How can I be afraid of heights and love roller coasters? Amusement park season is here, so journey with me through my list of coasters!
- Six Flags Great Adventure - Jackson, NJ -
The Chiller - Batman and Robin - RIP! I loved this ride and was only able to ride the Robin side. The cars were tiny and you'd get bumped around, but it was so worth it. The controller would say one last thing in his microphone and then release! For example, "To the Bat Cave!" or "You are the weakest link: Good-bye!" You would be plastered to the back of the seat with ridiculous speed straight ahead. I miss this!
Nitro - Waiting for the front seat everytime is a must. There is an individual restraint at your lap. Your feet dangle if you are short, but there is a floor there. On the way up the hill, there used to be signs saying how high up you are. It compared the height to what it was equivalent to, for example, Niagra Falls. After the hill, it seems like it takes you not only straight down, but tilted backwards by the look and feel of it. This ride does not go upside down, but has a high thrill of turns and hills. I always feel like I've eaten fifty bugs screaming going through the open air. It is over two minutes long and is very relaxing toward the end of the ride with smooth humps! My favorite of its kind.
El Toro - I'm not a fan of the rickety wooden coasters, but this is in a league all its own. On a hot summer day, the line seemed to move extremely fast, and as soon as I knew it, I was strapped in one of the middle cars. I was not ready for what came next. It started out so fast and continued to take my breath away. The hill was so high, and the only thing higher seemed like Kingda Ka. It was the nice roar of the wooden coaster combined with outrageous speed that made it so exciting. My favorite of its kind.
Runaway Mine Train & Rolling Thunder- These were the first 'big' roller coasters I went on, so thought they should be mentioned. I loved them back then.
Bizarro - This over-the-shoulder restraint, feet dangling, inverted steel ride used to be Medusa and painted green. Now it is blue and has cool (and hot) effects. The cool mist and flames throughout the ride definitely gave a different twist to this long time enjoyable ride of mine.
Batman - The Ride - This is very similar to Bizarro. Smooth and exciting! I always get butterflies when I walk through and hear the Gotham City music before I get on.
Superman - The Ultimate Flight - This unique coaster plays with my height phobia more than any other coaster. You start out sitting with restraints everywhere, and then you are turned downward. There is nothing beneath you, and it is meant to feel like you are flying. It's a neat time going through loops and turns because it is hard to see what is coming next.
The Dark Knight Coaster and Skull Mountain are cheesy, in-the-dark coasters with awesome entrances.
I was able to experience Viper and the Scream Machine, which are now defunct, though they weren't my favorites. Too much banging my head around! I have yet to conquer Kingda Ka, but is on my things to do before I die list!
- Dorney Park - Allentown, PA -
Steel Force - This was my number one roller coaster for the longest time before I experienced a few at Six Flags. I get to the park early and trek to the very edge of the park where this resides. With no one around, I always claim the front seat for myself. This is a sit down ride with a lap bar. There is a huge drop, a tunnel, a spiral, and it feels like it is intertwining with Thunderhawk. At times, I want it to go faster, so maybe I should try the backseat?
Talon - This is the best over-the-shoulder restraint, feet dangling, inverted steel ride! The front is the best, but you get the same great feeling anywhere. As you go up, you read messages on the steel below that say 'No Turning Back', and 'Good-Bye'. The first drop is so exciting. You can feel the release as you twist off to the right and down. The speed never lets up! My favorite of its kind.
- Hershey Park - Hershey, PA -
Super Duper Looper - Now spelled SooperDooperLooper, it was the first steel inverted coaster I rode. I just found out that it was the first looping coaster on the east coast.
Lightning Racer – This is a double track wooden coaster. We were released at the same time and it was a race to the finish! It was funny looking over at the people in the other car next to us.
Roller Soaker – You get gallons of water to release below you at any time during the ride. I waited toward the end because I knew the people were in line waiting there. I released it, but I couldn’t see what happened and if it happened. It was fun though, and people from down below got to spray us while on the ride.
- Kennywood - West Mifflin, PA -
SkyRocket - This reminds me of The Chiller - Batman and Robin! It starts out launching you straight ahead with tremendous speed. Smooth ride.
Jack Rabbit - This wooden coaster has a double dip drop! It feels like you are on one of those slides you go down with a potato sack.
- Disney World - Orlando, FL -
Space Mountain - This reminds me of The Dark Knight Coaster or Space Mountain in Great Adventure, except with a space theme. It has an entertaining entrance. It is not very fast, but has unexpected turns and drops.
