Oh the humanity

I spent the past week in New Jersey, far far far from my home in Seattle, and I passed the CI Cyclone on my way to the airport, just to get a glimpse, and relive my brief memories of said ride.

Yes, I too work, and live in an offseason area of the country, but oh, how painful it is to look upon a ride like the CI Cyclone, and not get to ride it, even if it was 15 degrees, and snowing.

I realize this is a tired subject, but being the off season, what ride have you passed by or seen from a distance to know that there might never be another chance to ride, this trip, let alone a lifetime?

Mine is X. I swear I will never get a shot at that, and I don't even live that far away. I spent 3 days the summer of 2002, at SFMM (don't ask why), and didn't ride it, only to see it open a day after I left.

ugh. :(

I used to look at the old Idora Park rides with that same feeling. The Jack Rabbit stood rotting for years just on the other side of a chain link fence. I never had the chance to ride it but sitting there staring at me was quite a burden.

I thought it was going to be Deja Vu when I took my trip out to Cali that involved 3 days at SFMM spread around with some other Cali parks ...

But, sorry to say that I can't feel your pain as Deja opened the 3rd day I went back to MM ;) (although X was closed, but my headache was glad for that)

And I realize that most people probably don't care much about Deja's but the pictures of that coaster on Magic Mountain's webpage are what inspired my first internet search for coaster information, bringing me to this page ... ahh history ;)

Edit: Ok, so I can sympathize - I'd been watchin Drachen Fire on Discovery Channel for like 2 years, begging my parents to take me to Williamsburg ... year 3 they take me, and of course, year 3 was the year it closed and was standing there, mocking me. Say what you will about the ride, I would have rather experienced it myself. *** Edited 1/30/2004 9:51:23 PM UTC by Impulse-ive***

Oh man. I *still* hurt when I think about not getting to ride Goliath at SFMM when I was there. It was shut down after that fatal accident.

I've been there twice (I live in Ohio), but both times I was visiting friends or family. I no longer have friends or family in LA, so it'll be a loooong time before I'm back there. :(

I've also seen two different Deja Vu's without having a chance to ride them. Not such a big deal, but annoying.

Even though I drive by PKI on a fairly regular basis, and I've been there dozens of times, I always stare at it as long as I can.
It's weird.

Having never really known about Idora Park until after its demise, I wasn't that heartbroken. Since then, though, I have seen many photos, and heard so many stories that I too share some pain in that.

I guess I should feel lucky that I have ridden some uniques that have since passed on into the coaster graveyard.

On the Way home from Eastcoster in '93 we stopped to look for Willow Mill Park (defunct) outside of Mechanicsburg, Pa. When we found the park we stopped and talked with the owner (I believe) who gave us permission to go into the park for photos. We ended up exploring the little park for a few hours and walking the coaster (Red Streaker) trying to imagine what the park was once like. As fun as it was, we all went home with a lump in our throats because it's always sad to walk the grounds of a defunct park that was left abandoned. It really makes you think, is Cedar Point and the other big parks really all that?!!

This is why it's so important to not just go to corporate parks. Travel to those smaller parks that only have a few rides with only one coaster and focus on being a well rounded enthusiast.

Wood - anything else is an imitation

Well, then put up or shut up, and come out to PNE or Puyallup, and hit the little woodies here! ;)

They are blessings.

Funny you bring this up, I just posted in another thread about my dad and I visiting SFoT and our reaction to the then new Flashback!
Well I think everyone here has probably seen National Lampoon's Vacation. I have my own real-life version.
Almost every year my Dad and I would take a trip to SFoT. 1989 was no different. What WAS different about this year was Arlington's (and probably the surrounding area's) spring break did not match up with Tulsa, OK's spring break, which is where I grew up. Not having gone to AAA to get the new brochures for the season I did not know SFoT had built Flashback.
So a school friend, my father, and myself drive to Arlington on the Sunday before my spring break. As we approach the park (on the Judge Roy Scream side) I spot Flashback! Remember it's 1989, so this baby looks magnificent. It was my first meeting with a boomerang, which looked SO super sweet. We arrived about park closing time, and were staying at a motel across from Flashback (next to Ponderosa restaurant, at first I actually thought Ponderosa was the name of the coaster,lol).
Well it turns out that Sunday is the last day the park was open until the next Saturday.
So out my motel room window I studied Flashback for the next 3 days, with the park closed. It was horrible!
My dad did finally take us back at the end of the season (what a long summer!).
Fortunatly, Ninja at Mid-America (member dat?!)opened that year as well, and I knew about that one ahead of time, and it was pretty super, at the time. But man, being in the same location as a coaster you're stoked about and not being able to ride it SUCKS! I can't imagine that happening to me w/ X, I would be sick to my stomach, for all the wrong reasons.

