While browsing around RCDB about a month ago, I was shocked to find how many coasters I was missing in New England and the nearby area. I knew I had never been to La Ronde, but several of the ski resorts added mountain coasters or there were scattered smaller credits I never got. I've embarked on a 2 month quest to try and reduce this number.
York's Wild Kingdom I hadn't been to York's Wild Kingdom in almost 10 years. Primarily a zoo, the park also has a decent rides area with some good fun houses and other flat rides. The real reason for my visit was to ride the park's Wacky Mouse, a wacky worm, that wasn't there in my last visit.
Wacky Mouse was basically what I expected except there was a trim brake on the ride's "big" drop. Why aren't people signing petitions for this like they did with the trim brake on Intimidator 305's drop? This is major news if I'm a kid.
The fun houses had some effects down and the park doesn't allow you to go upside down any more, but the fun houses are still unique. The Persian Camel one has sliding staircases which is a rare and very fun gag. Then the Jungle Fun House feels like a cheap version of Noah's Ark and I loved every moment of it.
My favorite ride at the park is still the Ferris Wheel. The park runs this one quite a bit faster than most parks and this produces a tummy tickling sensation going over the top. It also helps that the views of York Beach are very nice.
On a sad note, the park removed their old Bumper Cars, which were amazing. They added new bumper cars by the Go Karts, but these cars were extremely slow and couldn't do anything more than tap other cars.
York's Wild Kingdom. Most people come for the animals. I come for the rides.
Specifically this one.
There it is in all of its glory. The trim brake of doom.
The wonderfully cheap Jungle Fun House. Look at that gorilla!
This is some of the theming you get inside lol.
The other fun house is the Persian Camel fun house.
I imagine the sliding stairs would be difficult/funny if one were intoxicated. Please add these to a German fair circuit.
They also have a barrel, but you can't go upside down any longer.
There's also a round up that can hypnotize you into going on the Wacky Mouse. I was hypnotized.
And a Scrambler.
This is still the best ride in the park. They seriously run this faster than any other park.
That looks like a nice beach. Is this Maine or New Hampshire?
http://coaster-count.com/userinfo15854.xhtml and http://www.coastercounter.com/805Andrew (I don't count traveling fairs and casinos as parks, and I count Coney Island as one park)[url=http://www.clubtpr.com][img]http://www.clubtpr.com/images/memberbanners/07c56b6e6c57795b5e848cab51dd406e.jpg[/img][/url][url=http://www.clubtpr.com][img]http://www.clubtpr.com/images/memberbanners/4bcb6d715cbe293b80fdfea5d0baf0b0.jpg[/img][/url]
I was shocked to have realized I hadn't been to Funtown in almost 8 years, so I decided to remedy that with a visit after York's Wild KIngdom as the park was offering an $11 late night special. I had all of the credits, so the visit was purely to ride my favorites at the park. I still love the overall family vibe at the park, but the ride park can definitely be done in just a few hours. Most of their recent additions have added to the water park. My ride count for the day was:
Excalibur- This was one of my first wooden coasters and it's still a favorite of mine. The ride has a great setting in the woods and the first drop is surprisingly steep which results in some powerful air in the back. The entire first half has some really strong air. The second half seems to lose quite a bit of speed though and substitutes the air for laterals. Night rides on this are particularly nice since there's no light out in the woods. 8 out of 10
Wild Mouse- This is a pretty average mouse. The ride looks big where it's located in the park since it's near the Tilt-a-Whirl, Frog Hopper, and Astrosphere. 6 out of 10
Dragon's Descent- In general I prefer other manufacturers' drop towers to the S&S ones, but Dragon's Descent is one of the best S&S ones I've been on. The park has a very nicely themed area around the tower and the views from the top are fantastic (sit on the side facing the dragon entrance and you can see the ocean and Palace Playland's Galaxi coaster). The drop gives a nice burst of air, but slows up faster than the other manufacturers. 8 out of 10
Astrosphere- This is hands down the best scrambler anywhere. It may not be as fast as some of the others, but it has a long cycle and an incredibly good light show. And Fire on High is one of my favorite songs. 10 out of 10
Thunder Falls Log Flume- A very good log flume. The ride hugs the terrain well and has a long layout. The final drop is fairly tall and the splash has the perfect amount of wetness. 9 out of 10
Bumper Cars- These are some of the best bumper cars around. The park gives a 5 minute cycle and allows you to go in any direction. This is also the only park I've seen that doesn't discourage head-on collisions. 10 out of 10
On a sad note, the park no longer sells authentic metal swords by Excalibur.
