Send in your reviews of amusement parks and they'll be included on this page! I'm especially looking for reviews of parks that haven't been covered up to this point, but any reviews are welcome. It's best if your review includes some basic information about the park, and both positive and negative comments as they apply your experience while you were there. Feel free to comment about not only coasters, but other rides, food, the park staff... The intent is to provide coverage for more parks and to have a variety of opinions available. Please refrain from using offensive language as it will be edited out of the review anyway. Also, include a name, nickname, or initials which will be listed at the end of your review. Click here to send in your review now!
All reviews unless otherwise noted are written by Nightcoaster. Feel free to quote the reviews you find here, just be sure to credit the reviewer by name or nickname and list "Nightcoaster's Amusement Park Guide" as the source.
ADVENTURE CITY (CA) Seventeen rides in this small, but friendly family amusement park. The staff is helpful and it's easy to see that they really care about the kids they cater to here. There's a fun magic show and the food prices are affordable which is a welcome change from most parks. Sometimes a park doesn't need to be large, and this is one that's found a niche and is doing a nice job providing a fun time for the kids.
ADVENTURE LANDING (FL) Featuring the only roller coaster in northeastern Florida, this small go-kart and arcade park also has a friendly staff and they keep things clean as well. If you're in the area, it's a nice little park to visit.
THE ADVENTUREDOME AMUSEMENT PARK (NV) Beautiful little park that is entirely enclosed and located in the Circus Circus Hotel and Casino. That does mean that the top of the lift hill gets a little warm... The coaster is a standard corkscrew, but with all the elaborate "stonework" it weaves through, you might find it hard to tell. Prices here are a little higher than they should be, but it's a nice, clean little park and provides some variety to the entertainment options in the area. Formerly known as Grand Slam Canyon.
ADVENTURELAND (IN) I'm not sure how this little park has lasted for so long except that there isn't much else to do in this area if you don't have a boat! They offer putt-putt golf, trampolines, a pinball/video game area, and they have a small steel kiddie coaster. Note: the amusement rides were sold in 2001 and the company now operates a paddle-wheel boat that cruises around the lake.
ADVENTURELAND (IA) The best coaster here is The Outlaw, a very nice wooden coaster with plenty of punch. They also have The Tornado (wooden), The Dragon (steel looping), and a steel zyklon coaster. The newest ride is The Underground, which is very well-themed on the inside. The shows are really starting to improve in this park. They have a very polished magic act and a great comical western "showdown" near The Outlaw coaster. The Rootin' Tootin' Wild West Review still needs some work, but it wasn't bad.
Additional review:
This place is Awesome! The top 5 rides are : 1.Tornado 2.The Sidewinder 3.Outlaw 4. Dragon 5.Space Shot - It's a great park for something that started as only a couple of shows and rides and only one street.Other good rides are The Mixer, Falling Star, and The Inverter. I haven't even been to the whole place yet but it's still awesome. I recommend u go there if u live close to it but if you shouldn't waste an airplane trip here. (They do have good hotels though.) (Review by Curt Carpenter)
ARNOLDS PARK (IA) You might not think of northern Iowa as a resort area, but Lake Okoboji and three small towns make this a nice little area. And it's also in this area that you'll find Arnolds Park. The gondola wheel offers a wonderful view of the lake, and just a few feet away is the legendary... Legend. A very nice wooden coaster that offers plenty of airtime as it zips you around most of the park. There's a Toboggan coaster and a kiddie coaster and lost of room for the park to expand. It does look like the main focus is rides for kids, but we've all got a little bit of that in us anyway. The Tilted House could use some work. I've seen it done very nicely with props and a host who takes you through, telling a story along the way. The way it is now, kids just run through it. A magic show would be a nice addition too, especially for the beautiful newer area toward the rear of the park.
ASTROLAND (NY) Mix New York, the beach, and a carnival together and what do you get? Complete with all the old sideshows and the original Cyclone roller coaster, it's the magic of the old Coney Island. Astroland is also home to a Jumbo Jet coaster and the old Thunderbolt coaster rests a couple of blocks away. It isn't running now, but there has been talk about either restoring or rebuilding this classic old coaster.
ASTROWORLD (TX)
Confusing layout, though this is the standard for Six Flags parks,
lots of dead ends. The staff is helpful though, and always seems
to be eager to assist you in finding your way around. Greezed Lightnin'
(a shuttle loop coaster) was great fun, as was the Texas Cyclone (a
copy of the New York original). The Ultra Twister was a unique
experience that was too short, but loads of fun. The best part of
the park were the live shows. They are simply the best of any park
I've ever seen. The Batman stunt show takes place over water which
allows them to do some amazing falls with their stunts. Miss Lillie's
Red Garter revue was also quite good. Their script was paced well
and mixed music, dance, and comedy in a style that keeps you entertained
the whole way through. They make good use of audience members and it was
easy to see that they were having fun performing and that they were a
very talented group.
Update for 2002: There has been some effort here to give the park a little bit of a facelift, with several buildings and coaster loading stations having received new coats of paint. The problem is that ALL of the coasters themselves are in desperate need of new paint. With coasters being such visually striking constructions, their bland and drab appearance tends to affect the look of the whole park. The performance arenas are nice and the Mapapa African Acrobat troupe put on a very nice show. The staff here was pleasant, but not as friendly as that of the other two Texas parks to which it is so easily compared.
BEECH BEND PARK (KY) If you're interested in a smaller amusement park with a relaxed atmosphere, plenty of rides for the smaller kids and a few for the teens, this is the ideal place! Open since 1898, this park has a neighboring campground, and is very well maintained, with most everything looking new and clean. The staff is friendly and helpful and the family friendly atmosphere is evident among the the rest of the people around as well. The Kentucky Rumbler is a wonderful addition to the park, a great new wooden coaster with lots of tight turns and plenty of speed. The only things lacking are a little bit more shade and perhaps some landscaping work around Fountain Lake, which could then be a really attractive centerpiece to the one half of the park.
BELL'S AMUSEMENT PARK (OK) Located on part of the fairgrounds, this park has limited space and can't really grow much at all. They do have a medium-size wooden coaster and a steel zyklon coaster that sits back in one corner. There is also a dark ride with a few good effects toward the end. They've been through a number of troubles lately, and may be in danger of closing if their business doesn't pick up soon. (Note: As a result of some of the troubles, the steel zyklon coaster was closed.)
BELMONT PARK (CA) Very small boardwalk style park whose centerpiece is the old Giant Dipper wooden coaster. It's a wonderful old coaster and manages to create just enough interest to keep the park running. It's a clean little park with a polite and helpful staff. They also have a carousel and a few other smaller rides as well as a one-room coaster museum that provides a nice history of the Giant Dipper and its restoration.
BOOMERS (Fountain Valley, CA) Of the several small parks in this chain, this particular one appears to be the most poorly run. It is clean, but understaffed with inexperienced workers. When some of my displeasured showed on my face, another person waiting in line told me they'd just grown accustomed to the poor service here. That's unfortunate, as they havea reasonble selection of rides and games and could be a nice little arcade park.
BOOMERS (Upland, CA) Nice little arcade park with room to grow. Formerly the home of a small coaster, that area is currently vacant. The staff here are very friendly and helpful and keep the area very clean. Maybe another small coaster will be added in the future...
BOONDOCKS (SD) A few miles south of the picturesque little tourist town of Deadwood, South Dakota, at a bend in the road, lies Boondocks. While this is primarily a '50s diner and a nostalgia museum and gift shop, they have recently added some amusement rides for the younger crowd. It's fairly small, but nice to have a little something different in the area!
BUFFALO BILL'S HOTEL AND CASINO (NV) Much like the Magnum XL200 at Cedar Point, the biggest thrill on the Desperado coaster is the first drop. (Especially with an additional 15-20 mph wind blowing!) Otherwise, it just sort of cruises all the way around the property, which is mostly desert. They also have a motion simulator ride with a choice of short movies.
BUSCH GARDENS AFRICA (FL)
Combination zoo and amusement park with lots to do. The new Montu coaster
almost manages to outdo Cedar Point's Raptor! The new Egypt area is
stunning, with a replica of King Tut's Tomb, a marketplace, and much more.
The incredible Kumba and the smaller Python and Scorpion coasters are
still here, each in their own, specially themed areas. This is also
one of the top four zoos in the country, with over 350 species to see.
On the entertainment side, there is the dolphin show, a wonderful
Akishin show with Russian acrobats, jugglers, and clowns, and the
Hollywood Live on Ice show that was the best I've ever seen at any
park! Sets and costumes for this show were worthy of a full-scale
Broadway production. It was so good, I watched it twice!
For 2002, Gwazi was a very nice addition (opened in 1999), a wooden coaaster that is fast and reasonably smooth. The shows are still some of the best you'll see and the zoo is worth a look all by itself. This continues to be one of the more attractive parks in the country and also has a very wide variety of gift shops. Do make use of the park map as this is a large park with many side paths. Lots of interesting things to do, but it's easy to get turned around.
Additional reviews:
I have been to Busch Gardens, Tampa Bay, Fl. many times and I think it has
some of the best roller coasters I've ever been on. It has the new
dueling wooden roller coaster Gwazi. It's excellent. Montu is wonderful. I've
been on Montu and Kumba 35 times each. I just went in February and I am going back in April. I am a pass member. I love that park. I think their roller coasters are wonderful. (Review by SUN657)
I LOVE Busch Gardens!!! Not only are the rides awesome but the BEST thing about Busch Gardens is the Akishin Show. Me and my sister have gone to the Akishin Show 10 times!!!!! The act is great and the music is cool and one guy in the show is really really really cute! The people are all really friendly and I love Busch Gardens for giving me the chance to meet the people of the Akishin show! (Review by Jeanette Fahari)
I have been to Busch Gardens many times and I LOVE it soooooooooooo much! I love riding the rollercoasters. My favorite rollercoaster is Montu, and my second favorite rollercoaster is Kumba. They are the BEST. When my dad gets in the line for the Congo River Rapids, I go and jump on Kumba about three times, then I come back and get in the line with my dad. Busch Gardens Rules!!!!!!!!!(Review by S. Slater)
BUSCH GARDENS EUROPE (VA)
I wholeheartedly agree with those who have called this "the most beautiful
large theme park in the country". Four terrific coasters here as well...
Drachen Fire, a large steel looping coaster that is very fast, the Loch Ness
Monster, another steel looping coaster with interlocking loops which
frequently takes you out over the water, the Big Bad Wolf, which is
the best suspended coaster I've ever ridden, and the newest, Alpengeist, with
a snowbeast theme set in a ski resort.
For 2004, Drachen Fire is gone, but Apollo's Chariot and Alpengeist more than make up for it. This remains one of the most beautiful parks you'll find and it's very clean as well. Not only could you spend all day here just shopping in the incredible array of stores, but there are an amazing number of very unique places to eat, themed around the six different country areas within the park. High quality shows are here too, including the Irish Thunder dance show. If you don't mind staying late, the lines for the rides get dramatically shorter after dark, with the exception of Apollo's Chariot which is close to the front of the park.
CAMDEN PARK (WV) Small park with quite a few historical items, including the Big Dipper coaster from 1912, badly in need of paint, but still running and still fun. Also home to a shuttle loop coaster formerly at Paramount's Kings Island that is now known as Thunderbolt Express.
CAROWINDS (NC) Located on the state line, this park is actually located in both North Carolina and South Carolina, an interesting bit of trivia that they should really take advantage of. The Borg Assimilator (formerly Stealth at Paramount's Great America) is a great ride, but get rid of that "no fanny pack" rule! Several other nice coasters and other rides here as well. Though it may be the smallest of the Paramount parks, there is still quite a bit here. The older rides do need some care, and having some shows for a variety of entertainment would be nice. The two major recommendations would be to get rid of the back entrance to the park, and to clean up the area just outside the park grounds. Inside the park is clean, but the maintenance areas just outside are easily visible when you're on the larger rides and look really bad.