- Six Flags Great Adventure - Jackson, NJ -
The Chiller - Batman and Robin - RIP! I loved this ride and was only able to ride the Robin side. The cars were tiny and you'd get bumped around, but it was so worth it. The controller would say one last thing in his microphone and then release! For example, "To the Bat Cave!" or "You are the weakest link: Good-bye!" You would be plastered to the back of the seat with ridiculous speed straight ahead. I miss this!
Nitro - Waiting for the front seat everytime is a must. There is an individual restraint at your lap. Your feet dangle if you are short, but there is a floor there. On the way up the hill, there used to be signs saying how high up you are. It compared the height to what it was equivalent to, for example, Niagra Falls. After the hill, it seems like it takes you not only straight down, but tilted backwards by the look and feel of it. This ride does not go upside down, but has a high thrill of turns and hills. I always feel like I've eaten fifty bugs screaming going through the open air. It is over two minutes long and is very relaxing toward the end of the ride with smooth humps! My favorite of its kind.
El Toro - I'm not a fan of the rickety wooden coasters, but this is in a league all its own. On a hot summer day, the line seemed to move extremely fast, and as soon as I knew it, I was strapped in one of the middle cars. I was not ready for what came next. It started out so fast and continued to take my breath away. The hill was so high, and the only thing higher seemed like Kingda Ka. It was the nice roar of the wooden coaster combined with outrageous speed that made it so exciting. My favorite of its kind.
Runaway Mine Train & Rolling Thunder- These were the first 'big' roller coasters I went on, so thought they should be mentioned. I loved them back then.
Bizarro - This over-the-shoulder restraint, feet dangling, inverted steel ride used to be Medusa and painted green. Now it is blue and has cool (and hot) effects. The cool mist and flames throughout the ride definitely gave a different twist to this long time enjoyable ride of mine.
Batman - The Ride - This is very similar to Bizarro. Smooth and exciting! I always get butterflies when I walk through and hear the Gotham City music before I get on.
Superman - The Ultimate Flight - This unique coaster plays with my height phobia more than any other coaster. You start out sitting with restraints everywhere, and then you are turned downward. There is nothing beneath you, and it is meant to feel like you are flying. It's a neat time going through loops and turns because it is hard to see what is coming next.
The Dark Knight Coaster and Skull Mountain are cheesy, in-the-dark coasters with awesome entrances.
I was able to experience Viper and the Scream Machine, which are now defunct, though they weren't my favorites. Too much banging my head around! I have yet to conquer Kingda Ka, but is on my things to do before I die list!
Steel Force - This was my number one roller coaster for the longest time before I experienced a few at Six Flags. I get to the park early and trek to the very edge of the park where this resides. With no one around, I always claim the front seat for myself. This is a sit down ride with a lap bar. There is a huge drop, a tunnel, a spiral, and it feels like it is intertwining with Thunderhawk. At times, I want it to go faster, so maybe I should try the backseat?
Talon - This is the best over-the-shoulder restraint, feet dangling, inverted steel ride! The front is the best, but you get the same great feeling anywhere. As you go up, you read messages on the steel below that say 'No Turning Back', and 'Good-Bye'. The first drop is so exciting. You can feel the release as you twist off to the right and down. The speed never lets up! My favorite of its kind.
- Hershey Park - Hershey, PA -
Super Duper Looper - Now spelled SooperDooperLooper, it was the first steel inverted coaster I rode. I just found out that it was the first looping coaster on the east coast.
Lightning Racer – This is a double track wooden coaster. We were released at the same time and it was a race to the finish! It was funny looking over at the people in the other car next to us.
Roller Soaker – You get gallons of water to release below you at any time during the ride. I waited toward the end because I knew the people were in line waiting there. I released it, but I couldn’t see what happened and if it happened. It was fun though, and people from down below got to spray us while on the ride.
- Kennywood - West Mifflin, PA -
SkyRocket - This reminds me of The Chiller - Batman and Robin! It starts out launching you straight ahead with tremendous speed. Smooth ride.
Jack Rabbit - This wooden coaster has a double dip drop! It feels like you are on one of those slides you go down with a potato sack.
- Disney World - Orlando, FL -
Space Mountain - This reminds me of The Dark Knight Coaster or Space Mountain in Great Adventure, except with a space theme. It has an entertaining entrance. It is not very fast, but has unexpected turns and drops.
