2008 Coaster Awards

What a great year! With 2008 ending and 2009 ready to begin, it is time to look back on the highlights of our past year focusing on the best rides and moments of 2008. Starting this blog was something that I promised myself I would do this past year. While it is far from the best site on the web, I still hope that those of you reading have received some information that has helped you on your coaster endeavors. Mainly, the bog itself is a way to fuel my obsession, but oh well. Anyway, in 2009 look for the site to change slightly. I have reviewed a large majority of the top coasters in the United State and Canada. I am sure that no one wants to read a post about kiddie coasters, so I will begin writing more trip reports with updated reviews of the main coasters at the park and smaller reviews of other rides including flats. As usual, there will be plenty of great pics from Julia and Guy who are two of the best coaster photographers in the business. I am hoping to update at least twice a week in 2009. Please let your friends know about us and feel free to post our link on your site.

Now, on to this past years' awards.

Obsession Coaster of the Year: Ravine Flyer II at Waldameer Park. For the past three years, Guy and myself (ok, mainly me) have obsessed about coasters. I normally have one ride each year that I continuously ride online and even dream about. Yep, that's weird but I'm sure there are other 36 year old college graduates who dream about roller coasters, aren't there? Anyway, this year the RFII gets the award. I started with Behemoth this but once I discovered that this wonderful woodie would be up and running it took over the top spot. Diamondback at King's Island is the definite front runner of 2009. 2007 Winner - Maverick at Cedar Point. 2006 Winner - Cedar Point Park (Guy obsessed about this for years).

Best Old School Moment: 10 consecutive laps on the Starliner at Cypress Gardens in January. The Coaster Reviews staff is nothing if not Old School. We listen to old school music, play old school games, and love old school rides. It dates back, I guess, to the hundreds of laps Guy and myself put on the Lake Winnie Cannon Ball (review below) when we were in elementary school. Julia also has some great old school memories of the Giant Dipper out in Santa Cruz. For that reason, this award consists of numerous laps and great times on preferably an old woodie, although our 50 laps on Goliath at Six Flags Over Georgia on opening day received some consideration for the pure number of rides. The Starliner (review below) was one of our best experiences this past January as we never even had to leave our seat. The park was dead, it was freezing cold, but we were bundled up in our hoodies and rode until the park closed. It was a great night to be a nerd coaster enthusiast. Other great old school moments include 10 laps on Blue Streak at Cedar Point, my ride on Great White at Morey's Piers for my 300th coaster, and our 33 rides on the Holiday World woodies in less than 3 hours. 2007 Winner: 10 laps in under an hour on the Ozark Wildcat in Branson, Missouri. 2006 Winner: A front seat ride on the Beast at King's Island

during our first ever coaster trip.

Best View - Ravine Flyer II at Waldameer Park. Looks like my obsession coaster is still an obsession. The RFII offers a great view of the Lake Erie coastline with the water crashing up on the rocks as you crest the first hill. It is absolutely gorgeous. That feeling of peace simply warms you heart, until you dive down and cross the highway at over 60 MPH. Other rides with great views are the Swamp Fox at Myrtle Beach which offers a super view of the Atlantic Ocean and the Skyliner at Lakemont park which overlooks a minor league baseball stadium. 2007 Winner: Desperado in the middle of the Nevada Desert. 2006 Winner: Millennium Force at Cedar Point with its view of Lake Erie.

"New" Ride of the Year. Now, this category does not consist of a "new ride" that has been built in 2008. It is given to the best coaster that we rode during this year that we have never ridden. For that reason, we had some great rides to choose from including Boulder Dash at Lake Compounce, the Coney Island Cyclone, and the other two Superman hyper coasters in both Largo, Maryland and Darien Lake, NY. The argument could even been made for the previously mentioned Ravine Flyer II and Behemoth. However, the winner is the legendary Phoenix at Knoebels. I will not review the ride here since there is a very lengthy review already on this site, however I will say that this is a "can't miss" coaster for anyone reading this blog. 2007 Winner: El Toro in Jackson, NJ and Superman: ROS at Agawam Mass. 2006 Winner: Millennium Force at Cedar Point.

And now for the biggie.....Best Ride of 2008. Once again, let me explain this category. This is not necessarily the best coaster we rode this year. If you are looking for a ranking of the top coasters in the world, you can click on the pics to the left and see our opinions there. Or you can check out Amusement Today's Golden Ticket Awards in which the top coasters in the industry are honored. There is also Mitch Hawker's online coaster poll which has just posted its 2008 results. No, what we are about is the coaster that delivers the best single ride for us in 2008. There were tons to choose from. There was the great front seat ride on Boulder Dash on July 4th in the pitch black of night. A day prior was our great ride on the Coney Island Cyclone, the most famous coaster in the world. There was the front seat night ride on the legendary Beast this past September. There was the infamous "bug ride" on Top Thrill Dragster in which we finally waited for the front and Guy was plastered with about a thousand bugs because he rode on the side with the lights, and finally the Millennium Force ride later that night in which the fog from Millennium Island blacked out virtually all of the lights. However, the winner is a coaster that neither of the three of us even have in our Top

25's. It is also being currently re-themed around that wonderful teen-age magician Harry Potter despite winning the Golden Ticket for "Best Themed Ride" for the past three years. Our Ride of the Year took place in January on the Dueling Dragons inverted coaster at Islands of Adventure in Orlando, Fl in the middle of a lightning storm. Once again, the review (and a lengthy description of the ride itself) is posted on the site so I'll let you scroll down if you want to read the entire thing, but I will say that after this ride I now have an idea what riding a dragon might possibly be like. 2007 Winner: A front seat night ride on Holiday World's Raven as the park was closing. 2006 Winner: My first ever Millennium Force ride, which still holds strong as my favorite coaster.

And there you have it. For those of you that read that entire post, thanks. I have had a great time in 2008 riding coasters and enjoying the fellowship of my best friends. I look forward to much of the same in 2009 as God continues to heap blessing after blessing upon my life.

Voodoo - Dorney Park (PA)

Date Ridden: Summer of 2008. Times Ridden: 1 in back of the train.

Voodoo is a Intamin impulse coaster which was moved to Dorney Park for the 2008 season from the now defunct Geauga Lake in Ohio. I visited Dorney twice this past summer and was lucky that the coaster was up and running on my second trip.