Additional reviews:
Paramount's Carowinds, smaller than any of its sister parks hosts a
pretty good selection of rides. Top Gun an inverted coaster is about the
smoothest ride I have ever ridden. Landscaping around this ride is
breathtaking and the lines to ride are usually very short. The best
thing about this ride is the tunnel of mist near the end of the ride. It
really cools you down. And the super saturator inverted coaster fills up
with water at the station so you can dump it on the crowds below during
your ride. The only thing about this park that has setbacks is that
there are more shops in the place where alot more improvment for future
rides could be. Overall the park is small in size but for a days getaway
its pretty relaxing. (Review by Jodi Jackson)
Paramounts Carowinds is the smallest theme park out of all it's sister parks, though it has some tight rides. The newest coaster the park has is Top Gun, a steel inverted jet coaster, has to be one of my favorite coasters! Also the park includes Vortex, the stand up steel coaster, Thunder Road, the big wooden coaster (this is a cool ride because it has a backward and forward train, I like backward best.) The park also has Carolina Cyclone, an old steel coaster, and Hurler, another smooth wooden coaster. Carowinds also has a tight water park with the one of a kind Flying Super Saturator. On this ride your car comes with about a half a gallon of water. While you are riding you can dump it on the crowd. (This ride always has a huge line!) Carowinds is a great park but is dirty, and a little expensive. Carowinds is great for people who like action- packed roller coasters or for people who like nice gentle rides!!!! (Review by Will Horner)
Carowinds is a great park. The best ride is Top Gun. Going 117 feet in the air, and with 6 inversions it ROCKS! The newest ride is the Ricochet. It's a wild mouse coaster that makes you feel like you're going off the tracks. There is a racing coaster called Thunder Road. (Backwards is best) The Goldrush is a jerky ride, they need to tune it up so it's a smoother ride.There are other great rides like Vortex, Carolinia Cyclone, Hurler, and even a haunted house called Scooby's Haunted Mansion. By far the best non-coaster ride is the Drop Zone. Dropping 180 feet at speeds of 50 MPH, you get an adrenalin rush.There are lots of kiddy rides too. (Review by Ryan Dye)
CASTLE AMUSEMENT PARK (CA)
This friendly little family park has lots of room to grow and they've already managed to pick up several older rides and props from nearby Knotts' Berry Farm as a less expensive way to expand. As far as coasters, there's a steel family coaster and a kiddie coaster, but there are a number of other small rides and games and a nice carousel. There's a very nice putt-putt golf course with a sizeable arcade next to it. Ghost Blaster has been added to the inside of the arcade, adding to the fun of earning points for arcade prizes. A steel zyklon or boomerang coaster would be a great addition here.
For 2008, not much has changed here in the past few years. It's still a great little family amusmement park. They continue to add smaller rides and focus on appeal to younger children with the exception of the putt-putt golf course and arcade.
CASTLES AND COASTERS (AZ) Make sure it isn't the middle of summer when you visit Arizona's premier amusement park! The word "hot" may take on a new meaning! There are four putt-putt courses laid out here, weaving their way through a maze of castles and palm trees. This is the most attractive section of the park and well-worth a look even if you don't play. Desert Storm is a nice, looping steel coaster and Patriot is the counterpart for the younger set. Not too many other rides, but a large (air conditioned) arcade area is available too.
CEDAR POINT (OH) This is my favorite amusement park! The best collection of coasters in the smallest amount of space... Millenium Force, Mantis, and Raptor is still my favorite. There are loads of coasters here, but they also have live shows, a laser light show at night, a museum, and a great staff. If you love coasters and have never been here, you simply MUST find a way to get to this park. You won't regret it! For more info about my yearly excursions to this park, click on the year you are interested in. 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
Additional reviews:
I was blown away by this park. The coaster experience was unbelievable. We stayed in the park for a week. The drive in was thrilling. You go under around and by nothing but coasters it really gets you in the mood to have fun. I recommend that if you like coasters you try this at least once in your lifetime. The park was clean well managed. Any time I saw popcorn on the ground or an area where any service was lacking, in came the people with clipboards to rectify the problem. This was the first week of July and you know they must have a lot of people there, but the park just absorbed them. Lines were not bad, service was good and the place was clean... real clean. I really liked the fact that they had antibacterial wash stations outside each bathroom. This is like a liquid soap that you use to kill germs but don't need to use water. You rub it in and it dries and your hands feel clean dry and not tacky. Real cool since thousands of people will be handling the same rails, lap bars and seatbelts that you will. They also have a museum of the parks history that's pretty good. There is a petting zoo that I was not too impressed with. It needed to be upgraded and put in a quite area . This is one thing I would of liked to see greatly improved. My wife is an animal nut, and who doesn't like animals. There are lots of rides other than coasters and we tried to do them all, but we still after a week at a slow pace, did not. Over all it was the best time of my life and will be hard to top. If anyone knows a better park I would like to try it. (Review by Brian Aroniss)
Cedar Point in Ohio is the best place to go and ride rollar coasters. The Raptor was the best, it had so many turns, twisted, up side down, drops, and loops that you had the time of your life on it. They have the best rollar coasters there, but whatever you do, don't go there in May! It is so cold, especially if you go on the water rides when it's like 30 degress outside! (Review by NW)
This Is about Cedar Point... 16 Coasters! If you already know the thrill rides are great, you can't even pass on the gentle rides! They have go karts and lots of shops and stalls. There's a water park and a little kiddy park. Here are what the rides are like... First, THE IRON DRAGON - Great warm up ride with lots of turns. Then, the WILD CAT roller coaster, like IRON DRAGON, great warm up ride. Now on to Blue Streak, old but very fun. Now to my favorite, THE MAGNUM XL200 - not much to say, but if you TLC, Magnum won first place for steel rollar coastar! MEAN STREAK - one word to describe it - jerky! Now, THE MANTIS very fun, you stand up, huge loops, long line, but its worth it! GEMINI race to the finish! THE MILLENNIUM FORCE - Can you feel the force? Well, you will if you ride it! And many more! Cedar Point is the best! (Review by T. Frederick)
I've been to Disney World, Universal Studios, EPCOT, Islands of Adventure, and a few other small parks (in case you want to know what I'm comparing this to). Cedar Point is not a theme park, but an amusement park. I am convinced Cedar Point is the best park in the world for thrill, which is why it never loses its appeal to repeat visitors. Disney is charming, but this is thrilling making it ideal for teenagers and young adults (although I have been going ever since the 5th grade). Because of the quantity of rides, it's difficult to hit them all, so that's why they're arranged like this. I'm not including content you can find on the cedar point website! It might be useful to have it open at the same time. Reviews of major rides: DON'T MISS ::Millenium Force:: Arguably the BEST coaster in the park (and hence, the world). It's my favorite, it's a close tie with the next two. The semi-quick ascent is terrifying as you wonder just when the train will stop climbing into the sky. The anticipation and thrill is there, and the first hill (310 feet) is exhilarating and long. The ride is smooth, fast, not painful, and leaves everyone with a huge smile on their face. It's difficult to do it justice with this review. The rush leaves everyone with all adrenaline and no headache. ::Raptor:: This ride is thrilling with less of a fear factor. It's smooth and easy to feel safe in, comfortable and fast. This ride is easily loved by everyone, and probably the most FUN ride in the park. I like the format of this ride alot, you ride underneath the track sitting down, and your feet dangle. ::Top Thrill Dragster:: This ride is the BEST THRILL in the park. Even though I went on it last year, I was still terrified this year. It's hard to watch the coaster as a spectator, it's hard to make your EYES move that fast. From the roaring engines right before the blast-off to the acceleration up to 120 mph, soaring up 420 feet into the air, you literally don't have time to think. All that your body is capable of at this point is pure, unadulterated thrill. Afterwards, all you wanna do is ride again, just to get that thrill. Tallest and fastest coaster in the world. ::Magnum:: This is like a smaller, older version of the Millenium. Same thrills, on a smaller scale. Worth it for the next to nothing amount of time you'll have to wait to get on it. Still scary. ::Snake River Falls:: Steep water ride with a huge splash. You are guaranteed to get soaked on this, great for a hot day. Thrilling and cooling. ::Thunder Canyon:: A fun waterfall, "who's gonna get wet?" ride. You get soaked if you're lucky. Definitely useful on a hot summer Ohio day. DEFINITELY CHECK OUT ::Mantis:: Thrilling stand-up coaster, although the position is a bit painful. Your head might hit your harness and the blood rushes to your feet, so it produces a slight headache. Still fun, though. Fast and loopy. ::Gemini:: Dual coasters. This ride is smoother than its wooden counterpart, the Mean Streak. Expect to never wait in line for this ride. Fun and thrilling. You can race your friends! ::MaxAir:: The new ride for 2005 is not as lame as it looks! You never really can tell where you're headed for next, and I saw the sky from positions I never have before. It really was fun. ::Wicked Twister:: It's fun, but not terribly thrilling. It's interesting to try. ::Disaster Transport:: This indoor coaster looks like a manufacturing plant from the outside. The wait line is air-conditioned and blacklit, but the ride is old, with cheesy design. This short ride is worth the dark scare and the air-conditioning. ::The Iron Dragon:: Relaxing ride. Good way to break in the day, comfy, smooth, with nice scenery and refreshing mist. No lines. Not scary. ONLY IF YOU HAVE TIME ::Mean Streak:: This rickety, old wooden coaster is a Cedar Point classic, but pretty painful. You probably wanna skip it if you have a bad back. Thrilling, but almost not worth the pain. ::White Water Landing:: Every water ride is worth it. Another way to cool down, minimal splash. Log Flume. Like I said, nothing special, only if time permits. ::Power Tower:: Some love this ride, but I say that it's not as fun as it is really scary, especially for the terrified of heights. I rode the Dragster, and the Power Tower is difficult to handle. I had to close my eyes and say a prayer. You can go Up or Down, I chose down, but Up's just as bad.... sitting there on the launch pad, there's not much of a warning as to when you'll go soaring into the air. ::Corkscrew:: A CP classic, some think its twists and turns are fun, but I think it gives me a headache. ::The Mine Ride:: A good kiddie ride disguised as a roller coaster, it even slows on the descent so you can hear the high-pitched screams behind you. Nonetheless, a fun ride. ::Demon Drop:: A shorter, older version of the Power Tower. Right next to the entrance, it's a classic. (Review by Natalie)
CHEROKEE FUN PARK (NC) Small amusement park near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. There's a very nice multi-tiered go-kart track, putt-putt golf, a small arcade and a few rides for children. Very clean, but definitely needs more rides to help draw in more people.
CLEMENTON AMUSEMENT PARK (NJ) Home of a 1919 Jack Rabbit coaster, this is a park that has a unique mix of old and new. Taking the train around the park gives you a good idea of this. The location is a little odd, but like several other older parks, the town has simply grown around the park, which leaves it in a neighborhood sort of area. It's a fun little park and the staff love to talk about amusement parks and coasters.
Additional review:
I live right around the corner from Clementon Park. Me and my step brother both have season passes and go there as often as possible. The food there is pretty good, for being simple stuff such as pizza, fries, hot dogs, hamburgers and of course cotton candy and funnel cake. The rides there are original, some of them have been there since the early 1900's. The famous Jack Rabbit is still in service after the accident a summer or so ago. The Clementon Belle, is one of the lighter rides at the park. The electric powered ferry boat takes you for a tour of the historic lake. This year they have added four new rides. The best being Inverter, which is the first upside down ride in the park. If you did not know already, inverter is like the Falling Star, except it tips more and more as it goes up until it is completly upside down. Besides the thrill rides they also have a kiddie section set aside, along with a petting zoo. Company picnics are a real big thing at the park too. They get a private picnic site with free food and private basket ball, and volleyball courts. If you take a ride on the parks mini train, you can see this all. Another big thing in the park is the water park. Recently built, Clementon Park also has two sets of water slides. One is a wide slide that you go down in a tube, then sudden drops and turns along with the over head sprayers at the end. The other set are two side by side enclosed slides that again, you go down in a tube. The complete darkness adds to the excitement as you take sudden turns and go off small drops. If water slides aren't your thing, they also have a concrete river about 3 feet deep that goes around the whole water park. You float around slowly in an oversized tube, giving you a tour of the whole water park. (Review by AJ Labinski)
CONEY ISLAND AMUSEMENT PARK (OH) Right next to River Downs and the Riverbend Music Center in Cincinnati is the old Coney Island Amusment Park. Speaking of "river", the 1997 flood in this area almost completely submerged the park. It has recovered quite nicely though and is a pretty and clean little park with a large picnic area, a friendly staff, and a nice collection of rides for the younger crowd. A nice addition here would be a dark ride. I was also able to watch one of the shows while I was here, a medley of Broadway showtunes performed by the Showbiz Kids of Lousiville, Kentucky - nice job!
