Coaster reviews

It's a Batman, but not exactly. This one is a mirror image to all of the others. It goes to the right off of the lift hill instead of left like all of the rest. Interesting? Perhaps. Does it make it better than all of the others? Perhaps, perhaps not. It just simply makes it a bit unique. The ride delivers just like all of the others. That is a good thing. It is definitely better than one of them that I can think of for sure. These were put up all over the country for one good reason--they simply work. They move a ton of people through the line all day everyday. On top of that they deliver one heck of a good ride. If there were only one of these in existence it would get more love, but the fact that there are several kind of waters down its greatness--at least on discussion boards. In reality, these are really good rides. It took me a long time to appreciate this one. It is in my home park and I wasn't thrilled with it when I first rode it. I always appreciated it for what it is--super smooth, crazy fast paced, and intense throughout without a brake run to interrupt the fun. I just didn't get off of it thinking, "That was great!" I don't really know why. Over the years that opinion has changed completely. This still isn't my favorite invert--or even top three, but it is still one of the best rides our community has ever had.

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.

It is a shame that this, and many others similar to it, is no longer with us. Today, heck even 30 or 40 years ago, looping is no big deal, except when Schwarzkopf did it. Their loops were and still to this day are best loops ever done. They had the math perfect. They just delivered forces perfectly. They went from positive to negative to positive G's all right in a row perfectly paced every time. On top of that, they had great trains that were very comfortable. I love launches. I love going backwards. I love Schwarzkopf loops. Put all of those together and its easy to understand why I loved this coaster.

I rode this years ago when it was called T2. It was hated back then too. We actually rode it 2 times back to back, once in the front and then in the back. I didn't really understand what all the fuss was about. It wasn't silky smooth like B&M inverts for sure and definitely did some shuffling, but it wasn't painful or awful. Then I saw they changed trains and now call it T3. I rode this a couple years back and all I can say is it is one of the worst coaster experiences I have ever had. It all started out fine. The seats and restraints were comfy. I was all set to enjoy myself. Then we sent down the first hill. The G's pulling down the restraint pushed deep into my lap and stayed there. My thighs were crushed for 90% of the ride. I don't really remember anything as all I was focusing on was the pain and trying to avoid it to no avail. I don't remember any head banging--so it has that going for it. Honestly if the restraints would lock into the position they left the station in, this wouldn't be that terrible of a ride. However the way it is now, it makes sense that it is in the bottom 5% of all the coasters rated on this site.

A classic for sure. This is one of the largest of these old wooden creations ever built. I love these classic woody out and backs. My home park of SFSTL has Screamin Eagle and I have ridden it countless times over the decades. This is taller, longer slightly faster and it has a cool helix. Plus it is technically a racer. Although, I've never been dispatched simultaneously. I rode this back somewhere around 2006 and then again about 5-6 years later. I'm 95% sure there wasn't any maintenance done between those rides. It was in pretty rough shape the second time I rode it. Even in it's condition, isn't an awful ride. I've definitely been on much worse. This obviously, isn't anywhere in the realm of liquid smooth, but if you hang on in the helix and turns the rest is rideable as it should be ridden--arms up. Overall, a good example of classic woodies.

Excellent, excellent coaster in a fun little park. Lines were very low the day we were there and I think we rode it 10 times that day. The rest of the park looks like a temporary fair set up. It has a very fun vibe about the place. This coaster doesn't seem to fit, but I'm glad they built it or I never would have gone. It is close enough to Kentucky Kingdom and Holiday World that I made a 3 day trip out of it. This still would rank #4 out of all of the coasters at all three of those parks. Compared to other GCI's, I think Ozark Wildcat was better, even though it no longer exists. Currently, I still think American Thunder is slightly better, but not by much. It is far better the Prowler. It is on par with Thunderhead and Ghost Rider, although I put those two in different category as they are much larger than this compact style. Rumbler gives the distinctive side to side transitions and air pops that keep you hopping around in the wonderfully comfortable trains the entire ride. It just delivers pure fun.

