Hoeter

I remember catching some rides with Gary early on when Diamondback opened and just thought of him on a recent visit when the topic of people known for their ride counts (Carl Eichelman, Don, Darlene, etc) came up with a buddy of mine. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I have the Made to Thrill posters for The Beast, Banshee, and Mystic Timbers hanging up in my home office. Last year, I got the wooden coordinate signs that they had in Emporium for The Beast and Banshee, but never could find one for Mystic Timbers. Looking in Emporium and the shop on my five visits so far this year, believe it's the Trading Company up near the gate, I don't think they carry these anymore? Last Sunday though when I visited, I did stack my Pass Perks for merchandise with my Prestige discount and ended up getting the three license plates for the price of two. I'm also curious if Cedar Point carries similar merchandise, as I have Made to Thrill posters hanging up in the office for Magnum XL-200, Maverick, Steel Vengeance, and the original Top Thrill Dragster - I am hoping to get back up there in the next couple of weeks and plan to check then.

Someone had posted on Facebook in one of the Kings Island groups that his last day is Saturday 5/31.

Six Flags lays off Knott’s and Magic Mountain presidents – Orange County Register Looks like the President positions are being eliminated at all parks in the chain. The article has that number as 27 but I thought it was closer to 40?

As soon as the merger was announced, several parks came to my mind as being potentially "at risk" due to multiple parks in the same area, of which Six Flags America was one. I had the opportunity to visit this park in 2014, along with Dorney, Six Flags Great Adventure aka NJFTP for those around from the Terpy days, Kings Dominion, and Carowinds on a Fourth of July weekend coaster trip. I thoroughly enjoyed the rides I took on Roar, Apocalypse (now Firebird), and Wild One; additionally, I also took my first (regrettable) ride on a Vekoma SLC and walked away with a splitting headache. The one at Kentucky Kingdom was a little more tolerable with the new trains, however. In terms of coasters, I'd like to see Firebird (opened as the first B&M at Six Flags Great America: Iron Wolf), and especially Wild One saved, given the latter's status and old school charm.

The helicopter scene is still there, however the theming was turned off.

1. The drop into the helix finale on The Beast, especially in Row 18 2. The first drop in Row 18 on The Beast 3. The first inversion after launch in Row 10 on Flight of Fear 4. The final turn into the brakes on Orion, especially on the right hand side of the train 5. From days gone by, the first drop on Vortex sitting in 7-1

Went up to Cedar Point again yesterday, leaving Cincinnati about 6AM and arriving back home about 9:30PM - we arrived on Point just in time for ERT (10:00AM) to begin and stayed until about 5:30PM ERT - was able to hit Valravn (Row 2) and GateKeeper (Row 8) I have All Season Fast Lane. Between 11-5:30, was able to get two rides on Millennium and one each on Maverick, red side of Gemini, Magnum, Raptor, Blue Streak. Even though not on Fast Lane, got rides in on Iron Dragon and Cedar Creek Mine Ride Steel Vengeance had a bucket lift up with maintenance working on track; per one of the CP groups on Facebook, this opened right as we left. Apple Maps took me a different way into Sandusky yesterday, which seemed a lot faster. Took I-71 to Mansfield and came out SR-13 as normal, detouring around the closure on SR-13 by going through Greenwich on US-224, back to US-250 Once we got to Olena on US-250/SR-13, it had me take backroads, passing Summit Motorsports Park, and coming into Milan, rejoining US-250/SR-13, effectively bypassing Norwalk traffic.

I plan to make a visit to Busch Gardens Tampa at some point, this is one park that I've always wanted to visit.

I noticed that they changed the sign out on the building - it now has "Bar and Bistro" below the "French Corner" wording

Definitely missed visiting Cedar Point - already planning on going back up towards the mid/end part of September. Visited the park with a friend of mine - he's never visited Cedar Point, but has recently visited Universal/IOA and Busch Gardens Tampa within the past month. As he's ridden Iron Gwazi, was curious how it stacked up against Steel Vengeance and was also curious how Maverick stacks up against other Intamin Blitz coasters such as Cheetah Hunt and Velocicoaster. It sounded like Iron Gwazi edged out Steel Vengeance and Maverick slots between Velocicoaster and Cheetah Hunt for him. Maverick is usually a front row ride for me, which we took on the first ride of the day. On the second ride of the day, we got assigned row 6. Now, I've sat in row 6 before, but I forgot how much more enjoyable that seat is, especially how it whips you over the drop and how intense it is in the first turns after the drop. Definitely plan on getting more rides in the back row next time I'm up there. We did encounter what I believe was an E-Stop on Maverick before our first ride, which was interesting to see happen. We waited in the station for about 20 minutes before the ride started back up. The train was stopped right on the first couple of stators before the start of the lift hill, to which the first two rows were taken off the ride. Once this was done, they had to reset the ride, the train rolled back, and operations continued as normal.

