Dorney Park

The adventure with our Dorney Park trip began around 2:30 AM while heading to the campground. We found the road blocked by a large tree branch. Fortunately I was able to remove it without much fanfare and continue on.

We stayed at the Allentown KOA.  The facilities were fair but the staff was far from friendly and helpful.  I would consider other options when looking for a local campground to stay at as I know we will next time.

We headed out to Dorney Park early that morning after a few hours of sleep.  With Hurricane Irene approaching, it didn't put a damper on our spirits even with the occasional burst of light rain.

Dorney Park is nestled in the rolling hills of Eastern PA and has been a destination for amusement park lovers and thrill seekers since it first opened in 1884. 

One ride clearly visible from the main gate that is sure to catch the attention of coaster lovers is the Bolliger and Mabillard (B & M) inverted coaster, Talon. Like other B & M inverted coasters, this doesn't fail to deliver on an exceptional and smooth ride. One thing missing is the usual roar that you hear from B & M coasters. The tracks are filled with sand to help reduce the noise but doesn't take away from the ride experience.  

Across the midway is Wild Mouse, a standard mouse ride that is a good family coaster and sure to be a hit. For some reason, we waited longer to ride this than any other ride - about 10-15 minutes.

There is a lot of character that can be seen around the park, from the arcade...

...to the classic drive-in...

...and everything in between.

The 1921 Dentzel Carousel is another classic and holds a key position at the entrance to the park that greets you and lets you know it's going to be a great day.

Dorney Park is well maintained and in a great location. While walking through the park you come across beautifully maintained areas when you least expect it.

Even the ducks and geese enjoy the natural environment that has been maintained over time.

While some parks often remove older rides, thankfully Dorney Park has kept some of the classic rides including the Whip, a ride that has thrilled patrons since 1920.

They also have modern rides to please even the biggest thrill seekers.

The park has a unique layout so the guideposts are great to help you navigate the park.

In 1997, a new hypercoaster designed by D.H. Morgan was opened in the park named Steel Force. At over a mile long with speeds up to 75 mph, it is a great ride for the park and the first coaster in the Eastern U.S. to break the 200 foot height. Included in the ride are two tunnels and a nice set of camel backs on the return run.

Located beside Steel Force is a classic 1923 Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters (PTC) wooden coaster called Thunderhawk. I was pleasantly surprised by the smooth and unique ride with an unexpected ejector feature around the middle of the ride. Unfortunately due to time constraints I was unable to ride this more than once.

Located near these two coasters is the Intamin twisted impulse coaster, Possessed. This is by far the best one of these models that I have ridden. 

It is cool to see Possessed sticking above the trees at various points through the park.

The next coaster we tackled was Hydra, a B & M floorless coaster. This coaster is unique with the heartline roll immediately after leaving the station and before the lift hill. The tracks on this coaster are also filled with sand resulting in a quiet ride. With Hurricane Irene getting closer, even front row seats were a walk-on. The design of this coaster is great as it makes good use of the terrain which adds to the thrill of the ride.

As mentioned, it appears that the looming hurricane kept attendance way down at the park. This was a usual sight at every single ride in the park.

Even the Peanuts show in Planet Snoopy benefits from the brightly colored flowers that adorn the park.

The recent renovations and introduction of Planet Snoopy bring a nice sized kid's area and everything is well themed and landscaped.

It was great to ride Demon Drop again and see that the thrill lives on. I rode it when it first opened at Cedar Point in the late 1980s, and while new technologies have come out for rides, it's always nice to see some of our memories live on.

Dorney Park is a well maintained park with a great selection of rides and I recommend that you stop by next time you are in Eastern PA. We will certainly be planning a return visit to the park in the future.

Behind the scenes at Carowinds' 2012 announcement

Long before the sun woke up, a handful of coaster enthusiasts assembled outside the gate of Carowinds Amusement Park. What could get coaster enthusiasts up and at a park so early? Normally it is to ride roller coasters but that was not on the plan for today. It was the day of the big announcement for what’s new for Carowinds in 2012. 

The morning started out early as we helped Wilson report on the upcoming event on FOX News Rising at the local Charlotte, NC FOX affiliate.

