From a Park Manager...."Visit the Independents thi
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As for the independants. I did visit HW, IB, Kennywood and Hershey last year. Great parks all. I love the fact that they can make decisions without having to worry if the stockholders will aprove or if it will affect the stock price.
I also like tha fact that independat operators can have a slightly more liberal interpratation of safety laws without endangering the public, like dumping hosrse collars when they are unnecessary, and without having the media breathing down their necks looking to make a quick buck off exploiting the safest idustry on the planet.:(
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Hi, my name is Eric, and I am a coaster junkie.
I also like tha fact that independat operators can have a slightly more liberal interpratation of safety laws without endangering the public, like dumping hosrse collars when they are unnecessary, and without having the media breathing down their necks looking to make a quick buck off exploiting the safest idustry on the planet.:(
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Hi, my name is Eric, and I am a coaster junkie.
Rob Ascough said:
"Yes, I agree that Hershey is "technically" a corporate-owned park, but I think Agent Johnson was referring to the non-chain parks in the country, such as those that are NOT part of Disney, Cedar Fair, Six Flags, and Paramount."
The only one I question in that listing is Cedar Fair. I've not been to any of their parks (hope to make Dorney this summer), but from what I read and what I see, while they may be a "chain", their parks do still have more of an "independent" (or at least not a cookie cutter feel). I would even go that way with the Busch parks too.
You don't see a "Kumba" at BGT and BGW, and you don't see anything like "Steel Force: The Ride" at Dorney and CP. Same with Kennywood... no "Steel Phantom: The Ultimate Revenge" at both Kennywood and Lake Compounce. That is what I mean by not being "cookie cutter images".
However, while a park like Hershey may not be part of a huge "chain", I would still not count it in the came category of the smaller, more traditional parks like Knoebels, Canobie Lake, Conneaught Lake, Americanna (are they going to be operating this year?), Holiday World, etc.
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Oh the good old days... when superheros were superheros and coasters were coasters...
While its true that Cedar Fair have a more traditional feel than a Six Flags or a Disney, I think a certain amount of homogenization is inescapable. With the introduction of the Peanuts characters at each of the Cedar Fair parks, with Red Garter Saloons turning up at various parks, even something like cross promoting CF properties in the Getaway Guide or in brochures, it does serve to remind patrons that Cedar Fair is more than just one park. Not that I'm complaining!
I'd agree, Hersheypark occupies a rather unique perch somewhere between a corporate park and a traditional park.
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Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.
--Groucho Marx
I'd agree, Hersheypark occupies a rather unique perch somewhere between a corporate park and a traditional park.
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Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.
--Groucho Marx
Cedar Fair is definitely corporate! Almost every Cedar Fair property, with the exception of
Camp Snoopy and Knott's have a '200 foot
out n back hyper. Not to mention the
Coasters restaurant, S&S Towers, Camp
Snoopy/Bearnstein Bears Country, Peanuts,
the Red Garter Saloons and now, from the
looks of it, B&M Inverts.
Cedar Fair has done a fine job of clearing out
some of their park's more historic attrations...
(i.e- Zambezi Zinger, Knott's crooked house,
and MANY of Dorney older attractions!)
-rob
*** This post was edited by RobCoasting on 5/4/2001. ***
Camp Snoopy and Knott's have a '200 foot
out n back hyper. Not to mention the
Coasters restaurant, S&S Towers, Camp
Snoopy/Bearnstein Bears Country, Peanuts,
the Red Garter Saloons and now, from the
looks of it, B&M Inverts.
Cedar Fair has done a fine job of clearing out
some of their park's more historic attrations...
(i.e- Zambezi Zinger, Knott's crooked house,
and MANY of Dorney older attractions!)
-rob
*** This post was edited by RobCoasting on 5/4/2001. ***
It's also my belief that you only don't like
the independent parks, if you haven't
experienced them firsthand.
-rob [your mileage may vary]
the independent parks, if you haven't
experienced them firsthand.
-rob [your mileage may vary]
Let's not forget Waldameer. It is a medium-sized cozy park in Erie, Pa. It has an ACE-Classic Coaster, the Comet, great water slides, great flat rides, a great haunted house, and one of the best Laff-In-The-Dark rides left. I love Waldameer. I've been there over 15 times and it is such a fun time. Soon, they are going to get another major wooden coaster! I can't wait.
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www.geocities.com/coasting_ohio for Real/Defunct/mini coasters and parks for RCT
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www.geocities.com/coasting_ohio for Real/Defunct/mini coasters and parks for RCT
I am proud to be visiting Michigan's Adventure a butt load of times this year and Kennywood once. After my day at PKI this year, I am totally ready for a change of pace. MA just rocks. They have the best wooden coaster in the world, with no wait. 20 bucks for admission. I'd rather be there than at the crowded and poor service PKI. I am really excited to be traveling to Kennywood to ride the new Phantom, and many classic rides. I odn't mean to bash corporate parks, if they can give me agood experience, like BGW or CP, I will love them. And I do. Long live Shivering Timbers.
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Coasters- a little slice of heaven
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Coasters- a little slice of heaven
Amen, Coasting_Ohio! I'm excited to start this years' coasting season with a little hometown touch! Until May 12...
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A New World. A New Technology. One Last Hope for Salvation.
--Neon Genesis Evangelion
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A New World. A New Technology. One Last Hope for Salvation.
--Neon Genesis Evangelion
This year I plan to include Hershey, Williams Grove, Knobels, Lake Compounce, the Coney Island NY parks, and many of the beach parks along the Jersey shore. The variety is wonderful.
I also plan to visit several Six Flags parks and PKD. They have their own appeals as well.
I also plan to visit several Six Flags parks and PKD. They have their own appeals as well.
Nothing like traveling far and wide to a great park, and have a McDonalds there to feed your hunger......
Agent Johnson said:
"Nothing like traveling far and wide to a great park, and have a McDonalds there to feed your hunger......"
Traveling a good distance to a great park is well worth it, but the McDonalds thing, well, uhhhh, NO!!! I did enjoy my first park experience this year at the oldest operating park in the Chicago area(Kiddieland) with my daughter. Hopefully by the end of this month I will suffer(as slithernoggin put it) through coaster riding at SFGAm(Extreme sarcasm!!!!!!!)
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"SAVING THE WORLD BEFORE BEDTIME" Powerpuff girls
Jim Fisher seems to have the right idea this summer, sounds like he is in for a big treat with all of the parks he is going to visit!
That is not to say that theme parks don't have their perks... I haven't been to a theme park in a long time and not had a good time... but I have much more fun at Knoebels, Hershey, Morey's Piers, Lake Compounce, and Kennywood.
That is not to say that theme parks don't have their perks... I haven't been to a theme park in a long time and not had a good time... but I have much more fun at Knoebels, Hershey, Morey's Piers, Lake Compounce, and Kennywood.
Craig the Coaster Freak you'll be in for changes at MA after CF buys it.......By the way, CF run parks are not independent run operations by any stretch of the imagination. CF is becoming another SF or Disney or Universal. Although, CF parks offer a lot of kick-ass rides so do the chains. Long Live the Independents......
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