CONNEAUT LAKE PARK (PA) Tucked back into a nearly forgotton corner of Pennsylvania, this is a pretty and friendly little park that offers quite a bit for a remarkably low price. There is an extra charge for their mini-zoo and it is rather inconvenient to need tokens to pay for food instead of cash. The Blue Streak is a rough coaster, but with plenty of energy. Filled with typical small park rides, this is definitely worth a look. The locals are really hoping the park makes it as it went bankrupt in 1994 and didn't open again until late in the 1996 season.
CYPRESS GARDENS (FL)
This was the first theme park for Florida, established in 1936. A relaxed
and peaceful pace permeate the park. The botanical garden area is too beautiful
for words to express. The water ski show that has been entertaining people
for decades is still here, as are the boat cruises around the lake.
There are also areas for a butterfly conservatory, bird, reptile and mammal
display areas, some of which offer opportunities to interact with the
animals and their keepers. There is also a museum of Cypress Gardens'
history and one with a large number of antique radios. Cypress Junction
is here too, billed as the nation's most elaborate model railroad exhibit.
The Moscow on Ice figure skating show was a little disappointing, but the
jugglers, clowns and other entertainers of Variete Internationale made
up for it. They also have a small ride area for children.
This beautiful and historic park closed in April 2003, although there is talk that the state of Florida is interested in purchasing it.
For 2007, the ride area has been expanded to help draw in business, though the success of that approach is hard to determine at this point. Most of the park's beautiful scenery remains, though the ride expansion did remove some of it. The real treat is still the ski show, a part of Cypress Gardens that is still known around the world.
DELGROSSO'S AMUSEMENT PARK (PA) Small, family-style park that began as a farm where a carnival would entertain the local populace in 1907. It has slowly grown over the years into a pleasant little park that still offers a variety of entertainment options. Great food, a steel zyklon coaster and lots of rides for the younger ones. The real highlight here is the carousel that dates back to 1924, complete with a Wurlitzer organ that was restored in 1977-78. My visit to this park was while it was still known as Bland's Park, but I hope to visit again soon.
DENO'S WONDER WHEEL PARK (NY) Situated next to Astroland, this doesn't really feel like it's a different park. The two sort of just blend together in the carnival atmosphere of the area. The centerpiece of Deno's is the ferris wheel which gives a wonderful view of the surrounding area. You can almost see those old rides that made this one of the world's best known amusement areas.
DISNEYLAND (CA) Don't let anyone tell you that Disneyland is just for kids, it just isn't true! There are a variety of rides that will appeal to all ages, including four roller coasters. Several dark rides are present as well, though most aren't scary. The Haunted Mansion is terrific, and it's great to see so many of the older attractions that still remain. Sleeping Beauty, Peter Pan, Pirates of the Caribbean, the Matterhorn Bobsleds... so many classic rides that have been around for ages. All are well maintained and worth riding, and the newer rides like the Indiana Jones Adventure and Splash Mountain are loads of fun too. The park is amazingly clean and the staff are definitely among the most friendly and helpful that you'll find anywhere. Plenty of shops and places to eat are scattered throughout the park, and you're bound to bump into some costumed Disney characters as you walk around. And there's a parade or two through the park almost every day! For 2001... the rocket cars are gone, but otherwise, things remain the same. The real focus this year was on the new California Adventure park next door. For 2002... rather strange that with the Country Bears movie out, the attraction is closed. With this being the 100th anniversary of Walt Disney's birth (December 5, 1901), I would have expected a major new attraction, but no such luck. They really do need to add a couple of rides to add to the variety for returning visitors. The FastPass system is clearly a benefit in a park like this that stays so busy. For 2003... Space Mountain is closed until 2005, but this area needs at least one more new ride in addition to that. The new Winnie the Pooh ride is nice, and was much needed. Sure would be nice of the food places were actually marked on the map, but at least the staff are all very freindly and helpful.
DISNEY'S CALIFORNIA ADVENTURE (CA) Right across from the entrance to Disneyland is Disney's California Adventure. It's interesting that the publicity for this park focuses on the attractions for the older crowd of amusement park visitors. Both parks have much that appeals to all ages, though there is definitely less for the younger crowd here. There is Bug's Land, although the live show "It's Tough to Be a Bug" is a bit intense for the younger ones. The Muppets 3D is a better option for them. Soaring Over California is definitely fun, though the editing of the film that is used is somewhat rough. The Paradise Pier area is where most of the action is, with the California Screamin' and Mulholland Madness coasters and lots of other rides, games, and stores in the area. At the other end of the park, and a great way to finish the day... the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror! And it wouldn't be Disney without the parade that marks the end of the day. With acres and acres of growth space, this park has plenty of potential for more fun attractions to come our way.
DIXIE LANDING (LA) Very clean and attractive little amusement park with nice landscaping although it's still fairly new and many of the plants are still small. The rides are spaced very well. making it easy to get around and leaving plenty of room for future growth. Standard boomerang and steel zyklon coasters are here, along with an assortment of other rides and games and a train ride that takes you around the park. There's also a magic show and live music from time to time as well. A family-size wooden coaster would make a great addition...
DOLLYWOOD (TN) Get wild in the woods with rides and entertainment in Tennessee's fun packed 118 acres of smoky mountain fun.Thrilling rides include the Tennessee Tornado, a steel coaster with a 110 foot high spiro loop, Daredevil falls, America's highest waterfall ride, The Mountain Slidewinder, rated the #1 non-coaster ride in America, and the Blazing Fury indoor rollercoaster, my all time favorate ride. Dollywood also offers a showcase of stars, eight spectacular shows, old fashoned master craftsmen , an eagle sanctuary, Dolly Parton museum, southern gospel museum, a 5 mile scenic steam train and one of the best bumper cars in the nation. Dollywood is one of America's most beautiful parks and offers a lot of nice shows for the seniors. (Review by Dr. Michael E. Schmidt)
DORNEY PARK (PA) Although this park opened in 1884, it retains little of that look. Since Cedarfair assumed ownership in 1997 and installed the "Steel Force" coaster, this park will be one to watch. They have plenty of room to grow and there are lots of staff talking about hopes for an inverted or stand-up coaster in the park's near future. The staff is very friendly here too, and the park is kept quite clean. It's also one of the few parks that has maintained a price that gives you a great value... and therefore, a desire to return soon.
DUTCH WONDERLAND FAMILY FUN PARK (PA) Nice, small, and very family friendly park. There are quite a variety of rides here and the staff is very helpful and friendly. My favorite, of course, was the Sky Princess roller coaster, a nice, moderate wooden coaster that is definitely one of the feature attractions. There is also a fun diving show and a monorail and a beautiful garden area with boat rides available. The food here is very nice and not too expensive. The park has been rated as one of the top five children's parks in the country. Another kiddie coaster would easily move them up even farther on the list.
Additional review:
This park is in Lancaster, PA and it's part owned by Hershey Park (which is not to far from here). The souvenir shop which is the entrance is shaped like a castle! It's a great family park with adult and kiddie rides. The ticket prices are reasonable and you can have a chose of wearing a little paper wrist band as an all day pass or buying a bunch of tickets for each ride you get on. Go for the all day passes (it's not expensive), so if you get there early enough you can ride a cool little wooden coaster over and over again, I recommend the front seat! It's the only coaster in the park besides a kiddie coaster that swings you in a little circle (fun for the kids hint the Family park). The chair lift, sort of like a ski lift, is really cool it takes you from one side of the park to the other, even though the walk isn't that hard of a hike, and you can look down to see the animals that are fenced in around the park. If your not into having your feet dangle while being carried to the other side of the park, they also have a monorail which is pretty cool but it goes around the parking lot more then the park, i must say i like the chairlift. Oh, they have a Garden across the bridges that is beautiful, while your over there hop on one of the paddle boats. Live entertainment too, they have a diving act in the middle of the park very neat to see, and you might get splashed if you sit close enough! There is the typical amusement water tube rides and for very little kids they have a small splash park, this is a new addition so it's not one of the more exciting things to do in this quiet park. If you do decide on visiting this park you must have the funnel cake with the powdered sugar (if you never heard or tasted funnel cake you'll see signs and this is the place to try some it's very good), as your eating you can walk along the riverside maybe even see the fair boat (which you can ride), also plenty of trees, and neat carved statues, but be careful there are geese along the river! Enjoy and have fun! (Review by Jenn D)
FAMILY KINGDOM AMUSEMENT PARK (SC) Home of the Swamp Fox wooden roller coaster, a very nice coaster with a great name as well! The staff here are very friendly and used to dealing with the large number of tourists that come to this area. There are quite a few rides here, including a nice double-decker carousel, but there's still plenty of room for growth. Across the street is the Family Kingdom Water Park, which you might need to visit on some of those really hot days.
FIESTA TEXAS (TX) Friendly, clean, attractive park, located in an old stone quarry, which lends itself to some very striking scenery. Not only the scenic train ride, but the floorless Superman coaster travel right through one of the stone walls! The theming in the Los Festivales, Crackaxle Canyon, and Fiesta Bay Boardwalk areas is both extensive and very high quality. There are alos some of the nicest performance arenas you'll ever see in an amusement park, and some wonderful shows as well. Crico Magnifico is a acrobatic circus performance, and quite ambitious for an amusement park. Equally ambitious is the musical theater performance of Rockin' at Rockville High, complete with full scale sets and numerous scene and costume changes. Combined with the musicians and singers performing in other areas throughout the park, it's easy to see why this park has won the Golden Ticket award for Best Theme Park Shows for three years in a row! And to finish off the day, the very nice "Lone Star Spectacular" fireworks and laser light show on one of the largest walls of the quarry makes a great way to finish the day. My only complaint is that they close off a section of the boardwalk areas that includes a coaster and only have it accessible for Fright Fest in the fall.
FRONTIER CITY (OK)
The Wildcat coaster was moved here from a park in Kansas some time ago
and has seen its better days. In fact, the crew had to push the train
out of the station to get it going! Talk about a little extra thrill
to your ride... it made you wonder what would happen on those hills out
in the distance! It's wonderful that the coaster is still around, but one
hopes that they'll be able to tune it up a little and rekindle the spark
the old girl had so many years ago. The Treasure Mountain haunted house ride is pretty good
with several nice effects. The Wild West stunt show was horrible, full of bad jokes and
poor performances by the stunt men, in contrast, the Gilded Garter Revue was quite good
and located inside with refreshments nearby, made for a nice part of my visit here.
For 2001, not much has changed here as far as the rides, though the Wildcat has been
computerized and seems to be running a little better, though it is sad to see the old handbrake go.
The Gun Fight Street Show was a little better, which makes the shows here a nice part of your
visit to the park.
FUN FOREST (WA)
Wrapped around the Space Needle and the monorail, this park mostly consists
of kiddie rides. There is a steel zyklon coaster that has a twist similar
to the Hurricane of Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, and there's a nice gondola
wheel too. Lots of eateries nearby, an arcade area, and a small park
which is occasionally the site of concerts. So, even though the park itself is
geared toward the younger crowd, it's a nice area with something that will interest
most everyone.
For 2007, there's been some renovation work and the park has grown a little, adding a few more rides for the teenage crowd. There has also been quite a bit of growth related to other attractions around the Space Needle. It's an interesting mix of carnival and tourist attraction that has a little something for everyone.
FUN SPOT AMUSEMENT PARK (IN) This combination amusement park and zoo may be small, but there's quite a bit here. Lots of rides for the smaller kids, two coasters that run quite well, though they could use some paint, lots of games, and a nice variety of animals. It's a favorite spot for local groups to gather and there's quite a bit of land nearby that would allow for expansion at some point.
FUNLAND (DE) This little park in Delaware may not have a coaster, but it has one of the best haunted house rides in the country. Located near the downtown area, this is a fun little park that is very popular with the residents and makes for a nice place to stop if you're in the area.