The ride itself is very similar to Wicked Twister at Cedar Point with the only difference being that instead of twisted spikes on each end, there is only one twisted spike and a straight piece on the other side. One the side with the straight piece of track however, on the final climb up the brakes do catch you for a really scary moment before dropping the train back down for its final run up the twisted end.

Voodoo is a short but fun ride which garners an above average rating of 8. The capacity is horrible but we were lucky to hit the ride on entering the park before the line grew too long. It is a solid addition to a very underrated and unique coaster line-up at the Pennsylvania theme park.

The Comet - Great Escape (NY)

Date Ridden: = Summer of 2008. Times Ridden: 3 in the front, middle and back of the train.

One again, I find myself thinking back to great ride this past summer on an old wooden roller coaster with tons of character. The Comet was originally the Crystal Beach Comet which opened in 1948. The coaster was relocated and has been in operation at the Six Flags in which it currently resides since 1994. It is a wooden coaster with steel supports and offers a very fun ride with its lap bars and double out-and-back design.

The Comet is consistently ranked among the top 50 wooden coasters in the world. It is also the only unique ride The Great Escape offers. There is a boomerang, a sit-down looper, a fairly lengthy main train ride, and a toboggan but the Comet is by far the best ride in the park. It is located at the very back of the park so lines according to most observers are normally minimal. I personally rode three times in less than 30 minutes.

The ride itself offers some great airtime at 3 or 4 points throughout the course. The lap bars are not constrictive and the trains are well taken care of. There is also a board in the station telling the history of the coaster which is a nice touch for nerds like myself. While not being the greatest coaster in existence, the Comet is still a great ride that oozes history. It gets a solid 8 from the Coaster Reviews staff.

Ride the Comet below.

Boomers Trip Report (November of 2008) and Dania Beach Hurricane Review

Living in the deep south, winter is definitely not coaster riding season. However, this year I have been extremely blessed to visit Dollywood (trip report forthcoming), Knotts Berry Farm back in October and a couple of weeks ago I long drive down to Miami to ride with of the only coaster in Florida that I had not ridden: the Dania Beach Hurricane. I have to say the the trip was worth it.

Boomers is a medium-sized family fun center offering a number of arcade games, a few different go-kart tacks (including the longest one in the world which is over a mile in length), a couple of mini-golf courses and finally the coaster itself. The coaster is a separate attraction not included in the other entertainment packages. You actually even have to by your tickets at the coaster itself and not inside where the games are. Obviously the best deal is the 12 dollar all you can ride wristband.

We arrived when the park opened and were the first in line for the coaster. We took three rides on it riding in the front, back and middle of the train. There was no line at all, however the park policy is to make each guest get up and walk around the que for a re-ride. This is necessitated by having to re-scan your wristband each time at the entrance to the line. That is a pain, but is still no overly inconvenient since it is a very short walk.

We left the park, (no desire to ride go-karts or play mini-golf and arcade games are not our thing) visited a few sites around Miami, drove a ways our toward the Key West, and then came back that night for another 7 rides. I was really looking forward to night rides, however the coaster is so well lit that there are no dark sections. There is virtually no difference from riding at night time or in the daylight hours.

Now, onto the ride itself. The Hurricane is one of the most underrated woodies I have ridden. Surprisingly, the front set offers the most air with five moments of serious ejector airtime and a number of floater moments. The back is almost as good well the middle part of the train only offers two moments of air. The track offers an out-and-back design with twister elements leading to a very fun and unique ride. The first big drop and the final bunny hills are definitely the best parts of the ride.

Even that night, there was virtually no one riding the coaster. I think 8 people was the most we ever had on a train. I imagine the ride would be much better with a full train, but I will not complain about the short lines. Overall, I will give the Hurricane a very solid 8 and place right up there the Starliner (formerly at Cypress Gardens) as the best woodies south of Thunderhead. Boomers itself looks like a great place to take the kids for a half a day or so with short lines, lots of games and some unique mini-gold courses and go-kart tracks. If you are a coaster enthusiast, the coaster is well worth the drive south from Orlando.

Coaster Types - The (In)Famous Boomerang

As most coaster enthusiasts are aware (and the general public sometimes is not) not all roller coasters are unique. Many coaster companies design a ride and then clone it out to a number of different parks. Batman: The Ride, located at various 6 Flags parks is one such example. Another common type of clone are Mad Mouse coasters which feature a number of switchbacks at the top of the course followed by a few small hills.

And then there are the Boomerangs.

In speaking for most members of the coaster enthusiast community, I can honestly say that these things are absolutely despised. I honestly do not know where the world's first ever Boomerang is located (maybe a visitor to the site might know), but these coasters are so numerous at various parks throughout the world that they are difficult to count. In my 330 coasters alone, there are twelve different versions of Boomerangs. They have various names, are painted different colors, and even offer different rides based on the upkeep of the track and the train wheels, but the designs are all the same.

A Boomerang is a very simple coaster. The train is pulled backward out the station up a lift hill that is normally around 100 feet tall. The chain disengages sending the train roaring the station and into a cobra roll double inversion, through a vertical loop and up the incline where the chain engages again and tows the train up, forward this time. At the top, the chain once again releases and the whole thing is repeated again (except the vertical loop is first this time) with the train coming to stop on the original lift hill and easing back into the station.

For the most part, the rides are very uncomfortable with restraints that come over the shoulders (called OTSR's) and cause lots of ear banging when flying through the inversions. Also, waits are usually very lengthy since the rides are popular with the general public (people like to go upside down and in Boomerangs you go upside down 6 times) and the fact that due to the construction it is only possible to run one train. I have waited up to an hour for one of these before simply to get the credit added to my coaster count.

Most Boomerangs also have down time issues. Once again due to the construction, many problems occur which lead to the coasters being down and not running a great deal of time. So anyway, since this is a review site, how are these scored? Well, the best Boomerang I have ever ridden was in HersheyPark, PA (called the Sidewinder) which I would give maybe a 6 due to its smoothness. Most of these rides score in the 5 range with a couple (Tidal Wave at Trimper's Rides in NJ and the Sea Serpent at Morey's Piers also in NJ) scoring in the 2 range due to roughness. For the most part Boomerangs are below average rides which do not offer anything unique once you have ridden one.

