BOULDER DASH

Lake Compounce

Boulder Dash has been consistently ranked among the top ten wooden coasters in the USA since its opening in May of 2000 so I was very much looking forward to riding it.  Built into the side of a mountain and surrounded by trees and boulders, this coaster takes the riders on a wild ride through the woods.  It has two trains although only one was operating at the times that I rode because the ride queue was not long enough to warrant adding a second train.  From the loading station, the train veers slightly to the right before ascending the lift hill and disappearing from view.  Once at the top, it does not drop immediately but rather goes around a short bend.  Then comes the moment everyone has been waiting for.  With a sudden burst of speed, the train drops 115 feet sharply to the right and goes up into the next hill.  From that point it never lets up and there’s never a dull moment.

The train passes the loading station in the other direction and takes the riders through one airtime hill after another, on a 4,672-foot track with tree branches overhanging the track.  The ejector airtime is so extreme that I had to brace myself with my feet and got tossed from side to side even with a lap bar and seat belt; when riding in the back, I crashed into my seat mate more than once.  Although the maximum speed is 60mph, it feels a lot faster, partly because of the relentless pace and partly because of the track’s layout.  Towards the end of the ride, there's a quadruple down – and that’s before the final airtime hill.  (These were somewhat similar to the dips on Phoenix at Knoebels.)

This coaster is so good that I could have ridden it all day.   The ride experience is truly awesome.  And a night ride on Boulder Dash is among the most thrilling and exhilarating experiences I've ever had on any coaster.   You can't see anything!  Also worth mentioning is that the ride ops on the day of my visit were outstanding, not only in operating the coaster efficiently but in interacting with riders to the extent of asking for a round of applause for first-time riders and people celebrating birthdays.  Boulder Dash might not be the biggest or most imposing wooden coaster in existence, but it is unquestionably one of the very best.  5 out of 5 stars.  For more information about rides at Lake Compounce, visit www.lakecompounce.com

WILDCAT

Lake Compounce

Wildcat is a vintage wooden coaster (operating since 1927 and renovated within the last 7 years) which is one of the first things you see upon entering Lake Compounce.  It has two trains although only one was operating at the time of my visit due to low demand.    Out of the loading station the train turns slightly right and then left before climbing the 85-foot lift hill and dropping 73.7 feet.   The initial drop is followed by a left-banked curve and a few more drops, then a right turn leading into several more drops.  The train then traverses a series of bunny hills, angling toward the right, before returning to the station.  Someone who had ridden this coaster long before I did warned me that it was extremely rough but I did not find this to be the case.   I sat in the front and from the back it may be a different story, but I experienced no discomfort whatsoever on the ride.   Wildcat has no pretensions; it is what is: a small, classic wooden coaster in better condition than could be reasonably expected given its age.   2 ½ out of 5 stars.  For more information about rides at Lake Compounce, visit www.lakecompounce.com

MIND ERASER

Six Flags New England

Mind Eraser, operating under that name and others at numerous parks, is markedly different in design from other inverted coasters I’ve ridden. What I’ve come to expect as standard for suspended looping coasters is an initial drop followed by a vertical loop whereas this is a horse of a different color.   Seating two across, the train goes directly from the station up the lift hill, drops 91 feet at a right angle and goes up into a rollover, which sort of resembles a pretzel with a twist at the top.   From there it goes downhill, banking left, and into a sidewinder.   Other elements of the ride include a sharp turn to the right and double inline twist.  It’s a mass of twisted steel.  The ride is extremely rough, both on the head and shoulders, so brutally rough that I couldn’t wait for it to end.   Mind Eraser doesn’t lack thrills but in my opinion it certainly lacks enjoyability.  2 ½ out of 5 stars.  For more information about rides at Six Flags New England, visit www.sixflags.com/NEWENGLAND/

BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT

Six Flags New England

Batman: The Dark Knight is not appreciably different from other floorless coasters I’ve ridden.   Seating four across, the train proceeds from the loading station up a 117.8-foot lift hill before dropping to the left and going up into a vertical loop.   This is shortly followed by a dive loop, then a left turn which results in the train travelling on the far side of the track.  The next element is a zero-g roll.  Coming out of the zero-g roll, the train makes another turn and takes the riders through interlocking corkscrews.   It’s a nice, smooth ride, not too intense and not too tame.   However, I found that it lacked the kick of, for instance, Batman: The Ride at Six Flags Great Adventure although that is probably not a fair comparison because the coaster at SFGA is an inverted one.    Batman: The Dark Knight is enjoyable but not exceptional.  3 out of 5 stars.  For more information about rides at Six Flags New England, visit www.sixflags.com/NEWENGLAND/