FUNTOWN USA (ME) Nice, clean, friendly smaller amusement park in southern Maine. In 1998, they expanded the park and added a very nice section with a medieval theme and the very nice wooden coaster, Excalibur. There's a good deal of picnic area included in the park and Splashtown, a small waterpark can easily be included in the admission. This is the only park I'm aware of that not only includes a free game of putt-putt golf, but also two rides on their Grand Prix Racers. Perhaps more parks could learn from this and offer a free ride or two on their go-cart tracks. Live entertainment is available most days on a stage area near the front of the park as well. Also of note here is that the food is very reasonably priced and there's a nice variety of food considering the size of the park. There's still a good bit of room to grow here and it would be nice to see a large ferris wheel and either a mid-size steel coaster or another wooden one.
GEAUGA LAKE (OH)
Across the lake from Sea World of Ohio lies Geauga Lake, a beautiful old park with two classic coasters from the 1920s. "Raging Wolf Bobs" and "Big Dipper" still provide plenty of thrills, though the brand new inverted "Serial Thriller" tends to draw more of the younger crowd. Most of the water rides are situated next to the lake, but there are plenty of dry rides here too. A classic old carousel with wooden horses still thrills the younger crowd, and the staff are very friendly and helpful. Take a couple of days and spend them at the parks on either side of the lake named Geauga, Sea World of Ohio, and the classic Geauga Lake.
It's 2000 and the park has not only taken the Six Flags name, but added four new coasters, several other new rides, and the bright and colorful Looney Tunes Boomtown! Batman Knight Flight is an amazing "floorless" coaster that manages to have speed, smoothness, airtime, and plenty of kick. And the Superman Ultimate Escape is a real treat for coaster and thrill ride fans too - much more fun than its California counterpart. The Villain, a steel-framed wooden coaster and Roadrunner Express, a smaller family coaster round out the list of new coasters, but the park has plenty of other rides and games too. What with Sea World across the lake and Cedar Point just an hour away, this is a great are to spend a few days!
Additional reviews:
Six Flags Worlds of Adventure is one of the greatest amusement parks in Ohio, next to the Point (Cedar Point). Only 3 years ago it was Geauga Lake and had 5 coasters. Now it has 10, including the new X-Flight, Batman, Superman, and Serial Thriller. Batman is the longest floorless coaster that sits above the track, lasting 4:03. The Superman is one of a kind. It shoots you out of the station at 70 mph and then you go straight up and twist, then back down through the station and back up another tower till you're facing straight down and then back through the station and up again and repeat the process. Then, on the brand new X-Flight you are laying down going up the hill, then you flip over and fly like Superman. This park is a 10 on a scale of 1 to 5! (Review by Bballjones)
This is by far the worst amusement park I have ever visited. Most of the rides were not operating. I was really looking forward to riding X-flight, however that never happened. (After standing in line for 45 minutes the ride broke down and was closed.) Superman wasn't running and hadn't all day. Serial Thriller and Batman were excellent (after spending 3 and a half hours in line). Sea World was the best part of the experience. The Batman show was fantastic. The whole park was laid out in a confusing manner (several times we became stuck at a dead end.) The food was rather expensive and certainly not worth the price. I felt very disappointed that we drove two hours away from home to experience rides that were not operating and tremendously long lines on the rides that were operational. If you ever visit this park I hope you have a bettter experience than I did! (Review by Bubbles)
GILROY GARDENS THEME PARK (CA) Absolutely beautiful little theme park that is doing a great job of appealing to the whole family! There are a nice variety of rides and attractions including a couple of small coasters, a train that runs the perimeter of the park, and a stone maze. The themed gardens are a delight and the "Circus trees", spliced and grafted curiosities, are fascinating. Two very nice performance areas are available for entertainment, with one using the lake in the center of the park as its backdrop. The staff are helpful and friendly, adding that extra special touch that makes a visit to this park a real pleasure.
GRAND PRIX FAMILY THRILL PARK (SC) Small amusement park divided into two basic areas. There's an area for the younger crowd with a few smaller rides including a nice little coaster and a small arcade, and an area for the slightly older crowd with a Crazy Mouse coaster and a larger arcade. They are connected by the parking lot and a go-kart track at the back of the park. They could definitely use some shade here, but the staff are helpful and friendly and the park is very clean.
GREAT AMERICA (CA) Sister park to Six Flags Great America, there are some great coasters here! The inverted Top Gun is similar to many of the Batman coasters, the Demon is a steel looping coaster, and Tidal Wave, a steel shuttle loop. There is also the Grizzly, a nice wooden coaster, and Vortex, a great stand-up steel coaster. And of course we can't forget the ice skating show and the animal show. All-in-all, a great park and a must-see if you're anywhere nearby. For 1997... the skating and animal shows are gone and the new Lost in Cyberspace show is really bad. The park is in bad need of cleaning (especially the water) and could really use a new coaster. One hopes that things will take a turn for the better, but this is obviously a park that Paramount has been ignoring. For 2000... Things have been cleaned up and the shows have been improved. There's an emphasis on shows for families and children, which is nice to see. Stealth, the new "flying" coaster is quite nice, though far too short. It's definitely one you'll want to ride twice, because it takes one ride to get used to the idea. They've also added Invertigo, a suspended boomerang coaster which is a nice variation.
HAMEL'S PARK (LA) This facility actually started as a diary that offered a train ride around the grounds. Since then, this has blossomed into a beautiful little park that has maintained an emphasis on dry rides. They do plan for a small water ride in the near future, and they have plenty of room for growth. The staff at Hamel's was extremely friendly and helpful and made my visit there a real pleasure. This is definitely one of the more overlooked small parks, despite their high level of quality and cleanliness.
HERSHEYPARK (PA) The entry area to this park rivals Busch Gardens in Williamsburg in its beauty and design. Once inside the park, it's a little less thematically detailed though. The new Midway America area still has plenty of room for growth, just opening up this year. The park isn't laid out very well, in part because of how it has grown over the years, but the maps are helpful and signposts are on every corner to help as well. A friendly staff person always seems to be nearby, and the sweet smell of cocoa is evident in most areas of the park. Six coasters reside here, with the newest being "Great Bear", an inverted steel coaster which I found to be a bit too drawn out to be exciting. The live entertainment was fun, with a dolphin and sea lion show, a Broadway dance show, and a juggling act as well. Don't miss the observation tower with its Hershey Kiss-shaped windows and take time to sample some of the delicious food that is found all over the park. For 2005... Still a very beautiful and clean amusement park that continues to do a nice job of building around old trees instead of cutting them down. Several more rides and attractions have been added since my last visit. One of the best of these is the Lightning Racer, a wooden coaster that twists and turns and offers an exciting race between the two trains. It's actually become even more difficult to get around this park because there are so many paths that its easy to take the wrong one and find yourself in another area. More specific signage is needed, though park employees are very helpful and happy to help you find what you need. The food here is wonderful and not too expensive either, and there's also free candy when you enter the park and sometimes at other locations throughout the park.
Additional review:
I must admit that I was rather timid about trying the roller coasters at Hersheypark, simply because they were my first roller coaster riding experiences, but after sampling the various coasters in Midway America, I was quite impressed! While each coaster at Hershey has its own personality, I can easily say that the Lightning Racer, a duel-car racing coaster, and the Wildcat, which was built in 1996, are my favorites. Though I have not yet worked up the courage to try the Great Bear, that is somewhere in the near future. Overall, I am very impressed with the park's welcoming layout. The park has a lot of trees, which is good for shade, and its friendly staff make your visit very pleasant. Being a season ticket holder, I look forward to going back every week to try out something new each time I visit. The fact that the park has a kareoke booth where you can make your own video and cd adds a special dimension and sets Hersheypark apart from most other parks I've visited. In addition, the shuttle tram, which takes you from the parking lot to the park, is nice and is something I have not found at other parks. The diversity in the coasters at Hershey (they now have 10 coasters) makes Hershepark an excellent place to visit. Not only are their coasters outstanding, but the overrall friendly service and beautiful layout make it one of the nicest parks I 've ever visited. Hershey is a great find for any coaster enthusiast or thrill seeker!
S.L.
HOLIDAY WORLD (IN) This is the nation's first theme park, though others have inaccurately laid claim to the title. It opened as Santa Claus Land in 1946 and changed to its present name in 1984, when they added the Halloween and Fourth of July sections. Though they only have two coasters, The Raven is a world-class wooden coaster that fits the terrain perfectly. Friendly and helpful staff abound and the park is laid out very well. A terrific small theme park whose biggest problem is that there isn't a particularly easy way to get there. For 2005... since my last visit, they've removed the smaller zyklon coaster and put in a steel kiddie coaster, and added the very nice wooden coaster, The Legend, which is a great addition to the Halloween section of the park. The staff is still quite friendly and helpful and make this park a pleasure to visit. Indiana's largest waterpark is included with your admission, including the new Bahari wave pool. And next year, there will be yet another coaster for the park!
IDLEWILD PARK (PA) A beautiful Pennsylvania park with a sizeable number of very old and very large trees. There's quite a bit to do here, but the park isn't laid out particularly well and the map is of little help. Good live entertainment though the crowd didn't seem that interested. The Storybook Forest area is not to be missed, no matter how old you are, with a mix of statuary and real people depicting all your favorite nursery rhymes and childhood stories. The two roller coasters aren't much to speak of, but the old train is a good ride and Confusion Hill is a fun diversion too.
INDIANA BEACH (IN) Lots of rides, shops, and food are packed into a small area here. It makes for plenty to do, but traffic flow can be a problem as you try to get from one ride to the next. Staff are friendly, but it's hard for them to keep things clean with high volume of traffic. They have two zyklon coasters and the very nice wooden Hoosier Hurricane coaster which dips almost into the lake at one point. This is the only boardwalk park I'm aware of that isn't on the east or west coast and very much captures the same feel of those parks. For 2003, two new coasters since I was last here, the very nice Cornball Express, like Hoosier Hurricane, it's a wooden track, steel frame coaster. The difference is that it's shorter, but it also has more air-time. The Lost Coaster of Superstition Mine is the other newer coaster here, also wooden track, steel frame and full of very tight twists and turns. Despite the addition of these and a few other smaller rides, the park has managed to stay relatively clean and the staff are still very friendly and helpful. It's definitely worth stopping by if you're anywhere close.
JEEPERS (NC) Mostly arcade games, with an area for food and small parties. Clean, with a very friendly and helpful staff. The coaster here has a sort of tunnel as it goes into a small room without lights.
JEEPERS (OH) Mostly arcade games, but there is a small area for food and a few rides including a small coaster. Clean, with a very friendly and helpful staff. Also very noisy because of the space and how much is packed into it.
JOHN'S INCREDIBLE PIZZA (Riverside, CA) It's a pizza palace with an amusement park for the younger kids! Be aware that admission to the park is only available with the purchase of a buffet, but the food is great and the line will be long, so come early! The ride and eating areas are both very clean and the staff is friendly, helpful, and easy to find. A great way to spend an afternoon with the younger children!
JOLLY ROGER AMUSEMENT PARK (MD) An all outdoor park (no enclosed rides) with an emphasis on go-carts. The walkways are gravel, which can cause a problem for some folks, but they manage to keep it fairly clean, which is undoubtedly somewhat difficult for them. There is one small steel zyklon coaster here, but most of the rides are aimed at the younger crowd. It's a pretty area of the country though, so if you are interested in a small, outdoor park, you might want to stop by.
KENNYWOOD (PA) This park has its fans, but I'm NOT one of them! I did love the Steel Phantom coaster, which was on my top ten list for awhile, and I thoroughly enjoyed the area they have created to honor the old Luna parks. There were 13 of these parks in Allegheny County at one time and Kennywood is the only survivor. These were the good points. The staff were the most rude of any I have dealt with, including a person in management to whom I wrote at the encouragement of someone in ACE. I would've discounted it somewhat as people just having a bad day except for the rudeness of the management in the letter I received. The Jack Rabbit, Racer, and Thunderbolt are all fine old wooden coasters. However, they would not allow single riders on any of these. The city jet coaster in Lagoon Park wouldn't allow single riders and another city jet coaster at Worlds of Fun wouldn't permit single riders in the front seat, but for Kennywood to not allow it on three coasters all in one park is a very discouraging for groups that don't have an even number of people. If you make a stop here, I do hope you have a better experience than I did. For 2005... my long overdue return to this park was a real pleasure! Not only were the staff both friendly and helpful, but only the Thunderbolt now presents a problem for single riders. Even there, the staff were willing to work to help me find someone else to ride with. The park continues to do a nice job of preserving older rides and structures and has done some very nice groundskeeping work as well. Phantom's revenge feels faster and more intense than its predecessor, but it's the old wooden coasters that are still the main attraction here. I'm thrilled to have been able to return and have such a good experience at this classic park.
