If you have followed the saga of Cliff Hanger at Ghost Town in the Sky, you'll know its been a long and slow process. Well today I checked my email, and low and behold the park said it would be open today!

There is a photo trip report coming, but this will be the start of it...

I got 11 rides on it today. Yes, 11.

I was concerned it would have issues, but it greeted me as my chairlift got near the top and never stopped the whole day except for one maintenance check.

I like the new train, and the best way to describe it is to take a B&M Invert seat, and combine it with the Hypersonic seats. Yet, it's very comfortable.

Looks like the same people that did the drop tower, or the drop tower's seats did the seats/train for Cliff Hanger.

Anyway, I liked the ride but of course it's not anything that amazing. It does have pretty heavy g's coming out of the loop and whips you a lot in the very front and especially the back in that one section.

It's funny how they release the brakes and it creaks to life and just slow rolls out the station and picks up speed really quickly.

Oh and yes, it does slow down a lot coming out of the final half helix or whatever you'd call it. The first helix is taken at full speed.

I'll get a trip report up soon, maybe tomorrow. The camera is charging at the moment.

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Intimidator Coming in 2010 to Carowinds!

Nice. I can't wait to hear/see more about this. This park has gone through some rough times so I'm glad to hear they're on track with everything.

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Sesame Street characters at Busch Gardens Europe!?
Take THAT Magic Kingdom!

Wes even called in after visiting the park. I saw the message on the Facebook a day or so ago from the park but I didn't click into it outside of reading its intro. On another site I saw a pic of the train in the loop. My eyes just opened right up.

I was just a few weeks short of being in the area for the ride.

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Thrillnetwork Moderator - Sophomore Original sn: CHILLERLC1
2008 & 2009 TN Coaster Draft Champion
You knew I wanted the other repeat too

OK here we go...


After 7 long years, it's time I finally get the Cliffhanger credit!


First though I have to face the chairlift of doom!


The park got new chairs since my last trip up there almost 2 years ago.


If I fall, at least I have these nice comfy rocks to fall on.


Is he supposed to be leaning that much?


Ahh! A ferocious bear! They need to play off this and build a wooden coaster called the Grizzly, oh wait, somebody already took that name.


Oh good, the rocks are getting bigger.


Hmm.. what is that through the trees?


I think it's a coaster!


The media heard I was coming.


Station. Up a freakin' huge hill to climb!


Yahoo! It works!


This thing has a pretty wicked whip in the front and especially back coming out of the loop.


The train is certainly eye-catching.


Speaking of the train...I really thought the seats were very comfy, if they did remind me a bit of a B&M invert train and a Hypersonic train combined.


Your exit ramp view.


The park can't seem to decide on the name. In some stuff they call it "Cliffhanger" in others "Cliff Hanger".


They left one of the old cars out to look at.


Looks oh so comfy, but I'll stick with the new train.


Best station view ever.


Yo! That ride was wiggidy wiggidy whack!


Credit #161. Cha-ching!


I guess in Ghost Town, you need two locks to protect you from the bears.


I think this is still recovering from what happened to it from the G.A.P. event in 07.


Time to take the bus up to the top of the mountain. When you come off the chair lift, there is the coaster there and a few other things.


New signage. I like the send up to Mr. Coburn.


A map! A map! My kingdom for a map!


I already had this credit, and I like my internal organs where they are...so I skipped this one.


Am I at Cedar Point? Oh wait, no, there aren't any Intamin lawn ornaments.


Livin' on the edge - Aerosmith


Maggie and her valley greet you.


Wait, how did I get to Freestyle Music Park?


I'll take that little red cabin in the middle.


Still one of the best around.


Yay swings!


What the!?! I rode this in 2007, what the heck is going on? And it looks like they slowed it down and it doesn't tilt anymore!


For you wolf enthusiasts. You know who you are.


It's a whole family. Awe!


Dream Catcher looks good even flying over roofs. Hmmm...like another ride at Carowinds.


