Animan1
Posts: 5394
Registered: 5/14/2003
Rank: Platinum Critic
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 6/12/2007 10:40:42 PM
I feel to compelled to start this TR by pointing out a interesting fact...for perhaps the first time ever, I am posting a TR on the following day that I actually visited a park. Having never done this before, I'm not sure how it will impact my TRs as you all are used to them, but read on, and we'll see what happens.
Living in the Chicago area, Monticello, Lake Shafer, and Indiana Beach are only a couple of hours away. Still, before my visit today, I had never been to the park, and didn't really know what to expect. I had heard some good things about the park generally, and also knew that at least their 2 flagship wooden coasters were supposed to be good, but beyond that, I didn't really have any expectations in particular.
I arrived at the park around 12:30 local time, and parked in the much-appreciated free parking (it makes SFGAm's $15 look like an even bigger joke). I was unaware of this, but there is a $2.50 charge to enter the park area itself, unlike other pay-as-you-go parks I have been to (namely, Blackpool and Coney Island), but I was not upset by it by any means, especially since I had a $3 off coupon for a POP wristband (7-hour block of time, 11-6, for most of the major non-water rides at the park). All told, I spent $21 at the park, not bad at all.
Upon receiving my wristband, I immediately proceeded to the Hoosier Hurricane, conveniently located near the entrance to the park. Although I have not posted any yet, I will save the full details of all the rides to my reviews, and just give a summary here. My first ride on the Hurricane was in the back row, where I experienced some good airtime and an overall smooth ride. With one of the park's 2 major coasters complete, I headed to their second large woodie, the Cornball Express. Also riding in the back, I found that this ride was difficult to ride "hands-up" for me, given the layout and abruptness of the elements. Still, it was far from a bad ride, and had a couple of good drops with plenty of airtime, especially considering that the coaster is basically a twister.
With the 2 main rides that I had been anticipating out of the way, I now entered what I can best describe as a sort of stupor. I was not really disappointed per se, but I was a little baffled about some of the praise that the park has recieved, given what I had experienced thus far. I know, I was making an early judgement, and was certainly not ready to leave or take any other extreme action, but at that point, it dawned on me just how small this park was, and I wondered how I would fill my time in the lightly-crowded park.
However, my fears were soon put to rest. After knocking out the 2 coasters already mentioned, I hit up the Tig'rr Coaster (zippy little Schwarzkopf, great turn at the bottom of the first drop), followed by the Air Crow, my first flyer of this type. Having heard others speak highly of them, and particularly about the art of snapping, I was intrigued by my first opportunity to ride one. Unfortunately, there was a sign informing me that snapping of the cables was not allowed, as well as a sign in the car itself that instructed the user to not move the panel "quickly or violently". I am not one to not follow instructions, so I tried my best to obey, although at the same time, I wanted to get a feel for what these rides are all about, so I tried to compromise with myself as I rode. Bottom line - I had a good time, and can certainly see where on certain installations, the snapping could lead to some great fun and chaotic action.
After losing my virginity to the flyer genre, I now headed for the Lost Coaster of Superstition Mountain. This coaster ended up being my longest wait of the day (about 10 minutes), but was also the biggest surprise of the day. I rode backwards, which was great fun, and the ride was not hurt any by the fact that I was riding with two other girls who were not unattractive.  I was surprised by the ride's rapid changes in directio
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larrygator
Posts: 4654
Registered: 11/7/2002
Rank: Platinum Critic
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6/12/2007 11:04:59 PM
glad you enjoyed one of my favorite parks, you made a wise choice bringing food, not a strong suit of IB. Doesn't sound like you did the skyride, it is unique in that it goes over so many other rides.
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Animan1
Posts: 5394
Registered: 5/14/2003
Rank: Platinum Critic
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6/13/2007 9:25:44 AM
Yeah, I didn't do the skyride, though it did look pretty cool, and I did consider riding it. I don't know, might have been a good opportunity for some pics too...oh well.
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hrrytraver
Posts: 1270
Registered: 7/16/2005
Rank: Platinum Critic
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6/13/2007 10:00:54 AM
Quote:
Animan1 said:
Also riding in the back, I found that this ride was difficult to ride "hands-up" for me, given the layout and abruptness of the elements. Still, it was far from a bad ride, and had a couple of good drops with plenty of airtime, especially considering that the coaster is basically a twister.
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can't keep hands up + abrupt elements = instant success w/hrry.
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Animan1
Posts: 5394
Registered: 5/14/2003
Rank: Platinum Critic
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6/13/2007 7:35:01 PM
Haha, yeah, I imagine that you would like it hrry...in fact, I imagine that most people who enjoy a good wooden roller coaster would have a lot of fun on Cornball. This is not to say that I didn't have fun, but I have never enjoyed wooden coasters as much as steel, and that makes me somewhat of a wimp with the former at times. Nonetheless, Cornball was still a good coaster, and one that packs a lot of interesting forces and elements into its small footprint. 
Message updated 6/13/2007 7:35:49 PM by Animan1
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Timberman
Posts: 845
Registered: 9/21/2004
Rank: Gold Critic
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6/13/2007 11:35:17 PM
I remember getting some pretty crazy airtime on the Galaxi the last time I was at IB. Ditto the Falling Star, which was probably my favorite flat at the park. I'm also a chisler when it comes to amusement park cuisine, but I have to say, you missed out on the corn dogs.
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Cyclonic
Posts: 2636
Registered: 7/19/2002
Rank: Experiment 626
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6/15/2007 12:54:16 AM
What he really missed out on were the tacos... yeah, still can't find better anywhere. Other then them I think the food is mediocre at best, and the Skyroom is wayyy over rated.
But the rides and atmosphere make up for it, still one of my top three parks.
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The insensitivity rolls on...
"Why is our oil under their sand?"
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hrrytraver
Posts: 1270
Registered: 7/16/2005
Rank: Platinum Critic
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6/15/2007 9:29:39 AM
Quote:
Cyclonic said:
What he really missed out on were the tacos... yeah, still can't find better anywhere. |
how 'bout feria chapultepec?
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the following sentence is false.
the preceding sentence is true.
Message updated 6/15/2007 9:29:59 AM by hrrytraver
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