palmerleeberry
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Posts posted by palmerleeberry
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As a resident of Virginia, I had the un-pleasure of having Virginia's two biggest parks (Kings Dominion and Busch Gardens) remaining closed throughout the 2020 season, thus forcing me to travel to other parks located in other states so I could fulfill my amusement park needs. The good news for me is that the season pass I purchased for this season can be used for next season. However, what kind of season 2021 will give us? Even if a vaccine was announced for today, it will still takes several months for things return to normal, and it may not the same normal we had in seasons pass. This year I was able to visit Hersheypark five times, Knoebels twice, and parks such as Cedar Point, Kings Island, Kennywood, and Dollywood once, but it was all under the COVID-19 protocols and procedures used to protect us and other from the spread of the virus.
In conclusion, I would like to say the amusement park industry would recover in time, but expect some casualties in the long run. Still, I noticed during my most recent trip to Hersheypark (in the dark) that park was crowded, meaning that everyone who attended choose to not be afraid of the catching the virus and take needed precautions to insure that they leave that park with sweet PMS (Pictures, Memories, and Souvenirs) and not the virus.
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I was at the park twice this weekend, one on a Friday and the other on a Saturday. Friday saw me walking up and ride, but the park was only open for four (4) hours. Saturday was open for seven (7) hours, but it was crowded [CROWD-DED!]. That's okay; I got everything I wanted to do and I am satisfied until next season where we can start relaxing the mask and social distancing, I can resume my season pass until June 30, the three rides that have been closed all this season will finally be reopened, and I can finally see what new attraction they are placing in that walled-up area to the right of the final helix of Candymonium (Flying Falcon? Oh, please let it be so!).
For the record, I've been to Hersheypark five times this season, and I'm planning five more times next year. If what I wish for comes true, you can bet your Reese's Cups I will be renew my season pass for many more seasons to come.
HERSHEY BARS - IT'S LEGAL IN ALL FIFTY STATES! SWEET!!!
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Once upon a time I once hated the SKYRUSH at Hersheypark because it was more of a THIGH-BUST. Then I learn of a technique in which we place both hands underneath your lap restraints and pull up whenever you hit an air-timed hill. Now my thighs don't hurt anymore when I finally reach the station and I can enjoy the ride more.
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That lousy SoB from Kings Island!
I am talking about the Son of Beast (may it long burn in the furnace of the underworld) when they took the loop out and put in lighter trains. My friend and I had a big lunch and decided to ride SoB. After we got off that ride, we didn't feel good and headed to the restrooms and just empty our stomachs. We were so sick afterwards we decided to call it a day and headed back to the hotel. I think my friend threw up again later that night. Our stomachs didn't get better until tomorrow evening when we could start eating again. When we read the news that SoB was being demolished, we celebrated.
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, the county may find it in their best interests to find a way to keep the park open, especially if the cost to do so would be less than the lost tax revenue.
I would also like to add the possibility of lost profits to other businesses that are near or around Indiana Beach. We the riders and amusement park flyers not only spend money for amusement parks, but also for the restaurants, hotels, and other places of amusements that are nearby. If we don't have that destination anymore, then we have no business to do business with the other businesses and will go elsewhere.
With Myrtle Beach and them losing both the Pavilion and Hard Rock Park, that area has so many attractions and things to do that it can handle whenever an attraction closes because something else will move in and take its place ( it would be like if Bill Gates loses a dollar). However, the situation at Indiana Beach is different and if something isn't done about it and soon, the businesses of those areas will start to see their profits declining because the extra tourists that used to visit their shops would dwindle to nearly nothing (like Bill Gates losing millions).
In conclusion, if there is no park to visit in a particular place then we the riders and amusement park flyers don't go there!
Tune from the song "Paradise"
"Daddy, could you take me to Indiana Beach?
To that amusement park where paradise lays?
I'm sorry, my son, you're too late in asking;
They closed that park down and haul the rides away!"