As an alternative, there are number of Boomerangs which feature the same track lay-out but offer trains which set below the track (inverts) and have seats which face one another. Two Face - The Flip Side at Six Flags Great America in Maryland and the Invertigo coasters at the former Paramount parks in Ohio and California are rides of this type. While the trains are different, the ride experiences are still the same: right at a 5 and very uncomfortable.

If you find yourself in line for a Boomerang, I would suggest the middle of the train. The front and back seat go through the inversions with much more force causing a great deal more discomfort than the middle seats. A well-kept coaster ridden in the middle of the train can offer a decent ride, but seriously, once you have ridden one, why bother? I guess if you are an OCD coaster geek, it's so you can count it and put it on your website.

Listed below are the Boomerangs I have currently ridden.

The Bat at Canada's Wonderland.

The Boomerang at Worlds of Fun in MO, Knotts in CA, the Great Escape in NY, Wild Adventures in GA, and Darien Lake also in NY.

The previously mentioned Sea Serpent and Tidal Wave in NJ.

The Sidewinder in PA.

The Zoomerang at Lake Compounce in CT as well as the Invertigo coasters and the Two Face ride previously mentioned.

Ride a Boomerang below.

Phantom's Revenge - Kennywood (PA)

Date Ridden: Summer of 2007. Times Ridden - 1 in the second seat from the front.

Wow....it's been a while since I've posted an update. I have been out of town the past two weekends with a surprise trip to Dollywood (trip report and some great pics forthcoming) and a trek down to Miami to ride the Dania Beach Hurricane. It's been tough going online during the week with school and laundry to do, so I find myself without an update for well over a week. As punishment, I decided on a review that I have postponed for a long time.

To begin with, I really do not like to review coasters that I have only ridden one time. It is very difficult to get the feel for a good coaster without multiple rides. In this case, I feel that this is justified since I really was not all that excited over a coaster that receives raves through the enthusiast community. Phantom's Revenge was originally called the Steel Phantom and was the world's first hyper-looping coaster. With a drop of over 200 feet (its actually the 2nd drop and not the first) and a number of inversions, the ride itself was a landmark ride. However, the general public decided that speeds of over 80MPH and corkscrews should not go together so the inversions were scrapped and changed into airtime hills at the end of the course. The ride went from an ear-baning torture device to one of the top ten steel coasters in the world.

During the Top Ten Trek of 2007, this was actually the ride I was looking forward to the most. We arrived at Kennywood early on a Saturday in June to what we thought were sparse crowds. We went straight to the ride and had only a station wait. What I though would be less than 10 minutes turned into a 30 minute ordeal because only 1 train was being used and the ride ops were among the slowest I have ever seen, particularly the one sitting in a folding chair and eating popcorn. We were looking at multiple rides but with only a couple of hours to spend at the park and 4 other coasters to ride, one ride was we were able to get in. The ride itself was fun but did not offer the insane airtime I had been reading about. Again, that could be because we were close to the front since the 2nd seat had the shortest wait. Most reviews I have read state that the back of the train is preferable. However, I can only rate my experience and while it was good, it was not great either.

Positives include the bright green track, the large 2nd drop down through the structure of the wooden coaster, Thunderbolt (maybe this is where the popcorn lady was....I don;t remember) and the unique trains and restraints. As you can see form the picture, the sign itself is also very cool.

So anyway, one of the greatest coasters in the world gets only an 8 from me. I do hope to return to Kennywood this summer to put in some more laps on this well-respected ride. As a side note, a lot of the track is being replaced this winter by the park so Phantom's Revenge could offer a different ride next year.

Overall Rating - 8

Ride Phantom's Revenge below.

The Cannon Ball - Lake Winnepesaukah - (GA)

Date Ridden: Numerous times with the last being in August of 2008. Times Ridden: Well over 100.

For my 100th post, I was looking for a special review and there is not a more special coaster on my ride list than the Cannon Ball at Lake Winnie.

To begin with, I am certain that this was my first ever roller coaster. I can remember growing up and visiting Lake Winnie right at the end of each summer with our church. We would spend the entire day there with great fellowship, great food, and a gazilion laps on the Cannon Ball. The trips were always a highlight of every summer I had while growing up here in the mountains of northwest Georgia.

Last year, I visited the park again for the first time in many years and was proud of the condition of the park in general and there star attraction. Many wooden coaster which are painted white suffer from neglest which leads to a run-down looking ride. The Cannon Ball is kept meticulously clean and aparkling. The trains are like new and the ride itself is as smooth as any modern wooden coaster. The track is short both in height at a little over 70 feet and in ride length which is probably not much over a minute, but it is still a fun little out-and-back woodie with surprising pops of airtime.

When I was younger, I did not have a clue about airtime, but I knew that the last hop going into the brake run would seriously toss you out of your seat if you didn't hold on tight. I am proud to say that that moment is still there and thanks to the simply buzzbar restraints, you still get some pretty good ejector at the end.

I visited again in August this year and put in four more laps on it. I had a blast riding alone and enjoying a fun element from my past vringing back memories which were always pleasant. I loved the Cannon Ball when I was smaller and still love it today despite it not being overly large or fast. I think that it is obvious by now what types of rides I prefer. I do not care about inversions, intensity, or records. I care about the visual aspect of the ride and the experience it gives me. I enjoy some rides with inversions (Montu, Volcano, Kraken, etc.), some with intensity (Voyage, Magnum, and Boulder Dash) and even some record holders (Dragster, Millennium Force, and El Toro) but I still like simple little coasters the Starliner at Cypress Gardens, the Swamp Fox in Myrtle Beach, and the king of them all, the Phoenix at Knoebels. The Canon Ball fits into that latter category of visually appealing rides that offer a superb experience. It will always hold a special place in my heart.

The final rating is difficult to give. The coaster itself probably scores in the 7 range but my experiences have been 9's and 10's. For that matter, I will go with a solid 8.

Ride the Cannon Ball below. The video does not do this little ride justice

Toboggan - Lakemont Park in PA and Trimper's Rides in NJ

Date Ridden: Both in the summer of 2008. Times Ridden: 1 each.

Torture devices!! Some rides are simply rough. Others are intense. Some are downright painful but the two installations of the Toboggan at these separate parks are beyond all of those things.

