7/21 - SFStL: The Exception To The Rule?

First time back at SFStL in almost 10 years... last time I was there, I was a 10 year old kid who was too scared to ride coasters. Times change, I guess...

For all the SF bashing that goes on here, I really expected a lot less from SFStL today. I found that the staff was friendly, the ride ops seemed to be effiecient (and hitting intervals!), and the park was well landscaped and maintained. My opinions of SF's marketing haven't changed, but this park really was a lot better that I had hoped. (and of course, today in the General Buzz, there's a love thread for SFStL...)

Anyway, the rundown, Griswold style:

Mr Freeze (+4)
Never had the chance to ride this with OSTRs, but I can imagine it wasn't nearly this good. The ride was smooth and comfortable, and was a ton of fun. Looking at the ride from around the park, it seems like the backwards run is faster than the forwards one. I'm not sure if that's my eyes playing tricks on me (as it certainly felt faster), but I suppose it's possible. Anyone know if the LIMs on the spike push the train down, too?

(4+) namtaB
Not quite up to Raptor standards, but still a pretty good B&M invert. The mirror-image aspect didn't really sway my opinion as much as I thought it would. However, the 15 minute line all day certainly helped.

The Boss (+3)
The first ride I had on it (front seat, early in the day) was a lot of fun. Rougher than the other CCIs I've been on (the happy family of them at IB), but still a fun ride. The double-down in the structure after the first drop was a wicked suprise. I'd love to find the engineer that came up with that and buy him a beer. The second ride I had (5-1, middle of the afternoon) was extremely uncomfortable - very very rough, and it left me with a wicked headache for the rest of the day. It also left me less than happy with The Boss, despite the funny t-shirts SF sells...

River King Mine Train (+2)
The only coaster I'd ride last time I was here, and it's still fun. It's not as big as I remembered it to be (duh), but it's still fun for a mine train. The 3 lift hills get a bit old (hill, drop, helix, hill, repeat...), but it's still fun. I particularly like the helix after the second hill.

The Ninja (+3)
Not as rough as I expected, and the headchopper going under the lift hill is fantastic. Loses points for the head-encasing OSTRs, but gains points for the reasons mentioned above...

Screamin' Eagle (+4)
Just like The Boss, had an excellent first ride, and a brutal second one. It gets a +4 since that first ride was just awesome...

Just a few closing thoughts:

I thought the food was pretty good. I miss the Boardwalk Fries from CP, but I thought the food here was at least on bar (and the chicken fingers at SFStL were better), and it seemed to be a bit more moderately priced, too.

I really enjoyed the water misters they had set up - that was nice.

No free cups of water? No fair! I was told I had to buy a souvenir Scooby cup for $5.25, which they would then fill with “free” water. *cough*ripoff!*cough*

All in all, a pretty good day.

[edit: stupid typos!]

*** This post was edited by KenK on 7/21/2002. ***

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Sean

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SFgadvMAN said:
Nice tR! But what is namTAB?

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Sean

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He talking about Batman: The Ride

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#1 Steel-Nitro
#1 Wood-Shivering Timbers

*** This post was edited by Rockrc480 on 7/22/2002. ***

Well, Mr. Freeze certainly goes faster through the overbank going backwards (just think about all the energy added to the train by the spike LIMs). I'm pretty sure they don't push on the way down, because the you get a pretty floaty zero-g freefall sensation after they release, and if the LIM's were on, you'd fly towards the front of the train.

I try to remeber there is no rule and have fun anyway. It sounds like you did too. Nice TR

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The Beast and Night, They go together like Peanut Butter and Jelly

I don't think there's a rule with Six Flags parks. I've had a very good time at several of the parks. It's just my local one that gets on my nerves!

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Jeff - Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com, Sillynonsense.com
7/27: Subdivision Cam becomes party cam at the year's hottest Ohio luau!