TexasParkman

I agree- some flats would be nice. We need "Adult or Thrill" flats, not Family flats. One in France, One or two in the old Stunt Arena (leaving the Arena, add the flats and make it unique). If Conquisidor is leaving- we will need one there. We have some rides that "should" be on their way out as well: La Vibora, Antique Cars and maybe even Judge. our Streets look terrible and paint is peeling on many buildings. We need some love- doubt we will get it- but we need it.

Originally, the wardrobe department was behind the Palace to the east (or left).

Whoever posted these..... Thank you. I have tears in my eyes remembering those years. It WAS an awesome park in the 70's. My Dad is in the video. There are about 20 frames of Larry Wine, Mike Glenan and Larry Cochran. I know a lot of people in these videos. Thanks again- it was awesome!!!

I was wondering the other day if the rumors about Rocking Rocket going away are true. I am sure it would be to make room for JL... I thought maybe that attraction would fit nicely at the old spot for the bungee upcharge by the Shockwave. That area needs another attraction- just thinking out loud!

This was exactly what I envisioned. This scenario has played out many times. Both SF and Gerts just finally payout and get it over with. I am glad the Family can get some closure. I doubt that the settlement was $1,000,000. I would bet it was more than that. The Family's Attorney originally said they had requested a settlement of at least 1,000,000. Glad it is over. Hopefully everyone learned from this situation.

We visited the Park on Saturday (Private Party). The Red and Blue Trains are being used- No Black Train to be seen. It was a great day at the Park- few people- no lines. It was a little "breezy"- otherwise much fun.

I get it- the "dippin dots guy" comment was a little insulting. I agree with you- like I said from the beginning- Both Gerts and SF will pay. I have experience with this. My Dad was Director of maintenance at SFSTL. We had a "Skyway" accident in the late 70's. A Car fell from the cable killing 3 and injuring 1. Bad- Nasty- Horrible memories. SF Mechanics had modified the parts on the ride - no approval from Von Roll. SF and Von Roll sued each other for "Blame". They settled out of court- both parties paid the families. I can tell you- this has happened many times. Gerts needs SF and SF needs Gerts. They will settle and probably share the costs. Neither will lose operating capital. Their insurance companies will pay. As long as the family gets something to help them with their loss I suppose it does not matter who pays.

OK- don't insult me... its not a dippin dots guy...It is considerably more than that. I have worked at a park - in maintenance- ride maintenance- and I do know a few things. Do you believe for one minute that anybody at SF would tell you- at the cost of their job- that SF was totally at fault? Really. Come back to reality. If you want to argue a point with me -fine- don't insult me- it only makes you look ridiculous. The information you state I will take at face value.

"The train did not stop on the Midcourse and no e-stop button was pressed while the train was on course. The ride does not have the ability to sense any lapbar issues beyond the ride station. " I did not say it stopped mid-course. I said it stopped on the TRIM- at the station- because the computer realized that "something" had happened. I have had Park personnel tell me this. The lapbar had moved- which is not possible if the mechanism worked correctly. I will bet anyone that BOTH SF and Gerts insurance companies wind up paying for this...

OK- well. Sometimes "legally" there is more than one person at fault. The lapbar did indeed return to the station in an unlocked position. The train was stopped on the trim by the computer (emergency stop) because it sensed an "issue" had occurred. If SF can prove that the lapbar malfunctioned in ANY way- Gerts will be at fault. The question is can you prove - without doubt -that the rider was killed by the lapbar not being down far enough or did the lapbar malfunction cause her death? It is splitting hairs but that is what legal battles are all about. Ultimately both SF and Gerts (their insurance companies) will pay. They just have to attempt to deflect any expense they can prior to finally giving up.

I think I see middle ground here. TC sits along the edge of the parking lot. Wonderful. Very visible and rightly so. Think how much the machine would "POP" if it sat on a bed of green. OK- I know how much water is in short supply in LA. How about some colored rocks- something. It would make a great looking coaster even more attractive- SCREAM too!

Well... I knew Dave when he worked in the mail room. He was a great guy back then too. He always had a smile and a great attitude. Glad to hear that his talents have been recognized. I think before the mail room he worked in the Ice House? It's been a long time. Maybe I am thinking of Jock Steadman.

I would go left at the entrance to the Park. LaVorba, Titan and NTAG- keeping going clockwise around the park. In the middle of the Park is Runaway Mountain. If there is a sleeper at SFOT Runaway Mountain is it. Shockwave is kind of by itself by the Big Orange Tower. Don't miss it- it is a classic. The weather is cooling down and you should not encounter crowds until Fright Fest. Please enjoy yourself!

SFOt is my home park and home away from home. many rides have cubes and leaving things on the platform is usually not an issue. In fact SFOT is a lot more relaxed than many SF parks I have visited. you should have no problem.

