The Texas Two Step

[coasterdave]

One of the many things I do each year is head off to Texas for either Lone Star Coasterthon (SFOT) or Fiesta Fest (SFFT). Since Fiesta is a week later this year, I decided to head down for LSCT this year. I had been watching the progress of the Gravity Group coaster being built at Kemah Boardwalk down the road from Houston. I had hope that the Boardwalk Bullet would be open by the time I took the silver bird down to Dallas and even added an extra day to my trip to go there. I was pleased to see that it opened about a week before my trip.

 

I got into Dallas around 9:40 and picked up the rental from Avis and headed down I-45 toward Kemah. I made pretty good time and arrived in the mid afternoon and checked into the Boardwalk Inn that is located on the boardwalk. It just seem to logical to stay there since it was as simple as going out the front door and taking afew steps and I was at the Bullet.

 

I am not really going into alot of detail but I will just say that it is a good coaster that fits well into the Boardwalk. I am amazed at how they put so much coaster in such a small spot. I think the area is abit under an acre of land. Not really what I would call a destination coaster but would say if you are in the area then stop by and enjoy the Bullet along with the Boardwalk, plus they have a great 21 oz. Margarita at the Cadillac's Mexican Restaurant.

 

Enough Rambling and on to the pics!

Nice lighting package

First drop at night

Sign at night with train speeding by.

Easing out of the brakes and heading into the station.

Some night rides

Wood everywhere you look.

Sun getting closer to setting.

Track all over the place

Anyone want to write the Bullet a letter?

Overview of one of the sides

Enjoying the First Drop

As you can their is alot of track in a small area.

Crossovers and Unders

Sun is Heading West

Enjoying the Twisted Track

Train One was on the Storage Track

Spare Trains Under Ride

The Boardwalk Bullet

View from my balcony at the Boardwalk Inn.

[PKI Jizzman]

Wow! The BB looks fantstic! The scenery around it, trains, lighting, and location of the ride look top knotch!

[carolinacaniac]

Definatly a cool looking ride, looking forward to possibly getting a ride or two on it next May if the Texas Trip is confirmed.

[GuruGuys]

Nice pics!

 

I'm not sure if you just posted the pics today or rode today but they oiled the track at about 6:30pm and the train picked up as many as 15 seconds on the circuit. Before that it was running VERY slow (hence the mid day oiling). I hope you got to ride it tonight when it had some full trains and was running faster.

 

-GG

[coasterdave]

I rode it this past Thursday afternoon into evening. I think it is a great addition to Kemah and I hope the Boardwalk grows over time. I thought the area was pretty nice.

[coasterdude5]

The ride looks awesome, especially with the lighting!

[coasterdave]

So the second part of the weekend was attending Lone Star Coasterthon at Six Flags Over Texas. I have been to this park sponsored event afew times. I have found that Events in Texas are well worth going to. I only took afew inside the park pics but was treated to a behind the scene tour as part of the event.

 

Hope you folks enjoy the last set of pics.

 

Nothing like a morning ride on the Judge to get things going.

 

 

Parting shot of the station

 

 

Bet the skyline here will change for 2008

 

 

Looks like Mr Freeze is up next

 

 

Good old Shockwave still the best coaster in the park.

 

 

Then comes Texas Giant or Back Breaker the Ride

 

 

Hello Elmer

 

 

Texas Giant Car in Rehab

 

 

 

For the Astroworld Fans

 

 

Texas Giant from Tour

 

 

Track laying around

 

 

Ever wonder where they store ice at in parks?

 

 

Great place to be when it is hotter than hades outside.

 

 

For all the sorry Cowboy Fans out there a look at the new stadium.

 

 

It Rained pretty hard Sunday as you can see.

 

 

The Judge at Night

[eskater132]

Is that new track?

[CP_RULES]

Is that new track?

 

It looks like Mr. Freeze track to me. In fact, it looks like the exact same piece that I noticed laying around at SFStL when I was there this summer.

 

 

Cool pictures dude, BB looks great at night and I've always liked SFoT from the pictures Ive seen.

[GuruGuys]

I rode it this past Thursday afternoon into evening. I think it is a great addition to Kemah and I hope the Boardwalk grows over time. I thought the area was pretty nice.

 

Ah, I rode it Thurday afternoon too. It was running about as slow as I've seen it then (in fact I posted about that in the other Boardwalk thread). I hope you get to ride it again at full speed some time. The park is nice, I can't wait to see what they have in store for us next year

[bgwfreak]

What? You haven't hit 400 yet?

 

I'm glad to read another honest review of BB, although I would expect nothing else from you Dave.

[almightyfire]

I rode the BB around 20 times Monday and I got one bruise on my chin, a sore neck and my pinky left finger got sprained. Now is this ride rough? yes it is. Is it so rough that you cant ride it once and get off and walk around and come back an hr later and ride it maybe 4 times in 5 hrs? NO! I would have never gotten any injuries if I would have gotten off like a normal person and walked around and did other things and gone home. Since I am not, I got hurt.

[texcoaster]

I rode the BB around 20 times Monday and I got one bruise on my chin, a sore neck and my pinky left finger got sprained. Now is this ride rough? yes it is. Is it so rough that you cant ride it once and get off and walk around and come back an hr later and ride it maybe 4 times in 5 hrs? NO! I would have never gotten any injuries if I would have gotten off like a normal person and walked around and did other things and gone home. Since I am not, I got hurt.

 

or maybe you're a wuss.

 

I got 50 rides on Labor Day and even though I was tired, I wasn't hurt at all. My legs were sore from walking up the dang ramp so many times, though!

 

I'm glad I rode Bullet and Giant within a week of each other. It makes me appreciate Bullet that much more. Giant used to be my #1 coaster, but I just can't ride it more than once or twice any more.

[almightyfire]

The Giant was also my favorite coaster. I rode it back in April and I only rode it once. That is because they didnt open it until 1pm and I had to leave at that time to come back to Houston. When i got off the line was too long. I am gonna say it is still my favorite woodie after el toro.

[coasterphotos]

Do to various comments this past weekend at SFOT, I didn't even bother to ride Texas Giant...what I once considered my #1 coaster.

 

I rode Boardwalk Bullet 40 times over 4 days (with most of those within 3 days and 1 day having 15 rides) and felt a little sore after sleeping that last night...but nothing that didn't go away later in the day...and certainly nothing I haven't felt before after getting that many rides on a coaster or various coasters.

[almightyfire]

There isnt really much left at SFOT. They need a new coaster bad. It hasnt had a new attraction worth much in a longtime and I have gotten pretty bored with the whole park. Runaway Mine Train and the Pink Things are probably the only thing that keeps me coming back.