Having never been to Holiday World before, I was very excited about this seemingly last minute trip to Santa Claus.
Dave, Chitown arrived at my house Friday at about 4:30am and we began our trek south with a Stop at Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom.
SFKK, was to be a stopover park, since there is no real direct route from Chicago to Santa Claus, but never the less we did enjoy our stay at SFKK.
Once inside the park, the first thing we noticed was that Chang got a brand spanking new paint job (Photos will be posted later tonight/tomorrow)
We headed over the bridge since Greezed Lightning was closed.
SFKK, had some home schooling event going on at the park during the afternoon hours, and that made for some longer then the usual SFKK lines, Chang was running one train as we arrived, which equated to an hour line at least.
The first ride we rode at SFKK this time was actually T2, Personally, I enjoy this ride, which makes me in the minority but that doesnt bother me one bit
Chitown's friend who also made it to SFKK called him to inform us that some of the ACE members where meeting with SFKK's GM in one of the resturants in the park, SFKK also provided us with some lunch during this meeting as well.
Jay Thomas is the SFKK GM, and is a very nice guy. He spent about 45 minutes outlining SFKK's plans and fielding questions. Including one from me, "Why Chang runs one train" This of course was after he boasted about SFKK's maitenece being #1 in the business. Whatever I said to Jay apparently made an impact, becuase the next time we headed over to Chang it was running 2 trains, which wasnt really needed and Chang was now a Walk-on for even the Front row.
Anyway, we ended our SFKK trip around 5pm Eastern and headed west towards Santa Claus. ALong the way, we stopped for gas at "Possum Junction" a mom and pop gas station in the middle of nowhere. Anyway upon heading to Holiday World, we noticed just how dominating Voyage is.
Anyway, we park and head inside to the park. The friendliness inside this park is boarderline sickening. Since the park was closing at 6pm today, We got a final GP ride on Raven prior to the parks closing.
I enjoyed Raven, especially with the massive airtime you get on the 4th drop. The Speed on this ride is great, but its not all that big of a ride though however.
We headed to the Picnic Area for the welcome and the rules and regulations etc.
After the clearing of the park we headed over to Legend, Again my first ride ever on this coaster and not knowing what to expect, Legend was simply amazing!
And for a time was the best wooden coaster I have ever ridden....
That was until Voyage.
There isnt a wooden rollercoaster on earth that gives you the ride Voyage does, none (at least until I ride El Toro ) The first drop on this ride has awesome speed and amazing air to boot, but the best features of this ride are the tunnels, especially the "triple down underground tunnel" that features 3 airtime filled drops in complete darkness.
Voyage like all the coasters at this park, kick your ass, theres no better way to say it then that. The speed and airtime on Voyage are insane. Legend too.
If you've never been to Holiday World before, YOU HAVE TOO!
5/27/06 Notes, Observations:
The Next day was day two of the ERT and the event.
We arrived at the park in the blistering heat and humidity of Southern Indiana. The waterpark of course was jammed packed.
Continued with a few more spins on Legend and Voyage and also got a walk-back tour of Voyage where Dave and I took several photos (PhotoZone update soon id imagine)
Notes: Voyage ran 3 trains during the ERT.
Dave, Chitown and I spent easily 1 hour+ on Raven during the ERT. (Totally kicked my ass)
A medivac helicopter landed in the employee parking lot of the park in the afternoon. We never found out what exactly happened.
Met up with several people from Coasterfanatics.com.
Voyage at night is well worth the price of admission to Holiday World, pitch black and nothing compares to this ride.
Anyone interested in going to Holiday World from Chicago, take US Route 41 there and back, it will save you time and gas as well.
Nearly Hit a deer returning home.
Final Thoughts:
Voyage is the X of wooden coasters, you get off that ride ass handed to you, wondering just what the hell you got yourself into. Just like when you ride X.
Easily the best wooden coaster ever, I will ride another Gravity Group Coaster next week when I head to Wisconsin Dells.
Since Mike already started a TR here about this event and I was with him, I will just add my thoughts here.
The event turned out very well. Everything on the itinerary went off well without a hitch. I can't say enough about the family that runs this park and the passion they have for a business like this. To take a park that is literally out in the middle of nowhere and make it successfull where people from far distances will drive to it speaks volumes.
I was at this park once before with my daughter and we both loved Raven and Legend so I knew we were good to go with 2 kickass coasters. Then the big brother known as Voyage shows up and now you have 2 kickass coasters and 1 coaster that is just freakin sick and insane.
From the first drop all the way into the final brake run, you are literally tossed, turned, slammed, etc. You get off of this thing wondering what exactly just happened. I have never said more curse words on a coaster then this one. You need a freakin oxygen mask when riding this thing.
The Voyage possibly has every imaginable element allowed on a woodie and then some. It truly is the most insane wooden coaster I have ever experienced.
The Gobbler Getaway was a nice Sally dark ride. It has quite a few targets to hit and the turkey caller(it's not a gun ) makes gobble sounds when you hit your target. Also, the air-conditioned line and ride itself were very welcome in this blistering heat.
So , throughout the event we made our rounds on all 3 woodies and by the end of the event , I felt like my body was beaten to a pulp but in a good way. These woodies are just non-stop action.
As Mike mentioned, if you want to go directly to HW, take U.S. 41 down. This is the route we took home after the event and we were in the area in 5.5 hours.
I finally retired the Sarah Palin signature because she is now 100% irrelevant.
For the beating to a pulp ride, it sounds like Boss at SFStL, and I hate that ride. I don't get much airtime, and it beats you to a pulp. What's the point with a ride like that?? Do you get a lot of airtime on this one at least? If it's anything like Screamin Eagle (SFStL My number 1 woodie.) or Great American Machine (SFOG), then I'm in.
"I've been staring at the world, waiting. All the trouble and all the pain we're facing. Too much light to be livin' in the dark. Why waste time? We only got one life. Together we can be the CHANGE. So go and let your heart burn bright"
Ilovthevu' wrote:For the beating to a pulp ride, it sounds like Boss at SFStL, and I hate that ride. I don't get much airtime, and it beats you to a pulp. What's the point with a ride like that?? Do you get a lot of airtime on this one at least? If it's anything like Screamin Eagle (SFStL My number 1 woodie.) or Great American Machine (SFOG), then I'm in.
Im sorry then you shouldnt ride rollercoasters if you have that whimpy attitude like that.
Ilovthevu' wrote:For the beating to a pulp ride, it sounds like Boss at SFStL, and I hate that ride. I don't get much airtime, and it beats you to a pulp. What's the point with a ride like that?? Do you get a lot of airtime on this one at least? If it's anything like Screamin Eagle (SFStL My number 1 woodie.) or Great American Machine (SFOG), then I'm in.
Seriously? I thought Screamin Eagle was a decent coaster but I didn't really get much air on it, not nearly as much as I get on AE or Viper. I loved Boss though, I thought it was a little rough but the layout is amazing.
1. Voyage
2. X
3. Millenium Force
4. Top Thrill Dragster
5. Raging Bull
) The first drop on this ride has awesome speed and amazing air to boot, but the best features of this ride are the tunnels, especially the "triple down underground tunnel" that features 3 airtime filled drops in complete darkness.
