Cedar Point Welcomes Coastermaniacs!

The cars slowly moved forward through the parking booths in the early morning.  Any casual passerby would have done a double-take, for the sky was still dark, with the stars brightly shining.  This is Cedar Point, the home of the most roller coasters in any one place in the world.  But the parking lot is open at 4:30 A.M., people are pulling in, and the park doesn’t open till 10:00 A.M.  What’s going on?

In a word, Coastermania.

Coastermania is Cedar Point’s celebration of all things roller coaster.  Today only, members of roller coaster and amusement park clubs are allowed early entry into the park to experience most rides long before the park opens.

Today, the major attraction is Maverick, the 17 roller coaster in the park, and more importantly, the new-for-2007 attraction.  This unconventional roller coaster has drawn aficionados from all across the country.  Over 1,700 attendees showed up, because they could ride Maverick beginning at 6:00 in the morning.  Bryan Edwards, PR Manager from Cedar Point gave a very brief welcome, and then ran for cover as the eagerly anticipating riders swarmed into the park.  Clutching a souvenir cup for free soft drink refills all day, they quickly made their way through the length of the park to the Maverick entrance.  The enthusiasts were in the park so early the grounds keeping crews were astounded, for they weren't used to seeing guests walking through the park at dawn.

Coaster fans from Canada, Florida, California, New Jersey and everywhere in between greeted old friends and surged through the queue.  The station erupted with cheers and applause as the first train pulled out and proceeded towards the lift hill.  Every seat was full, and since these riders were old hands at riding coasters, dispatching trains was a smooth operation. Every time a train returned, the riders rushed out of the station to return to the line.  Everyone had an opinion, and some, it seemed, had more than one.

Stationed at the entrance, Rob, a native of Roswell, New Mexico, was watching the people stream by his post.  Scott asked him, “What’s scarier?  Coaster enthusiasts or alien enthusiasts?”  Rob laughed, “That’s a good question!  Actually, I like to ride, and it's fun watching other people ride and have a good time.  It is a little early to see the smiling happy people today however.”  As Rob checked the badges of people entering the line, he asked the ones he recognized, “How did you like it?”  As if he needed to, really; they are getting back in line.  They must have liked it!

Maverick is the coaster that refuses to conform to the orthodox definition of a roller coaster.  “Chain lift - hah!  We don’t need no stinkin’ chain lifts!”

Maverick uses linear synchronous motors to raise the train up the lift hill.  Straight down?  No; let’s go beyond straight down.  The first drop on the coaster is 95 degrees.  While some coasters soar high above the trees, Maverick is very down-to-earth; like within five feet of the ground.  The sensation of speed is especially intense when riders fly past the rest of the track’s supports.

Maverick has a long, dark tunnel that contains another set of LSMs that accelerate the train to 70 M.P.H., in the dark.  A sound system supplies galloping hooves during the second launch.

Following the horse theme, all of the turns move you similar to riding an out-of-control horse.  Abrupt changes in direction, strong G-forces; it is one exciting ride.  From the wicked S-turn on the first drop, to the over-banked turn finale, it's non-stop directional changes.  It has strong moments of airtime as you crest the hills, and great laterals everywhere.  The horseshoe element gives some “hang time” effects when the train hits it at the right speed.

Watching Maverick in operation, there are trains scooting along the track everywhere simultaneously.  With the water bombs exploding and trains traveling in all directions, it takes a while to figure how it all works.  No wonder the computer sometimes takes a break for a reset during the day!

Cedar Point added some theming to the mix with Maverick.  There are rock formations built into the ride and even some water bombs that trigger as the train goes by.  When you add in the sounds and decorations in the tunnel, this is a step in a different direction for Cedar Point.  It is a nice welcome change to their past practices.

As some of the attendees had their fill of Maverick, they moved on to Millennium Force and Skyhawk; different rides for different folks - a little bit of something for everyone at Coastermania.

The park opened to the public at 10:00 A.M., when the early birds were ready to take a deep breath, and then decide what line to get into for their next ride.  Many were already talking about what questions they hoped to hear at the Q&A session as they wandered the midways, taking advantage of short lines.

At noon, approximately 500 Coastermania attendees took part in a Q&A session with the Cedar Fair Entertainment Company executives.  From left to right; Rob Decker, Corporate Vice President of Planning and Design for Cedar Fair Entertainment Company; John Hildebrandt, Vice President and General Manager of Cedar Point; Dick Kinzel, Chairman of the Board, President and CEO of Cedar Fair Entertainment Company; Monty Jasper, Corporate Vice President, Safety and Engineering for Cedar Fair Entertainment Company; Ed Dangler, Director of Maintenance and New Construction for Cedar Point; and Bob Wozniak, Director of Park Operations for Cedar Point.

As some enthusiasts attempted to pry loose the future planning secrets, others asked questions about the newly-purchased parks (weak on steel coasters - Dick Kinzel), the old free pass program (not equal for all guests - Bob Wozniak), to even thanking the panel for hosting this coaster event.

The executives told some funny stories and offered a rare look at the back story of amusement parks.  All too soon it ended, and the attendees joined the crowds on the midway.

At 2:00 P.M., Cedar Point hosted a picnic lunch at the Point Pavilion.  Situated between Raptor and Blue Streak, fried chicken, hot dogs, potato salad and lasagna were consumed, with soft drinks and ice cream for dessert.

There were some introductions, and the winners of the scavenger hunt prizes were announced.  Now, Bryan Edwards has a unique way of determining prizes.  His idea is to turn the winner loose at the Pagoda Shop and let them select up to $100.00 of Cedar Point souvenirs!  That way the winner gets what they want, and it spares Bryan the tough selection process.  Some of the winners had already visited the shop so they finished quickly but others took longer.  All of the winners made a quick trip to the car to stash their prizes.

