For the site’s final POV Monday, I thought it’d be fitting to finish with Kumba. While many taller, faster, and more twisted roller coasters have come along since Kumba opened, it is still my all-time favorite looping roller coasters. Designers Bolliger & Mabillard really created a masterpiece from a pacing standpoint and Busch Gardens Tampa supplied a picturesque tropical backdrop.
Video Highlights
I like Robb’s fun commentary, but I had to mute this one and just enjoy the beauty of this ride. The life passes through the ride’s massive vertical loop (an element 2014’s Banshee at Kings Island will borrow).
Check out this POV video of Kumba at Busch Gardens Tampa:Note – This video was shot by professionals. For safety reasons, please DO NOT film while riding a roller coaster without permission from the park.
Have you ridden Kumba? Do you think it holds up after all these years? Leave a comment below.
The Voyage at Holiday World (Santa Claus, Indiana) is a massive, white-knuckle wooden roller coaster. It’s a relentless marathon of thrills from beginning to end that’s been consistently rated among the top wooden roller coasters in World. Outside of the coaster enthusiast community it may not be well-known, but it should be.
Video Highlights
The video below does a great job of showing the ride’s insane length, but you should also note the sections where the track is banked at an unusual and thrilling 90-degrees.
The Voyage also boasts one of my all-time favorite roller coaster moments, The Triple Down in the Dark. Obviously, you can’t see it in the video as it’s done during one of the ride’s many underground tunnels, but it’s at the 1:00 mark after the brake run.
Check out this POV video of The Voyage at Holiday World:Note – This video was shot by professionals. For safety reasons, please DO NOT film while riding a roller coaster without permission from the park.
Have you been on The Voyage? Do you agree that it’s among the best wooden roller coasters in the World? Leave a comment below.
With the year coming to a close, I thought I’d write about my single best ride experience of 2013. I’d also like to hear about your most memorable or best ride. Last year, for me it was quite a surprise. Even though I’d ridden the exciting new wing coasters, Wild Eagle and X-Flight, my pick was Mystery Mine’s Beyond 90-Degree Goodness.
2013 Contenders for Best Ride Experience
2013 was a pretty good year for theme park travel. I made it out to Missouri for first-time visits to Worlds of Fun and Silver Dollar City. I also visited Busch Gardens Williamsburg (Virginia), Family Kingdom (Myrtle Beach, SC) and Six Flags Over Georgia. And, I went to my home park, Carowinds, numerous times.
Outlaw Run’s Outside-Turn Element
I’ve been around the block a few times and I’m not easily surprised when it comes to riding coasters. Looking back on the year, I’d have to say that Outlaw Run lived up to the hype as a new breed of roller coaster. It was able to deliver unique elements that provided some really exciting experiences. While the double-barrel roll was the ride’s big draw, it wasn’t my most memorable element. That’d be the wild and disorienting outside-turn. Here’s how I described it in my review:
I was glad that I took the flight all the way out to Kansas City and then drove by car to Branson. Outlaw Run even edged its way into my Top Ten List. Read my full review of Outlaw Run at Silver Dollar City.
Here’s a wrap up of 2013 including the state of roller coasters and some of the biggest news stories of the year.
The Year of the Wooden Coaster Comeback
If 2012 was the year of the wing roller coasters, then 2013 was definitely the year that wooden roller coasters made a comeback. We saw genre-bending roller coasters with wooden coaster characteristics, but elements like loops and other inversions that have been the territory of steel coasters. It led to a categorization controversy and finger-pointing at theme parks for their record-breaking wooden coaster claims. Annoying theme park geekery aside, these roller coasters were very well-received and are not going anywhere. Examples include the Golden Ticket Winner for New Ride of the Year, Outlaw Run at Silver Dollar City, Iron Rattler at Six Flags Fiesta Texas (a re-born version of the Rattler), and Hades with its ground-breaking corkscrew.
