Six Flags America (SFA) Discussion Thread

[eddie200330"Excuse me, miss, may I pound my large rooster into your donkey?"]

Geauga Lake part 2????

[John PeckDonkeys are my way of life!]

I was looking on Google Maps and with the space that this took up, there could easily (though I'm not sure how cost effective it will be) be a path leading to the Flying Coaster helping to create a "loop", though connecting it to Thomas Town would be a challenge.

Maybe you guys will get a Green Lantern spinning thing, those are pretty small.

[PeterItI Guess Donkeys Are Okay]

I cant believe Skull Mountain is closing and I never got a chance to enjoy it...

EDIT: Did TPR ever do an on ride video of Skull Mountain? I am just curious that's all...

[DiveMachineI think Intamin should make a donkey!]

sorry to change the subject, but I have a question about S:ROS.

Are the restraints more accommodating for larger guests than a ride like say, El Toro?

[Skycoastin SteveFive babies drowned in a fire]

^If you've ridden an Intamin with seatbelts like MF or TTD, it's similar to those. It also has bars on the sides of the lap bars that enclose your legs. In short, no, it's not comfortable or accommodating to larger guests. I'm 6'5" and skinny and it's not very comfortable for me.

[DiveMachineI think Intamin should make a donkey!]

^If you've ridden an Intamin with seatbelts like MF or TTD, it's similar to those. It also has bars on the sides of the lap bars that enclose your legs. In short, no, it's not comfortable or accommodating to larger guests. I'm 6'5" and skinny and it's not very comfortable for me.

thanks looks like I'll need to do a little work before my trip to SFA

[DECoasterNerdI Love Donkeys!]

I went to SFA last year once and again this year once. Last year when I was there, Skull Mountain was running. This year, they appeared to be trying to get it going, but were ultimately unsuccessful.

I know everyone loves to trash SFA, but I think those that do haven't been there in the 2010/2011 season. The staff there is so friendly and so enthusiastic it shocks me as I grew up going to SFGAdv where the staff couldn't give two sh*ts about anything. They high-five you on the way into the park, and on many rides as well. Definitely helps contribute to the "all around park experience" which for the most part, CF and SF parks have completely lost (although CP ride operators are great!). They have the rides, but not the overall experience.

HOWEVER, I did think Skull Mountain was a lot of fun when I rode it once last year (1st and only time). I'm surprise they have so much trouble there with it, but then again, SFA's continuing problem is that their ride maintenance department is one guy with a hammer.

It's ashame to see it go. Being only 1.5 hours away, I'll probably have to make an emergency trip to ride it once more before it's gone for good!

[InventedI Guess Donkeys Are Okay]

I went to SFA last year once and again this year once. Last year when I was there, Skull Mountain was running. This year, they appeared to be trying to get it going, but were ultimately unsuccessful.

I know everyone loves to trash SFA, but I think those that do haven't been there in the 2010/2011 season. The staff there is so friendly and so enthusiastic it shocks me as I grew up going to SFGAdv where the staff couldn't give two sh*ts about anything. They high-five you on the way into the park, and on many rides as well. Definitely helps contribute to the "all around park experience" which for the most part, CF and SF parks have completely lost (although CP ride operators are great!). They have the rides, but not the overall experience.

HOWEVER, I did think Skull Mountain was a lot of fun when I rode it once last year (1st and only time). I'm surprise they have so much trouble there with it, but then again, SFA's continuing problem is that their ride maintenance department is one guy with a hammer.

It's ashame to see it go. Being only 1.5 hours away, I'll probably have to make an emergency trip to ride it once more before it's gone for good!

We went in April and the staff was amazing. So many high fives and people asking how our day way.

[printersdevil78Nuthin' better than a naked donkey!]

I know everyone loves to trash SFA, but I think those that do haven't been there in the 2010/2011 season. The staff there is so friendly and so enthusiastic it shocks me as I grew up going to SFGAdv where the staff couldn't give two sh*ts about anything. They high-five you on the way into the park, and on many rides as well. Definitely helps contribute to the "all around park experience" which for the most part, CF and SF parks have completely lost (although CP ride operators are great!).

Agreed. Despite living only a couple hours away, I didn't visit SFA until 2008 due to its negative reputation. And it lived up to its reputation 100 percent--the park felt like a ghetto where someone had torn down a few tenament buildings and put up some roller coasters. The next year I took my now-wife, who grew up literally down the street from SFA, and we were both amazed at how much the place had changed for the better. By 2010, the park's speakers were blaring Taylor Swift rather than FloRida, and we were getting the high-fives you mentioned, along with tremendous ride operations and some of the friendliest staff I've encountered anywhere, Disney parks included.

The two comments I keep hearing from the coaster community are: "SFA is a ghetto park" and "They haven't added a new coaster in a decade, so I haven't bothered going back since then." Together, they kind of make sense; in 2001 (and even as of 2008), SFA was a ghetto park. But you know, parks can change, and this one has. At SFA Preview Day this year, they spoke a little about how the Six Flags chain brought in a new management team for the park in 2009 with a mandate to clean it up and make it a place families would again want to visit. Based on the crowds and demographics (a huge number of young families) I saw on opening weekend this year, I'd say they've been wildly successful.

Some on here have said that Whistlestop Park, nee Thomas Town, doesn't count for anything. Except it does. You don't retool your entire management team, invest $3 million to build a whole new land and start announcing new rides for a park you don't think is going to be around for awhile. And that's not even including the behind-the-scenes infrastructure stuff no one gets to see. Apparently, the park has undergone a large data and electrical wiring upgrade since 2008. It's a major investment... but it's not a roller coaster, so who cares?

/rant

[CoAsTeRDaNI Guess Donkeys Are Okay]

I am always sad to see something go. My personal feeling is you don't have to remove something to build something, just build it in a different spot. Its not like SFA is really landlocked.
The ride was interesting, but once they stopped it from turning around and going backwards, it lost its appeal.
Its been exactly one decade since SFA added a coaster, as a matter of fact, they have taken one OUT since then... They really need to add something, but I am with the few on here that thinks whatever it is, won't be a "big deal" anyway. That park the last few years has been a ghost town. A month ago on a Saturday my wife and I went and they were running ONE train on the major rides like Superman and we were getting stay on rerides. What does that tell you?
I used to HATE this park, but I have to admit the management there has really tried the last few years. The employees are much better and more friendly than ever before. The last 3 or 4 visits we have had there, I can actually say we had fun.

Danny Biggerstaff
CoAsTeRDaN