JonnyRCT3

Looks great. I'd love to see more of the inside though. :/

Saturday, June 8, 1974. Samantha Keystone, local resident. I've been hearing a lot about this new Valley Hills amusement park from the locals, it hs been the hot topic here lately. So last Saturday I decided to take a trip down to Valley Hills to see what all the buzz was about. Arriving at around noon, the parking lot was about 3/4 of the way full. Trees are abundant here, reminds me of Kings Island. Once in the park I could see this huge towering attraction, it goes by the name Parachute Tower. It's nice that this park shows patriotism. The ride itself looks enjoyable, but I'm not the biggest fan of heights. Apple Twists was a great ride. Nice and gentle, I felt free as a bird. I was able to get some nice views in of the creek as well. The only downside to the ride was the line, 25 minutes was a bit much for such a small ride. This was apparently the new ride, Trout Spin. I've never seen anything like it, it turns you upside down! This I had to try, regardless of the long line. The ride was really fun and you were glued to your seat the whole time. You just kept going upside down, made me dizzy. I like this ride enough to ride it again. After all that spinning, I felt dizzy and decided to grab a bite to eat. The park doesn't offer that much variety of food, so Greenbrier Grill it was. This place turned out to be an unpleasant surprise. I had to wait 20 minutes just for two burgers, a coke, and a small fry. The place was crowded and having nothing but bland wallpaper to look at didn't help either. A lot of other people were upset about the lack of workers, and long lines. And when I finally got my food, the burger was half put together and my fires were cold. And the worker girl gave me sass for holding up the line when I complained. This was ridiculous!! After all the Greenbrier Grill shenanigans I headed towards the other side of the park, hopefully this wouldn't be another hassle. Apparently, there is a live show here. It's located in the Bluegrass Theatre. I was able to get this while heading toward the show, looks interesting. The show was surpisingly good, minus a few corny jokes. The live action stunts were incredible and it even had a compelling story. This was my favorite part. "Billy" gets thrown off the roof for not milking the cow. The show also had some inside adult humor too, a big plus. This is Valley Hill's hidden jewel. I am surprised I haven't heard more about this. It was finally time for Kanawha Railway. This ride was so much fun! Some argue that this is better than the KI Racer. The tunnel twists were great, I thought I was going to loose my fingers. This tunnel drop caught everyone off guard, the best part of the ride to. My bottom came up off the seat. Thankfully I had this safety bar to keep me from flying out. This was a wild and crazy ride. This coaster is reason enough to visit. Kanawha Railway had me pumped, so I decided to finally try out Parachute Tower. The heights were dizzying, but it had a great view. A fairly enjoyable ride. I could get a great shot of Trout Spin from up here. Overall, I enjoyed this park. I could definitely see myself coming back and I will be telling lots of my friends and co-workers about this place. I'ts great to have such a wonderful place within driving distance. Valley Hills has become a big success for area tourism as well. I can't wait to see what's next for the park. The Greenbrier Grill incident was a pain, they need to do something about operations there. ~Samantha Keystone ========================================= Another update coming soon!

Looks fun! Has an awesome first drop and the inversions seem to provide some sweet hangtime. Which is even further enhanced by the winged seating, these things truly do deliver on the sensation of flight. I like how it focuses on interactions and graceful maneuvers rather than the inversion formula. Making it's layout even more impressive and unique. I'd also like to note the lengthy course, a huge plus in my book. Another great B&M coaster! These wing coasters just keep getting better and better.

$500,000 is the total investment. There are a few things you have to consider. The Ride concept is new(second ever built), newer rides cost more. This is the largest Enterprise, and also the first permanent & non-portable version. This is an investment covering: permits, marketing, purchasing, transporting, and construction for the ride. Including the new midway expansions. Anyways, thanks for the feedback. More soon!

Monday, February 11, 1974. In case you missed it, this was our official announcement of Trout Spin. We wanted to include something unique and thrilling and we decided this would be the best choice when considering budget. (taken atop tree) Work on site has progressed some. The ride and all of it's parts have been assembled. All that's left is some wiring, control booth and que construction. The midway will be further expanded to ensure the ride will be in full view for guests. The ride was named after the state fish, Brook Trout, a continued to tradition to honor the Mountain State. Parachute Tower now supports the grand ol' American Flag. A suitable location, don't you think? Opening day will be here soon, with the all new Trout Spin. Hope to see you soon. To be continued......

With something like this, you wouldn't need something massive. A 2500' long version would still be incredible!

Wing coaster perhaps? This has peaked my interest.

