I had a hilarious story to tell to begin this week's column. It was something that happened to me this past week at Dorney Park. However, when I tested the story on the guys at the office it wasn't very well received. In fact, they had no reaction whatsoever. So I guess it wasn't as hilarious as I had thought, and I won't waste your time with it.

It has been a busy week anyway. As usual, things at the office are bustling and it is even harder considering that I am using my second and possibly final vacation day of the year by the time most of you read this. You all probably know the routine, take some time off and you end up spending more time preparing for the time off than you do actually vacationing.

But on to more important things...

Six Flags Worlds Of Adventure

It is perhaps the most talked about park of the past three years. If you look back to the end of the 1999 season and the last days of Geauga Lake amusement park and then look ahead to July 2002, it doesn't just seem like two different parks, but two different worlds.

It isn't a secret that I have thoroughly enjoyed each of my visits to this park and have enjoyed watching it grow over the last few years. However, I couldn't help but head into this season wondering what the future held for this, one of my favorite parks.

One of the things I enjoy most about the parks is the fact that it truly does feel like three different parks. While the difference between the water park and amusement park is not very noticeable, the difference between the wildlife park and the amusement park is astronomical. However, not many people shared my appreciation for what Six Flags was offering in Ohio in 2001.

The rides side of the park had a good year. The LIM-launched Superman ran as consistently as another other launched coaster to date, the new woodie Villain was as impressive as ever, and despite inconsistent park operations, most people seemed to have a good time. But the same could not be said of the wild life side.

It wasn't for the lack of effort, but the wild life side just seemed dull. The dolphins had been moved from their cove to the main stadium that was formerly home to Shamu, the killer whale. In their place were stingrays. Gone were the penguins that lived in the outside cove next to the sea lion area. In their place were stingrays. Basically, the wild life side of the park featured a dolphin show that wasn't a real replacement for the beloved killer whales, a sea lion show that never really got its act together during the year, a shark expedition that featured a non-moving moving walkway, and a ton of sting rays.

The loss of the killer whales was devastating to the wildlife side of the park. Those who attended the former Sea World annually were more likely to stay home rather than go to the combined park. Those who went to each park once a year when there was a Geauga Lake were more likely to only visit once. Six Flags had overestimated the value of the uniqueness of the combined park.

I think I was in the minority, as I fell in love with the separate feelings of the two parks. When the crowds on the rides side became a bit much, I could go across the lake to the wildlife side to enjoy the attractions. However, I knew that the lack of crowds on the wildlife side was not good for business, nor was it good for the future of my beloved park.

Things did not look much better when the year began. The dolphins had been moved back to their cove, while the main stadium was abandoned. A handful of rides were being moved over that side of the park, too. The park's effort to get killer whales back to the park was running into roadblocks seemingly every week. Tigers were replacing the pet show, which was one of my favorites of all shows in 2001. That is all I really knew heading into the beginning of the season. It sounded like Six Flags wanted to lift attendance on that side of the lake, but they didn't really care about keeping the calmer atmosphere in place.

That's how I felt, anyway before I actually visited the park. Upon meeting Ray P. of UltimateRollerCoaster.com message board fame, we caught a few rides that weekend and then went over to the wildlife side. Our first stop was to Dolphin Cove where we talked to an attendant. She obviously cared about that side of the park and was enthusiastic and hopeful that whales indeed would be returning. We left there surprised that she was so willing to talk about the whales and continued to walk around the wildlife side. That's when we saw the sign at the main stadium, which noted that whales would indeed be returning. The park was taking quite a gamble in assuming whales would return to the park.

Fast Forward Two Months

My second visit to the park was amazing. The park had won approval for the whales and one, Shouka, had already arrived. The tiger show was gaining popularity and the park was working hard on a new zebra exhibit. The new oriental buffet was now open, and the floating walkway was moved from the Raging Wolf Bobs side of the park to the Waterpark side...and it is making a big difference.

Thanks mostly to the arrival of Shouka, the wildlife side is bustling again. In fact, the former Sea World now seemed more crowded than the rides side. The atmosphere was different, but improved. When I went to the whale show, I could tell just how much the loss of Shamu the year before had meant to the park. As Shouka first swam out to the main pool, the ovation was surprising. She didn't need to jump or smile or interact in any way with her trainers. She only needed to be there to make the locals happy. I was thrilled just to be in this atmosphere.

