What is the best thrill ride that was ever at SFGAm?also tw

[Coastermonkey61]

Never rode Shockwave, for some reason the 7 inversions always made me turn away, plus I heard horror stories about pain, but it was arguably the least popular coaster in the park despite it being in arguably the best location for people in terms of it being right in front of the park and the closest roller coaster to the entrance. You also have to remember that when S:UF was being planned, Premier Parks was in charge, and they were all about thrill rides. Shockwave was clearly a more thrilling ride than Whizzer, but the Whizzer was/is a one-of-a-kind coaster that many people have a special place in their hearts for (including me, as it was my first coaster I rode at the park). They could not have anticipated the uproar that came about the Whizzer being removed, and the Demon would have created a similar uproar (maybe not as great of one, but one would have come). So they took out the biggest disappointment, and even though Superman is rather overrated in my mind, it's a better addition to the park than Shockwave was.

Boy did I ramble a lot and add very little new to the conversation. To summarize, I don't miss Shockwave, I would have missed Whizzer.

[Jerrykoala2112]

^^^I agree how The spot is the best in the park. I think the park could build a major coaster like a B&m dive in the area along the paking lot and entrancee behind Superman. But thats jusut me. They should put the best ridede towards the front and they did a fine job with Superman.

[Coastermonkey61]

I don't know about putting the best ride in the front because you want people to walk through the park and do other stuff, not just ride one ride and leave. Raging Bull and V2, two huge draws, are towards the back/have to walk past a lot of stuff to get there.

[Jerrykoala2112]

^^^But I think most people want to ride the ride first. Sometimes I say, god, why American Eagle in back when I think its the 2nd best coaster there. I come to the park and really want to ride Demon, Eagle and V2. Then I ride what ever, thats what I usuall do.

[FParker185]

SFGAm isnt a carnival, it costs $50+ to get in, people aren't going to show up, ride one ride and leave.

Ride locations are selected based upon what type of the coaster the park wants, what kind of land is available and is best suitable to that ride type and zoning restrictions.

[onyxhotel08]

What is the land if you look directly behind Rajun Cajun and south-kind-of the employee parking lot? Nothing seems to be there...Also, wasn't Premier Parks always in charge? I thought they just changed their name from Premier parks to Six Flags in the lat 90's?

[FParker185]

The land you talk about is part of the berm there, it really doesnt do much except block sounds at ground level for the people who live right on the other side of the parks fence. Sometimes they store stuff there, Shockwave was kept til til the scrap man came around.

In 1997 Premeir Parks wanted to buy Six Flags over Texas, and Time Warner refused to sell to them, so Premeir bought Six Flags. They hung onto their name for like a year or 2 then changed it to Six Flags, then pretty recently like within the past 2-3 years they finally had their Stock symbol changed from PKS to SIX.

[onyxhotel08]

So, basically, there is nowhere Great America can expand to? This sucks cause that means the only way to get more room is to take something down. Every current ride/attraction has some sort of purpose/following. Does any1 know when the calendar for 2009 should be announced? Any action over at the park these days? Is it all but prepped for winter?

[ben_the_bear]

Best ride would be American Eagle (before it was retracked in 2007 i think). I also like Dejavu and Raging Bull a lot. Batman is good too, way better than any other clone.

[yankee Clipper91]

Not a thrill ride but the Sky Whirl had to be the best ride Great America ever had. That ride could operate in any kind of weather. It had to be the most unique ride there too.

[onyxhotel08]

Hands down the best water ride I ever went on was Splashwater Falls. It was quick but so fun and you got two chances to get soaked. Before it closed in August 2007, I was the only one of my group to go on the bridge and get splashed a second time. I feel like crying now thanks a lot Six Flags!

[tp41190]

I liked how SWFs looked in the park. For its size, for some reason it seems like it stood out a lot. And the park doesn't look the same without the green.

Now the parks seems to fit in with I-94 with all of it "dirty" looking colors. I hope the park does another paint job on a ride or something to make it look nicer.