See the 2013 version of my annual list of the Best New Roller Coasters Part 1 & Part 2
The Biggest Theme Park News Stories I Covered
Insane Coaster Wars returned with an international edition. I quickly got tired of the silly rating system that didn’t seem to fit the rides and the terrified experts (?!) they recruited for the show. I will say that I did enjoy the great footage. It was cool seeing rides I was less familiar with in HD on my living room TV. – Insane Coaster Wars World Domination Teaser
The biggest story of the year, from a mainstream coverage standpoint, was tragic. On July 19th, a woman fell from the popular New Texas Giant roller coaster at Six Flags Over Texas. There was a swirl of speculation about what the ride ops did or didn’t do, whether the woman complained about the restraints, and how safe we really are when riding roller coasters. – Woman Dies After Accident on New Texas Giant
Oddly, on the same day as the New Texas Giant accident, seven people were injured on the Shoot the Rapids ride at Cedar Point when the ride came backwards down its lift hill and flipped over. – Accident at Cedar Point; Shoot the Rapid Rides Flips Over
While I’ve seen many proposed parks come and go in the years I’ve been blogging, it’s not every day that we actually get to see a new theme park come to life. Well, Louisville’s Kentucky Kingdom may not be new, but it is being revitalized and it will re-open in 2014 with a new roller coaster (Lightning Run). – Kentucky Kingdom to Reopen with New Coaster in 2014
There was BIG news in my backyard as Cedar Fair decided to boost their investment in Charlotte, NC’s Carowinds. Then, there was news of a 300+ foot tall giga coaster (similar to Leviathan in the picture to the right) possibly coming in 2015. The ride’s rumored to be named, Centurion, and it might be incorporated into the park’s front gate. Look for signs of construction throughout 2014. – Plans for Carowinds’ 300 Foot Tall Giga Coaster Surface
There was also some huge news out of the amusement industry event IAAPA. A new record-breaking roller coaster was planned for somewhere in Florida. – Worlds Tallest Roller Coaster Coming to Florida
Most Viewed Post of 2013 – Speculation about Son of Beast’s Replacement
Theme parks are smart to tease new rides. Building hype well before an official announcement can really boost interest in new attractions. I was somewhat surprised to see that the most viewed post of the year was: Kings Island Teases 2014 Roller Coaster. While other pages on the site were viewed more, this was the single most popular post with over 8,000 page views and it was also the most commented with 36. Not far behind it was another related post with nearly as many comments. – Mysterious Figures at Kings Islands 2014 Coaster Site Congrats to Kings Island for generating some great buzz around their new Banshee roller coaster.
Personally Interesting News Stories
I wrote my most detailed non-roller coaster review ever in my coverage of Carowinds’ Dinosaurs Alive! attraction. I also bumped into Lance, the man behind Scream Scape (The biggest theme park news site on the Web). Carowinds Dinosaurs Alive! Review
While this was a blip on the theme news landscape, I was floored by even the prospect of a theme park in my hometown of Stafford, Virginia. With some of the worst traffic in the nation, I’m not sure we’ll ever see it happen, but it was really neat for me to imagine what it would be like even though I don’t live there anymore. – Legoland Considers Theme Park in Stafford, Virginia
A study about how children are injured at amusement parks was published and I was asked to speak about it on Fox Business’ The Willis Report.
An important take-away was that parents should be more mindful of their small children as they get in and out of rides at shopping malls and entertainment centers like Chuck E. Cheese. I was glad that I was able to contribute some context to the study. And personally it was a thrill and hopefully good experience for the future. – Fox Business Interview, Study on Childhood Injuries at Amusement Parks
I found myself drawn to Missouri for this year’s long-distance theme park trip. While there were two amusement parks there for me to check out, Silver Dollar City’s Outlaw Run really ignited my interest and was pretty much the deciding factor in why I chose this trip over the others I was considering.
Awe, No They Didn’t!
I still remember sitting there, awe-struck staring at the first image of the double barrel roll as it was under construction. I remember bugging my wife as I tried to explain the gravity of what I was looking at. The unique wooden looper, Son of Beast had its loop removed and (at that point) its days were numbered. Could it be done better? And who were Rocky Mountain and Silver Dollar City to think that they could pull it off? I’d ridden and loved Rocky Mountain’s New Texas Giant, but it had no loops and its track was entirely steel where Outlaw Run’s wouldn’t be. I had to get down to Branson to find out.