The next group activity was Exclusive Ride Time after the park closed at 10:00 P.M.  That’s right, ERT on Magnum, Power Tower and Top Thrill Dragster until way past midnight!  To prepare for that, many of the enthusiasts were seen visiting with their friends, enjoying leisurely dinners in some of Cedar Point sit-down restaurants, or even taking a nap in the grass.  They had been riding coasters since 6:00 A.M. and although the day was half done, a little rest could make the night session more fun.  Many of them settled around the “Million Dollar Midway,” both to get a good seat for the night show and trying to stay off their feet for a while.

Turning coaster enthusiasts loose on coasters at night is like offering milk to a cat.  They both lap it up, without needing any further encouragement.  True to form, as soon as the “Light up the Night” show concluded, lines formed at the entrances to the designated ERT rides.

As the public exited the park, they could here the cheers of the Coastermania attendees, taking their first rides.  The enthusiasts wandered from ride to ride, as lines built up and their tastes differed.  All too soon, the ride entrances closed, and the enthusiasts already in line run out, and then the stations were again quiet.

Goodbyes were exchanged as the attendees exited the park, because many knew they wouldn’t see some of their friends again till next year.  The maintenance crews began to make noise working on the coasters, double checking everything because it was a few short hours before the roller coasters would be running again.  The park never is totally quiet at night, but now the music is gone, and the hubbub caused by the crowds is absent.  Fond memories of a great day in the park will have to last until the next visit, which for some is tomorrow, a few merely days away, and for rest, maybe next year...

Brits And Corn Invade Indiana Beach

The bus arrived about 9:00 A.M.  77 people who seemed normal, but talked a little differently, started strolling across Indiana's longest suspension bridge.  Who were they?

They were the Roller Coaster Club of Great Britain, on their bi-annual trip to the United States.  Flying across the pond and chartering a bus, they planned to experience some of the finest parks and rides North America has to offer an amusement park lover.  Spanning the last week of May and over the first week of June, trips like these that include double-digit park totals are dream vacations, especially if it is your first venture in the country.  Indiana Beach extended tremendous hospitality, even having their employees arrive early so the Brits could enjoy a little special time in the park.

Normally, bumper cars are wild enough, but when you put a bunch of guests used to driving on the “wrong” side of the road in with some natives, it is totally insane!  The RCCGB has some interesting traditions, such as group cheering.  They do this while they are on rides, eating lunch, honoring a park or coaster, thanking employees for working early; they do it for any reason at all.  On the bumper cars, they had unusual exuberance, as you could hear the shouts all through the park.  Resort guests taking a morning stroll gathered to see what the “fun,” was about.  After a few spins, the Brits grew tired of the smell of ozone and meandered to “Den of Lost Thieves” for some good old pirate shooting action.

As new high scores were posted, loud huzzahs erupted and trash-talking ensued.  Many riders chose the option to ride again, in hopes of improving their rankings.  The queue turned into a ghost town as soon as they heard the lift chains running on the roller coasters.  Giving cheers to honor the maintenance crews for allowing them to ride early, the Brits enjoyed the first runs of the day.  Cornball Express and Lost Coaster of Superstition Mountain received the most riders, and their trains remained full the whole Exclusive Ride Time.  Once the rest of the park opened, they dispersed to see the rest of the grounds, after reminders about meeting for lunch.

The club members gathered in the Skyroom Restaurant, where a special Saturday buffet was waiting for them.  Rocky Raccoon, Cornball Jones, and of course IB Crow, stopped by to surprise them and a line formed for the Brits to get their pictures taken with the mascots.  The RCCGBers honored the chefs and staff with a cheer, much to the amazement of the other Skyroom patrons.  Then, the chefs came out into the dining room to respond in kind.

Tom Spackman Sr., owner of Indiana Beach, was introduced to the club, which resulted in more cheers and applause.  Once the formalities were completed, another line formed so they could get their snapshot taken with Mr. Spackman.  Once everyone had eaten and gotten their special photos, they took off for more rides.  Some of the group had already reserved a fleet of wave runners, so they went to get wet.  Not understanding the “No Wake” signs, they were let off with warnings by the Conservation Officer.  Later in the day they dried off and everyone loaded the bus and drove off down the road, for the next park on their itinerary.

But the RCCGB was not the only excitement for the day...

Since 1986, Indiana Beach has trumpeted to the world, “There’s more than corn in Indiana.”  On June 9, 2007, they backslid on that advertising campaign by hosting a day celebrating many things corn.  A pickup truck converted to ethanol was on display, roasted corn nut snacks were passed out, and a cornhole tournament was scheduled.  Boardwalk passersby could enter a guess as to how many kernels of corn were in a large jar.  39 teams registered to play, both early and on Saturday.  Businesses sponsored tournament courts, and the proceeds benefited White County Special Olympics.  Cornhole is played similarly to horseshoes, but since the players throw bags of corn, no clanging sounds or sandpits are required.

Stacia and Michael White, Monticello residents, started practicing after East to prepare for the competition.  John Gutterman and Sean Wright even got a sponsor, Gutwein Motors, and managed to finish third in the tournament.  Jim and Chris Novy edged out Pete Sulsky and Pete Woznicki for the First Place trophy and a check for $500.  While the real winners were the Special Olympics clients, everyone who had fun or learned something new also took home a pleasant memory.

All in all, an interesting day for Indiana Beach, having overseas guests and celebrating corn.  The more things change, the more they remain the same.

Griffon Soars Over Busch Gardens Europe!

Since our Memorial Day weekend trip took us to the Atlantic shore, we had to visit Busch Gardens Europe along the way.  After all, Griffon, their new dive coaster, was open and running!

Griffon is painted to blend in with the sky so it doesn’t look as imposing with the muted colors.  At first glance, you might think it is a “shoot-the-chute," but you would be wrong.  Located in the Aquitaine section, Griffon takes full advantage of the local terrain.  Wrapping itself around the sky ride, and diving under the pedestrian bridge, the new roller coaster is as much show as ride, for those who don’t dare to experience it first hand.

With trains that are 10 seats wide, Griffon gives most riders the opportunity for a front seat ride, but the stadium seating configuration of the train means that most riders won’t care.  The sensation of nothing below your feet works in all three rows, but from the ground, seeing the legs of all the front row passengers underlines the floorless aspect of the ride.  When you are riding, all you see is the ground way far away, and you feel vulnerable, if not scared.