With only three weeks in the park at that time, Shouka was already putting on a decent exhibition. The trainers were obviously thrilled to have her in town and so were the crowds, as judged by the reaction of the crowd that had packed into more than three-quarters of the main stadium.

The Sea Lion show was also packed and I couldn't even see the tiger show because they were turning people away after filling their small stage area. Essentially, Six Flags Worlds of Adventure is better than it was in 2001. Not only in a way that pleases me personally, but also in a way I think will be great for business.

Yes, their operations remain inconsistent, but frequent visitors say that even this is improving. Perhaps SFWOA is not ready to directly compete with its Cedar Fair and Paramount brethren of Ohio just yet, but I think it has established itself as a viable alternative to the families of the region. With more improvements on the way, the future again looks bright for Six Flags in Ohio.

Preparing For Dollywood

It has been fifteen years since my last visit to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. I have tried over each of the last few years to go back, but have always had something come up to change my plans. In fact, one day while working in Harrisburg, PA I cancelled plans to go to Tennessee at noon when I started dozing off at the office and realized that a ten-hour drive was not such a good idea.

However, when I found out that brilliant country music singer Jessica Andrews would be performing at Dollywood on Saturday, July 27 of this year, I determined that nothing was going to stand in my way. As of this writing the Thursday before, it looks like I will finally get back to the park.

As I have been preparing, I have been looking over the brochures and maps of the park. Tennessee Tornado will be my first new-to-me coaster of the year, and the Mountain Slidewinder looks like an interesting contraption. Plus, Blazing Fury is a ride that I remember little about. In fact, the only thing I can remember is riding it over and over again as a kid the last time I was there.

But it isn't the rides of Dollywood that are calling my name this year. It is the atmosphere that I most look forward to. Working on my parents cabin' over the last few months has taught me that I miss the country. I miss the feeling of a simpler, yet more rewarding life. If I remember correctly, Dollywood provided that in a setting that still had enough attractions to keep you busy and remind you that you are in a real theme park.

Working on my parents' cabin has also taught me that I don't know a thing about technology. I wanted to take a camera with me in case I was able to get to meet Jessica Andrews before or after her concert. The digital camera I purchased two-and-a-half years ago stopped working two years ago and I haven't even seen my other camera in three years. But I found the "traditional" camera this week. I turned it on, and the little dial said that I was out of film. I opened up the back, but couldn't figure out how to get the film out. It's been too long, I guess. Or, I can blame the fact that it was four o'clock in the morning.

I gave up on the camera and noticed that the digital camera was sitting on the same shelf I had gotten the older camera from. I thought to myself that maybe, just maybe, it would work after two years of just sitting there. So, I picked it up and sure enough nothing happened when I tried to turn it on. The lens was still in zoom position and nothing was working. It had just stopped working while at a (then) World Wrestling Federation event in July 2000.

As I sat there trying to figure out what to do (or why I was awake), I began to doubt my intelligence. Perhaps, I thought, perhaps I just needed to change the batteries. I found some AA's and replaced the ones that were already in the camera.

Yep.

I set the camera aside for two years, calling it the biggest waste of money I had ever spent, and all I had to do was change the batteries. But at least I'm ready for Dollywood now. Fifty bucks says I forget the camera.

TV Review - PCN Tours Sesame Place

The Pennsylvania Cable Network is featuring a tour of Pennsylvania amusement parks each Sunday night between now and Labor Day. Last week, I reviewed their first tour of Waldameer Park and have two more in this issue.

Sesame Place is the only "major" Pennsylvania amusement parks that I have yet to visit, so this was a good way for me to get there.

The tour guide was Audrey Shapiro, the Director of Consumer Marketing. The historical portion of the tour was indeed interesting. The park opened in 1980 after the Sesame Workshop came up with the idea. It was CTW that approached Busch Entertainment about developing what was originally a three-acre park. It has now grown into a fourteen-acre park.

Sesame Place does not have many traditional rides, instead focusing on interactive attractions for children. This includes, and is highlighted by the amazing, three-story cargo net playground.

