Intamin coaster in a long time. I walked around a bit more and went to play a few rounds of Fascination. Just want to thank DL for keeping this classic game going. Played about $3 worth and actually won a game. Walked around some more, taking a few photos, and noticed that dark clouds were beginning to enter the area. Not wanting to be caught in a storm plus having to face the four hour drive home, I left the park. The only regret I had was not riding Sleigh Ride, which has been one of my favorites since I wasn't feeling too great. I would have loved to have taken a ride on the Giant Wheel but I think there is still a no-single rider policy on it. I'm not comfortable riding with strangers. The only rides closed were Ranger, Twister, and Corn Popper, which may have been open for a short time before going down for the day. Thunder Rapids was closed but they had the water running through it later in the day but nothing no logs were going through it. I think it's quite obvious that Ranger is on its way out but I also think Twister may be on the chopping block soon. I think Scrambler looks great in the area by Predator and 3-Point Challenge. It definitely helps liven up that little corner of the park since Raging Seas was removed. I still think the area between Blast Off and Boomerang could use a new ride to help liven up that area. The park, overall, looked good and clean. The restroom at the main gate needs some paint since there was some graffiti in one of the stalls but still not bad. The only suggestion I'd make, and this is a personal preference, is in the restroom in the old Cuda Falls site could use some dividers between urinals. Viper's station still needs new paint though it is also looking a little rough in spots (noticed small parts of the roof are starting to come apart). I'm not much of a water park person therefore I did not go into the water park but Splashtown was packed as usual. Brain Drain looks bigger in photos but at the same time looks impressive in the water park.

You are correct. That building used to be the ballroom, then the bathhouse for Boardwalk Shores/Hurricane Harbor, and it would be transformed into a haunt for Fright Fest (I know it used to be Brutal Planet during Six Flags and then Phobia under Cedar Fair).

I agree that the old Tomb Raider building should be used for something and now that I found out that Slaughterhouse was a new haunt built next to the Beast there is no need for the former Crypt to be a haunt. Two things (IMO): 1. The area between Beast and Diamondback does get a good amount of traffic. If anything the space between the two coasters should house what I would term filler rides, i.e. flats. Rip out the Crypt and open that space up for a few flat rides or even a Kenton's Cove Keelboat Canal II. 2. Looking at the area by Vortex/Windseeker/SRR you definitely see that it doesn't have the same amount of traffic as Rivertown has. Putting a giga in the old simulator spot would definitely help with that but I also think that park of Coney Mall needs more to attract people. Vortex isn't going to do it alone and who knows how long it will last though I still think it has many years left. 3. From an aesthetic standpoint and I am one who would rather have a balanced park skyline, putting a giga directly above a hyper would make Diamondback lose it's impact on the south side of the park. That lift hill makes quite the statement from the parking lot as well as from various vantage points in the park. On a personal note I also am not that fond of how visible DB is while riding Beast as it makes it seem not as secluded as it used to be.

Great report! I hope your leg heals quickly. I was at Lagoon in 1996 and it sure has changed a lot since then. It looks to have one of the best assortment of rides that a lot of parks seem to lack nowadays. Cannibal looks amazing and it's great that Lagoon can put in something that is uniquely customized from anything else out there. Maybe more parks should take their example.

Hmmm, trying to picture the coaster the way you described it and by looking at the park map. Action Zone is already coaster heavy with Banshee, Invertigo, and The Bat unless something else beside Congo Falls gets removed or relocated. Plus not sure how they would fit a turnaround on the other side of the gate when you have HR and other park facilities right there. Does Kings Island really need a coaster that spans the front gate like Fury 325 and Gatekeeper? Invertigo already towers over the entrance but at the same time that ride would be a likely candidate for removal even though It is very popular. I have always thought the placement of a giga, or any new coaster, is back where the old simulators were between Racer's turnarounds. It doesn't appear to be used anymore, at least from my recent visit, plus the back of the park could still use a few new attractions (i.e. old Flight Commander site).

I could answer the first two for you. I do remember back in the 80's you used to be able to walk up the steps to the large platform but I'm not sure when they closed it off. They do use the left elevator, which takes you to the lower platform on top but I've only seen it used when the weather was rainy and I do remember a few year's ago they used that elevator since there was a wasp's nest near the upper level (the wasps would be bad in early fall).

I was planning on coming to the park tomorrow but seeing it's Kingdom Bound I think I better wait another week. Darien Lake does have a rather awkward layout in spots and some ride placement has been interesting. Motocoaster and Twister definitely have the feel that they are in the campground rather than in the park proper since I figured those two and Boomerang are right there in Darien Square. The last time I was at the park. two years ago, I remember the bridge over Tin Lizzies was closed and you had to walk down a slight slope to head towards Twister. Wouldn't those rides be distracting to nearby campers and I've always wondered how do they close off the park to the campers at night? I don't see a "gate" by Boomerang nor by Motocoaster.

Wow, that really was an unexpected bit of news. Nice to see Gravity Group being so busy given all the coasters they've been building in China and now this one. Seems GCI fell off the planet.

Villain was sold for scrap at the auction. Such a shame that a young ride like that, only seven years old, is already gone. It is strange yet not surprising that CP set up security measures for the holiday. I think there was a rumor floating around the net that CP was a terror target for the 4th.

I'd like to see Vekoma try to make a hyper but would love to see them bring back the Tilt coaster. I'd think Mack would be the next hyper builder. Since they built their own version of the Intamin Mega-Lite (Alpina Blitz at Nigloland) I can see them go the next step and build much higher in the near future.

Thanks for the photos. I haven't been to WWK since Geauga closed in 2007 as I'm not much of a water park person. To think 2015 is the park's 10th anniversary and the only major attraction they've added since then was the Tidal Wave Bay wave pool in 2006. I've heard the rumors of a new slide but that's been going on for a few years. They certainly have more than enough land to build on, if anything, expand into the former Happy Harbor area since the view from the top of Thunder Falls is not very attractive. It makes me wonder how this place even survives as Northeast Ohio has never been a good market for a stand alone water park plus the fact that CF doesn't do a lot of advertising either (you may see a few TV commercials or hear a few radio commercials early in the season but that's about it). Heck I see more commercials and billboards for Kennywood around here than CP and WWK.

Very impressed with that layout! I would freak if CP did build a similar ride to what you did. Just wondering how would your ride be positioned - station by Blue Streak with the first drop and oversized Immelman next to the Iron Dragon midway for visuals? At the same time I'd think the water splash should be near where spectators can view it like on Griffin.

Giga - I305 Hyper - Raging Bull or Diamondback Hybrid - Ravine Flyer II Invert - Afterburn or Banshee Woodies - Beast and American Thunder Launched - Storm Runner or Maverick Anything - Mr. Freeze, X Flight, Griffin Freefall Tower - Acrophobia Dark Ride - Curse of DarKastle Family Coaster - Verbolten

That part of Steel Medusa was the most intriguing part of the ride to me and I am glad that RMC is incorporating that into Storm Chaser. Still have yet to ride a RMC even though Goliath is about seven hours away but this will make a KI/KK/HW trip that much better. Congrats Kentucky Kingdom.