The Knott's Berry Farm (KBF) Discussion Thread

[cfc]

I actually don't understand the complaints about Silver Bullet being forceless, either - the drop blows, sure, but the rest of the ride is pretty good, and I even really loved the overbank.

I also prefer Silver Bullet as a somewhat "foreceless" coaster. I love the fact that it feels so smooth and free-flying throughout the entire ride up until the helix. Feeling those tight forces like on Batman can be fun, but I find the smooth feeling to be more enjoyable that being "forced" around all over the place.

 

I have to agree with you on that one. I like a coaster with smoothness, and delivers on what it promises (the feeling of flight). I do like forces though, but I think the reason why SB gets so much negativity is because it's a B&M. People, since when has B&M been forcefull? I bet if it was made by any-other manufacturer it wouldn't recieve all this negativity.

Which is why I don't understand all the over-hype of I305. Greying out is "fun"? I guess this is the world I live in

 

I don't hate Silver Bullet, but I do think it's a bit boring compared to other, older B&M inverts, such as the Batman rides, Nemesis, and Montu.

[coasterfreak101]

Yeah, I agree with bits and pieces of everyone, really. I don't think Silver Bullet is anywhere near the top of the B&M pack, and any day I prefer a forceful ride like B:TR over Silver Bullet. But I think people really exaggerate how "forceless" it is just because it isn't a Batman or a Montu.

[thestripedtaco]

I never got a chance to ride Ghostrider when it was new and really good. For those of you who have rode it back in the day when it was good, how good was it actually? I mean was it like a top ten woodie or was it just good and top 50 or something like that. Just asking because I'm wondering how much better the ride would be with a re-track and possibly some new trains.

[Nyteowl]

I never got a chance to ride Ghostrider when it was new and really good. For those of you who have rode it back in the day when it was good, how good was it actually? I mean was it like a top ten woodie or was it just good and top 50 or something like that. Just asking because I'm wondering how much better the ride would be with a re-track and possibly some new trains.

Even though I had only ridden a few wooden coasters back then, I remember it being pretty amazing, especially the airtime on the drop after the now existent MCBR. According to others who had ridden a lot of woodies during the time, it was considered a top ten woodie.

[thestripedtaco]

I wonder how it would rank compared to today's wooden monsters. Hopefully this ride get's the TLC it deserves so that I can get an answer to that question.

[MayTheGForceBeWithYou]

Yeah, I agree with bits and pieces of everyone, really. I don't think Silver Bullet is anywhere near the top of the B&M pack, and any day I prefer a forceful ride like B:TR over Silver Bullet. But I think people really exaggerate how "forceless" it is just because it isn't a Batman or a Montu.

It does have a decent kick in some parts (last helix FTW), but compared to the other inverts, it does lack a bit. Not terrible, but definitely not quite as good as others.

[rcdude]

I never got a chance to ride Ghostrider when it was new and really good. For those of you who have rode it back in the day when it was good, how good was it actually? I mean was it like a top ten woodie or was it just good and top 50 or something like that. Just asking because I'm wondering how much better the ride would be with a re-track and possibly some new trains.

 

When GhostRider opened, it was considered a top ten wooden coaster by many. On the Mitch Hawker poll, it peaked at #4 in the world in the year 2000. I first rode it in 1999, and up until the mid-2000s it was my favorite coaster, wood or steel. I don't know that it would still be a top ten coaster given what else has been built since, but I would say the ride would definitely be a top 25 if it ran the way it did the first few years. I doubt a re-track and new trains could restore it to what it once was, but it certainly could be improved significantly as the current ride is worth no more than a 15 minute wait (at least in my opinion).

[Wes]

If Ghostrider was still running like it did 1999-2001-ish, it would probably still be my favorite wooden coaster.

[Meteornotes]

^Yes. Certainly in my Top Ten, maybe my Top Five. The rides I got on it at the first(?) Solace when it rained before ERT that night are still some of the most intense and insane coaster rides I've ever had. If they could somehow resurrect this ride with topper track or whatever it would be such a wise investment.

 

dt

[thrillseeker4552]

I doubt this would happen in 2013, but hopefully sometime soon KBF will add some new trains to Ghost Rider. The coaster isn't as fun as it used to be. I think some Timberliners would be cool as they are rare in the area. Millennium Flyers could work too but as of 2013 there are 3 GCIs in California and it would be weird to have MFs on a CCI woodie. Either way, it definitely needs it. I believe I rode my first ride on GR in either 2007 or 2008. I can tell you that is has changed a lot, even in just 5 or 6 years. It used to be my all time favorite. As the years wore on, it went farther and farther down my list. Now, I wouldn't mind taking the extra hour drive to ride Apocalypse at SFMM. I think if they added new Timberliners it would not only increase the capacity (no seatbelts and more reliable than PTCs) but would also enhance the experience. Even a new name would be useful (the names Coast Rider and Ghost Rider can't last long). Bottom line, I think new trains and a new name for Ghost Rider would benefit KBF greatly.

