Heartland Road Trip

Hades; world class all the way. No coaster comes close to the tunnel action of this ride, though it leaves you wishing you could see the tunnel. I was blind even in the front seat during the middle of the day.

Got a chance to talk to Nick the park owner. Because riders reported a more thrilling ride in the dark, the lights will remain off. He asked what I thought of Hades. I told him I thought it may be top ten in the world. He looked totally disappointed and said he was hoping for something better. How’s that for ambitious?

Very impressed with Mt. Olympus. Since Nick took over park management after his father’s recent passing things have hit high gear. He most certainly does not like playing second fiddle to Noah’s Ark. Standing at the gate of one of the country’s largest water parks you can see the impressive coaster skyline of Mt. Olympus looming on the horizon.

Year one of this new park: world class coaster, go-cart capitol of the world, impressive Greek theaming, and its own water park. It’s no Islands of Adventure, but pretty nice opening day for an independent. Nick even purchased a Zamperla Disc-O for a ton of money; not running because it was missing a part. The point is he is not shy about spending money. Surprised Noah’s Ark only added the world’s largest water coaster. Don’t you just love competition.

Cornball and Hurricane at Indiana Beach are such the great one, two punch. They don’t always check for tickets. Dracula’s Castle should have been the ride called Cornball Express.

The Boss at SFSL is running great. Some of its hard edges have smoothed out. I like it a lot better now that the break run slowed the end run, which felt a little out of control before.

Timber Wolf at World’s of fun. When I rode this coaster in 1999 I thought it was the best ride in the park and a great coaster ride. Rode it again in 2002 and thought it got rough since I rode it last. Rode it last Monday and thought it was painful.

I’m a fan of rough and tumbler coasters that gallup like Texas Giant, the Beast, and the Boss. But coasters shouldn’t feel like their running over potholes.

This is not the only Summers coaster that hasn’t aged well. Hercules in Dorney park was also built in 1989 and we know what happened to that. And don’t get me started about the Grizzly at PGA; another Summers coaster that hasn’t aged well. Mamba just seems to get better with age.

Ozark Wildcat at Celebration City is visually impressive, yet comparing it to other CGI coasters I would rate it below average. Probably not fare to rate it that way, I just was not impressed.

Powder Keg at Silver Dollar City is a great theamed replacement to Buzz Saw Falls. A bit unconventional with the lift hill in the middle of the coaster. But a better ride then Wildfire.

And I love Silver Dollar City, my pick for most beautiful park. Not sure why it gets overlooked. You can walk in the shade all day through the trees, the only park you can do this. It is one of the best theamed parks in the country. Disney’s Frontierland can’t hold a torch to this park. Many fun parallels to Branson and the Dells. Not sure which has more minature golf courses. *** Edited 6/23/2005 4:54:21 AM UTC by rc-madness***

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rc-madness said:

Nick even purchased a Zamperla Disc-O for a ton of money; not running because it was missing a part.

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Wow, I rode this the day after I watched them set the ride up. I wonder when they noticed the ride was missing a part lol....

Don't forget Adventureland!

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rc-madness said:
Timber Wolf at World’s of fun. When I rode this coaster in 1999 I thought it was the best ride in the park and a great coaster ride. Rode it again in 2002 and thought it got rough since I rode it last. Rode it last Monday and thought it was painful.

My beloved Timber Wolf needs a little TLC. I sure hope WOF doesn't remove yet another great coaster. The Wolf started it all for me. I still vastly prefer it to Mamba or anything else in the park.

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Ozark Wildcat at Celebration City is visually impressive, yet comparing it to other CGI coasters I would rate it below average. Probably not fare to rate it that way, I just was not impressed.

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I actually enjoyed Ozark Wildcat more than Thunderhead, as well as Wildcat, Roar (East) and Lightning Racer. I'm anxious to get back there and see what I think now--haven't been back since the last ride of the season in 2003.

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I’m a fan of rough and tumbler coasters that gallup like Texas Giant, the Beast, and the Boss. But coasters shouldn’t feel like their running over potholes.

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They retracked the first drop and first curve this past off season and that area is a lot smoother. The rest of the ride needs some TLC though and it sounds like it might be getting it this next off season.

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rc-madness said:

Cornball and Hurricane at Indiana Beach are such the great one, two punch. They don’t always check for tickets. Dracula’s Castle should have been the ride called Cornball Express.

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Dracula's Castle? Is that at IB? Did I miss a new attraction? ;)

Not sure what it was called, the dark ride you can walk through at IB. A lot of day glow paint, goofy special effects, very corny.

Just funnin' ya, rc. Frankenstein owns the castle. :)

You're right Acoustic Viscosity, we shouldn't forget Adventureland. They just havn't built anything new there in a while. It's a great park, its huge, almost too big for its britches. A big time coaster could really go a long way for the park. Until then it may get overshadowed by its competitors in the region.

Adventureland built Sidewinder last year. They just did some foundation improvements this year though as I hear they have a larger project in the works...

Swoosh, are we looking at a new coaster possibly??? I think they need to tear down that POS Dragon and build a new one that goes over the little water area by Sidewinder.

we'll just have to wait and see.

So do you know something Swoosh and not telling???

hehehe

<----hoping for a nice coaster over 150 feet or CF buys them out and puts in a nice 200 footer

hey a guy can dream can't he?