THUNDERBOLT

Six Flags New England

One of two wooden coasters at Six Flags New England, Thunderbolt is the older and smaller one.   In fact it’s the oldest operating coaster at any Six Flags park with the exception of one that was transplanted from a park outside the Six Flags chain. It features a classic out and back layout with a figure 8 configuration.  From the loading station, the train makes a left turn, ascends a 70-foot lift hill and goes around a bend to the left before dropping 70 feet.   It then goes up into a right-banked curve and takes the riders through two consecutive drops.  This is followed by several more turns and drops, right/left/left.   Surprisingly, I liked Thunderbolt more than I liked Cyclone at this park.   It’s hardly a high thrill ride but at least it has some life – and airtime – left in it.  Thunderbolt isn’t great but it’s quite OK.  2 ½ out of 5 stars.  For more information about rides at Six Flags New England, visit www.sixflags.com/NEWENGLAND/

RUNAWAY MINE TRAIN

Six Flags Great Adventure

The oldest operating coaster at Six Flags Great Adventure, Runaway Mine Train is neither tall nor fast but despite that is not entirely lacking in interest or thrills. After leaving the station, the train climbs a 60-foot lift hill and shortly thereafter, drops – not 60 but 39 feet – into a right-angled double downward helix.  This is followed by a series of short drops interspersed with turns and another helix.   Just before returning to the station, the train negotiates a banked turn over a lake.   The maximum speed is only 38mph but what this coaster lacks in speed, it makes up for in intensity.   Because of the angles and the fact that the ride is much rougher than one would expect from a steel coaster, it shakes, rattles and rolls.   Runaway Mine Train may not be an aggressive thrill ride but it’s far from dull and I don’t know that I could ride it hands in the air without being thrown completely off balance.  3 out of 5 stars.  For more information about rides at Six Flags Great Adventure, visit  www.sixflags.com/greatadventure/‎

POSSESSED

Dorney Park

Possessed has been through a number of incarnations since its inception at Six Flags World of Adventure, which became Geauga Lake after the park was sold to Cedar Fair.   Originally named Superman: Ultimate Escape, it has also been known as Steel Venom, Voodoo and finally, Possessed.  After being transferred to Dorney Park, it was known as Voodoo but due to a copyright issue, the name was changed to Possessed.    An inverted LIM (linear induction motor) launch coaster, it propels riders back and forth between two spikes, one of which is twisted and one of which is straight.   Unlike many suspended coasters, this one seats only two across.   From the loading station, the train is launched at a speed of 70mph to about ¾ of the way up the twisted spike, rotating the riders 180 degrees in the process.   The riders are then launched backwards up the straight spike, launched forward up the twisted spike and again launched backwards up the straight spike.   After the second launch up the straight spike, the holding brake freezes the train so that riders are held there for a couple of seconds before being launched back to the twisted spike.   The train is then launched backwards back to the loading station, so that riders are launched up the twisted spike three times but up the straight spike only twice.   Although this coaster is 180 feet tall, because the train is not launched to the top of either spike, the drop is only 125 feet.  According to Roller Coaster Database, the maximum vertical angle is 90 degrees.  I must admit that I was somewhat apprehensive about riding Possessed but it’s not nearly as scary as it looks.    The scariest moment, in my three rides, was being held on the straight spike after the second launch up that spike.  This was somewhat unnerving.  And there was a definite thrill to be experienced in the 180-degree rotation on the twisted spike.  I tried several different riding positions and found that the front seat was better for the twisted spike, as that resulted in being significantly higher up than those at the back of the train, but of course the exact opposite is true when the train is launched backwards up the other spike.   The ride is very short and this makes sense because it’s too repetitive to sustain anyone’s enthusiasm or excitement for much longer.  Possessed provides an interesting and somewhat electrifying ride but not one which is any way spectacular, probably due to the relatively low G forces.   The one thing about it that does stand out is that it’s different.    3 out of 5 stars.  For more information about rides at Dorney Park, visit www.dorneypark.com

THUNDERHAWK

Dorney Park

This ancient coaster (opened 1923) holds some sentimental value for me, as it’s one of the first coasters I ever rode, with my Aunt Agnes who was crippled with polio and wore a brace on one leg but loved roller coasters.   At that time it was painted yellow but is now a sort of beige color.    And although it has undergone a number of other modifications over the years, it has been surprisingly well maintained.  From the loading station, the train makes a right turn and ascends an 80-foot lift hill.  It then drops 65 feet and proceeds through a series of twists, turns and drops.   The addition of trim brakes did not do much for the airtime but it still has some.    Not surprisingly, the ride is a bit rough but I would actually call it good rough, in sharp contrast to the roughness of some other older wooden coasters I’ve ridden.   Thunderhawk is hardly exceptional but due to its age, is something of a classic.  2 ½ out of 5 stars.  For more information about rides at Dorney Park, visit www.dorneypark.com

