jfruge

^^^ Justin, The park has been great during the weekday operations. The staff at SDC is wonderfully friendly and sociable. While Outlaw Run is the newest, and the most thrilling, ride in the park, you absolutely cannot miss the park's other rollercoasters and attractions. My advice is to get to the park early and head straight to PowderKeg (the line for PK is the slowest moving, and the longest on slower days). After that, head over to Wildfire. YOU DO NOT want to miss It, as it is, quite possibly, the smoothest B&M you'll find. Thunderation is an unbelievable mine train coaster too, and has great terrain theming. The Outlaw Run downtime is not unbearable, if you're a coaster nerd like me. If you're lucky enough to find yourself in the station when the ride goes down, the testing they do is interesting to watch. The ride staff is quite good at keeping you informed about the status of the ride as well. Once you ride Outlaw Run, you will be spoiled for most other wooden coasters. Try to sit in the front or middle, unless you enjoy insane ejector air, in which case, take the back! You will find, in Branson, that the Hotels are cheaper the further away from HWY 76 and, unless you intend to see a live show, you will find a lot less heartache by staying away from the strip. Also, check and double check that your map does not take you through NW Oklahoma; that route takes so much longer than coming through Arkansas. Enjoy your visit to Branson!

Titan began braking the trains at the current level pretty quickly after it opened. You are correct about it operating without a complete stop before, but it never blazed through the MCBR either. The complete stop, I believe, became a necessity for the safety of riders, due to the extremity of the g-forces in the second half. I do like the hang-time you get if you sit on the left side of the train when it descends out of the MCBR.

This is such a wonderful conversion. I think RMC may be working to outdo themselves the next few seasons. The length looks to be perfect to keep trains from stacking, and keep riders entertained. The first drop seems to be just incredibly intense.

^ I know...I pass by it frequently, now that I live in Branson. I really think SDC could pick it up and move it to their park and really benefit from the ride. It is a beautiful coaster! It would be awesome for Missouri to have 3 operating GCI Coasters!

I got to go to the park today after only a couple of weeks of waiting and I really must say that SDC has got it together. I was amazed at the totality of its cleanliness and adherence to the "Ozark" theme. The staff at the gate today were a little on the slow side when I had an issue with my ticket, but were wonderfully kind regardless. My first ride was Wildfire. I have ridden several B&M's but very few that I found as intriguing and thoroughly engaging. The theming was great, but the ride itself was a dream. I loved all the forcefulness during the Immelmann. I ended up riding Wildfire 3 times today, as it was a walk-on. Second Ride was Powder Keg...and I can, with out a doubt say, I was not prepared for that launch! I was also impressed with the g-forces on this attraction. I am certain S&S and SDC were conspiring to have Ozark Mountain cosmonauts when they constructed it. Powder Keg did have a pretty substantial queue, but the operators were just great and turned a "30 Minute from this point" wait into just under 20. I will say that the transition to the old "Buzzsaw Falls" track was a bit rough, but not too bad. OUTLAW RUN: The ride was off and on all day...I believe with blocking problems. One word for the ride...AMAZADICULACULAR!!!!

I'm going to the park on Thursday with Outlaw Run, Powder Keg and Wildfire being my Targets...any advice???

Now, I'm not knocking Outlaw Run, heck, I live 5 minutes from the park and haven't gone yet, but you obviously haven't ridden the Texas Giant. All of the Texas Giant's first half turns are to the left, and I've been on few coasters that are more thrilling. I also want to point out, as several have before me, that your statements in this thread about IR are errant. Iron Rattler is, in fact, taller than OR. I think it also bears stating that Outlaw Run has a 162 ft drop, not a 162 ft lift...it makes use of the ravine. Iron Rattler has both a 171 ft lift and drop. I also would point out here that OR is not comparable to IR in any terms of size, height or speed because of the "Hybrid" issue. OR has a secure place as one of the best WOODEN roller coasters ever created. IR will most definitely hold that same distinction, AS A HYBRID!

