I went to Bland's second, but I'll summarize it here and now: Bland. Actually to be fair it wouldn't have been ALL bad if I hadn't just come from Lakemont, I'll explain below...
Ok, so the plan for today HAD been to take my sister to Six Flags Ohio, since she hasn't been there yet. I'm not a huge fan of the PARK itself, but I love some of the coasters -- I could always live with a few more laps on Villain. Then she called me this morning, feeling sick.
I didn't feel like going to SFO alone (misery loves company, after all ;) ) so I started thinking about what else to do. Kennywood? I could, but I'm actually in the mood for something DIFFERENT.
So I hit CoasterBuzz, and bring up the list of parks in PA. Scanning down the list, Lakemont catches my eye. I ask myself "Why does that sound familiar?" Then I bring up the park's page. Leap-The-Dips! D'oh! Shame on me for not recognizing the park!
So this trip was brought to you by CoasterBuzz (for finding Lakemont) and MapQuest (for showing me that it was indeed an *easy* daytrip from Pittsburgh -- I knew Altoona wasn't far, but I wasn't sure how to find the park once I was there...)
$7.95 Ride-All-Day admission, free parking. Now, I'll admit there's not much there, but it's still worth it. They have 2 wooden coasters, Leap-The-Dips (the world's oldest coaster), and Skyliner (a decent wooden coaster, fairly gentle in the front but WICKED air on the first hill in the back!) They also have a wildmouse, and a bizarre little contraption called Toboggan, basically another wildmouse of sorts with a VERTICAL lift.
