My brother, father, and I decided to hit the park-formerly-known-as-Geauga-Lake. We'd never been to the park while it was Geauga Lake, so I can't make any comparisons to what's CHANGED.
First up was the season pass line for me (some friends and I had bought season passes months ago when they were only $39.99; my brother and father had picked up single-day tickets for $20.99 at Giant Eagle a few days earlier).
Thinking I'd be facing a wait of an hour or more (this WAS opening weekend, after all), I'd borrowed a pair of Motorola TalkAbout 101's from my travel club. I figured my brother & dad could get some riding in while I was in like for my season pass, then we'd meet up when I got out of that line. (I knew I'd be back later this year, why should they waste time when they might not be?)
When we pulled into the parking lot and saw how *EMPTY* it was, we realized we wouldn't be needing the TalkAbouts. I counted at least 7 cameras going inside the Season Pass center, as well, but I was in and out so fast I didn't really bother looking around too much. Very very cool.
So the three of us were in the park. We decided that we'd start with Superman:Ultimate Escape while the crowds were light, since we figured that was going to be the ride with the most problems for capacity.
In a word, WOW. This ride is an incredible rush. My brother and I rode in the very back the first time. The acceleration out of the station is incredible, and the acceleration BACKWARDS coming back through the station is interesting. The facedown freefall on the back spike in the last pass (when the train gets HELD up there briefly) makes the back seat worthwhile.
After that, we decided to walk back around and try the front. Actually we tried second-to-front, since we figured in terms of the vertical spiral that would give almost the same experience, and the line was much shorter (read
