Photo TR: Micro East Coast 2015

[i<3coasters]

Almost 2 months ago I got an itch. I rode Twisted Colossus and quickly became obsessed with tackling some of the other RMCs, most notably Wicked Cyclone and Medusa Steel Coaster.

 

After my first TPR tour last summer, Mini New Hotness, I fell in love with the idea of making coaster trips an annual tradition. Without that option this year, and an itch to scratch, I took a look at my calendar and a coaster map, and decided the Northeast would be my best option for a trip that would be brief, but filled with new coasters that I've seen peppered throughout people's "Top 10" lists for years. I booked a flight and rental car to start and end in Philadelphia.

This is, without a doubt, the most impulsive thing I've ever done.

 

I know, that wasn't the most convenient choice if I wanted to get up to New England for Wicked Cyclone, but it was the cheapest and I'm a stubborn idiot.

 

After some feedback from friends and people on here, (many of whom told me to skip SFNE, but again, I'm a stubborn idiot), I ended up with the following plan:

 

7/19: SFNE & Lake Compounce

7/20: Hersheypark

7/22: SFGAdv

 

These stops allowed me to not only maximize the greatest and some of the most notable credits in the region, but let me hit rides I had been dying to get on for several years (Boulder Dash, Storm Runner, and El Toro) in one swoop. I had played around with the idea of squeezing another park in as well, either Knoebels or Dorney, but getting more realistic I'm glad I didn't, as my time would've been way too limited to really enjoy my trip with "credit whore" mode shut off. (...next year...)

 

I'll have 3 or 4 updates to this thread going over the days I spent back east. Hope you enjoy!

 

Here goes nothing:

 

SFNE / Lake Compounce (7/19)

 

The goals for my first day were very clear, and I knew I'd have a lot of driving in store for me to accomplish them: Wicked Cyclone, Bizarro, and Boulder Dash. I managed to get these coasters & 2 others in a short 6-hour window. As soon as I landed in Philly I started my drive north to SFNE--a drive that was actually quite beautiful and pleasant at 8AM. I arrived in Agawam just after noon and got moving. I picked up a Platinum pass, knowing I'd need it if I wanted any shot at multiple rides on Wicked Cyclone or Bizarro.

 

Here is how my afternoon went:

Wicked Cyclone x2

Lunch & Thunderbolt (while Bizarro was experiencing downtime)

Bizarro x2

Wicked Cyclone x3

 

At 5PM I left to make my way down to Bristol. Here is how my 3 hours (6PM to 9PM closing) at Lake Compounce were spent:

Boulder Dash

Wildcat

Boulder Dash x3

 

A few thoughts:

SFNE is not a particularly good park, but Wicked Cyclone and Bizarro did definitely make it worth the trip. Wicked Cyclone is easily the star of the show here, no doubt. After every lap, I found myself amazed at what a perfect coaster this thing really is. Goliath was down all afternoon (perhaps fortunately, from what I hear?) but it would have been nice to reunite with the coaster on the other side of the country 5 years later.

 

Lake Compounce on the other hand was great. I love the small local park feel, with the unpaved parking lot and free Pepsi products. I'm sure everything that can be said about this place already has been, though.

 

Here are the counts & rankings/ratings for the day:

Wicked Cyclone* x5 - Holy hell. A perfect roller coaster! Fast, airtime, airtime, airtime, twists, and more airtime! It’s also incredibly smooth and the hang time in the zero-g rolls is fantastic. 10/10.

Boulder Dash* x4 - “Whoa!” came out of my mouth about 15 times each time I rode this, maybe as many as 20 times during my final ride in the dark, front row. This coaster is truly one of the greats. 10/10.

Bizarro x2 - A really fantastic ride with some of the most intense ejector airtime I had experienced to this point (before Skyrush). It’s forceful, quick, and long. However, the restraints and awful music really take this one down a notch. 8.5/10.

Thunderbolt x1 - Charming, if a little rough at points. A nice classic woodie though. 5/10.

Wildcat (LC) x1 - Ouch. 2/10.

 

[note: * = earned a spot in my "great/top coasters/upper echelon" category as I don't do a definitive "Top 10" ranking. Only coasters that truly "wow" me get into this group.]

 

Aaaaaand photos (only a few from this day):

Made it!

It's a beautiful coaster, but damn hard to get a good, unique view of from inside the park.

A nice walk back to the car...

Yes!

<3

So cool seeing the lift ascend into the trees.

One of my favorite shots from the trip. The woods are just gorgeous on this side of the country.

Bizarro!

Obligatory.

Proud of my timing on this one.

Au revoir!

[rubysparkles]

If you liked Wicked Cyclone that much I think the stubborn part might be true, but not the idiot part.

 

I enjoyed Goliath more than Bizarro when I hit SFNE, but I didn't give Bizarro a chance in the front seat so that might have been why. Or maybe it's just not my cup of tea.

 

Can't wait to read the rest.

[coasterbill]

Bizarro used to be amazing in every seat but now it's a front seat ride. It's still very good in every seat, but it's not amazing unless you sit up front.

 

Also, I still say Thunderbolt at SFNE is one of the smoothest classic wood coasters ever. I'll never understand why so many people say it's rough. Good for you for taking the time out to ride it though even with such a short amount of time to spend at the park.

[redfoot12]

Ahhh... Missed this earlier (you can ignore my PM if you want).

I wish I had made a trip to Lake Compounce when I was in New England last year as Boulder Dash has always been high up on my list of coasters to ride.

Interested in the rest of your report and to see your thoughts on El Toro as that's my #1 overall but don't see it in your list of "wow" coasters.

