| 6/28-29 Waldameer,Martin's,Darien Lake, Seabreeze, Sylvan's Beach
The Western NY area has been an area that has left me grouchy. Been there twice as a kid to Niagara Falls. The upper echelon of coasters in the region extending into Ontario included Boomerangs and SLCs, not the kind of rides to really want to pull me suddenly up there. The addition of Ravine Flyer II and Behemoth made the decision slightly better but I was quite stubborn still. I got an invitation to a friend's wedding near Scranton. Another friend said they'd spend the night in a hotel up there so that sparked my interest to go to Western NY. I asked for an extra day off but not another. I wasn't going to pay a $1000 for a TPR trip in the region so I decided to do this and use my NY ticket connections through my uncle. After the Saturday wedding I stayed in Binghamton,NY. I was about the third of the way there.
Sunday morning I drove out west on 86/17 to Erie,PA. It was quite humid and rained at times. I would have to battle the rain all weekend. I got to Waldameer at around 2pm. A downpour started as I entered the park. It died down as I rode Comet. I love how this small coaster is under the cover of trees. I found ACErs there on my first ride. Next up I went for the dagger. I rode Ravine Flyer II. The line is so small. In the small space the coaster is right in your face as you stand in line. The support structure reminded me of Hellcat in NJ. My first ride was amazing. The front seat had me in tears but not Tsunami/Hellcat intense in tears. My favorite part of the coaster was the quick left right shuffle after the bridge. What a charm this bridge and coaster turned out to be. The turnaround sections up hill are squeezed much more together in person than on paper. I love the dive into the ravine after the 90 degree turn. The dive is very apparent in the front row and the train dances after it towards the brake run. I was going to rank this coaster in my Top 10 list.
Next up I did the Dragon spinning coaster. A girl on my train talked to me about my hobby as we rode. She said she liked Waldameer more than Cedar Point. I then realized just how close to Ohio I was. I like the ride though I was distracted during my onride with this conversation. I finally got to do that big vertical U turn element/vert ramp style turn on a spinner. Lots of fun. I then did the freefall tower before another few laps on Ravine Flyer II. I was alone so I didn't do Ravine Flyer III. Before I left for Buffalo I drove under the coaster bridge and turned around to take pics. It was pouring rain again.
At about 4:30 I went Northeast towards Buffalo. I checked in at my inn in Amherst before going to Grand Island. Between clouds I was rushing in to get the remainder of the night at Martin's Fantasy Island. First up, Silver Comet! This coaster made me rethink where to put Ravine Flyer on my list. There was no way it was letting me put RF where I was. What an excellent wooden coaster combo for one day! After the first drop the second or third little hill before the turnaround was amazing with air. I liked how this coaster retained an inspired classic wooden layout. The most fun I had on this coaster was at the last turnaround very low to the ground within the structure. This is where the coaster broke wild on a return to the station. 10 out of 10 fun. I think Silver Comet would be one spot about Ravine Flyer on my list. I didn't like the steel structure wooden coasters by this brand, including Villian, but this one was my favorite.
Next I did their new flat Flight, a swing that climbs up the tower as it operates. A fun light moment I had. Following this I rode the Crazy Mouse spinning coaster. I'm not crazy about this layout. I wish I sat on the outside of the train to get more spinning. The low to ground elements were fun. I did the NITRO flat and then marathoned Silver Comet til the 8:30 park closing. I didn't get to explore this park as much as Waldameer but I had a fun time. I closed the night going to Niagara Falls at sunset and eating at Hard Rock Cafe Niagara Falls USA. I wanted to go across the border to Hard Rock Niagara Falls Canada but i was too tired. I looked at the Marineland freefall tower in the distance at Niagara Falls and said how I'll get there one day to get my ride.
Monday morning I left Amherst for Darien Lake. The weather said the storms would chase me east all day. At opening I was in the park. I went to Motocoaster first. The launch is a lot of fun. It was smart they built this portable coaster over an old filled in pool. After the launch the coaster became tame. There were plenty of helixes but my favorite elements was the side to side tilts that simulate a motorcycle. I didn't like the Zamperla chest pads. They're as bad as Super Flight at Rye.
Afterwards I got on the most scenic Boomerang ever. Boomerang: Coast to Coaster. It was average. It had some chugging in the valleys. The transitions weren't as bad as on Zoomerang.