non-existant). The front is an even be琀攀爀 爀椀搀攀 琀栀愀渀 琀栀攀 戀愀挀欀⸀ 䤀 栀愀瘀攀 愀 渀攀眀 昀愀瘀漀爀椀琀攀 猀栀甀琀琀氀攀ⴀ琀礀瀀攀 爀椀搀攀⸀⸀⸀㰀戀爀㸀㰀戀爀㸀㰀戀爀㸀䘀爀漀洀 琀栀愀琀 瀀漀椀渀琀 䤀 搀漀渀✀琀 爀攀洀攀洀戀攀爀 琀栀攀 攀砀愀挀琀 猀攀焀甀攀渀挀攀⸀ 圀攀 栀椀琀 愀氀氀 㠀 ∀愀搀甀氀琀∀ 挀漀愀猀琀攀爀猀⸀ 吀栀攀 瀀愀爀欀 昀椀氀氀攀搀 甀瀀 昀愀椀爀氀礀 眀攀氀氀 椀渀 琀栀攀 愀昀琀攀爀渀漀漀渀Ⰰ 戀甀琀 䤀 栀愀瘀攀 渀漀 椀搀攀愀 栀漀眀 椀琀 挀漀洀瀀愀爀攀搀 琀漀 愀 ∀琀礀瀀椀挀愀氀∀ 瀀爀攀ⴀ匀椀砀 䘀氀愀最猀 搀愀礀⸀ 䴀礀 椀洀瀀爀攀猀猀椀漀渀猀㨀㰀戀爀㸀㰀戀爀㸀㰀戀爀㸀匀甀瀀攀爀洀愀渀㨀唀氀琀椀洀愀琀攀 䔀猀挀愀瀀攀 ⠀㌀ 爀椀搀攀猀 漀瘀攀爀愀氀氀㬀 漀渀攀 愀搀搀椀琀椀漀渀愀氀 昀爀漀渀琀 爀椀搀攀 椀渀 琀栀攀 愀昀琀攀爀渀漀漀渀⤀ ⴀⴀ 匀攀攀 愀戀漀瘀攀⸀ 䄀猀 愀渀 愀搀搀攀搀 渀漀琀攀Ⰰ 琀栀椀猀 爀椀搀攀 眀愀猀 搀漀眀渀 戀爀椀攀昀氀礀 搀甀爀椀渀最 琀栀攀 愀昀琀攀爀渀漀漀渀Ⰰ 眀栀攀渀 眀攀✀搀 最漀渀攀 戀愀挀欀 昀漀爀 愀 琀栀椀爀搀 爀椀搀攀⸀ 圀栀攀渀 椀琀 爀攀漀瀀攀渀攀搀Ⰰ 䤀 渀漀琀椀挀攀搀 愀 最甀礀 椀渀 琀栀攀 猀琀愀琀椀漀渀 眀攀愀爀椀渀最 愀渀 䤀渀琀愀洀椀渀 猀栀椀爀琀Ⰰ 愀椀洀椀渀最 眀栀愀琀 氀漀漀欀攀搀 氀椀欀攀 愀 栀愀渀搀 猀挀愀渀渀攀爀 愀琀 琀栀攀 䰀䤀䴀猀 戀攀琀眀攀攀渀 挀礀挀氀攀猀⸀ 䈀礀 琀栀攀 琀椀洀攀 䤀 最漀琀 甀瀀 琀栀攀爀攀Ⰰ 栀攀 眀愀猀 最漀渀攀Ⰰ 猀漀 䤀 搀漀渀✀琀 欀渀漀眀 椀昀 栀攀 眀愀猀 琀愀欀椀渀最 爀攀愀搀椀渀最猀Ⰰ 洀愀欀椀渀最 愀搀樀甀猀琀洀攀渀琀猀Ⰰ 漀爀 眀栀愀琀⸀㰀戀爀㸀㰀戀爀㸀㰀戀爀㸀䈀椀最 䐀椀瀀瀀攀爀 ⠀㈀ 爀椀搀攀猀⤀ ⴀⴀ 圀栀愀琀 愀 渀攀愀琀 漀氀搀 眀漀漀搀椀攀⸀ 䤀 眀椀猀栀 䤀✀搀 爀椀搀搀攀渀 琀栀椀猀 氀椀琀琀氀攀 最攀洀 攀愀爀氀椀攀爀⸀ 䤀 搀漀渀✀琀 爀愀渀欀 椀琀 愀猀 栀椀最栀氀礀 愀猀 䬀攀渀渀礀眀漀漀搀✀猀 眀漀漀搀椀攀猀Ⰰ 戀甀琀 椀琀✀猀 愀 最漀漀搀 爀椀搀攀⸀㰀戀爀㸀㰀戀爀㸀㰀戀爀㸀吀栀攀 嘀椀氀氀愀椀渀 ⠀㈀ 爀椀搀攀猀⤀ ⴀⴀ 吀栀椀猀 爀椀搀攀 椀猀 嘀䔀刀夀 栀椀最栀 漀渀 洀礀 眀漀漀搀攀渀 挀漀愀猀琀攀爀 氀椀猀琀⸀ 䤀琀 䐀伀䔀匀 戀攀愀琀 琀栀攀 䬀攀渀渀礀眀漀漀搀 眀漀漀搀椀攀猀Ⰰ 䤀䴀䠀伀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 挀漀洀攀猀 搀愀洀渀 挀氀漀猀攀 琀漀 洀礀 昀愀瘀漀爀椀琀攀 爀椀搀攀Ⰰ 琀栀攀 䌀䤀 䌀礀挀氀漀渀攀⸀ ⠀䤀琀 䴀䄀夀 攀瘀攀渀 攀挀氀椀瀀猀攀 椀琀 琀漀 戀攀 栀漀渀攀猀琀Ⰰ 䤀 爀攀愀氀氀礀 渀攀攀搀 琀漀 爀攀爀椀搀攀 琀栀攀 䌀礀挀氀漀渀攀 琀漀 猀攀攀 椀昀 椀琀 栀漀氀搀猀 甀瀀 愀猀 眀攀氀氀 愀猀 洀礀 洀攀洀漀爀礀 椀渀猀椀猀琀猀 㬀ⴀ⤀ ⤀㰀戀爀㸀㰀戀爀㸀䤀琀 眀愀猀 栀愀瘀椀渀最 猀漀洀攀 瀀爀漀戀氀攀洀猀Ⰰ 琀栀漀甀最栀⸀ 吀栀攀 昀椀爀猀琀 琀椀洀攀 眀攀 爀漀搀攀 椀琀Ⰰ 琀栀攀礀✀搀 樀甀猀琀 琀愀欀攀渀 琀栀攀 爀攀搀 琀爀愀椀渀 漀昀昀 搀甀攀 琀漀 ∀琀攀挀栀渀椀挀愀氀 搀椀昀昀椀挀甀氀琀椀攀猀 眀椀琀栀 琀栀愀琀 琀爀愀椀渀∀ ⠀琀栀愀琀 眀愀猀 愀氀氀 眀攀 眀攀爀攀 愀戀氀攀 琀漀 最攀琀 昀爀漀洀 琀栀攀 挀爀攀眀⤀⸀ 吀栀攀礀 眀攀爀攀 昀漀爀挀攀搀 椀渀琀漀 猀椀渀最氀攀ⴀ琀爀愀椀渀 漀瀀攀爀愀琀椀漀渀 昀漀爀 洀漀猀琀 漀昀 琀栀攀 搀愀礀Ⰰ 眀栀椀挀栀 眀愀猀 甀渀昀漀爀琀甀渀愀琀攀⸀㰀戀爀㸀㰀戀爀㸀䔀瘀攀渀 眀漀爀猀攀Ⰰ 氀愀琀攀爀 椀渀 琀栀攀 搀愀礀 眀栀攀渀 眀攀 眀攀渀琀 戀愀挀欀Ⰰ 琀栀攀 伀吀䠀䔀刀 琀爀愀椀渀 眀愀猀 最椀瘀椀渀最 琀栀攀洀 瀀爀漀戀氀攀洀猀 漀昀 猀漀洀攀 猀漀爀琀 愀猀 眀攀氀氀⸀ 圀栀攀渀 眀攀 最漀琀 琀漀 琀栀攀 猀琀愀琀椀漀渀 眀攀 眀攀爀攀㰀戀爀㸀椀渀昀漀爀洀攀搀 琀栀愀琀 洀愀椀渀琀攀渀愀渀挀攀 眀愀猀 ∀漀椀氀椀渀最 琀栀攀 眀栀攀攀氀猀∀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 椀琀 眀漀甀氀搀 琀愀欀攀 愀 昀攀眀 洀漀爀攀 挀礀挀氀攀猀⸀ 圀栀攀渀 眀攀 昀椀渀愀氀氀礀 最漀琀 漀渀Ⰰ 琀栀攀 氀椀昀琀 猀琀漀瀀瀀攀搀 爀椀最栀琀 愀猀 眀攀 爀攀愀挀栀攀搀 椀琀⸀ 伀漀瀀猀⸀ 吀栀攀礀 爀攀猀琀愀爀琀攀搀 椀琀 椀渀 愀昀琀攀爀 愀 搀攀氀愀礀 漀昀 愀戀漀甀琀 㔀 洀椀渀甀琀攀猀⸀ 吀栀攀渀 琀栀攀礀 栀攀氀搀 甀猀 漀渀 琀栀攀 戀愀挀欀 戀爀愀欀攀 爀甀n while maintenance was fiddling with something. One guy DID appear to have a grease gun.