I'm expecting a bobcat to jump off this and eat me alive any minute.


No thanks to the whirlpool of death. I got the credit last time and I'm almost normal again.


LOL at one of their two shooting galleries. This one has a working skunk.


Look at that stinker shoot!


Ready...aim...


Fire!


This is how far the thing shoots! I'm not joking!

More to come...

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Intimidator Coming in 2010 to Carowinds!

Geronimo is like my #1 or #2 drop tower actually. The one at Family Kingdom is at my absolute bottom. I saw a video of it running and it's like a Vekoma family coaster with a loop. That last helix that train really slows down.

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Thrillnetwork Moderator - Sophomore Original sn: CHILLERLC1
2008 & 2009 TN Coaster Draft Champion
You knew I wanted the other repeat too

I heard from someone on another site that Cliffhanger was down all day today. Glad I went and got the credit yesterday!

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Intimidator Coming in 2010 to Carowinds!

Did anyone else notice the weight limit sign on Gunslinger? That will cut weight times down.

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No tilting on the side of the mountain? That was part of the fun of those swings.

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Thrillnetwork Moderator - Sophomore Original sn: CHILLERLC1
2008 & 2009 TN Coaster Draft Champion
You knew I wanted the other repeat too

Here we go again...


Their scrambler is actually one of the more intense one's I've been on. Not insane or anything, but still good.


OK now how did I end up at Hard Rock Park?


Time to mosey on into town I reckon.


Just in case you forgot where I was.


Jarsh from GAP will be happy.


It's like a ghost town!


Make up your own corny western caption here.


I think I need to move up here.


Time for a song and a dance.


The pianist looks like he was left up here for the 5 years the park was closed.


Well fiddle dee dee Mr. Butler.


Maybe I can get a ride to town.


Maybe I can get a job.


History and such. Strangely the museum was closed for what reason I don't know.


Burt Reynolds has really seen his better days.


Are you sure I'm at a theme park?


Biggest understatement evar.


Smoking or non-smoking? (Christian billboard joke)


I think they still have services on Sunday.


Looking back into town.


Lake Junaluska (sp?) can be seen from the end of town down near the church.


I think I see something down the mountain.


This guy was scared stiff by Cliffhanger.


Another park with references to boots in an attraction. Keep your boots ON!


Funerals - $1500
Mourners - Extra

LOL


Looks like me without my makeup.


Uh oh, Digger got another victim!


LOL


Well there's another job I don't qualify for.


Uh oh. Looks like trouble may be a brewin'.


This doesn't look good.


Run ya'll!


I said RUN! Tourists.


Time to find some place safe me thinks.


Now THAT is how you run!


Such violence. This reporter asks, why!? (Spongebob joke).


The guy in the Carolina shirt is all "Umm Did I leave the iron on?"


Got him!


The hat gag is still pretty funny.


Can I get a room?


I think that is the road to Cherokee.


OK back to Cliffhanger. Here's the bottom of the lift that is at the end of the ride.


These lines will never do.


Please! No video!


Down they go...


So according to Mind Bender logic, this coaster has 2 loops!


Over the river and through the woods...

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Intimidator Coming in 2010 to Carowinds!

She'll be coming up the lift hill when she comes.


Work shed for the coaster.


The trash bags are all part of the theming.


Two of the actors even got a ride in.


You can reach out and about touch the coaster here if you really wanted to lose a finger.


I have no idea what Gigglesoup is, but it sounds down right hilarious.


It has a loop de loop if you didn't know.


Wee!


And that about does it for me...


Ya'll come back now, ya hear?


One final thing, I had some pretty good BBQ here on the way out of town. I couldn't resist stopping at a placed called "Butts on the creek". It was actually really nice being built on a hill overlooking a pretty little creek, with screened windows instead of a normal enclosed restaurant. Until next time...

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Intimidator Coming in 2010 to Carowinds!

Hehe, Mindbender logic= 2 loops. I still remember the first time I rode Mindbender, I was wondering where the third loop was.

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