Predator was next. It was so reminiscent of its Hercules deceased brother with its pre lift and lift assembly. I realized what PTC trains were with Ravine Flyer II and Silver Comet. These trains came from Hell! The trains jostled just too much. It made what looked like nice layout experience like crap. Terrible ride.
I got into the Ride of Steel line next. The line was not as quick as at Waldameer or Martin's. I felt spoiled there. I had to be patient. The dark clouds were rolling in and ROS stalled on the lift. I left to go get the other coasters before the storm would set in.
Mind Eraser proved to be a piece of junk once again. The first drop was promising with smoothness but from there it was unescapeable making your ears all red, rubbing and hitting the headrest. I had to get off quick after this ride to avoid the upcoming rain.
VIPER was one of the major reasons I wanted to come to Darien Lake, the classic Arrow coaster with the tunnel. It wasn't as great as i expected. It was rough transitioning into the batwing. It made me thankful GASM at SFGADV went into a batwing at a slower speed after a MCBR at SFGADV. The upcoming storm allowed me only one cycle on this coaster.
After this I got on the rare Ranger and UFO flat rides. Ranger is such a Huss rarity I never had pillows for my head before! Turning upside down on the flat I basically did a head/hand stand with my head resting on the padding! UFO was taking the Enterprise to the next level. Laying on my back on a Enterprise almost made me pass out before but I survived this ride.
The sky got really gray so I ran to Ride of Steel. I got on in about 15 minutes. On the lift it was already jostling side to side with the wheels! NO! Not the same kind of rough wheel ride I got on SFA's SROS two years ago! The setting for this ROS is much more natural for this coaster but there was some wheel issues throughout the ride. Maybe the wheels were octagon shaped. I was disappointed with that. I rode in the light rain, which was a sure sign to leave. I stopped by the former SFGADV Shockwave in pieces on my way out to take pics and touch a piece of track. I was so excited to see this former SFGADV coaster in person for the first time, even if it was disassembled.
At about 4 I got to Seabreeze. It looked like it was going to pour any second. If there was any coaster I couldn't afford to not ride it was Jack Rabbit. The clouds were so dark even the lights were on in station. It was the last of 3 Jack Rabbits I could ride. I did Clementon first then Kennywood's over the years. This last one completed the Jack Rabbit trio. Since Clementon's is now demolished it can't be completed as easily anymore. Like the Clementon one this one dove really close to the ground and turned around. This one's turnaround was much closer to the ground though. The tunnel at the end is really fun with that surprise dip.
Bobsled was next. This may be the best "bobsled" I've ever done. Lots of fun and really unique. It has a kinder rain policy than the Whirlwind spinner. When I got to Whirlwind it started to rain. The rain policy was engaged and when it really poured the ride closed. I waited in a line a half hour before it was cleared to reopen. Bobsleds never closed. Maybe I should have reversed my riding order. This Whirlwind had better colors than the Waldameer one. No talking passengers so I was able to take this whole ride in. The first drop is really fast.
Again I was alone so I couldn't get Bear Trax but I went on Jack Rabbit again before I left.
My finally destination was Sylvan Beach, NY. Thanks to James he told me not to miss this gem. It's a gem indeed. It seems like a real throwback to the 50's, an amusement park on Oneida Lake. I did the rare Laffland clown dark ride as suggested by James. It was really dim for me but it brought out all emotions from me. What a treasure. I did the Galaxi SDC coaster. With all the lit light bulbs it looked pretty cool. There was some chipping paint. The Rotor next to it looked great. I had a fun cycle. I took plenty of pics of the ride but there were no extra running trains. I was the only rider for the 10 minutes I snapped shots in the park and at the lake. I liked the throwback shops and rides. I spent 45 minutes at the park before I left.
I realized I liked Western NY and softened my grouchiness towards it. I never liked needing to drive the same distance as to Pittsburgh plus the added hours north for a market that had those Vekomas. I liked Buffalo and Niagara Falls. I was lucky to dart in and out of rain and not really get drenched. I realized I will return and get my revenge on Canada. I wll strike in 2009 or 10 to get my Canada Wonderland and Marineland on. Thanks for the help James.
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Last edited by Leo C; 07-09-2008 at 01:15 AM..
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