KINGS DOMINION

In Doswell, Virginia, 20 miles north of Richmond and 75 miles south of Washington, D.C., Kings Dominion is one of the many spectacular theme parks owned by Cedar Fair.  It’s easily accessible by I-95.   Featuring a superabundance of attractions, including fourteen roller coasters, this park has something for everyone.   Among the most noteworthy coasters is the redoubtable Intimidator 305, themed for the late race car driver Dale Earnhardt, with its awesome 300-foot drop and staggering twists in the track.   Volcano The Blast Coaster, an inverted launch coaster, until recently held the record for the longest inversion on any coaster, with a rollout at 155 feet.  Flight of Fear, another launch coaster, takes the riders through four inversions in the dark.  The park has a number of family rides and for kids, there are multiple options in the Planet Snoopy section.  It also has the WaterWorks water park.

Kings Dominion offers live entertainment in the form of a musical extravaganza, light show and karaoke, to name just a few attractions.  Not all of these attractions are open throughout the operating season; some are available only through September 1.

Due to the popularity of this park, ride queues often tend to be long, so the best option for getting in as many rides as possible is Fast Lane.  In order to have access to Intimidator 305, it is necessary to upgrade to Fast Lane Plus, $70 as of 2013.   Fast Lane Plus customers do not have access to the front row on I-305.

The staff is congenial and the park provides storage for loose articles which cannot be taken on rides.  On Volcano, a staff member actually wheels a cart through the loading station in order to collect any items that cannot not go along for the ride.

With shopping, multiple dining options (including an array of choices for vegetarians or others with special dietary needs) and some of the best rides to be had anywhere, Kings Dominion is a theme park in which park guests will not be disappointed.  For more information about Kings Dominion, visit https://www.kingsdominion.com/‎  Photo courtesy of www.coasterimage.com, a great website for coaster pix.

CEDAR POINT

The “Roller Coaster Capital of the World,” with sixteen coasters, Cedar Point is located in Sanduksy, Ohio, an hour drive from Cleveland.    Encompassing 364 acres and incorporating the Soak City water park, Cedar Point is the second oldest continuously operating theme park in the country.  It opened in 1870 and grew to be a mecca for coaster enthusiasts.

On a Lake Erie peninsula, the park is beautifully scenic.  With the addition of Gatekeeper in 2013, it has taken on a new appearance, as part of this coaster overhangs the entrance.   Cedar Point features some extreme thrill rides, most notably Millennium Force, one of only two Intamin giga coasters in existence as of 2013.   (Although worldwide there are four full circuit coasters with a drop of at least 300 feet, the other manufacturers do not use this terminology.) Millennium Force offers a breathtaking view of Lake Erie on the left from the 310-foot cable lift hill and an even more breathtaking initial drop of 300 feet at an 80-degree angle.   Other notable coasters are the wild and crazy Maverick, the 420-foot tall launch coaster Top Thrill Dragster which accelerates to 120mph in 4 seconds,  the delightful inverted coaster Raptor and Magnum X-L 200, the first coaster to break the 200-foot barrier.  For park guests who prefer something less extreme, there are a number of rides suitable for families and children.

This theme park also features live entertainment and a wide selection of restaurants and food concessions, including those that cater to special dietary needs.   It also offers Fast Lane access to rides for an upcharge and V.I.P tours with a personal guide and immediate access to rides, for a pretty hefty upcharge ($395 as of 2013).

Those planning to visit Cedar Point should be aware that this park is heavily patronised and therefore almost invariably crowded.   A wait time of anywhere from an hour to two hours to get on the most popular rides is not uncommon, especially toward the end of the operating season when Halloween festivities take place.  Nevertheless, a visit to Cedar Point is an experience worth having.  From the point of view of theme park aficionados, if you haven’t been to Cedar Point, you haven’t been anywhere.  For more information about the park, visit https://www.cedarpoint.com/‎  Photo courtesy of www.coasterimage.com