Early Praise
Right out of the gate, Outlaw Run was well-received. A reader even sent in a great review. Read: Early Reviews of Outlaw Run. So, I was as excited as ever when I arrived at Silver Dollar City on a Sunday in late April. I met readers Daryl and Kendra at the park and we quickly made our way to the ride. It was about twenty minutes after the park had opened and there was already a decent line. Not much of the ride is visible from the park’s paths or station, but the double-looping finale is. It was surreal seeing, first-hand now, a wooden coaster doing something so uncharacteristic and odd as back-to-back tight, twisting inversions.
Outlaw Run’s Theme
I was pleasantly surprised by how sister park Dollywood gave Wild Eagle, a kind of inspirational uplifting theme. In a somewhat similar fashion, Outlaw Run was given a theme where: “The Good Guys Always Win”. Building on Silver Dollar City’s 1880’s mining town theme, the ride’s story is centered around a stage coach that’s being chased by outlaws. A wild ride ensues, but in the end the fine, upstanding citizens get away to safety. As Herschend CEO Joel Manby shared (Must-See Outlaw Run Documentary) they wanted to make sure that the good guys were the focus, not the villains. There were certain choices made about the logo and even a monument to law enforcement near the ride. I know that many may not notice these theming touches, but being a parent I can really appreciate the effort. There were also special Outlaw Run-themed treats like chocolates and slushies custom-made for the ride. Lastly, the station includes an authentic Stagecoach Depot with a real stagecoach, luggage and period furnishings.
Boarding the Stage Coaches
Excitement was really building, until it was muted. After a few minutes in line, the ride was down. It was the typical scene when a ride goes down: the maintenance crew was on-hand right away, some people left the queue, and trains were run empty for a while. We decided to stay and got a few laughs from the ride op that was keeping the crowd amused with old-fashioned, family-friendly jokes. After about twenty minutes or so a ride op successfully rode and returned to the station and the ride was running again. Considering this is the debut of Rocky Mountain’s trains and restraint systems, I wasn’t too surprised that they were still working out the kinks. While they’re an inconvenience, these kinds of things don’t worry me as they’re usually caused by the ride’s safety system. So the park is erring on the side of caution.
Rocky Mountain’s trains had a unique look to them. They’re open and more akin to wooden coaster trains. There’s no handle bars or really anything to hold on to. Similar to the cars on some Intamin hyper coasters like Bizarro at Six Flags New England, there’s a lap bar and another bar that goes across your lower-legs/shins. The ride ops make sure that you are fully secured and snug. This doesn’t take away from the ride experience at all. Just keep in mind that they’re doing some one-of-a-kind elements on Outlaw Run and it makes sense that they’d again, be extra cautious.
The Ride Begins
With everyone fully-secured and ready to go, we were off. The train exited the station, passed under the exit ramp and we immediately started our climb. As with a lot of the Silver Dollar City’s rides you get an excellent view of the park’s wooded terrain. Spring had just sprung so there was a sea of light green foliage all around us, but no clear view of the layout or exactly what was ahead. As we crested the top, the train took a short dip fooling some who that we’d roll right over into the big drop. This is likely done so that the train’s completely off of the lift hill. Then, we began the first drop and Outlaw Run’s controlled insanity began.
The Insanely Fun Outside-Turn
The first drop, at a record setting 81-degrees, was exhilarating. Using the park’s terrain, Outlaw Run dove down 162-feet after climbing only 102-feet. The steepness was very apparent and some good airtime was offered. Now down close to the ground, Outlaw Run returns to the sky for a very memorable element. The 153-degree Outside-Turn caused a bunch of “Is it an inversion?” buzz last year when it was being built. I’d argue the fact that it doesn’t completely invert, actually makes it more fun and disorienting. The train rose up flipped upside-down for a moment as it passed through a support structure and then flipped out the other direction. There’s both the head chopper effect with the supports and a bit of orientation confusion as it feels much stranger than it looks on video. I loved this element!
