Review: Mystic Timbers at Kings Island
Mystic Timbers was my first modern wooden roller coaster. Prior to that, the most recently built wooden coaster I’d ridden was Cedar Point’s Mean Streak which, I can attest to, was never a great ride even when it was brand new in 1991. Within a couple years it had become fairly rough. I remember very clearly riding Mean Streak its last summer before it received the trim brakes on the first hill. I...[Read More]
90 Years of the Coney Island Cyclone
The iconic Coney Island Cyclone will officially celebrate its 90th birthday on Sunday, June 25 with considerable fanfare, featuring a live performance by Brooklyn’s Fabolous, a deejay and an appearance by the Harlem Globetrotters. Opened on June 26, 1927, the Cyclone has certainly had its ups and downs. It was targeted for demolition, rescued by a vigorous campaign to save it, implicated in person...[Read More]
Guest Review of White Lightning at Fun Spot
Brand new this year, Fun Spot America in Orlando opened one extremely unique coaster, made by Great Coasters International. Fun Spot is certainly a one-of-a-kind park. It’s made up of an arcade, go karts, a 250 foot tall Sky Coaster, and two roller coasters. White Lightning has a completely different attitude from other coasters. It has a short 2,032 foot course and doesn’t even reach 50 mil...[Read More]
Outlaw Run at Silver Dollar City | Full Review
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 ...[Read More]
Prowler at Worlds of Fun | Roller Coaster Review
Prowler at Worlds of Fun – “Intensely Fun & Action-Packed” Don’t let this Prowler’s modest stats fool you. This mean cat has a chip on its shoulder. Packed with airtime (moments of weightlessness where you float out of your seat) and lateral g-forces (where you’re thrown to the side), this Great Coasters International woodie is among the best I’ve ridd...[Read More]
Boss @ Six Flags St. Louis | Roller Coaster Review
Boss at Six Flags St. Louis It was about time for me to head back to the airport and catch my flight home. I was lucky enough to ride all of the park’s roller coasters while experiencing some great weather. But first, I had to settle a burning question: Which was the real Boss? Was it the punishing brute that looked fun, but nearly rattled my fillings out? Or, was it a rough, but ride-able g...[Read More]
Screamin’ Eagle at Six Flags St. Louis | Coaster Reviews
It seems like every amusement park has the requisite white wooden roller coaster with blue and red accents. You know, the one that was built in the 1970’s and has a rather pedestrian “American theme”. They usually aren’t a star in their respective park’s lineups, but Screamin’ Eagle may be an exception. Located at the back of the hilly Six Flags St. Louis, you&#...[Read More]
Coastersaurus at Legoland Florida | Coaster Reviews
Wooden roller coasters aren’t as common as steel coasters. So even though Coastersaurus is a smaller ride that some would categorize as a junior woodie, I was excited to check it out. As a big bonus, my oldest daughter (almost 5) was up to the challenge too. Coastersaurus used to be known as Triple Hurricane when the park was Cypress Gardens. Now it has a Jurassic Park-like theme with life-s...[Read More]
Grizzly @ Kings Dominion | Roller Coaster Reviews
Remember that roller coaster that everyone talked about when you were young? That one ride that was considered a kind of local legend of sorts. These rides were sometimes the focus of juvenile horror stories, myths, and just plain made up stories. The folklore often stemmed from respect and fear of that one wild roller coaster that you just had to conquer. Kings Dominion’s Grizzly was that r...[Read More]
HellCat at Timber Falls Adventure Park | Coaster Reviews
A Small Wonder in Wisconsin That Shouldn’t Be Overlooked On my trip to the Wisonsin Dells I had experienced the underground insanity of Hades at Mt. Olympus along with that park’s arsenal of other woodies. It was almost time for me to head back south and catch my flight in Chicago. With only a little time to spare I made the decision to swing by Timber Falls Adventure Park for HellCat....[Read More]
Rattler at Six Flags Fiesta Texas | Coaster Reviews
The Rattler at Six Flags Fiesta Texas should be renamed Two-Face after the Batman villian. The massive wooden coaster built on a cliff wall has some awesome moments and then some of that vintage wooden coaster abuse that we’ve all come to know so well. The trek to the Rattler’s station in itself was memorable. After moving past some large boulders that outline the queue, you begin to a...[Read More]
Hurler @ Kings Dominion | Roller Coaster Reviews
Patrick Wisniewski is on the staff at Theme Park Central. You can follow their latest updates on Twitter – @ThemePrkCentral. Hurler is a wooden roller coaster experience designed by International Coasters Inc. The ride opened in 1994 at Kings Dominion, originally themed to the 1992 film, Wayne’s World. The ride is located in the Grove section of the park. Hurler begins by ascending up a 83 f...[Read More]