Depart: Econo Lodge, Warrensville Heights, Ohio at 8:58 AM.
Arrive: Six Flags Ohio, Aurora, Ohio at 9:45 AM. Distance From Hotel: 13 miles. Total distance for trip: 151.7 miles.
The second park of the trip was a park that I had previously visited under a different name. Uh, the park had a different name, not me. Prior to the 2000 season, Six Flags Ohio was known as Geauga Lake. Personally, I preferred the old name. When I think of Six Flags, I think of the fast food of amusement parks, or, as I call it, Six Flags McPark. While I do feel that the Six Flags parks have some good rides, I must admit that I've never been to a McPark that impressed me, and Six Flags Ohio is no exception. In general, I've found that the ride operators at Six Flags parks do not appear to be as attentive to their jobs as I feel they should be. I feel that lack of attentiveness has the potential for leading to disastrous accidents. It is probably a result of having been newly acquired by Six Flags, but Six Flags Ohio had a terrible souvenir selection. There were some generic Six Flags souvenirs, but very little that mentioned Six Flags Ohio specifically, or which matched up with the park's rides. Regardless, I'm glad I stopped at Six Flags Ohio, as it was a very fun day. Fortunately, I do not pay too much attention to the park maps. This map was a mess! It contained at least one ride (Rotor) which did not actually exist in the park. Also, there were some midways marked on the map that didn't really exist, and there was some incorrect numbering in an attempt to match a ride location to a ride name. I dare say that some proofreading would have been beneficial!
One factor about this park really surprised me. I visited the park on a July Saturday featuring perfect weather. I would expect large crowds on such a day, and did not actually expect to experience all of the rides. I did not experience the water park, but I finished all of the other rides by 6 PM, with the park having opened at 10 AM. Being in a suburb of Cleveland, I couldn't believe the lines were so short. However, the ride operations were not particularly efficient. With a better-run operation, I would have finished even earlier. On my previous visit to Geauga Lake (a few years ago), the park had some rather good shows. I was very disappointed to see that those shows were gone, especially since they would have helped fill up the day.
Not wanting to sound entirely negative, Six Flags Ohio does have some
good coasters. As a result, it is worth spending a portion of a day
to experience these rides. If you can only visit one park, however,
there are better choices. Anyway, on to the coasters!
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Wholly Rat Race, Batman! It's Batman Knight Flight! Of
all the Six Flags Ohio coasters, I felt this coaster was by far the best.
In fact, it was so enjoyable, I rode it 3 times. The ride is a "floorless"
coaster. The floorless feature strikes me as being more of a gimmick
than an experience enhancer, but, with or without a floor, the ride was
quite exciting. It was a reasonably smooth ride with lots of tight
twists and turns, and several inversions. If Batman Knight Flight
were the only coaster in this park, its existence would make the visit
worthwhile.
Without a doubt, Batman Knight Flight was the best floorless coaster on the trip. Well, OK, it was the only floorless coaster on the trip. Batman Knight Flight: Floorless steel coaster built in 2000. Designed by Bolliger & Mabillard. Height: 161 feet. Track length: 4210 feet. Speed: 65 MPH. |
| There's a howl in the distance. The fur on the back of the neck
starts to rise. Up next is the Raging Wolf Bobs.
Raging Wolf Bobs is a traditional-style wooden roller coaster. When I last visited Geauga Lake, this ride was brand new. It may be just rumor, but it was my understanding that Geauga Lake sold Sea World Ohio in order to build this coaster for the park's 100th season. The ride is now painted, but it was natural wood during it's first season. I think I preferred the natural wood look for this coaster. Anyhow, Raging Wolf Bobs is a fun wooden coaster. It's not the biggest, it isn't the wildest, but it is a good ride. Despite being 24 years younger than Cedar Point's Blue Streak, this coaster is only 2 feet taller. Blue Streak, however, is an out-and-back coaster. Raging Wolf Bobs is more of an oval track design, giving more turns. There are lots of wooden coasters that are better than Raging Wolf Bobs, but this ride is a lot of fun. Raging Wolf Bobs: Wooden coaster built in 1988. Designed by Dinn Corp. Height: 80 feet. Track length: 3426 feet. Speed: 50 MPH. Ride duration: 2 minutes. |
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In a park with two super heroes (Batman and Superman), clearly there
must be The Villain. Ah, but there's no need to fear! It's
a bird, it's a plane, it's a... frog? Not bird, nor plane, nor even
frog, just little ol' me, Underdog. I've not seen a coaster quite
like The Villain before. It is a flat rail wooden track with a steel
structure. The park considers it a wooden coaster, but I don't understand
that designation. Of course, it could be wood that they painted to
look like steel, or perhaps the track is steel and they painted it to look
like wood. Perhaps the structure doesn't even exist, and it is just
a painted backdrop. Sounds like something Lex Luthor would do to
lure unsuspecting coaster riders into some devious trap! Ah well,
it doesn't really matter, as The Villain is a very good ride.