The cars are very cramped and uncomfortable to simply sit in much less move through a course. However, add in the fact of a 90 degree vertical lift that feels as if it will tear itself apart at any time, a sickening circular downward spiral and two or three "bunny-hops" at the end and you have the recipe for an entire bottle of Excedrin.

In all seriousness, while one of my riding partners calls these things "The Great-Grandaddy of Fahrenheit", I tend to agree with the other riding partner. Break out the dynamite, a short fuse, and a box of matches. Implode these things for goodness sakes.

Overall Rating - 2 (only because I have a special coaster that ranks as a 1)

The Georgia Scorcher - Six Flags Over Georgia (GA)

Date Ridden: Numerous times in the past three years. Times Ridden: Around 10 or so.

Have I mentioned that I really don;t like stand-up or flying coasters? Cause I don't.

The Scorcher is probably my favorite of all stand-up coasters simply because it is the shortest. I did discuss in my Mantis review

about the "Turtle Method" of riding which cuts down on ear bashing a great deal. However, the simple fact of the matter is that these things are just not comfortable. The elements of this specific ride are unique as the coaster at one point flies through the vertical loop but overall it seems to be lacking in fun. In addition, the location at the very front of the park makes this ride one of the longest waits at the entire park as most people enter the gates in jump

straight in line. One good tip is to avoid this at all costs until the afternoon when the lines are much shorter and spend your early hours riding Goliath, Superman, and Batman. That is if you even really want to ride this. Coaster Reviews give this ride a 7 since it is not too uncomfortable. However, this is far from a world class ride despite the unique standing position.

Raven and Legend Picture Updates.

Anyone who has been consistently reading our blog knows about our wonderful trip Holiday World back in September. We had a great 4 hours with walk-on rides on all three of their world class woodies. The key for me personally was my three front seat rides on the Legend which I feel is among the most underrated coasters in existence. When ridden on the front it is a perfect 10 with high 9's on every other seat. Within the next few days, I have been forced to adjust my Top 20 thanks to outstanding rides on The Beast in Ohio and these rides on The Legend. The Legend itself offers a fast ride (it feels as fast as any woodie I have ever ridden) and some insane ejector air in the middle of the course. The only thing I have missed out on is a night ride of which are supposed to be totally insane.

As far as The Raven, it is still a short piece of coaster perfection. Great views on the front, ejector air on the back, and a smooth and fast ride through the woods keeps the coaster ranked highly. It is simply amazing that a small park like Holiday World has these three amazing coasters that are so meticulously kept. If one only rides each coaster once, the $35.00 spent would still be a bargain. There are enthusiasts who might argue for the woodies of Knoebels or maybe Kennywood, but in my humble opinion, Holiday World rules them all. Enjoy the pics.

Superman-Ultimate Flight - Six Flags Over Georgia (GA)

Date Ridden: Numerous times since its creation with the last time earlier this year (2008). Times Ridden: Many

When it was first built by roller coaster designers Bolliger and Mabillard, SUF was the newest of the new. I think the original design for this was ride was, and still is, located in Chicago. There is also another version in New Jersey but all three rides feature identical lay-outs. The unique feature each coaster has is that they offer riders the flying position in which to ride. When I first rode Superman before my OCD coaster days, I thought it was great since it was something new. However, I have since discovered that riding a coaster in the flying position is uncomfortable and really not all that much fun. I would personally rather sit down and enjoy my coasters, not hang in them facing the ground.

Superman is very short with really only two notable elements: an insane feeling pretzel loop which is very early in the ride and a zero-g roll which comes right at the end. Both of these version feel very strange from the riding position and the pretzel loop offer very strong forces pinning the riders into their seats.

However, to me these coasters are simply gimmicks. There are no world-class flying or standing coasters (some people would argue about Tatsu out in California...that review will be later). The lines are normally horrid with slow load times due to the large amount of machinery necessary for these contraptions. Even a station wait is going to be around 20-30 minutes at SFOG. Overall, the Superman ride is well-themed and scores in the 8 range. It is a unique experiences if you have never ridden a flyer before but once should be enough.

Check out the offride footage below of this version of the ride in Georgia.

Xcelerator - Knotts Berry Farm (CA)

Date Ridden: First in 2006 and then a few different times since. Times Ridden: 9

For all of you Top Thrill Dragster fans (and Kingda Ka fans as well), let it be known those rides would not exist had it not been for the prototype located out in Buena Park, CA. Xcelerator was the first of the launch coasters and despite its relatively tame height (a little over 200 feet....hehe) in comparison to the two monsters listed above, it is still very worth of its place in the top steel coasters in the world.

That launch is well over 80 MPH so it gets you out of there and up the top hat in a hurry. Where Xcelerator differs is that there is more track than just an up and over the hill. There are a couple of overbanked turns taken at a very fast rate of speed and then a violent stop on the brakes at the end. Overall, Xcelerator is a total adrenaline rush from the launch to the brake run.

It is easily my second favorite Intamin launched coaster behind only TTD. The restraints are identical to those found on the Dragster which leads to a more intense experience than Kingda Ka. The two trains are dispatched quickly and the race car theme of the attraction is top notch as well.

As a footnote, the ride has been down for the last three weeks and is not supposed to be up for another two. It has had some issues with downtime in the past, so you do run a risk if missing out on the coaster when visiting. Keep that in mind when putting together travel plans.

In conclusion, Xcelerator is solidly entrenched in my top 10 steel coasters. it is a smooth yet intense launch coaster which is loads of fun, particularly in the front seat at night when you have an unobstructed view of Buena Park. It grades out as a solid 9.

Ride Xcelerator below.

The Georgia Cyclone - Six Flags Over Georgia (GA)

Date Ridden: Various times over the past 15 years with the latest being Opening Day 2008. Times Ridden: Many

To begin with, I am very proud of my home park. We have one of the top 10 steel coasters in the world according to both Mitch's poll and the Golden Tickets, a well respected steel looper in Mindbender, and also a strong woodie which gets solid reviews from most enthusiasts in the GA Cyclone.

While the Cyclone is not among my favorite rides, it is still a solid ride which gives tons airtime and lots of fun. The ride is not rough as other reviews say. It is simply the design and layout which leads to a very intense ride. Are you going to get slammed around? Yes. Are you going to get thrown from your seat on approximately a half dozen occasions? Yes. Are you going to tossed from one side of your seat to the next? Yes again because that is the way the ride is set up.

