KNOTT'S PONY EXPRESS - A RIDE FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY!

Manufactured by Zamperla, Pony Express is a family coaster much like the park's Jaguar!  Pony Express features a 16-horse train that has riders sitting side-by-side, straddling their ponies.  The launch system takes the trains from 0 - 38 MPH in about three seconds.  After climbing to a maximum height of 44 feet, the train navigates a series of small drops and several 60-degree banked turns (the most interesting being through a "tunnel" and then returns to the station.

The track is short - 1,300 feet in length, that wraps through some of Ghost Town and a good portion of the White Water Wilderness section of the theme park.  The most interesting portion of the ride is through a tunnel that sits alongside Bigfoot Rapids. 

One thing that we noticed right away about this coaster is the unusual design of the train itself.  You actually sit on the horse - very reminiscent of the old Motorcycle Chase at Knott's in the Roaring '20s area that was eventually replaced by the Wacky Soapbox Racers.  There is a horse outside of the queue for potential riders to try on for size.  Bigger folks are not going to dig the design.  As a former "big guy" that still has a ways to go, TPA's Rick West fit snugly into the horse; Rick weighed 193 pounds at the time we visited Knott's to ride Pony Express.  Any larger, and it would have been mighty uncomfortable.

A very uncomfortable back lock/restraint "pins" riders down into their horses - and God help you if you lean forward more during the ride; the restraint keeps pinning and you find yourself squashed by the time you return to the station; NOT a great feature.

On the flip-side, a rather pleasant surprise was how quick the coaster does feel - it moves quicker than it looks.  That was something that shocked us - because watching the coaster from the ground, it looks rather lethargic, to be honest.  Riders are laughing and smiling - some screaming - but NONE look terrified like they do on GhostRider or Silver Bullet.  Pony Express is very tame - the perfect coaster for youngsters making the transition between kid coasters and something more adult.  Teens and adults looking for something more thrilling should stick to Montezooma's Revenge or the park's other faster coasters.

We felt that Pony Express is a good idea - the execution of it at Knott's however, is mediocre at best.  Pony Express would make a great terrain coaster, swooping through canyons, caves and over serious bunny hops.  Even tearing through the trees and along the flume of Bigfoot Rapids would have been interesting.  Unfortunately, due to space restriction, the track for Pony Express is kind of a lazy figure 8; semi-thrilling at best and definitely not worth more than a 10 - 15-minute wait, in our opinion.

What pains Knott's enthusiasts is that some of the Calico graveyard was displaced to make room for the coaster.  Many complain that Knott's is becoming heartless - much of the charm of the Farm fading and being replaced by concrete and coasters.  Theme Park Adventure is on the fence about this; the question we ask is, would you rather see Cedar Fair evolve Knott's and keep it functioning in today's market or would you let Knott's become a museum and ultimately, fail?  Yes, it is painful to see structures lost and much of our childhood memories fade into the history books; but without evolution (yes, in some cases, that means losing Ghost Town buildings and real estate), the entire Farm will fade and our beloved Berry Farm will become a strip mall or the newest WalMart and Home Depot location.

The hang-up that we have with Pony Express is that it could have been something very unique and cool - and yet, it comes across as a take it or leave it attraction.  When you visit Knott's a trip on the Mine Ride or even Zoom is a must.  We don't see fans rushing to ride Pony Express time and again the way they will GhostRider or the Log Ride.  Unfortunately, Pony Express will fall into the same category as Jaguar!  A decent family coaster - but nothing to write home about for the serious coaster enthusiasts or thrill seekers.

Was this a good move for Knott's?  It's too early to say.  Was it a long-term investment that will draw people in to the park for years to come?  Probably not.  Pony Express reminds us of the type of thing you buy while playing Roller Coaster Tycoon when you are short on cash and need something new in your park to satisfy people for the short-term.