Cameron

You're naked too?! Cameron.

BigSteve: I have only been going since 1999 or 2000 and the park has changed a lot since then .. I imagine that it's probably unrecognizable from the early 90s. Joe: Splash Battle was popular .. just not all that appealing to me. I actually think it's a nice addition down that end of the boardwalk, even though I really miss the old tank boats. Larry: Pinball action is great at The Beach! They have a long line of mid/late-90s games, mostly Williams/Bally. When I walked up there were six credits sitting on Funhouse, so we played several 3-player games, and kept winning more credits! The game was in pretty good condition .. a little dirty, but worked well. Ginzo: I'll agree that Indy Beach isn't the same gleaming shineyness of a 'new' park, but I'm surprised you found it dirty (although it does have more spiders than any other park I've been to!). Also surprising is that you found the ops grouchy .. sure, they're not the annoying spring-break retards from Cedar Point, but I've always found them OK. Case in point: I was with about 7 other people, and half of them had jumped in the back rows of Cornball, while myself and a few others were waiting for the first few rows. The ride-op wanted us to fill the middle rows before dispatching the train (ie: not wait) .. and went so far as to say we had to board or leave the queue. So we stepped off the loading platform onto the stairs .. Seconds later his smiling face appears over the rail to inform us that we were still inline and he wanted to see us walk all the way down. Now this was all in good fun, he really wasn't being an ass about it at all (honest!). So we run down the stairs .. hear the train dispatch .. and then run back up to the station. Apparently they were planning on sending the train through again just to mess with us .. but more people showed up in the station. It would have been the funniest thing ever if they had done it, though! Everyone should feel free to PM or Email me if they want company on a Beach visit! Cameron.

I'll keep this brief, and just give the 'news' since those of you who've been to Indiana Beach already know how awesome it is .. and those who haven't are already lost to society, so it doesn't really matter! Cornball is back .. kicking bottom and everything! Seriously, Cornball Express is running better than it has for years. I don't know what they did to it, or who we should send presents to .. but man it was flying. Front of the train, back of the train .. it doesn't matter (for the record, I prefer towards the front). The airtime was just crazy, almost scary in places. Smooth, with terrific laterals through the turns (particularly the helix). The only 'rough' spot was the very base of the first drop .. it was a second or so of what felt like a wash-board, nothing painful though. I'm guessing it might be caused from getting doused by log-flume water every minute. Certainly it wasn't enough to lower my opinion of the ride (which is back up to solid A+). Hurricane was running very well too .. This will never win awards for airtime, but it's fun, smooth and in a totally amazing location. Really special at night when you go speeding past the ferris wheel at the south end. Amusingly there is one little pothole/jolt going up the second or third hill .. its placement is such that it launches you into the air and actually improves the ride! The new 'splash battle' disappointed me a bit. For some reason I was assumed you'd get to pilot your own little boats .. and cruise around squirting people. But you actually ride in little cars that are on a track, which weaves back and forth around the pool. The cars pass under some water-jets and showers. Along the midway are coin operated squirt guns (a quarter activates it for a few minutes), and they fire continuously (i.e.: there's no trigger or button or anything). The guns on the cars are hand cranked by these awkward little handles. The ride was being very much enjoyed by everyone who rode it, and I do think it's a good fit for the park (especially at that end of the midway) even if it doesn't appeal to me all that much. I also think that there's still some finishing work to do, but that's ok. The new water-jets were running, but looked very incomplete. There were just a handful of jets and no real play structure. I'm curious about whether or not this will be expanded for next season too. The first drop on Lost Coaster has been reduced by several feet .. I was a little alarmed when I was first told, but it really doesn't negatively affect the ride at all. I didn't notice any other changes to the rest of the ride, although I imagine more work was done. I actually think it's running really well, as it genuinely feels like an out-of-control mine-train .. they've struck a pretty good balance between rough-n-tumble, and fun. Other than that, I didn't notice much that has changed around the park. Double Shot, Falling Star, the swings, the pirate ship and the Paratrooper are still all run exceptionally well. This is one of my favorite parks, and Sunday was a typically great visit. I was "only" there from 4pm to 11pm, however I could have easily stayed another 7 hours. I'm a total and complete Indiana Beach fan-boy, and I'm proud of it! This will not be my only visit to The Beach this summer, I plan on going many more times. So if anyone is tromping out there at all and wants some company, please let me know! Cameron. ps: No photos, sorry. I didn't take my camera, but would have had no time for photos even if I had!

