Well, it was a beautiful day in Texas last Thursday. So beautiful and yet so very hot. As I have spent most of my summer in the 70-degree climate of the Midwest, the dry heat of Texas was a very rude awakening to what summer is all about. Nonetheless, I was wearing my game face on my family vacation as S:TOP shot up from the prarie land off of I-36 and I couldn't have been happier. As this was my first visit, I had to make it count. So right out of the gate, I set to work.
The crowds were moderate as expected, and my mind was focused on the one thing I couldn't take my eyes off in the parking lot, the Giovanola giant by the name of Titan. So we decided to head there first. Mostly because I was the only one who cared about what we rode. Well, I learned first-hand that SFOT can be a very confusing place with narrow pathways and dead-ends. So after getting lost we finally managed to make our way to Titan by 10:30
Titan -- Rating: 9/10
Wow, wow, wow. After a decent 15-minute wait, I was strapped in the back row ready for a great ride. And boy, did it deliver! I enjoyed the quick pace of the lift all the way to the first drop which was absolutely breathtaking. The first helix was something else while the second was that kind of force NASA trainees only dream of. For me, this ride just grabs you right out of the station and doesn't let go until you hit the brake run. Truly an excellent coaster and one of my Top 10 steel coasters now.
After Titan we headed over to the Antique Cars, a decent little ride that would pass the time while waiting for Texas Giant to open. After that, we had 45 minutes until it opened so we backtracked to the Spain area to check out La Vibora
La Vibora -- Rating: 5/10
I've been on my share of bobsled coasters, but this one was something else, and I mean that in both good and bad ways. Unlike the normal seperate seating I'm used to with these kinds of coasters, La Vibora had single-file seating two people per seat. I didn't mind this until the first drop when my sister, who was sitting with me, flew back and smacked me square in the face, the first of many times during this ride. It was definitely a wild ride for it's kind and had me flying every which way in the car until the very end. From now on, I ride this one alone.
Finally, Texas Giant was open, so back to the Texas area we go!
Texas Giant -- 9/10
It's true that with age, a wooden roller coaster will become more rickety and will throw you every which way more and more. Same goes for the unbelievable Texas Giant. I got a real kick out of the train designs and an even bigger kick out of the coaster. The first drop was breathtaking, but once we hit that first turn after it, I was flung straight into the side of the car. Over and over again. The insane airtime made up for this though and the final part of the ride truly is the stuff all woodies dream of having. Sure, my sides and my thighs were bruised after the experience, but the coaster itself was too awesome to notice. Never has there been such a wonderful mix of pain and pleasure in a single ride!
By now it was noon, so we breaked at the Cantina for burgers. With the price they charged us, I now have a deeper respect for the price of food at SFGAm. Well, soon enough we were full and re-energized, so we took the train down to the Boomtown area. So, what with the sweltering heat and all, it was off to Splash Down (which soaked me head to toe. Toes never dried the rest of the day. And I still have the blisters to prove it).
After getting drenched, my sister took notice that the park had the Spongebob simulator. I'd been dying to try this one just for kicks, but it actually turned out to be one of the best 3D simulator programs I've ridden. Robo-Patrick was the best part. A giant claw, a buzzsaw, and for some inexplicable reason, a paddleball. I wanna build one of those too! Now realizing I haven't ridden a coaster in 3 hours, we headed down toward Mr. Freeze.
Mr. Freeze -- 9/10
Three words for you all. Best shuttle ever. The theming was pretty good, but it was the ride itself that won me over, just the feeling of the magnetic brakes going down under the train sent shivers down my spine. The launch was great. Not too fast, not too slow. And then straight up into the top hat! Possibly the coolest inversion ever (next to the cobra roll). Going up the straightaway with the LIMs was scary, since I had the feeling it was just gonna launch itself right off the track. Then, going backwards, that was just absolutely amazing. I loved it so much. I did it 2 more times afterwards! Then, I figured I might as well add another B:TR to my track record
B:TR -- 7/10
It's Batman. We all know how it goes. This one was fairly smooth and the hidden line shortcut we found was great (no, I didn't cut anyone, but it saved some time going through that huge queue). Well, I have nothing else to say on this. Batman's Batman. And that means you know it's good.
Onward to Texas Chute Out, which was a great little ride. Sitting in an open air seat while dangling 200 feet above the air was great. Finally, a tower ride that doesn't scare the living daylights out of you (unless you're afraid of heights. Then it will ^_^). From there we hit up Flashback
Flashback -- 3/10
It's Vekoma. It's a Boomerang. It's a headbanger. It's worth one ride just for my track record. And then I can leave it behind forever.
It was now 5:00 and we'd be leaving soon, so we took the long way back to the entrance with my sister whining about riding Judge Roy Scream. I told her we'd ride it last and we went on to Runaway Mine Train.
Runaway Mine Train -- 7/10
Considering most coasters in the park, RMT was anything but intense. But for a Mine Train coaster, this is one of the best I've ever seen. Three lifts, several tunnels, and one final drop that made this ride one of my favorites of the park. Despite it's lack of speed, height, airtime, and inversions (which is why I'm not giving it a 10), RMT is one of the best of it's kind. Truly a classic.
Superman: Tower Of Power -- 5/10
Okay, I wanna know whose bright idea it was to make the whole ride one big high-capacity Space Shot? I was looking so forward towards riding another S&S Turbo Drop, and suddenly, all the towers are programmed for Space Shot mode. Don't get me wrong. Space Shots are fine. But I like Turbo Drops a lot more.
Now it was onto the Oil Derrick. Never been in one of the SF observation towers (SFMM's is always closed), so this was a treat. And at the same time, it was hell on my acrophobia. I can deal with heights of any kind if I'm strapped in. But walking around 280 ft. above Mother Earth made me real real dizzy. We stayed for a few minutes, to look around a bit (view was incredible), then rushed to the elevator once it came back up. After returning to the ground, we rode Titan one last time. This time I did it front row since it lacked any real airtime. Oh the view! From there it was on to the last ride of the night: Judge Roy Scream.
Judge Roy Scream -- 8/10
For a little woodie, this ride packs a real nice punch. Constant airtime hills, and unbanked turnaround, and the train even jumped the tracks! Definitely a great little woodie.
We left the park around 8:30 that night. I hope to come back very soon. Why couldn't I have ridden Runaway Mountain? WHY?!
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SFOT: 8/5/04
8 posts
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You said that you went on la Vibora. Does anyone have or know of a place where I can see it when it was called avalanche bobsled?
I want the sfgam survivor to be held every July and August.
It's been closed due to the floods that occured awhile back. The footers need to be fixed.
It's called both names. http://www.rcdb.com/quicksearch.htm?qui ... he+Bobsled How many water rides, do they have, considering it's a boiling state?
Well why don't they just call it la Vibora I mean it is in the spain section of the park.
I want the sfgam survivor to be held every July and August.
it is la vibora, not avelanche bobsled http://rctgrotto.coastergrotto.com/file.jsp?argId=76 my first rct3 park. its ok but please try it.
If you look at that website, it says under names, both of them. It's like Vertical Velocity. The other name is V2.
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