I personally prefer the back seat to any other area of the train. Unbelievably the ride seems just as intense but maybe a little smoother back there than up front or in the middle. Plus the airtime is really extreme......not El Toro extreme but very good nonetheless.

The GA Cyclone gets a solid 8 from me and a spin or two on every trip I make down to Austell.

Goliath - Six Flags Over Georgia (GA)

A good review for this ride has been a long time coming. To begin with, I was lucky enough to be able to ride this monster back in its inaugural year of 2006. It instantly jumped into my Top 10 since I had only ridden about 50 coasters total. It stayed there for a long time and is currently ranked # 11 in my overall rankings, # 4 among my steel coasters, and # 6 according to The Amusement Today Golden Tickets. It is hard to believe that a world-class steel coaster is located a mere two hours from my house.

Thanks to the closeness of this ride, I currently have 83 laps on Goliath. Yep, 83. On the first day I ever rode it with one of my younger cousins back in 2006, we put 6 laps on it which i thought was pretty decent. This past opening day however, Guy and myself rode it 50 times since there were no lines. the ops were nice enough to let us stay in our seats since no one was waiting, and well, we did. And had a great time. Around lap 38, I actually begin to feel nauseated due to the huge hills located throughout the course. We took a quick break, walked around a little and I was able to suck it up and finish up our 50 laps. Other the Cannonball up at Lake Winnie, I have ridden Goliath more than any other coaster.

The ride itself features a number of large hills with the second drop actually being longer than the first which is a rarity on a coaster. The ride actually leaves the park, travels out to the interstate, and then turns back to re-enter the park and finish its course. Highlights of the ride include the third drop which takes all the way to the surface of the pond located on the other side of the parking lot, the downward helix which is the best of its type on any B and M hyper I have ridden, and the banked curve which gives the feeling that you are about to fall out of the car. The final bunny hops are taken very quickly and offer some of the best floating air on the entire ride.

Goliath is just a great coaster. It is smooth throughout, yet offers enough intensity to satisfy even the most hard-core enthusiast. I really do not understand the theme (space ships and 60's themed music on a ride name Goliath?) and the drops are not as severe as those on Nitro up in Jackson, New Jersey. However, the ride experience itself is the best of all the B and M's I have ridden placing it in the upper echelon with a very high 9 grade. Hopefully, my home park will continue the upkeep of this wonderful coaster.

Ride Goliath below.

Ghostrider (New pictures and updated review) - Knotts Berry Farm

As you read in my previous post, eight rides on Ghostrider was the highlight of my half-day trip to Knotts. I rode from the middle to the front of seven of the eight with one backseat ride thrown in. I normally like back seat rides on woodies, but Ghostrider (along with the Beast and Mean Streak) is just a little too intense/rough. From about the 4th seat and on up, it is smooth and offers a great ride. There are a number of pops of airtime, some insane laterals, and the crazy section where you drop off the mid-course break. Overall, this ride still holds a soft spot in my heart and make sure to take a couple of laps each tip out west. Ghostrider is solidly in my Top 20 despite the complaints of many enthusiasts who claim it is too rough and not taken care of. It is possibly the most popular attraction at Knotts for good reason.

Pony Express Review and Knotts Berry Farm Trip Report 10-23-2008

My latest coaster trip out west was a definite success. Besides seeing some outstanding pieces of roadside American located in LA, I also had a great time visiting Knotts for about a half a day. The park was totally dead with all rides being walk-ons and half-empty trains the norm for all the coasters. With park closing at 5:30 in preparation for the Haunt, I guess people were simply not willing to pay full price for what amounted to half a day. With our

season passes, we had no problems visiting.

The trip to Knotts had a three fold purpose. First, I wanted to ride the all new Pony Express to add to the credits. Secondly, I hoped to spend some time on Ghostrider, one of my Top 20 rides out of over 300. Thirdly, I had been staring at the 9 as far as laps go on Xcelerator and was ready to hit double digits on it. Well, two out of three is not bad since Pony Express was running, Ghostrider was virtually empty but Xcelerator was down for maintenance. One of the workers said it would be 2-3 weeks before it would be running again. However, 8 rides on Ghostrider, including one where I was the only rider on the entire train, made up for the lack of Xcelerator. As far as Pony Express goes, it is a family oriented ride. The launch from 0-38 mph was very weak in terms of an adult coaster. However, I was very pleased with the ride because it continued the Knotts trend of building rides that all members of the family can enjoy. It is a unique coaster and I can just see younger kids jumping of the ride and getting straight back in line.

I love to see that excitement and kudos to Knotts for focusing on the younger generation.

In addition to this ride, I got in 8 laps on Ghostrider and 1 on Silver Bullet giving me 20 total rides for the day. Adding in the great lunch we had in Mrs. Knotts kitchen, our time spent here was wonderful. Knotts is one of the few parks I can visit and simply enjoy the ambience of the place without worrying about running around riding coasters. The park itself ranks easily in top 5 with a solid trio of coasters, the best woodie in California despite the complaints of many enthusiasts, and a good overall atmosphere. Pony Express grades out as a 6 which is above average for a family oriented ride.

Take a ride on it below.

Raptor Picture Update

Greetings from the west coast. With some computer problems at home, plus the flight out here to California, I have missed a few days. I visited Pacific Park today down in Santa Monica and will hit Knott's for about half the day tomorrow. For tonight, I'll update my Raptor review with a few pics from our last trip to Cedar Point. Thanks for reading.

Mindbender - Six Flags Over Georgia (GA)

Date Ridden: Many times over the last 20 years. Times Ridden: Lots of times in every seat.

I have a number of things to discuss regarding this wonderful old ride at my home park and I really don't know where to begin. I think I'll start with nostalgia.

Growing up and visiting Six Flags was always a fun experience and I can remember the Mindbender being the featured attraction. I was too small for it and would have never ridden it anyway. As I got older and was able to ride it, it scared me to death. It was tall, fast, and the part at the top of the lift hill where the train completely stops and then creeps around the curve before dropping into the first loop is among the scariest moments you will ever find on a thrill ride. I can remember when they re-themed the ride into that of the supervillain Riddler to go along with the Batman ride next to it. The themeing still exists today as both the track and the surrounding water elements (which the ride makes extensive use of) are colored green.