Additional reviews:
Kennywood is a great park. I've been there many times and have never been dissapointed, and I've never witnessed any rude employees. All of their coasters are 10's, except for maybe the Racer, which is still a cool coaster. Kennywood is what a lot of parks try to be and imitate, but Kennywood is genuine. (Review by Paul Yerk)
I have been there so many times and Love it!!! I have NEVER had a bad experience there. I have been on every single ride. Kennywood is my absolute favorite!! Even Disney World doesn't come close. Kennywood is a wonderful park, voted best thrill park, best coasters, and of course, America's Favorite Fries. America's favorite fries are sold at the potato patch. You haven't had good fries unless you've had these fries!! I hope everybody gets to experience Kennywood at least once during their lifetime. On a scale from 1-10, I give Kennywood a 15!! ~Kennywood's #1 fan!! (Review by Alex Ciminaro)
Kennywood is one of the few remaining "trolly parks" from the early twentieth century. It is located in beautiful West Mifflin, PA. You can enjoy a variety of rides, not only the 5 rollar coasters, whether your preference is steel or wooden. You can ride the underground 'Exterminator' or the infamous 'Phantom's Revenge' (AWESOME!!) if you enjoy steel coasters more than wooden, but... if you would rather jar your bones on the good 'ol wooden coasters, you have your choice of the 'Racer,' 'Jack Rabbit' or 'Thunderbolt'. Why not head out towards Pittsburgh, and try 'em all?! (Review by E. Thompson-Green)
KINGS DOMINION (VA)
A little smaller than Paramount's Kings Island and therefore
a little easier to get around in. There are many similarities
between the two parks... Rebel Yell is a little longer than
The Racer, The Grizzly is a little shorter than The Beast, and
Shockwave is almost identical to King Cobra. The Hurler is a
small wooden coaster themed (most excellently) around the
Wayne's World movies. Avalanche (a bobsled ride) is also quite
fun. My favorite here is Anaconda, a steel coaster that twists
and turns almost 100 percent over a small lake, even dipping
down into a concrete tank in the water at one point. Don't
forget to check out the ice skating and variety shows too!
For 2004, a few new coasters since my last visit... the best of these is Volcano, the Blast Coaster. The park is still easy to get around, but the coasters are primarily in two areas of the park. It would be nice to see things spread more evenly and it might help with the crowds that tend to gather in some areas. There are two areas for the kids here, right next to each other, but they could use a nice, larger coaster in one of them. And, although the park wasn't particularly clean, the staff were friendly and helpful which made for a very pleasant visit.
Additional reviews:
I think Kings Dominion is great! Their new ride hypersonic XLC is the best
I've every ridden. This park has something for everyone. It has wooden &
steel coasters. Anaconda is also a very, very good coaster too. The grizzly is probably
the best wooden coaster they have. (Review by Trentin Morgan)
Kings Dominion is my favorite amusement park that I have been to yet. They have rides for everyone of all ages. My favorite ride there is definitely the Hypersonic XLC. It's a ride experience like no other! The Volcano is also one of my favorites. It shoots you up the volcano at very high speeds and is a fun experience. The wooden coasters and the rest of Kings Dominion were also a lot of fun. My favorite wooden coaster is The Grizzly. It's my favorite wooden coaster because you have a lot of air time in that ride! I would recommend going to Kings Dominion because it is a lot of fun and you'll have a blast!! (Review by Cute Thang)
KINGS ISLAND (OH)
Home of two of my favorite coasters, the Vortex and The Beast!
Incredible, very different from each other, and not to be missed!
Adventure Express, King Cobra, The Racer, and The Beastie are
still here and Top Gun rides a lot better since they quit using
the brake so much. The new Outer Limits coaster isn't usually much fun
the first time you ride it. You have to learn how to sit so that you
don't get beaten to death, but with some work, this style
of coaster will do well. I still miss the ferris wheel and the
monorail through the wild animal park, but this is a great
park. I highly recommend the International Restaurant for those
who would like a little quiet time for their meal in a beautiful
setting at only moderate expense. The ice skating show continues
to improve, I just wish they had a bigger stage. This park also
has the absolute best selection of T-shirts of any amusement park
I've been to! For 1997... the skating show and the International
Restaurant are gone now, but the water park has doubled in size.
For 1999... the boomerang coaster Face-Off makes a nice addition to
the park, as does the huge Drop Zone tower. They could still use a
nice haunted house though.
For 2000... the new Son of Beast wooden coaster has been having a good deal of trouble, though it's a very nice coaster. I expect most of the problems to be taken care of by next season. Little else about the park has changed, but next year's plans include something big for Rivertown. This remains a great park with a wide variety of rides.
For 2001... the changes ended up being to the Nickelodeon area instead of Rivertown, with the addition of the Rugrats Runaway Repter, a suspended coaster for kids, and the Wild Thornberrys River Adventure, a reworking of the old Kenton Cove's Keelboat Canal ride which was removed from its original site to make room for the new Tomb Raider ride scheduled to open next summer.
For 2002... The only real change this year is the absence of the King Cobra coaster. To recap some of the nicer points of the park... the kids' area is amazing, a Golden Ticket award winner for the last two years, and the Action Zone area has developed nicely. The new Tomb Raider ride hasn't generated as much enthusiasm as anticipated and the additional trim brakes on The Beast are a real disappointment. However, the replacement of the shoulder harnesses on Outer Limits with lap bars was a major improvement. What's missing? A ferris wheel, a haunted house, and more quality live entertainment.
For 2003... Not much in the way of additions this year. Delirium went in to replace the old King Cobra coaster, and there's the new Scooby-Doo and the Haunted Castle that's nice. Having now had the chance to ride the Tomb Raider Ride, I understand why it hasn't generated much enthusiasm. It isn't a bad ride, but it's not worth the typical one to two hour wait. Still badly in need of the same things I mentioned for last year...
For 2004... nothing new this year unless you count the Waterworks area becoming Crocodile Dundee's Boomerang Bay. The news for next year is that the old car ride will be removed or at least moved, to make room for the new Italian Job coaster. From the description I heard, it promises to be a very different and exciting experience. The kid's area here remains one of the best in the industry, and most of the staff are very friendly and helpful. Be aware... the food prices are different in different areas of the park for the exact same food... I don't know why.
For 2005... at long last, the center area of the park that had been occupied by the old cars is now home to a new coaster! Not sure why they chose this one though. The thrills are pretty tame compared to some of the other rides here. If you didn't get in a ride on Scooby's Ghoster Coaster, you missed your chance as it will be leaving to make room for better things in the kid's area. Still waiting for that ferris wheel and haunted house...
For 2006... new this year is the completion of the Nickelodeon themed area for the little ones. Gone is everything that wasn't Nickelodeon, including The Beastie, now repainted and renamed as the Fairly Odd Coaster. It's a great area, but I still mourn the loss of Beastie. Nothing else has really changed, and it remains to be seen how the effect of Cedar Fair's purchase of the Paramount chain of amusement parks will affect the way things go.
For 2007... Finally, a flying coaster at Kings Island! Formerly X-Flight at Geauga Lake, it's new home is next to The Outer Limits: Flight of Fear coaster and it's a great addition to the park. Also new this year is the return of an ice skating show, and three other musical shows. Son of Beast may have lost its loop, but the new trains work well and it's still a nice wooden coaster. Cedar Fair definitely seems to be interested in continuing to advance this park as one of the largest and best amusement parks. Another coaster may be making its way here next year.
Additional reviews:
Kings Island is the best park I have ever been to. It has 12 roller coasters including the world's longest wooden roller coaster, the world's fastest wooden roller coaster, the world's loopiest steel coaster, and the only wooden roller coaster with a loop. It also offers stores and games for the non-thrill seeker. Go to this park.You will be glad you did. (Review by Andrew Perkins)
Kings Island is cool. The best ride there is the Vortex!!! It does bang your head around though. Another fun roller coaster is the Son of Beast!!!! A lot of the roller coasters here really bang you up but it is so cool how they make those roller coaster go. I love everything about this park!!! One of my other favorites is the Beastie! It is so fun to try to pose for the camera as you're going down one of the hills. This is a fun roller coaster to go on if you are just getting started. Kings' Island is my favorite place to shop. There are tons of stores and millions of things to buy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Review by Betty Jo Buckingham)
KNOEBELS AMUSEMENT RESORT (PA) This small family-style park has had three major floods, one occuring about every 20 years, otherwise it might have a few more things to offer. Still, they have a wonderful carousel and an extensive and impressive carousel museum. There's also a rather nice haunted house available for a small additional charge. Last, but not least, is the restored Phoenix roller coaster. Purchased from a park in Texas and relocated, this is a classic wooden coaster that still has plenty of spark left. I count it a privilege to have ridden it on one of its best days when it was flying over every hill, lifting me off the seat every time, even in the front!
Additional review:
Knoebels was a very family-fun amusement park. They had ride for all ages, young and old. The bumpers cars were great, along with the wooden roller coasters. They are known for many things, such as their bumper cars and being the amusement park to have a roller coaster with the most crossovers. I definitely recommend this amusement park to any family looking of a great family park. (Review by Frank Petersen)
KNOTT'S BERRY FARM (CA)
The most entertaining section here is the Ghost Town, which is modeled
after nearby Calico. There's a log ride, train ride, stagecoach ride,
and a mine ride. The stunt show and comedy/music show are nice too. The
shuttle loop and boomerang coasters are standard and the Jaguar steel
coaster is no big thrill. However, the Windjammer racing steel coaster
with tracks that intertwine is a nice change from the normal steel
coasters one is used to finding. There are a few interesting
items in the Kingdom of the Dinosaurs haunted house ride, though
maintenance has taken a back seat. The most interesting stop was the
Mystery Lodge "show" based on Native American tradition and myth. The park is
a bit overpriced, so make sure you do everything while you're here.
For 2002... Windjammer is gone, but Ghostrider and Xcelerator more than make up for it. It's also a pleasant surprise that the prices here haven't gone up very much. There's been a real effort to make this park appeal to families, which is nice. They can be a bit overzealous about the ride restrictions though, so be aware that the signs really do mean what they say here. The Ghost Town area is still the nicest, and it would be great for this park to add a Ferris Wheel and another smaller wooden coaster.
For 2007... the additions of the Silver Bullet and Sierra Sidewinder coasters definitely add some appeal for the teenage crowd, making this very much a park with something for everyone. The staff are very friendly and helpful, though the ride restrictions are still fairly tight for several rides. And, while prices continue to rise, the variety and quality of food both inside and just outside the park is quite good.
LAGOON PARK (UT) Utah's only park is hard to find from above, nestled at the base of a mountain and filled with trees, the ferris wheel and sky rides don't let you see much of the park. There's a fun wild west show here and a musical show with terrific singers. The staff are very friendly and helpful, but aside from Kennywood, this is the only park I've been to where single riders are not treated fairly on the roller coasters. There are also TWO dark rides here, though Dracula's Castle wasn't quite as good as the other, it's the only park I've seen have two haunted houses. It's a beautiful little park, and well worth stopping by if you're in the area.
LAKE WINNEPESAUKAH (TN) Lake Winnie is an old fashoned family oriented amusement park with the charm of days gone by. Lake Winnie featuers the Cannon Ball, a nostalgic out and back woodie, a majestic 1916 top rated carrousel with 68 handcarved horses, a 1930's boat chute that has a tunnel of love, a classic train that circles a beautiful lake and an old fashoned haunted house ride with pretzel style seats. Lake Winnie is a great place to bring the kids, but not a good park for modern thrill seekers. (Review by Dr. Michael E. Schmidt)
LAKEMONT PARK (PA) Not much shade available at this very old park, founded in 1894, but its the home of the classic "Leap-the-Dips" coaster. Still being restored, "Leap-the-Dips" is the oldest coaster in the country and it's a real tribute that this park is dedicated to saving it. The "Skyline" coaster is a nice old wooden coaster as well, complete with a grave visible in the center area. (It's the caretaker's dog, by the way.) There's a small train off to one side, and two go-kart tracks as well. Stop by and lend this park your support as they restore a classic coaster.
