Mr.Peabody

Kindly replace the Morgan trains on the Jack Rabbit with PTC's or GCI articulated trains, unless it's already been done. I haven't been to Seabreeze in ten years or so.

Last year they had a haunted walk-through in the Galaxy Theater building which was pretty well done, IMO. Haunting the Tin Lizzies was also done well though we didn't stay til after dark to see if they added actors. The black light bumper cars in the dark were also fun. Darien didn't have much time to put it together last year, but I thought they did fine for the amount of time they had. It's too bad they decided against it this year. Hopefully they'll consider it for next year if the ownership issues have been worked out.

I would agree that Cedar Point does the Halloween event perfectly, but having been to Kings Island for their Halloween Haunt, I'd say it leaves much to be desired. Not being able to re-enter the park after 7:30 PM and not having any haunts that didn't have queues (not even the outdoor open area ones) really soured the experience for us. Also, the Haunts at Wonderland and Carowinds are separate charge events, where the Platinum Pass will only get you a discount. Darien's Fright Fest was small, but what they had was worth it. Once they've decided ownership I hope they bring it back and grow the event every year. It had a lot of potential.

I'll be there on the 27th for the Frankfurter's show.

Don't get too excited. Goose Island is owned by In-Bev, the parent company of Busch, and that pretty much eliminates any chance of them offering Great Lakes or any other craft beer that would be worth it. However, if this proves successful, perhaps Hofbrauhaus Cleveland can open a competing kiosk and offer some decent beer. Prosit! While I like the idea of Hofbrauhaus or some other type of Bavarian beer, I would disagree about Great Lakes. They have a decent presence in the park already as I know of at least three places where you can buy it in bottles. And I believe that they have had it on draft two different times in three years at the Red Garter Saloon. Not sure what they have on draft there this year as I have yet to visit the park, but they usually will try to have one microbeer that is not Inbev related. And I believe that Lusty Lil's also had a decent micro on draft last year, but I am not 100% certain if it was Great Lakes. I should have been more specific. I meant there'd be no craft brews dispensed from this kiosk. It's certainly possible for craft beer to be offered at the other outlets in the park. I distinctly remember a pumpkin ale being offered at the Red Garter Saloon during Halloweekends last year. Personally, I'd love to find Great Lakes Alberta Clipper or Nosferatu in the park. We see the Edge of Madness show every year and often enjoy a beer while doing so.

We did attend this event about five years ago or so and I really enjoyed it. My concern was that the park might go under before the end of September. I'll definitely take your advice about getting there early enough to be first in line, or with a few spots of it. Riding the Blue Streak in the dark is a treat, so long as the skunks stay out of the tunnel.

Has anyone been to Conneaut recently? They're advertising Ghost Lake at the park for this September/October and I'd be interested in going if it's at all realistic. The dates they show are definitely for 2015. Link to their page: http://www.ghostlake.net/Default.aspx

Don't get too excited. Goose Island is owned by In-Bev, the parent company of Busch, and that pretty much eliminates any chance of them offering Great Lakes or any other craft beer that would be worth it. However, if this proves successful, perhaps Hofbrauhaus Cleveland can open a competing kiosk and offer some decent beer. Prosit!

I know there's next to no chance of this happening, but I'd absolutely love it if Cedar Point pulled a fast one on the whole enthusiast community and announced a B&M Flyer. I don't think the allotted land is big enough for such a ride, though. Hopefully they'll add one for their anniversary in 2020. I'm really looking forward to Halloweekends this September and may have to check out Coastermania next year.

The Python, Busch Gardens The Dark Continent, August 1978.

How bad were the sand flies? We rode Top Thrill in the front seat at dusk last year and got plastered. I wanted to ride MF at night this year at Halloweekends and was considering sitting in the back seat because of the sand flies.

The Comet is also 69 years old and runs a lot better than some woodies 1/4 its age. I wish that Charlie Wood would have ended up installing it here at Fantasy Island, but we got stuck with an overrated knock off. I must disagree with your assessment of the Silver Comet. Its design is sound and would provide a good ride were it located in a park whose personnel knew how to operate it efficiently. In those first seasons it operated it was easily the best coaster on the Niagara Frontier.

Booked my room for Halloweekends on Saturday. What a pleasant surprise to find single King rooms available. Sure, they're about a hundred more than we paid last year, but they're a hundred or so less than the double Queen rooms. Having ridden Mantis the year it opened and its last year of operation, I'm glad to have the opportunity to ride Rougarou in its inaugural year.

The munitions factory, known as the Peters Cartridge Factory, is located some distance from Kings Island. The building still stands today and is partially occupied by businesses. I've always wanted to check the place out, as paranormal investigation is one of my side hobbies (Kentucky Kingdom - Waverly Hills, anyone?). Here's a link to more info on the munitions plant: http://www.forgottenoh.com/Peters/peters.html

In no particular order: 1. The double-down on the Jack Rabbit at Kennywood. I love riding with people who've never been on it before and forgetting to mention it. 2. The finale of Wonder Mountain Guardian 3. The last element of Verbolten 3. The rib-tickler in the front seat of the Silver Comet at Martin's Fantasy Island. 4. The ending of Adventure Express at Kings Island, surprising in a "WTF just happened?" major disappointment way. 5. The tunnel on Knoebel's Twister when ridden after dark (it's almost invisible). That's all I can bring to mind at present.

I'll be there Monday. Mrs. Peabody and I have a package booked at the Hershey Lodge in honor or our anniversary and her birthday. We haven't been there in a while, so we're looking forward to riding the coasters they've built since our last visit.

That is indeed one of the Traver "triplets," but that's not the Cyclone at Crystal Beach. I believe that's the Lightning at Revere Beach. The third of the triplets was also named Cyclone.

Knoebels this Sunday for a quick stop on our way to Hersheypark on Monday, then Knoebels again on Tuesday and Darien Lake on Wednesday and Thursday.

Leap the Dips, Lakemont Park.

Saw them all over Wonderland on Saturday. I'm surprised they let people into the parks with them. They seem quite substantial and I could easily see one being used as a weapon. As paranoid as theme parks are about such things, I'm shocked they didn't think of that before I did.

I'll be there tomorrow as well. We're leaving Buffalo between 7 and 7:30 to give us plenty of time to get there. I'd rather sit in the parking lot for a half-hour than in traffic on the QEW. Has anyone tried that wing place on Rutherford Rd? We're bringing a light lunch but may want to eat once we leave the park rather than when we get back to the states.

Crystal Beach, opening day 1927, the day the Cyclone opened. Some unidentified man rode it 67 times in a row that day, so maybe I'll make it yet. Just have to get a few more parts for my TARDIS. Then I'll hit Idora on my way home.

Will anyone else be going to the Season Pass Holders' preview day on May 8th? I'll be there and I'd like to meet up with any other members of the TPR community that might also be there.

The Giant Coaster at Crystal Beach, also known as the "Yellow coaster," opened in 1916 and operated until the park closed in 1989. It was torn down and burned after the auction. At the time Idora's Jack Rabbit closed, therefore, the Giant Coaster was older and still operating.

I had a seagull grab a hot dog off of a hot barbeque grill at Fantasy Island once. Rats with feathers! This is why one should always carry Alka Seltzers with them.