Twisting & Turning + The Wave Turn
Next, close to the ground again, we experienced some good airtime hills via the double-down and double-up. The airtime is definitely on the stronger end of the scale as I was pulled upward rather than just floating out of my seat a little. The next element, known as the Twist & Turn, is another stand out. The train climbed up and turned side-ways as it passed through the lift hill before dumping us into a short steep drop. Again, like the Outside Turn, it was another element that really took me by surprise.
The Wave Turn not only put the train completely on its side, almost like we were riding along side a wall, but was also performed during a terrain-based hill. It was a pretty cool sensation and you feel pretty vulnerable riding at that angle for so long. In rapid-fire succession Outlaw Run has kept the thrills going to this point. For the moment, the World is turned right-side-up again and the layout sneaks in a good little airtime hill, before the showstopping finale.
Double Barrel Roll Goodness
Immediately after the pop of airtime produced by a short hill, the train charged right into the first barrel roll. Outlaw Run completely inverted us in a smooth and quick motion. The second barrel roll was taken a bit slower. As a result, I experienced more hang time and really felt that I was upside-down. After exiting the last loop the train flipped out into a turn that put it straight into the station brakes. The riders applauded as we returned to the station having successfully outran the outlaws.
Does it Work as a Looping Woodie?
It was interesting when Robb Alvey stated that the loops seemed like they were “supposed to be there”. I can see what he meant now. Rather than being some intense element added to an otherwise different kind of ride (Son of Beast), the barrel rolls really do fit. They work and feel right because of the incredibly fun and wild elements that preclude them.
Final Thoughts
The press releases touted 9 moments of those sought after joyous moments we call “airtime” and that’s not just marketing buzz, they’re all there. On Outlaw Run, every element delivers and there’s not a wasted foot of track on the entire ride. I have to give Silver Dollar City credit for going out on a limb to bring us a new, one-of-a-kind roller coaster. Sure, the ride’s related to Rocky Mountain’s other projects, but it still takes some guts to not stick to the tried and true, completely proven formula of a more traditional ride. The gamble paid off as the park can now boast a world-class, record-setting, and extremely enjoyable new roller coaster. For me, Outlaw Run is a Top 10 Roller Coaster and a Top 5 Wooden Roller Coaster.
One More Thing – Wood, Steel, or Hybrid? Who Cares?
I feel the need to address the controversy among some in the enthusiast community. Some consider Outlaw Run a wooden roller coaster and others prefer to call it a steel coaster. Its track is unusual in that it has a mostly wooden structure, but instead of a relatively small strip of steel on top of the stacks of wood that make the track, there’s a considerably large wide portion of steel that the trains ride on.
Even for a long-time roller coaster enthusiast, and someone who likes to categorize things in general, I’m not going to join the battle on either side. I’ll put it in the wooden category, but it’s something so new and different that I can see why people who say steel as well. If you’re curious, I consider New Texas Giant steel because the rail is entirely made of steel. Again, I’m not going to correct anyone or challenge anyone to a duel at high noon over it. I have been and will be referring to this genre-bending ride as a wooden coaster.
What’s Your Take?
Have you ridden Outlaw Run? What’d you think? Leave a comment and rate it below. Images courtesy of Silver Dollar City.
While I received a complimentary media pass when I visited this park, the thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
Riding roller coasters at night can make for a very different experience. If you typically leave amusement parks before it gets dark or just haven’t found yourself on a roller coaster at night then I suggest you make an effort to make sure you ride your park’s best coaster after dark. I had what I’d consider an all-time top two or three coaster experience during a night ride on the Kings Island’s Beast.
After hearing, “Enjoy your 4 minute and 50 second ride” we were off. The train took a smooth right turn out of the station and we approached the lift hill. As always, the lift hill built the anticipation of the drop to come, but on this particular ride there was an additional treat.
A large pink moon hung over the dark wilderness that lightly illuminated the forest below. Riders were awe-stricken by the beautiful sight and now we were about to be treated to an unforgettable night ride on the Beast…. At night the barely visible trees were accented with fireflies. This was one of the most remarkable sights I’ve ever experienced on a roller coaster. The cool air in the woods was a welcomed relief from the humid stickiness of the packed station.