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There is another point to speculate on the old Volcano site as to what to put into its place - it doesn't have to be a coaster, but how about the return of the new "Haunted River"? Before you all decide to tar and feather me for even suggesting such a thing (like I stated before - it's just something else to speculate upon), just think about Knotts Berry Farm "Knott's Bear-y Tales", a newfangled attraction based on a defunct attraction - could Kings Dominion do the same thing to bring back the Haunted River? I checked out a ride concept from Mack Rides - mack-rides.com/products/water-rides/supersplash - and I would like to see Cedar Fair put something like that in the Volcano old spot and call it "The Haunted River's Revenge". I think that would be too cool.
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This was just a plain shame when I heard the news that Indiana Beach was closed. I had my first and only trip to that park during my 2009 mid-American amusement park tour. Although my only complaint was that I needed a partner to ride their Scrambler Ride, this was a great park for me to visit.
Now, this park will join Lakeside (outside of Roanoke, VA), Astroworld, Hard Rock Park, Six Flags New Orleans, Magic Harbor, and the Pavilion (last two were in Myrtle Beach, SC) as parks I've visited and are now defunct.
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^and that's a big DITTO! from me.
Now that I got my KING-SIZED season pass processed, Springtime in the Park cannot arrive here any sooner for me. Believe it or not, I already have three trips planned for Hersheypark before June, and one of them I will lead a group to this park ( including being the riding partner to my friend who cannot handle the thrill rides, but can handle low impact rides like the Skyview, Ferris Wheel, Antique Cars, and the shows. It won't be a huge sacrifice for me not to ride the thrill rides that day; I have two visits before and the rest of the season afterwards to ride them all!).
Who knows what surprises will await this rider and amusement park flyer. Last year, in May, I saw Sheena Easton in concert at the Music Box Theater and various bands that popped up for a special performance throughout the year. On another visit, I rode Laff Trax and Wild Mouse three times in a row due to less riders in line. Finally, I rode Whitecap Racer and finished with the time of 16.4 seconds.
This season at Hersheypark is gonna be SWEEEET!!!
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"I thumbed a diesel down at Knoxville/He said he was going as far as Gatlinburg/I climb up in the cab with my towel and cooler/I took a deep breath and told him about her/I got to get there: can you make them big wheels burn?"
SOAKY MOUNTAIN PARK keeps on calling/I'll keep on running . . . to her!
I got my ticket to SOAKY MOUNTAIN PARK!
Sorry, I couldn't help resist singing it.
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Holy mother of thrill rides . . .
Those are two killer concepts and I would like to see and ride them in an amusement park near me someday.
Hey Kings Dominion, the park that just took out the Volcano, why not scrap having another roller coaster idea and just put in the Rocking Boat Ride and name it "Revenge of the Haunted River" ( . . .and just when you thought you were safe from that haunted attraction . . .)? That would get me coming back to Kings Dominion!
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I do have a concern: With both Volcano and the Crypt being removed and some big, awesome attraction will be taking its place, what about the Avalanche? Last time I was there, the Avalanche was placed between the Volcano and The Crypt and I would hate to see the Avalanche go so a big massive coaster can take it's place in all that void. Then again, this coaster could take Volcano and Crypt's spot and wrap itself around Avalanche (it's been done before in the amusement park world; such as The Great Bear at Hersheypark and Goliath at Six Flags over Georgia), or this coaster will just take Volcano's spot and we'll have another attraction take Crypt's spot.
If the former happens and they do take out Avalanche, then it will be the second time Kings Dominion removed three rides and replaced it with an exciting coaster (I'm talking about The Lost World being replaced with Volcano). However, I don't think Avalanche is on the chopping block and it is safe from elimination.
Anaconda, on the other hand . . .
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Is it to late to start the rumor it's being relocated to Kentucky Kingdom?
Nah, nobody's gonna believe you; they already got a T3.