Monday, September 3, 1973. John Kline. Valley Hills Park Operations Manager. Another season has come and gone here at Valley Hills. 1973 saw an attendance boost. It's good to know all our hard work has paid off and the public is taking such interest. With today being the last operating day of 1973, I've decided to take one last stroll before old man winter creeps in. There are great views of Kanawha Railway from the main offices. Unfortunately, some rain was in the forecast. Waiting for the rain to pass, I decided to try some burgers at the Greenbrier Grill. It's been two years and this is the first time eating here. Not the best, but you get a lot of bang for your buck. The rain passed surprisingly quick. Apple Twists was up and running in no time. Apple Twists has become insanely popular, I haven't seen a day without a full que. Not today Kanawha Railway. This coaster has become a big hit for the older children and adults. ============================== We've seen an influx of teens at the park. Valley Hill's popularity is growing, so we want to capitalize on that momentum.... Whatever could this be? Valley Hills will be entering it's third season next year. And with the increasing attendance, we need more rides to keep them coming back. Official announcement will be published in the Charleston Gazette, Christmas Day. To be continued........

This is my first CS park, so there will be a mix of CS & noCS, mostly noCS. I'm not exactly a building expert, so bear with me. Hope you enjoy! ======================================================== Friday, May 5, 1972. Hello, John Kline here, Park operations manger here at Valley Hills Amusement Park. Valley Hills is West Virginia's premiere amusement park. After six years of extensive research, planning, construction, and marketing, Valley Hills is finally ready to open it's doors. I am proud to say that Valley Hills is quickly becoming the ideal family destination for all of central West Virginia. It's finally here, opening day! Approaching the entrance of the park, I must say, it feels good to be here to relax and not having to work. Once into the park, you will cross a creek. Looking to the right you can see the Paratrooper ride, named Apple Twists. A gentle family oriented ride that provides a flying sensation and a scenic view of the creek. You can also see the the mine ride in the back, more on that later. Looking to the left, we see West Virginia Turnpike. An arrow dynamics designed automobile ride. Great for the youngsters who want to take their first driving lesson. The ride was specially designed to weave around the dense vegetation. A classic ride that I'm sure will continue to entertain guests for years to come. Further down the Main Midway we can see the massive Parachute Tower. It's given a red, white and blue color scheme to symbolize our great Lady America, providing great views of the West Virginia Hills as well. I was able to get this shot while riding Parachute Tower. Carousel, towards the right, features WVU's old gold and blue colors. It's a great ride for families with smaller children. To the left you can see the Greenbrier Grill, serving all-American eats such as hamburgers and hot dogs. Valley Hills also has rides for adults and older children. Scrambler will throw your body every which way and provide an out-of-control sensation. This ride was a bit much for me, once is enough. Now for Valley Hill's signature ride. Kanawha Railway! Named after the native Kanawha river that flows through the heart of the Mountain State. Kanawha Railway is Valley Hill's single largest investment, designed by Arrow Dnyamics. Kanawha Railway is the longest mine style roller coaster in world, with over 2,800 feet of track! The ride is full of twisted turns and high speed sudden drops. It also features two underground tunnels. We worked closely with Arrow Dynamics to ensure it provided one of a kind experience, unique to Valley Hills. I don't remember taking this, my eyes were closed. That sudden drop into the tunnel got me good. After a near-heart attack on Kanawha Railway, I decided to try something a little more tranquil. West Virginia Turnpike was the perfect choice. Very relaxing and scenic. I'm glad Valley Hills has something so enjoyable. With night approaching, I decided to catch the sunset upon Parachute Tower. You can see much of Kanawha Railway from up here. With it getting even darker, and closing time approaching, I picked up some delicious homemade pretzels and headed out. Such a fun filled day at Valley Hills. Tomorrow it's back to work, so at least I had time to enjoy myself. To be continued.....

Hmm, good park. I like your unique architecture, the colors could use a tad bit of work but nothing major. Nonetheless, your buildings still look good. Great use of scenery, love the paths especially the Main Street / Parachute fall section. I suggest you make the text more interesting to read though, there was a lot of "this is" and "that is called X". Not so interesting to read. Be proud, this is your park, make it seem appealing as possible. It looks great, but we hardly know much about it or the overall atmosphere since you skipped over the entire first season. Also, year two and a coaster? A bit much don't you think? Anyways, great park. Good selection of flats and it really fits into the Richmond location. It could use a bit more foliage in the background, that is really killing the vibe. Some minor tweaks could really turn this into something even greater! Hope to see more.

^Even though I somewhat agree, his/her post explains why that is. I like the family concept and that you offer a variety of different rides, and NOT just coasters (like every other run-of-the-mill park on here). The teasers are done well, I really enjoyed the blurred effects (those other ones, not so much). The parks colors are nice and bright, reflecting well on the southern Florida atmosphere. I'm really glad your're going for a family oriented park, interesting concept and so far it's had excellent execution. Looking forward to more. *NOTE* I know this is a fantasy park, but there is no way this is in Miami. Since it is a "five minutes away" from beaches and airports. Miami is a busy place, and this has to be close to the waterfront because....Miami has no beaches, I think your confusing it with city of Miami Beach. However, I have found a location that this park could realistically be placed (going off your description). Click P.S. I absolutely adore that diner, such charm.

^Who would've thought?

Well, they didn't leave it in good hands. That's for sure.

