Flagg O'Dim

^Can't wait! That sounds great, thanks for sharing!

^I'm hoping that Slaughterhouse is the one that gets updated. I felt that it was the weakest maze, despite some interesting moments (navigating through the hanging bodies, and the restaurant ending). More attention to detail and a Thomas Tissot-produced theme song would do wonders for this maze. The removal of Witch Doctor's Trail isn't really disappointing to me. That scare zone was just kind of...there. While all the other scare zones had a distinct theme, I was really hard-pressed to find anything other then a bunch of fog with WDT. Last year, I witnessed some lady run right into one of the barrels that was sitting in the path, and fell on top of it. It looked painful. Even the monsters seemed bored in WDT...one ran up to me and yelled "Is it 12:00 yet?" (referring to closing time). I'm wondering if the expansion of Dead Mans Cove will extend into Boomerang Bay...

^We can only hope, right? Would be a perfect way to sell more season passes.

Nice porn--I mean pictures! Looks like you guys had a great time! Interesting about Tidal Wave's station, although it's pretty far gone now to be of any use for a new ride. Makes me wonder if Paramount had some plans for it that never came to be. I need to get me one of the Firefall shirts, or any kind of CGA shirt for that matter. If there is an event next year, I will definitely be there!

Great pictures and video! I'm digging that new hearse. I wonder when it's going to get a Haunt makeover? What the park told you guys almost sounds word by word from what they were telling us back in January...I'm starting to doubt if these "plans" have substance.

Nice report! About CGA's no glasses policy, if you have straps attached to your glasses, you can ride just about everything. I have them on my sunglasses, and the ride operators always tell me that I'm OK to ride with the straps. Although some rides I prefer to just put them in my pocket.

More good news for attendance, from Cedar Fair's second quarter earnings conference: http://seekingalpha.com/article/284416-cedar-fair-s-ceo-discusses-q2-2011-results-earnings-call-transcript

^^I was at the Boardwalk yesterday, and saw you Nicholas! When I got there around 5:30, the sign said that you were on your 53rd ride. When I was leaving at 10:50, you were still there. That's dedication, kudos for hanging in there! Since it was my first visit since 2007 (despite the fact that I live only 35-40 minutes away, and the fact that I had been going to UC Santa Cruz for the past two years), I figured I would write a quick report. It was PACKED. Every line was way out the entrance, and it was anyone's guess as to where they actually started. Only got on 10 rides, and I'm extremely disappointed that I didn't get a chance to ride the new Haunted Castle. I was about 15 minutes in the line when it broke down, and it never reopened for the rest of the night. What I rode: Giant Dipper: It's been awhile since I've ridden a real wooden coaster! (cough Grizzly cough). Best ride in the park in my opinion, and tons of air time to be had here. The ride operators were flying through the trains. Even though the overflow queue was about halfway full, the line was only 10 minutes. Hurricane: I don't know why this coaster has such a bad reputation. I enjoyed it, it really packs a punch (in a good way). Those who say that it's rough have obviously never ridden CGA's Vortex. If the removal rumors are true, I'm glad I got my last ride in. Double Shot: The anticipation for the launch is the best part of the ride. The launch itself isn't quite as forceful as I remember it being. It's a fun ride to be sure, but it still left me asking, "Eh, is that it?" Cyclone: Wow. I seriously underestimated this ride. I will admit, I was a little nervous when I was getting on and saw that there was really nothing to hold you in (that seatbelt is more for show than anything else). But I soon found out that you don't need anything to hold you in, the momentum had me glued to the wall, and I could barely move. Also, the ride just...never...stops. I haven't gotten that "eyes spinning in your head" dizzy for a very long time. Fun ride, but there's no way I could ride it more than once per visit. Crazy Surf: Still one of my favorite rides in the park, but I had to double check to make sure that the restraints weren't made out of brick. Ghost Blasters: Where's the theme song? That seems almost criminal to turn it off. I swear you could hear crickets during the ride, that's how quiet it was inside. Disappointing, although I did get a decent score (1398). Rock and Roll: It looks nice. Fireball: I love this ride! Definitely worth the wait. The program it runs is fast, intense, and unpredictable. Definitely better than CGA's Delirium. The rest... Speed Bumps and Logger's Revenge. It was an okay visit, the extremely overcrowded walkways and closed Haunted Castle hindered my experience. This park looks great at night, and I forgot just how LOUD it is. Also, major props to the friendly ride operators, even past 10:00 they showed no signs of fatigue.