Entering the plaza, the theming sets Griffon apart from other coasters.  How many other coasters have a knight greeting the oncoming riders?  Not a statue, but a live person, complete with a town crier for comic relief.  Guests are encouraged to become part of the show, and this is especially nice for those in your party that are afraid to ride Busch Gardens' new coaster; a great photo opportunity and something neat for the kids too short to ride.  The height minimum is 54 inches for all riders.

As you cross the bridge, pause for a moment if the coaster is already operating.  The looks on the riders faces range from exultation to terror, with every emotion in between.  After they pass under you, they invert and sometimes the looks change again.  After negotiating the waiting queue, it’s finally your turn.  Once your restraint has been secured and checked, the massive horizontal pipes swing open and the train exits the station.  The train swiftly climbs the lift hill, angled at 45 degrees, just like Sheikra.  At the top of the lift, the track curves around to give you a fantastic view of the James River and Chesapeake Bay.  Griffon is the tallest coaster in the park, and you feel like you are flying in something slow, like a blimp as you approach the first drop.

The train engages a “drop” chain, which moves it over the edge, so the riders can fully appreciate the 90-degree drop.  From the bridge, all you can see are 20 legs wiggling with fear.  The first drop is 205 feet, straight down and every seat has floater airtime.  The train quickly accelerates to 75 miles per hour, but cannot outrun the screams of the passengers.  You briefly fly out of your seat going down and then pulling out of the drop exposes you to four G's, the maximum effect of the ride.  Next up is the first Immelman, with the disorientation feeling stronger the closer to the outside of the train you are sitting.  The entire train gets a good moment of airtime, feeling slightly more intense towards the front row.

After going through the first Immelman, the train climbs back to brake block and sets up for the second vertical drop.  Not having the train go through the tower like Sheikra subtracts a little, but the second Immelman more than makes up for the difference.  As you plunge towards the River Rhine, the train also does a close flyby of the Alpengeist station before encountering multiple airtime hills and dropping down into the splash pool.  Before returning to the station, the train soars above the splash pool and the riders get a nice cooling mist, must appreciated during the Virginia summers.

In conclusion, a nice addition to Busch Gardens Europe, and Griffon is sure to thrill throngs of park visitors for the future at the park.  Watching the ride, watching the loading process, and even enjoying the knight ensure there’s something for everyone with this new attraction.  The end row riders get some extra thrills as the wide train barely fits through the tight ride path.  So take a moment out from visiting Jamestown’s 400^th anniversary and stop in to Busch Gardens Europe to have the bottom drop out of your latest coaster experience.

                                                    Scott & Carol

Trimper~Rides-Amusements

Ocean City Maryland's Boardwalk Playground!

When a country like the United States has so much coastline available, spending time along the shore is destined to become a national pastime. With the traditional start of the summer season being Memorial Day, many seaside resorts open for yet another summer of thrills, food, and sea air. The sea air is the most important; because that served as the starting point for most of the coastal resorts, back during the late 1800’s. The country’s growing industrial base was polluting the air of the cities, and many physicians encouraged their patients travel to the coast and inhale some “sea air,” and bathe in the sea. Enough patrons managed to do both without confusing them, and so “bathing villages” sprang up next to the shore.  One of the older amusement parks located on a boardwalk is Trimpers Rides, near the south end of the Ocean City, MD boardwalk.

Ocean City was a small fishing village that incorporated in 1875. The rail road line was lengthened across the bay, and tourism was just beginning to appear. In 1892 Daniel Trimper, Sr., along with his wife Margaret, moved their ten children out of the city of Baltimore, to reside in Ocean City. He had sold his Baltimore bar, the Silver Dollar Café, and used the proceeds to buy two lots right on the newly constructed boardwalk. The original purpose of the boardwalk was to help keep sand out of hotels and railcars. Alexander Boardman, an engineer with the Camden & Atlantic Railroad came up with the idea to keep the sand out of the rail coaches. Ocean City’s board walk was originally about twelve blocks in length, and the Trimpers built two hotels alongside it, the Sea Bright and the Eastern Shore.

A fierce storm in 1900 extensively damaged the Sea Bright, so it was rebuilt as the Windsor, themed after the famous English castle. An Amusement Center and Theater were added to the complex, and the whole entity was renamed the Windsor Resort Amusement Center.  When the “Inlet” was formed by the violent storm of August 1933, Ocean City rapidly expanded. And the Windsor Resort was placed right in the middle of this expansion. The fifth generation members of the family still operate the facility, and they still use the Windsor name.

In 1902 the resort obtained a steam-driven carousel from the Herschel-Spillman Co.  One of the largest carousels in the world, it is fifty feet across. With forty-eight animals, four chariots, and even a rocking chair, it is a treasure for the town of Ocean City. As the most senior ride of the park, the Merry-Go-Round commands respect. When the Trimpers decided to restore the ride to its past glory, they hired two Ukrainian artists, John and Maria Bilous for the three-year project. The result is magnificent, with the animals, oil paintings, and crystals all flashing together to create the illusion of movement. But Maria Bilous didn’t stop there. In addition to marrying Glenn Schlick, she has become the artist-in-residence for Trimpers Rides. She has restored an old ticket booth and touches up things like the Haunted House and Pirates Cove.

The carousel is surrounded by a unique collection of kiddy rides. Cleverly located in the shaded pavilion, these attractions provide nostalgia to those who remember their “first” ride as a little one. The Trimper family feels the older rides attraction successive generations back to Ocean City, to share the memories with the next generation. These rides operate as designed, albeit with newer locomotion and updated safety standards. Some stores and an arcade finished out the early amusement area. A smaller carousel was purchased sometime in the 1920’s.

Marty’s Playland opened in 1940. Now with over 250 different games, it still contains the original cranes or “diggers,” that it opened with sixty-seven years ago. They have pinball machines that span ten years, so another choice for old memories exists. The newest ride simulators coexist with a huge wall of that boardwalk favorite, Skeeball.