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Here's an old thread that's making a comeback. Now, should observation towers make a comeback? Not only they should make a comeback, but also the parks that have any type of observation tower should keep them in their park and keep them in good, working order. Not only are observation towers can be found in amusement parks, but many major cities have put their own observation towers, like Seattle's Space Needle and New York City's Empire State Building; and many cities now have The Eye, a giant-sized Ferris wheel that gives paramount views of the area around them. While other rides, such as tall roller coasters and drop towers, can give those views too; on the downside, they're only a brief glimpse of the horizon and only those well fit can go on those rides. The Observation Towers can be enjoyed by everybody, as long you don't suffer from vertigo and a fear of heights.
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As a response for Kentucky Kingdom's BIG NEWS concerning T3, methinks we should get at least a thousand people to enter the queuing line for T3 at one time to fill that entire line up and hire a DJ to play heavy metal music as the riders wait for hours to ride it (T3 has only one train in operation unless on the day I was visiting the park the second train was taken off the tracks and was held inside a workshop ).
And here's the name of that event:
HEAD BANGER'S PARTY
To you riders and amusement park flyers out there - What da ya think?
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Usually it's a sad day in the amusement park world when a park is closed with no word on when it will open, but I don't feel that way with Clementon Park, especially when they added four new rides this year. Perhaps the only hope that park has left is that someone else would buy it, fix it up, add a ton of new stuff, and run that park much better than before. Otherwise, all those rides would need to find new homes.
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On the subject of Six Flags Great America roller coaster called "American Eagle" - I think the coaster is just fine where it is. The only criticism I have is that coaster could use a fresh coat of paint to make it pop. As long as that coaster attracts long lines of people willing to ride it and ride it again, but on the other side, that ride should stay where it is.
One more statement to make - The Whizzer is the last coaster of its kind and that park should fight to keep that fine coaster from going anywhere, and we the riders and amusement park flyers would protest loudly if Six Flags should ever consider this verboten act.
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Free mints at the end of this ride? That I can dig!
This is awesome! Because of Busch Gardens in both Williamsburg and Tampa are constructing new coasters and Seaworld Orlando is putting in a launch coaster in the Arctic Section (good choice to put their next coaster there), I am planning on purchasing a Platinum Season Pass for the 2020 season. I'll have plenty of visits at Busch Gardens Williamsburg and Watercountry USA, and will visit Busch Gardens Tampa and Seaworld Orlando when I go to Orlando next August for my vacation.
And to think that wasn't originally in my plans . . . until those announcements were made. This is gonna be fun!
. . . and if this year's visit to Busch Gardens was the prelude, then next year's visits are going to be the three acts and the encores!
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Love the promotional content! Probably going to be a BG/SW passholder for the first time next year!
This will be my second time I'm getting a Platinum Season Pass so I can use that pass to visit two other parks in Florida: Seaworld Orlando and Busch Gardens Tampa, plus a revisit to Watercountry USA that's nearby. The 2020 season is going to be awesome!!!
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Such a coaster that fits in a small space, yet offers big thrills. Nowadays, everyone wants to run the tallest, fastest, and insane-looking coaster as they forget that even the little coasters can offer thrills just like the big daddies. I may like to ride big rides, but I also like the smaller rides as well.
Too bad this coaster is in a place I probably won't be able to visit within my lifetime. Oh well, I can always watch the video and pretend I'm ridding it.
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You know, it's a pity that those behind the making of the movie "Action Point" didn't get a chance to read your post, or else they wouldn't have made the park look like it was constructed inside a junk yard. Shoot, forget the final act of "Zoombieland" being insulting to riders and amusement park flyers everywhere, "Action Point" just insults everyone!
This art of amusement park planning isn't something that should be ignored by the planning board; I mean, you can't just choose a plot of land and put a bunch of rides there. Traveling carnivals can get away with that; they're only there for just a few days. A major amusement park needs a concept, themes, type of rides, restaurants, shops, show venues, themed areas, and (the most important thing of all) the placement of the restrooms. It's also the same thing when the park decides to expand its park and add new rides or theme areas (when Busch Gardens Williamsburg decided to add Italy or when Holiday World added Thanksgiving ).
