A Good Old-Fashioned Thrill Ride

A NY times feature on wooden coasters in Pennsylvania parks-- from Dutch Wonderland to Waldameer, and just about all the parks in between.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/11/travel/escapes/11roller.html

For the most part, it's a well written article from the perspective of someone new to coaster riding who really gets into it. Just a couple of iffy statements (Jack Rabbit having the country's remaining double-dip?), but a nice read. Certainly better than the typical MSN "what's new at all the usual big parks this year" article.

"As it turns out, coasters are a bit like hot sauce: once you get the taste for it, you need more and more to get you going.

From a distance, its peg legs stacked together looked too much like a tottering game of Jenga."

This guy has the bug....I've seen these symptoms before. (Had them for almost a decade) ;)

Notice that he'd already ridden Phoenix, which also has a double-down...but it's always about that last ride. For instance, to me right now, Seabreeze's John Miller is just about the sweetest wooden coaster on Earth... ;)

Side note: At Waldameer, we saw Mr. Nelson walking around the station, and on the transfer track, etc. Excellent work, sir, I hope the coaster exceeds your fondest expectations...no project has taken more perserverance. The latest wooden coaster in PA is among the best. Even among the best in PA....and that's SAYING something.

RGB, Matt, I truly envy you...and now I need a job in PA. ;)
*** Edited 7/12/2008 3:45:05 AM UTC by rollergator***

I really want to ride Ravine Flyer II. REALLY badly. Perhaps I will make a pit stop on my way to Cedar Point if I get to go this year. I've heard it's a great ride, and I have heard their dragon coaster is good as well.

Very well-written article. The guy should come up to Canobie and ride the Yankee Cannonball. Then again, New Yorkers really aren't that keen on the NE area. Wait until this guy gets to CP. He'll go nuts the first time he drives over the causeway. *** Edited 7/12/2008 11:53:10 AM UTC by Hopman***

I am making a trek to Waldameer on Tuesday for a quick ride on RFII. I am looking forward to it. *** Edited 7/12/2008 10:19:26 AM UTC by SVLFever***

Pssst... I don't think Cindy is a guy.

Ooops, sorry Cindy... :(

It's not as though there's a good gender balance in the hobby, and here I go making it worse! ;)

bunky - while Steel Dragon is a really solid ride, you can ride one of those at Seabreeze or Lagoon (or even Dixie Landing?!?), and spinning coasters are thankfully becoming more common. But a good well-maintained junior Schmeck like Comet at Waldy, with its hand-operated braking and curved station design...that's the *other* coaster at Waldameer for me. A rare breed they're not building any more. Not a coincidence that Hopman mentions YK...another Schmeck.

Why doesn't someone pay me to travel around PA riding wood? Maybe because I already do it for nothing? DO find it kind of funny that HP's Mildcat was too aggressive - what if Cindy had ridden it with PTCs? Now THAT was aggression... :)

*** Edited 7/12/2008 4:14:29 PM UTC by rollergator***

Gator, I mentioned it because, for one, it's at my home park, it was the first BIG coaster I ever rode, AND it's one "wicked good" coaster.

btw, it's YC, not YK.

In NE, wicked good is about as high a compliment as you can get. *** Edited 7/12/2008 7:04:00 PM UTC by Hopman***