Jonathan

Thanks I did not realize that. Hopefully I will get a chance to ride it in Cali then.

Catman was just on the NBC kickoff show with one of his bobbleheads.

I know this ride had a reputation as being bad and uncomfortable, but I have to say I am a bit upset to see it go before I have a chance to ride it. Back to the Future was the first movie that I ever really loved, and it is still one of my favorites to this day. I have always wanted to go on the ride. I remember sometime around 4th grade I went on a trip to Disney World with my family. We were not going to Universal, and in the Orlando airport there was a big cutout of Marty and Doc advertising the ride. I was quite upset about not getting to ride it.

I think it looks really cool. I loved Powder Keg, and this looks like it has the potential to be a lot better (although they are from different manufacturers I feel like there are a lot of similarities between the two). It looks like Cedar Point is actually trying to make a good fun ride instead of a gimmick (not that their other rides aren't fun).

To be honest, when I saw it on the telecast I thought Catman understood the joke. I think it would be nice if Fox Sports would buy him a car, but I don't really see it as an obligation. If not, maybe the team can. The guy has been the most dedicated fan of the organization since year one. The instant I saw him on TV I was like "holy sh** it's Catman!" I remember the Hooters incident, and you would think the legal department at a company as huge as Fox would put a stop to something like that before it happened since there is a very clear precedent for a lawsuit. There was also an incident I recall where a radio station promised to give away a "hundred grand", but it ended up being the candy bar.

I'm fairly certain the tilt-a-whirl is a new one; I believe they mentioned that maintanence was getting too high on the old one. And I'm just as sick of people who bash Holiday World and the people who enjoy it everytime they get a chance as much as I am the fanboys.

http://www.holidayworld.com/new2007.html We're stirring up lots of fun in 2007! ...starting with Bakuli, our new family water slide in Splashin' Safari. Bakuli (pronounced bah-COOL-ee) is the Swahili word for "bowl" and that is exactly where this takes you—swirling round and round in a huge, colorful bowl! Start seven stories up and climb into a four-person cloverleaf raft. You'll be launched into a very dark, very steep tunnel that's full of surprises. You know how The Voyage has three 90-degree curves? So does Bakuli! Over the river and through the woods, in Holiday World, there's a new ride being cooked up for our Thanksgiving section. Your entire family will want to take a spin on the Turkey Whirl! This new themed tilt-a-whirl is truly fun gone a-fowl. And the only leftovers will be your laughter! In 2007, the Plymouth Rock Café also opens in the Thanksgiving section. Make sure your family gathers together to savor the mouth-watering flavors of Thanksgiving dinner in this new cafeteria-style restaurant. The slide looks really cool, I think.

Clearly a large amount of people do otherwise Cedar Fair would not have even come up with the Maxx Pass to begin with.

Click HERE for the full gallery of photos from Emerald Pointe. Sunday was my 21st birthday. There was plenty of fun to be had that night, but in the morning and afternoon I headed down to Emerald Pointe with John, Phil, and Alan to use some free tickets that I had. We started off with the best ride for lazy people; the Cyclone Zone. You put on a life jacket and float around in a circle for a while. It's awesome. The newest slide is Dragon's Den. In the background is the defunct Hydra Fighter II (Caripro water coaster). Dragon's Den POV! More POV. Phil comes splashing out of one of the slides. There's me going down the left slide and John hitting the water on the right. Here's one credit I have that not very many others do. As you can see part of the track for Hydra Fighter II was removed, and Dragon's Den was put in its place. Here is a beautiful shot of Phil and I on the Runaway Raft Ride. Coming to the bottom of the slide. Here's some random guy going down the Raging Rapids. The largest slides in the park are the Daredevil Drop and the Twin Twisters. Daredevil Drop POV. John survived the drop. Down comes Phil. Alan about to go down the SideWinder. The horror! There is nothing more terrifying than a wave pool. I'm drowning. Alan performs the amazing feat of opening his eyes under water. Fast forward ahead to the evening. We started out at the Village Draft House for dinner and some drinks, then moved on to downtown Raleigh to Lucky B's, Aura, The Flying Saucer, and maybe somewhere else (the details are a bit shaky). Not sure what is going on here. This is at the Flying Saucer. Good times. Nobody actually ordered anything at the Flying Saucer, but there were plenty of choices. I'll leave you with this award winning shot. It's good to finally be legal in every way! Click HERE for the full gallery of photos from Emerald Pointe.

