Cyclonic
Posts: 2636
Registered: 7/19/2002
Rank: Experiment 626
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 5/3/2005 11:03:34 PM
No, not what you were looking for? How about this?
I guess one word will do it, huh? OK, maybe three, Hydra: The Revenge.
I ancient Greek mythology Herchules slayed Hydra, a great seven headed dragon, but one head was immortal and could not die. Herchules buryed the head beneath a great rock near a lake. Now Hydra has risen from the lake and taken its revenge on Hercules. Hydra opens on Saturday, May 7, but I was fortunate enough to get an invite to the preview day and rode it today.
I was actually very surprised. A few weeks ago I got a black envelope in the mail, with the siloette of the beast, and its glowing red eye. I though it would be an advertisement, but much to my delight it was an invite to their preview. So I made sure to get off, and this morning headed out early to make it to Dorney by nine. The whether was beautiful but chilly.
I had invited "Coast'n" Steve O'Donnell to be my guest, and it just so happened he pulled into the parking lot right after me. We resistered at the main gate, where we each got a limited edition pin (I got #17), and after a few minutes were let into the park.
The carousel was there to greet us. It was not running, but was all lit up with its band organ playing. We walked past the carousel and down the midway, where we laid eyes on the new Screaming Swings. They are perfectly positioned to swing out over the midway. We would get a chance to ride these a little later on.
We rounded the corner and were faced with Dorney's newest coaster, Hydra.
Its tangled mass dominated the end of the midway, creating a perfect anchor. The sign in front of the ride is fantastic, dark and forboding, with images of the beast's heads and their red eyes and smoke billowing from the immortal's nostrils. The ride is visually stunning, and you can see most of it from right there, but it also hides some parts, particually the first drop and the last third of the ride. It is sleek and quite, a train passes overhead and you barely hear it coming, and by the time you turn to look it is gone.
After a little bit the opening ceremony begain. It included intrductions of folks from Dorney whom names escape me (I should take notes), Dick Kinzel (who did not speak), Cedar Faire CEO, Joe Green who helped with the project (and is the Jojo roll's namesake) a rep from B&M (Walter was supposed to be there, but he broke his leg over the weekend), and the Rev. Cliff Herring from ACE. After this, it was time to ride.
I was out on the first train. The first three rows were reserved for dignitaries, so I was in the forth, far left seat. Right out of the station is the Jojo. While the train does not fly throught he element, it doesn't crawl through either. It seems to be just right, fast enough to get through without discomfort, slow enough to prevent head banging. I really like the element, it is fun and disorienting. i am sure we will hear plenty of screams from the general public with this one.
After the lift the ride goes right into the first drop, a nice one that provides some air, particuarly in the back of the train.
There is a slight right turn at the bottom and it goes into a half loop, the first of a quick series of elements. This is followed by a zero-G roll,
a corkscrew, and then a very tight little colbra roll, which I really liked.
Here it seemed to slow down a little. It did a little turn and then a bunny hop, both of which produced little airtime.
Message updated 5/4/2005 8:34:13 PM by Cyclonic
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bb_dg
Posts: 3568
Registered: 7/31/2001
Rank: Site Moderator
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5/3/2005 11:45:32 PM
a friend of mine also got invited... i wish i could have been there. great pics too. i cant wait to get a ride on this. its very different from a lot of rides out there and im glad to be so close
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Hercules
Posts: 4037
Registered: 10/13/2004
Rank: Platinum Critic
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5/4/2005 12:51:49 AM
Awesome pictures. I was at the park, picking up my season pass while a good amount of people were leaving the event. This is a time that I wish I were an ACEr. Looking in through the gates it looked like a great event.
Those are some great pictures as usual. They really made the new Gameday Grille look good too. And how can you go wrong with ESPN News on the big screen? That sign for Hydra is amazing. I love the smoke coming out. That just really adds to it. I can't wait to speak at the first ride that I'm opening when I'm Mr. PR guy   Is it me, or are they not very good at speaking in public? For some reason I got that from some of the videos that I saw. Anyway, they really did do a supurb job with the ride and the area surrounding. The park looks like it is going to look very different  Oh well, everything has to change. Only a few days until I hop on this bad boy. I hope it is ready for its biggest critic  (that's not an angry face, that is a mean critic face) grrrrrr
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Godsentone
Posts: 521
Registered: 3/31/2005
Rank: Gold Critic
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5/4/2005 8:37:46 AM
Nice Review Cyclonic! I guess I will have to wait to ride it next year, but by then it will be good and broke in. 
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Hercules
Posts: 4037
Registered: 10/13/2004
Rank: Platinum Critic
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5/5/2005 12:11:55 AM
Little question here: Anybody going to Dorney on opening day? I'm going to be there and just looking for someone to hang out with so I'm not all lonely. Same thing with CAD at Great Adventure on Friday. Just figured I would ask.
Oh yeah, and it might rain on Saturday. That might be a bad omen for Hydra. Oh well, tear it down!!!