[MrSum1_55]

The evolution of Ghostrider:

Opening: Awesome

Early 2000's: Still awesome, but a bit rough

Mid 2000's: Still good overall, but no longer top ten material

Late 2000's: Very rough, but still rideable

Now: Unrideable. Worse than Mean Streak.

[Top Thrill Dragster]

^^ GhostRider needs more than just new trains, it needs a full re tracking. Adding GCI or Timberliner trains would not improve the ride experience all that much with the ride in its current state.

 

The evolution of Ghostrider:

Opening: Awesome

Early 2000's: Still awesome, but a bit rough

Mid 2000's: Still good overall, but no longer top ten material

Late 2000's: Very rough, but still rideable

Now: Unrideable. Worse than Psyclone.

 

 

FTFY.

 

 

I got my first rides on GhostRider back in 2000 and I was simply blown away by it. Since no one was in the park that day, I must have gotten 30 rides on it. Just awesome.

 

GhostRider today, isn't even worth riding. I would gladly go another 10 years without a big new coaster if it meant Ghostrider would be running like it did the first few years of operation.

Edited November 5, 2012 by Top Thrill Dragster

[Sir Clinksalot]

No question that Ghostrider would at least be in my top 3 wooden coasters (with El Toro and Phoenix) if it was running like it did in 1999-2000. If that was the case I'd probably end up at Knott's more than the 5-6 times per year I do currently.

 

I've also come to appreciate Silver Bullet a bit more in the past few years than I did when it first opened. It's still not anywhere near the top of B&M Inverted coasters but when you factor in the lackluster rides that are B&M Flyers and B&M Floorless coasters it makes Silver Bullet look better.

[Wes]

I think if they added new Timberliners it would not only increase the capacity (no seatbelts and more reliable than PTCs) but would also enhance the experience.

 

Maybe they should get them running on the Voyage before saying they should be added to other big rides.

[jray21]

It really was an amazing ride! I would love to see topper track on it. Is there ever a line for it? Anytime I go there is barely any line.

[XYZ]

I know that GhostRider can be MUCH better, but right now in the front seat, it isn't that bad of a coaster. I ranked it as my 2nd favorite woodie after Apocalypse as it still has an out-of-control feeling and the front has tolerable roughness.

[thestripedtaco]

^ The problem is a coaster shouldn't only be good in two seats or the first car.

[Sir Clinksalot]

^^ If Apocalypse and Ghostrider are your #1 and #2 Woodies it's obvious you haven't ridden very many or traveled very much.

 

Ahhh, memories. I was there once.

 

Gregg "Roar at SFDK was once my #1 woodie ... LOL" C.

[Crazy4Coasters!]

Ah Ghostrider in 1999, the days I yearn for! I'll still keep hope alive for it to return to its formal glory!!!

[thestripedtaco]

Not only is the ride rough but half neutered thanks to that MCBR that used to be barely used at all.

[XYZ]

^^ If Apocalypse and Ghostrider are your #1 and #2 Woodies it's obvious you haven't ridden very many or traveled very much.

 

Ahhh, memories. I was there once.

 

Gregg "Roar at SFDK was once my #1 woodie ... LOL" C.

 

I've ridden many coasters but since they are primarily in the West Coast, my wood to steel ratio isn't very high.

[COASTER FREAK 11]

^His point was we don't have many good wooden coasters on the west coast.

[better_by_design]

I never got a chance to ride Ghostrider when it was new and really good. For those of you who have rode it back in the day when it was good, how good was it actually? I mean was it like a top ten woodie or was it just good and top 50 or something like that. Just asking because I'm wondering how much better the ride would be with a re-track and possibly some new trains.

 

I was lucky enough to ride it the first month it was open and was blown away. I think I still have the "I rode it first t-shirt" that I was seduced into buying.

 

Fast forward to 2011 and my next visit to KBF and the sad, sad realization that time had moved on.

[UrbanLegend]

I rode it in 1999. But I was 8 and I didn't know a good coaster from a bad one. Talk about wasted potential.

[SharkTums]

It was absolutely a top ten coaster. Probably a top ten coaster through about 2003/2004ish. Then every year it's just more and more sad as it becomes rougher, more braked, and less rideable.