This is an EXCELLENT ride, though, and I hope whatever problems they were having get cleared up quickly.
Double Loop (2 rides) -- Fun, but nothing special. Simple little steel looper.
Raging Wolf Bobs (1 ride) -- Not bad, but far from my favorite wooden coaster. Big Dipper was better. It was amusing noting the rush paint job,
though (white all over the grass, the back half of the ride was NOT painted).
Batman Knight Flight (2 rides) -- I was looking forward to this, as I'd REALLY enjoyed Medusa last summer at Great Adventure, and SFO is a lot
closer to home. This is a good ride, but I think I liked Medusa a bit better. We rode once in the front seat, and once in the very back. The
front is better for visuals, but the back gives a better RIDE (good airtime on the dive into the interlocking corkscrews, for example). This is a good B&M ride, 'nuff said. Very light touch on the trims both times we hit it.
Serial Thriller (1 ride) -- My first SLC. I CAN see why small parks like these rides. Lots of bang in a tight space. Not as good as the B&M
inverteds, but not bad.
Mind Eraser (2 rides) -- Another "not bad". Nothing special, not worth going to the park for by itself, but a decent little ride.
Overall impressions: I like this park. It's a bit rough still, though. They still have a LOT of work to do in parts of the park.
The three new coasters (the family coaster, Roadrunner Express, wasn't running yet) are ALL excellent additions. I think I wouldn't have been
terribly impressed by this park before the Six Flags makeover, to be honest, although it may have had a pleasant "local" feel...