I knew I was going to like the park when I pulled up, spotted what I thought at first was a Ferris wheel, and realized that what I was looking at was, in fact, a Skydiver. Cool. Unfortunately I didn't have anyone else to ride with (every Skydiver I've ever seen requires pairs. 漀爀 瀀攀漀瀀氀攀 眀栀漀 栀愀瘀攀渀✀琀 猀攀攀渀 愀 匀欀礀搀椀瘀攀爀Ⰰ 瀀椀挀琀甀爀攀 愀 挀漀渀琀爀愀瀀琀椀漀渀 琀栀愀琀 氀漀漀欀猀 氀椀欀攀 愀 䘀攀爀爀椀猀 圀栀攀攀氀Ⰰ 攀砀挀攀瀀琀 琀栀愀琀 琀栀攀 挀愀爀猀 愀爀攀 攀渀挀氀漀猀攀搀 挀愀最攀猀 琀栀愀琀 搀漀渀✀琀 瀀椀瘀漀琀⸀ 䤀渀猀琀攀愀搀Ⰰ 琀栀攀礀 猀瀀椀渀 漀渀 愀渀 愀砀椀猀 倀䄀刀䄀䰀䰀䔀䰀 琀漀 琀栀攀 眀栀攀攀氀 椀渀猀琀攀愀搀 漀昀 琀愀渀最攀渀琀椀愀氀氀礀 琀漀 椀琀 ⠀戀攀猀琀 搀攀猀挀爀椀瀀琀椀漀渀 䤀 挀愀渀 挀漀洀攀 甀瀀 眀椀琀栀Ⰰ 愀渀礀漀渀攀 攀氀猀攀㼀⤀ ⤀ 㰀戀爀㸀 㰀戀爀㸀吀栀椀猀 瀀愀爀欀 栀愀猀 愀 搀攀挀攀渀琀 挀漀氀氀攀挀琀椀漀渀 漀昀 昀氀愀琀 爀椀搀攀猀Ⰰ 眀栀椀挀栀 䤀✀氀氀 最攀琀 琀漀 椀渀 愀 洀椀渀甀琀攀⸀ 䘀椀爀猀琀Ⰰ 琀栀攀 爀攀愀猀漀渀 昀漀爀 琀栀攀 琀爀椀瀀㨀 㰀戀爀㸀 㰀戀爀㸀 㰀戀爀㸀䰀攀愀瀀ⴀ吀栀攀ⴀ䐀椀瀀猀㨀 㐀 氀愀瀀猀⸀ 䔀堀䌀䔀䰀䰀䔀一吀 爀椀搀攀Ⰰ 椀昀 樀甀猀琀 昀漀爀 琀栀攀 栀椀猀琀漀爀椀挀愀氀 瘀愀氀甀攀⸀ 圀攀氀氀 眀漀爀琀栀 琀栀攀 爀攀猀琀漀爀愀琀椀漀渀 攀昀昀漀爀琀猀⸀ 吀栀椀猀 椀猀 愀 ∀匀椀搀攀 䘀爀椀挀琀椀漀渀∀ 挀漀愀猀琀攀爀 ⴀⴀ 渀漀 甀瀀猀琀漀瀀猀Ⰰ 樀甀猀琀 愀 挀愀爀 爀甀渀渀椀渀最 昀爀攀攀 漀瘀攀爀 爀愀椀氀猀Ⰰ 眀椀琀栀 猀椀搀攀 戀攀愀洀猀 ⬀ 眀栀攀攀氀猀 欀攀攀瀀椀渀最 琀栀攀 挀漀愀猀琀攀爀 瘀愀最甀攀氀礀 愀氀椀最渀攀搀⸀ 䤀 猀愀礀 瘀愀最甀攀氀礀 戀攀挀愀甀猀攀 琀栀攀爀攀✀猀 瀀氀攀渀琀礀 漀昀 瀀氀愀礀Ⰰ 猀漀 琀栀攀 挀愀爀 猀栀椀昀琀猀 猀椀搀攀ⴀ琀漀ⴀ猀椀搀攀 愀 氀漀琀⸀ 伀渀 愀 洀漀搀攀爀渀 挀漀愀猀琀攀爀 琀栀椀猀 欀椀渀搀 漀昀 ∀猀攀攀欀椀渀最∀ 眀漀甀氀搀 戀攀 瀀愀渀渀攀搀 洀攀爀挀椀氀攀猀猀氀礀 ⠀戀礀 洀攀 愀洀漀渀最 漀琀栀攀爀猀 㰀椀洀最 猀爀挀㴀∀⼀昀漀爀甀洀猀⼀椀洀愀最攀猀⼀眀椀渀欀⸀最椀昀∀ 戀漀爀搀攀爀㴀∀ ∀㸀 ⤀ 戀甀琀 漀渀 琀栀椀猀 漀氀搀 爀椀搀攀Ⰰ 椀琀✀猀 瀀愀爀琀 漀昀 琀栀攀 挀栀愀爀洀⸀ 䤀琀✀猀 猀洀愀氀氀Ⰰ 椀琀✀猀 猀氀漀眀Ⰰ 椀琀 栀愀猀 渀漀 氀愀爀最攀 搀爀漀瀀猀Ⰰ 戀甀琀 椀琀✀猀 ⨀䘀唀一⨀⸀ 圀漀爀琀栀 琀栀攀 搀爀椀瘀攀 戀礀 椀琀猀攀氀昀℀ 㰀戀爀㸀 㰀戀爀㸀匀欀礀氀椀渀攀爀㨀 㐀 氀愀瀀猀⸀ 䄀猀 渀漀琀攀搀 愀戀漀瘀攀Ⰰ 琀栀攀 昀爀漀渀琀 猀攀愀琀 最愀瘀攀 愀 昀愀椀爀氀礀 洀椀氀搀 爀椀搀攀⸀ 吀栀攀 戀愀挀欀 眀愀猀 愀 搀椀昀昀攀爀攀渀琀 猀琀漀爀礀Ⰰ 琀栀漀甀最栀⸀ 䤀 最漀琀 吀䠀刀伀圀一 漀甀琀 漀昀 洀礀 猀攀愀琀 漀渀 琀栀攀 昀椀爀猀琀 搀爀漀瀀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 椀渀 猀攀瘀攀爀愀氀 漀琀栀攀爀 瀀氀愀挀攀猀 愀猀 眀攀氀氀⸀ 圀攀✀爀攀 琀愀氀欀椀渀最 愀氀洀漀猀琀 愀猀 洀甀挀栀 愀猀 䨀愀挀欀爀愀戀戀椀琀ⴀ搀漀甀戀氀攀ⴀ搀椀瀀 栀攀爀攀⸀ 䠀漀眀攀瘀攀爀Ⰰ 甀渀氀椀欀攀 䨀愀挀欀爀愀戀戀椀琀Ⰰ 礀漀甀 愀氀猀漀 最攀琀 ⨀匀䰀䄀䴀䴀䔀䐀⨀ 戀愀挀欀 椀渀琀漀 礀漀甀爀 猀攀愀琀 愀琀 琀栀攀 戀漀琀琀漀洀 漀昀 琀栀愀琀 昀椀爀猀琀 搀爀漀瀀⸀ 匀漀洀攀眀栀愀琀 瀀愀椀渀昀甀氀Ⰰ 戀甀琀 渀漀琀 吀伀伀 戀愀搀⸀ 吀栀椀猀 挀漀愀猀琀攀爀 愀氀猀漀 栀愀猀 琀栀攀 甀渀椀焀甀攀 昀攀愀琀甀爀攀 漀昀 戀攀椀渀最 戀愀挀欀 眀愀氀氀 昀漀爀 䄀氀琀漀漀渀愀✀猀 洀椀渀漀爀 氀攀愀最甀攀 戀愀猀攀戀愀氀氀 昀椀攀氀搀 㰀椀洀最 猀爀挀㴀∀⼀昀漀爀甀洀猀⼀椀洀愀最攀猀⼀眀椀渀欀⸀最椀昀∀ 戀漀爀搀攀爀㴀∀ ∀㸀 吀栀攀爀攀 眀愀猀 瘀椀爀琀甀愀氀氀礀 渀漀 氀椀渀攀 昀漀爀 琀栀椀猀 挀漀愀猀琀攀爀Ⰰ 猀漀 琀栀攀 爀椀搀攀漀瀀 氀攀琀 洀攀 樀甀猀琀 猀琀愀礀 漀渀 琀栀攀 爀椀搀攀Ⰰ 挀栀愀渀最椀渀最 猀攀愀琀猀 椀昀 䤀 眀愀渀琀攀搀 琀漀⸀ 一漀渀攀 漀昀 琀栀愀琀 ∀最攀琀 漀昀昀Ⰰ 最漀 戀愀挀欀 愀爀漀甀渀搀∀ 猀琀甀昀昀⸀⸀⸀ 㰀椀洀最 猀爀挀㴀∀⼀昀漀爀甀洀猀⼀椀洀愀最攀猀⼀猀洀椀氀攀⸀最椀昀∀ 戀漀爀搀攀爀㴀∀ ∀㸀 㰀戀爀㸀 㰀戀爀㸀䴀愀搀 䴀漀甀猀攀㨀 䄀 猀洀愀氀氀Ⰰ 猀氀漀眀 眀椀氀搀洀漀甀猀攀⸀ 一漀琀栀椀渀最 琀漀 挀漀洀瀀愀爀攀 琀漀 䌀攀搀愀爀 倀漀椀渀琀✀猀 圀椀氀搀挀愀琀Ⰰ 漀爀 䬀攀渀渀礀眀漀漀搀✀猀 䔀砀琀攀爀洀椀渀愀琀漀爀⸀ 伀渀攀 氀愀瀀 琀漀 最攀琀 琀栀攀 爀椀搀攀 漀渀 洀礀 挀漀愀猀琀攀爀 挀漀甀渀t.