OK, enough nostalgia. As a current amusement park ride, Mindbender has its

definite pluses. Other reviewers have noted the presence of the inversions minus the OTSRs. That is a definite plus. The loops are also very intense with centrifugal force pinning you to your seat. One loop is located directly near one of the water falls which adds to the ride visually. The ride is also very smooth with no jackhammering or karate chops to the spine present.

So why only an 8? Despite the positive listed above, Mindbender is just not that great. I realize that the coaster is an engineering marvel for its time, but there is absolutely no way it is in the top 25 steel coasters in the world as the Golden Tickets continually place it. Having ridden over 300 coasters, I would place it in my top 50 but not any higher. I'm going with an 8 because I feel that rides like Goliath, Apollos Chariot, and Nitro deserve 9s and this creation from the 70s is nowhere near their class. I love the Mindbender and the memories that it brings back to me, but still cant justify a higher rating despite what most critics say. I'll always ride a couple of times on each trip as the line is virtually non-existent and appreciate the place it holds in many coaster enthusiasts hearts. I just don't understand the critical acclaim that it receives. Oh well.

Overall Rating - 8

Ride Mindbender below.

Ravine Flyer Picture Update

I've added a few pics of the coaster ranked Best New Ride of 2008. The coaster is well worth all the praise it has been receiving. It is almost a perfect combination of an classic older ride with the highly intense and newer thrills of a Gravity Group design. It is amazing that such a small park as Waldameer has such a great ride.

Just and FYI: the park is only about 2 hours east of Cedar Point. It is well worth the easy drive if you are in the Sandusky area. You have some options of buying tickets specifically for the coaster (they run about 4 bucks a ride) or purchasing an all you can ride wristband for a little over $20.00 The RFII is worth every penny and every second spent driving. The park is easy to find as it is only a few miles off the freeway. The park itself has a laid back and family oriented atmosphere and the view from the top of the lift hill of the ride itself is unparalleled. It is definitely a destination coaster for any enthusiast.

Mantis - Cedar Point (OH)

Date Ridden: Summer of 2006 through 2008. Times Ridden: 6

I like to sit down in a coaster. I do not like to fly, hand, or most assuredly, stand up. Coasters are made to sit comfortably in, not be a torture device with some type of gimmicky restraint system. For that reason, I do not like Mantis. As far as stand-up coasters go, it probably ranks toward the top. B and M did a decent job with the elements. Intensity is definitely not lacking either. However, I simply can not get comfortable unless I am sitting comfortably and that is impossible on Mantis.

When going up the lift hill (and it is very tall), you know that pain is on its way. We here at Coaster Reviews use what we call "The Turtle Method", which means we stand and lean as far out as possible with our heads so we do not bang our ears on the restraints when going through the elements offered by the ride. However, while this helps to avoid a headache, it does nothing for the neck pain that takes place afterward as well as possibly being dangerous. With the head flopping around all over the place, I would definitely not recommend that riding style, however I specifically prefer it to getting my ears bashed.

I really do not hate Mantis. The ride itself looks wonderful, is very intense, and normally has a very short line. I simply do not like stand-up coasters. The GA Scorcher at Six Flags over Georgia is probably my favorite stand-up simply because it is the shortest in length and ride duration. I had rather sit down and enjoy my coasters. That's just how I am.

Overall Rating - 6 (mainly for intensity and aesthetics).

Ride Mantis below. If you watch the people in the camera,, you will see the numerous examples of "ear-banging" into the restraints. Trust me, that hurts.

Wildfire - Silver Dollar City (MO)

Date Ridden: May of 2007 Times Ridden: 5 in a wide range of seats including once in the front and twice in the back.

Wildfire is a very solid B and M sit down looper located in a gorgeous area of the country. I am well aware that SDC is not known for its thrill rides. The park was packed on the day we went, but Wildfire was a walk-on as there were a number of elderly visitors interested only in the numerous exhibits and shows. Two trains were being run and there was no problem in getting numerous rides. The ride ops were even nice enough once our ride was over to let us off and line up on the side we exited at in order to fill in empty seats on the next train. I never left the station in getting my 5 consecutive rides.

What about the ride itself? Well, my favorite part was the initial drop into the large loop. I was surprised at the length of the drop (in excess of 100 feet)and was pleased with the ride overall. The corkscrews at the end were a little uncomfortable which makes this ride a slight step below other B and M loopers like Hulk and Kumba. However, I am going with the 9 because, once again, the location and visuals are worth a bump up. The coaster itself is probably an 8 but located on the side of a mountain giving a beautiful view of the Ozarks is worth an extra point. An 8.5 would probably be a little closer to the truth, but I had tons of fun getting re-rides as well as enjoying the view. I definitely recommend this as a coaster to ride on the front row thanks to visuals. Take a trip out to Silver Dollar City and enjoy this little B and M gem in the heart of the mountains.

Overall rating - 9.

Ride Wildfire below.

Nitro Picture Update

For today, I have uploaded some extra picturs Guy had of the # 3 ranked steel coaster in the world. Our last visit, there was a little problem with some downtime and we waited around 30 minutes for our one ride. The ride itself is among the more intense B and M hypers out there but seriously lacks the cosmetic appeal as the paint is horribly faded, the sign on the building is rusted, and the trains have taken a beating. The ride nowhere near as dilapidated as Ride of Steel coasters in Darien Lake or Great America, but this thrill machine could still use some TLC. With Nitro and El Toro, Great Adventure has arguably the top steel/wooden coaster combo in the world, but that is a topic for another article. Enjoy the pics.

The New Mexico Rattler - Cliff's Amusement Park (NM)

Date Ridden 7-8-2007 Times ridden - 2 (3rd from the back and middle of the train).

Following our day out at Lagoon, I was excited to be heading to a small park with a coaster that I had planned our trip around. I was looking for another Ozark Wildcat and was slightly disappointed. While not as smooth, the massive laterals made this wood hybrid (wooden track and steel supports) a fun ride. I was surprised at the intensity this little coaster packed. It was so much that Julia would not ride again. After hitting this when we got in, we rode everything else in the park and I rode this one again before we left. We did the entire park in a little over two hours. Kudos also to the ride ops who handled a line cutting incident by some teenagers with quick consequences. As we were waiting for our first ride, four people (two boys and their girlfriends I guess) came from one stall and two of them jumped in front of us. I pointed this fact out to the ops and they immediately led all four line jumpers out of the station. I am not sure if they were removed from the park but thanks to the lady who LOUDLY and FORCEFULLY made them get up and had them taken out.