Brooks Trimper, a fifth generation member of the family, took some time on Memorial Day to chat with us.

He said, “Every day my grand father, Granville Trimper, finishes his paperwork and comes out into the park and checks in with everybody. He does get around as well as he did, so now he uses a scooter. After looking things over, he sets down on the benches outside the Pirates Cove, usually with his best friend, Glen Schlick. Anytime I feel down, I just sit with them and we tell stories back and forth. The stories we have here go back to 1892. I always get up feeling rejuvenated, and ready to go back to work.”

“When I help out taking tickets on the Merry-Go-Round, there is always a grandmother, riding with her grandchildren. Sometimes the grandmothers talk about riding with their grandmother, on the very same carousel. Seeing the smiles, hearing the snippets of memories, make this the greatest place to work on around. It’s hard work, and some days seem to last a lot more than twelve hours, but it’s worth it,” he says. “We are a very tight knit group here at Trimpers, and we have some employees that have been here for forty years. When we refurbish the rides during the winter, we all tell stories about the summer.”

Trimpers began to add outdoor rides in the 1950’s. Now the Tidal Wave rises above the boardwalk and opportunities for guests to turn themselves upside down are everywhere. Some of the newer, more intense rides for teenagers have been mixed with traditional favorites. Rides like the Inverter, Slingshot,  Zipper, and Himalaya share space with the Sooper Jet, Rockin’ Tug, and Flying Tigers. The outdoor rides are especially beautiful at night, as Trimpers makes sure the light packages are operating. They even have an old Chance toboggan coaster, with claustrophobic cars.

Trimpers Rides have employed Johnnie Jet for over twenty years. Now in the office, she has worked almost every job available. “I don’t know where I can take my grandkids if the park closes. This just gets into your blood and you can’t change, you just have to work here."

Johnnie says, ”I look out the window and watch the Tidal Wave and everything seems good in the world. The memories that families made experienced here at Ocean City last for generations, and it will be very sad if it has to end,” she concludes. “I hope I’m not here to see the park close.”

With over 100 rides and games, Trimpers has something for everyone. The Haunted House is huge, with two levels rising above the boardwalk. Stunts abound, and even though it’s not gruesomely scary, the Pirate’s Cove might be better suited for the little ones. The cars at the Haunted House were customized, and it’s those little things that add to the atmosphere of the Ocean City boardwalk.  The talent of Maria Schlick makes the Haunted House ride deliciously fun, in a nostalgic fashion. The smell from Thrasher’s fries seems to catch the ocean breeze and permeate the park. As you stroll the boardwalk, it seems like every other person already has a cup of fries, and there is always a line waiting their snack.

Many in Ocean City feel that traditional seaside amusements have past their time. They point to the skyrocketing value of land, and the additional property tax revenue that would be available to the community. Unfortunately, it is difficult to put a price on memories and traditional activities. So here are two last pictures, looking in two directions at the boardwalk.  You can decide which section would be more fun for the entire family on a warm summer’s night, with the cool ocean breeze chasing away the heat of the day.

Ridin' The Storm Out At Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom's Splashwater Kingdom!

A storm has been brewing on the horizon for Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom since midwinter. Even through the park was closed; construction equipment was both seen and heard around Splashwater Kingdom. Some rumors leaked out last fall that something big was about to happen. Truckloads of galvanized supports slowly began to rise above the bushes, and whispers of “the big one,” quietly circulated around Louisville. Finally on January 26, 2007 the park announced that Deluge was coming to Splashwater Kingdom. Put on your bathing suits and grab a poncho, the water park is getting “wetter and better.”

Deluge has been custom designed by Proslide Technology and will be nearly 900 feet long. It will open as the tallest, fastest, and longest HydroMagnetic water coaster anywhere! Riders will start from the top of a fifty-seven foot tall tower, and will have a panoramic view of the entire park while awaiting their turn. Riders on their four-person rafts will take nearly a minute to travel the entire ride. Along the way they go through enclosed tunnels, negotiate some high-banked turns, and even climb uphill during some parts of the ride.

PR Maven Caroline Mc Lean

Olympic Four-Man Bobsledder Doug Sharp of Jeffersonville, IN took the Inaugural Ride on Deluge. Doug won a Bronze Medal in the 2002 Winter Olympics as a team member for sled USA II. With his resume, the banked turns and high speeds of Deluge were not a problem. He has earned Indiana’s highest civilian award, the Sagamore of the Wabash, and also had Doug Sharp Day proclaimed in Louisville back in 2002. This is an unusual accomplishment for one individual, being honored on both sides of the Ohio River. And as Purdue fans we have to remind others that he is alumnus, class of 1993.

Doug shared a few insights about himself. "I have always loved roller coasters," he said, as he glanced longingly at Chang, "especially ones with loops. I had a reputation when I competed for just enjoying the first practice run by relaxing and not holding on. After that I would get serious."

Sharp loved Deluge. "It's really fun to be able to relax and enjoy the ride from start to finish. None of that pushing and jumping in stuff. The turns before the purple drop are similar to a bobsled run the way the boat slides up the walls. The ride seems longer than it is, because when you start slowing down, that's when you go up a hill and into another tunnel."

The HydroMagnetic sections use strong magnetic fields to lift the boats and riders up the uphill sections of the course. The boats contain an aluminum and steel plate in the bottom that reacts with the Linear Induction Motors to climb the hills. These metal plates raised the weight of the boats to 150 pounds, so luckily there is a conveyor to lift them to the starting platform. Deluge is the first Proslide Rocket to use four-person boats, so this way the entire family can ride together. Lots of wet fun is guaranteed, and Deluge shows the commitment Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom has towards increasing family fun.

But the improvements don’t quit with just one new attraction. Some of the splash down pools on the larger slides were reworked over the winter so shorter members can enjoy the rides. Customers had asked for shade during last summer, and shade could be the biggest change for Splashwater Kingdom in 2007. Several of the individual play areas have been improved, and the bamboo bushes have been reduced.