^In general, they are good coasters. Silver Bullet, Ghost Rider & Hydra weren't exactly well thought out IMHO. Silver Bullet is a cluster of supports, and lacks anything that makes inverts what they are. Ghostrider was a bad decision due to the company's lack of TLC that is required for these types of rides. Hercules could of been something more, now with RMC (topper or i-box).

Looks great. These mini-additions under the direction of Ouimet are quite good. It doesn't take 25 million dollar coasters to improve a park *cough* Dick *cough*.

Quantity over quality. Ninja at SFStl could be replaced by Scream. Saint Louis is the only "major" (in a sense) Six Flags park left without a signature attraction. Sure Mr. Freeze is the top dog, but I could see a coaster like Scream really appeal to the GP. Especially when you consider the collection of coasters there.

Millennium Force. Half-way through the first overbank. Lasted until right before the first tunnel. The airtime hill that followed really helped, wen't from too many Gs to awesome floater Gs. I needed to eat two giant cookies and a Dasani to refresh myself.

Is it possible, yes. Would I expect anything like this to ever be built (regardless of cost)? No.

I'm not saying it's needed due to forces. It would just flow a lot better. I'm sure with some minor tweaking it would turn out fine. Then no, it is not realistic at all. That's a big deciding factor for anything built ever. Yeah, anywhere where something can possibly break down(the block), you need to make it accessible to a maintenance person. Your welcome. This resembles something similar to the Bullet Coaster.

Banking is needed during the u-turn before the lift/launch. It'd be more realistic if the train just coasted straight into the launch position, rather than inching to a crawl on even track. The banking should be similar to Hydra's, before the lift. Launch- The deceleration is off, that seems like a brutal stop. It'd be more realistic if it had a "StormRunner" top hat. The inclined launch is fine, albeit pricey. The issue is the crown. An efficient support structure for the launch/drop is needed, if you want it to seem realistic. The "transition" half-way down the first drop seems uncomfortable and would probably put a good amount of stress on the track and structure. The body is weightless during the drop (amusing it's 90* vertical), so any slight change in Gs would be amplified. That insanely high inversion + block section is the most unrealistic thing. Add in the cost of supporting and building maintenance access, no park would want something that pricey that adds little to the ride. Other than those minor aspects, the coaster is quite good. Original layout, and I like the pacing. However, this is not B&M's style at all (I'm not referring to the launch, it's the layout ). This is much more a S&S type of coaster. IMHO. There is no need for it to be that large. Maybe 60-70 meters. That seems doable. Realism comes from not only the layout. Ask yourself... How can I stay true to the original layout, yet make it affordable?

Staffing and station procedure. That is the black plague of Six Flags.

Aww, no comments? ========================================================== January Travis Key here, bringing you up to date with the latest Jazzland news. Jazzland has multiple new developments throughout. I've have to say, this place has really grown on me in the past 10+ months. With opening day a few weeks to go, park operations have gone into full swing. Rides are being tested, staff is being trained, and the scent of fresh paint is giving me a headache. Things are going to get busy soon, so I'll enjoy this calm scene while it lasts. Management is expecting big crowds, and I'm supposed to help with that, so feast your eyes on these.... Pontchartrain Beach has seen the biggest change overall. Planning & Design scrapped the old look, and went with something more fresh, simple & open. The good old-fashion beach look, can't go wrong with that. The Big Easy is back in operation as well. Mardi Gras has also undergone a transformation over the winter. The midway is now revitalized with all new shops and cafes. Like this one, Mime Time. Serving some yummy French pastries. The éclair here are insanely good, worth every dollar! (four to be exact) The Jester is receiving some long awaited TLC. Dark green track with a purple support structure will replace the old faded scheme. As you can tell, they still have work to do. New! La Révolution Spinning riders in a circular path while swinging on a large pendulum. Riders will experience zero g's and an out of control feeling. The ride apparently comes from Chance Rides, and cost the park 1.2 million. It's located in front of that mysterious dark ride, in the old Mad Rex location. New! Surf Rider An all new roller coaster, launching riders back in forth in a u-shaped layout. I've never seen anything like this, management must have done some extensive research. This shall be a rather "unique" experience, to say the least. The Bayou Cafe is also a new development. The Bayou Cafe is an all new eatery right next to Surf Rider. It's decorated with loud colors, complementing Surf Rider. The menu features mostly burgers (with bacon), fries and shakes. The embodiment of American cuisine. A look across the Lake, from Cajun Country. Jazzland is set to open in a few weeks, and there is no better time to buy your tickets. 20% off your ticket when you bring a friend! ~Travis Key

My God! How did I miss this!? I adore miniature sets The wild mouse captures the esscenece of the wild mouse, colors look good too. I think it's neat how the park is circled by the train, there is some nice detail with that as well. The shops and buildings are what impress me the most, really captures the realism. Love this little park and hope to see more!

No. Those leg restraints would not work well with the inverted design. It'd be like a vekoma to the legs.

I'm assuming they're going to release it a few hours past their time zone. To ensure most of the world is into January 10th.