Darien Lake is the Six Flags Exception!
It seems like every time a park is converted to Six Flags, it gets a massive makeover! Case in point: Six Flags Ohio, who got a B&M floorless(*sigh*drool*), a CCI woodie, and S:UE, which i don't quite know what it is!!! Why has Darien Lake recieved (next to) nothing? All they got was Superman:ROS! WHY?!?!?!?! They better build something great soon!!
I think that it has to do with competition, as Jeff suggested. SFO has to deal not only with Cedar Point but PKI as well, so the park needed a few new rides to compete. As much as I want my own home park (SFMW) to get something new next year, they probably won't because PGA is only getting a rumored Super Saturator. The competition level isn't there for my park to get something new, not until the year after probably. Peace. :)
Does this have any connection to the fact that Darien Lake also seems to be the exception to the Six Flags Rule of closed rides, incompetent operations, ridiculous crowds, filthy paths and rest rooms, and general nastiness? I mean, Darien Lake is a really nice park, and probably more well worth a visit than, say, Kentucky Kingdom or Adventure World...
--Dave Althoff, Jr.
--Dave Althoff, Jr.
Yeah, when I saw the title of this post I also assumed it meant that SFDL was the exception in that it was a NICE SF park. True, they haven't poured millions into it every year, but they haven't "uglified" it either with half-hearted or nonsensical themeing and cookie-cutter rides (and weren't Mind Eraser and Boomerang there before SF bought DL? - I'm pretty sure of that). Plus, the one big ride they did add is, simply put, an awesome coaster, perhaps the best night ride I've ever experienced, and by itself worth the trip to the park. I mean, I liked S:UE and Villain (did not care at all for BKF and still do not understand all the hoopla about floorless coasters) but not enough to return to SFO any time soon. But S:ROS guarantees a visit from me to Darien Lake for years to come.
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Age and treachery will always overcome youth and skill.
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Age and treachery will always overcome youth and skill.
Spewey: To answer your question, you need to remember the history of Six Flags. Both Mind Eraser and Boomerang were added after Premier bought the park, and before Premier bought Six Flags. I think one of the keys here is that the FunTime parks...Geauga Lake, Darien Lake, and yes, even Wyandot Lake...were all competently run, but FunTime lacked the operating capital needed to "keep up with the Kinzels" so to speak. When Tierco bought FunTime, they were smart enough to realize that the Lococo organization (FunTime) was full of competent park people. Just look at park operations at Darien Lake and Geauga Lake and notice how much they resembled Cedar Point.
When Darien Lake was converted to Six Flags, my impression was that the intention was to take an already good resort, and attach the Six Flags brand name to build the product. Hence "Six Flags Darien Lake." And by and large, the place still seems to run a lot like Darien Lake.
By comparison, the Geauga Lake conversion was a total makeover, clearly an effort to go head to head with Cedar Point. An ill-advised maneuver, as it puts SFO into a position where, whether it is prepared or not, it competes directly with Cedar Point. And Geauga Lake, four new coasters or not, simply wasn't...and isn't...prepared to take on Cedar Point directly. The infrastructure simply isn't there to do it right.
BTW: I, too, was blown away by what a total waste Batman: Knight Flight turned out to be...S:UE, Villain, and RoadRunner were all kewl, tho...
--Dave Althoff, Jr.
When Darien Lake was converted to Six Flags, my impression was that the intention was to take an already good resort, and attach the Six Flags brand name to build the product. Hence "Six Flags Darien Lake." And by and large, the place still seems to run a lot like Darien Lake.
By comparison, the Geauga Lake conversion was a total makeover, clearly an effort to go head to head with Cedar Point. An ill-advised maneuver, as it puts SFO into a position where, whether it is prepared or not, it competes directly with Cedar Point. And Geauga Lake, four new coasters or not, simply wasn't...and isn't...prepared to take on Cedar Point directly. The infrastructure simply isn't there to do it right.
BTW: I, too, was blown away by what a total waste Batman: Knight Flight turned out to be...S:UE, Villain, and RoadRunner were all kewl, tho...
--Dave Althoff, Jr.
Are you CRAZY? Superman is my favorite coaster anywhere, even over Millenium Force! I've never ridden any of SFO's coasters, but I can tell you, Superman is probably better in almost every way.
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-Szymo
Six Flags Darien Lake Online
http://darienlake.danimation.com
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-Szymo
Six Flags Darien Lake Online
http://darienlake.danimation.com
I thought the Villain was really good? Like really good. Add in S:UE and BKF and you would choose 3 over 1?? I'm sorry but S:ROS is good, but not that great. The first 3 drops and 3 bunny hops are very nice, but what is the point of those helixes?? Boring!! I need to get to SFO and compare!!!!!!! It is a good ride with short waits, but you wouldn't rather ride MF?? I gotta get anothere SFDL trip and maybe S:ROS is better than I thought!! Personally I like Viper the best! Long-live Arrow loopers!! (Vortex is better)
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DOWN WITH TRIM BRAKES!
I'm another person who prefers S:ROS to MF, although not by much. And the "1 over 3" question is interesting. I actually would probably return to a park that has one great coaster over three (or even more) good ones, because while there are many good coasters out there, in my opinion there are only a handful of great ones and they deliver thrills you simply cannot find anywhere else.
And to Violena: Don't keep your mouth shut. People may disagree with you, but that doesn't mean your opinion is not valuable. And far be it for me to speak for Rideman, but although it is clear his ride-related intellect is frightening, I do not believe in any way was he putting you down or questioning your right to an opinion.
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Age and treachery will always overcome youth and skill.
And to Violena: Don't keep your mouth shut. People may disagree with you, but that doesn't mean your opinion is not valuable. And far be it for me to speak for Rideman, but although it is clear his ride-related intellect is frightening, I do not believe in any way was he putting you down or questioning your right to an opinion.
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Age and treachery will always overcome youth and skill.
Craig, I didn't think the helixes were that great at first either but after about 10 or so rides you really get to appricate them. Just throw your hands up in the air and watch as the scenery flys by at 60 mph as you are only held on to your chair on wheels by a small bar. And if you are lucky the forces in the helix will cause minor greyouts. For my part the third hill is the best hill on any ride ever, with the s-shaped hill. following it a real close second. The more and more I go to SFDL the more and more I am proud to call it my home park.
*** This post was edited by Bob Dole on 8/31/2000. ***
*** This post was edited by Bob Dole on 8/31/2000. ***
Magnum is Sinking:
Wild World = Adventure World.
Adventure World = Six Flags America.
Does that help? See, I said it was a bad idea to give old parks new names that are completely unrelated...
Six Flags America = Adventure World
Six Flags Ohio = Geauga Lake
Six Flags New England = Riverside
Spewey: You might not speak for me, but you summed it up nicely. But my suspicion is that Violena wasn't entirely serious about shutting up...at least I hope not! :)
--Dave Althoff, Jr.
Wild World = Adventure World.
Adventure World = Six Flags America.
Does that help? See, I said it was a bad idea to give old parks new names that are completely unrelated...
Six Flags America = Adventure World
Six Flags Ohio = Geauga Lake
Six Flags New England = Riverside
Spewey: You might not speak for me, but you summed it up nicely. But my suspicion is that Violena wasn't entirely serious about shutting up...at least I hope not! :)
--Dave Althoff, Jr.
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