?? Oh my god .. How did they know?!?! I was 10 feet away from second base... Cameron. ps: It's referring to this photo ...

Bah .. THAT'S NOT A KNIFE! Cameron.

Dick Dale did the original version of that track .. I have the actual CD (ie: Not the Pulp Fiction sound-track), and used to play it on my radio show all the time. Dick Dale also does a version of Hava Nagila that can stop traffic, it's awesome! Cameron.

Awesome video Ryan .. makes me want you even more now! Cameron ps: You asked me to comment..!

Very nice photos! If you guys want company when you're at the park, let me know. I've only been three times this summer, and want to get up there more. Weird to think that Holiday world is almost 400 miles away yet I've already been twice (going again next week!) .. Six Flags Great America is 35 miles away and I've only gone three times. Heck, I can ride my bike up there.. Cameron.

You should see what we *didn't* capture on film.. ! Cameron.

I was at the park on Sunday afternoon .. the weather had cleared up, and the park was considerably more crowded than it was for you .. nothing major, just 10-20 minute waits for everything. Everything was running (including Iron Wolf), although Deja Vu closed at about 8:30ish. Viper and Eagle were running very poorly, and overall I was quite disappointed with my visit. Cameron.

Oh, we did! Alton Towers was a real highlight of the trip for me, and Nemesis was probably my favorite ride. Thanks for running it so well! Cameron (yeah, I'm an ass-kisser - deal with it!) Silver.

Mate, you're 16! Time to act like a man, and quit all this "pounding it" and writing on your hands and such.. Bah .. who'm I kidding: HAPPY BIRTHDAY D-U-D-E Even the Cubs want you to have a happy birthday! Ok .. On the bandwangon I jumpeth..

Five (or six, or seven) rides in a row on Steeplechase (without even getting off) ... Similar for both Nemesii, Rita, Dragon's Fury, Speed, etc. Yeah, it was pretty freaking exclusive! Cameron.

AAww man .. I missed pinball?! BAH! Stupid me not doing the add-on... Of course I have 5 pinball machines in my apartment, but pinball in Sweden would kickass! Cameron.

^ Well, you don't know what you missed .. so in a way it is worse for us! Cameron.

Bah .. Lou stole my joke! Cameron.

Man .. the Post Vacation Depression is just killing me ..! Stupid work! Cameron.