The Villain: Wooden coaster with steel structure built in 2000. Designed by CCI. Height: 120 feet. Track length: 4000 feet. Speed: 60 MPH. |
| Lurking in the shadows, ready to spring out and thrill its next victim
at any moment. It thrills again and again. It's the Serial
Thriller. Serial Thriller is a looping suspended coaster, showing
that suspended coasters have come a long way since Iron Dragon. This
coaster was fun, but I really didn't consider it to be all that exciting
or thrilling. Ah well, perhaps it will have better luck with a future
victim!
Serial Thriller: Suspended looping steel coaster built in 1998. Designed by Vekoma International. Height: 120 feet. Track length: 2037 feet. Speed: 50 MPH. Ride duration: 1 minute 35 seconds. |
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Geauga Lake originally opened in 1888, long before the existence of
Six Flags. As a park with such a long history, it is bound to have
some older classic rides. The Big Dipper, built in 1926, is one such
ride. Before computers were used to design roller coasters, their
design was more art than science. The coasters that lasted were the
Monets and Picassos of the amusement industry. While it is very old,
The Big Dipper is a classic coaster that is a lot of fun.
There was an odd incident on The Big Dipper while I was waiting to ride. The coaster was temporarily shut down due to an injury. We were told that they had to wait for the Hazards Materials people to come and clean up some blood that was spilled. I envisioned a new mystery television program. "NBC presents... Blood On The Coaster! Starring William Shatner as Detective Roland Coaster. Tonight's episode: Murder in the Front Seat." Bill Shatner: "Dr.! McToy! Give! Me! An! Analysis! Of! The! Chain! Lift! Grease!" McToy: "Dammit, Roland! I'm a doctor, not a coaster mechanic!" OK, it wasn't quite that dramatic. It seems a girl hit her nose on the lap bar, causing a bad nose bleed. Important safety tip: don't try to smell the lap bar while the ride is in motion. The Big Dipper: Wooden coaster built in 1926. Manufactured by National Amusement Company. Height: 65 feet. Track length: 2600 feet. Speed: 32 MPH. Ride duration: 1 minute 45 seconds. |
| I would talk about this ride, but, uh, my mind seems to have gone blank.
Paging Dr. Banner, Dr. Bruce Banner -- mind restoration urgently required.
Oh, yeah, now I remember. The Mind Eraser is a shuttle loop coaster
which goes upside down three times while going forwards, and three times
again while going backwards. It is a fun ride, but it isn't particularly
unique or special. Even on this trip, I encountered another ride
that was nearly identical to The Mind Eraser. For those unfamiliar
with the shuttle concept, the ride is hauled backwards up a lift hill,
then released. It goes through the station, then through a cobra
roll, through the vertical loop, then up a second lift hill. It is
pulled to the top of that lift hill, then released, allowing the train
to go backwards through the vertical loop, through the cobra roll, and
back into the station. The backwards movement is more fun than the
forwards movement, but it is a bit harder to keep from banging the head
on the shoulder harness when the train movement cannot be anticipated by
watching the upcoming track.
The Mind Eraser: Steel shuttle looping coaster built in 1996. Manufactured by Vekoma International. Height: 125 feet. Track length: 875 feet. Speed: 48 MPH. |
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Faster than a speeding water balloon! More powerful than Pee
Wee Herman! Able to leap tall Sno-Cones in a single bound!
And, to think, Lois Lane still can't figure out its true identity!
Superman Ultimate Escape is a rather interesting coaster. Using magnetic induction, the ride "rocks" between the spiraling tower and the straight tower, all while the riders have their legs dangling. I liked it better than Superman: The Escape at Six Flags Magic Mountain, but I think I generally prefer coasters that make a full circuit. Superman Ultimate Escape: Steel magnetic induction shuttle coaster built in 2000. Manufactured by Intamin. Height: 180 feet. Track length: 2700 feet. Speed: 70 MPH. |
| Round 'em up, pardner, for a trip back in history. Double Loop
is one of the older looping coasters. As the name so subtly implies,
this coaster loops twice. Being hidden amongst some older tree growth,
this ride provides a pleasant journey.
Double Loop was the final coaster to be experienced at Six Flags Ohio, meaning it was time to mosey on out towards the next coastering destination. Double Loop: Steel looping coaster built in 1977. Manufactured by Arrow Dynamics. Height: 95 feet. Track length: 1800 feet. Speed: 36 MPH. |
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Depart: Six Flags, Aurora, Ohio at 6:52 PM.
Rest Stop: I-90 Mile 189, 7:32 PM. Distance traveled: 30.8 miles. Trip resumed at 7:36 PM.
Ohio/Pennsylvania Border: crossed at 8:18 PM.
Arrive: Red Roof Inn, Erie, Pennsylvania at 8:44 PM. Distance from Six Flags Ohio: 102.7 miles. Distance traveled on Day Two: 115.7 miles. Total distance traveled for trip: 333.0 miles.
This Red Roof Inn was a reasonably nice hotel. Although there was some water damage in the bathroom, the room was clean and the bed was comfortable.