It’s an unusual sight to see a broadcasting news van where you normally see happy smiling faces on their way to the next thrill. 

Carowinds Public Relations Manager was on hand to help keep Wilson (and us?) in line. 

As the sun began to peek over the horizon, we eased closer to The Carowinds Theater. 

The caution tape was not enough to keep Wilson from trying to spoil the news of what Carowinds was set to announce. 

The Carowinds Theater was quiet but waiting in anticipation for the news media who would be there later. Am I the only person who thought the stage trusses looked strange the way they were setup on stage. Was this another hint of what was to be announced? 

As the morning drew on, Wilson continued to bring his unique sense of humor to the area residents of Charlotte with assistance from coaster enthusiasts. I thought we should do a clip from the top hill of Intimidator but that wasn’t in the plans for today. 

We moved back outside and Wilson wrapped up his broadcast by interviewing Bryn. You can see the Carowinds staff busy in the background preparing for the big day. 

When we returned at 11:00, the friendly park staff was there to greet us and welcome us to their facilities. For those of you not familiar with Carowinds, that line of pavers is the North Carolina/South Carolina border that runs through the park. 

The stage is lit up and ready... 

The camera crews are ready... 

And the new thrill ride for 2012 at Carowinds is… Windseeker! 

At 301 feet it will soar above the Carowinds’ skyline. It is sure to bring a new level of thrills and excitement! 

After the announcement, we were treated to a great lunch including freshly grilled shrimp, tasty BBQ, and all the fixings that go along with it. For dessert there is fried cheesecake or pound cake, both with fresh fruit. It’s not a complete southern meal without something fried. 

Did I mention that the food was fresh and tasted great? 

Thank you, Carowinds, for the hospitality and continued capital investments in an amusement park that is already great! 

Myrtle Beach Trip 2011

Nearly every year we take a trip to Myrtle Beach, SC.  We normally stay at one of the mega campgrounds located at the southern end of Myrtle Beach but wanted to try a campground closer to the Myrtle Beach Convention Center.  The Myrtle Beach KOA is located near the downtown area and less than 10 minutes from the Convention Center. 

 

It is a well maintained park with lots of shade, a modern pool and great splash pad.  You can rent a golf cart from them at a reasonable rate or bring your own.  Speaking of golf carts, you can see that golf carts are popular at the beach.

The campground is close to the new Myrtle Beach boardwalk although it's not an easy walking distance.  You can barely see the new SkyWheel in the distance.

Here's a closeup look at the new SkyWheel that opened in May.  It's located on the northern end of the boardwalk.  We didn't ride it this trip but plan to in the future.  If you are going to go to the boardwalk, make sure you take some change for the parking meters or pay a one-time daily fee at the nearby parking garage.

The Myrtle Beach KOA is also located close to Jungle Lagoon Miniature Golf and Family Kingdom Amusement Park.  See our Family Kingdom Blog Post for more information on the park.

You can see how close the KOA is to Jungle Lagoon Mini-Golf and Highway 17.

Jungle Lagoon is a well maintained miniature golf course with two 18-hole courses, the Lagoon Course and the Jungle Course.  

Both are equally nice and the views create a great playing atmosphere with plenty of available shade.

If you want to go to the beach, you can catch the free KOA shuttle that operates daily during the peak season.

The beach is close enough to walk to although you have to cross Highway 17.  You can see many improvements that have been done to areas of downtown Myrtle Beach.   

There is nothing like a walk on the beach during a clear day.

For a unique shopping experience, you should stop by Broadway at the Beach.  It is a short 10 minute drive from the campground and offers free parking.  The new attraction, Wonder Works recently opened there.  Due to the long line, we decided to check this out some other time.

Senor Frogs is a fun place to eat.  To really enjoy the place you need a good sense of humor or a yard-long margarita. 

No trip is complete without getting a picture with Crabby Jack.  Or not.

For good diner style food, Johnny Rockets is always a fun choice.  The staff puts on a dance every so often   and they maintain a nice family atmosphere.

All in all, it was a fun trip and we look forward to our next trip.

Happy Camping!