^I'm actually the one who emailed the news to Screamscape . Lance seemed pretty excited about it when he emailed me back, and from what he wrote on his site, it looks like he believes something is on the way. If the coaster is actually coming, it's probably more likely that we'll get it in 2013, hence the "two" year extension.

Something came up, and looks like I won't be able to go. I will be anxiously awaiting the reports from you guys! I'm also very intrigued about the surprises that CGA is trying to put together!

Unfortunately, the neighbors are all about "me, me, me," and fail to realize the positive impact the park has on their business. I know this has been said before, but don't like the noise? Then don't move next to a theme park! Stupidity never ceases to amaze. You know...Tunnel: The Ride actually sounds kind of awesome. I don't know about Jackaroo Landing, but when I went on Tuesday, the three raft slides were operating. Could have just been a fluke day when you went.

I dug through the archives of the Santa Clara City Council meetings, and found some interesting things. In 2008, the council rejected Prudential's whiny "concerns," as you can see here: I also found a 30-page report of back-and-forth between Prudential and the City. Pretty interesting, but I found that the city fully supports CGA 100 percent. To paraphrase, they believe that continued investment in the park is crucial to it's success, and to deny the new coaster would be a significant blow to the park. Not that we didn't already know this, but I learned that the city genuinely cares about the park, something that I used to be a little uncertain about.

August seems to be the official "announcement" month. I noticed on the Santa Clara permit website (my new favorite site for the day) that they applied for a permit for "New Top Spin Attraction" in August of 2007. I found something possibly noteworthy on the Santa Clara Planning Committee's website. Apparently, last month Cedar Fair requested a two-year extension for the 111-foot height variance for a wooden coaster, at least in my understanding. Here's a screenshot from the committee's meeting agenda: http://santaclaraca.gov/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=5637 Seems a bit strange that Cedar Fair requested an extension even though the project is supposedly dead?

I found the website for the Santa Clara Permit Center. This is what I found for CGA: http://smartpermit.santaclaraca.gov/tm_bin/tmw_cmd.pl?tmw_cmd=ParcelViewParcel&shl_prc_parcel_no=104%2042%20019 Scroll down to the permits with "2011" in the title for the latest. I'd recommend that everyone keeps checking this site, interesting stuff. Also interesting that they applied for a permit to remove Invertigo before the rumor hit the Internet. The "Landscape Plan" was also approved in the same permit... Some other cool things, like the removal of the seats in the Pictorium in 2008 and the addition of a stage in the building in the same year.

The only reason I've stayed away from Boomerang Bay for so long is that, until today, I've never brought along a pair of swimming trunks. But yeah, as I learned today, and like you said, you don't really need them. I've gotten way more soaked on White Water Falls. I barely got wet on the Rapids today. I wish I rode it when the fountain was working! I'm going to be prepared if Firefall is removed....I don't want to be caught off guard like I was with the Invertigo announcement. Well, I would say, "Get your rides in on Firefall while you still have the chance," but that is pretty difficult these days!

In other brain-dead GP "news," I saw some kid exit out of Rue le Dodge via hopping over the fence on the left side of the building. And as we all know, the exit is on the RIGHT side of the building. Yeah, the kid got yelled at for that one. The kid then had a fit, "why are you yelling at me?!" ..................... Firefall was closed all day. There were no mechanics on site, maybe they were letting the ride "rest" for the day? Sounds silly, I know, but with a ride as fragile as Firefall, you can't take any chances I suppose. I have a bad feeling that we will be making "GardenFall" jokes on these forums next year... Good news: The Demon voice in the tunnel is working once again! After visiting the park every week this summer, I decided to try something different: Stepped foot into Boomerang Bay for the first time ever (sad, I know) and rode Downunder Thunder! It was great, but the lines were a little long for everything, so it's the only slide I went on. Can't wait to try the others. Also, I rode the Rapids three times in a row...It was a water ride day.