Twenty-foot tall “fun-brellas” have sprouted out from the concrete deck surrounding the wave pool. Individual cabanas will line the edges of the pool and they will be equipped with a misting fan, and attendant so families and companies can rent them for a special occasion. The attendants will get food and drinks for the guests and they can answer questions about the park.

Buccaneer Beach, a wet play area for toddlers, has been totally redone. A giant tipping coconut will complement the crab, flamingo, and a new type of palm tree, one that sprays water. The colorful decorations are made of a soft skin plastic so the little ones can safely have a good time. Some shady areas for watchful parents have been included inside the fence, to make everyone’s time in Buccaneer Beach a pleasant experience.

Fresh paint in tropical colors is everywhere you look, and if you hadn’t been there before, you would say everything is brand new. Park President Jay Thomas says, “We haven’t done as good a job for our guests in the past as we should have, so now we have one chance to make it right with them. This is a relaunch of the Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom experience, and I hope guest recognize the improvements we have made.” You can count young Ashley Shreve of Louisville as a believer. She had nothing but good things to say about Deluge. After her first ride, in the front, the seven-year old said, "That was awesome." After completing her additional runs, she said, "While all the seats are cool, I really like the front. You don't get as wet, but you can see more.” Her mother, Dana Shreve noticed the improvements in Splashwater Kingdom. “I guess this means we are getting season passes, “she said. “It look like it could be a long, hot, summer, and coming here will be fun for the whole family.”        

                                                                                    It's playtime!

                                                                                    Scott & Carol

HAuNTcon 2007

In our desire to present something completely different to our loyal TPA readers, we headed across Michigan towards Detroit. HAuNTcon 2007 appeared in Dearborn Michigan and when the attendees were not touring local haunts they were either learning new scaring skills or visiting the trade show floor. Our day started off with us listening to Erick Donaldson speak to around 50 haunted house operators about “Codes 101: Getting Your Haunt Open and Staying Open.” A thirteen year veteran of the commercial architecture field, he is an owner-operator of haunted attractions, and he has designed many others in all regions of the country. A popular educator at haunted attraction conventions, he led the attendees along the path of how to do it correctly the first time.

He divided his presentation into segments like History, Getting Open, Staying Open This Year, and Reopening Next year. He brought along Section 411 of the International Building Code which concerns Special Amusement Buildings. He reiterated the importance of designing your haunt to code, and the importance of sticking to your plan. Building inspectors don’t like surprises and begging for forgiveness instead of asking for permission can result in not opening the following year. He fielded lots of questions and cited examples from his experiences to guide others. It was fascinating to attend, and gave us a new appreciation of haunt operations.

It was time for the show floor to open so we headed that way, not really knowing what to expect. We were looking over the attendees and checking out the list of vendors, with names like Bodybag Entertainment, D.O.A. Design Group, Gore Galore, Sinister Visions, and Unsavory Characters.

After a brief opening ceremony starring Clawde Cadaver and the Box-A-Shox, the trade floor opened.  Clawde greeted the attendees and set the tone for the trade show. Here is a link to their website with video:

http://characterdynamics.com/bas.htm

There were amazing things to see inside. The amount of companies that produce latex masks, and the diversity of their products is a must see for Halloween aficionados. It shed a different light on their product seeing the models taking breaks in the restroom wiping off their faces with cool rags. You could tell from their flushed faces that these masks are hot in normal temperatures. Companies like Composite Effects, Metamorph USA, Fearscape Studios, Hallows Eve Studios, and SFPX Masks all were showing their best stuff.  CFX has a pneumatically operated set of bat wings that extend to an eleven foot wingspan, all self-contained and suitable for free-roaming actors. Spectre Studios makes all of their offerings by hand.

In order to beat the heat problem, Graftobian, from BodyBag Entertainment has a complete line of make-up supplies, and their catalog contains plenty of helpful hints. Bloody Mary, featuring professional Hollywood makeup, Wolfe Brothers, and Jeh Lei Productions all have product lines that allow creativity by local make up artists.

CR Management represents celebrities and had some of them lined up to appear at their booth during the show. Here Jonathon Breck, (the Creeper in Jeepers Creepers,) Eileen Dietz, (The Exorcist,) and Courtney Gains, (Children of the Corn) were signing autographs and posing for pictures with convention attendees.

Another booth had Knights of Iron. A stage combat team, they also produce Netherworld: Vampire Apocalypse. This show is designed for queue entertainment. Vampire chicks fighting other vampires, a live heavy metal band, and lots of lasers with other colored lighting. Furious action levels, and totally self-contained, if you are lucky they might be coming to a haunt near you.  Here is a link to their website

 http://www.knightsofiron.com/

Another show idea is Rock On. Instead of live performers Scare Parts uses animatronics that are controlled by a by a SD Show Controller for “dead on” performances, and can easily be reprogrammed for next years crowd. Scare Parts also has several stock animatronic horror props and will do custom work if requested.

Gore Galore is big into costumes and is really making a splash with their "Torture Boxes." Described as a new gory mess with an old rusty look. Here is a short video of the boxes.

They also have a line of “My Pet Zombie,” props in case you are so inclined. They each come with a Death/Adoption Certificate, for that authenticating touch.

Companies like Oak Island Entertainment Group, Shipwreck Productions, Boneyard Productions, and the D.O.A. Design Group all design haunted projects. Shipwreck even a 4,000 square foot maze that fits into a forty-foot shipping container. A very cool item from Oak Island is an inflated tunnel that you push your way through, in the dark, with the walls surrounding you so you have no visibility. You can’t fall down, you can’t run, and as you move forward, suddenly you come into another room. It was very creepy and not suitable for those who suffer from claustrophobia.

We went upstairs to visit The Horror Museum. Rick Gonci of New Jersey has assembled a collection of horror movie props that covers the major pictures of the last twenty years. Items like Freddie’s Gloves from “A Nightmare On Elm Street #5”, the white sweater from “Scream,” the Venus Fly trap death device from “Saw 2.” Visitors could get their picture taken wearing device for an additional charge. There was the chainsaw from “Texas Chainsaw Massacre and even Sheriff Hoy’s shirt, even Kate Beckinsale’s dress from “Underworld.” The saw from “Saw,” the knife from “Halloween,” and both Freddy and Jason’s’ costumes from Freddy vs. Jason. Rick sells some of the duplicates he receives to support the museum.