Now about the ride. First the line is much different. There are actually three lines which go into the station. The line on the far right is for the front two cars only. The line on the far left is for the back two cars only. The middle line is for the rest of the train. Amazingly, all three lines are normally equal which means the middle line moves MUCH faster. The Rattler only has one train, so wait times can get very lengthy for the front or the back...especially since most people just jump in whatever line looks the shortest. If it is absolutely necessary that you ride a front or back seat (and on some rides I am that way....I only like inverts on the front and usually woodies on the back) then prepare for a longer wait. Otherwise, just jump in the middle line and prepare to ride after a 1 or 2 train cycle. I do feel like my ride in the third from the back was my best ride so it may be necessary to wait the extra time. I was personally short on time and was not willing to wait. Highlights of the coaster include the twisting drop, the lengthy tunnel, and like I said earlier, the massive laterals. The trains are very comfortable so being pummelled from side to side is a pleasant sensation. There are a number of pops of air on a few of the hills but nothing like El Toro or Kennywood's Jack Rabbit. The Rattler is a fast little coaster which makes Cliffs a destination for coaster enthusiasts. I pre-judged this ride as a 9 based on its looks and specs but after riding have decided it is more of an 8.......more along the lines of the Thunderbolt at Kennywood or Rampage at Alabamas Adventure than the Raven or Dolly's Thunderhead which are solid 9s. Still a fun ride.

Overall Rating - 8.

Ride the Rattler below.

Mystery Mine - Dollywood (TN)

Date Ridden : 5-28-2007 Times Ridden : Only 1 in the back row since the ride ops dont give you a choice....boo!!

This was the first of the tri-fecta of new steel coasters for 2007 I would be riding in a 1 month time period last year. In driving up to Pigeon Forge from my home in northwest GA, Julia and I encountered heavy holiday traffic. I really do not like going to Gatlinburg or PF but this would be my best change to get to Dollywood and its dynamic duo for the entire year unless I wanted to trek up there alone. We were about an hour late to the park and after a long trek through the parking lot (no trams for me!!!) we entered and headed straight to MM. I figured it would only get more crowded as the day progressed so I was going to get this ride in for certain. The line was backed up all the way outside of the queing area. However, it moved quickly and we were in the train after about a 45 minute wait. I was not happy that the ride ops placed us in a car and didnt allow us to choose our seat but oh well. No use in complaining about things that can't be controlled. Following our ride in the mine, our car stopped and we looked at each other at exactly the same moment. We were both let down immensely. Please dont get me wrong....I loved the ride and its heavy theming. The finale with the turn and dive maneuver was outstanding (much better than the move used by the former Manhattan Express in Vegas) but I guess there was so much publicity for this ride that it was impossible to meet the expectations. Dollywood has an exceptional ride with the vertical lifts, the indoor segments, and the outdoor intense moments. But in comparing this ride with its two competitors for 2007 new ride of the year (Maverick and Griffon) it is seriously lacking. As of now, its gets an 8 as a very good ride but not outstanding. Its probably in my top 75 (out of over 300), but not much higher than that.

Due to the indoor dark segments, an online video of this ride is not available.

Space Mountain - Disneyland (CA) and Magic Kingdom (FL)

Despite actually being two totally different rides, I decided to combine both rides into one review for the ease of posting as well as reading. The first part of the review is from the California version which was re-done a couple of years ago. The second part of the review is from the Florida version which I rode last New Year's Eve.

Date Ridden: October of 2007. Times Ridden: 1

Despite the upgrades, I still consider Space Mountain to be a classic roller coaster ride. It is a perfect example of what makes Disney, "Disney". You (or they) take a family roller coaster with sub-par stats and make it a wonderful ride that thrill seekers can enjoy with younger family members.

The ride is glassy smooth, seems much faster than it is, and provides an overall exhilarating experience. There are obviously no inversions inside the mountain but that is by no means a negative since I think inversions are overrated on roller coasters anyway. The quick turns and drops are thirlling but not terrifying adding once again to the entire family experience.

One final thing. This ride is a freaking capacity machine!! We used our fast pass on it, but still had to go through a portion of the line. We never stopped as the line continuously moved. I think I counted either 7 or 8 trains running, with once again, the velcro pocket inside each train being a major boost in speeding up loading and unloading. Major props to the designers at "The Mouse" who created a very solid ride. I still dont think any park is worth a $90.00 admission price though.

Date Ridden: Once many years ago and once on 12-31-2007. Times Ridden: 2

To start with, I like this ride. It is very different from the version I rode in CA, but it is still solid nonetheless. The posted wait time was over 2 hours but we were on in about 45 minutes as the park was packed out with people (like us) ringing in the new year. I like the single passenger bobsled type trains as they were very comfortable. I also liked the "station" where you could see the trains whizzing about above you. To me it is a different ride, yet still unique enough to get a solid 8. Again, Disney takes a ride that scores around a 7 and gets a 1 point bump from me for themeing and enjoyment.

The ride seems much faster than it actually is with its quick dips and turns. I was pleased with my ride experience and will always remember the fun this ride gave me on New Years Eve of 2007.

Due to the nature of the ride (being inside in a dark setting), no video is available.

Maverick Picture Update.

Following our recent trip to Cedar Point, Guy came home with some great pics of the last year's top new ride. While Maverick is not one of my favorites, there is no doubt that it is very intense and among the most popular rides in existence. It is normal to see the line backed totally out of the queing area with waits of up to two hours common. I only rank it has the 5th best ride at Cedar Point as I prefer Millennium Force, Top Thrill Dragster, Magnum, and Raptor over Maverick. However, the elements it offers are unique and thrilling. The restraints really hurt the ride however. Check out the Maverick review (http://coasterreviews.blogspot.com/2008/07/date-ridden-6-21-2007-times-ridden-5.html) for the updated pictures.

Sooperdooperlooper - Hersheypark (PA)

Date Ridden: Summer of 2008. Times Ridden: 1

The more I go back and look at the coasters in the land of chocolate, the more impressed I become with what Hersheypark has to offer. With two outstanding woodies, a launch coaster, a unique Intamin 90 degree launched coaster, a B and M invert and couple of nice older rides, this is a destination park for any enthusiast. The Sooperdooperlooper fits into the latter category but is fun nonetheless.

