Two New Rides at Castle Park in 2008

[bioscikingCan I park my donkey here?]

Castle Park in Riverside is arguably the biggest and best of the "smaller" parks in Southern California. It is a rare occasion that this park even gets one new ride, so imagine my surprise when they quietly announced that they would be adding two rides this year.

The Dragon Flyers opened in the summer, and the Screamin' Demon opened in the fall (a little later than anticipated, I think). A trip to Castle Park was definitely in order, so I paid a visit during the Thanksgiving weekend.

EDIT: It appears as though I posted all the pictures backwards. Sorry, I'm just learning how to do this. Please read from the bottom up. Thanks!

[CoasterPeteI Love Donkeys!]

Hey, great report! I've always wanted to see some pictures of the different types of rides this park offered and you provided that greatly! Looks like a fun park that I'd try to visit if I'm ever out that way. Thanks!

Pete

[larrygatorObsessive Overlord of the TPR Park Index]

A couple times I got the flyers to swing out to the point that the attached cables kind of rattled and shook the whole vehicle in a lurching fashion. Is this the mark of a good flyer ride?

Sounds like nirvana to me.

FYI - I added this Photo TR to the TPR's Park Index

[cfcI've gone pantless!]

EDIT: It appears as though I posted all the pictures backwards. Sorry, I'm just learning how to do this. Please read from the bottom up. Thanks!

I think almost all new posters have done this (including me a few years ago).

Is the "Ghost Blasters" ride the standard Sally model (like they have at the Mall of America)?

[packfanlv"Been Around The World And Realized Only Stupid People Are Breeding"]

Great TR! I didn't realize that Castle Park had so many rides. I was planning a trip down there in March on my was to Disneyland, but may hold off until my son hits 51" since you mention that height requirement for the coaster. (He is about 50" now!)

I also posted my first TR in the wrong order, so don't worry about it. Thanks again for the great pictures!

[RCFreakTPR's Favorite Beaner]

My first TR was the right way so lol just kidding great pics! Usually I don't take my camera (as a trip to CP is always a last minute decision) and it's usually dark by then. The pics end up not so good with a phone's camera.

This is the park I grew up with and sadly(?) most of the rides are the exact same, so it's good to see new rides come in. the only thing I have no idea about those flyers. Out of the two or three times I've been on them, they have all had different speeds each time so I wonder if weight is a factor in it? Sucks to hear about the new coaster though, it didn't seem like much, but I'm sure if they ran it a little faster it would be a lot better.

[eblTPR's Olden Goldie]

Believe it or not, I'm a lifelong SoCal resident and I have never been to Castle Park. I didn't even know they had Flyers there! So it looks like a trip to Riverside County is in order. Maybe I'll combine it with a trip to the Orange Empire Railway Museum.

Anyway, that Fabbri coaster looks like the Pole Position ride that tours the county fair circuit. If it is, I recall that it wasn't much fun and I got pretty banged around on it at the Ventura County Fair a couple of years back.

Nice Photo TR, by the way.

Eric

[itnotfairI'm a know-it-all about donkeys!]

^ Yep, its Pole Position.

[bioscikingCan I park my donkey here?]

Is the "Ghost Blasters" ride the standard Sally model (like they have at the Mall of America)?

I actually don't know the answer to this, as I've only been on one other Ghost Blasters ride, at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. Castle Park's is different than that one, though. Castle Park's actually has a long, winding incline in the middle of the ride, which gradually drops back down to ground level by the end. I don't remember Santa Cruz's having this element. Do the standard models?

I was planning a trip down there in March on my was to Disneyland, but may hold off until my son hits 51" since you mention that height requirement for the coaster.

The Dragon's Tower also has a 52" height requirement, but other than that the requirements are 48" or less for everything.

Sucks to hear about the new coaster though, it didn't seem like much, but I'm sure if they ran it a little faster it would be a lot better.

I think this is true also. I'm wondering if they haven't gotten it to work quite right yet, what with all the technical difficulties. Right at the beginning I thought it was going to be good, but the brakes really killed it quickly. If they would ease off on them, I'm sure there'd be a lot more spinning action and a much more enjoyable ride.

Thanks for the comments, everyone.

[Jew"It's not small, but it is very 'average.'"]

^ Yep, its Pole Position.

It's the same model and theme, but not the same coaster. Hector had some photos of it under construction in July, but Pole Position was at the Ventura County Fair in August.