This is what I like to see in the parking lot. The lift hill is about the only part of Excalibur you can see before walking up to it.
Dragon's Descent is the tallest thrill ride in New England.
And one of the best themed drop towers anywhere.
Better than the prequel trilogy.
I took a lot of photos of the drop tower, but that's because it's so well themed.
The drop pod and mat racer slides were new since my last visit. I didn't get a chance to visit the water park though. They looked nice!
I did ride this water ride. Thunder Falls is a great log flume.
The park really tries to give you an unacceptable amount of wetness by color coding the drop to the water cannons.
The park's other coaster is a pretty typical wild mouse.
The park has a good collection of classic flats.
It's highlighted by the amazing light and music show known as Astrosphere.
The 5 minute cycle, head-on collisions are permitted Bumper Cars are up there too.
I really like the Sea Dragon's appearance over the water. It's a small touch but I really like it for some reason.
It's the little things like this that make me like Funtown.
Any park with a suit of armor is good in my book.
Bye Funtown. I'll be back next year.
Top 5 Wood- Lightning Rod, Voyage, Coaster (PNE Playland), Phoenix, Boulder Dash Top 5 Steel- Steel Vengeance, Untamed, Expedition GeForce, Twisted Colossus, Schwur des Karnan Most Recent Trip Reports- Dutch Wonderland & Hersheypark- Summer
I had all of the roller coaster credits at Canobie, but I was overdue for my annual visit to the park. I love Canobie (if my user name doesn't give that away) and have been going there my whole life. The park is very well run and has the perfect classic park atmosphere.
One of the primary reasons for my visit was to check out Canobie's new pinball parlor. The park renovated the old arcade near Untamed and moved all of the park's pinball machines there. The park had a great mix of classic machines with modern machines and I'll be sure to stop in for at least a game or two in all of my visits.
Yankee Cannonball- This was my first wooden coaster so it holds a special place in my heart. The park takes care of the ride well as it is one of the smoothest wooden coasters anywhere despite being 80 years old. The first and third drops still gives really good air in the back; however, the GCI retracking smoothed out the ride and sapped it of the air-time that used to be present on almost every hill. The ride is still fun and a classic, but it's not as good as it used to be. 7 out of 10
Untamed- My first Eurofighter is an intense little coaster. I love the bear-themed cars and lodge-themed station. The first drop gives really strong air and is the most intense moment in the park. Unfortunately the rest of the ride needs to be ridden defensively as the transitions can be pretty rough. I'd love to see this get lapbar only trains, but until then I'll continue to ride it defensively to enjoy the loop, inline twist, and first drop. 7 out of 10
Canobie Corkscrew- Every year I visit, I keep thinking it will be the ride's last year. However, the ride just keeps on kicking. The first drop still gives good air in the back and the corkscrews aren't too uncomfortable since I've ridden it enough that I can brace myself appropriately. 6 out of 10
I'm at Roller Coaster Tycoon the park.
Actually not really. Roller Coaster Tycoon the park would have the vehicle shooting off the tower.
Star Blaster is one of the best double shot towers.
It was 60 degrees, so I wasn't feeling the Boston Tea Party.
I did get the fried clams though. They were decent, but a little expensive even by park standards.
Untamed is wild.
I just love the station.
And those cars.
This is the only photo I got of the Cannonball. It's a really difficult ride to photograph from inside the park since it runs along the parking lot.
Inside here is the craziest rotor around.
I haven't found a rotor or gravitron that goes nearly as fast as Canobie's.
Classic log flume.
Great lighting package on the ferris wheel.
And lastly the pinball parlor!
Classics like Super Mario Bros.
Star Wars
Star Trek
Spider-Man (wish it wasn't themed to 3 though)
Pirates
Lord of the ringy dingy ding-a-ling dings
Ghostbusters
And the famous Roller Coaster Tycoon
Top 5 Wood- Lightning Rod, Voyage, Coaster (PNE Playland), Phoenix, Boulder Dash Top 5 Steel- Steel Vengeance, Untamed, Expedition GeForce, Twisted Colossus, Schwur des Karnan Most Recent Trip Reports- Dutch Wonderland & Hersheypark- Summer
Sorry to hear the fried clams were just decent. I always recommend that place even though it is expensive because I like when parks serve local food and the clams were fresh both times I bought them.