I don't know if it was crews learning the ride, or just typical Six Flags mentality already setting in, but rides were definitely not running to capa椀琀礀⸀ 吀栀攀 椀渀琀攀爀瘀愀氀 漀渀 匀㨀唀䔀 挀漀甀氀搀 攀愀猀椀氀礀 戀攀 猀栀漀爀琀攀渀攀搀 ⠀琀栀愀琀 漀渀攀 洀愀礀 戀攀 愀 猀琀愀昀昀椀渀最 琀栀椀渀最Ⰰ 琀栀漀甀最栀 ⴀⴀ 琀栀攀礀 栀愀搀 漀渀氀礀 漀渀攀 漀瀀攀爀愀琀漀爀 挀栀攀挀欀椀渀最 爀攀猀琀爀愀椀渀琀猀 漀渀 攀愀挀栀 猀椀搀攀Ⰰ 愀 瀀氀愀挀攀 氀椀欀攀 䌀攀搀愀爀 倀漀椀渀琀 眀漀甀氀搀 栀愀瘀攀 栀愀搀 愀琀 氀攀愀猀琀 ㈀ 漀渀 攀愀挀栀 猀椀搀攀⤀⸀㰀戀爀㸀䈀愀琀洀愀渀 䬀渀椀最栀琀 䘀氀椀最栀琀 眀愀猀 爀甀渀渀椀渀最 愀氀氀 ㌀ 琀爀愀椀渀猀Ⰰ 戀甀琀 琀栀攀礀 眀攀爀攀 栀愀瘀椀渀最 匀䔀刀䤀伀唀匀 猀琀愀挀欀椀渀最 瀀爀漀戀氀攀洀猀⸀ ⠀吀栀攀 焀甀攀甀攀 椀渀 琀栀攀 猀琀愀琀椀漀渀 眀愀猀 愀 洀攀猀猀Ⰰ 琀漀漀 ⴀⴀ 瀀攀漀瀀氀攀 眀愀椀琀椀渀最 昀漀爀 琀栀攀 昀爀漀渀琀 猀攀愀琀 眀攀爀攀 瀀爀攀琀琀礀 洀甀挀栀 戀氀漀挀欀椀渀最 漀昀昀 琀栀攀 攀渀琀椀爀攀 昀爀漀渀琀 栀愀氀昀 漀昀 琀栀攀 爀椀搀攀Ⰰ 眀栀椀挀栀 挀漀甀氀搀 攀愀猀椀氀礀 戀攀 猀漀氀瘀攀搀 眀椀琀栀 愀渀 愀搀搀攀搀 爀愀椀氀⤀⸀㰀戀爀㸀㰀戀爀㸀䤀 搀漀渀✀琀 欀渀漀眀 眀栀愀琀 瀀爀椀挀攀猀 眀攀爀攀 氀椀欀攀 愀琀 䜀䰀Ⰰ 戀甀琀 昀漀漀搀 眀愀猀 䔀堀倀䔀一匀䤀嘀䔀⸀ 伀渀氀礀 漀渀攀 猀椀稀攀 漀昀 猀漀搀愀 眀愀猀 愀瘀愀椀氀愀戀氀攀⸀ 儀甀愀氀椀琀礀 眀愀猀渀✀琀 戀愀搀Ⰰ 戀甀琀 䤀✀洀 猀瀀漀椀氀攀搀 戀礀㰀戀爀㸀䬀攀渀渀礀眀漀漀搀 ⠀挀栀攀愀瀀攀爀 愀渀搀 戀攀琀琀攀爀⤀⸀㰀戀爀㸀㰀戀爀㸀吀栀攀 眀愀琀攀爀 椀渀 琀栀攀 昀漀甀渀琀愀椀渀猀 眀愀猀 䠀伀刀刀䤀䈀䰀䔀⸀ ⠀䄀挀琀甀愀氀氀礀 眀攀 栀愀搀 愀 瀀爀攀琀琀礀 栀愀爀搀 琀椀洀攀 䘀䤀一䐀䤀一䜀 琀栀攀 昀漀甀渀琀愀椀渀猀 愀渀搀 戀愀琀栀爀漀漀洀猀 愀琀 昀椀爀猀琀℀⤀ 嘀䔀刀夀 栀椀最栀 椀爀漀渀 挀漀渀琀攀渀琀Ⰰ 䤀 挀漀甀氀搀渀✀琀 搀爀椀渀欀 椀琀⸀ 䤀 栀愀瘀攀 愀 䈀爀椀琀琀愀 眀愀琀攀爀 戀漀琀琀氀攀 琀栀愀琀 䤀✀氀氀 戀爀椀渀最 眀椀琀栀 洀攀㰀戀爀㸀渀攀砀琀 