Toboggan: Weird. Individual small single-bench cars, somewhat like a wildmouse. The cars are fully enclosed, though. The lift is VERTICAL (or at least REAL close), which was interesting, but that's about the extent of it. The rest of the ride was slow, boring, and even vaguely painful. Another lap for the count...
Among the flatrides I got on were a WICKED Monster, a Tilt-A-Whirl, and a Scrambler. This park has a nice selection of spin-n-barfs.
On the way out, I decided that for once I was going to get some park souvenirs. $21 later I had a Leap-The-Tips T-shirt and magnet, and a Lakemont Park coffee mug.
My overall impression of the park was mixed. The park itself is VERY rough around the edges. The operators on the coasters (ESPECIALLY Leap-The-Dips) were very nice, the ops on the flatrides were mostly surly teens. I had a milkshake from the Ben-n-Jerry's stand on the way out, which I EXPECTED to be good (Ben & Jerry's, after all), but the ice cream tasted freezer-burnt. Ick.
Still, Lakemont was worth the trip. It's not going to go on my list of REGULAR destinations, but it was good.
On the way out, I realized that I was also near Bland's Park, home of a Zyklon. I decided that I'd take the little detour and see if I could find it. It was easy enough to find, so I stopped.
Bland's was MUCH more crowded than Lakemont had been. Ride-All-Day was $6.95, but I was there just to ride the Zyklon, so I went with tickets. Now, to be fair, the collection of flatrides at Bland's is pretty good, maybe even better, than at Lakemont. The park is certainly more SHADED. But I was there for one reason only, to ride the single coaster. I'm not sure it was worth the detour.
