Phunfest 2009

It was a great time, a chance to meet some fellow Buzzers, and ride some great rides. The highlights of the evening were definitely the Skyride, some major snapping on the Flyers, watching the guys from GCI on the Scooters, and of course the coasters.

Phoenix was running exceptionally well, smooth, and just got better as the day grew longer. Some Halloween decor in the tunnel, but its all about the airtime. Twister was running very fast and furious as well, and there was never more than a wait of one or two trains.

It was nice to have a Knoebels first timer, and we all hope Carrie had a great evening, as I know it was fun to hang out in our little CB crowd. Though next time, we will get you on those flyers!

Lastly, comes the important end of night address by Dick Knoebel. It was started out by a presentation by ACE, a lifetime membership awarded to Mike Boodley. It was nice to hear a bit about his career and acheivements. This was followed by the announcement that Mike has taken on the project of finnishing the trains for Flying Turns, and that the first train is about two to three weeks out from being delivered. Dick joked that if the coaster is ready December 15th we are all welcome, but may have to shovel some snow.

In addition we heard about Black Diamond, and got to see one of the original cars on display. They are awaiting final approval on the plans, and the ground will start to move. Black Diamond is planned to be open in 2010, and they seem very excited about finnishing both coasters.

It was a great time as always, and I am looking forward to 2010!

When was the announcement by Dick? I knew I would miss it.

I never heard about Black Diamond.

The announcements took place around 10pm. They distribute flyers at Cesari's pizza with the schedule of events for the night, just as an FYI for future Phunfests.

Yeah, usually a little after 10 (whenever the Phoenix line empties) Dick announces the costume contest winners and gives his state-of-the-park remarks at Phoenix Junction.

I've never seen Phoenix and Twister run faster than they were last night. Twister gave an utterly out-of-control feeling after dark, which I like except that it rattled my brain quite a bit. Normally its not that bad as long as you stick to the front or back of the train.

Who was the guy in the Flying Turns shirt who was doing some flying turns on the bumper cars?

So, it's possible that they MIGHT have Flying Turns open by next year?

What was said was that the "second generation" train is expected to be delivered within 2 weeks. If that meets the park's satisfaction, additional trains will be ordered immediately.

They also have the original plans for the Golden Nugget building. They have hired a local architect to review them and make the necessary revisions to bring the new building up to current building codes (IBC). Dick joked that the government must think they don't know how to building anything. The new enclosure for the eagles has also been constructed.

Looks like I missed a good information session. Bummer. :(

It was great to meet you guys, though, and I had a good time.

As always, Phunfest was awesome! I am too tired to think of anything else to say right now except that it was a great time with great friends! Phoenix was on crack! ;)

It looks like I missed a few Buzzers, though!

I know, Tina. I was really disappointed that I didn't get to meet you. Someday. :)

Definitely next Phunfest we will have to get more of a plan. Maybe have an official presence at PPP 2010 ;-) Hint hint....

Where is the new eagle enclosure located?

Next year, we'll all be in line for the Flying Turns, right?

The good thing about Phunfest is that you run into a lot of people just by chance. The not so good thing is that there are people you know are there somewhere, but never meet up with them.

Tina, sorry I missed you this year, but I hope you kept things under control out there in Danville.

Carrie M. said:
I know, Tina. I was really disappointed that I didn't get to meet you. Someday. :)

Oddly enough, Tina is the one person I run into repeatedly.

Jason Hammond said:
Where is the new eagle enclosure located?

It is basically right behind the old one, back where some of the cottages are. We stayed at one of the Knoebels cottages and as we drove in the access road you can see the original one on your left and the new one on your right.

Strike that, reverse it.

Jim S. said:

I've never seen Phoenix and Twister run faster than they were last night. Twister gave an utterly out-of-control feeling after dark, which I like except that it rattled my brain quite a bit.

Agreed. Phoenix is by far my favorite of the two but Twister was moving fast during the day and I was just this side of scared at night. Geesh, I thought one ride would be enough but with that walk-on of a line, bam, right back up the ramp I went. Came off the second time telling my wife, who doesn't like the Twister, that it's a good thing she didn't even try to ride.

Those random Gonch-bys are the best! He always appears out of nowhere it seems, like a ghost. ;)

Bear, the get-together was fun even though our little party got busted up again. We weren't even that loud but apparently there were complaints from other motel guests. :) It was the same motel manager that broke up the party last year! I like to call him "creepy motel dude." ;)

Sorry I missed you guys too!

-Tina

May be next year, i'll have enough cash to get out to PPP, know that i know where the fark Knoble's is.

KG is kinda crack: You get one hit and you're hooked!

For as much time as our group spent around the Phlyers and Phoenix, I'm surprised we didn't run into Tina, or see her cables wrapped around the frame again.

I think that with this min-extended Halloween event Knoebels is running, it was great to see more in the way of decorations. Twister had a lot more stuff in the queue, loved the orange fluorescents on the Phlyers, and the singing jack-o-lanterns by the Chalet. And we didn't even bother riding the train (Haunted Express) or the Antique Cars. Anyone try those out? Any reviews?

I skipped the cars because I've done them a few times before, and from the Phoenix it looked to be more or less the same decorations as usual. Anyone who's never done them at PPP has got to give them a try though, they decorate them better than anything else in the park. I think there's more decorations there than in the haunted house. (By the way, I finally got around to riding the haunted house at PPP since the line didn't seem too bad, and I was disappointed that they didn't have any live actors in there this time. I also don't see the point of the witch video that they added last year, because the ride is too noisy to understand what she's saying.)

The train was a bit of a let-down. The decorations were few and far between. Some of them were recycled from the car ride of a few years ago, like the flying saucer and the wave swinger. (I think the last time I rode the cars was the year they had the full amusement park set up, including the mini coaster that's been in front of the station the last two years.) I didn't see any live actors there either, although I kept hearing someone grunting in the woods and I kept hearing screams from the back end of the train.