No big deal... the Bumper cars were not part of the original Park. They were added with the Old Chicago section of the Park when it was built. I helped remove the tarp on the ocean container that the cars were shipped in from Italy. in fact I have a cut on my finger that I received from the metal edge of the shipping container when I was unlacing the tarp. I have a permanent reminder...I miss those days.

It is fairly obvious what happened. Jim Reid Anderson and his "crew" have one job- and only one job-RAISE SHAREHOLDER VALUE. Shapiro is gone because he was interested in the experience that a Park can provide. The current cast of villains at SF only want to improve shareholder value. That is what the fight with Snyder was all about. Anderson and his team have experience with taking distressed properties, raising the value and then turning them for a profit. It does not take a genius to see that plan at work. If you cared about the Parks who would spend money on infrastructure- setting up the long haul. Peeling paint and cracking sidewalks can be fixed. But if you want to turn the property- you "patch". If you care about the Parks you don't minimize your scheduled work crew on a small turnout day - therefore closing food places early- not having enough ride attendants, etc. These things SFOT does on Tuesdays and Wednesdays because they are light crowd days. THAT- is maximizing profit for the short term which is what you do if you want to "flip" a company. It is sad- but I fear it is true that a sell off might be in the offering before too long.

The building had no trough when it was built. That building was the first building erected onsite (I have pictures). It was used as a shop and pre-fab area during Park construction . I spent many days and evenings in the IJC (Injun Joe's Cave) on "fire-watch". I learned a lot about humanity and sexuality on fire-watch!!!

The new Burrito place is next to the Mine train- where the old Hot Dog stand was.

You may wish to add La Vorba (Bobsleds) to that list/ Not many Parks have one...

The reality of it is that nothing has long lines at open and either way you go would be not bad. Mr. Freeze "sometimes" has air conditioning- Batman does not... It can get really hot in those tunnels and rooms. But really- either way at open would not be too bad. For the last 2 years the Park empties ( at least Families leave) around 5:30ish.

A Wednesday should not be crowded. If the Park is not crowded- I personally would go to the right from the entrance. I would hit Pandemonium, backtrack a little and ride Judge Roy, continue right and catch Mr. Freeze and Batman. Keep circling counter clock wise and catch the Mine Train, Shockwave and then around to NTAG. Titan is next . In the center of the Park is Runaway Mountain- do miss it as it is a nice surprise. There is lots to do along the way- Enjoy. BTW- the reason I say go right is that NTAG and Titan run multiple Trains and "can" really move the lines when they are running right. Mr. Freeze and Batman seem to always have a long and slow line- catch them early.

The entrance to SFOMA- the original name- was supposed to represent Laclede's Landing around 1904 (St. Louis World's Fair). This was designed by Randall Duell to the entrance to a "Theme park". Any of that kind of thought has long sense gone away.

Just what they needed! ARLINGTON — Her family says Rosemary Ferrand is fortunate to be out of the hospital after a basketball she was carrying at Six Flags Over Texas exploded on Sunday afternoon. Ferrand was carrying the ball under her arm when it burst unexpectedly. "They stopped a nearby ride because the explosion was so loud," she said on Monday. Ferrand has dark bruises on her arm and the side of her chest. Her son, Brandon Green, said he had just won the basketball as a prize at the amusement park. "I've never heard of a basketball exploding," he said. "People were running, thinking it was something else. Eventually the paramedics arrived." Ferand was taken to a local emergency room by ambulance. Green started recording what happened on his cell phone once the paramedics arrived to help his mom. Ferrand is crying and visibly shaken as staff and other park guests look on. The family fears other basketballs handed out as prizes over the weekend might also be ready to bust open. "For a ball to do this to me, just imagine what it could do to a kid," said Ferrand, who was still upset and at times crying during an interview on Monday. “We take every incident very seriously," Six Flags spokeswoman Sharon Parker said in a telephone interview. "We did an assessment of the other basketballs…this was isolated.” The family thinks the ball was filled with far too much compressed air. The park refunded their tickets for the day. Green said he and his mother are hoping for help with medical costs, but that hasn't been finalized yet.

Thanks "Savethewhales for your trip report". OT is my home park and it is always good to hear a fresh review. That being said- the front gate situation drives me crazy. Many people have season passes and already have a valid finger scan- yet you have to stand in the same line with people who don't yet have a pass but need to be processed. Why they don't have a line for finger scan only- I don't know. Our metal detector process is very slow. That does not help. Operations are always slow in March and April. The new Operators are more concerned with safety than with capacity. It usually gets better in May and June. The Park has charm- it needs more theming and more fresh paint. IMHO. They threw season parking in with a season pass- otherwise I would not be too excited about paying $ 20.00 every visit. $10.00 I get, $15.00 seemed high, $20.00 just seems like price gouging. Thanks again for the nice review.

There are field trips as well- Cheerleader trips, etc.