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Cyclonic
Posts: 2636
Registered: 7/19/2002
Rank: Experiment 626
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5/5/2005 7:07:34 AM
I'll be at CAD on Friday. Looks like rain that night, but Saturday looks good for you. Saturday I'm headed over to Bushkill to lend a hand.
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Scott
Posts: 2766
Registered: 11/7/2004
Rank: Platinum Critic
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5/5/2005 9:35:54 AM
Good for you cyclonic. It's a shame that bushkill was ruined. They need all the support they can get... a real pity.
Message updated 5/5/2005 9:36:06 AM by Scott
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Hercules
Posts: 4037
Registered: 10/13/2004
Rank: Platinum Critic
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5/5/2005 10:29:40 AM
Quote:
Cyclonic said:
I'll be at CAD on Friday. Looks like rain that night, but Saturday looks good for you. Saturday I'm headed over to Bushkill to lend a hand. |
That's cool. You want to meet up or something? I'm sure you have other plans or something, but I just figured that I would ask.
That's really cool about the Bushkill thing. If Dorney Park wasn't my life I would probably think about doing the same thing and give back a little. I know my time would be the best thing, but I just don't have that much of it anymore. Is there a way to maybe donate a little money to the place or something like that?
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"I could never design another ride like Hercules." - Curtis Summers
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Cyclonic
Posts: 2636
Registered: 7/19/2002
Rank: Experiment 626
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5/5/2005 12:18:05 PM
No plans for friday, I usually just go and have a good time, so if you want to meet up, no problem. Say around six in front of Rolling Thunder? I will wear a maroon Waldameer hoody.
Yeah, I am going to try to help out as much as I can at Bushkill, but my time is short too. There is a lot to be done, none of the rides are ready to operate. I will write a complete story on it soon.
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Hercules
Posts: 4037
Registered: 10/13/2004
Rank: Platinum Critic
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5/5/2005 12:36:00 PM
I could probably do around 6 at Rolling Thunder. I'll look for ya Hopefully I don't get caught up in traffic this time around. Luckily that accident on the turnpike didn't get to me, because that held a lot of people from getting to the park at all last time.
That is a real shame about Bushkill. I think I remember something about going to that park at one point in my early childhood, but can't remember any specifics.
Message updated 5/5/2005 12:40:54 PM by Hercules
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Godsentone
Posts: 521
Registered: 3/31/2005
Rank: Gold Critic
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5/5/2005 1:20:30 PM
Hey I was wondering what happened to this place known as Bushkill and correct me if I am wrong. Did they have a bad storm that caused a major flood? Hey I remember when my sister visited Cedar Point a few years ago and they got caught up in a bad flood in Toledo, OH.
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larrygator
Posts: 4654
Registered: 11/7/2002
Rank: Platinum Critic
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5/5/2005 1:56:01 PM
They was severe flooding back in September 2004, and then again just a couple of weeks ago Bushkill Park got hit again. It sits right on the edge of a river.
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larrygator
Posts: 4654
Registered: 11/7/2002
Rank: Platinum Critic
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5/5/2005 2:19:21 PM
Quote:
Cyclonic said:
No plans for friday, I usually just go and have a good time, so if you want to meet up, no problem. Say around six in front of Rolling Thunder? I will wear a maroon Waldameer hoody.
Yeah, I am going to try to help out as much as I can at Bushkill, but my time is short too. There is a lot to be done, none of the rides are ready to operate. I will write a complete story on it soon. |
I'm so disoriented with my out-of-town upcoming trips that I didn't realize tomorrow was a CAD event. I might be there if work is slow and I can cut out at 4PM-4:30PM. Cyclonic - If I'm going I'll go you a call in the afternoon on Friday and try to meet in front of RT at 6PM. I'll have my Knoebels hat and probably a Phoenix/Twister t-shirt.
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Mom always said, "Don't play ball in the house".
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Godsentone
Posts: 521
Registered: 3/31/2005
Rank: Gold Critic
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5/5/2005 8:58:36 PM
Quote:
larrygator said:
They was severe flooding back in September 2004, and then again just a couple of weeks ago Bushkill Park got hit again. It sits right on the edge of a river. |
Oh ok I thought so. Hey I will be glad when I get things together where I can meet up with some of you coaster nuts!!! You guys have all the fun! 
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larrygator
Posts: 4654
Registered: 11/7/2002
Rank: Platinum Critic
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5/6/2005 9:35:14 AM
damn, I can't make it to CAD tonight.
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Godsentone
Posts: 521
Registered: 3/31/2005
Rank: Gold Critic
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5/6/2005 11:45:33 AM
For those who can make it, please give us a FULL Trip Report, aight???
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Hercules
Posts: 4037
Registered: 10/13/2004
Rank: Platinum Critic
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5/6/2005 12:51:32 PM
There is already a trip report from the first CAD. It is the one about the Golden Kingdom. Plus I wrote a little something about it as an off branch in my Great Adventure Trip Report.
But yeah, I'll be lucky if I can make it too. A few things came up with the business that I'm not sure if I'll be able to make it out of here in time to beat out traffic
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