TR: Cliff's Amusement Park May 8th

[coastermoosh]

I had to be in Albuquerque and Santa Fe on business May 9th and 10th so I decided to fly in a day early and visit Cliff's Amusement Park.

 

Now I know what you're thinking: abandon Mom on Mother's Day for a coaster? Don't fret, I took mom [with Dad] to dinner and a movie ["Kung Fu Hustle"...they loved it and I highly recommend it] the day before.

 

But I digress. I arrived at Cliffs around 4pm and headed right to New Mexico Rattler, the last wooden coaster CCI ever built -- well, actualy they abandonned the project leaving the park to finish the job. And if how the coaster was performing is any indication of Cliff's talent in building and maintaining wood coasters they did an excellent job.

 

My first ride in the 6-car standard PTC train was in seat 6:1. While I never got a front seat ride due to rather slow operations and a long line I did mange to ride a dozen times throughout the train, including as far forward as row 2:1. So how is it? Here's the play-by-play:

 

After a quick dip and 90* right hand turn to the lift it took no time at all for the train to reach the apex of the lift...definitely one of the fastest-moving lift chains I've experienced. The excellent twisting first drop is reminiscent of Cornball Express and the sensation in the back half of the train is that the car is falling out from under you. Its how I imagine the first drop of Thunderhead feels.

 

A double up with a slight turn at the crest of its first landing -- with a VERY nice pop of later air in the front half of the train -- leads to signature CCI dipping turnaround and the third drop, which is quite steep and produces ejector air in the back half of the train.

 

A second, slighly oddly-shaped double up leads to the tall fourth drop hidden under the lift structure. The combination of the steep fourth drop and curving bunnyhop that follows is the best of two great moments of air on the ride. Riders in the back are treated to excellent pops of air on the fourth drop and bunny, while riders near the front get a nice dose of laterals and extreme air on the bunnyhop.

 

The element that follows is one I've dubbed the Pretzel [because it kinda looks like one] that encompasses two of the park's flat rides. Trains first rise into a high flat turn [which I assume gives a nice does of laterals when the coaster is really warmed up] then down into a Legendesque curved tunnel.

 

The only dull moment of the ride comes next [a rampy rise and drop] but it sets up the second great moment of air on the ride. Imagine an "m"-shaped bunnyhop...as if someone has taken their thumb and pressed down on the highest point of a bunnyhop until it is indented. The train races over this element providing an extreme double pop of air for all riders regardless of where they're sitting. A quick swooping 300* helix leads to the final brakes and curve into the station.

 

The single PTC tracked wonderfully. Considering it had only been operating a few hours that day and the weather was cool the train speed thru the course with only one deadspot [the aforementioned "dull moment"]. While not as intense as some earlier CCI creations I'd give NM Rattler a solid Top 15-20 ranking when its time to do Mitch's next poll.

 

Because I was alone the only other ride I took during my short stay was the park's well-run Galaxi. Three 2-car trains and minimal braking was the order of the day...definitely one of the best-run I've encountered.

 

The park itself is small and quaint but pretty. The park's Yo-Yo sits on an island in a small lake; their flume encompasses the lake as well. There were a lot of nice western theme elements placed throughout the landlocked park. I don't see any chance for Cliff's to expand unless it purchases some of the businesses surrounding it.

 

The park is only missing one signature element: a dark ride, and I know why they don't have one. Every time I exited Rattler and walked down the ramp in the station I couldn't escape the feeling that it was not built for the ride but had housed something previously. And then I noticed a telltale sign on the concrete floor: tire marks! Then I noticed where walls had once stood and even where the center rail had been. It seems the park removed its dark ride for the coaster.

[Zingo!]

Nice play-byplay! Thanks!

 

Night rides in the hot summer desert must rock...

[robbalvey]

^^ Ahh, interesting find about the dark ride. Yeah, I had kind of noticed that the station seemed awfully complex for what it was. But I didn't think about it at the time because when we visited there, the place was *PACKED.* Luckily, we didn't have to wait for the Rattler!

 

Glad the ride has held up. Seems like the smaller parks who don't have many other rides to dilute the focus of their maintenance department can keep up woodies better.

 

I'd like to find time to get back out there at some point.

 

--Robb

[Zoltan_Kodaly]

If your parents like Kung Fu Hustle, they're okay in my books!

 

Chance of me ever getting to New Mexico to ride this thing:

1 in infinity

[crispy]

Ah man, I live in Albuquerque and someone actually comes here and I don't get to meet them, damn, next time drop me a line, I currently have $13.95 coupons for Cliff's, but only for the month of May.

 

Anyway, good to hear you had a good time, yeah the Rattler has held up very well, and Cliff's has a great maintance dept.

 

I have not been back since opening day, and I can see that they now have the drop tower up, and I have seen the Falling star spinning, I'm not sure if they are just testing it, or if its actually running.

 

next time PLEASE PM me, not to many people make it out this way, and if they do, I would be more than happy to meet up with them.

 

 

Night rides in the hot summer desert must rock...

 

Yeah, Albuquerque is in the desert, but it is not as hot as most people think, its probably "hotter" right now in San Diego than in Albuquerque. Let me put Albuquerque in perspective. The highest tempature EVER in the city was 107. Don't get me wrong its warm in the summer, but hardly ever gets to 100, it get DAMN cold in the winter though.

[CoasterFanatic]

^ He speaks the truth! I went to Santa Fe in March and it was freakin' freezing. Glad to here you had a good time there Moosh. I didn't feel as bad passing up Cliff's when I went by a couple years ago, because they only had the Galaxy.

[crispy]

Awhile ago the station for the Rattler was a Haunted House, that was taken out for a theater, then of course became the rattler, I guess they left some of the track all this time, but the exact dates I do not know