We rode this as soon as the park opened. I knew of the incredibly low capacity and slow moving lines, so we went there first thing. We were the first ones on it for the day. There was still no one at in the queue when we returned back that the station and we wanted to ride it again immediately. The attendants made us do the walk. We rode it twice and never went back. It was decent enough. The off camber / opposite banked turn wasn't as thrilling as I envisioned. Beyond that it just provided a decent little ride experience. Think of it a wild mouse on a mild steriod binge. Decent overall coaster. Excellent addition to the park.

I was super excited when this coaster was announced. I love GCI's. My favorite is/was Ozark Wildcat at the now defunct Celebration City. So at the time this would have been the 3rd GCI in the state of Missouri. The third being American Thunder (It was Evel Knievel back then) at Six Flags St Louis. Prowler, I am sad to say is a very, very distant third to those other two. I don't quite know know what to say other than it just didn't deliver. I rode it first in the back and it was a bit rough without the usual sweeping and comfortable transitions that GCI is know for. I then immediately rode it again in the front. Unfortunately it wasn't much better there either. It just didn't deliver forces and stay smooth like other GCI's. There was very little air and absolutely none of the famous "sideway" air that Ozark Wildcat was the absolute best at. It could be the park--they have a way of building coasters that should be great on paper, but just end up being duds--both Mamba and Patriot fit that bill as well. I'm not sure what is wrong with this version, but it simply doesn't deliver.

Pace Masterpiece Intensity

Well, what to say about this...it was super anticipated and super hyped. It had huge expectations to live up to. Plus, when I was there the line was about as long as I will tolerate standing in. Was it worth the wait and did it live up to the expectations..? In a word, absolutely. Many people are calling this the best coaster on the planet right now, and I have zero reason to argue with that. This thing is crazy intense from beginning to end. It never lets up. It seems to go on forever twisting in and out and through the huge wooden forest of supports. Even if this were just the first drop and one circle around the layout it would be on many top tens, but with the length and the intensity throughout, it is a masterpiece of coaster execution. Of course it is liquid smooth. Throw in crazy speed, tons of air, dozens of near misses, disorientation of being within the structure, several inversions that all really work here, and you have fantastic recipe for a wonderful coaster. Truly a world class thrill machine. One of the absolute very best.

Great, great little coaster. It far exceeds the "amazing" stats that it lists on the signage in the queue. It obviously isn't very tall or fast, but it still delivers. It is plenty quick to evoke forces on you to give an excellent ride experience. The stat that stood out the most is the 12 air time moments. I was a bit skeptical of that. After riding it several times, I can 100% confirm you get all 12. These are not just some vague, perhaps .01 of a G that the designers counted. No, these are legitimate, full-on pops of airtime. I counted all 12 distinctly each of the last several times we rode it. This takes the crown for me as my favorite family coaster.

What can I say? I'm a credit whore. This actually isn't a terrible little coaster. I BARELY fit, but it wasn't torture at all like a few other kiddie coasters. It does exactly what it sets out to do--give youngsters a taste of what roller coasters are like.

I mostly went to KK for this ride. I left with it not being my favorite ride in the park, by quite a margin. This is still a very good coaster and a great addition to this park's limited coaster list. It isn't quite as "pudding" smooth as other RMC's. There is definitely some minor herky-jerky and plenty of vibrations--nothing at all painful or even the leas bit uncomfortable, but just very noticeable. The first twisting, inversion drop is pretty cool, perhaps not spectacular, but very neat and unique. The ending is a bit lethargic--it is almost like KK contracted them to build a 2700 ft coaster and RMC already had a 2400 ft design finished. So, they simply added an extra turnaround with a couple of slow paced dips at the end to make up the footage. Now, I highly doubt that is the case, but that is almost what it seems like. Overall, a really good coaster, but for me, not world class.