Seems like this thread turned quite vehement really quickly. I think it bears stating that whether SFOT "liked" the former Flashback or not, it was never just a "walk on" attraction, particularly in the summer months. I think that, unless the park had decided to buy some sort of ridiculous carnival coaster, this boomerang is a legitimately built and engineered roller coaster and I think it will be a nice addition to the current lineup. I also think that it isn't hard to imagine that The Boss could be the next coaster on the RMC remodel list; so adding something like the boomerang will undoubtedly allow for a great spotlight on The Boss, if its remodeled, that is.

^ Yes...we are due for up to 8 inches of snow tomorrow and Friday, with a second round of snow coming Sunday.

GREAT REPORT! I'd like to also comment that I you're coming out to Branson this year...stop off and see me, in the 3 Redneck Tenors! We open this afternoon!

24/26!

I think Reverse Blast gives a higher level of thrills than it did in its original orientation. I think the going through the top hat the second time forward is also much more comfortable, since you're traveling faster. Does anyone have any opinions on the continuous motion loading station on NTAG?

I believe that the cage rotation only locks in place from the exterior to allow loading/unloading, and is only activated while the door to the cage is open. Once the door is closed, the rotation, or lack thereof, becomes the pleasure of the rider/s.

Myth: There are ghosts in the Saloon at the top of the third lift hill on the Runaway Mine Train at SFOT.

My first coaster with inversions was Superman Krypton Coaster at SFFT.

I worked at the small amusement park where I'm from for 2 years. One day, while working sweeper duty, I came across a USED feminine product that was wet on the stairs to one of the water attractions (a wet/dry slide). A young woman had gotten soaked on the water ride, taken the product off, and left it on the stairs as she returned for a repeat ride. I had to sweep it up, of course...the park had to up the chlorine in the water, and was considering shutting the attraction down until any contaminants were flushed out. I couldn't believe someone would be so crass.

I really like the track shaping at the bottom of the drop that leads into the tunnel...the curvature looks wicked. Does anyone know if Fiesta Texas will be following suit with big sister SFOT and taking the Rattler off of the Flash Pass?

I had always thought that the sections of track that were, in fact, wired, were done so before they were constructed on the site (i.e. brake runs, lifts, etc.)?

I rode Shockwave at SFOT.

^ Not trying to be rude, but there is no "grey area". First off, I have been with someone who has been refused access to a certain attraction after being allowed on all others in the same park, due to a broken leg in a walking cast. Second, Park Ride Operators, by their very license, are both encouraged, and required to judge whether a rider can safely participate in an attraction or not. There should be NO CASE in this matter, and previous park experiences can not stand to vouchsafe for this man's ability to ride. It is harsh to say, but I believe that except in cases where the park or manufacturer was clearly at fault (i.e. "Superman TOP" at SFKK, or "Terminal Velocity" at Extreme World), buying a ticket to a theme park should constitute an immediate and binding non-arbitration clause between the customer and the theme park.

as a former amusement park employee, I believe that you have to have unimpeded use of all of your extremities to be eligible to ride ANY water ride in the event of an emergency. I think some people with disabilities (my mother is one of them) decide to cry wolf and claim discrimination because they aren't allowed to do certain activities. I am of the opinion that if a person is told they cannot ride due to a safety hazard, they agreed to that sort of selectivity by park officials when they purchased their ticket and entered the park. In response to the question of whether Six Flags should offer compensation to this customer...they didn't take this customer's hands away, and cannot and should not be held be liable for being good stewards of his SAFETY. If SF had to compensate everyone that felt this way, they'd go bankrupt again.

Okay, So I believe that KUMBAK? Coasters has already installed a lap-barred inverted train system on an SLC in Austrailia. What do you think the chances would be of someone like B&M going OTSR-Less on their inverteds of Floorless coasters?

I know, I know...But it looks so cool! Mr. Freeze SFOT

So, you don't count NTAG or Iron Rattler as true track replacements using the I-Box. They modified the layouts The Texas Giant and The Rattler, versus solely replacing the track . Thanks Larrygator! Would anyone shoot me if I said I would love to see them install trains that look like the Chevrolet Bel-Aire (ie Xcelerator)? Just imagine that final helix being smoother and faster...maybe an NTAG light tunnel? Just Some Ideas!

I think that Poltergeist is underrated. I have never ridden that ride and gotten off without a serious adrenaline buzz (of course the dizzy spell comes along too). Only wish SFFT would take the trims off right after the launch.