Yep, cabin #1 has been sitting dormant for the past couple weeks. I always choose to ride on the left side of the tower now because it has three cabins running...higher capacity means faster line! I remember a time last season when the Tower was running three cabins total...it was nightmarish. About the dispatches, there seems to be a sharp increase in GP with coins, making more work for the ride ops. Last time, my brother and I noticed some stupid kid behind us in line getting coins from his mom. My brother told the ride op before we got on, and the kid got nailed for it. It was pretty funny.

Firefall was running great today! It seems to be running a slightly modified program, and it really improves the ride as a whole. Before the gondola reaches the top of the second swing, the brakes are released early, which actually causes it to flip, and gives you a sense of diving head-first into the water. (I know I explained that badly, so you just have to ride it and see for yourself). It also feels like it puts a lot of stress on the ride.. the gondola was shaking side-to-side, I've never felt that before. Rode it twice in a row in the morning, thought about marathoning it, but my brother and I wanted to ride on Delirium and Psycho Mouse before their lines got crowded. Ended up riding Firefall four times. One more thing...the name "Firefall" is now a bit misleading..."Steamfall" is probably more accurate . Not a big deal, I'd rather have Firefall without effects than no Firefall at all.

^Most probable: Smaller version of Windseeker. Ouimet dropped some hints during his recent visit to Kings Island that "If something works at another park...there is no reason to keep it hidden" (paraphrase). Granted, he was specifically mentioning Kings Island, but it was implied that all parks could benefit. What most of us want: A coaster that could reasonably fit in Invertigo's area (I prefer either a Zacspin or Eurofighter). I don't think anyone's said it yet, but I have a strong feeling that something important will be announced during the Q&A session on the TPR day. It's in August...and why would the park agree to a Q&A session if all they are planning on replying with is "We can't comment on plans that are not definite"? Surely they don't expect all the questions to be about Boot Scootin Boogie or whatever. At the very least, certainly Haunt details will be announced. I just wish the park would come out and say "We are/are not adding anything new in 2012." I'm tired of trying to read between the lines with every quote that comes out of Cedar Fair.

I remember seeing a bulldozer in that same area around this time last season. I've always felt that something big could be added in that area. But if anything were to be added, it would likely be a water park expansion. Interesting about the gardeners removing plants...there's usually Haunt decorations in that spot, maybe they're preparing?

Figures that Firefall reopens the day after I visit Let's see if it breaks it's record of two straight days in operation, and make it to October! That sucks about your phone. I've seen it happen before on Delirium, and it's a painful sight. Your best bet is to wear shorts with velcro pockets and put your phone in them (works for me), or to just put your phone on the shelves. hmm..Grizzly was running two trains yesterday.

Here's a "new opportunity" that we've been waiting for: The Invertigarden has been officially named "The Green," and now has a stage sitting in the center of it for Bay Area Bands. I saw it today, and seems horribly out of place, but also looks temporary. They were sure quick to remove the plants in the center for it, so maybe the landscaping really is temporary. Parkthoughts' Flicker page has a good picture of it. (I tried to post the link, but it wouldn't work. Just search for recent pictures of "Invertigo" on Flickr). At last, Tiki Twirl has a real sign. Parkthoughts has a picture of it as well. Park was dead today, I rode Drop Tower seven times!

^It's only obvious that someone died on it, that's why they shut it down. --The GP's reasoning when a ride is down. Good day today, even if it was (very) hot. Glad to see White Water Falls running three boats again. But they were getting stacked, due to GP trying to seat five across/standing up/bringing their 3-year-olds on it/whatever they can do to make more work for the ride ops. Funny moment: Some guy took his shirt off while the boat was on the lift, and ride op stopped the lift, saying "put your shirt back on!"

I'd say the new CEO's visit to CGA is a positive gesture. I wonder if he is touring all the Cedar Fair parks, or if he specifically chose CGA to visit? In other Cedar Fair news, they recently trademarked the name "Stinger" for a future attraction. NewsPlusNotes seems to think that it is for Invertigo, though. Full article here: http://newsplusnotes.blogspot.com/2011/06/stinger-speculation.html

I made an effort to find the old ramp today after reading your post. I spotted it while on the turnaround for Vortex, interesting how they just left it there. Almost seems eerie, in a way.