Hi Hi, Well since you can't swing a dead cat without hitting a Voyage trip-report, I figured some Kentucky Rumbler love was needed. Not that Voyage doesn't deserve it, it totally does .. but so does Rumbler! I parked at Beech Bend at about 9:15 on Friday morning. My friend Dave arrived about 10 minutes later, and we headed into the park. This was my first visit, and Dave had only been once in February while Rumbler was under construction, so we were both excited to see this park. It's a very nice, very local park with a handful of older (used) rides, and several new ones. Most of the older flat-rides are still mounted on trailers, but it's hidden pretty well and doesn't look bad. The Rumbler is obviously a huge investment for this park, so I'll get on with that. The ride itself really doesn't look like much from the park, but GCI did an outstanding job fitting a lot of track into a small space. This ride is fun, really fun. The layout is intense in that it's full of air, tight turns and there is not a single dull spot throughout the entire course. Even the short run from the station to the lift is interesting, with a few little hills. The top of the lift drops slightly into a really tight, slightly under-banked, 200 degree right turn that just collapses into an air-filled first drop .. it's amazing, and had me laughing every time. From there I have no idea of the layout, as I actually think it changed each time we rode. One thing that remained constant, and really stood out, was a phenomenal hill that gives at least 5 solid seconds air .. front of the train, back of the train, it really doesn't matter. The ride is a whirlwind of turns and air .. The turns are typical for GCI, unltra-smooth and formed/banked to perfection. Between the turns there are little micro-hills that give awesome pops of air, and add to the overall fun nature of the ride. However this ride is more than just turn, air, turn, air, rinse, repeat. Many of the turns include air such that you're popped out of the seat and the train banks around you while you're floating. It's a wonderful sensation, one which I felt for the first time on Cornball Express at Lost Coaster weekend in 2003 (and, oddly, never again on that coaster). Thunderhead does the same thing, and I just can't get enough of it. Another highlight is a long, undulating section of track that wraps around the base of the first turn/drop structure. Sitting in the right-hand seat is very cool, this is probably the first time I've ever experienced "ear-choppers"! Rumbler is a solid A+ ride. It's fast, fun, re-ridable, and with Batman like pacing. Other coasters at the park include a Pinfari Looping Star, which I guess was pretty typical for one of those (never ridden one before). I wouldn't go so far as to say it was painful, but it wasn't a whole lot of fun. There was a good line for it all morning (it went down around noon), and the kids seemed to like it. Beech Bend is also home to a Zamperla spinning mouse, it looks like the exact same model as the one at Six Flags Great America (except the restraints are different). When Dave and I rode we both sat on the same side to maximize the spinning .. it worked! Loads of fun, even though the spinning can get to me at times (that's the point, right?!) They have this amazing old (OLD!) haunted house, in what is apparently one of the only buildings that wasn't replaced when the current owners re-opened the park in the late 80s. You ride in these little two or three seater, individually powered cars, and there are a few moments where it looks like you're going to crash right into a set. Initially it felt like the cars were actually rotating, but I've since learned that it's just the layout of the track. The scenes themselves look reasonably recent, and it's overall a very fun ride. It was Junior High day at the park when we were there, and the kids really loved this ride. Be sure to note the amazing metal spider-web near the entrance. Now I'm not really a flat-ride guy (they make me sick), but there is a ride there called "Scat 2". This thing is NUTS! I can't quite describe the motion with words, but it was pretty severe .. I should have got some video. They have one of those portable drop towers that I've seen a few times at the Lake County Fair in Illinois, but I hadn't ridden. Since I've finally started to make friends with Giant Drop at Great America (I have a mild fear of heights), I decided to join Dave for a ride on this. Unlike the Intamin towers, this one doesn't stop at the top .. It just lifts you s-l-o-w-l-y, and then - WHAM! You're plummeting back down - with no pause, no warning, nothing. It's very effective. The park as a whole is in a nice setting. There's a large pond in the middle (complete with fountain), and plenty of trees. I don't recall any indoor eating location, but there are several trailers and tables scattered about everywhere. Food was never far away. On the whole I liked the park quite a bit. It's still small, but I think they've good a got future ahead of them; especially now with the addition of Rumbler. I can't imagine them not having a huge year, drawing people out of near-by Nashville. They have a small water-park, but I would bet that will be expanding in the next few years (look what it did for Holiday World!). Pictures: http://www.buzzneon.com/coasters/beech_bend_2006/ Cameron.

Last time I drove, it was 350 miles from Evanston to the Holiday World car-park. A Chicago->Evansville interstate is desperately needed! Cameron.

Hah .. my first thought when I saw this was that a ski-resort chair lift had a baby with a single rail coaster ... Then on one of the links in the original post: "It was designed and developed by Doppelmayr, the international market leader in the construction of lifts and mountain railways.". I grew-up riding Dopp chair-lifts, they're awesome! Cameron.

