Sidewinder at Adventureland

Visited Adventureland in Altoona, IA yesterday and took quite a few pics, you will find some pics of the New For 2004 Sidewinder and in the other galleries some pics of Timberland Twister at CS.

See the pics at http://community.webshots.com/user/cwsr

Assuming you rode Sidewinder, how was it? I probably won't be out there again until this fall, so I'm wondering if it's any good.

Regardless, thanks for the pictures. I love Adventureland.

-Nate

Actually, that does look like a really nice park. You don't hear too much about it. Just the scenery and the variety of rides make the park look beautiful.

Sidewinder looks like a smaller version of Delirium at PKI and that steel coaster looks unique. I wonder who designed it.

I believe Dragon (the steel coaster) is an O.D. Hopkins design, but I may be wrong.

Adventureland really does look like a good park, with Outlaw and Tornado, two really good looking woodies, Dragon, a unique steel looper, and Underground.

Does anyone know what company manufactured Sidewinder? It really looks like the kiddie version of Delirium..

Yes, Dragon is a Hopkins coaster. Sidewinder is Moser's (http://www.moserrides.com/) first frisbee-style ride.

Adventureland is gorgeous; without a doubt, it's one of the prettiest parks I've ever been to. It's also outstandingly well operated. It was empty the day we visited, but crews were still quick and rivaled Holiday World in friendliness.

Both Outlaw and Tornado are good. They're not fantastic, but they're enjoyable rides. Dragon also blew me away. I had heard several negative reports, but I found it to be smooth and very Schwarzkopf-esque with airtime and positive G's both. Their S&S tower is also the best I've ridden.

If Adventureland hosted a SRM-like enthusiast event, I guarantee you'd hear a lot more about it. It's a wonderful park and very worthy of a visit. If you have a chance to go, don't pass it up!

-Nate

It does look quite fun. Its a shame I will probably never get to go to this place.

Why not? You're only five hours away.

-Nate *** Edited 5/7/2004 7:03:48 PM UTC by coasterdude318***

Sidewinder is probably the best ride in the park. The coasters are decent for kids, but they are not that thrilling. As for the S&S tower, I thought it was one of the worst (along with Dominator). You either have to go big like CP/VF, or get one like at IB. This one is small and weak. At least it was when I went. The park is friendly and has a great feel to it, but it just lacks the thrills it needs to put it on the map.

I think you're missing the point. Adventureland isn't a thrill park, and it probably never will be. As I said above, I thought Dragon was fun (and forceful), but Outlaw's first half was also pretty good, especially the first curving drop. It dies halfway through, but it's a quality ride.

I actually found the big S&S towers (CP and VF included) to be the absolute worst. Height certainly doesn't equal forces, as those two in particular were downright boring. Adventureland's had massive airtime at the top when I rode.

Have you ridden any other frisbee variants to compare Sidewinder to?

-Nate *** Edited 5/3/2004 6:57:23 AM UTC by coasterdude318***

I'm really happy to see the positive reports about my homepark, but am surprised that the woodies aren't getting higher marks. Have you had a night ride on Tornado and Outlaw? They both really pick up at the end of a long, hot day. That camel hill right before the turnaround on Tornado has some ejector air in the front of the train. I love how that hill is covered by the superstructure mos tof the way up. It's like you explode out of the cannon at the tiop kinda. I find Outlaw to be intense all the way to the end, but if you haven't experienced the rides at their peak during optimal conditions, I can see why you feel they aren't fantastic. My opinion changes of them depending on how well they're running that day. Sometimes, they don't impress me much and other times they rank in the top 10% of 200+ track record.

I'm even more surprised at the glowing remarks for Dragon. I've never cared for this coaster and often skip it, BUT if they could get rid of thoae OTSR's, I think I would really enjoy it. It does have a rather unique layout as do Outlaw and Torndao.

I'm waiting for a warm day before I head out for my first visit this season. I had no idea what Sidewinder was going to be, as Adventureland hasn't advertised it at all as far as I know, but a frisbee-type ride sounds great. I loved the one at Celebration City.
Please come and visit again. They need the business.
-Matt in Iowa

I'll agree with Matt on the Dragon, this being my homepark, it is too short of a ride and I really don't like it. I can't wait to get out to ride Sidewinder as I will be going sometime this summer. It really is more of a family fun park with 4 coasters than a thrill park. Space Shot isn't too bad of a Power Tower, gives you a great look over the city. You gotta come just to eat the funnel cakes, YUMMY!!!!!!!

Of all the parks we are going to be hitting on our huge midwest park tour this June, Adventureland is one of the ones that I'm most looking forward to visiting. The Outlaw and Tornado really sound like a couple of underated woodies and the new Sidewinder looks like a blast. BTW, does anyone know how much parking is? I couldn't find it on their website.

Parking was reasonable...$4 or $5 if I'm remembering correctly.

-Nate

Yeah parking is fairly cheap, if you are staying at the Adventureland Inn next door it is free, you just take the Trolley over.

Parking is 4 bucks. Sidewinder is my first frisbee. I did get a tad bit of air on both woodies, but it was very insignificant. Maybe they get better on some days. The S&S tower gave me no air. I have got air on the VF and CP towers. At CP, one space shot has air and one does not. VF is tempormental; sometimes the best I have been on and sometimes no air at all. Maybe AdvLd's is tempormental too. I have read good things about the two woodies, but I have now been there twice and have not seen it. It would be nice to keep trying, but I would rather just go to WoF where my CF pass works and I can count on coasters delivering rather than dropping new admission every time and wondering if the park will have anything to offer me. Sure it has things for some people and if that is you, that is fine, but so far it has not shown me much.

btw, even if I do go back, I doubt I will get back on Dragon. That is one of the worst coasters I have been on.

Just wanted to also mention that I do have a 16 meg video of the Sidewinder if somebody would like to post it somewhere. I am also looking for somebody to host my pics so I don't have to use webshots anymore. And for those who don't remember me, I used to run the Coasting America website, which is now sitting dormant. Visit if you wish at http://www.angelfire.com/mn/cwsr Just not into working the site anymore, but I got a new digital camera and will continue to take pics. Any comment's on the quality of the shots? *** Edited 5/3/2004 10:02:59 PM UTC by cwsr***

When I rode it this past weekend, I enjoyed the ride. Adventureland is an acquired taste, much like a few other parks out there.

-DH

I love the park. It is the closest park to me, thought. I agree that the woodies are tempermental, espically the Tornado. In 2002, The Tornado was hauling butt, everywhere in the train. Ejector air on the first drop in the back seat, and on basically every hill. In 2003, it was just OK. Also, it really depends on where you sit. Here are some good picks:

Tornado: Try the back first, then try the front. The front always seems to be pretty good. Middle is good for beginning riders.

Outlaw: Very front or very back is good. I prefer the back because of the great air on the first drop, though.

Dragon: I dislike this ride. Not well designed at all. A sad excuse for a steel looper.

Adventure Land has very nice staff, and great flat rides. It is not the thrill ride park like Cedar Point, but, I would compare it to Knobels or Holiday World, a place with friendly staff, fun rides, and a great experience- a family park.

The thing about parks like HW, Knoebels, or even IB is they actually have a couple great rides at each park. There is no way anything at Adventureland comes close to Raven, Legend, Phoenix, Cornball, or even LoCoSuMo. If it had a ride like those (especially the first 4) I would go there a couple times a month.

I would take every single ride at Adventueland over the Lost Coaster, Underground included.

-Nate