Harpo
09-06-2005, 05:07 PM
Just got back from a weekend at Kings Island and Geauga Lake. (Saturday at KI, Sunday at GL.) Had lots of fun both days. KI's Italian Job coaster became the 599th unique coaster in my log since I started tracking my riding in 2000. I'm hoping that , in about 2 weeks, Italian Job at Canada's Wonderland will be my 600th.
Anyway, I really wanted to mention the stunning change in Geauga Lake. There's still a lot of work to be done, but Cedar Fair is showing that the park can be MUCH better than it was under previous ownership, even with the same rides.
It was my fiancee's first trip to the park. One of the coasters we rode was Thunderhawk, formerly Serial Thriller. For those unfamiliar with it, it is a cloned suspended looping coaster by Vekoma. Kentucky Kingdom has an identical design. Last year, when visiting Kentucky Kingdom, Kim thought it was the most painful and unpleasant ride she'd ever experienced.
Knowing that Cedar Fair renovated Thunderhawk over the winter, I didn't tell Kim that it was the same layout and manufacturer. When getting off the ride, she said she really liked that coaster. When I told her that it was the same as the one she hated at Kentucky Kingdom, she said she was glad I didn't tell her before, or she wouldn't have ridden it. The ride proves just what kind of a difference maintenance and upkeep can make to a ride experience.
Raging Wolf Bobs is another coaster that proves it. The last couple of years, RWB was very painful to ride. But, Cedar Fair did a MAJOR renovation on it for this season. The ride now seems quite a bit faster, and is definitely MUCH smoother. It reminds me of how the ride felt when it was brand new in 1988, when it was built to celebrate Geauga Lake's centennial.
Without a doubt, people who visited Geauga Lake and didn't like Raging Wolf Bobs and Thunderhawk (Serial Thriller) should give them another try -- I think you'll find they are much better rides now.
There's definitely still work to be done, but the park is on the right track. I'm hoping Villain gets an overhaul for 2006, as that one's still very rough, almost challenging the exceedingly rough nature of Kings Island's Son Of Beast. Meanwhile, Head Spin, Double Loop, and Steel Venom could use facelifts to make them look more presentable, although they seemed to be running rather well. They also need to get rid of the ruins of the old water park and either add something new in that area, or do some nice landscaping to make it look more presentable. Since the new waterpark is being done in 2 phases, and part of the old one is still being used, I'm guessing that the appearance of the old area will be fixed either as part of the next phase for 2006, or for the following season.
Anyway, I really wanted to mention the stunning change in Geauga Lake. There's still a lot of work to be done, but Cedar Fair is showing that the park can be MUCH better than it was under previous ownership, even with the same rides.
It was my fiancee's first trip to the park. One of the coasters we rode was Thunderhawk, formerly Serial Thriller. For those unfamiliar with it, it is a cloned suspended looping coaster by Vekoma. Kentucky Kingdom has an identical design. Last year, when visiting Kentucky Kingdom, Kim thought it was the most painful and unpleasant ride she'd ever experienced.
Knowing that Cedar Fair renovated Thunderhawk over the winter, I didn't tell Kim that it was the same layout and manufacturer. When getting off the ride, she said she really liked that coaster. When I told her that it was the same as the one she hated at Kentucky Kingdom, she said she was glad I didn't tell her before, or she wouldn't have ridden it. The ride proves just what kind of a difference maintenance and upkeep can make to a ride experience.
Raging Wolf Bobs is another coaster that proves it. The last couple of years, RWB was very painful to ride. But, Cedar Fair did a MAJOR renovation on it for this season. The ride now seems quite a bit faster, and is definitely MUCH smoother. It reminds me of how the ride felt when it was brand new in 1988, when it was built to celebrate Geauga Lake's centennial.
Without a doubt, people who visited Geauga Lake and didn't like Raging Wolf Bobs and Thunderhawk (Serial Thriller) should give them another try -- I think you'll find they are much better rides now.
There's definitely still work to be done, but the park is on the right track. I'm hoping Villain gets an overhaul for 2006, as that one's still very rough, almost challenging the exceedingly rough nature of Kings Island's Son Of Beast. Meanwhile, Head Spin, Double Loop, and Steel Venom could use facelifts to make them look more presentable, although they seemed to be running rather well. They also need to get rid of the ruins of the old water park and either add something new in that area, or do some nice landscaping to make it look more presentable. Since the new waterpark is being done in 2 phases, and part of the old one is still being used, I'm guessing that the appearance of the old area will be fixed either as part of the next phase for 2006, or for the following season.