Martin & Cheryl's Crazy IL-WI-MS Credit Run

[milst1]

Cheryl and I did a weird little trip that brought us to the great Midwest and then down to the Deep South! We hope you enjoy!

 

We started with a flight from New York to Chicago.

First we went to Santa's Village AZoosment Park, which we've visited before, but now they have a new credit.

And it's down. Apparently it hasn't yet opened while it waits for a state inspection, or something along those lines. Oh well.

Next stop was Donley's Wild West Town.

This was a lot nicer than Fort Jefferson Fun Park in New Hampshire, which was more like a ghost town.

Non-lethal archery.

Here's the cute little credit.

I know we get shit for riding this stuff, but these things can actually be very scary and painful, and this one was.

Nice train ride with good narration (although the PA system was a little fritzy)

This did not stop Cheryl from sleeping on the flight.

Donley's also has an interesting museum full of 19th and early 20th C. artifacts, like these Edison recordings.

And these civil war relics. It was interesting and we spent some time in here.

Next stop was Great America in Gurnee, IL. We feared the worst after TPR's trip.

I know it's expensive, but it's worth it to retain my sanity.

I know these aren't anything special, but I liked this ride.

Here's the main reason for visiting.

I don't know if I could handle it. I'm getting too old.

I think we got two rides in, one in the 2nd row and one in the back. We really liked it, but I don't think it's in my Top Ten, not after two rides. OTOH, if this was my home park, I'd be trying to get on it as much as I could. I think this is only our second RMC coaster. The other is IRat. Definitely looking to ride some more of these.

Healthy dining options. I think I had started my serious dieting by this point.

Kinda cool if you're into DC.

Here's where Ragin' Cajun used to be. They've done nothing with the space.

This themed section leaves a lot to be desired, 10 years later. We stayed late and rode a bunch more stuff.

The next morning we hit the Wisconsin State Fair, thanks to the tip from Matt and Lauren.

omg

While we still don't count powered, we have started to count fair coasters, mainly because Coaster-Count makes it possible to keep track, and it's actually a little bit fun to get to know which showmen are operating and what kinds of rides they tour with. This is owned by Showtime Rides in Texas, and I met the owner, who was very nice.

Comet II used to be at the Texas State Fairgrounds, but now it travels with Wade Shows. Unfortunately it was down.

We found some other interesting rides, like this dark ride.

Here's one you don't see every day, a Zipper.

We took a stroll through the animal barns. Wisconsin's motto is "Smell our Dairy Air". lol

They were actually blow drying and styling the cows for the contests.

We saw a lot of cool Clydesdales in another barn.

This is a very huge fair.

Best of both worlds! So much good food.

Our next stop was the infamous Little Amerricka, which we'd never visited before.

Price board for 2014.

They have this kiddie...

A decent kid/family woodie, but I wanted to kill the operator, who was more interested in his lame comedy than actually dispatching trains. The sun was blazing and there was no shade in the queue. Moron.

Allan Herschell Mad Mouse, the model from which Chinese knock-offs are derived.

Then there's one of these.

They don't make 'em like this anymore. This one had another "great" operator.

On the plus side, Little Amerricka had a pretty amazing train.

Definitely one of the longer amusement park train rides I've ever seen. Now if they would just put backs on the benches.

Speaking of trains, we found another at our next stop in Wisconsin, Bay Beach Amusement Park.

This was another nice train ride, along the bay's shores.

But the real reason to visit is for "Elvis Favorite Ride" [sic]

We really liked Zippin Pippin and rerode it a bunch.

There's one super ejector point that broke our femurs, but once we knew what to expect, we were fine.

So long to Bay Beach. After a nice meal, we were up early in the AM to fly to Jackson, Mississippi.

Ten minutes after picking up the rental car in Jackson, MS, a rock hit our windshield.

Thanks to this truck.

We then drove to Brookhaven, MS, the home of the house with the coffee pot on top. Apparently this was the nation's first fast food restaurant ever.

The National Exchange Club is a service organization, albeit less well known than Rotary, Kiwanis, Lions Club, and the like. We were here for the Brookhaven, MS Exchange Club Fair. FYI, Kiwanis and Rotary each operate small amusement parks in California, and this is the only other permanent coaster that I know of that is operated by a service organization. But this one is only open one week per year.

Here's the credit.

Some crazy rides here!

Another excellent train.

How are you supposed to drive that home? What happened to the fish in a plastic bag?

Scene from the air.

Thank you Brookhaven Exchange Club. They were very nice when we introduced ourself. Of course they remembered Big Mike Betzler, who got them to run the coaster when the fair wasn't going on!

We did some other cool Mississippi stuff, like sleep in a plantation house...

...visit an Indian Burial Mound...

...see another plantation house that had burned down...

...saw the Vicksburg National Military Park, and a bunch of other things.

See my California's Great America shirt, meant to confuse everyone. Thanks for sharing this trip with us! Hope you enjoyed it!

[cfc]

The whole trip was probably worth it just for the bacon-wrapped tater tots.

[WFChris]

I was pleasantly surprised to find a Zipper running at the LA County Fair. It's strange that I can handle several re-rides on that thing but can't do the majority of the newer spin-and-puke carnival rides!

[milst1]

The whole trip was probably worth it just for the bacon-wrapped tater tots.

 

We went to three fairs this summer (Wisconsin, Washington, and the Brookhaven Exchange Club), and I'm still living off of the calories gained by THINKING about some of the food there!

[milst1]

I was pleasantly surprised to find a Zipper running at the LA County Fair. It's strange that I can handle several re-rides on that thing but can't do the majority of the newer spin-and-puke carnival rides!

 

There used to be a Zipper at Coney Island in Brooklyn, and someone actually made a documentary about Coney Island's recent changes using the Zipper as the centerpiece of the film.

[larrygator]

I will wager that you missed the walk through haunted house at Little A-Merrick-A. Am I right?

 

 

 

Well you didn't miss much, just walking around in the dark.

[milst1]

Curse you, Larry Gator!!!

[cfc]

I will wager that you missed the walk through haunted house at Little A-Merrick-A. Am I right?

 

 

 

Well you didn't miss much, just walking around in the dark.

 

Curse you, Larry Gator!!!

 

[Barge84]

I like to give you guys crap about credit whoring, but I really like your adventures. I rode the Jungle Twist last year at the Texas State Fairgrounds when TPR was there last summer, and it was insane! The toboggan was probably one of the more awkward/uncomfortable rides I've been on.

[Intaman]

The Comet II was also down during my visit to the Wisconsin State Fair (although I did ride the Puppy Express ). As for Little Amerricka, I think it's a toss-up between the toboggan and the mad mouse for most likely to cause death.

[GwaziBSRider1]

Always love your reports of your crazy trips! I don't blame you for splurging for the Flash Pass at SFGAm. I wouldn't be waiting in that 2.5 hr line either!