Speeding through the wilderness that night on the last train was something I’ll never forget. More recently, I was treated to an incredible view of the Smoky Mountains at dusk from the top of Dollywood’s Wild Eagle. The rest of the ride was enhanced a bit by darkness as well. As fall approaches, it’ll start getting dark earlier so now’s the time to visit your local park and get a night ride in before the season’s over.
What are some of your favorite night rides on roller coasters? Leave a comment below. Awesome image of Led Zeppelin – The Ride courtesy of CoasterImage
I like to include a ride’s theming in my showdowns because, at times, a ride’s theme can actually add a lot to the overall experience. For these two coasters, theming is a bit less of a factor.
El Toro’s located in Six Flags Great Adventure’s Plaza del Carnival section. The trains are kind of mine train-esque and the bull on the front car is a nice touch. The station looks like an old South Western building and I still remember noticing the strong and enticing smell of Latin food in the air thanks to the new (at the time) restaurant nearby. Overall, El Toro’s got a nicely-themed look and home.
The Voyage is in Holiday World’s Thanksgiving area. The ride’s name and logo reflect the voyage of the early settlers of America. The station is in a deep blue building, reminiscent of the ocean. Inside, it’s themed like a 17th century ship with seafaring items on the walls. I don’t remember a whole lot else in terms of theming from when I rode it (2006). Edge: El Toro
Lift Hill & First Drop
The Voyage’s lift is pretty standard. You exit the station and immediately start your climb. From the 163-foot peak you’ve got a great view of the forest and the exciting ride to come. The drop is very good and offers some solid airtime.
The typical clickety-clack sound heard on most roller coasters is absent on El Toro. The ride’s lift hill is remarkably quiet and fast. It’s a pretty strange experience as you basically zoom upward thanks to the cable lift technology. At the top, the train takes a left turn before diving down a steep 76-degree, 176-foot drop. El Toro’s drop is 13 feet taller and 10 degrees steeper. And while, the lift hill doesn’t offer an amazing view, the cable lift is pretty unique. El Toro takes this one easily. Edge: El Toro
Layout
The Voyage has one of the most adventurous layouts in all of coasterdom. One moment you’re high above the tree line, then the next you’re flying through one of the ride’s several tunnels. There are insane 90 degree banks, as well as the triple down section. Best of all, as a huge fan of terrain coasters, after all of that insanity, you feel like you went somewhere.
It’s a small knock, but I wish El Toro had some terrain to play with or at least a tunnel. How great would it be if one of El Toro’s final turns were covered or in a dark tunnel? The Voyage gets this one with its dynamic layout. Edge: The Voyage
Airtime
One of The Voyage’s claims to fame when it was announced was that it was going to boast a record-setting amount of airtime. “24.2 seconds of weightless” is what the press release touted. I have to say that The Gravity Group sure seems to deliver on that promise as there’s airtime all over The Voyage. However, I prefer El Toro’s smoother, more precisely executed airtime moments. The Voyage’s wild and out-of-control ride is great, but banked airtime hills were a bit rough and for me felt a bit awkward. Both rides offer tons of air and they each have unforgettable signature moment: Voyage’s Triple Down in the Dark and El Toro’s catapult-like final drop. Tough one here, but I’ll go with El Toro’s flawlessly executed airtime.
Slight Edge: El Toro
Overall Showdown Winner
Since I have El Toro as my top wooden roller coaster, I figured it would win, but I didn’t think it’d get 3 out of 4 categories. The Voyage is still an incredible ride that I rated a rare 10 (Superior). Every theme park fan should get to Holiday World and experience it. And of course, if you haven’t been to Six Flags Great Adventure, what are you waiting for? El Toro’s glass smooth, airtime-packed ride makes it a must as well. Both of these two next generation woodies are important roller coasters that should not be missed. Overall Winner: El Toro
Bonus Round: The Mascot Showdown! 3,000 Pound Wrecking Machine vs. A Wild Maritime Journey
No points for the bonus round, but a bull, (a mighty and powerful animal) probably edges out a historically important, but intangible object in the crossing of the Atlantic Ocean. Plus, my plush El Toro bull is pretty cool. I haven’t been to Holiday World in years. Are there actual boats in the gift shop at The Voyage?