Texas Tornado at Astroworld

X is one of them, but I am sure I will get to it again.

Rob, maybe one of these days the planets will align and the world will come to an end......but right before that you and I will have our FIRST X ride together. :-D

Something tells me you would of rode Cyclone in snow, sleet, rain, hail, flash flood, tidal wave, fire, famine, disaster, armageddon.....IF it were open. ;-)

I have been in that area myself during the winter and have felt the same. :-/

Den, you can't help but stare at Drop Zone and SOB. I know man. :-) Everytime I visit friends in that area now I always take that exit just to "drive by" PKI and take the back roads to my destination. So sad. LOL!

Everytime I drive by Camden Park on I-64 (which isn't often) I can't help but look over and see the Tbolt and Big Dipper...ALWAYS!

-Tina *** Edited 1/30/2004 10:30:38 PM UTC by coasterqueenTRN***

For me it has to be the Hulk. When i went to florida we had one of those week long pass things. i decided to keep the HUlk to the last day as it was busy and i wanted a good note to go home on. However i was horribly Ill the last day of our ticket and only got to ride the rapids before i almost collapsed and went back to the hotel.. :( i did get to ride the dragons earlier in the week and hit all the other parks so it wasnt a complete failure... but damn my weak stomach :p

It was actually painful. I stayed across the freeway at the Days Inn, and would look out my window in the evening, hoping that maybe, just maybe, they'd be testing.

Nope.

Tina, yes I would have ridden it come rain, sleet, or snow. I am the "postman" of the coaster world. ;) Who cares about wind chill? There's coasters to be "had."

I remember hitting Magic Mountain two years in a row and not being able to ride X. The second time we were almost reduced to tears since the ride was functional, but they didnt want to open it because of winds. We went to guest services, only to be rudely told that there were 14 olther roller coasters we could ride. They were right yes, but ****, atleast they coulda told us nicely :) I got to ride it last summer though, and that more than made up for my wait.

Another coaster was Volcano at PKD. But, as many have professed, I ain't missin much!

I was very afraid that it was going to be Coaster at PNE. We drove by it in '99 on the way back down from Whistler. I started longingly at it as we drove by, but the park was of course closed. I was quite relieved to finally get there this year, before it vanishes on us.

Now, of course, it looks like I'll be back next year :)

TTD last year, it was broke down and then the Thursday I was in Sandusky, I went to a Detroit Tigers game and heard on some radio station that their radio station people got to ride it. I don't know if it was actually open that day or if they were testing it only with the radio broadcasters getting to ride it. I vow to get back some day though.

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nasai said:
Tina, yes I would have ridden it come rain, sleet, or snow. I am the "postman" of the coaster world. Who cares about wind chill? There's coasters to be "had."

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I like your attitude. ;-) "There is an earthquake? Who gives a flying F*#$!! Let 'er roll!"

LOL! LOL!

-Tina

*** Edited 1/30/2004 10:36:32 PM UTC by coasterqueenTRN***

Hey Rob(Nasai), I am planning that trip now for this year. Those two woodies are on my *must do* list for a while now. I HAVE to get out to the northwest this year period. We're just trying to figure out how to squeeze in Silverwood too. I also need to get to Lagoon and back to Lakeside. There are also quite a few parks in the lower midwest (Oh no here we go again) that I haven't been to.

Now ask yourself...when was the last time you visited Conneaut Lake Park?!!

Wood - anything else is an imitation

The Belmont Giant Dipper when I was 9.

"Sorry kid, it's closed...flew off into the parking lot or something like that."

I didn't care. I wanted to RIDE!

Well, in one of the few happy endings to stories of this type, the good folks of STCC made sure I was eventually able to.

Now if only they would restore the original trains. ;)

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coasterqueenTRN said:

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nasai said:
Tina, yes I would have ridden it come rain, sleet, or snow. I am the "postman" of the coaster world. Who cares about wind chill? There's coasters to be "had."

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I like your attitude. ;-) "There is an earthquake? Who gives a flying F*#$!! Let 'er roll!"

LOL! LOL!

-Tina

^When Wildcat was relocated to Frontier City I went several days after it opened. I was so sick I puked on my way to the park, in the park, in que for Wildcat, and on Wildcat. But baby it was worth it!
I also was vomit-sick for the Odyssey party at SFMM last year, but my vomit-sick ass ran and rode all night. Ahhhh, the nausea.

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