The park as a whole if more of a Waterpark than anything else, including thirteen slides or other attractions, such as a lazy river. I would think, though, that the main draw of the park is the ability to meet and greet some of Sesame Street's most popular characters. This includes Sesame Street based shows starring Elmo, Oscar The Grouch, and a show featuring the entire gang (almost...I didn't see Guy Smiley).

Funniest moment of the tour...in a clip of the Elmo's World show, Elmo is searching for character Mr. Noodles. However, Mr. Noodles is not in this show. Instead, we get his look-alike nephew. The crowd sighs and moans.

An interesting note came regarding the landscaping, including the topiaries that are carved to look like the characters. Ms. Shapiro said that the topiaries were not really designed to be a special attraction, but they were so popular that the park had to put in a walkway to the Ernie and Bert bushes so that people wouldn't walk through the grass to have their picture taken with the characters. Go figure.

Funny moment #2...the camera is at a backstage meet in greet when Bert, Ernie, Elmo, Telly Monster and another character notice that the camera is there. The characters look at the camera as if they are confused when Bert starts flexing his muscles. I can't describe, but it was something to see Bert trying to flex. I guess you had to see it, as you could hear Audrey and the cameraman laughing when Bert did his first pose. If you didn't see it, you'll just have to trust me on this one.

TV Review - PCN Tours DelGrossos Amusement Park

I was pretty glad PCN aired this tour at this time, since I will be visiting DelGrossos on Sunday, August 4...once again to see Jessica Andrews in concert.

This tour was hosted by General Manager and in-law of the DelGrosso family, Peter Gardella. The park first opened as a picnic grove in the 1890's, with the picnic area remaining in the same location they still inhabit at this time. The DelGrosso family didn't buy the park until 1947. In fact, the Reinhardt family owned the park between the Bland family and the DelGrossos, although the park kept the Bland name until 2001.

To this day, the DelGrosso family remains heavily involved in the operations of the park, including family members as General Manager, Vice President, Director of Maintenance, Director of Games, Sales and of course, the matriarch of the family, Mrs. Mafalda "Murf" DelGrosso, who still makes the world famous potato salad at the park each day. The excellent food at the park is something that the park seems to be most proud of, at least according to the feeling of this tour.

On to the rides, Mr. Gardella noted that almost all of the rides came from other parks when they closed. In fact, he said that the bumper cars are the only ride currently at the park that they purchased new. The Super Spiral (super round up) and Casino were both purchased from Peony Park in Nebraska when it went out of business. The Flying Bobs (a favorite among enthusiasts) also came from Peony.

Gardella made a point to note that the park still has a real steam engine (from Crown Metal) for their train ride, even though they currently run a Chance C.P. Huntingdon train. Peter noted that they don't have anybody with the proper experience to run the engine, though. The engine is on display not far from the current train station.

The carousel is a 1924 Herschel Spillman carousel, featuring a Wurlitzer 146 band organ. Gardella was obviously proud of the fact that the carousel is unique to the park and still stands in its original building.

The Zyklon coaster (excellent first drop) is a 67-foot coaster that led to many family arguments. Apparently, not everybody from the family wanted to add the coaster to the park a few years ago.

Back to other relocated rides, the Sea Dragon and Zamperla balloon race came from Action Park in Lake George, New Jersey (according to the tour). The scrambler came from the legendary Idora Park in Ohio.

DelGrossos recently expanded to the opposite side of Old Route 222 in Tipton. In order to accomplish this, the park had to build the pedestrian bridge and pay for improvements to the intersection (including traffic light). Gardella made note that no local, state or federal dollars were used in any of these improvements, the park paid for it all themselves.

The Water Works section opened in 1997 and is located on the new side of the park and features a children-based interactive pool area and two slide towers.

Well, that should do it for me. It's rather late at night and I still have to pack to fly to Knoxville in the morning. Next time out I'll have a trip report from Dollywood, and two more PCN Tours reviews for you, including two of my favorites - Knoebels (to air July 28) and Dutch Wonderland (airing August 4).

Until then, take care and take a back seat ride once for me...

                                                                                 Coaster 3:16

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