LAKESIDE AMUSEMENT PARK (CO) A few miles away from Elitch Gardens, this park still resides in the same location where it began in 1908. Unfortunately, much of this park is run down and there were three rides that haven't operated in a number of years but are still sitting around, slowly rusting away. There are a couple of nice rides and a train that goes all the way around the lake, which offers a beautiful view of the park at night when all the lights are on. They have also managed to offer some very good food at much more reasonable prices than most parks.
LEGOLAND (CA) What a wonderful idea for an amusement park! They've had Legoland parks in Europe for a number of years, and it's nice to have one here in the United States. The park is beautifully landscaped and full of amazing lego buildings and characters. Miniland USA is a must see, with dozens of city scenes made with legos. You can watch master builders at work or build your own creations. And, of course, there are the rides as well. There are keys hidden in the adventurers club for you to find, as well as shows to watch. Summer 2001 adds the fun of the Bionicle Tribal Quest, with an opportunity to search the park for six masks of power and earn a special prize. And you can finish off you evening with the Bionicle Tribal Jam, a fun song and dance presentation that also explains the background of the Bionicle Lego sensation. For 2007, the focus is on "Heroes Wanted". Not a great deal has changed though the miniland section does have a wonderful new section on Las Vegas. It's a wonderful park for the young and young at heart!
LIBERTYLAND (TN)
Home to the Zippin Pippin, the oldest operating coaster in the US.
Built before 1912, it stood in another part of Memphis before it was
moved to Libertyland in 1976, and was the favorite ride of Elvis
Presley. The only other coaster here is Revolution, a small steel
looping coaster. One of the more unique features of the park is the
beautifully landscaped play area for children in the middle of the
park called Tom Sawyer's Island.
Additional reviews:
This park is like an a old fair. It has the oldest operating wooden rollar coaster in the U.S.A.! It has your basic everyday log flume where you go through a tunnel, up a ramp and down the flume. It has a ride called the Camikazze which is a blast. It also has a metal rollar coaster with two corkscrews and an upside down loop. It is not like Busch Gardens with the coolest roller coasters, but I guarantee that you will have a good time. One thing I forgot to tell you is that this theme park is located in Memphis, Tennesee. (Review by Thevolsboy)
MARINER'S LANDING (NJ)
Sister park to Morey's Pier, this is a fantastic boardwalk amusement park.
Situated right next to the Atlantic Ocean, we are treated to a couple of
nice coasters and plenty of other treats waiting for us on the pier and on the boardwalk
between the parks. The entire area is clean and even those who don't
work in the park itself, but in the nearby boardwalk shops are very helpful and friendly.
MGM GRAND ADVENTURES (NV)
Not too much that's grand here right now, but there's a lot of
potential. The only coaster is at the back of the park and isn't much to
speak of although the ride operators were friendly and entertaining. In
fact, the staff for this park were all polite, helpful, and seemed to be
enjoying themselves. Be sure to catch the pirate stunt show, which is
one of the most enjoyable parts of the park. Attractions seem to change here
on a rather frequent basis, but nothing dramatic seems to be changing as far as
the general size and appeal. Update: MGM chose to close this park in 2000 rather
than make the additions that would have been needed to make it a more viable park.
MICHIGAN'S ADVENTURE (MI)
Although this park isn't very large, it serves as home to three roller
coasters. A fourth is planned for the 1998 season and construction has
just recently finished. Most of the rides here have lots of space between them,
as though more will be added. It's a very clean park, with many areas
that look very new. Lot's of potential for growth that could turn this
into a really top notch mid-size park.
MOREY'S PIER (NJ)
Sister park to Mariner's Landing, much of the same can be said
about this park. The Nor'Easter inverted coaster is impressive
here as it winds around a log flume ride, which actually had to
be disassembled to put the Nor'Easter together. The parks are close
enough that you really should visit them both, and there are
tickets available to grant access to both of the parks.
MYRTLE BEACH PAVILION AMUSEMENT PARK (SC)
A great little amusement park that I'm glad I managed to visit during it's final season. Unlike the situation for many amusement parks that end up closing during the off-season, Pavilion was able to plan for their final season with lots of special events and guests. A clean park with a friendly staff, in whose eyes I could already see the wistful look of the memories of years gone by. A wonderful park that will definitely be remembered fondly by many.
NASCAR CAFE AT SAHARA HOTEL AND CASINO (NV)
Fast but rather short coaster that starts inside the hotel and runs out to the front of the property then drops you backwards to the starting point. If you're in the area, it's a nice little ride, but it has less to offer than the other Vegas coasters.
NEW YORK NEW YORK HOTEL AND CASINO (NV)
Just when I begin to wonder when I'll see something new... a heartline
corkscrew that takes only one and a half turns before diving you
upsidedown! Nice! Most of the coaster swoops and swerves through a
recreation of Manhattan that sits on the top of the building. Definitely
a unique experience.
NICKEL'S MIDWAY PIER (NJ)
Another of the pier parks along this huge stretch of boardwalk
in New Jersey. This one has a little less to offer, but it's
not bad. It does have a nice walk-through haunted castle, and
there's also a Dungeon Boat Ride that goes underneath, offering
a few more scares. Update... due to a fire in January of 2002 as well as some other problems, Nickel's will probably remain only a fond memory.
OCEAN PIER RIDES (MD)
One of the small parks that populate the Ocean City, Maryland
area. Like Nickel's, there isn't a great deal here, but it's
clean and the staff are friendly. This actually started out as
a ballroom dancing pavilion, with rides coming a little later
in the life of the park. One of the more unique aspects is the
area that has been set aside for fishing.
OLD INDIANA FUN PARK (IN)
This park closed and its rides sold at auction February 1997.
Premier Parks has purchased the land and plans to open the
Heartland Festival Entertainment Complex in 1999. At present, it will be a
complex with an amusement park, movie theaters, golf course,
baseball fields, hotel, and even an indoor water park that will be open
year round. An ambitious undertaking, but close enough to Indianapolis that
it just might succeed. In its former incarnation, it was basically a picnic
area with a few rides. They had a steel zyklon coaster, that was
in pretty bad shape when I was there in its next-to-last season. Update: Six Flags (formerly Premier Parks) sold the land and there are no plans to develop the space as an amusement park any longer.
OLD TOWN (FL)
Located in the heart of "The Strip", just west of Kissimmee, Florida, this is a small,
but quite entertaining little park. There have been a number of additions over the last few years,
both to the park and the surrounding area. Lots of folks use Kissimmee as the place to stay
while spending their days in nearby Orlando or Tampa. There are dozens of motels, and even more
restaurants and stores, with something to accomodate just about every budget. Old Town's biggest
problem is probably parking, unless you know your way around. My advice is to use the road next to the park
area and take it to the back of the park by the roller coaster. There's plenty of parking and they sell
attraction tickets at this end of the park as well.
OPRYLAND (TN)
This park is no longer in existence. Some of its rides will be in
the new Heartland Festival Entertainment Complex. The owners
decided to build a mall on the property in Nashville. A few of the kiddie
rides are being kept for a small amusement area, but the bulk of
this beautiful park will never be seen again. What follows is a review from my visit to the park sometime before it closed.
A park filled with gorgeous greenery that manages to feel
relatively cool even on the hottest of days. The staff is
helpful and the park shows signs of being well-maintained
over many years. Several country music shows are available
throughout the park, and with its proximity to the Nashville
country music scene, well-known country musicians sometimes
make impromptu appearances in the park. On the coaster side of
things, the most interesting is Chaos, a coaster with 40 cars
that each seat two people. It just goes up eight stories in a
circle and then back down, but it's still fun. They also have
Screamin' Delta Demon (a bobsled ride), Rock 'n' Roller Coaster
(a mine ride), Wabash Cannonball (a corkscrew coaster), and
The Hangman, an inverted coaster that feels just as rough as
T2 at Kentucky Kingdom.
PACIFIC PARK (CA)
The large ferris wheel is easy to spot as you find your way down to
Santa Monica pier and provides a great look at the surrounding beach
area as well as the park itself. They have a very well-maintained old
carousel here which has been enclosed to give it added protection. The steel coaster isn't much to
speak of, but the food is good (and very affordable), and the atmosphere
is wonderful. It's a pleasant little park that has been seen in quite a
few movies over the years.
PALACE PLAYLAND (ME)
Very clean and well-kept park covering a two city block area. Parking is definitely a problem since the beach is so close. There are a few parking places on side streets that are available for free or minimal cost a few blocks away. The rides are packed in pretty tightly here, but the mood is pleasant and many people take in a few rides, wander down to the beach to get some sun, and then come back later to take in a few more rides. Most of the rides are geared toward the younger crowd, but there are a few rides for those who are a little older. The biggest surprise here is that some of the ticket packages are rather expensive.
THE PARK AT MOA (MN)
Yes, this park is in the middle of a mall, the biggest one in the country.
The coaster is basically for the kids, winding around the park area and
offering a good view of all of the smaller rides and games that are
available. They did spend a great deal of money and time making the area
look very nice and the staff are friendly, and the place is kept very clean.
My family recently visited the Libertlyland in Memphis, Tennessee. We have two small children so it is hard to find places that have rides for small kids. There were lots of things for them to ride and we all enjoyed ourselves alot.. The layout of the park was a little confusing, they need signs to tell people where everything is. They had roller coasters... one was an old roller coaster and it was made with wood and the other was an all metal roller coaster and there was a water ride rollar coaster. It was a blast. I hope everyone gets to enjoy Libertlyland (Review by Amy Hembree)
For 2007... not too much has changed here for the past few years. New paint and the occassional change in food, along with a small ride replacement or two. The ferris wheel now runs on solar power (the first one to do so) but the limited amount of space prevents growth. Still, it's a great little park that's well worth the visit!
PLAYLAND (NJ) Another of New Jersey's pier parks along the boardwalk. Nice and clean, though not all that many rides. The arcade and carousel are located under a shelter, with the other rides outside.
RIVERFRONT PARK (WA) Located on the former site of Expo '74 (also known as the World's Fair), the park itself is quite beautiful and includes a skyride over the Spokane Falls. There's an IMAX theater, an old carousel, and mini-golf. The amusement park rides are small and few in number, located underneath a shelter area next to the IMAX theater. The same area becomes an ice rink in the winter.
SANTA CRUZ BEACH BOARDWALK (CA) Nice, clean boardwalk park with the classic Giant Dipper coaster. Not much airtime, but you still get the nostalgic feeling. The Hurricane coaster is a zyklon with a twist... a very sharp, twisting vertical drop that really makes it fun. There is also a fairly good haunted house ride here, so stop on by and spend some time at the boardwalk!
SANTA'S LAND FAMILY THEME PARK AND ZOO (NC) Three sections to this small family theme park, Santa's Land, with shops, decorations, and a performance area, Zoo Land, with animals, feeding opportunities, and paddle boats, and Funland, with more shops, food, several small rides, and the Rudicoaster! There's also a train ride that goes around most of the park and a very nice gift shop as you exit. It's a nice, clean park with a friendly staff and plenty of attractions that appeal to younger children.
SCANDIA AMUSEMENT PARK (CA) Nice, clean, smaller scale amusement park that used to be sort of out in the middle of nowhere. Now there's an office park next door. And, of course, the airport that allows this park to have a sign on their one coaster that says "Caution - Low Flying Aircraft Overhead" and they do fly pretty low... As well as a number of smaller rides for the younger folks, there are two nice putt-putt golf courses here, batting cages, and go-karts. It's a little out of the way, but if you're in the neighborhood, it's definitely worth stopping by.