Made my first trip to Cedar Point in over 6 years, on Saturday August 17th. Left Northern Kentucky at 6:00AM and arrived at Cedar Point shortly after 10. As I have a Prestige pass, we got to park in the preferred lot, which is to the right of the front gate, literally right next to the beach and to GateKeeper. Went into the park to get my FLP wristband and were able to get quite a few rides in between 10:00AM and our departure around 5:30PM, we got quite a bit in GateKeeper - 20 minutes Raptor - 15 minutes Valravn Front Row - 15 minutes Blue Streak - 5 minutes Rougarou - 15 minutes Steel Vengeance - 30 minutes Maverick - 30 minutes Magnum in Magic Seat - 15 minutes Gemini - 15 minutes Steel Vengeance - 15 minutes Maverick - 15 minutes 1 ride each on all of the coasters except Iron Dragon, Corkscrew, Cedar Creek Mine Ride, and Millennium Force, 2 rides each on Maverick and Steel Vengeance Takeaways Upgraded from a Gold Pass in 2024 to a Prestige Pass in 2025 and now currently get the benefits of the latter; the Preferred Parking up there is worth it and especially the Prestige entry lane into the park as the other turnstiles had sizeable lines at open Old style B&M restraints are not friendly to folks with broad shoulders, had to use the double belted rows on Raptor and Rougarou - I can use the standard belt on Banshee and their B&M's with vest restraints - GateKeeper and Valravn Have All Season FLP at Kings Island for 2024 and upgraded to All Park FLP for 2025 - FLP cost for those buying single day was $200 so the difference basically has already paid for itself. FLP is worth it if you are coming up on a Saturday and are driving back same day. Millennium Force was closed all day, apparently with a catch car issue or sensor issue according to what I'm seeing on Facebook, was concerned about the belt buckling but looks like test seat is a go, hope to be back up sometime in September or October Rode Steel Vengeance twice (prior visit was 1 ride in its opening season) - both Maverick and Steel Vengeance are high up on my top 10 and favorite rides up at Cedar Point Ate at Corral and had the thai chili chicken tenders - does Kings Island have anything similar? If going up I-71 to Cedar Point and taking SR 13/US 250 into Sandusky, be advised there is a detour as SR 13 is closed - you will need to take US 224 to US 250 and continue into Sandusky If taking SR 13 across to SR 2 and coming in via US 6 past Sawmill Creek, be advised the overpass is out Arrived back at the house here in Northern Kentucky about 10PM but contemplated stopping into Kings Island and closing out the night

Cedar Point started selling their 2025 passes this morning - I assume Kings Island's offer, presumably going on sale Thursday when the water park announcement is made, will be similar. Gold stayed the same at $99 from last year at this time, Prestige saw an increase of $15 to $340, from $325. Summer pass looks to be discontinued. Renewals get 1 free bring a friend ticket to be used today through 10/27, Saturdays excluded, and 1 free single use Fast Lane during the 2025 season and must be used before 9/1/25 - for the free Single Use Fast Lane, must purchase before 9/2) Unlimited visits on Gold and Prestige remainder of 2024 plus all of 2025. Dining plans (both home and All Park), drink plans, and season long Fast Lane (both home and All Park) get remainder of 2024 for free in addition to 2025. Cedar Point's All Park Fast Lane for 2025 remains at $999, the same price it was for 2024 Their website doesn't outright specify if the All Park Passport would be free for the remainder of the 2024 season if renewing for 2025 and it didn't appear that an "All Park" option exists for the drink plan. I just got off the phone with someone from Guest Relations up at Cedar Point - they stated that the All Park Passport would include the rest of 2024 and that the drink plan, with wristband, applies to all of the legacy parks

Anyone know what brand they use at Coney Barbecue for the Carolina Mustard or if this is made at the park? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I saw the post about the Passholder Survey on Reddit last night, below are my thoughts: Peanuts Dark Ride - seems the most logical option to me, given how long Boo Blasters has been there. Others have mentioned Phantom Theater potentially making a return. Those who are in my age group (mid to late 30's) who grew up late KECO/early-mid Paramount era, I think, would enjoy the throwback and nostalgia of a reboot. Gerstlauer Infinity Coaster - if we're talking a coaster, this is something that could fit well in the old Vortex plot, or if they decide to remove Congo Falls and Invertigo, it could fit in there also. Personally speaking, I would like to see something similar to Maverick at Cedar Point, however with the merger, is the new Six Flags willing to work with Intamin again or will they shell out the money and get a Mack coaster similar to Copperhead Strike at Carowinds? Beast 2.0 - The Beast is the coaster that started it for me as an enthusiast. If this plan actually were to move forward, I could see it upsetting a lot of people, myself included, given the historical significance of this ride on a personal level, in the park and throughout the industry. If there were to be major additions to the ride, wouldn't this adversely affect the ACE Coaster Landmark status that it holds? I'm not keen on this idea and think The Beast should be left as it currently stands. If they want to put a ground up RMC as an homage to Son of Beast in the old Vortex plot, this could be a viable solution.