My first B&M hyper. This is more of a hyper-twister layout. The brakes, kind of reduce how good this could be--they put them in very poor locations--especially on the first big "air" hill after the initial drop and turn around. They don't kill it, by any means, but they are definitely noticeable and reduce what should be amazing air to just barely OK air. This ride accomplishes what it is designed to--deliver a very good ride while keeping tons of people moving through the queue. It is intense enough to be very good and smooth enough to re-ride all day. A very good coaster.

This is what a hyper is supposed to be. Tall, fast, and full of air. My favorite B&M hyper.

First let me say, what a TERRIBLE, TERRIBLE name. How many Goliath's does Six Flags need? Just dumb. This was my first RMC--I went the first weekend it was open to the public several years ago. The wait was ridiculous, mainly because they were only operating 1 train and also because no one understood the loading procedure. Several people per train were too large to get the restraint light to go on or off for the operators and every time they complained and argued that they don't want to get off after waiting for well over an hour. They just kept pleading with the operators to keep crushing them harder until the light does what it needs to. It never worked. It just slowed things down even more. The ride itself was a new experience as RMC's are definitely unique. The best way I can describe how it felt was to say that it felt like we were riding on a puddle of pudding. It was just so perfectly smooth. The first drop is fantastic, not other worldly, but very, very good. A couple of the floaters were again, very good, but not the absolute best. The zero G stall takes this from just a good ride, and elevates it to an excellent one. Truly unique maneuver that is so slow you can't believe it while you are on it. It is by far the best element of the coaster. Overall a very good coaster, but not quite a top 20 of mine.

Great, great coaster. I understand why coasters became so popular in this country because in 1924 they built this thing of beauty. It is far, far better than many, many much younger coasters--especially some "old" wooden ones that are decades newer than this. It obviously isn't the tallest or fastest, but it delivers a fantastic ride, even by today's standards. Truly a classic.

Best part about this ride is the name. I don't know why exactly but the T-I-G apostrophe RR just cracks me up. I just loved saying it. My niece and nephew thought I was nuts. They may be right. Anyway the ride itself is OK. There are a few rough spots, but nothing terrible. The whole structure seems to go into a resonance vibration about 2/3's the way through. You don't notice it while riding, but while in line watching. It is a bit frightening to see the entire structure vibration. The sound it makes during this is more than off-putting. We only rode it once all day and it was a walk-on if that tells you anything.

I don't really remember this coaster that much. I know I had to have ridden it as I vividly remember riding Jet Scream, the other River King Mine Train, and RailBlazer that are all defunct coasters from this era at this park. I assume it was similar to Whizzer at SFGA. So it was probably decent enough.

This is probably the most expensive and perhaps the most impressive coaster at Dollywood. However, it left precisely zero impression on me. It is at least my 4th, 5th or even 6th favorite coaster in the park. I've ridden several of these winged coasters; this one isn't my favorite--the smallest one, Thunderbird, is. None of that is to say that this isn't a very good coaster at all. It is a newish B&M so you know it is liquid smooth. Of course being a winged design it is rather unique, and thrilling. Again, though, I don't remember anything about this ride. I know we rode it, but it just didn't wow us. We had 2 days of basically zero lines at Dollywood and we only rode this once. There are so many other more "fun" coasters, perhaps, not better, but more fun coasters in the park to ride that we never went back to this. We rode several others in the park up to 10 times.

Decent, basic woodie. Nothing at all great about it, but also nothing awful, except for perhaps the single train operation. Good ride. At a large park this would be rendered a "what is the point type coaster", but at this tiny park it is a standout. The most intriguing part of the ride is the queue where they have pictures of many of the classic, wooden coasters from around the country. Overall a good ride.

Schwarkopf loopers are quite honestly the best looping coaters every made. This one is on par with any of them. It has aged very well. The trains and cars are very comfortable. Of the 2 whole coasters that were operable on the day I was there, it was the best. I wish more of these existed.