As usual, my analysis is free of charge! Original enough to not steal someone else's quote as a signature
larrygator wrote:Sorry to hear the fried clams were just decent. I always recommend that place even though it is expensive because I like when parks serve local food and the clams were fresh both times I bought them.
I really appreciate them serving the local food, but objectively I've had far better clams. Maybe they were better in past years. I've found the park's food quality has been trending downwards in the past few years.
Top 5 Wood- Lightning Rod, Voyage, Coaster (PNE Playland), Phoenix, Boulder Dash Top 5 Steel- Steel Vengeance, Untamed, Expedition GeForce, Twisted Colossus, Schwur des Karnan Most Recent Trip Reports- Dutch Wonderland & Hersheypark- Summer
Because of my love for Quassy's Wooden Warrior, I had to check out Story Land's version, Roar-o-Saurus. I don't know why it took me this long to get back to the park (actually I do; it's probably because I have a beard and no kids) but I really enjoyed my visit. Story Land is one of the best themed parks around. Even their standard rides like the tilt-a-whirl, tubs-of-fun, and flying scooters are themed. The park is also littered with playgrounds and play areas for the young kids.
Roar-o-Saurus- For anyone who has been on Wooden Warrior, Roar-o-Saurus is a more aggressive version. The ride has more hills, all of which have airtime. I think I counted 12-13 moments of air time. The ride is pretty smooth; some of the turns have shuffling but that's a relatively minor complaint. Don't be fooled by the ride's size because this is definitely one of the top 10 wooden coasters I've been on out of the 70 or so I've been on. 9 out of 10
Polar Coaster- The park's oldest coaster is still a unique little coaster. Situated on the park's hill, the Polar Coaster has a mine train esque layout with small dips and a solid final helix. For a junior coaster, it's a really fun ride. 6 out of 10
The park also has a great collection of water rides. The flume (Bamboo Chutes) has the best themed ride vehicles anywhere in my opinion and a solid layout. The river rapids ride (Dr. Geyser's) is an interesting version. There's no rapids whatsoever, but instead the ride has several sprayers and geysers to get you wet. Then there's Splash Battle if you want to leave drenched from head to toe.
Onto the photos!
Welcome to Story Land. For future reference, going here alone with a beard probably looked kind of sketchy.
Beware of animals.
No wolf, so everyone is safe.
Story Land is one of the nicest themed parks around.
The park has plenty of little play areas for the kids.
Hope there's some air freshener in there.
The real reason for my visit was the park's Gravity Group woodie, Roar-o-Saurus.
Roar-o-Saurus was fantastic. It's an intense little coaster with way more airtime than woodies 2-4 times its size.
This is the park's only real thrill ride. Half the kids I saw came off crying. The other half were excited and ran back in line.
I love the trains! The park's attention to detail is impeccable.
Lift hill porn.
Omg is that really a Tebow jersey...
These are the best ride vehicles ever.
The Bamboo Chutes is a cute little flume. Yes that is a dragon. And he may blow all of the rides. With water that is.
If a dragon blowing on you doesn't get you wet enough, there's Dr. Geyser's.
This is how I learned to make it rain.
This was one of my first ever coasters way back when.
Then there's this evil thing if you really really want to get wet.
Story Land may be the park with the best trains/ride vehicles anywhere. Yes better than Disney.
The Polar Coaster feels like a mini mine train coaster. The park uses its natural terrain very well.
If spinning is your thing, Cuckoo Clockenspiel has you covered.
Just look at the detail on this tubs of fun ride.
If you're not dizzy enough there's the Turtle Twirl.
The park also has the best carousel without ringy dingy ding-a-ling dings.
The horses rock back and forth. It's a good way to exercise.
The park even themed their flying scooters. Unfortunately they're pretty tame and unsnappable.
Crazy Barn is an interesting flat.
They also have these farm tractors.
Or regular cars if you don't want to feel like a hick.
Oh yeah they also have the safari ride which is an awesome rip off of the Jungle Cruise.
It even has a little white girl!
I always wanted to milk a cow! If this is one of your dreams too, get down to Story Land.
Top 5 Wood- Lightning Rod, Voyage, Coaster (PNE Playland), Phoenix, Boulder Dash Top 5 Steel- Steel Vengeance, Untamed, Expedition GeForce, Twisted Colossus, Schwur des Karnan Most Recent Trip Reports- Dutch Wonderland & Hersheypark- Summer
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