steel Posted June 3, 2006 Posted June 3, 2006 I went to Adventureland in Altoona, Iowa on a school trip last Wednesday. I apologize in advance for the disposable camera pictures. We weren't allowed to bring digicams. Just some background info: We had three worksheets to do - one on Tornado, one on Galleon, and one on the Log Ride, whose name no one really knows. These worksheets had questions such as: "Where does a train on Tornado have the most gravitational potential energy?," "Draw a diagram showing where Galleon has the most kinetic energy.," and "What kind of energy is lost as the log ride moves down the largest drop?" Stuff like that. Also, we had a 1:00 check in to get the log ride worksheet. So we left school at 9:00 and got to Adventureland at about 9:25 - a half hour before the park was open. This was not a problem, however, because it took about that long for a teacher to go get all the tickets (for some reason Adventureland will not allow the school to buy tickets in advance). When we finally entered the park with our first two worksheets (Tornado and Galleon), we headed to Space Shot, an S&S Space Shot (go figure). Space Shot: 97%, A; One of the three best rides in the park. I've always enjoyed this ride. The launch is much more powerful than you'd expect. You also get some great views of the park and Altoona at the top. This was also fun because my Science and Math teachers were on the same shot as us. After Space Shot we finished up the Tornado worksheet and most of the Galleon worksheet - we couldn't finish all of it at this point because it required some watching of the actual ride. Next we headed to Tornado, an out-and-back woodie. Tornado: 97%, A; Another one of the park's three best rides. Tornado is packed with airtime. It has a surprising headchopper and a very intense turnaround, especially in the back row. It was also a lot of fun to ride with one of my favorite teachers of the year. I've never known anyone of that age who can scream quite that loud. Next up was Dragon, a double looping coaster. Dragon: 46%, F; I actually used to like this coaster. The only mildly interesting parts are the two loops. Out of the station there are some bunny hops, followed by the lift hill, a drop with rampishfulness to rival Silver Bullet, back-to-back vertical loops, and two of the roughest, brain-throbbingest, lung-crushingest, kidney-burstingest helixes out there. Ugh. Then came Sidewinder, a Mini Giant Frisbee. Sidewinder: 97%, A; The final member of the park's top three. I could ride this all day. I only wish it I could knock the "Mini" off and make it a true Giant Frisbee. Then was Sawmill Splash, a water ride. Sawmill Splash: 88%, B+; I don't like water rides all that much anymore, but Sawmill Splash is a lot of fun. Basically, it's a lift hill, a downward helix, and a double drop in a comfortable raft with no safety restraints. Usually you don't even get very wet - we were unlucky. The raft was weighted the wrong way at the bottom and we got a bit of a tidal wave. I think a Six Flags park is getting a ride like this, si? Outlaw, a wooden twister was next. Outlaw: 93%, A-; I like this ride more than I used to. Now that I've experienced teh roughness that is Timber Wolf, I remind myself to sit near the front the first time on woodies. Outlaw is immeasurabely better in the front. It also has a super-fantastical first drop. Then we got some MINI DONUTS (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) and moved toward Galleon to finish the worksheet before the 1:00 check in. We did so, finishing the worksheet in the process, and got the log ride worksheet at check in. We did Space Shot a few more times before heading to the front of the park to play the coolest game ever: BINGO! It's a nice air conditioned room with some pretty nice prizes and 50 cent Bingo. Somehow, I managed to win my first time. Even better, I beat my English teacher! I claimed an Adventureland bag for a prize. This bag was later christened "Dork Bag." Next, we played some Ski-Ball, because Ski-Ball owns you. I went with another friend over to G-Force, one of those rare spinning attractions that is actually fun. G-Force: 89%, B+; This ride throws all sorts of surprises at you. I know there are a bunch exactly like it (I can't think of the generic name for the ride - Breakdance? Dance? Something along those lines anyway), but this one owns you like Ski-Ball. I rode it four conscutive times without any motion sickness! We then started back to the park's river rapids ride, but it always has a long line and I don't feel it's worth it, so I went back to my other friends. We got some more mini donuts and a 25 cent foot massage (wahoo!). I was then forced to ride two kiddie rides. Puff the Dragon: 0%, F; Stupid. No reason to ride when over 3 years old. Chuck Wagon: 0%, F; Pointless. No reason to ride when over 3 years old. We then rode Sidewinder a few more times, before hitting Outlaw one last time and taking the sky ride back to the enterance. We got back to school at 4:00. Overall, this was the coolest school trip I've ever been on. If only we lived in Sandusky... More photos will be added later. Tornado's turnaround from Outlaw's station The back half of Outlaw, as seen from its station A close-up of the sugary goodness (insert Halleluia Chorus here) I'm pretty sure they call their log ride "River Rapids." Taken from the sky ride. Entertainment wandering aimlessly through the park Adventureland is actually a very nice park to look at OMFG!!!! I LOVE THIS PARK!!!! Dragon as seen from Tornado's exit Dragon's pre-lift
steel Posted June 3, 2006 Author Posted June 3, 2006 Thanks for the comment! I don't bother with Underground anymore. It's quite stupid and boring. It most likely has some sort of record for having the most idiotic screaming contests daily. I'll have pictures up in a moment.