琀椀洀攀Ⰰ 戀甀琀 䤀 搀漀渀✀琀 琀栀椀渀欀 琀栀攀 琀椀渀礀 挀愀爀戀漀渀 昀椀氀琀攀爀 椀渀 琀栀愀琀 眀椀氀氀 戀攀 愀戀氀攀 琀漀㰀戀爀㸀搀漀 愀渀礀琀栀椀渀最 昀漀爀 琀栀椀猀⸀㰀戀爀㸀㰀戀爀㸀吀栀攀 瀀愀爀欀 椀猀 欀椀渀搀愀 猀洀愀氀氀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 挀愀瀀愀挀椀琀礀 洀愀礀 戀攀 愀 瀀爀漀戀氀攀洀Ⰰ 戀甀琀 䤀 搀漀渀✀琀 欀渀漀眀 眀栀愀琀 䜀䰀 栀愀搀 戀攀攀渀 氀椀欀攀⸀ 䤀渀 琀栀攀 愀昀琀攀爀渀漀漀渀 琀栀攀 洀椀搀眀愀礀 猀攀攀洀攀搀 刀䔀䄀䰀䰀夀 挀爀漀眀搀攀搀㰀戀爀㸀最椀瘀攀渀 栀漀眀 猀栀漀爀琀 琀栀攀 挀漀愀猀琀攀爀 氀椀渀攀猀 眀攀爀攀⸀㰀戀爀㸀㰀戀爀㸀吀栀攀 爀椀搀攀 漀瀀攀爀愀琀漀爀猀 眀攀爀攀 一䤀䌀䔀⸀ 一漀琀 眀栀愀琀 䤀 眀漀甀氀搀 攀砀瀀攀挀琀 愀琀 愀 匀椀砀 䘀氀愀最猀 瀀愀爀欀 㰀椀洀最 猀爀挀㴀∀⼀昀漀爀甀洀猀⼀椀洀愀最攀猀⼀猀洀椀氀攀㈀⸀最椀昀∀ 戀漀爀搀攀爀㴀∀ ∀㸀 䄀一䐀 渀漀琀 眀栀愀琀 䤀✀搀 栀攀愀爀搀 愀戀漀甀琀 䜀攀愀甀最愀 䰀愀欀攀⸀⸀⸀ 吀栀攀 漀瀀攀爀愀琀漀爀 漀渀 圀漀氀昀 䈀漀戀猀Ⰰ 攀猀瀀攀挀椀愀氀氀礀Ⰰ 眀愀猀 最爀攀愀琀⸀ ∀䠀漀眀 洀愀渀礀 漀昀 礀漀甀 栀愀瘀攀 戀攀攀渀 漀渀 嘀椀氀氀愀椀渀 礀攀琀㼀 夀漀甀 栀愀瘀攀㼀 圀栀愀琀 愀爀攀 礀漀甀 搀漀椀渀最 栀攀爀攀Ⰰ 䤀✀洀 眀愀猀琀椀渀最 礀漀甀爀 琀椀洀攀Ⰰ 琀栀愀琀✀猀 琀栀攀 戀攀猀琀 爀椀搀攀 䤀✀瘀攀 攀瘀攀爀 猀攀攀渀⸀⸀⸀∀ 㰀椀洀最 猀爀挀㴀∀⼀昀漀爀甀洀猀⼀椀洀愀最攀猀⼀猀洀椀氀攀⸀最椀昀∀ 戀漀爀搀攀爀㴀∀ ∀㸀㰀戀爀㸀㰀戀爀㸀㰀戀爀㸀伀瘀攀爀愀氀氀Ⰰ 䤀 眀愀猀 瀀氀攀愀猀愀渀琀氀礀 猀甀爀瀀爀椀猀攀搀 眀椀琀栀 琀栀椀猀 瀀愀爀欀⸀ 䤀琀✀猀 愀渀 攀愀猀礀 搀愀礀 琀爀椀瀀 昀爀漀洀 倀椀琀琀猀戀甀爀最栀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 眀椀琀栀 琀栀攀 挀栀攀愀瀀 猀攀愀猀漀渀 瀀愀猀猀 瀀爀椀挀攀 ⠀栀漀瀀攀昀甀氀氀礀 琀栀攀礀 眀漀渀✀琀 樀愀挀欀 椀琀 甀瀀 吀伀伀 洀甀挀栀 渀攀砀琀 礀攀愀爀⤀ 椀琀✀猀 愀 搀攀愀氀⸀ 䤀✀氀氀 戀攀 戀愀挀欀⸀㰀戀爀㸀㰀戀爀㸀ⴀⴀⴀⴀⴀⴀⴀⴀⴀⴀⴀⴀⴀ㰀戀爀㸀ⴀⴀ䜀爀攀最㰀戀爀㸀㰀戀爀㸀栀琀琀瀀㨀⼀⼀眀眀眀⸀瀀漀戀漀砀⸀挀漀洀⼀縀最爀攀最氀攀最⼀