If he sticks with what he's announced so far, and doesn't budge, I can't see the company lasting more than 5 or so years. I hope I'm wrong. Actually, since he totally seems like the "big penis bragger" I don't expect him to just sit back and let the company gurgle down the plug-hole. Still .. I've got to believe that there are far more appropriate people out there who could really turn the company into something great. "Can't be worse than what we already have" just seems like the tiniest improvement possible. So, yeah .. I'm pretty bummed. Cameron.

Meteos .. freaking awesome. Very much old school, play for a while and you'll break a sweat! Cameron.

Even if no-one explicitly notices each of these old buildings, their presence adds to the overall feel of the park. Taking one or even two away probably won't make such an impact, but remove it all and you're left with a cold and sterile environment. Exactly what Snyder says he'll do to Six Flags. Cameron.

I didn't mean to imply that no amusement experience was a bad thing .. just that some of his ideas are completely off the wall insane. Sure Six Flags is not a shining example of stellar business, but the answer is not to make sweeping changes just for the sake of it. The changes have to actually be good! "Clean Safe Fun" is a great concept, but as a marketing slogan it's pretty laughable. Sounds more like a toilet cleaner .. "Executive Parking" is another just shocking idea, and it's probably even worse than a blanket raise to parking fees. Where does that crap end? For $5 more you get a fresh burger, but everyone else gets the ones that have been sitting out for three days. It's totally wrong for making people feel like they're having fun, or that they're welcome. All he's doing (or wants to do) is magnify "open your wallet everywhere you turn", rather than "have fun everywhere you turn". Take Holiday World for example. They constantly break their own attendance records, and the park is growing at an astounding rate. Why? Because they realize that the way to be successful is to actually be nice to people .. and provide an environment that really is "clean, safe, fun" .. rather than idiot Snyder who wants to provide an environment that is nothing more than "sterile, cold, corporate". To compare him to Walt Disney is pretty insulting .. and I hope you were just making a point, and don't actually feel this way! Anyway I am going to drop out of this thread, since it's in danger of becoming a pissing match (and no-one wants that on a public forum). However you can email me if you want to discuss it more (which I'm all for). Cameron.

^^^ CoasterFanatic, the biggest problem I have with Snyder is that he just doesn't seem like he knows much about the industry. Business is not the same all over, and what works in one area is not guaranteed to work in another. I am thoroughly in agreement that a change in management is needed, I just think that Snyder would be far worse than what we currently have. I don't know much about business, probably no-one on this board does .. but I do know a lot about having fun at an amusement park. Going to a place that's full of corporate sponsorship crap and bad chain fast-food joints, is not at all fun. If that's what I wanted, then I'd go to any mall. The "corporatising" of .. well everything really .. is a bad move, and the backlash will be massive when it occurs. If Six Flags is a part of that, then it will not survive. Not to mention the fact that an amusement park is supposed to be an escape. So on top of spending $10 for parking (which Snyder wants to increase further), and $45 to get in (ditto), you'll have idiots running up to you trying to sell you cell-phones and life insurance. Do you really think people are going to stand for that? At least now the worst they get is a poorly themed ride, a smelly bathroom or a slow moving line .. big deal. "Clean Safe Fun", together with higher priced season passes will see attendance drop to record lows .. how on earth will that be good for Six Flags? Selling off unused land around parks is suicide .. where will these parks expand? He'll be basically eliminating all future growth from the company, bad. Companies (especially public companies) are all about growth, more-so than "the bottom line". The last company I worked for made gobs and gobs of money every quarter, it exceeded its expectations every quarter, yet the shares were totally stagnant. Why? Because there is little room for the company to grow. The company for which I currently work has not shown a profit for years, yet the stock price is constantly rising. Why? Because this company as a whole is growing at an excellent rate. Snyder will be a terrible thing for Six Flags .. I would actually rather see the company sell off all the parks, even close a few, than see Snyder running things. A handful of great parks (or even just average ones) are far better than a lot of garbage. If Snyder takes over, then in 5 years you'll all be wishing that at least one Six Flags park could be as good as Kentucky Kingdom is right now! Cameron.