ECZenith Posted June 3, 2006 Posted June 3, 2006 Nice TR steel... What do you mean by mini giant frisbee? What make and model is the ride? Sounds interesting. Also, forgive my ignorance, but what is the "underground?"
apollo210 Posted June 3, 2006 Posted June 3, 2006 The Underground is the only enclosed woodie in the world (I think). It was made by CCI and its 1000ft long.
steel Posted June 3, 2006 Author Posted June 3, 2006 ECZenith - Sidewinder is a smaller version of the bigger Giant Frisbees. Underground hardly qualifies as a coaster in my opinion. It's a dark ride themed around an abandoned mine.
mike541x Posted June 3, 2006 Posted June 3, 2006 Cool! Your lucky, our school never plans trips to amusment parks even for our 8th grade gradution.
TheGreatOne Posted June 3, 2006 Posted June 3, 2006 ^How big are underground's drops? Not big at all. From what I gather, it's a enclosed family coaster. Regardless, I'd love to get to Iowa's Adventureland...and hopefully will in 2007.
pcw guy Posted June 3, 2006 Posted June 3, 2006 my school sucks. everyone that was taking math got a feild trip to wonderland, but that is only for people in second symester math. I have even taken a course on coasters and no trip. My school sucks!
apollo210 Posted June 3, 2006 Posted June 3, 2006 Nice PTR steel! I want to get to Iowa some day, but i don't think I'll be able to make it there. Anyways, 1/3 of the 6th grade at my school (including me) went to Canobie Lake park and we had to fill out and ride 3 rides, and one of them WAS THE CORKSCREW! The worksheets wer easy thouogh and I did have a good time riding the other 6 rides I rode (Even the Antique Careosul and Timbersplash) but hated the Corkscrew! Mayb its just it was my first rough coaster.
Jon Sabo Posted June 3, 2006 Posted June 3, 2006 Nice photo's. From the looks of the coaster, I think that was one of the few rides done by O.D. Hopkins...right? I think they designed about 5 or 6 coasters (2-AZ, 1-NC, this ptr shot, and another one in TX.)
steel Posted June 3, 2006 Author Posted June 3, 2006 ^How big are underground's drops? What drops? Yeah, Kumba, I am pretty sure Dragon is a Hopkins coaster. They built seven according to RCDB. Thanks for all your amazing and utterly magnificent comments.
Canobie Fan Posted June 3, 2006 Posted June 3, 2006 Adventurelands "firsbee" is a Moser ride just like the one at Knoebels.
rbpia Posted June 4, 2006 Posted June 4, 2006 Great TR! Did you ride the Splash Over??? Haven't heard how this ride is yet. I'm going to try and go to A-land on Friday and the either Worlds of Fun or Great America on Saturday/Sunday. I'll do my 1st PTR when I get back.
steel Posted June 4, 2006 Author Posted June 4, 2006 I didn't ride SplashOver this time because I can't stand topspins when the water jets are on, but I've ridden it before. First, it doesn't pin you down nearly as much as your average topspin. Also, instead of your regular backflip finale, SplashOver has a frontflip finale. This seems awesome at first, but its awesomeness drops immeasurabely when you remember you are male. The brakes kick in hard several times (to stop you from flipping) and the back of your head doesn't like this. One more thing - at one point, you are held in position so long that you are actually upside down at the bottom, where the ride loads. And don't bring anything on the ride that could fall off or out. People will think Adventureland is your home park (long story). Canobie Fan - I am pretty sure that Sidewinder is a Huss ride. I could swear I've seen the word "Huss" on it somewhere. The restraints are about the same. Doesn't Huss have a smaller model of their Giant Frisbee?
apollo210 Posted June 4, 2006 Posted June 4, 2006 don't forget Kumba,Theres one in NH that I rode when I was 6! Its at Story Land in GLen NH
pvcoasterguy Posted June 4, 2006 Posted June 4, 2006 ^^ Steel, I am sure that Sidewinder was by Moser. It was the first one of their frisbees sold. And, if I'm not mistaken, the one at Knobels has the exact same theme. Also, Splash Over was made by Moser. They make really good replicas of Huss rides (Sidewinder is great, hopefully Splash Over will be also.) Anyway, great TR. I'm heading to Mt. Olympus next Sunday, and Adventureland the Friday and Saturday after that.
steel Posted June 4, 2006 Author Posted June 4, 2006 ^Mt. Olympus rules. Okay, Mt. Olympus as a park is kind of crap, but Hades, Cyclops, and Zeus rule. Don't forget Timber Falls. Top five woodie right there. Also, I checked TN, and yeah, Sidewinder is Moser. I promise I'll have more photos up soon.
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