Waldameer Trip Report May 2021

Today we take a look at a visit I made to Waldameer last weekend. As always, Waldameer and Ravine Flyer II delivered. I had the day to myself and started off with fishing (a hobby I had not done for ten years prior to this year) and then planned to spend the rest of the day at Waldameer. By the time I wrapped up fishing, it was starting to lightly sprinkle rain. 

This did not seem to hold back the crowds though. The park was hopping more than I had ever seen it on a May weekend. It was really great to see. Because of the sprinkling and rain, I opted to leave my camera equipment behind and just used my phone. We did not end up getting to the park last year, though we have visited every year since Ravine Flyer II opened. 

Hairtime!

I know that I always say this, but Ravine Flyer II was running as awesome as ever. Better than ever. The entire first drop has been re tracked and the train flew through the entire intense and airtime filled course. The layout is just so brilliant with airtime on every hill and really wicked laterals. Thanks to the upkeep on this ride, it remains an airtime filled and disorienting romp in its thirteenth year. 

I also got a new "credit" on this trip, as much as I hate using that term, with their new SBF Visa spinner. It feels like this one spun more than the other ones I have ridden, though that may have been because I was alone in my car and it was not balanced. It was really pretty awesome. I saw the rumor that Casino Pier will be adding and SBF Visa spinner with a hamster wheel cars. It would be cool to see these get added to the ride as well. 

To me, one of the greatest things of the summer season is getting at least a few visits in at Waldameer. Ravine Flyer II seems to get better with age and riding it is always such a great thrill. 

Knoebels Trip Report May 2021 and Construction Updates

So the 2021 season is underway! Knoebels has done a solid job getting the park ready, but a few of the rides were not open yet or still in the midst of offseason rehabilitation, including Flying Turns and the Flyers, and the pad site for the park's newest upcoming ride is still being worked on. We only spent a few hours in the afternoon at the park to drop in and have a great time. There was a solid crowd at the park and most people were masked, which was good to see. Security at the gates was making sure guests were wearing their masks upon entrance, and I saw multiple times in queue lines and at business counters where individuals were told to mask up or not get served. With how tough the past year has been, this was encouraging to see. Knoebels takes safety seriously in all aspects and you can expect nothing less than greatness from this park. 

I do not know how we have pulled it off, but two seasons in a row we have gone on one of the first weekends of operation with weather solidly in the 80s. I would love to see the park add misting units or small water play areas/play fountains within the park area. We dipped down to the creek by the covered bridge for a second when we were walking by. 

Flying Turns looks close to being wrapped up after last year's major construction work, creating a lift hill into the final brakes. 

Lots of new wood in the chutes!

The park has hinted that the new ride coming for this year is a Wisdom Tornado. These are great family ride installations and it will fit in so well in this section of the park. They are lots of fun and prove popular everywhere they are installed.

First ride of the day was Phoenix, which is always a blast. I feel like the last few years have seen the ride become consistently less aggressive. It is still one of the best coasters out there and it is smooth as can be, but that intensity is just not there like it was before. The re profile work has smoothed out the transition moments where the strongest ejector was, making light to medium floater airtime the primary force. The ride is still a ton of fun though. 

Time for some games!

We both managed to win a game of Fascination. Definitely a lighter haul for us than usual, but it was still a ton of fun!

This is the third time we have brought CeCe along to Knoebels, and it occurred to me just how cool it was to be able to take our dog along on the carousel. It is so neat to be able to ride the two train rides, the carousel, and the antique cars with our doggo. 

Time for the Pioneer Train!

The park was pretty crowded and they even activated the second train on Twister. I miss the days when two train ops were the norm at Knoebels. It has been a while since then, but I really miss those days. Both Twister and Phoenix had full queues and Phoenix was still running one train operations. They put on the second train on Twister later in the day. It would be great to see the park recreate another classic wooden roller coaster, such as the classic Riverview Bobs. The tight turns on that could be navigated by both GCI's new Infinity Flyer trains and Gravity Group's Timberliner trains. I would also love to see them dig through Schmeck's designs and bring back another one of his greats. The park could use another capacity thrill machine like Twister and Phoenix. 

All in all though, it was a great time as always at Knoebels.