Chicopee Coaster Queen

For the love of all things roller coasters, amusement parks, and their history 

[alliecoaster]

His enthusiasm is a little sub-par....my prediction was that SFNE would be getting a dark shooting ride, but this Joker ride looks pretty cool. I’ve heard mixed reviews about it predecessor at Six Flags Great Adventure, so we will see.

[alliecoaster]

Six Flags patron says snapped roller coaster cable sounded like 'someone dropping a large metal dumpster'

The steel cable that snapped sounded "like someone dropping a large metal dumpster," said Tom Beggs, an area resident who had family members waiting in line to ride Goliath when the malfunction occurred.

Goliath at Six Flags New England is closed until further notice.

[alliecoaster]

65 Photos of New York City's Long Lost Amusement Parks

Coney Island is known as New York's epicenter for summer thrills and stomach-dropping rides, but there was a time when every borough had an amusement park (or three) to call its own. We culled the...

Love this!!!

[alliecoaster]

Hello Folks!

Just got back from an awesome 3-day trip to Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio. Now, I know I am not a local to Sandusky, but this girl can tell when something fishy is going on! While in line for Mean Streak, I noticed a lot of spray paint-marking up going on, both on the ground and on the concrete supports. I got ULTRA EXCITED when I noticed a stake in the ground with the initials “RMC”....could it be?! Rocky Mountain Construction?!

It is my prediction that the 2017 season at Cedar Point will bring a revamped Mean Streak (maybe called “Meaner Streak”? That would be amazing) to the park. Other hints that they current ride may be in need of a rehab are the squeaky-as-hell wheels and the fact that the on-ride photo station at the end of the ride is closed up. The ride no longer takes on-ride photos as well. The lines for Mean Streak were fairly short most of the time during our stay, too. Poor thing. 

I think a RMC revamp would bring Mean Streak back up to par with a lot of the other park’s bigger and badder coasters. I happen to really like Mean Streak as-is because of its grand size and graceful ride (maybe not so much recently...I last rode it about 10-12 years ago). I think it would rock as a RMC coaster with a smooth track. The only thing I don’t particularly like about RMC woodies, though, is that they are fairly low to the ground aside from the first drop. I know parts of the wooden structure need to be removed in order to secure the steel on top, but still. Maverick, which opened in 2007, pretty much dominates the back of the park. The second Cedar Point Railroad stop also helps populate the area and brings people to the back of the park. But I definitely feel a big change is coming for Mean Streak in the near future.

What do you think? Would you like to see a RMC coaster finally come to Cedar Point?

[alliecoaster]

From the Theme Park Review blog a few months ago and the Rocky Mountain Construction archives. I am fascinated by this prototype for a single-rail coaster, called the “Raptor Track”! I do not believe any are actually implemented out at any parks right now, but it looks like the design saves lots of space. The seats look really rad too. Check out the links below!

http://www.themeparkreview.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=71012&start=280

http://us12.campaign-archive1.com/?u=945166a45fd3bb8a7d1618b40&id=33cb1dfe65 

[alliecoaster]

Lilliana Vazquez of The Today Show rides Valravn at Cedar Point!!

[alliecoaster]

Hello! My name is Allie, and I have been riding roller coasters since I can remember. I’m 26 years old and reside in Western Massachusetts.

Not only do I absolutely love roller coasters, but I love their history. I figured I’d create a blog to unleash my thoughts and passion for roller coasters. So let’s hop on the train, ride the lift hill, and here we go!

I think my first coaster was one of those kitschy dragon ones at a local carnival, dubbed “The Dragon Wagon.” When I was younger there was always a summer carnival at the Allen & Cooley plaza in Springfield, MA, at the old Caldor store parking lot (where Texas Roashouse now is).

After that came the Thunderbolt at Riverside Park in Agawam, MA (now Six Flags New England), and then the Rolling Thunder, which is now called The Great Chase. I remember that one best from when it first opened, I think I was about nine or ten years old. I’m fairly certain that Roller Thunder used to be in the park where Flashback now stands, and it was changed (both name and location) to adhere to the Six Flags branding and characters.

I remember the days on the Thunderbolt when there were no seat dividers, when it was just a bench and a seat belt! Heck, my dad even remembers the days when there weren’t even seat belts on the Thunderbolt, just the pull-down bar! I owe a lot to my dad for my love of coasters. He is a great reference to the history of Riverside Park, as well as Mountain Park in Holyoke before it closed down in 1987...we’ll get to Mountain Park another time.