 

Edit to add:

I absolutely loved Bizarro when I rode it last year and it became one of my top steel coasters. Made me wonder what I missed out on by not riding it in the 2000's.

[coneyislandchris]

I've been toying for a while with doing the SFNE / LC day trip myself, but have been wondering if it's really worth it overall. After reading this report, I'm going to try and figure out how to shoehorn it into my schedule before the operating season ends. Nice work and looking forward to the rest of your report!

[coastercrazi]

Great beginning! pics are fantastic

[i<3coasters]

I've been toying for a while with doing the SFNE / LC day trip myself, but have been wondering if it's really worth it overall. After reading this report, I'm going to try and figure out how to shoehorn it into my schedule before the operating season ends. Nice work and looking forward to the rest of your report!

 

For me, WC, Bizarro and Boulder Dash are easily worth the roughly 8 hour driving detour. 3 really amazing rides, 2 of which completely took my breath away. Boulder Dash at night is right near the top of best coaster experiences ever.

 

Also for the record, my 2 rides on Bizarro were in the front car, row 2. So I think the airtime was pretty maximized.

[i<3coasters]

Thanks everyone for your feedback so far. Here comes my favorite chapter of this story.

 

 

Day 2 / Part 2

Hersheypark (7/20)

 

After a drive down from Bristol, CT, I arrived at Hersheypark around 1PM. It was a hot and muggy Monday, but even uncomfortable weather couldn’t put a damper on this day.

 

Wow! I cannot say enough good things about this park. The coaster collection is incredible (nearly perfect if they had an A+ woodie), the atmosphere is wonderful, the food was GREAT and reasonably priced, and the history the park comes from is pretty delightful. I had a feeling I’d really like the coaster collection here, but I had no idea how blown away I’d be by everything else this park has to offer.

 

Here is the route I took through the park:

 

Skyrush

Sooperdooperlooper

Great Bear

Storm Runner x2

Fahrenheit

Wildcat

Wild Mouse

Lightning Racer

Sidewinder

Storm Runner x2

Trailblazer

Skyrush 4x

Comet

Storm Runner x2

Skyrush x4

 

I know I’m going to start sounding like a broken record, but this may be my all time favorite park along with Cedar Point. The food, the staff, the ambience, the foliage, and the Big 3! Even their non-marquee rides are excellent, and spectacularly maintained. What they’ve done with SDL is especially notable and just a delight to see, after recently having experienced the decrepit state of Revolution at SFMM.

 

Though I’ve recently seen people decrying the operations at Hersheypark in that thread, I found the dispatches to be quick, and ride ops alert & attentive. Lines moved quickly all day long when I visited, but I suppose this could have been an anomaly. The ONLY lackluster thing I may have to say about this park would be in regards to Wildcat (something I can hardly fault Hershey for).

 

Here are the totals and rankings:

Skyrush* x9 - Just insane. Easily a top coaster with an insane amount of “Whoa!” moments throughout. Few coasters have ever left me so pleasantly surprised, or actually terrified. I though Bizarro was a top coaster until I rode this. It’s not a perfect coaster, but it will knock your socks off for damn sure. 10/10

Storm Runner* x6 - WOW! And I thought Xcelerator was a gem… This thing has a great launch, amazing airtime, twisty stuff, and a beautiful Immelman, with a quick and intense finale. Why doesn’t this coaster getting more recognition on here?? I found this thing to be perfectly pased, and just intense enough to be infinitely re-rideable. 10/10

Fahrenheit x1 - Intense and loopy! The lift and drop are fantastic. In terms of favoritism though, I’ve come to prefer airtime & speed over inversions. 8/10

Great Bear x1 - Great interaction with the other coaters & landscape, perfect zero-g roll. Close to the upper tier of my favorite inverts (Banshee & Flight Deck (CGA). 8/10

Wild Mouse x1 - No trims! Best Wild Mouse I’ve been on to date. 7/10

Sooperdooperlooper x1 - I was really impressed w/ how well this ride has been maintained, having poor old Revolution back home. The trains were clean and comfortable, and the Schwarzkopf loop still packs a punch. A wonderful classic. 7/10

Lightning Racer x1 - Quick and low to the ground, but not very intense or memorable. 7/10

Comet x1 - Charming, fun, classic out-and back woodie. Great views of Skyrush as well. 7/10

Sidewinder x1 - A boomerang, but the restraints really save this one. 6/10

Trailblazer x1 - Not a bad Arrow mine train. Not much to say about it otherwise. 5/10

Wildcat x1 - Shaky, forceless, and a bit of a snooze. This ride made me realize I really do not give a crap about GCI’s (Gold Striker exempt). 3/10

 

 

Aaaaandd the pictures…

Welcome to Hershey!

The excitement is palpable.

Caught!

It looks so much better than it feels...

Dat lighting doe...

Kind-of fly-by!

Fahrenheit!

Such a great looking station building.

Big 3!

Wood & smokestacks.

97º

Love.

LOVE.

LOVE!

Here's where the "Oh, sh!t," begins...

...and keeps going.

[DILinator]

Nice TR, and pictures!

 

Along with BGW and CP, Hersheypark is in my top 3 parks! I love the place! I definitely agree abut Storm Runner! A very excellent and underrated coaster indeed! Glad you had such a good time!

[TBpony414]

I haven't been up to NE area yet. I'm glad you got on plenty of rides on Storm Runner... it's one of my fav coasters ever! Can't wait to see your thoughts on El Toro

[805Andrew]

I loved the coaster collection and atmosphere at Hersheypark. I agree that Stormrunner is underrated thanks to Skyrush being at the same park. I actually liked Stormrunner a bit better than Skyrush and thought it was more fun. Was Laff Trakk open when you went?