At my home park, Six Flags Over Georgia, we have the highly rated Mindbender which is extremely similar to this specific ride. Both are very smooth, both feature inversions without over-the-shoulder restraints, and both offer a fairly lengthy ride. Like Mindbender, SDL uses the terrain in which it is built wisely with many trees and a couple of ponds adding to the experience. Nothing disgusts more than a great ride which is simply sitting in the middle of a parking lot without any terrain whatsoever.

SDL features a very lengthy train so based on my one ride and my experiences on Mindbender, the back of the train offers a bit of airtime and a little more intensity. Despite its age, the ride is fun and very smooth without a any hint of roughness. Also, since this is one of Hershey's older coasters, the line is normally very short with only station waits or near walk-ons. On the day we were there, the trains were running half-empty due to the lack of people in line.

Is the SDL the best ride in the park? Definitely not but it is a can't miss while visiting Hershey. It interacts well with other coasters and offers an experience unique to the casual coaster rider. It gets a solid grade from the Coaster Reviews staff.

Overall Rating - 8

Ride Superdooperlooper below.

Voyage Picture Update

As you can read in our latest trip report, the Voyage is still great. It is worthy of its top ranked spot as the best wooden coaster in the world. by putting up 13 laps in one day, we can honestly say that it is running better than it was last year. It is intense, fast, and out of control, yet smooth and very re-rideable if you stay toward the middle and front of the train. It is absolute must-ride for any coaster enthusiasts no matter how far away you live. http://coasterreviews.blogspot.com/2008/08/voyage-holiday-world-in.html

Afterburn - Carowinds (NC)

Date Ridden: Summer of 2007 and 2008. Times Ridden: 3

Afterburn was formerly known as Top Gun: The Jet Coaster before Paramount sold out to Cedar Fair. Despite the name change, very little actually changed about the coaster other than the new sign as all of the flying material was left due to the similarity of the two names. The ride itself is a wonderful example of an inverted coaster. I place it right up there with Montu and Talon as the smoothest of all the B and M inverts that I have ridden.

Probably my favorite element of the ride is Batwing inversion which takes the place of the cobra roll and is, in my opinion, a much better element. Afterburn has the addition of the Batwing going underground (like on Montu) however there is a cloud of cool mist the train absolutely flies through. This is a great element particularly on a hot muggy southern day.

Also both times I have been, the ride was a virtual walk-on. While it is the park's signature ride, the capacity is much better than on the other coasters at Carowinds so the wait is normally minimal. I have had a blast each time on Afterburn however the sweltering heat has caused us to leave the park early both times. That does not take anything away from this wonderful coaster which finishes consistently among the top ranked inverts each year in many different enthusiasts polls.

Overall Rating - 9

Ride Afterburn below.

Wicked Twister - Cedar Point (OH)

Date Ridden: Numerous times since 2006. Times Ridden: 9

While claiming the fact that it is Cedar Point's third fastest and tallest coaster, Wicked Twister stands alongside the beach with a wonderful view. It is a very modern LIM launched coaster with some unique elements. It is a very intense ride that, despite its short length, still makes it a fun ride.

A majority of the time, the park is slack in this area so you can normally get a walk-on or a station wait on all but the most crowded of days. The seats are very comfortable and the launch is extremely powerful. After the second launch through the station, the train reaches its top speed in excess of 70 mph and its top height toward the top of each twisted spike. The best seats are on either end as these seats get the most twist action. The middle seats are a little more balanced but do not get the forces that the ends receive.

Wicked Twister has had some issues and downtime in the past, but on each trip we have always been able to get at least one ride on it. It is fast and fun, particularly in the rain as one of our rides was. The ride itself is a nice thrill and an excellent adrenaline rush whenever you do ride. It gets a solid rating here on Coaster Reviews and is an underrated ride at the Coaster Capitol.

Overall rating - 8

Ride Wicked Twister below.

El Toro Picture Update

I have updated the El Toro review (http://coasterreviews.blogspot.com/2008/07/el-toro-six-flags-great-adventure.html) with a few extra pictures I found. Riding this ultra smooth monster this past summer was an absolute blast. The back seat is definitely the money seat as the airtime is totally insane. It is only a matter of time before this ride moves up in the Amusement Today rankings to challenge the Voyage for the best wooden coaster on the planet. Thanks for reading and enjoys the pics.

Trip Report - Beech Bend, Kentucky (8-31-2008)

Following a wonderful trip up through Kentucky and Indiana with some roadside Americana and Indiana Beach as our main destination, we catually had as much fun on a park we had already visited once a few years ago. Back in 2006, we stayed at Beech Bend for a couple of hours and got in three laps each on the all new Kentucky Rumbler wooden coaster which became one of my instant favorites. Since we were going back by there on the way home, we decided to stop in once again.

It was a Sunday afternoon, so we were able to get in with an unlimited ride wristband for only 12 bucks. We spent a couple of hours in the park with all rides being walk-ons. I rode the Rumbler 9 times while Julia rode 7 times herself. We also took a front seat spin on the scar Looping Star which seemed to be running much better this time around. The Rumbler itself (which was reallly the only reason we stopped in as the other rides are portable fair types) is still running well with great laterals and some surprising pops of airtime. It solidified itself in my personal Top 20 thanks to a smooth ride with wonderful elements.

It came a slight rain while we were there and one of our rides came with some stinging rain in our face. Like normal I loved it.

One problem I have is that after each ride, the operators make you walk all the around the station to get back in line, even if there is no one waiting. That in itself limits re-rides as we got about 6 an hour as opposed to our Holiday World trip where Guy and myself were rding about 12-13 rides per hour.

Still, all in all, Beech Bend is a fun family-oriented park that is worth visiting. There is a water park that is included with admission if that is your thing, and individual ride tickets are sold as well. If you do not get the unlimited wristband, a ride on the Rumbler is 5 bucks.

One final unique factor about Beech Bend is its location. It is located on the outskirts of Bowling Green basically in the middle of a field. It is a gorgeous drive and when the park appears over a hill, it will take your breath away. It is an amazing fact that an amusement park was built in this location.

Overall Beech Bend is wonderful little park with short lines on both occasions we've visited and a great family oriented atmosphere. Stop by if you are in the area.