SEA WORLD ORLANDO (FL) Shamu puts on a terrific show, but this killer whale is far from the only attraction here. The dolphins and false killer whales have their own show at the new Key West Dolphin Fest area. The Golden Dragon Acrobats and Baywatch at Sea World both do a fabulous job of entertaining the audience with quality acrobatic and stunt work. There are also opportunities to touch live stingrays in the Stingray Lagoon, get a close-up look at the Terrors of the Deep, see the gentle, endangered manatees, and take a tour through the Wild Arctic on a simulation ride.
Additional Review:
There's 2 thrill rides here. The new Kraken is a floorless coaster. It's not the highest or the fastest, but it's lot's of good fun.
The 3rd "turn" is a corkscrew that gives the best air time. It lasts about 2 minutes. The other is the surprising Journey to Atlantis.
It's a water ride, but it features 2 drops and when you think it's over a few nice coasterish turns. You can get pretty wet, but
rows 2 and 3 are the driest of the bunch. (Review by AZO)
SEA WORLD SAN ANTONIO (TX) Like most things in Texas, this is BIG! The two coasters give the park a wider appeal, but the main attractions here are still the shows. The standard Killer whale, sea lion, and water ski shows are here as well as a show that features cats, dogs, and other domestic animals, many of which were rescued from local animal shelters. The dolphin show, Viva, has the added dimension of acrobatic performers. I'm not so sure that it was a good idea to replace the traditional dolphin show with this, but it is a nice show. By the way, the performance arenas here are by far the nicest and most elaborate of any of the Sea World parks.
Additional review:
My first coaster I went on was the "Steel Eel". It being my first coaster, it scared me to death! Even though it doesn't have any corkscrews, it has lots of airtime! I recommend this ride to get you warmed u pfor other rides, or for first time riders, you'll really like this coaster. Tha park was clean as well and I really enjoyed being there. (Review by Shay W.)
SEA WORLD SAN DIEGO (CA) Shamu, Dolly, a wonderful Sea Lion and Otter show with Clyde and Seamore, an ice skating show, sports competition, bird show... the Wild Arctic simulation ride, shark, manatee, and penguin displays... the list just goes on and on in this park. I will say that the skytower ride should be included in the price of admission, which is a little steep. Still, it's a wonderful park and the shows are all highly educational and entertaining, making it worth the price.
SEABREEZE AMUSEMENT PARK (NY) Though not quite next to Lake Ontario, this is a boardwalk-style park with a family focus. Founded in 1879, the history is told through pictures on the walls of the building housing the carousel. The gentle old Jack Rabbit coaster is the best, the reworked Bobsleds being a bit jerky and the Quantum Loop having thoroughly unmanageable harnesses. A good little park, that is very reasonably priced.
SILVER DOLLAR CITY (MO) Took my family on a friday, to ride Wildfire, a new coaster that takes you up and immediately drops you 15 stories, then into two loops, some cobra spins, two more loops takes your picture, and for a fee you can get a cool reminder. Oh, and did I mention that it reaches speeds of 65mph! Awesome! They also have one of only two classic working rollercoasters in the world. Fire in the hole, takes you through a tunnel of low lighting, scenes, and surprises.Water rides for summer fun, shows, shopping, and lots of hills, but we loved it. (Review by Leatleahci)
SILVERWOOD THEME PARK (ID)
Originally an airstrip, Silverwood remembers those roots with a museum
housing several historic aircraft. The Timber Terror is a nice out and back wooden coaster,
and they have a corkscrew coaster as well. It's a very clean park, though being laid out along the airstrip
makes it a rather long walk from one end of the park to the other. Victorian Street
is one of the highlights, with wonderful decorations and a full-size old
steam train you can ride. Two magic shows and an ice skating show round out
the entertainment here.
For 2007, the wooden coaster, Tremors, is a wonderful addition to the park, with tight turns, plenty of speed, and some fun tunnels as well. There's also a drop tower, and a new water park area at one end of the park. Plenty of beautiful new landscaping work has been done as well. It's disappointing to see the aircraft museum is gone, but the rest of the attractions remain the same, and the friendly staff will be happy to help you enjoy your experience at this wonderful family amusement park.
Additional reviews:
Silverwood Theme Park is quite a nice place after having begun life as an airstrip. Beautiful landscaping has been introduced along with the amusement ride area, multi-mile train ride into the woods, Victorian-themed Main Street area, shops, and game and eating places, such as Lindy's Restuarant. They also have an RV park. Two CCI wood coasters, Timber Terror and Tremors, get rave reviews from coaster enthusiasts nationwide. The park is also home to the original Arrow Development "Corkscrew", formerly at Knott's Berry Farm. Several other rides for the entire family round out Silverwood's offerings, such as the raft ride Thunder Canyon, a flume ride, bumper cars, bumper boats, Tinywood for the little kids (including a tiny steel coaster), a Ferris Wheel, carousel, gas-powered old-car ride along the Corkscrew, and several well-known carnival-style rides. Fireworks are also featured during the summer weekends. Silverwood will keep developing its several hundred acres, although presently it is contained within a narrow strip of land between the airstrip and US Highway 95. Silverwood appeals to the great Northwest and western Canada, and surpassed 350,000 visitors in 2000. The two woodies are loaded with airtime and laterals, and no dead spots. Though pretty small, the park is well-balanced and looking great. They really need a big steel coaster, though, and hopefully someday that will happen. (Review by Ray O'Russa)
Everything that has been said in the other reviews I one hundred percent agree with, except the notion that Silverwood is need of a big steel coaster. After being to the park and seeing how its developed with the addition of the two wicked woodies, I think it would be very cool if they stuck to the wood theme instead. Why try and compete head-on with Paramount, SixFlags, and Cedar Fair. If they create their own catagory of park and become the ultimate destination for woodies, they could be original and a standout from the other 50 parks all over the states. I hope this gets posted and someone over at Silverwood reads this. Keep those earthshattering woodies coming!! (Review by The Earthman)
SIX FLAGS AMERICA (MD)
Formerly known as Adventure World, this is a beautiful small park with lots of potential for growth. The
inverted Mind Eraser coaster is nice and smooth and the old wooden
coaster, The Wild One, still delivers a great ride. They also have a
shuttle loop coaster called The Python. Several new shows were recently
added to the park's schedule... a sock hop musical revue, a wild west
stunt show, and a backyard circus. The staff is very friendly here and
happy to help you find your way around.
For 2004, lots of changes since my last visit, and I love most of them! The Batwing coaster is wonderful and Roar is great fun as well. Despite growing so much, the park still retains its family appeal although they could use a few more smaller rides. I'd love to see the train running again, and a ferris wheel and ride-through target shooting game would be great! They could also use more food options in the Gotham City area. Fresh paint is needed in a few spots too, but it's a very clean park with a very friendly staff.
Additional review:
The best rollar coaster that I have ever gotten on has to be the Batwing at Six Flags America. I like the unique style of it. You start off laying on your back till when you reach the top of the hill you do a spiral and then are laying face down. There are other good rides like the Superman Hypersonic XLC or Nitro but the Batwing is the best. (Review by Mike Bruce)
SIX FLAGS DARIEN LAKE (NY) A clean and well-organized park, though the map isnt very helpful. The Mind Eraser inverted coaster is similar to other two-seat inverted coasters, but has added the elements of a mist spray and swinging riders out over water... nice additions! The wooden Predator coaster really needs tuning up as it rattles and beats one up throughout the whole ride. The park is home to an absolutely huge Giant Wheel that gives a great view of the park (and quite a bit around it) including the various little lakes in the park that make it a very scenic park.
SIX FLAGS DISCOVERY KINGDOM (CA) This is a great wild animal park! Fun exhibits and very entertaining shows. It's sort of puzzling that it doesn't seem to get much publicity outside of the northern California area. My favorite attractions here were the tiger show, and the chimpanzee and orangutan show. This is a beautiful park that is kept very clean and maintains a high emphasis on education as well as entertainment. My visit in 1999 showed a number of changes to the park in recent years, especially with the change to this being a Six Flags park. There are still a number of animal shows, but they are less professional than before, though the emphasis on education remains. Most of this is simply based on experience. The trainers before had 10-20 years of experience. The new people just need more time. Due to the nature of how the park has grown, there need to be more signs. Maps for Six Flags parks are notorious for not being drawn to scale and not being clear on where some paths are (or aren't). At least the guide for this park is educational and informative even though the map isn't. The Boomerang and Kong coasters are nothing special, but the new wooden coaster Roar is very nice. Lots of steep drops and angled turns that make it a very fun ride. Love those open-front cars, but those lap bars are a real pain!
SIX FLAGS ELITCH GARDENS (CO)
One of the prettiest little parks I've seen, and it's doing well in the
new location, just outside downtown Denver. Be sure to catch the old carousel
and the new Twister II coaster which serve as bookends to the park. The
best part of the park is the live entertainment. There are several
shows here, the best of which was the lumberjack show that was so much
fun I watched it twice! In fact, it has been popular enough that they've
continued to keep it around. It's a unique and very entertaining show!
For 2001, more rides and less scenery. The lumberjack show is gone now, and the
park seems very full, almost to the point of congestion. The Gotham City Carnival
of Chaos show is less interesting than most Batman shows at Six Flags parks, but
the Broadway Rhythm show was nice.
Additional review:
(This review is of Elitch Gardens in its original location and before it was a Six Flags park)
Now defunct and moved into downtown Denver, this was considered one of the best amusement parks in Colorado.Home to the world famous John Allen masterpiece, the outstanding "Mister Twister" and also home to the Herbert Shmeck "Wildcat". Both of these coasters are now down along with the amusement park. This was a very traditional amusement park with lights and some art deco, like its once biggest rival, Lakeside Amusement Park. Elitch's, with its famous carousel built in 1925 was moved to the new location. Unfortunetly, the only coaster Elitch's brought with them to their new location was the sidewinder shuttle loop coaster. October 1st 1994 was the last day of operation for this 104 year old amusement park as the Mister Twister and Wildcat trains left the station and lifted patrons into the sky for one last time. Over 1200 people jammed into the Gardens that day to say goodbye to the 104 year old park, and John Allens famous Twister and Herbert Shmecks wonderful Wildcat. Besides its sister, the outstanding TwisterII at the new Elitch site, there is a new coaster where Twister fans can twist again on the Knoebals Twister in Elysburg Pennsylvania. (Review by Chris Smith)
SIX FLAGS GREAT ADVENTURE (NJ) Typical Six Flags park with several good shows and some nice coasters. Viper, Batman, Rolling Thunder, Mine Ride, and The Great American Scream Machine are all quite nice. This is probably the easiest of the Six Flags parks to get around in, with fewer dead end areas so you don't have to backtrack as much. The Old Country area seems to be diminishing as Movie Town expands. It would be nice to see them both grow, but space may not permit it. Lots of helpful staff make this a great park to visit on the east coast. For 2005... WOW... This park has undergone an absoultely amazing change since my last visit! It has easily become the best park in the Six Flags chain, with a very friendly and helpful staff that will make your visit a pleasure. In particular, the ride-ops on Nitro deserve special mention for their extra efforts to help you have fun on your ride and while you wait. It's always nice to see employees of a park that are enjoying their work! The security staff here is great too, maintaining a visible and helpful presence without being intrusive. Thanks to park management for keeping the fast pass people out of the lines for the front and rear of the coasters where cue lines are already longer. There's even a relaxation station with internet access! The two things that I do think are needed here are a large, new wooden roller coaster... which I hear is in the works, and a bit more directional signage to help us more easily find all of the wonderful things this park has to offer!
Additional Review:
There's 2 newer coasters not mentioned here. The first is the excellent Medusa.
The first floorless coaster built, it is both pretty tall and fast. It's also long, about 3 minutes.
The corkscrew here gives the best airtime I've ever had. I recommend a seat in the back for that.
The 2nd is one of the best I've ever been on: Nitro. It is about 300 feet tall and the first drop is
almost straight down. It's REALLY long too, about 4 minutes and fast, about 80 or 90. Cedar Point's
Millineum Force may be faster and taller, but this one beats it with it's length. I recommend waiting
for the first car too. The line moves pretty fast, total wait time is never more than 45 to 60 minutes.
The first hill is SICK and worth the wait! (Review by AZO)
SIX FLAGS GREAT AMERICA (IL)
The sister park to Paramount's Great America in California, though the
similarities are decreasing and the park is becoming more like its
fellow Six Flags parks. There is still the double-decker carousel near
the entrance, and they both have a steel looping coaster called Demon.
