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Vacation Day 12 - Geauga Lake
May. 29th, 2007 08:00 pmGeauga Lake www.geaugalake.com http://www.geaugalaketoday.com/
It is sort of ironic writing this now (in October) given that I know that the Geauga Lake we visited is officially gone (the rides are mostly still there but... I gather that the employees saw the writing on the wall (or at least some visitors did) since 2 of the rides had been removed/were being removed during the year. Anyway, it is a sad thing because it is (ok was) a fine park and quite fun. It did have its issues but they were fairly minor (the biggest one being the distance from the front to the back and the lack of easy way to get there.
On with the write-up.
We started with heading towards the Big Dipper (which wasn't running yet) and ended up with a walk-on ride on the Boomerang. Typical Arrow sit-down boomerang. Rough but not the worst I have been on. So we headed towards the Double Loop http://www.rcdb.com/ig237.htm which is another typical Arrow ride, in other words OUCH.
Then it was time to start having FUN! Our next stop was Villain (http://www.rcdb.com/ig633.htm) which is another hybrid style ride (steel structure, wooden rails) which had undergone a serious change over the winter. They even made shirts about it (and how the Travers shuffle was removed). The logo of villain was cool and the theming to get into it was nice (the ride op rocked as well). I loved the open front train (similar to the ones used on Lightning Racer. This coaster is FAST with some major air, good turns and fabulous pacing. I loved it.
Our next stop on our circuit of the park was the Raging Wolf Bobs (http://www.rcdb.com/ig235.htm) which is an older style wooden coaster even though it was modern (opened 1988). We rode it twice once in the very front, once in the front of the last car. It feels fast (probably faster than it goes) and though it didn't have much air, it was fun. As it turns out, we were some of the last people to ride it, it derailed in early June and hasn't run since ... :<
The next stop was the Dodge'ems which while slow were a free for all and very nimble. FUN! We then visited the adorible Mine Train (Beaver Land Mine Ride - http://www.rcdb.com/ig634.htm) and while most of the time when you hear 'mine train' you think of tracks that look like something out of a mine shaft, this one is more of a train. The engine was there (complete with fake smokestack and Toot Toot horn). The tracks are open and swoopy. It is very cute, the front is an engine and the cars look more like train cars than some, each car of the long train is 1 seat you get at Train 'horn' as it comes into the station on each of the 2 circuits/ride. There was a girl on there who thought that one should scream on a coaster ... so (of course) I got into the mood and screamed like a banshee (much to Java's amusement since he wasn't in front of me).
Next (since it was hot) we stopped at Grizzly Run which is their white water canyon ride. The sculpting on the sides of the ride are beautiful (it really looks like rocks and the bear is QUITE nice) ... in fact a lot of the theming throughout the park was very nice. The ride was mostly OK but the water was GROSS (stinky, murky, yellow foam in places).
Then it was Pizza Time. It was a very tasty pizza (quite large, only slightly overpriced). Java took the leftovers to the car and we saw the Big Dipper (http://www.rcdb.com/ig236.htm) running, so off we went to visit it. This is a true classic coaster. Skid Breaks and all. Built in 1925 it shows what a true classic coaster should be. We took the front seat then ran around and took the last seat. The front rocked my socks in a major way. It had good air and reasonable laterals. The back was rough though. This fabulous ride had NO ratcheting lap bars (just the single bar well above your lap), skid breaks, skid trim breaks. SWEET!
We (stupidly) left that and went to Thunderhawk which is a Vekoma cookie-cutter Hang & Bang (to the point that Java pointed out the Hang part and the Bang part). Same ride as Mind Eraser, T2 and a host of other monstrosities (no, I don't like this type of ride, why do you ask?). The guy a few rows back asked for his nuts to be released and I completely understand the feeling (ok, not completely but...). Anyway they were refitting this thing with cameras on the back of the seats so that you can buy a video of your torture. Why the HECK Cedar Fair is keeping this and moving it (it is going to Michigan Adventure for 2008) instead of something GOOD is beyond me.
Our next stop was Dominator (http://www.rcdb.com/id632.htm) which was restyled from the Six Flag Days. It is a B&M Floorless ride. First half was very nice, 2nd half had a few too many abrupt changes. It is a Dominatrix teasing you with swoops and curves then beating on you.
