Photo TR: Fun Fore All and Waldameer

DerekRx · July 19, 2005

Originally this past weekend I was supposed to move my office and lab to the new cancer center at the hospital, but since it was nowhere near ready for us to move in, I was free to spend my weekend doing what I usually do, ride coasters. Leaving Friday night after work I arrived in Pittsburgh at 10:30, it would have been 9:30, but some truck driver was too busy jamming to Willie Nelson to notice the concrete divider in front of him, thus causing me and everyone else on the Turnpike at that time to sit in traffic and go 8 miles in 1 hour! Saturday morning I’d meet up with the Coaster Team Pittsborg edition; Greg “Gluttenfree” Legowski, Tim “N’atman” Melago, Dave “Borg” Sandborg, and Janna (Jenna) “Banana” Rasmussen at Ritter’s Diner for some breakfast before the start of the journey.

First stop on my credit whoring weekend was to the fairly new Fun Fore All in Cranberry, PA. Its basically a family fun center with go-carts, arcade, kiddie rides, loads of mini golf, and our reason for the stop, Fiesta Express. This was probably the fastest I’ve ever been at a park. At most we were there for 10 minutes, just enough to pay for our ride, get our ride, take a few pictures, buy a Coke, and leave. The place is small, and the coaster is just a typical Zamperla mini-mouse, but the place overall has a nice atmosphere. The golf courses are nicely groomed and maintained, food service seemed good, and the place even has a map! Comparing it to the similar Blue Diamond Park in Delaware, this place is nicer. (it actually has a few small trees!)

About 2 hours later we would pull into Waldameer’s parking lot. It was hot, fairly crowded, and like 100% humidity. We got our wristbands, ran into a few other ACErs up there for the day, and took our ride on Comet. The line for this junior woodie wasn’t too long, but with only 1 train running, it took some time. The ride was cute though, not the same layout as the Scooby’s, and it was nicely shaded. Walking towards our next possible credit, the skies opened up. Luckily my arthritis sensed it coming and I felt the first couple of drops hit as we took shelter in the nearby cookie shop. About 10 minutes later it would stop raining, and we’d attempt to ride the Ravine Flyer 3 kiddie coaster. Normally you need a kid to ride, but since there was no line and we weren’t teenagers, we were granted access. it’s a normal Miler kiddie coaster with a helix, but its location all over water was really neat.

Before the rain reorganized, we wanted to get the last credit out of the way, so we went over to the newest coaster, Steel Dragon. The wait wasn’t too bad, and they were running like 4 or 5 cars on it, so we only waited about 10 minutes. I like the layout and the seating arrangement. We spun a bit, but not too much nor not enough. After that we made our way towards the dark rides, Pirates Cover walkthru and then the Wacky Shack, when the skies once again opened up. Luckily we were under the shelter of the Wacky Shack queue, and by the time we got off the ride, it was done raining again. We then rode the sky ride, ferris wheel, ate, and took my family train around the park before heading back down to Conneaut Lake.

Before stopping at the park, we’d make a stop to Tim’s family’s summer cottage in Conneaut, and then take a visit to the Linesville Spillway, home of the sickest amount of carp ever. This place has so many carp that the ducks can actually walk on them! Equipped with several bags of hot dog rolls, we’d feed the carp, including the elusive Mr. Peanut Carp, and be entertained for several minutes at the wonders of the carb-loving carp as well as Saco, the Fisherman.

Next up: Conneaut Lake