Coaster enthusiasts often fall into two camps. Those who can excuse a rough ride on a wooden coaster and those who cant. Im in the latter camp. I dont mind being thrown around a bit, but Wildcat just down right hurt. I rode it during my last trip to Hersheypark which kicked off my busy 2006 season.
Wildcat is a wooden twister and the first coaster built by Great Coasters International. As their name suggests, GCI went on to build some great wooden roller coasters including Thunderhead and Lightning Racer. Id ridden Roar at Six Flags America which is an exact clone of Hersheys Wildcat, so I figured I knew what I was in for.
The bumpy ride began with a swooping drop to the right. Its about the only enjoyable part of the ride. The remaining 90% of Wildcat is rough and bumpy. The real low point comes about halfway through. A small hill that was likely designed for a nice, fun pop of air delivered the opposite. I was treated with a violent jerk that resulted in my leg banging against the car. After I got off, I had a small indention below my shin. Luckily, the injury didnt break the skin. I know wooden coasters are known for their roughness, but Wildcat was excessive. Final Rating - 3.5 (Bad Approaching Below Average)
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