After making a trip to Kalamazoo speedway for their 11th annual Klash race. I decided to push on North for another 70 or so miles to MA. I've been wanting to ride ST for too long now and so Thursday was it. I had to go.

Everything I've heard about this park turned out to be true. A little outta the way, but worth it. Very clean and nice, friendly atmosphere. not to mention the huge woodie out next to the parking lot. Even Robert Coker said he had a hard time driving down the road when this thing appeared from behind the trees. Believe him when he said it because it's true. There's nothing else around that matches the presense of Shivering Timbers.

I controlled my urges to go at it right away and figured I'd warm up to the finale. Zach's Zoomer, which I found out only after sitting down is a junior. At 6'1' I had little room. Kinda reminded me of the wooden coaster at Hillcrest Park, except newer. A nice starter for the future coaster enthusiast.

Corkscrew. No surprise here. NEXT! I get in line for this Mad Mouse ride which doesn't look too mad to me. Only to find out it makes you think you're going to get hurled outta the side of the car while you're switching back and forth across the top. I'll admit it, I actually hung on.

While in line for WW I noticed a double-up about halfway thru the ride. Cool I thought, but what really made me happy was the fact that there was a double-down on the other, not visible from the loading platform, side. Sitting in the back I enjoyed some decent airtime and the nice little surprise from the double-down.

So now I'm outta excuses, err...all warmed up for this monster across the aisle, which is nearly a walk-on by now. I hear the front is where it's at so I sit second row. (I didn't feel like waiting the extra two minutes ya' know!) I wasn't to the bottom of the second hill when I realized that it was worth the drive. This thing is AWESOME!!! After the third hill I knew I had a new #1 wooden coaster. Hill after hill, airtime after airtime, this ride just doesn't slow down. Well until you're like 1/2 mile away from the station. Upon returning, more weightlessness, I love it! The tricktrack jars you a little as does the final helix but nothing in the way of uncomfortable. This is just one great coaster.

I took 4 more spins on ST. 2 in the back which resulted in being thown out of my seat while going down every hill as opposed to soaring over every hill like in the front. The other 2 were in the front again just to savor the moments for the ride home. Front or back there's no bad seat on this ride. It just depends on where you want your airtime. If there's anyone out there who hasn't ridden this sucker yet, do what you can to go ride it. You will not be disappointed.

I ripped thru this park in 2 hours. Now I rode just the coasters and well the log flume to try to get wet, but that didn't happen. I walked around the park and like I said it's well, nice. I'm sure you could make an entire day of it if you took in all the flats and the waterpark as well. As for a return trip to the park for myself, I wouldn't put it off for another 5 years, because while on ST you notice that there's lots of land to be developed. Hello Intamin, we could use one of those Expedition GeForce rides over here in the Midwest. We could only hope.

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"I'm telling ya, country clubs and cemeteries are the biggest waste of prime real estate...both full of dead people."

Sounds like you had a great time. I will be making my third trip to MiA this Sunday. ST is my favorite woodie to. Personaly I prefer to ride it in the back but that is my preference for just about every coaster out there.

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Pick it up!

I think MIA could definatly use some more rides. Wildcat and Timbers are the two stand outs, but the flat rides seemed kindof bland (except for Viking Fury) being crowded all in one area.

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The Gravity Group: Turning "Gee what if..." into "G why not?"