Rustbucket

How about Strickers Grove? 🤣

Sad day. I knew her not being present for Nightflight ride announcement last year meant she was not doing well. She was so generous to people in needs especially to those in eastern Tennessee. Rest in peace, Dolly. This world is less brighter without you.

I remember this. Very well done, Don. We were having a big laugh over this. 😆 My daughter and I were at the announcement of Banshee.

It made much more sense for them to put White Lightning at Fun Spot Orlando. Smaller wooden coaster there. AF1 was too ambitious.

One main problem is that Fun Spot Atlanta does not have many things to do besides Arie Force One. I only spend about an hour at the park to ride Arie Force One but nothing else. I have been buying season passes since the coaster opening 3 years ago. This would not have happened without Arie Force One. Also, the park is located in rather remote area. ATL is not far away but the park is not close to other notable attractions in Atlanta area.

Since we moved down to SC from Cincinnati area, we visit SFoG, Dollywood, and Carowinds in rotating basis. We were last here during July 4 weekend. One thing I noticed right away was the number of coaster shirts people were wearing. The obvious reason was that many people were at SFoG after visiting Fun Spot Atlanta for Arie Force One for the last time (probably first as well). I actually thought that there were more enthusiasts here than normal coaster events. I ran into enthusiasts from all over the US including a guy was from Oregon. (More later on this guy.) I met a person, Randy, from Texas. He was wearing a Tormenta shirt, and we started to talk about Tormenta and my planned visit to SFoT in September. He has home park is SFoT and visiting SFoG for the first time. He also visited Fun Spot on Saturday to ride AF1. We decided to ride together since he was not familiar with the park. Twisted Cyclone opens 20 to 30 minutes prior to actual opening of the park. It was delayed somewhat but got to ride this retrofit RMC before the park opened. Many people call this mini Steel Vengeance with very similar elements. This is much short duration and not as tall but has similar elements. Goliath is my favorite here. Only problem is the rattling. The layout is quite different from other B&M "hypers" thus rather unique. We rode this twice. Batman the Ride here is by far the most intense Batman clone. I have no idea why so. SeaWorld SA, SFFT, SFStL, SFMM, SFGAm, and SFGAd do not come close to the intensity of this one. We rode this twice as well. Mine Eraser is a Schwartzkopf coaster that is well maintained and very reliable. (Do not blame me if I just cursed this coaster. 🤣) Monster Mansion is a must ride at SFoG even though this is not a coaster. This reminds me of old Disney Rides. Nice themed and relaxing. Both Dare Devil coaster and Georgia Goldrusher were closed. Too bad about Goldrusher. This is much better cosster than what I expected at first. What is happening with Intamin now? This coaster opening was delayed for a year and still having all these issues after a decent operation last year. With SF having issues with Intamin recently and CF issues with Intamin in the past, we may not see SF doing any future business with them in the near future. Blue Hawk is a revamped Viper coaster with better restraint system. Viper was the biggest head banger in my coaster riding experience. This is much improved but still not very enjoyable. Great American Scream Machine is one of my favorite here even if the ride is getting rough again. I do like this woodie. For obvious reasons, this ride feels like Racer. Superman the Ultimate Flight is a B&M flying coaster. I liked flying Dutchman model better than this one. This one is enjoyable enough. Do not expect Tatsu or Manta experiences. The guy from Oregon, Bao, was a solo rider who rode with us on this. He told me he needs to leave the park by 2:30 pm at the latest to catch his flight at 5 pm. I alway do Justice League at least once. Also, all the effects in this shooter work. 146100 was my score. We rode Dahlonega Mine Train before leaving the park. Randy wanted to stay longer so that he can ride Georgia Scorcher and Dare Devil coaster (if this opens back up. This is our regular route going through this park. This park does not have a good reputation as far as operations go but have improved since CF SF merger. The park is also looking better, too. It has a long ways to go but improving nevertheless. Randy even mentioned that the park operation was better than he expected. We left the park around 2:50. Well, Bao (the Oregon guy) was running toward the parking lot when we were exiting the park. Hopefully, he made to his flight. He was cutting it rather close. 😆

Saturday in July...

Well, I did not get to ride Kumba when I was there in March 2024, July 2024, March 2025, September 2025 and February 2026. It was always closed. I guess no last ride for me for Kumba. This was nice B&M looper although I prefer Wildfire at Silver Dollar City.

I really like FoF. Actually, I like FoF after they removed over the shoulder restraints. Very nice theming as well as funny queue video. I once had a rollback on KI FoF.

I am not sure if SFoG would be an option with Twisted Cyclone there. AF1 is much better coaster but so similar. My guess is that parks with RMC would not consider this. Only difference being AF1 being a ground up RMC so that there is a uniqueness about it. Other retrofit RMCs are very similar to each other.

One place that may have some flat space is Carowinds. Other Funspot parks do not have space, I think. Orlando location does not have space. Maybe Kissimmee location back parking lot could be an option. SeaWorld? I am not sure if BGT can do this.

Arie Force One is located on nearly flat ground. I am not sure if there are any location at KI that can accommodate this coaster except for parking lot.

I believe the rule is lightning strike within 10 miles. They are closed for 30 minutes. The time resets after each lightning strike within 10 miles.

Son of Beast was arguably the most picturesque coaster in history. I miss seeing SoB looking down from Drop Tower.

With KI no longer being my home park when we moved away in 2017, I cannot ride Orion like I did like Drop Tower (10,665), Diamondback (7,500+) and The Beast (2,000+). I am at 250 on Orion now.

This feels so long ago.

This coaster is well on the way. These are pictures from 1/1/2023.

Tracks behind Dragonflier. This coaster foot print is extremely large. Many footings are placed. These pictures are from 10/26/2022.

Thanks for posting this. I hope they will get this fixed. Grizzly was the first wooden coaster I rode as well as my first coaster in the US. I was there on the opening day for that coaster at KD.

I started to see footings for the new coaster. Also, some structures are being built near the entrance of Wildwood Grove. The foot print of this coaster is extremely large. These photos were taken on 9/11/2022.

Nice trip report. We were at Carowinds on Sunday. Even though it rained off and on, the park was really busy. Monday was extremely rainy so we stayed away.

Construction well on the way at Carowinds. These are taken on 9/4/2022.

I really like Mr Freeze. One of those coasters that are unexpectedly good. Knowing SF, they will retheme the Ride.

My son and I visited SFoG on 8/28/2022. This is our "home" SF park and visit here about once a month. Unfortunately, Acrophobia is closed for the day. Twisted Cyclone always opens early before the park officially opens. This RMC is one of the better ones. These smaller RMC retrofit coasters are much more re-ridable than larger ones. Dare Devil dive coaster capacity is very low so that wait time is normally quite long. I always try to ride this early. Mindbender is my favorite Schwarzkopf coaster over Scorpion at BGT, Revolution at SFMM or Sooperdooperlooper at Hershey. This is much smoother since refurbishment in 2021. I love Goliath. This almost hyper B&M coaster has been growing on me. I love the double helix and triple airtime hills at the end. This coaster is getting somewhat rattly. Batman the Ride and Superman Ultimate Flight are clones of the rides at other SF parks. I do find this Batman to be more intense than others for some reason. Great American Scream Machine was retracted this year and much smoother. I wish they kepted 3 row PTC trains for this coaster. Nevertheless, this is an enjoyable wooden coaster. This park needs some TLC and in need for a new coaster. Many rides need new paint job. One positive is that it was cleaner than my other visits to this park. This park certainly has potential. There are some unique coasters along with good flat rides. They do need to expand the kiddie section.

Thunderbolt is still a nice little wooden coaster.