AirMBTB

^Yes! It would be nice to get the exemptions, but it would be MUCH better to run the park successfully where they are able to pay bills and make a profit. After recent visits to Seabreeze and Canobie Lake, I have dreams of Conneaut being at that level. Kinda like a little Knoebels! It can happen... let's wish the best!

1) Revisit the importance and richness in having a *classic* wood coaster (NO seat dividers, individual ratchet bars, headrests), and other classic rides such as a Schwarzkopf Wildcat, etc. Classic "Carnival Rides" like a double Ferris wheel (Sky Wheel?) or Zipper (CP would probably need 2 of these for capacity reasons) could be quite nice if the presentation is right. Modern, big, smooth, record breaking rides are GREAT! But nothing beats the classics. Having both would be awesome! People love historic stuff... not to be confused with once historic stuff that is now ultra-modernized and loses that important classic feel, like Blue Streak (I know it's still very popular and runs well, but it's a completely different experience for many of us that knew the ride well before the 95/96 train changes). It has lost that fun and effortless "flying" action over the hills due to the heavy and odd equipment. There are undoubtedly hurdles in obtaining, maintaining, and approving old equipment, but with the resources Cedar Fair has, it would be worth the time and cost. The brake upgrades to Comet and Waldameer, combined with vintage-but-kept-like-new running stock, make the ride a beautiful example of a classic coaster. Other fine examples are the Thunderbolt and Jack Rabbit at Kennywood. 2) Updating old rides with theme elements (I know I know, CP is not a theme park, but the rides still have characteristic names), maybe some fog, tunnels, etc. It would be GREAT to see a CF park (or any park) to try out adding a pre-lift section to a coaster. Give the oldies a new life, re-do, etc. 3) High capacity HAUNTED HOUSE (said deliberately instead of dark ride, but any sort of dark ride would be welcome!) Again, a classic feeling ride would be great (imagine a longer, higher capacity and modern-controlled version of Conneaut's Devil's Den or Camden's Haunted House!)

I just hope CLP is able to pull through; that something great will happen and the park can revive itself into a thriving local park. Stranger things have happened (like SF Magic Mountain getting new shoulder-bar-less trains for Revolution!). The park is not in great shape, but the rides they do have run well and Blue Streak was running better than I've ever experienced it a couple weeks ago during the ACE/WNYCC event. We only have a few classic coasters left; the amount of fun we had on that ride (for 2 nights!) is staggering. Still in my top 5 but still needs a LOT of work.

Just how many trees have been cut down around Ninja after the tree incident? I haven't been to the park in a few years, but the trees really added to the ride. Here's to hoping they don't cut down too many around Revolution during the re-do. Nice to get a review from a new SFMM visitor, especially one from so far! Thank you. Revolution is MUCH more of a family-oriented design than Mind Bender. Even with out brakes, there were pauses on all the hilltops. Mind Bender seems hell-bent on getting everything done quickly. The drop brake-overs on Mind Bender are more abrupt, giving nice pops of airtime. Revolution has very gentle and gracious drops. After Revolution's loop, things (are supposed to) get a little more action-packed if it weren't for the trim brakes. Even at full speed, I doubt Revolution would hit the lateral and vertical forces Mind Bender does... Think Whizzer meets sooperdooperLooper, and add a couple big but mild drops. Anton designed coasters that were fun but also beautiful and perfectly orchestrated for the land they were built on. Revolution takes it's time doing things, there is no hurry. It's not very tall, but HUGE in the way it's spread out and gives you a feeling of going some where. Revolution is an incredible design of perfection (as is Mind Bender in slightly different ways), dipping and twisting above and around the hills it was built in. Just a reminder, we are not going to get a rip-your-face-off intensity machine when the ride becomes New Revolution. Luckily for me, intensity doesn't always rule which coasters are my favorites, variety is my thing. That might be pushing it, but close! I rode the heck out of Mind Bender (still my #1 steel coaster) before, during and after the ACE Spring Fling this year. Surprisingly, the trims before the big helix were OFF! I've never experienced that. It was definitely a little more powerful than usual (the 2nd trim before the last loop was on, but seemed to be barely grabbing!). I've found I'm crazy over Anton coasters with or with out trims; they always give a great ride.

I don't know what is more sad and pathetic, the video or the viewer comments.

Geez I hope not! PTCs get a lot of crap, but I think they run great on Legend and most coasters that are taken care of (I'll just leave a little reminder about how all PTCs run better with buzz bars; they're lighter, etc.) The "box with wheels" analogy people give when dissing PTCs is what ends up making the coaster so awesome (forces). I just rode Roar-O-Saurus at Storyland, and sad to say I'm not a big fan of Timberliners. They run very track-rough (I'm not referring to the super-aggressive design/hill shapes of the ride). It feels like a steel hammer jackhammering a steel track, which I guess is what those trains kinda do. Gravity Group are my current favorite (active) roller coaster designers/builders, but I would like to see them work on the timberliners some more. One thing about Roar-O-Saurus, those are probably the only trains that would run on it. No way would PTCs get over those sharp hills twists. I was patiently waiting (like many of us!) to see the Timberliners on Voyage, but after having ridden some Timberliners (also Hades 360) I'm glad they're not on Voyage, or any other coaster at Holiday world. Yes! I bet it will happen in time! Holiday World is getting to be such a huge park now.

