Is Desparado Worth the Drive From Vegas

"With all this talk about GIRD, what I'm wondering now is, is M:TR now closed to the public? Private events only?"

I'd say for until I announce otherwise my GIRD has ERT. Looks like you're out of luck.

Awe shucks! Maybe we'll see a ride review here sometime! ;o)

Now this is one on-ride photo I'd pay good money to see ;) Will it feature in the S&D calendar Moosh?

-Jim (seeing the GID this weekend :))

@#%! Every time I turn around lately, I hear about the closing of a ride/park that I had longtime plans on visiting. King Cobra? Gone. J's Amusements? Closed. Lesourdsville? Same! In each case I was going to hit them the very next year after they closed.
Ever since that one season when I went to Disneyland to see Captain EO, cause everyone said it was so cool, only to find it had it's final season just before I arrived, I have remained continuously and conspicuously one step behind the very thrills that drive my continuing quest to spend every last dime I have visiting as many parks, and riding as many rides, as I can.

And now this!! I was planning on getting that elusive credit next spring, after my forthcoming move to Vegas to get closer to M:TR. And so the curse strikes yet again. What next? Ooh, I know. When I finally get to SFMM next year, It'll turn out that this year was X's last! Of all the lousy luck...
At least in Vegas I'll be close to Desperado. A darned good ride that will just have to do.

-Robo (wondering just who is this Murphy and who put him in charge?)

I thought McDonalds was dumping all of its peripheral restaurants to focus on burgers. I know they sold back Donato's Pizza about 2 years after they bought it.

Desperado has the ride experience of a slow motion car wreck! Or to put it another way "accident waiting to happen"

It's probably been 6 or 7 years since I last went out west to Vegas and we did make the trip to ride Desperado. Only to add it to our list of coasters we have rode. I faintly remember it and I do remember it being a little rough (might have gotten worse over the years) but it wasn't that bad. I think at that time it was still the tallest coaster so I had to ride it. If you do go here is a tip from my buddy who used to live there that I vacationed there with. Go close to closing of the ride at night. 9 times out of 10 you can talk the ride operator to let everyone ride again for free if no one else is waiting to get on. It was pretty cool riding out into the desert a bit at night on a coaster. So I would say yes ride it just for the fact that you can say you rode it if you are a real coaster fan.
And to the comment about great coasters closing, I couldn't agree more about the King Cobra at King's Island being one of the greats. I think it was one of the first stand ups and one of my favs by far. It hated so much to see it go and what a dumb ride they replaced it with. That spinning wheel, pendilum. I did ride it but nothing compared to the Cobra. Even though it was a death trap (did accually kill someone I believe) I kinda miss the indoor space coaster 2 seater from Kentucky Kingdom. It was a cool indoor coaster but was really rough and dangerous, it hardly had any safety retraints. I think the person(s) that got hurt on it, got hurt exiting the ride when the brakes didn't stop an incoming car. If you are going to Vegas ride New York New Yorks coaster as well. Heck for that matter ride them all, I liked the one in Circus Circus, reminded me some of the old Wabash Cannonball from Opryland. Didn't get to ride the one on top the neddle though :( it was closed when I was out there last.

Den: Last I checked, McD's still had a stake in Chipotle, Donato's and Boston Market.

But Boston Market doesn't hire as many freaky chicks. ;)

You're damn right about that. I think piercings and/or tattoos are part of the uniform at my local Chipotle. Love the freaky cuties... :)

And to think they create symbols (you know which kind!) all day long... ;)

To get back to the topic of the post...although I have nothing against 'freaky chicks'....I just got back from my convention in Vegas.

Well, I made the drive to Desperado, and managed to ride 15 times in about 2 hours. All I can say is this...SOB has some fierce competition.

Granted, I know Arrow's tend to age as well a carton of milk left in the hot desert sun for a month, but, what gives? I thought OE got rough in her old age. Desperado has to be the roughest steel coaster I have ever ridden.

Is it worth the drive? As an enthusiast, of course it is. If not, well, you might be able to invest the money in gas to get there from Vegas in a loosing slot machine and have a better experience.

Sorry I missed Beast Buzz. The BB TR's look awesome.... *** Edited 7/3/2004 11:41:44 PM UTC by SVLFever***