After visiting the museum we attend some of the educational sessions. J. Michael Roddy presented the first one from Universal Studios in Florida. Creator of Jack, one of the most popular of HHN celebrities, he shared some of the secrets of their success. He encouraged attractions operators to embrace the internet by using both their website and MySpace, but to be careful not to oversell. Be sure to not frustrate the audience and remember each story has a beginning, middle, and an end. Something many attendees didn’t know was each year every attraction at HHN is new. He said, “Our customers have come to expect this and we can’t disappoint them now.”  A major point for those who set up a haunt, “seventy-five percent of the scare is the dark environment and don’t underestimate the effect of a good soundtrack,” Roddy concluded.

Christopher Silvia presented an unusual Make-N-Take seminar, “How to transform a plastic Bucky skull into a rotting corpse head.” The attendees were guided through the process of changing their very own Bucky skull and then they could take in home. Here are some shots of the creative process:

At the same time John Denley of Boneyard Productions gave a high-energy presentation of “Top Ten Scares That Won’t Frighten Your Wallet.” Complete with pictures and other examples, his goal was to help operators raise their fright level. He demonstrated some of his techniques, and he left the audience jumping for more. According to John, “loud noise and sudden movements work all the time, especially when used in combination. Avoid theatrical stare downs and instead utilize active scares.” The entire room was very awake at the end of his presentation.

For a look at some of the more technical things on the trade floor, here are a few of our favorites. Scare Tacktix has “The Monster Glove,” to let characters roam around making clicking noises without the possibility of dropping or throwing something. The overall appearance of the gloves portend bad thing happening and the sound reinforces the look. LED searchlights seemed to be the rage with many vendors offering them. Digital Sound and Lighting has everything your budget can handle, along with more that you can’t afford for this year. Haunt Master Products, Inc. offers controller systems for lights, air cannons, and most importantly, fog. Froggy’s Fog offers three varieties of fog, for invoking that creepy atmosphere. Ghoulish Gallery has the ever popular changing portraits. Illusionator provides canvas paintings with full-motion video to fascinate your waiting crowds. Everything you ever thought could be used in a haunted attraction was available for purchase, at discounted show prices.

The wildest thing at HAuNTcon 2007 had to be the Costume Ball on Saturday night. The hotel guests were not prepared to see monsters roaming the corridors. On the main floor every so often there was a stifled scream, and sometimes one not so stifled. It is only reasonable that when the professional gather, the costumes are the best of their efforts so far. It’s somewhat like advertising, first impressions mean a lot in the scary business. One of the amusing things about all the characters was that the more elaborate the mask and make-up, the more likely they were to use a straw for drinks to prevent destroying the illusion. Some of the monsters told us they had planned their costumes for over three months, and the results showed their attention to the tiniest details.

So that is our report for HAuNTcon 2007. This show travels throughout the country so attendees can tour different haunts, so it should be appearing somewhere near you sometime in the future. If you’re a haunt fan, (and why wouldn’t you be since you read TPA,) be sure and check it out when you get the chance. It will be something you will never forget.

                                                                                Scott & Carol

Tons Of Fun At Beautiful Lake Winnie!

Lately we have been bringing you news of the latest additions to the amusement industry, for this report we would like to take a step back and yet for some this eighty plus-year old park may be new. If any of you get anywhere near Chattanooga TN, a visit to Lake Winnie is a must do!

For the last several IAPPA shows, Lake Winnepesaukah has been a consistent winner of Brass Rings. While these awards are geared mainly towards advertising and media relations, they obviously have something behind them that drives their message. Winners of two Brass Rings and two awards of Distinguished Excellence in 2006 alone, Lake Winnie definitely has a tale to tell. So here is an introductory visit to Lake Winnepesaukah Amusement Park for TPA readers. Take a step through the past as we enjoy a park where southern hospitality reigns supreme.

Lake Winnepesaukah's new parking lot entrance      

While many parks can only trace their lineage as far back as cartoon characters, Lake Winnie’s predates the birth of our nation. Native Americans built earthen dams around the springs to form the first lake. Known as McAfee Lake, and then as Green’s Spring Lake, troops from both sides of the Civil War drew waters from the springs, with Jefferson Davis camping next to the lake following the Battle of Missionary Ridge. All these things happened before Carl Dixon purchased the property back in 1924. His wife, the former Minette Hiener envisioned a picnic ground, a place for families to go swimming and enjoy lazy summer afternoons. They changed the name of the lake to Lake Winnepesaukah, which means either “bountiful water” or “beautiful lake of the highlands.”

Opening day was May 30, 1925. Approximately 1,000 guests showed up that day, with Chattanooga newspapers reporting five times that many on the next day. According to Adrienne Rhodes, granddaughter of Carl and Minette Dixon, stories of the difficult openings days abound. “There were only two building in East Ridge, Lewis Motor Court and a service station. It is seven miles from the Chattanooga Courthouse and all the roads were dirt. Grandpa hired the L. Mathis Trucking Company to continually water down the roads to reduce the dust. My grandparents didn’t realize how big new things could get in those days.”

For the next season, the Dixons built a concrete swimming pool. Real ocean sand was trucked in and divers performed exhibitions on the six boards. The Mid South Swim Meets took place at Lake Winnepesaukah for the first time in 1927. Rental boats, canoes, and fishing licenses were available for a fee. Some years there were hydroplane races on the lake.

Carl Dixon thought things needed livening up a bit. Best described as a visionary adventurer, he would love the thrill rides of today. He was already famous as a race car driver and showman; he designed the Boat Chute, one of the signature attractions of Lake Winnie to this day. Not trained as an engineer, he used local country laborers to build this classic ride. A long tunnel that leads to a lift hill, the original wooden tunnel used to have creaky sounds and musty smells with cobwebs, but safety standard have mandated upgrades. No one knows how many courtships were finalized on the ride, but most of the local populace have a “Boat Chute” story. Adrienne says “I can’t go anywhere without someone stopping and telling me they got their first kiss on the Boat Chute. It is the one thing here at Lake Winnepesaukah that hasn’t changed in eighty years.” The Boat Chute is celebrating its eightieth birthday this year and is still one of the most popular rides at Lake Winnepesaukah today.