I believed that whenever one visits an amusement park, all the guests' senses should be pleased. The views of the clean and newly painted buildings, the smell of food and asphalt, the sounds of piped-in music and screams from riders on rides, the feeling of G-force on rides, and many other things that would make their visit to the park pleasant, happy, full of joy, and the yearning to return back to that park in the future. I could go on, but I think I made my point.
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While I don't know the exact name of that ride, it does remind me of a Paratrooper ride: second class. First class Paratroopers can lift and lower and load all the rides at once while a second class stays on lift mode and can only load riders one seat at a time. While first class Paratroopers can be seen in amusement parks ( such as Kennywood, Camden Park, and Lake Winnie), the second class are usually on the traveling carnival circuit ( but I do know Fun Spot Orlando has one). But regardless if it's first or second class, those Paratroopers are fun to ride.
But there's a problem with that: Paratroopers's cars are floorless, and these cars looks like sleds. If I was coming up with a workable name then I would probably give them the name "The Flying Sleds".
That's the best I can do.
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I was born in 1968, and I needed to consult the Roller Coaster Data Base to list out my top three.
1) Shooting Star - This wooden coaster used to be located at Lakeside Park in Salem, VA. I had the pleasure of riding this bad boy many times. Alas, this ride, along with this park, is no more as it closed in 1986 after a massive flood. Parts of the coaster have been recycled and built into a stage at Floyd Fest.
2) Cyclone - A wild mouse coaster that is still operating at Wonderland Amusement Park in Amarillo, TX. While I haven't rode this ride, I have ridden many coasters of this type.
3) Devil's Den - This is more a roller coaster/dark ride hybrid still operating at Conneaut Lake Park, PA. While I have never rode this ride, I have rode a similar ride at Camden Park called "Haunted House".
I'm fifty-one years old and still riding roller coasters: someone pass around the champagne!
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On the Science Channel I watched a show called "Building Giants" that featured the construction of The Yukon Striker. Very interesting! I guess being on TV means you're famous now!
( At a nightclub when comedian Don Rickles pulls a member from the audience to join him on stage )
"Have you seen me before?"
"I've seen you on TV."
"Honest to God, you got a set?
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I have the opportunity to ride a zipline coaster, called "The Bat Chaser" when I went to Indiana Caverns in late July (near the town of Corydon, Indiana). I thought the ride was fun and thrilling (much unlike that dumb coaster that used to run at Kings Island that was called "Scooby Doo's Roller Ghoster" - a ride so lame it wouldn't scare a sick duck!),and would have liked to ride again and again if I had the time, the money, and didn't need to tour the caverns (which includes parts of the cave you tour by boat). But this new zipline coaster has an element "The Bat Chaser" didn't process: the rail-to-cable-back-to-rail transfer. After seeing the ride video, I knew I had to travel to Pigeon Forge and ride "The Flying Ox" for myself.
By the way, when I rewatched the video, I noticed a structure that has to be their adventure ropes course. I did a course like that at Luray Caverns during the Labor Day weekend; same concept, but different layout. I wasn't given any time limit, but after fifteen minutes I called it "quits". I wouldn't mind trying out that course.
With the opening of Soaky Mountain waterpark slated for next year, the new alpine coasters they recently built since the last time I've been there, and an important revisit to Dollywood; I know I gotta go there next year! Anyone else in Pigeon Forge wanna build something that's gonna get me interested?
Kennywood (KW) Discussion Thread
in Theme Parks, Roller Coasters, & Donkeys!
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Kennywood is doing WHAT!?! I read the news from Screamscape and I couldn't believe what I was reading. I can understand with three of those flat rides, but the Kangaroo is going as well?
I visited Kennywood in August of this year and was disappointed that the Kangaroo wasn't in operation. In fact, that visit didn't feel like a Kennywood visit because I couldn't ride the Kangaroo ( Noah's Ark was closed due to COVID-19 concerns, Black Widow was still down, and I skipped the Tumble Bug). At least I finally got to ride The Exterminator and the new Old Mill ride.
I wonder if someone would step in, take those four rides off Kennywood's hands, and put them inside their own park? I'm hoping that park is Knoebels.