[Jerrykoala2112]

I liked how SWFs looked in the park. For its size, for some reason it seems like it stood out a lot. And the park doesn't look the same without the green.

Now the parks seems to fit in with I-94 with all of it "dirty" looking colors. I hope the park does another paint job on a ride or something to make it look nicer.

What coaster do you want a paint job?

I would like Iron Wolf (where great americas best ride z force once stood )

[demonbulleagle]

Wolf should just get a massive overhaul like X(2) and what they are doing with Medusa.

[Chirojon]

Wow, funny thing is that I haven't checked these forums in a long, long time. I randomly checked today and see that someone revived a post I did from 2003. Funny stuff considering that I haven't been on these forums for greater than a year maybe.

Anyway, thank you for your responses everyone. I also want to point out, as a sidenote, to the people who corrected me about the recent deaths (Bull, Sprockets), when I posted my comments, those had not occured yet.

In looking back from when I created this post, I don't know what I was thinking in placing Power Dive as one of my favorites. It is, as someone pointed out, a basic 'fair ride' that isn't very unique.

As an update, I would have to place V2 on top of my list as the ride at this park that gives me the biggest adrenaline rush/thrill. Amazing ride, simply put. I also do still miss my Tidal Wave

So many great rides at GA, however there are some stinkers that need removal fast - i.e. Iron wolf. I loved this ride when it first came out, however in recent years, it is unbearable to ride. Way too bumpy and MUCH MUCH worse than Shockwave ever was - Shockwave wasn't too bad if you learned 'how' to ride it. I suppose this became cumbersome to many, however since you should just be able to enjoy a smooth experience. It still was an amazing feeling being so high above the park before that anticlimactic drop (compared to Bull anyway).

I did not make it to the park this year, thus I was wondering how TDK coaster was? Too short? not thrilling enough? Does it have lasting value where you'd want to ride it over and over (like Bull or Eagle for example)?

Peace,
John

[onyxhotel08]

Welcome back! 110% agree about Wolf. Something needs to be done soon. It is a fairly young ride but ever notice how short the lines are? There is a reason for that...The Dark Knight has been unfairly slammed for poor theme and ride experience. What do you expect from a indoor coaster? They can't put loops inside or make the length 3,000-5,000 feet long! It is a fairly unimpressive ride but for a wild moose done in these times it is NOT as bad as it could have been. Or made out to be. I had fun. Don't expect it too be perfect and you're set. If you like to have fun but not have youre heart beating 150 times a minute you'll like it.

Bull-9/10
DK-7/10

[FParker185]

Iron Wolf is 19 years old and is not exactly a young ride. Average lifespan for steel coasters is around 30 years or so, I'd say it's over the hill, and Demon and Whizzer are outright geezers now, though Whizzer should stay on life support still, dont care either way about the other.

Also I can name a handful of thrilling indoor coasters with plenty of loops and around or even over 3000 feet long. First into mind is the former paramount Flight of Fears, and Disneys RNRC

[onyxhotel08]

Yeah, but Six Flags don't have the $$$ for those kind that is why they chose a MACK wild moose.

[FParker185]

I realize this, what I said was in response to ...

"What do you expect from a indoor coaster? They can't put loops inside or make the length 3,000-5,000 feet long! "

[ben_the_bear]

SFGAm isnt a carnival, it costs $50+ to get in, people aren't going to show up, ride one ride and leave.

I do that all the time I don't pay $50 though.

[tp41190]

Once I went into the park rode Demon, got a drink from the bubbler (water fountain), went to the bathroom and left.

[FParker185]

well yeah, I've gone there, ridden Sky Whirl once and left, but I was referring to something more along the lines of the average visitor

[onyxhotel08]

92.54% of the people will not leave after one or two rides.

[demonbulleagle]

I have just been passing through went into the park got a funnel cake ate it rode columbia and then left.

[onyxhotel08]

^^^That's you, not the majority of attendees. It is not fair having Six Flags New England get a coaster makeover before us!We are more valuable to them and Wolf is in much worse shape. Plus, paint is something desperately needed on other parts of the ride as well...dark knight...cough...graffiti...cough