Zyklon: 1 lap. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't a BAD ride. It was certainly better than Mad Mouse or Toboggan had been. But after having SO much fun on LTD and Skyliner, I was let down. In essence, pict爀攀 愀 氀愀爀最攀 眀椀氀搀洀漀甀猀攀 眀椀琀栀 ㌀ 漀昀 琀栀攀 挀愀爀猀 挀漀渀渀攀挀琀攀搀 椀渀 愀 琀爀愀椀渀⸀ 䘀甀渀Ⰰ 戀甀琀 渀漀琀栀椀渀最 猀瀀攀挀椀愀氀⸀ 㰀戀爀㸀 㰀戀爀㸀伀渀 琀栀攀 眀愀礀 漀甀琀 䤀 搀攀挀椀搀攀搀 琀漀 最爀愀戀 愀 戀椀琀攀 琀漀 攀愀琀Ⰰ 猀椀渀挀攀 琀栀攀 猀椀最渀猀 眀攀爀攀 瀀爀漀挀氀愀椀洀椀渀最 ∀䈀攀猀琀 䄀洀甀猀攀洀攀渀琀 倀愀爀欀 昀漀漀搀℀∀ 䤀 最漀琀 愀 昀甀渀渀攀氀 挀愀欀攀Ⰰ 眀栀椀挀栀 瀀爀漀戀愀戀氀礀 眀愀猀渀✀琀 琀栀攀 戀攀猀琀 挀栀漀椀挀攀⸀ 一攀瘀攀爀 椀渀 洀礀 氀椀昀攀 栀愀瘀攀 䤀 猀攀攀渀 猀甀挀栀 愀 匀䬀䤀䴀倀夀 昀甀渀渀攀氀 挀愀欀攀⸀ 䤀琀 眀愀猀 最漀漀搀Ⰰ 戀甀琀 吀䠀䤀一 ⴀⴀ 洀愀礀戀攀 ⼀㌀ 琀栀攀 猀椀稀攀 漀昀 琀栀攀 挀愀欀攀猀 䤀✀洀 甀猀攀搀 琀漀 昀爀漀洀 䬀攀渀渀礀眀漀漀搀℀ 㰀戀爀㸀 㰀戀爀㸀 㰀戀爀㸀伀瘀攀爀愀氀氀Ⰰ 琀栀漀甀最栀Ⰰ 琀栀椀猀 眀愀猀渀✀琀 愀 戀愀搀 眀愀礀 琀漀 戀氀漀眀 愀渀 漀琀栀攀爀眀椀猀攀 戀漀爀椀渀最 匀甀渀搀愀礀⸀ 㰀戀爀㸀 㰀戀爀㸀ⴀⴀⴀⴀⴀⴀⴀⴀⴀⴀⴀⴀⴀ 㰀戀爀㸀ⴀⴀ䜀爀攀最 㰀戀爀㸀 㰀戀爀㸀㰀愀 栀爀攀昀㴀∀栀琀琀瀀㨀⼀⼀眀眀眀⸀瀀漀戀漀砀⸀挀漀洀⼀縀最爀攀最氀攀最⼀∀ 琀愀爀最攀琀㴀∀开戀氀愀渀欀∀㸀栀琀琀瀀㨀⼀⼀眀眀眀⸀瀀漀戀漀砀⸀挀漀洀⼀縀最爀攀最氀攀最⼀㰀⼀愀㸀 㰀戀爀㸀 㰀戀爀㸀ഀഀഀ ⨀⨀⨀ 吀栀椀猀 瀀漀猀琀 眀愀猀 攀搀椀琀攀搀 戀礀 䜀爀攀最䰀攀最 漀渀 㠀⼀㐀⼀㈀ ⸀ ⨀⨀⨀
The Zyklon at Blands has a good first drop in the back seat! Other than that it's just dull. Out of the two parks I liked Lakemont more. Blands has more trees though. I heard Lakemont was shaded but one of the previous owners ripped them out. The park looks like a carnival instead of a park.
Leap the Dips is actually running faster this year. Last year when we visited it was running on wood. I guess the steel was added this past winter. When we visited we went to see the Curve play. The Skyline makes the ballpark. The screams and click of the rollbacks adds to the game. I think the go carts are the cheapest I've seen. $3.00 a ride I think.
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Parks hit for 2000!
PKD,BGW,DP,HP,PKI,HW,SFKK,SFA,SFNE,LC,GE,QP,Camden,Lakemont,Knoebels, SFO,CP,
Thanks, that's exactly what was "bothering" me about Lakemont, but I couldn't quite put my finger on it. It DOES look more like a carnival than a park, especially since lots of the walkways are just gravel.
I may be headed back to Lakemont next weekend with some friends -- we've been trying to come up with a cool idea for our friend Andrea, who turns 28 on Sunday. She's a baseball nut, AND a coaster nut. This place is the perfect way to celebrate :)
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--Greg
http://www.pobox.com/~gregleg/