The recent Batman stunt show has given way to a wild west stunt show
(the new rage in themes), but the Batman inverted coaster is still present.
Also of note are the stand-up coaster, Iron Wolf, the seven inversion
steel coaster, Shockwave, and the beautiful wooden coaster, The Viper.
This is a great park, but I highly recommend NOT going on the weekend.
This park seems to be worse than most about being extremely busy on the weekend.
As of 2000... Raging Bull has made a great addition to the park and along with a few other rides, games, and stores, has really filled out the Southwest Territory section of the park. Despite all the rumors, the Whizzer's still here and running fine. Iron Wolf is getting a bit rough, but I look for them to add another coaster before they worry about tuning it up. The Russian Circus adds some nice variety to the offering of live entertainment.
Additional review:
Six Flags Great America is a very enjoyable park with alot of cool roller coasters. My favorite is Raging Bull which has an awesome first drop and many turns and high drops to follow. They have Batman the Ride there which is always a fun one. Although it goes really fast and doesn't last long, it's a good coaster. Viper is a good classic wooden rollar coaster which always is exciting. It has many fun drops and cool turns and I recommend this one. They have Shockwave which is a steel twister coaster, but I don't recommend because of one point in the ride when it turns suddenly and gives you the worst whiplash. If you can get past that it's an ok rollar coaster. Then there is the antique American Eagle, which although old still gives a good thrill. The first drop is fun, but it get a little scary when you go in a circle around a swamp sort of thing. I swear you feel like the car is going to take a nose dive into the water. It makes a rickety sound and the faded paint doesn't make for an attractive look. They also have Iron Wolf which is an old stand up rollar coaster... it's ok, but nothing really special. Demon is a steel rollar coaster that goes in a number of loops after a small drop, I really don't recommend this one because there have been a number of times when people have gotten stuck in the corkscrews, so it's a little scary. I'm so excited for the opening this year, because there are 2 brand new roller coasters Deja Vu and Vertical Velocity (V2), which should be cool. (Review by Coolbabemb)
SIX FLAGS KENTUCKY KINGDOM (KY)
Located on the State Fairgrounds and across the highway where the
former is the location of the rides for the younger crowd. The other
side of the park hosts T2, an inverted and very rough coaster, though
the wooden Thunder Run is also quite rough. In fact, the Giant Wheel
(ferris wheel) is about the only gentle ride on this side of the park!
On the fairgrounds side, they've taken a steel zyklon coaster, enclosed
it, and called it Starchaser. As a dark ride, it's actually pretty nice.
The boomerang coaster here is caled The Vampire, appropriately painted
red and black... a nice touch! Not only the staff, but just about
everyone in the park is quite friendly. For 1997, the new stand-up
coaster Chang is wonderful! Slower and more drawn out than it's sister, Mantis
at Cedar Point, but still a very nice ride. Starchaser is gone, replaced by a
motion simulator ride. For 1999, Twisted Sisters adds some nice variety to the coaster selection
here, being a wooden coaster with a steel frame structure. Two trains "race" each other in
non-parallel tracks. The Batman stunt show is pretty good here too.
For 2003, there have been a few changes... Twisted Sisters in now Twisted Twins, there's the Road Runner Express wild mouse style coaster, and the Greezed Lightnin' shuttle loop that used to be at Six Flags Over Georgia. Still, this park has a long way to go. The condition of most of the rides has deteriorated quite a bit over the last few years. There's lots of potential here, but it isn't being developed. For 2004... nothing new this year, including the much needed repainting. Staff and customers are all friendly here and the collection of rides for a park of this size is quite nice. There's still room for more, but the repainting needs to be taken care of first. For 2005... the only new ride this year is the Tornado funnel/tunnel for the Hurricane Bay part of the park. There's plenty of room to grow here, but this park seems to be low on the Six Flags priority list. New paint for several of the rides is desperately needed, and a few smaller rides would help fill in some of the blank spots in the park. For 2006... Chang has a new paint job, but nothing else has changed. Fewer shows at the moment too. A Looney Tunes show and a couple of music shows, but nothing else. Perhaps with some of the other cutbacks Six Flags has been doing, there will be some improvements here next year.
For 2007... the new Deluge Water Coaster is a nice new addition, and the Hellevator has been renamed the Superman Tower of Power. New paint is still needed throughout the park. Kudos to the crew of Twisted Twins, who keep their coaster running smoothly and have fun while doing it!
SIX FLAGS MAGIC MOUNTAIN (CA)
Huge park that is next to impossible to do in a day, especially if it's a busy day. I will simply have to go back and see how much more I
can get done. The signs throughout the park really help when you're trying to find your way around. Colossus and
Psycone are both very nice wooden coasters, but both are in need of a little work too. So many of the Six Flags parks
have the same attractions that it's always nice when they maintain a few differences. Unfortunately, the biggest
difference I found in this park was that those attending the park were incredibly rude. I hope it was just the day I was there, but
people were routinely cursing at staff members, cutting in line and being offensive in general. The staff were dealing
with it as best they could, but if this is typical, they really need to hire more security and remove people like this
from the park. It's the kind of atmosphere that can really ruin park attendance and make it unpleasant for the rest of us.
I'll give it another shot next year and hope it was just a bad day.
For 2000... had a chance to get through the whole park this time! Goliath, the new hyper coaster is VERY nice and is well landscaped. The Riddler's Revenge is a great stand-up coaster, but Ninja, Psyclone, and Revolution all need some work. Colossus is still a great ride. Most of the cue lines have plenty of shade, though Superman: The Escape could use some help in this area. The County Fair area is in great shape now with the addition of Goliath. Samurai Summit is a beautiful area, but could use a few more rides, shops, and games. Security was a bit more noticeable this time and the atmosphere in general was more pleasant than last year.
For 2001... the atmosphere remains pleasant and fun though I was a bit disappointed that the new big coasters still weren't ready to ride in early July. They should be finished soon though. We still need something more in the Samurai Summit area though.
For 2002... does Flashback ever run? Deja Vu is a very nice twist on the boomerang coaster style, still having trouble with "X" though. Strange that this park doesn't have more in the way of shows, though the Batman and Robin Live Action Show is much improved over last year's presentation! Oh, and the Dive Devil (skycoaster).... is amazing! It's too bad that it has to cost so much extra and deny so many the incredible experience.
For 2003... Flashback's still not working, but "X" is running a little more consistently. Scream is a nice addition for the County Fair area. Now, how about fixing the observation tower and adding a ferris wheel?
For 2004... get rid of Flashback... buy a new coaster... PLEASE! The observation tower is becoming an eyesore as well. Otherwise, there's a great colleciton of rides here, a few nice shows, and friendly and helpful staff. Food service needs some work though... staff seemed unable to keep even small lines moving and quite a few people were getting upset. Not a good thing in the middle of the summer season. Some areas of the park need more variety in food choices as well. It's also unfortunate that management seems to take the attitude that longer cue lines make the ride appear to be more popular. My experiences in the cue lines show otherwise. When the lines are shorter because more trains are running, people are more likely to ride again, have fun, and tell their friends about how much fun they had!
For 2005... nothing new as far as rides this year. The Batman stunt show has been reworked, but that's it. Along with Flashback and the observation tower that both need major work or replacement, there are a number of rides that are in desperate need of repainting. Maybe next year this will be a park that they decide to spend some money on.
For 2006... Tatsu is an excellent addition to the collection of steel coasters in this park. Wrapped around the newly re-opened observation tower, it's not only a fun ride, but it looks great too! The wooden coasters need some attention here, especially Psyclone, which is desperately in need of a tune-up. Don't forget to check out the shows as well as the coasters. The Batman stunt show continues to please the crowds as does the fun exotic bird show and the chinese acrobats of Hebei. Food is the biggest problem here, with different prices for the same food in different areas of the park, it's very frustrating for customers. Food Etc. is definitely one of the better places to try as they have a nice variety and the staff are very friendly and helpful. Too bad they can't keep more of the coasters here running more consistently. Flashback, X, and Superman the Escape always seem to be having some sort of trouble.
For 2007... the Psyclone coaster is gone and Flashback is officially closed, hopefully to be dismantled soon. The park is trying to appeal to more of a family crowd, but to really make that happen, they're going to need more shows and have more performances earlier in the day. Additional development of the kiddie area is overdue as well. Coaster maintenance has improved, and the park is staying a bit cleaner than it has in the past, which is nice to see.
SIX FLAGS NEW ENGLAND (MA)
The Superman Ride of Steel definitely deserves its reputation of excellence! Batman the Dark Knight is nice as well, and for those who prefer the older style of thrills, the old Cyclone and Thunderbolt are still rolling. The waterpark has just been expanded, almost doubling in size this year. What they could use now is something new in the "North End" section to help disperse the crowds that gather around Superman and Batman. It's a nice, clean park, though those who remember the old Riverside may not see much that looks familiar.
Additional reviews:
This park was formely known as Riverside and is located right next to the Conneticut River in Agawam, MA. By far one of the best amusment parks I have visited. The park received a major lift to it's appearance with the change to Six Flags. The theme throughout the park is Looney Toons. There is a perfect diversity between fun for the kids and fun for the adults. The new rollercoaster Superman, introduced in 2000, is a must go on for everyone. This ride is awesome! The 1 to 2 hour wait is by far worth it each time I get on. The best rides there for the thrill seekers are Superman, Mind Eraser, Flashback, Cyclone, and Scream. All of these rides are must go ons. The water park included in your admission prices is Treasure Island. This park is very beautiful and alot of fun. This is a park I recomend to everyone. (Review by Jeannette Rivera)
This park has to be at the top of my list for the best rides + rollercoasters. This park boosts an outstanding eight roller coasters. Including, new in 2002, "Batman: The Dark Knight," a floorless coaster with five inversions. Also, this park hosts my favorite rollercoaster "Superman: Ride of Steel" also voted #1 rollercoaster on the planet in 2001. After climbing an amazing 215 feet it drops you at a 70 degree angle 221 feet down underground. This park also hosts four more steel coasters, consisting of one inverted coaster built in 1997 called "Mind Eraser" with four inversions, a forward and backward three inversions coaster called "Flashback," a junior coaster called "Poison Ivy" with a max speed of 30 mph, and a kiddy coaster called "The Great Chase" with a max speed of 6mph. Lastly the park has two huge wooden coasters. The first is called "Thunderbolt" with about a 40mph limit on about 3,000 miles of track. The last one is a huge wooden coaster called "Cyclone" that goes 65mph and has sharp turns and devastating drops. This park is simply the best one in New England. (Review by Matty)
SIX FLAGS NEW ORLEANS (LA) This park makes a very nice addition to the Six Flags family! Clean and attractively painted, there isn't much natural shade available, but there are several canopied areas. The Mega Zeph, a wooden coaster with a steel frame, has been the park's biggest and could definitely use some tuning up. Six Flags has already announced a large steel coaster to open next year (2003) as well as a new Jazzland Resort Hotel that will open within the next two years. This park definitely has some growing to do, but there's room for it and it's in a great location. I'd also look for a reworking of the water stunt show (probably along the Batman theme) as there's already such a wonderful performance arena available.
SIX FLAGS OVER GEORGIA (GA) The Georgia Scorcher and Georgia Cyclone are almost worth the price of admission. A nice stand-up steel coaster and a classic wooden coaster on either side as you enter the park. As you get farther in, things are a bit disappointing. The Gotham City area is fairly well maintained, but was one of the few areas of the park that was clean. The biggest surprise was the beautiful landscaping around the Viper shuttle loop coaster. Nice, but where's the landscaping for the rest? It was nice to see that they still have a train ride around the park, but things have developed to a point where you don't really see much during your ride. The park patrons were very friendly, but the park is in major need of cleaning and landscaping. The classic Great American Scream Machine coaster could use some paint, and Ninja is severely in need of a tune-up. Premier appears to be neglecting this park. There are spots that are nice, and there's lots of potential, but they need to spend some money on this park to dress things up.
SIX FLAGS OVER TEXAS (TX) There is still plenty of room for this park to grow and it is laid out better than most of its sister parks. The Texas Giant coaster is a must! There is also a nice little Mine Trai