Coaster reviews

THE coaster that got me into coasters. I grew up riding this repeatedly. It used to have the old buzz bar restraints which didn't do much of anything if you were under 150 lbs. I used to stand up on this when I was a kid. It was the best. It went through a rough stretch but they have gotten back on top of it kept up on the maintenance over the years and the last few times I have ridden it, it still delivered just like always. This coaster seems faster than it is. This used to be the tallest, fastest and longest coaster on the planet. The industry has come a long way, but this coaster still delivers a far batter ride than many, many much newer coasters. They have clipped it's wings a bit over the years as they took some height out of a couple of the bunny hops and they tapered off the up into the headchopper ending, but it is barely noticeable. Most people would never know. The most intriguing fact about this coaster is the largest drop is the last one. It was world class when it was built 45 years ago and it is still a great, great coaster.

The single most impressive wooden structure I have ever seen. The amount of trees that died for this hunk of garbage is truly sad to think about. I was super excited to ride this. We went straight there as soon as the park opened. We rode it up front to test the waters. The scenic turn around over 200 feet up before the first drop was very cool. Sadly, that was the best part. I was about to go down the single largest wooden drop ever made and what do I see--trim brakes on the drop. Yep. This thing was only 1 or 2 years old when I rode it and they already had to start restricting it. So you start to head down and don't really get into mother nature's full grasp until you are fully half way down. This was a highly disappointing start. Then the two giant helixes. These were a series of events--super slow and boring top parts followed by extremely rough and violent bottom parts. I believe they were just too steep to be an effective continuous spiral. After those huge let downs came the loop. The second best part of the ride. It was a loop--nothing special except for we were on a rickety and shaky wooden coaster. It was fine. After that was just a series of small hills and a few twists and turns before you mercifully made it to the brakes. I did brave it again in the back, but the brakes were more noticeable and the helixes were borderline torture. Up front I did make the entire ride as a coaster should be ridden--with my hands up. In the back, no possible way. The helixes were viscous. I don't really know what was wrong with this from the beginning, but it never worked well. It was a huge waste of time, money and effort. Truly a shame.

I like inverted coasters. I like loops. I like cobra rolls. I love launched coasters. I like compact coasters. I love going backwards. While Invertigo technically isn't launched, I kind of think of it on those terms. So if you add all of the things up you get a pretty likeable coaster on paper. Luckily this delivers the goods. It isn't liquid smooth, but nothing at all painful. Going backwards through the inversions really makes this ride for me. It just makes me laugh. The biggest drawback to this type of coaster is the very low capacity which leads to extremely slow moving lines. Overall, a very good coaster.

Truly a shame that this no longer exists. This is far better than the B&M flying coasters. I love how they twist you into the flying position. This was a great ride.

Nice surprise! Fun Intensity Capacity

I have loved this ride since I first rode it 15 years ago. The launch is more than decent, but being in the dark is what makes this thing great. You have no idea where you are going or what is coming next. They do have some lights in the "spaghettis bowl" but those only serve to blind you even more and keep your eyes from ever fully adjusting. The theming was better years ago that the last time I was there. You used to be a bit more involved in the video that is playing while you wait. They used to turn the lights out completely and alarms would go off. It was rather entertaining. It was needing as this the line for this is incredibly slow moving. That is it's biggest negative--the low capacity. It used to have two lines, but now only one. The ride itself is fantastic. Tons of twists, turns and inversions all in an almost impossibly small area full of twisted track. A rather unique ride that is very entertaining.

I have been to KI a couple of times over the years. When I first went Son of Beast was still operating. It was as bad as everyone said it was. Then we went to the legend, The Beast. The guy who sat in front of us went on and on about how great it just was while we limped back into the station. I was confused. I left almost as disappointed in it as Son. I just didn't get it. Trim brakes all over the first half and the infamous helix at the end was just jerky and rough. I rode it again that day and this time in the front, the helix wasn't nearly as powerful up there, but beyond that, there isn't much here. I left distraught and confused. Years later, Banshee and Diamondback drew me back, I returned. This time I rode The Beast more as an observer or as an experiment. I know I am supposed to love this thing and it is supposed to be one of the greatest coasters ever, but hadn't experienced anything even close to that. It was barely even good. I tried to have an open mind this time. The first half was...well the same as I remembered, not much to write home about. Then the long second drop and the famous helix. This time, I kind of, almost, partially understood. The helix was pretty darn good. It, of course, was rough and rattily, but not painful. It is very forceful. I enjoyed it. Again though, the ride as a whole isn't anywhere near my top 20 or even 50, but I sorta-kinda can see what 10% of the hubbub was about. At night, this thing must be a completely different "beast" all together to receive the love that it has gotten over the years. I have never gotten a night ride, so I can't comment on that. I don't see how the entire ride itself can somehow morph into a completely different experience with less light, but one day I'll have to try to be sure. As it is with the multiple rides I have had on this legendary coaster, I just don't understand the love. My rating of 3 stars above is definitely higher than it would have been for years and probably still 1 full star higher than it should be just out of respect and admiration for what this ride has meant for the coaster community.

This is a really fun coaster. I honestly believe that if it were 50% longer it would appear on many top 20 lists. The second half where it picks up speed is amazing. I dare you to try to pick your feet up off the floor during the spiral. The side-to-side swinging motion is unlike any other ride experience. At a couple points during the transitions, the front of the train is 90 degrees off to the left while the back of the train is 90 degrees off to the right. It is fun to watch while in the queue. I'm not quite sure why they built it with the station all the way at that back. Getting there and back is quite a hike. The ride itself more than makes up for the added walk. My only complaint is that is short. I never timed it, but I would be shocked if it is a full minute from the top of the lift hill to the final brakes run. The first half is mostly about the view as it meanders around a few turns, but the second half is intense. Again, if this were longer with the same intensity as the second half it would be one of the all time greats. As it is, still an excellent and rather unique ride.

Way more fun that I anticipated. I could completely do without the "special effects" and just have it be a coaster. The launch and spiral up to start is pretty cool, but the most surprising part is the second half that is mostly indoor. This is quick and forceful little coaster. It delivers excellent forces to give an excellent ride.

Yes, everyone you are reading those previous reviews correctly. This is a smooth Dinn. As many of you know most Dinns don't age well at all. This one was very similar. I rode this years ago after it had already aged a bit and it was pretty brutal. The work they have done to this under the new ownership has done wonders to this. It now delivers an excellent ride. It still feels very much like an old school woody with the noise and shutters and shaking, but it is in no way uncomfortable. This delivers a ride that good woodies are supposed to. I t doesn't really have any tricks, it just delivers speed and turns and a few hills and that is enough. This is now, or more correctly, is once again, an excellent wooden coaster.

Excellent stand up coaster. This was the centerpiece and main draw coaster for the park back in the Six Flags days. It was worth the trip. It is a giant B&M so you know it is going to be smooth, which it was. The standup trains were OK once you figure out how to load in them so your crotch isn't destroyed by every bit of positive G's. We rode this more than any other coaster in the park on the day we were there. I would say it is/was my second favorite standup coaster I have ridden--out of I think 6.