The Dixons had regular expansions and regular entertainment at the park. A dirt racing track awed thousands of spectators who watched midget racers and motorcyclists temp their fate. Balloon ascensions, stunt shows, and swim meets continued to draw crowds.  The occasional boxing match and air show complemented the rides. Electric lighting let people enjoy the cool of the evening next to the lake. Unfortunately Carl Dixon died in April of 1933, leaving Minette deeply in debt in a time when women didn’t operate businesses. She operated the park for the next twenty-five years until her death in 1958. Carl and Minette’s daughter Evelyn White operated the park until relinquishing the reins to her daughter Adrienne Rhodes. When you talk to any of the Lake Winnie women, they all tell you that the park is run “by family for families.” Adrienne says “I operate the park as a tribute to my mother and grandmother. I expect both of my daughters, Talley and Tennyson to do likewise. My grandparents meant for this to be a family activity."

When you walk through an abandoned amusement park, sometimes you can almost hear the screams of the riders long since passed still echoing down the midway. Today at Lake Winnepesauka the screams are still going strong, but if you look closely in the shadows you can faintly see people enjoying the midway in the formal dress of yesterday. This traditional park opened for another season on April 14, the same as it has done every year since 1925. Located in Rossville GA, be sure to check your directions because most people don’t notice the sign that states you have entered Georgia. It’s easier for most guests to remember it as being just south of Chattanooga, TN.

Adrienne continues, “the park survived the Depression by just holding on. And then the war started. The servicemen and women from Ft. Oglethorpe used to march through the woods to visit the park for recreation. During the war the park hosted a war show, with all the receipts going to the army-navy relief fund. A dancing casino was built in 1931, but that burned down in 1942. Since it was during the war it was a big blow, because you couldn’t get either supplies or men to replace it. After the war, my grandmother bought a new Fly-O-Plane ride. It cost $15,000 dollars, but that was the closest people could get to flying back then. I still don’t know how my grandmother paid for the ride. In 2000 I had to buy two used Fly-O-Plane rides to make one good one in tribute to my grandmother.” Lake Winnie is the only amusement park with both a Fly-O-Plane and a Boat Chute.

A miniature roller coaster was added in 1951, which delighted the little children. In 1958 the Cake House was built to offer a special place for children to celebrate their special day. A replica of a birthday cake, it also has smaller table and benches to show whose day it really is. While reservations are required, following a longstanding Lake Winnie policy, no fees are charged. In fact, you are welcome to bring your own picnic basket inside the park to enjoy your day to the fullest. The public pavilions are all no charge, and first come, first spot taken. Sadly, Mrs. Minette Dixon died in September following a long illness.

                                                           The Cake House                                                

Cannon Ball Plaque

The next year Lake Winnepesaukah installed the antique Carrousel. Purchased from Lakewood Park in Atlanta, it features sixty-eight hand-carved and hand-painted wooden steeds. Swiss and Italian artists first built the Carrousel in 1916. Listening to organ play while riding on your horse, it’s easy to remember your first carousel ride, with a relative securing you to the seat. These types of memories are the soul of Lake Winnie, because these memories are not easily forgotten.

The Castle first opened in 1969. A traditional dark ride, guests go through the abandoned castle while being treated to special effects. Safe for children, it probably rivals the Boat Chute for teens getting that all important “first kiss.” Black light scenes compete with noisy surprises to startle riders.

This year Bob the Builder showed up to dedicate the new parking lot and entrance plaza at Lake Winnie. Synchronized with a countdown, and flanked by backhoes, Bob and “Little Winnie Whiskers,” the official mascot of Lake Winnie, cut the yellow tape, and released the balloons. After a long winter, the rides started up for first guests of the year. Tammy Ridley, Band Director for the Oakwood Christian Academy located in Chickamauga, brought her elementary and middle school band members for the occasion.  Wearing their school polos and topped off with a Lake Winnie hat, the band played a patriotic medley of tunes as guests made their way through the gates.

Its summer again at Lake Winnepesaukah Amusement Park, time to get more memories that will always be treasured.

Scott & Carol

Giggle When You Wiggle With The Wiggles At Six Flags Great America!

After being broadcast on the Disney Network since 2002, every parent with a child between age two and six knows about the Wiggles. And no visit to Wiggles World will be complete with meeting the Wiggles friends. In order to gain some expertise in all things related to Wiggles, we enlisted Jake and Alex Greist, who live with their parents, Tom & Diane, in Lake Village, Illinois. Season pass holders at Six Flags Great America, the twin boys were ready to Wiggle before they entered the park

The Wiggles friends came out to meet the kids as they arrived at Wiggles World. Captain Feathersword took command of the dry, shaded play station because it was modeled after his ship. A rope net for climbing, two tunnel slides, a regular slide, and a split-level poop deck provided many ways for the little ones to burn off some energy. Everything is surrounded by energy absorbent floors and padded poles, in case of a stumble. The friends are all available for meet and greets, and parents are encouraged to take photos.

The other interactive play area is a “wet” area, and it also has soft floors and zero depth water fun. Destined to be popular on those hot summer days, being out in the sun will allow the little ones to play longer. A fun fountain and some water jets at floor level, even with the thermometer only show mid sixties, some hardy kids enjoyed some splashing fun.

Five new ride have been added to Wiggles World. The Big Red Car ride, The Big Red Plane ride, Dorothy's Rosy Tea cups, Bouncin' with Wags ride, and Fruit Salad. Every bright color of the rainbow is used to bring “Wigglemania” to Six Flags Great America. With in the bright sunshine, everyone who had sunglasses was glad and everybody else was wishing they had a pair of their own. Wiggles World is an explosion of primary colors, in all their various combinations.