Then we took the LONG walk around behind the Wolf Bobs to the back of the park (which is where the only part of the park they are keeping is located). We saw Dino Island II - looking for Tony the last male T-Rex on a deserted Island suffering from Volcano. Cute video intro ... reasonable motion sim (many of them are 'off' for my inner ear) - run just for us; very nice queue theming with dino calls, holding containers, etc. it was fun.
We then rode the Monster (another solo ride for us, promise by ride-op to stop if we signaled him) SWOOP and around, Swoop and around. Dizzy but cool. Then over to the Pirate ship swing ride (not an inverter ride) which is located next to more traditional swings. Rode the Henry VIII boat (well, Java is his brother-in-law). Like normal Zamperela swings this swoops and rotates a bit while swinging. Nice
Our next stop (and final one in this section of the park) was the Lego Racer 4-D movie. I found the sexy lego person a bit disturbing. The story a bit cheesy but cute and fun (I could have done with less water effects ... it was COLD).
Then we went back to the Bobs and got the front of the 2nd car which was nice (and shorter than waiting for the front of the front car). Then we were off to one of the hidden jewels of the park. The Carousel - and Illions 1926 masterpiece (http://nca-usa.org/psp/GeaugaLake/), gold manes and tails on several steeds, lots of jewels (even 2nd line horses); it needs some TLC. The neat thing is that this goes FAST... and to counteract that, the poles go through a sideways slot in the floor and as the ride goes faster, the bottom swings out a bit (about 6 inches) so that the horse is no longer perpendicular to the ground which makes for a much more stable ride from the riders point of view (still some sideways force at full speed on the outer horse ... yes the poles go out and different rates depending on which row ... or that is how it seemed to me). Very VERY cool. Yes we rode it more than once.
Back to Villain with 2 more rides in the front, enjoying the massive air, the sweet speed and smoothness where the flip flop (sharp bank left and right w/out a turn). SWEET
Then we went shopping. Among other things, I found a perfect shirt for me. I <3 Wooden Coasters (on the back with the word Wooden looking like wood). In a nice neutral brown. We decided to go for more rides (rather than photos) and did a race-walk to the dipper, get last ride of the night in the front seat. It was a good end ot the day. We then headed to the parking lot for our left-over pizza (nice and warm from the car and headed south for our last stop on the trip.
It is sort of ironic writing this now (in October) given that I know that the Geauga Lake we visited is officially gone (the rides are mostly still there but... I gather that the employees saw the writing on the wall (or at least some visitors did) since 2 of the rides had been removed/were being removed during the year. Anyway, it is a sad thing because it is (ok was) a fine park and quite fun. It did have its issues but they were fairly minor (the biggest one being the distance from the front to the back and the lack of easy way to get there.
On with the write-up.
We started with heading towards the Big Dipper (which wasn't running yet) and ended up with a walk-on ride on the Boomerang. Typical Arrow sit-down boomerang. Rough but not the worst I have been on. So we headed towards the Double Loop http://www.rcdb.com/ig237.htm which is another typical Arrow ride, in other words OUCH.
Then it was time to start having FUN! Our next stop was Villain (http://www.rcdb.com/ig633.htm) which is another hybrid style ride (steel structure, wooden rails) which had undergone a serious change over the winter. They even made shirts about it (and how the Travers shuffle was removed). The logo of villain was cool and the theming to get into it was nice (the ride op rocked as well). I loved the open front train (similar to the ones used on Lightning Racer. This coaster is FAST with some major air, good turns and fabulous pacing. I loved it.
Our next stop on our circuit of the park was the Raging Wolf Bobs (http://www.rcdb.com/ig235.htm) which is an older style wooden coaster even though it was modern (opened 1988). We rode it twice once in the very front, once in the front of the last car. It feels fast (probably faster than it goes) and though it didn't have much air, it was fun. As it turns out, we were some of the last people to ride it, it derailed in early June and hasn't run since ... :<
The next stop was the Dodge'ems which while slow were a free for all and very nimble. FUN! We then visited the adorible Mine Train (Beaver Land Mine Ride - http://www.rcdb.com/ig634.htm) and while most of the time when you hear 'mine train' you think of tracks that look like something out of a mine shaft, this one is more of a train. The engine was there (complete with fake smokestack and Toot Toot horn). The tracks are open and swoopy. It is very cute, the front is an engine and the cars look more like train cars than some, each car of the long train is 1 seat you get at Train 'horn' as it comes into the station on each of the 2 circuits/ride. There was a girl on there who thought that one should scream on a coaster ... so (of course) I got into the mood and screamed like a banshee (much to Java's amusement since he wasn't in front of me).