SIX FLAGS NEW ENGLAND

Located in Agawam, Massachusetts, 17.2 miles from Hartford’s Bradley International Airport, Six Flags New England opened as Riverside Amusement Park in 1870 and continued to operate under that name until the end of the 1999 season, when it officially became a Six Flags park.    This park features a variety of attractions, including a water park which shares the name Hurricane Harbor with Six Flags Great Adventure.   There are eleven roller coasters, the most noteworthy of which are the awesome Bizarro (winner of the 2011 and 2012 Golden Ticket award for #2 steel coaster in the world) and Goliath, a giant inverted boomerang that’s frightening just to look at.   On the whole, the other coasters are not of the same calibre as those at Six Flags Great Adventure but they’re fun rides and there are approximately twenty rides designed specifically for kids, so families have a number of options.

Like all Six Flags parks, this theme park offers the Flash Pass, an electronic device that enables park guests to reserve a ride without having to wait in line, for an upcharge.   The Flash Pass is available at three levels – regular, gold and platinum, with platinum significantly cutting the wait time and permitting consecutive riding.

There are multiple dining options, and like other Six Flags parks, this park offers a season dining pass.  As of 2013, the pass cost $74.99 and included two meals on each visit to the park.   For season pass holders who visit frequently, the dining pass is an option which represents a significant savings over buying individual meals.

For entertainment, the park has a repertoire of shows and also hosts local entertainers who perform live.  It’s easily accessible to residents of both Massachusetts and Connecticut.  For more information about Six Flags New England, visit www.sixflags.com/NEWENGLAND/  Photo courtesy of www.coasterimage.com

SIX FLAGS GREAT ADVENTURE

Opened in 1974 and located in Jackson, New Jersey, between New York and Philadelphia (about an hour drive from either city), Six Flags Great Adventure is the world’s largest theme park with 510 acres.    It boasts numerous rides and attractions, including thirteen roller coasters, the Hurricane Harbor water park and a newly opened (as of May, 2013) Safari Off Road Adventure.    The fact that one of these coasters won the 2012 Golden Ticket award for #1 wooden coaster and another won the 2012 Golden Ticket award for #3 steel coaster is something for the park to boast about.   There aren’t many theme parks that have both a wooden and steel coaster good enough to be in the top ten; with El Toro and Nitro, Six Flags Great Adventure offers two of  the best thrill rides to be had anywhere.  Those seeking an extra rush of adrenaline can be launched 456 feet in the air at 128mph on Kingda Ka.  The Sky Screamer, a flying swing ride, affords a spectacular view of the park 243 feet above the ground and the Dare Devil Dive, an upcharge attraction, allows park guests to experience a 15-storey freefall at 60mph.  The park also has plenty of rides suitable for families and children.

Historically, the park featured a drive-through safari.  With the institution of the Safari Off Road Adventure, park guests can travel through the animal preserve in a safari style vehicle with a knowledgeable tour guide.

Throughout the operating season, Six Flags Great Adventure features concerts and animal shows.  It also features a variety of restaurants and food concessions which cater to almost every taste.   Costumed characters are in abundance.  One of the add-ons available at this park is the Flash Pass, an electronic device that enables park guests to reserve rides without having to wait in line.  At the lowest level, the Flash Pass  involves a wait equal to the actual wait time of a ride, the only advantage being that this makes it possible to be off doing something else while waiting for the device to go off and flash “You can ride now” on the screen.  At the highest level, platinum (rather pricey at $115 as of 2013), the wait time is cut by 90% and consecutive riding is permitted.  Season pass holders get a $10 discount on the Flash Pass. Although more and more parks now offer Fast Lane access to rides for an upcharge, the Flash Pass system is unique to Six Flags parks.

One thing this park, unlike most, does not offer is discounted admission for seniors.  Another thing it doesn’t offer is storage bins for loose articles in the loading stations.  However, it does periodically run promotions that enable visitors to obtain tickets inexpensively.   A recent promotion offered one-day admission tickets for $39.99 with three-day advance purchase online.