DOMINATOR

Kings Dominion

This floorless coaster, originally known as Batman:The Knight Flight before being transplanted from Geauga Lake,  dominates the landscape from the Kings Dominion parking lot, as it’s the closest ride to the park’s entrance.  It was therefore my first and last ride of the day.   When the all clear signal is given, the floor drops out from the loading platform and the train makes a right turn out of the station (after a small dip similar to the one on Nitro) before ascending a 157-foot lift hill.   It then descends 148 feet at a right angle, shoots up into a 135-foot vertical loop, makes an upward right turn, swoops down and goes up into a cobra roll.   The ride features a substantial length of track (4,120 feet) and a total of 5 inversions, the other two of which are interlocking corkscrews.  It’s very well laid out and nicely paced, with good airtime and a strong thrill factor. Although I enjoyed my rides, I found them to be a bit rough in spots and would advise riders to keep their heads back to avoid an ear boxing.  Dominator is as good as if not better than most coasters of this type.  4 out of 5 stars.  For more information about rides at Kings Dominion, visit www.kingsdominion.com

FLIGHT OF FEAR

Kings Dominion

Being turned upside down in total darkness without any warning is something that has never particularly appealed to me, which is why I skipped Flight of Fear on my previous visit to Kings Dominion.  However, on the second visit I decided to give it a go and am glad that I did.  The entire ride takes place inside an unprepossessing building designed to look like a military fort.  Like Volcano the Blast Coaster, Flight of Fear has separate areas for unloading and loading the train, so that riders on the loading platform see a completely empty train.   Once the train is loaded and cleared for dispatch, it’s launched from zero to 54 mph almost instantaneously, with no preamble or period of anticipation.   (This is a linear induction motor launch coaster.) The riders go zooming off into the darkness with little idea of what awaits them.  What awaits them is a pretty wild ride with four inversions, the first of which is a cobra roll.   The other two are a sidewinder and corkscrew.  Inbetween these are multiple twists and turns.  The corkscrew comes up after the first brake run, following a downward curve.   Although there is faint illumination at times, allowing the riders to see some of the turns, there is no illumination during the inversions.  These take place in total darkness and I must say that going through a cobra roll in the dark was a really freaky experience.   I should mention that the restraints consist only of a lap bar and seat belt that fastens on the far side of the seat but does not go across the rider.  Even so, it works.  Flight of Fear is a novel and vastly entertaining coaster.  4 ½ out of 5 stars.  For more information about rides at Kings Dominion, visit www.kingsdominion.com

REBEL YELL

Kings Dominion

This wooden duelling coaster features two tracks with red and blue trains although both red and blue trains run on both tracks.  From the side on which I was riding, the train makes a right turn out of the loading station and ascends an 85-foot lift hill.  (From the other side, the train presumably makes a left turn out of the station.)  It then drops 81 feet before going through a series of turns, drops and bunny hills which afford some nice pops of airtime.   As a result I found myself repeatedly sliding forward in my seat and couldn’t use my feet to brace myself because there was an open space between my row and the row in front of me, with nothing to offer resistance.   Duelling coasters are always fun and this one is no different.   In my opinion Rebel Yell is not as good a ride as, for instance, Lightning Racer, but not at all bad.  3 out of 4 stars.   For more information about rides at Kings Dominion, visit www.kingsdominion.com

GRIZZLY

Kings Dominion

Because Grizzly is mostly hidden in the woods, I had little or no idea of what to expect.   The only thing I expected was a ride on an aging wooden coaster and that is what I got.    From the loading station, the train turns left and navigates a switchtrack before ascending an 87-foot lift hill.   The lift hill proved to be a precursor of what was to come.  While on the lift hill, the train struck me as unstable to the point of feeling rickety.    After the initial 84-foot drop, the train underwent a noticeable loss of acceleration upon reaching the first turn.   From there it went through a series of drops and turns.   It was a very rough ride, even from the 3^rd row.    At one point the train goes through a tunnel and although this is probably the high point of the ride, I thought that it was also the roughest part.   This coaster features 3, 150 feet of track and a figure 8 layout.  Grizzly isn’t a bad ride if you like it rough. 2 ½ out of 5 stars.  For more information about rides at Kings Dominion, visit www.kingsdominion.com  The second photograph is courtesy of Coaster Image, a great site for coaster photographs: www.coasterimage.com