Mascot Winner: El Toro
For this roller coaster showdown I’m pitting two of the most popular inverted roller coasters against each other. In a kind of sibling rivalry battle, sister coasters Alpengeist at Busch Gardens Williamsburg will face off against Montu at Busch Gardens Tampa. I guess you can file this heavyweight match up under ‘so obvious that I didn’t think of it.’ Thanks to reader Guilherme for suggesting it. As with past showdowns, I’ll go element by element picking a winner each time. And then, I’ll pick an overall winner. This will be a tough showdown as I’ve given them both my highest rating, a 10 (Superior). Here we go.
Theme – Snowy German Alps vs. Dry, Sandy Egypt
Both rides have above average roller coaster theming elements. Alpengeist is in the beatifully green and wooded Busch Gardens Williamsburg. So, to simulate the snowy theme, there are rocky areas that are painted white, skis attached to the trains, statues of skiers, and a tunnel themed as if a skier flew threw it. The concept an out of control ski lift for an inverted coaster makes a lot of sense, but I have always likened Alpengeist more to flight because of its speed and intensity.
Montu’s Egyptian theme is top-notch. There are Egyptian ruins all around, the pathways are a lighter concrete (simulates sand), and Florida’s natural tropical foliage seems to fit in really well. Plus, the ride’s subterranean trenches have the same ancient bricks as the ruins. It all just fits together perfectly. Even though a bigfoot or yeti-like snow beast is much more familiar than Montu, an Egyptian god of war, Montu’s overall theme is much better executed. Edge: Montu
Lift & First Drop – An Adventurous High Altitude Climb vs. Is That My Car?
Alpengeist’s lift hill is mammoth in size. On the way up you have the incredible experience of seeing these huge trees shrink and shrink as you look down through your feet. It feels every bit as high as the listed 195-feet tall. Even taller really. And the swooping drop has a jet-like acceleration as that large vehicle (your securely seated in) tries to break the sound barrier. 67 mph on Alpengeist feels very, very fast and that’s why I call this ride the F-22 of Roller Coasters.
Meanwhile, Montu’s lift is angled towards the outside of the park. It’s one of the only times you don’t feel so fully immersed in the ride. Also, the drop is pretty pedestrian for an inverted coaster. Seeing the parking lot and a quick glimpse of cars whizzing by can’t compare to Alpie’s high-altitude, high speed opening. Edge: Alpengeist
Overall Layout: High Altitude Speed & Power vs. Pacing Perfection & Subterranean Dives
After the aforementioned 170′ plunge sends Alpengeist’s train to what feels like about Mach 1, a well-placed Immelmann returns you to the skies with a twist. Then another high-altitude inversion follows via a vertical loop. Next, it’s off to the Rhine River to meet up with neighboring mythical creatures Loch Ness and Griffon. There, the ride gets its roughest with mid-air cobra roll (interestingly, the opposite of the below-ground batwing on Montu). The ride slows a bit and comes back to earth after a brake run. It finishes with a corkscrew and a helix after a drop through a little themed “hole” by the log flume and a zero-g roll.
Montu’s succession of loops is one of Bolliger & Mabillard’s finest works of art. There’s not a foot of track that I would change. The flow of the ride is near perfect. Montu’s layout includes: lift hill, 128′ drop, 104′ tall Loop, a tunnel, a graceful Immelmann near the ruins, a never disappointing Zero-G Roll, a rare buried batwing, a smaller 60′ tall Loop, and a memorable Corkscrew during the ‘Death Star’ run. I really do love the size and power of Alpengeist (hence it’s high rating in my top ten roller coasters), but Montu’s layout is near perfect. Edge: Montu
Overall Showdown Winner
So Montu gets the win in this roller coaster showdown. I’m still a huge fan of Alpengeist and there’s really no loser between these two world-class roller coasters. Overall Winner: Montu
Bonus Round: Mythical Mascot Showdown – Hawk-Headed Egyptian God of War vs. Snow Beast of the Alps In a mythical cage match between these two, I’d have to put my money on Montu’s god-like abilities. The furry snow beast does look pretty intimidating to a mere mortal like myself, but it’d be no match for a god. Mascot Winner: Montu
What’s Your Take?