With nice landscaping, easy accessibility from I-195 and a stellar ride lineup, Six Flags Great Adventure is a theme park worth visiting.   For more information about the park, visit www.sixflags.com/greatadventure

HOLIDAY WORLD

Located in Santa Claus, Indiana, about a 45-minute drive from Evansville Regional Airport, Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari is a family-owned and operated theme and water park.   It is very much family-oriented, with a down home feel that you don’t get at most theme parks.   It is also the home of The Voyage, arguably one of the best wooden coasters ever built and recipient of the Golden Ticket Award for #1 wooden coaster for five consecutive years.    The second longest woodie in the world, The Voyage is legendary for its first drop, succession of overbanked turns, tunnels, ride duration and scenery.

Unlike most theme parks, Holiday World does not have any steel hypercoasters.  What it does have is three outstanding wooden coasters, a steel family coaster and the two longest water coasters in the world.   The park features numerous family and kid rides along with a wide array of  food options catering to most dietary needs (veggie burgers are available); the Holiday World website even includes nutritional information for all food items sold at the park.  It also features live shows.

Another amenity offered by this park is free soft drinks at drink stations scattered throughout the park.   As most theme parks charge close to $4.00 for a soda, access to free refreshments is a great perk and a real blessing on a hot day.

Ticket prices are structured in such a way as to afford discounted admission for a two-day  visit.  As of 2013, general admission is $44.95 at the gate ($39.95 online), with a next day admission ticket priced at $27.00.  It’s not clear, however, whether the lower price for a second day is available with an online ticket purchase.  Either way, purchasing a two-day ticket will result in a saving of at least $8.00.

Park guests should be prepared to walk up and down a number of hills.

The staff at Holiday World is among the friendliest to be found at any theme park.   They will go out of their way to be helpful, assisting park guests with anything from navigating the park to getting driving directions to and from the park.   For more information about Holiday World, visit www.holidayworld.com/  Photo of The Voyage courtesy of www.coasterimage.com

HERSHEY PARK

“The sweetest place on earth,” Hersheypark is located in – where else? – Hershey, PA,  about two hours northwest of Philadelphia by automobile.   This theme park is beautifully laid out, to the point of being picturesque.  It features an outstanding lineup of roller coasters, most notable of which are the tall launch coaster Storm Runner, the somewhat daunting Fahrenheit with its vertical lift hill, the double-tracked dueling coaster Lightning Racer and the breathtaking Skyrush (the park’s newest coaster, opened in May of 2012).  There are more than 65 rides and attractions, including eleven coasters, a cable car sky ride and a monorail.   The park has an abundance of family and kiddie rides along with a boardwalk water park.

Hersheypark offers live entertainment, including concerts on Sundays from May to the end of September.    It also offers multiple dining options, from full service dining to food concessions tempting park guests with anything from pizza to falafel to pierogies.  As of 2013, park guests could buy a meal ticket which includes a 32-ounce souvenir cup with 99-cent refills for $13.75.  Kosher, gluten-free, dairy free and vegetarian meals are among the many choices.  On the subject of comestibles, it’s worth mentioning that the legendary Chocolate World is located just outside the theme park.  Many of Hershey’s chocolate products and other confections are available for purchase within the park itself.    Hershey’s fudge is especially delectable.

Fast Track access to rides is available for an upcharge.   This includes 9 coasters and Skyrush is not one of them.   The downside of the program is that on a number of rides, certain rows are reserved for Fast Track and these rows often end up empty, so that other park guests end up waiting longer to get on.

This is a popular park and wait times for some rides is significantly longer than for others.  Those who want to ride Fahrenheit are in for a longer wait because the trains accommodate only 12 riders whereas the trains on Skyrush accommodate 32.

