Axman
Posts: 1055
Registered: 10/4/2003
Rank: Platinum Critic
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 3/3/2007 1:52:48 AM
Since 1982, SF has been spoiling us with the first drop ride ever. They've come a long way, but many would say, that the classic "FreeFall" was, and eternaly be, the best of its kind.
Alas, times have changed, and now, these calssic, gut-rippers have thrilled their last riders. With the loss of 4 of Six Flag's Free Falls, along with the once-hopefull, pre-removed Free Fall from the defunct Astroland, we all come together, to mourn this inevitable loss. These five rides have passed the test of time, and started a trend that will be tantalizing the guts of generations to come.
Though these ride are gone, there is still comfort to be taken, in the last remaining, first generation freefall: Demon Drop, at Cedar Point.:
The ride still operates today in highly respectable condtion.
You must love the classic logo duo, on the car's distinct design.
These Freefalls, however, are not so lucky...
Six Flags Magic Mountain's "FreeFall" was often open and ridden, up untill its last day of operation.
This Freefall, unlike all of its siblings, recived a new lease on life, as it was converted into a themed ride to play of of Riddler's Revenge in 1998.
The "Texas Cliffhanger", or "Wildcater", as it was called in more recent years, was the very first Freefall to ever open. It did so, untill it's last day of operation, at Six Flags Over Texas.
The Cliffhanger's demise, as shown in the background, fineshed off the ride's apeal.
The "FreeFall" at Six Flags Over Georgia, was easily the most appreciated of all of the Free Fall rides in the Six Flags chain.
Even though the ride's fate was sealled, spelled in the letters of "Achraphobia", tride and true Free Fall lovers always came back for a ride, as they did untill the ride's final day of operation.
A true diamond in the rough, "Stuntman's Freefall", as shown here, back in it's "Freefall" days, in 1991.
Though the ride was prone to frequent closure, it never failed to serve a place, in the scenery of the Movie Backlot of Six Flags Great Adventure.
And finally, as shown here durring its last days of operation, is the Sky Screamer, which once operated at Six Flags Astroworld.
This ride's life was significanly shorter than most of its siblings, as it closed down 11 years ago this year. Because if its '96 closure, the Sky Sceamer was soon forgotten, as it was replaced with the Dundgon Drop, and laid to rest behing the American Eagle, at Six Flags Over Mid-America.
These five rides are a part of themepark history, and will be missed. Now, they await their dismantal, as they will join their long-lost sibling, "The Edge", which operated at Six Flags Great America for two years, untill a fatal accident left it its own victim, back in 1984. Though these ride did stand the test of time, they, unfortunately, did not stand the test of imortality.
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