Kentucky Rumbler

All the attention is focused on Voyage out at Holiday World, but we were in bowling Green, Kentucky, recently and dropped in on
Beech Bend Park to check on the new Kentucky Rumbler, which also debuts May 6.

It definitely looks worth a visit. A classic woodie, its trackage is done, the train sits in the station waiting, and the remaining construction is the entrance and exit building, which will include restooms and gift shop.

The Rumbler is a major coaster tucked into a very compact area. It incorporates many of the same tricks as Raven and Thunderhead and looks like it will have a running time of about 3:00.

The train looks beautiful, with deep, heavily cushioned leather seats and plenty of leg room.

The hope is that Rumbler will do for Beech Bend what Raven did for Holiday World. At this point, Beech Bend is a small family park with a collection of carnival rides. But it was once a much bigger park before neglect over several owners, fires, decay and sales took out its old coasters and major permanent rides. They're trying to rebuild. It has a beautiful location along a bend in the river, and certainly the most beautiful approach of any park, a long country road winding through horse farms, groves of trees and stone walls.
There's also a campground and a picnic ground, sort of like Holiday World.

Beech Bend is holding it's first enthusiast event the Sunday after Holiwood Nights. No doubt a lot of people will be riding -- and talking about -- KY Rumbler.

Hey Trekker, check out this link. There have already been rides given on it and here are the photos of the construction tour and suprise rides from last month:

http://www.negative-g.com/BeechBend/2006/3-19-2006-Tour/Beech-Bend-3-19-2006-1.htm

Tom

I understand that there's also gonna be another late season event at Beech Bend during Labor Day weekend this year. ;)

I was at Beech Bend in the early 70's. Can't remember much about the place, other than a really long ride cycle on a Loop-O-Plane (or one of those "O-Plane" rides).

But, this new ride has prompted me to visit again. I've already got it programmed into the GPS, right after Holiday World.

Probably the dark horse coaster of the year with most of the focus on TV and ET this year it seems, but KR is amazing. I got to ride it on the construction tour...for two hours straight...nonstop! It's packed with action from start to finish, smooth, twisted, filled with AIRTIME, perfectly paced, very re-rideable, and in a gorgeous setting. What more could you ask for? Maybe a tunnel, but that's it really. It just might be GCI's crowning achievement thus far.

Wooo saw the TV advertisement tonight! It does look like they used footage from the ACE construction tour as I think I recognized a couple of people from that day during the KRumbler shots. Anyone else seen it yet?

I live in Cleveland and it is unlikely that I will see it on TV. I asked Charlotte if they could post it on their website and she said that they probably would. <crossing fingers> If I'm in the commercial, I'm wearing a Black T-Shirt and should have my hands up. :)

I love all the newer GCI coasters. This one will be the closest to where I live. I've been putting off making my first visit to Beech Bend but now I can't wait and yet I've spent most of my time thinking about Voyage.

I was going to be at Beech Bend for the Grand Opening but since I started a new job, well back to what I was doing before working for GCI, I didn't really want to take 2 or 3 days off after only being back for a week and a half. I guess I'll have to wait for Rumblefest to ride! *** Edited 5/5/2006 8:10:04 PM UTC by coasterpunk***

I am looking forward to the Rumbler as much as Voyage. It's going to be woodie bliss! I just mailed out both registrations today.

Yeah, I know. I am getting to be a procrastinator in my old age. ;-)

-Tina

Mailed my HWN registration today, too.

^Heh. Old minds think alike, Moosh? ;-)

-Tina

^ You're both getting started WAY too early...my event registrations seem to always go out on the deadline date.

Neither park will have ANY regrets about their wooden-coaster construction...(but Voyage will need more upkeep)...LOL!

I mailed mine a month ago. Had it been a utility bill I would have waited until the second week in June. I guess I'm getting older and shrugging responsibility.

Add me to the list of those who just mailed in both registration forms yesterday.

Last year I was in Bowling Green, KY when we used that city as a hotel stop on a family car trip. Unfortunately, after getting checked into the hotel and eyeing a Beech Bend brochure in the hotel's lobby, it was less than 15 minutes until park close. :(

I am looking forward to both rides, especially after seeing the torrent of Building the Biggest Rollercoaster featuring Voyage, Rumbler and El Toro.

About the save thing happened to me Dave. I was in Bowling Green two years ago. I was coming back from a trip to Dollywood and Lake Winnie. I wanted to at least drive by and look at the park through the fence, but I was pressed for time. I'm glad I waited until the built this new coaster to to visit.

I imagine the same thing is going to happen for Waldameer Park. I've been through the town a couple of times but have never stopped.

Hmmm. Interesting. :-) I had the same experience with Beech Bend as well. I was on my way home from the Preservation Con in AR/TN and decided to stop by Beech Bend. Little did I know it was about to close for the evening (this was around 6 or 7pm.) I was there long enough to ride the coasters and snap a few pics.

It's a cute little park. I can't wait to spend MUCH more quality time with it during Rumblefest. :-)

Speaking of the Rumbler, my friend Kelly said it's da bomb!

I can't wait!

-Tina

*** Edited 5/7/2006 4:52:02 AM UTC by coasterqueenTRN***

Rumbler was overlooked a lot in my mind, as I had figured would happen. It rides a lot like Thunderhead (not a bad thing at all, to most of us) with the main difference being the length of the ride. Though, somehow, even at a mere 2800' and those blistering speeds, it didn't really seem too short. Just right as it kept up through the brake run. It's too bad there is another woodie built locally this year that has completely overshadowed Rumbler, but I think that may work to the ride's advantage as it will probably suprise lots of folks a mere 4 weeks from now :)

I'm looking forward to riding BOTH new Woodies during Holiwood Nights and Rumblefest. Don't let the size of a Coaster determine if its a good coaster or not. I have a Wooden Coaster on my Top Ten List that's 35 feet Tall, and I have a Steel Non Looper on my Top Ten List that's only 18 feet tall! It's not what you got, its what you do with what you've got! :)