The rides have been designed for families to enjoy together, sharing the exciting experience. Instead of watching their children have a good time, Tom and Diane were able to enjoy it with them. The Fruit Salad ride was the consensus favorite. Excitedly grabbing the bars from inside the cages, the boys enjoyed the view as they spun around up in the sky. Alex’s other favorite was the Big Red Plane ride while Jake expressed an affinity for Dorothy’s Rosy Teacups. The boys tried out all the rides, rerode their favorites, and then it was time for the show

The Yummy Yummy Café will serve healthy snacks and you can even pick up some Wiggles merchandise for a memory of that wonderful day. Six Flags has taken a major step in in bringing families together with the opening of Wiggles World.

As you can see Wiggles World has put Six Flags Great America on the map!

Scott & Carol

Thunder Over Louisville Turns Noise Into Entertainment!

Every spring in Louisville they hold a competition. We're not talking about the sport of kings, namely the Kentucky Derby. But this event is somewhat related to the Derby because it is organized by Kentucky Derby Festival Organization. This non-profit organization puts together a schedule of two weeks of fun and excitement prior to the Kentucky Derby. Today we are talking about Thunder Over Louisville, an annual competition to answer the age old question; what is the most efficient method of turning money into noise; aircraft or fire works. Approximately 800,000 people gather along both side of the Ohio River at Louisville to cast their vote, and have a great time during this electoral process. The Louisville Courier-Journal collects votes on their website where the public rates the air show and fireworks.

Thunder Over Louisville serves as the official kickoff for the Kentucky Derby Festival. Scheduled two weeks before the race, the festival starts flying high right from the beginning. The citizenry begins to assemble on both banks of the river Friday afternoon, to reserve their territory. Some of the air show acts are already in town, so a few practice flybys are happening during the day. As we crossed the bridge the military heritage flight took a couple of practice passes, with the resulting traffic tie ups. (Carol’s note: Under no conditions should anyone ever ride with Scott across a bridge with air show practice going on. He is much more interested in telling me to get out the camera, reciting the types of aircraft, and getting a look at each one than staying on the bridge.) The bridge resonated with each pass of the formation.

After checking in with KDF for our credentials, we went to the Second Street Bridge to see how they were coming along setting up the fireworks. Zambelli Fireworks International has over fifteen years experience with Thunder Over Louisville. According to Michael Richards, the loading process starts the week before Thunder, with the Fire Barges taking most of the week before to get loaded with explosives. The two mile long bridge is closed to traffic midweek, and pyrotechnicians swarm the structure to run the miles of cables required to link the firework shells to the computers. The whole day is monitored and controlled by the Thunder Command Center high above the south shore of the river in the Gault House. The command center has constant communication via cable and radio links to the fireworks computers, air boss, and safety patrols.

Besides the strobe lights and the waterfall cable, each side of the bridge has twenty-four firing positions and each firing position has its own control box. Every control box has thirty individual firing circuits and all the control boxes are tied into a computer, with two computers for the bridge and two per barge. Every computer also has a backup, and there are safe structures on each barge and the bridge for Zambelli personnel to stay in during the performance. Their presence is required in case the show program has to be switched to a backup computer during the performance. Approximately 700 miles of wire connect all the igniters to the control boxes. Kentucky National Guard personnel bring along a few cannons to add a little flash and noise to the mix.

An igniter sets off every shell, and Thunder has approximately 62,000 shells. Eight semi-trailer loads of fireworks shells were brought from Pennsylvania for the show. Shells come in all sizes, starting at three-inch diameter and going up to twelve-inch shells, the maximum used at Louisville. The Thunder venue is restricted by having people all around the outside so smaller shells are used. Mainly salutes, the ones with sparks trailing up to a bang, are on the bridge. A few roman candles are used to help complement each firing position.

The Fire Barges total 1,800 feet, with 1,000 tons of sand packed around the firing tubes. The barges are located perpendicular to each side of the bridge. Most of the 250 tons of firing tubes are located on the Fire Barges, and the largest shells are launched from the water because that is farthest from the spectators. According to Richards, this is the largest annual show in North America, even though it is limited to twenty-eight minutes. The fireworks start at 9:30 PM Saturday, and people were staking their claims early on Friday afternoon

The air show starts mid afternoon, and from the beginning it sets a furious pace. The Navy Leap Frogs jumped out of a perfectly operating plane and the Coast Guard came downriver with an American Flag from the attack submarine USS Louisville. The Ohio River is actually used for navigation and the Coast Guard overseas the river barge and pleasure boat traffic. An F-22 Raptor came screaming above the river doing complete circles over the water demonstrating the importance of high speed maneuverability to air combat. The pilot had both afterburners lit and the crowd cheered as one as the concrete vibrated underfoot. This was the debut of the US Air Force most advanced fighter at Thunder Over Louisville, and the crowd appreciated its attendance.

This the early crowd, later is was like a can of sardines

The Leap Frogs performing a dangerous acrobat stunt. Don't try this at home!

Current military aircraft, featuring the new US Air Force  F-22 Raptor and a few stalwart war birds filled the sky leading up to the Air Force Heritage Flight. After witnessing the F-16, Lima Lima took the sky with their T-34 Mentors. The oldest civilian acrobatic team, when their six ship formation flew a missing man formation, the crowd stood to honor those who paid the ultimate price for our freedom. The Trojan Horsemen performed, along with some more current military demonstrations. The Heritage Flight consisted of a P-51, F-15, F16, and A-10 flying in formation, a rare sight for those in attendance.

                                                               Lima- Lima performing a nearly perfect triangle formation

                                             The Heritage Flight covering 60 years of aviation - from left to right A-10               Warthog,  F-15 Strike Eagle, F-16 Falcon &  P-51 Mustang

A B-2 Stealth Bomber flew by, looking like a kite hanging in the sky. Holder of the duration in length of mission at over forty-four hours, it looks like it shouldn’t fly, let alone for so long. This was the fourth air show of the day for the crew, so they circled several times and flew home to Missouri. Three C-130 from the Kentucky Air National Guard made several low passes and then the helicopters had their turn to thrill the crowd.