Next (since it was hot) we stopped at Grizzly Run which is their white water canyon ride. The sculpting on the sides of the ride are beautiful (it really looks like rocks and the bear is QUITE nice) ... in fact a lot of the theming throughout the park was very nice. The ride was mostly OK but the water was GROSS (stinky, murky, yellow foam in places).
Then it was Pizza Time. It was a very tasty pizza (quite large, only slightly overpriced). Java took the leftovers to the car and we saw the Big Dipper (http://www.rcdb.com/ig236.htm) running, so off we went to visit it. This is a true classic coaster. Skid Breaks and all. Built in 1925 it shows what a true classic coaster should be. We took the front seat then ran around and took the last seat. The front rocked my socks in a major way. It had good air and reasonable laterals. The back was rough though. This fabulous ride had NO ratcheting lap bars (just the single bar well above your lap), skid breaks, skid trim breaks. SWEET!
We (stupidly) left that and went to Thunderhawk which is a Vekoma cookie-cutter Hang & Bang (to the point that Java pointed out the Hang part and the Bang part). Same ride as Mind Eraser, T2 and a host of other monstrosities (no, I don't like this type of ride, why do you ask?). The guy a few rows back asked for his nuts to be released and I completely understand the feeling (ok, not completely but...). Anyway they were refitting this thing with cameras on the back of the seats so that you can buy a video of your torture. Why the HECK Cedar Fair is keeping this and moving it (it is going to Michigan Adventure for 2008) instead of something GOOD is beyond me.
Our next stop was Dominator (http://www.rcdb.com/id632.htm) which was restyled from the Six Flag Days. It is a B&M Floorless ride. First half was very nice, 2nd half had a few too many abrupt changes. It is a Dominatrix teasing you with swoops and curves then beating on you.
Then we took the LONG walk around behind the Wolf Bobs to the back of the park (which is where the only part of the park they are keeping is located). We saw Dino Island II - looking for Tony the last male T-Rex on a deserted Island suffering from Volcano. Cute video intro ... reasonable motion sim (many of them are 'off' for my inner ear) - run just for us; very nice queue theming with dino calls, holding containers, etc. it was fun.
We then rode the Monster (another solo ride for us, promise by ride-op to stop if we signaled him) SWOOP and around, Swoop and around. Dizzy but cool. Then over to the Pirate ship swing ride (not an inverter ride) which is located next to more traditional swings. Rode the Henry VIII boat (well, Java is his brother-in-law). Like normal Zamperela swings this swoops and rotates a bit while swinging. Nice
Our next stop (and final one in this section of the park) was the Lego Racer 4-D movie. I found the sexy lego person a bit disturbing. The story a bit cheesy but cute and fun (I could have done with less water effects ... it was COLD).
Then we went back to the Bobs and got the front of the 2nd car which was nice (and shorter than waiting for the front of the front car). Then we were off to one of the hidden jewels of the park. The Carousel - and Illions 1926 masterpiece (http://nca-usa.org/psp/GeaugaLake/), gold manes and tails on several steeds, lots of jewels (even 2nd line horses); it needs some TLC. The neat thing is that this goes FAST... and to counteract that, the poles go through a sideways slot in the floor and as the ride goes faster, the bottom swings out a bit (about 6 inches) so that the horse is no longer perpendicular to the ground which makes for a much more stable ride from the riders point of view (still some sideways force at full speed on the outer horse ... yes the poles go out and different rates depending on which row ... or that is how it seemed to me). Very VERY cool. Yes we rode it more than once.
Back to Villain with 2 more rides in the front, enjoying the massive air, the sweet speed and smoothness where the flip flop (sharp bank left and right w/out a turn). SWEET
Then we went shopping. Among other things, I found a perfect shirt for me. I <3 Wooden Coasters (on the back with the word Wooden looking like wood). In a nice neutral brown. We decided to go for more rides (rather than photos) and did a race-walk to the dipper, get last ride of the night in the front seat. It was a good end ot the day. We then headed to the parking lot for our left-over pizza (nice and warm from the car and headed south for our last stop on the trip.