The staff at Hersheypark is extremely courteous and helpful, one more reason why a visit to the park will usually prove to be a fun and rewarding experience.  For more information about rides at Hersheypark, visit www.hersheypark.com/

THE DARK KNIGHT

Six Flags Great Adventure

An indoor wild mouse coaster, The Dark Knight is an experience that extends beyond the ride itself.  Before the ride begins, riders are ushered into a dark room and shown a video of a press conference featuring Gotham City’s D.A. (portrayed by actor Aaron Eckhart).   There are questions about Joker cards found at crime scenes and whether Batman should be incarcerated for taking the law into his own hands (answer to the latter is that the city should be returned to a state of affairs in which it didn’t need Batman) before everything goes haywire and the video cuts out, presumably disrupted by The Joker.  Sirens sound, those in attendance are told to evacuate the city and the door to the loading area opens.   The cars in which the evacuees will ride seat four, with a lap bar as a restraint, and what I found especially interesting is that they never stop moving.   Those just finishing the ride hop out of a car and the next group of riders jumps in; the restraints are then locked and checked by the ride ops with the car still in motion.   The journey itself consists of multiple jarring sharp turns with a few unforeseen and unforeseeable drops.  Anyone who’s ever ridden a wild mouse is familiar with the perception of being about to go off the track.  The fact that this ride takes place indoors and in the dark serves to enhance that perception.   While there is some illumination and at certain points riders experience startling visual effects, during much of the ride it’s pitch black.   After the first series of turns the coaster drops in total darkness; after the next series it drops twice, again in total darkness. Never a fan of wild mouse rides, I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this one.   It’s really a hoot. (Apparently, it’s not for everyone, as I shared a car with a young couple on one occasion and at the end of the ride the woman threw up.)  My only reservation is that for repeat riders, the video presentation before the ride gets old awfully fast.  Nevertheless, it’s a significant component of the overall  experience and The Dark Knight is a vastly entertaining coaster.  3 ½ out of 5 stars.  For more information about rides at Six Flags Great Adventure, visit www.sixflags.com/greatadventure/‎

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

OUTLAW RUN

Silver Dollar City

Outlaw Run was among the most eagerly anticipated coasters to open in 2013 and after six rides on it, I can certainly appreciate why.  This coaster has it all – aggressive thrills, airtime, novelty – and threatens to displace El Toro as my all-time favourite woodie.  From the old west-themed loading station, the train goes under the bridge used to exit the ride and ascends a 107-foot lift hill.  From there it makes a short dip and short hop up before plunging 162 feet at an 81-degree angle.  (Before Outlaw Run opened, El Toro had the steepest drop of any wooden coaster in the USA at 76 degrees.)   The drop, as anticipated, was breathtaking, with phenomenal floater airtime.   Following the drop is a 153-degree overbanked turn which almost feels like an inversion.  The ride supposedly features three inversions but the only time I perceived myself to be completely upside down was during the double barrel roll – although the first overbanked turn came awfully close.   With the drops, turns and inversions, this coaster has both floater and ejector airtime.  I found the airtime to be somewhat better in the back of the train although the front seat is fun because there’s nothing like staring down at that first drop.  The train moves along at a pretty good clip (68mph) and never perceptibly slows down. Toward the end of the ride is a pretty amazing wave turn followed by the double barrel roll, which was beyond awesome and almost blew me away.   An inversion such as this on a wooden coaster is cause for celebration.   I should mention the fact that the restraints consist only of a lap bar and shin restraint, and there is really nothing to hold onto!  This works, however, the only drawback being that the shin restraint makes it impossible for riders to put their feet flat down on the floor of the train and can be felt at moments of airtime but I didn’t find that to detract from the quality of the ride.  Alas, the ride is over all too soon.  Outlaw Run is a marvel of engineering and one of the best coasters I’ve ever ridden.  5 out of 5 stars.  For move information about rides at Silver Dollar City, visit www.silverdollarcity.com

WILDFIRE

Silver Dollar City

Wildfire is not dissimilar to other B&M looping steel coasters I’ve ridden but there is one notable difference.  Most coasters of this type descend the initial drop at an angle before entering the first inversion but the drop on Wildfire is straight down.   From the loading station, the train makes a right turn, ascends a 120-foot lift hill and drops an impressive 155 feet before entering an Immelmann loop.   This is followed by a vertical loop, cobra roll and finally, near the end of the ride, a corkscrew.    The train travels at a speed of 66 mph and features a banked curve before the corkscrew.   Wildfire provides an enjoyable ride experience and in my opinion is a cut above other coasters of similar design. 4 out of 5 stars.  For more information about rides at Silver Dollar City, visit www.silverdollarcity.com