So being a NC State student and such, I get to go to sports events and such for free, providing that I win the ticket lottery for whatever game of course. I have been to nearly all of the home football games since I started going here (this is my 4th year), and this afternoon was the start of another season. Some of the magic of Mr. Wuf (the NCSU mascot) is taken away when his head is sitting on the floor of your living room. One of my roommates gets to be him this year (or rather, is one of 3 or 4 people who rotate off during the games, as it gets hot as hell in the costume). Chuck Amato is a goofy clown-ish guy, and sometimes I question his abilities as a head coach, but he has turned Carter-Finley stadium into a pretty badass place. This was addition #1; the Murphy Center, which was completed at the south end of the stadium in 2003. This was addition #2, the Vaughn Towers (press box and luxury suites), which was completed on the west side of the stadium in 2005. Tailgating is as big of an attraction as the game itself. Here is addition #3, a new entrance plaza in the north endzone, and the bowling in of the north endzone. Before there was a stubby little field house, some bleachers for the band to sit in, and grass on each side. Now the stadium is a full bowl. Here's the RBC Center next door. I wish that little street wasn't there, so that a big plaza could be built linking the two stadiums. They've got these in the new entrance plaza for each player who has had his jersey retired. My freshman year at NCSU was Rivers' senior year. Too bad our quarterback is absolutely horrible now (he threw for 36 yards tonight against a I-AA opponent...). Inside the gates. Pregame activities. This is something that was experimented with last year, and I think will now become a permanent fixture. Instead of using the tunnel that goes directly to the field, the team comes out the upper level of the Murphy Center, and walks through the student section to the field. New bowl in the north end looks freaking sweet. The stadium felt a lot more closed in and it was a lot louder without the open space at the end. Lots of pyrotechnics and fun stuff as the Pack takes the field. Another season of football begins. It was hilarious how intimidated ASU was at the beginning of the game (they are a I-AA school). Granted, they were the I-AA national champions last year, but this was still a stage they were not quite used to. Their first play of the game was a false start, and then once they did actually get the ball snapped, the center snapped it over the quarterbacks head and through the endzone for a safety, giving NC State a 2-0 lead seconds into the game. Wide shot. The addition of the new bowl has relocated the band to the south end of the stadium, which is much better, as they are close to the student sections. Appalachian State held their own, more than they should have probably. Despite losing a number of defensive starters to the NFL draft (3 in the first round including #1 overall pick Mario Williams), it looks like NC State has another great defensive team. They also have a fantastic running back combination in Andre Brown and Toney Baker. Unfortunately, quarterback Marcus Stone is absolutely INEPT. As I mentioned, he only threw for 36 yards, and every one of those was a short dump off where the receiver did the work. There were literally no downfield passes. Here's my roommate roaming around as Mr. Wuf. The sun sets on Carter-Finley stadium. There's nothing like a football stadium at night. The game comes to an end with the Wolfpack emerging victorious. A win is a win, but I can't say I'm too comfortable with the team going into this season. The passing game HAS to get better. Either way, it will be a fun year.

Sunday is my 21st birthday, and I will be going to Emerald Pointe waterpark that morning and afternoon, probably with a couple of the Whootah folks, and then that night I will be drinking of course!

I think what he is saying is that if Henry Winkler had just stuck to what he did best (like turning things on by hitting them with his hand) then Ron Howard would probably have turned out to be a decent director.

I have been on it. It was by far the smoothest roller coaster I have ever been on, and also by far the most boring roller coaster I have ever been on. Completely forceless.

I would bet El Toro's late opening hurt it a lot for this poll. Most voters probably just didn't ride it.

I live 3 hours from Busch Gardens Williamsburg. I live 10 hours from Busch Gardens Tampa. Therefore, I'm pretty damn happy that they are putting one in where I can actually ride it.

Looks fun, although I will say I'm a bit disappointed that there is that the big drop doesn't go into a tunnel.

I'd really love to do this event some year. I absolutely loved Indiana Beach (my second favorite park behind Knoebels!).

It might be the most interesting park I have ever been to!

There are really only 5 requirements that I need for a great park. There are plenty of other things I like, but these will keep me happy. 1) a great, well-maintained, comfortable riding wooden roller coaster 2) a good dark ride 3) some fun non coaster rides (ex. flying scooters, water rides) 4) good setting (landscaping, trees, etc) 5) friendly and efficient staff My favorite parks list reflects this: 1) Knoebels (has all 5) 2) Indiana Beach (has 4-5; not sure about the staff) 3) Holiday World (4 of the 5) 4) Silver Dollar City (4 of the 5, but Ozark Wildcat is down the street) 5) Dollywood (all 5)

I'm terrified of them as well. I ride them, though, but fear for my life while doing so.

I like Son of Beast a bit better than The Beast, but that's not saying much, because I put The Beast 73rd out of 74 wooden coasters on the ballot for Mitch's poll, and Son of Beast is pretty close to the bottom as well.

I don't think it's anything to be *too* concerned with. I think most people would definitely agree that Legend has not been running in top form this year, but the Raven was the same way last year, and this year it's fantastic again. One thing to remember is that Will Koch is a coaster enthusiast himself, and I doubt he will let any of his coasters decline too much without taking action.

Great news; hopefully this will work out. I wonder if they will be able to reopen the coaster?

You can tell just by watching the video that it is not a clone of Sheikra. The second vertical drop is in a different location. It might still be very similar and have the same elements, but it isn't a clone.

Great report and photos. It definitely is sad to see some of the unique things down there that have been removed for another t-shirt shop, strip mall, or condo.