Visionland Trip

Saturday, April 10th was opening day for VL. It was a beautiful, sunny Saturday with a high in the mid 70's. I arrived at the park around 11:00am and paid my $6.00 to park.

I had preordered my season pass and had received it in the mail. I headed to the gates for the new processing method. You no longer get your picture made. They are using a finger measuring system that was much faster and efficient.

After having my fingers scanned, I headed straight for the Rampage. Ahh-fast, smoothe, airtime, lateral g's galore. I swear I get "new" airtime every year in a different place. I got in a total of 7 rides. 6 in the back and one in the front. The lines were great. I was able to get in several re-rides w/ out getting out of my seat. Fortunatly, almost every train went out full.

I then headed up the hill to Space Shot. The S&S ride is fun, but lacks the force that I have found on other similar rides. I was able to get in 4 rides without leaving my seat.

I found the park clean and "perky" and the employees friendly. I hope VL has another profitable season. It truly needs some additional thrill rides in Magic Adventure. I am realistic and know that they can't put in a new ride every year.

Glad to here you had a great time at the park Steve. I can't wait to get back to Visionland for this years ACE event. It sounds like the Rampage is running better than ever and ready tear it up for another season. Were they running one train? I know that the second train was being refurbised. I guess they will probably put it back into operation when the crowds warrant it. How did the improvements to Celebration St. look? Any new merchandise available?

I did not see the second train. I guess it is still being refurbished. Celebration St looked great. It is very colorful and they have changed some of the food items offered. I went into one T-shirt sop and did not see anything other than plain VL t-shirts. I have not seen any cool Rampage shirts since the old owners had the park.

I had one complaint (that I did not voice at the park) about the Rampage. The ride attendants would not let any guests into the station until the train had stopped and unloaded. Then the attendant would take down the chain, fill the loading dock and open the gates and load the ride. This was not a problem Saturday because there were no lines, but if there had been wait times, this method was not acceptable. All loading dock stations should be prefilled before that train completes its run. The train unloads the gates open and the train is loaded.

This might be a newly trained ride op getting used to working Rampage...therefore the precautionary measures of loading the train. Last October they were operating it like a normal queue line should. One question...did they fix that horrible jolting bump as you enter the transfer track? It's the worst I've ever felt on a wooden coaster, and I honestly thought about contacting the park about their need to fix it. I'm sure it was reeking havoc on the left side wheels and the train bodies.

Don't count on that bump ever being fixed. It has basically been that way practically since it opened.

It feels like about a 1/2" - 3/4" difference in track heights where the train enters the transfer track. Hard to believe CCI would let that slide if it's been there since opening.

it could just be a safety practice that Visionland uses on Rampage. I do think that it is kind of stupid to not let anyone in the station until the train is parked. Who knows though?

DollywoodRideOp

Let me hear ya'all: Rocky Mountain Tennessee!

They have airgates though. There's no reason not to let people in the station. They were letting people into the station when I went a few years back.

Hey Steve...Did they still have up the signs in front of the flume ride "Coming in 2004 - New Attraction"?