Do you agree with my winner? Who do you pick in this showdown? Suggest another showdown? Leave a comment below. Photos 1, 2, 3 via (Creative Commons) – Flickr Users Maulim, Sigsegv, & Intamin10. Photo 4 courtesy of CoasterImage.com.
Six Flags Chief Engineer, Larry Chickola was recently featured in an article on the Wall Street Journal’s website. The article gives us a look into Mr. Chickola’s education and career which might be of interest if you’re an aspiring roller coaster designer. It also details some of his projects including his work on Superman Escape from Krypton and the New Texas Giant. It was interesting to read that he made the design for the reborn coaster more thrilling than the original designs. And also, it was neat to see that his personal favorite is the top-rated Bizarro at Six Flags New England.
Here’s a quote:
His personal favorite, after the Texas Giant, is the Bizarro coaster at Six Flags New England—”a very tall, fast ride with nice uplift elements that make you feel like the ride is pulling away from you.” He tried to do one better on Texas Giant and “make everyone hold really tight to the ride the first time they rode it.”
Now I see why the New Texas Giant has so many airtime moments. As I said in my review, they’re exciting, but they come at you so frequently that I prefer Bizarro’s more spaced out elements. I do love Chickola’s ambition and I’m glad that he pushed the ride’s design. You also might notice a mention of “coastercritic.com” in the article.
Golden Ticket Awards – Top Steel Roller Coasters of 2011
In 2010, I noted that Bizarro was bumped out of the top spot for the first time in four years by Millennium Force. The ride’s transformation from Superman: Ride of Steel to Bizarro may have had something to do with that. Millennium Force retained its title this year and once again reigns supreme as the favorite steel roller coaster of the Golden Ticket Awards participants. Other than a strong debut from the New Texas Giant and Diamondback’s descent from 7th to 11th, there were no real major changes; just a few coasters that flipped positions.
Here are the best steel roller coasters in the World according to the Golden Ticket Awards:
The New Texas Giant Makes a Mark
I was happy to see that the New Texas Giant made such a strong debut. Not onlydid it when Best New Ride, beating out Cheetah Hunt by a large margin (45% vs. 12% in voting), but it also came in as the 6th best steel roller coaster. It also debuted on my top ten list. The New Texas Giant is tied for 6th on my Top 10 Coasters List and tied for third on my Top 10 Steel Roller Coasters List.
The ride has cool theming for a wooden coaster with its Cadillac-themed trains and fun elements like its tunnels and extreme banking. Not to mention, it delivers an insane amount of airtime. If you didn’t make it to Arlington, Texas this year, you should make plans to get down there soon. Read my full New Texas Giant review.
A Giga With the Wrong Longitude & Latitude? Intimidator 305 just missed the top ten when it debuted in 2010. This year it slipped a couple more spots to 13th. I find it interesting that this giga coaster can’t break into the top ten while another has been battling for and sometimes attaining the top spot for much of the last decade. Millennium Force and Intimidator 305 are by no means the same ride, but I305’s absence may give some credence to the Midwest U.S. bias that many feel the awards have. I wonder how I305 would be ranking if it were at Kings Island instead of Kings Dominion.
Other Observations
As far as the rest of the list, I wouldn’t have included Top Thrill Dragster as I consider it more of a thrill ride than a full-fledged, world-class roller coaster. I like Phantom’s Revenge, but I don’t quite consider it a top or best of the best steel coaster. And, as I’ve said many times in the past, Bizarro is a much more complete roller coaster than Millennium Force which just offers speed and height, but little airtime. Lastly, as guest writer Aric covered in his post, Why Looping Coasters Deserve Their Own List, looping coasters still can’t seem to get any love in the Golden Ticket Awards these days.
What’s Your Take?
What do you think of this year’s Golden Ticket Awards? Do you agree with the top steel coasters? How many of these coasters have you ridden? Leave a comment below.