Really? I thought that was kinda cool and added to the uniqueness of the ride, in addition to the sky ride going through the ride! Great example of awesome integration of a coaster into it's surroundings. I understand your point, though Always nice to hear different POVs.

Lots of girls ride Xcelerator

Thank you. It's that weird "the sun rises and sets over Ohio" kool-aid thing. The defensiveness almost seems like a weird combination of super-personal and political; it's like important people are personally watching over how people react and go after complaints and will reward them. I mean, we're just giving our opinions. Yes, we get that "the park is not there to fit our personal needs at the moment," but we are coaster coaster/park fans here. We "complain" because we know the park can do so much better. It still feels strange to me (as a coaster/park fan) that Cedar Fair hasn't put in a really great coaster. Even stranger they would "redo" Blue Streak (I know, it's been almost 20 years) so it's no longer a classic and remove an awesome "classic" Anton coaster; I mean, they could have kept both of them with the resources they have. You would think they would want to have those accolades; they are trading variety and historic points for bare-bones, same-y B&M stuff. I know MF and Maverick are very popular, but they just don't cut it for many of us (yes, I know they "are not here to please us" and all that crap). Holiday World's Thunderbird runs circles around Gatekeeper; it doesn't have to be Disney (or a European park), just put a little heart into it. Saying CP is not a theme park is a lame excuse. If there were to be no themeing at CP, Valravn should be called "Typical giant loopy B&M coaster on plain, tree-less lawn" (just like Banshee). Don't get me wrong, I LOVE Cedar Point. But I'm still a coaster/park fan and this is a place to voice critical opinion.

It's OK to compare and contrast CP to Magic Mountain. We're coaster nerds, we do that type of thing... and if we all agreed, it would be boring and there would be almost no point to having an online forum. Cedar Point operates their coasters better, but Magic Mountain has better thrill coasters (when they're running) Plus, Magic Mountain is restoring Revolution. That's the news of the decade in my book. Let's see CP restore Blue Streak to a classic.

It feels similar to when Magic Mountain added Scream, it's "one for the count." A splash down would go over great at Cedar Point. I'm sure it will still be popular, etc. I will add that the new open view of Raptor looks neat!

I totally understand and agree. May I suggest you let the park know directly, preferably in a polite (snail mail) letter. It's always good to let them know how you feel about their park (in a nice way, of course); the good and the bad! Every little bit of input helps. They really do read it. Kings Island used to shut down the Beast queue early, many moons ago before Cedar Fair took over.

^Totally understand

I ***LOVED*** Wicked Cyclone. But the wooden Cyclone was still MUCH better, and more of a real thrill ride. My first thought after Wicked Cyclone was it was more of a family ride (also a good thing!)

Something a little nicer to look at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FsGhLTov-FM

I hope Legend gets some nice new wood track and new stompers.. a little extra bracing perhaps. Put me in the crowd that would be heartbroken over an "RMC makeover." Maybe RMC will build an awesome ride somewhere else in the park someday. Holiday World's "Middle Child" is my favorite!

Anton got it right! Hinges at every track-support connection. And ball & sockets for Mind Bender and Shock Wave. B&Ms have an occasional ball & socket, but not enough to eliminate all that rattle.

How about if they built the world's best coaster!? But most importantly, how was the Shock Wave crew? I'm teasing you, in a very coaster nerdy way ... It really does stink that operations are so pitiful. It absolutely has an effect on my opinion of the park. One mess up here or there, ok. But consistently stacking trains, moving slow, etc., gets old.

New Revolution

^You mean sooperdooperLooper? hehe I wouldn't be surprised if RMC is in on it, but who knows. Let's celebrate with some classic pictures (none are mine, I've just saved pictures over the years).

"That's not a real gun, is it Clark!?" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fxxQbnjcD8 Check out that side-to-side action!

I'm so excited over this, I can hardly stop my head from spinning. Let's hope it's done with the utmost care, as it deserves. You can get a close up of the train from the SFMM website. Note the graphics on top of an Iron Rattler train. Time will tell what the real trains will look like. Think they'll have 3 trains? Bigger image of train: https://www.sixflags.com/sites/default/files/sfmm-nr-ka.jpg Maybe a new lighting package, too? Let's hope!

Yes please! Removing that ride and the luscious foliage was a serious YOLO moment I just noticed on the SFMM site, it says Revolution will be painted white and blue. I wonder what they will paint blue? My vote is for all white, but the blue certainly is not a complaint.

^sooperdooperLooper didn't have them for the first couple years. If you look close, no headrests. There are better pictures out there if someone can find them.

The old Schwarzkopf trains do hug the track, but not super-tight like RMC or B&M, for example. It's just enough to be right in the middle; smooth, but a little "feel" so it still feels like you're on a roller coaster. The wheel/track gap and lateral movement (without shoulder bars, of course) are what makes a coaster feel wild, and a little out of control. Anton perfected that. Those old trains are the perfect bridge between old/loose woodies and new "grip the rail TIGHT" coasters. Many new "grip the rail" rides hit the curves TOO hard; there has to be a comprimise in design or a little "give" somewhere. Anton built those coasters with hinges at every single track/support junction; in addition to the little gap between wheel/track. It's utter perfection. There is very little vibration; that energy goes into the track flexing. If you watch an Arrow ride, there is a shaking of the track which goes right up into the seat and into your head. Schwarzkopf surely didn't think his rides would be running with over the shoulder restraints, making the innate motion of his rides painful. Just look at the beautiful side-to-side action: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ida3FgIcB6E