POWDER KEG

Silver Dollar City

Powder Keg is somewhat different from other launch coasters I’ve ridden in that it uses compressed air in lieu of a hydraulic launch, linear induction motor or linear synchronous motor.   At the outset of the ride, the train is moved over to the left from the track in the loading station to a launch track.   With a certain amount of fanfare – there are flashing stoplights – the train is launched from 0 to 53 mph up a 98-foot lift hill, at which point it drops 110 feet.  (The ride ops at the time that I rode were claiming that the launch is from zero to 60 and that the drop is 119 feet; Roller Coaster Database says 53 and 110, so take your pick.)    It then goes through a series of turns and drops.  Somewhat unusually, there is a second lift hill about three quarters of the way through the ride.  I found this to be a very smooth, fun ride with a lot of kick but can’t say that Powder Keg blew me away.  3 out of 5 stars.  Photograph by Jeremy Thompson, courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.  For more information about rides at Silver Dollar City, visit

www.silverdollarcity.com

GATEKEEPER

Cedar Point

Cedar Point’s new coaster for 2013, Gatekeeper, is very aptly named because part of the track overhangs the entrance gates to the park.  A wing coaster seating four across, with two seats on each side of the track, it’s accessed by two flights of stairs leading left and right.   Out of the loading station the train turns right, ascends a 170-foot lift hill and  goes into a dive drop, from which it plunges 164 feet.  This sets a new record for the tallest inversion on a roller coaster, previously held by Volcano The Blast Coaster at 155 feet.   From there the train enters an Immelmann loop.   The configuration of the track is interesting, as the initial section resembles a series of coils contained within a compact area whereas the latter section is stretched out and faintly resembles a figure 8.   On the stretched out section, the train passes through openings in two closely-spaced columns.  Other elements of the ride include a flat spin, zero-g roll, inline twist and inclined dive loop, the last of which is displayed in photograph #4.   Due to the similarity in design/concept, comparisons with Dollywood’s Wild Eagle are almost inevitable.  I found Gatekeeper to be the better of the two rides, for both the elements and the airtime.  4 out of 5 stars.  For more information about rides at Cedar Point, visit www.cedarpoint.com

RAPTOR

Cedar Point

Raptor is a coaster I had bypassed on previous visits to Cedar Point in favor of more extreme thrill rides such as Millennium Force and Top Thrill Dragster.  I finally decided to give it a try and am glad that I did.  An inverted/suspended coaster seating four across,  it makes a left turn from the loading station, ascends a 137-foot lift hill and drops 119 feet  before going up into a 100-foot vertical loop.  This is followed by a zero-g roll, cobra roll and first of two helixes.  The ride features two corkscrews and a pretty intense helix towards the end.  What a fun ride!  I’ve been on several similar coasters but thought that this one is somewhat above average.  3 ½ out of 5 stars.   For more information about rides at Cedar Point, visit www.cedarpoint.com

GOLIATH

Six Flags Fiesta

This suspended B&M coaster, in its third incarnation (formerly known as Gambit and Batman:The Ride before being transplanted to Six Flags Fiesta) seats four across and ascends the 105-ft. lift hill directly from the station as soon as the train is dispatched. It then drops 80 feet at an angle before traversing the first of two tight loops.  This is immediately followed by a zero-g roll and the second loop.  I thought that the sequence of inversions contributed a lot to the overall ride experience.  Altogether there are 5 inversions including 2 corkscrews and a couple of other nice elements, most notably a helix and a downward turn that gave me the sensation of free flying.  It’s definitely a fun ride but in my opinion nothing exceptional.  3 out of 5 stars.  For more information about rides at Six Flags Fiesta, visit  www.sixflags.com/fiestatexas/‎