Part Three...Alabama Adventures!
So I heard a lot of people say lots of not-so-nice things about this park before I visited there, so I pretty much went into it expecting a really ghetto dump. But honestly I was very surprised at how nice and pretty this park was!
We arrived right at 4:00pm, and after a five minute wait while a man in front of us redeemed his 2005 season pass voucher for a 2006 season pass, we entered for the after 4:00pm price of $13. It had been raining and lightly storming for the last hour or so, so it was no surprise to find Rampage down temporarily when we arrived. An employee told us that they can't run it when some of its sensors are wet, but that it should reopen before park closing.
In the meantime, we got the kiddie coaster credit (no kid required) then headed for the boomerang. Once again, I really braced for a horrible, head banging ride...but the ride was actually a lot more pleasant than it could have been! I got ear boxed once, which wasn't so bad, especially compared to all the other boomerangs I've ridden! What's up with Vekoma coasters recently?? I find an awesome SLC in Spain, I find a very rerideable boomerang in Alabama...I wish Vekoma wasn't so hit and miss. Some of their coasters are great, and some beat you within an inch of your life. *shrug* Definitely not complaining though!
After the Boomerang, we got some cold drinks and sat down for a bit since the park felt like a steamy rice cooker. As we finished up, I noticed that Rampage was running again, so we quickly headed that way.
We had no wait for any of the three rides we took (did I mention how empty the park was?) so we got back row, front row, back row rides. I REALLY enjoyed this woodie! It was surprisingly long, and surprisingly fun!! Not the most extreme airtime machine ever, but there was a decent amount of airtime, and tons of fast twists and turns. It was just rough enough to feel like it was manhandling you, but not so much that it felt like you were getting beaten up! We were both surprised at how good it was!
While in line for our third Rampage ride, they made an announcement that the park was gonna close at 6:00 instead of 8:00 as was posted. That wasn't a terribly big deal since we didn't really wanna do much else anyway. After Rampage, I got in three solo rides on their shot tower before everything closed.
On the way out, we both wanted a little souvenir, so we stopped in the gift shop. And lo and behold, I found the greatest souvenir ever! I thought that the axe murdering duck was it...oh no. I found a Manduck! It's a rubber duck...with a man's head!!! They were TWELVE DOLLARS each, so we each only got one, but they are so awesome!!!
After we left, we stopped at a Whataburger just north of Birmingham for dinner, then drove straight back home to Nashville.
Ok, time for the real reason for this road trip!
The entrance to the theme park side. I found this park to be well kept, clean, friendly, colorful and cute. I also found the clientelle to be quite average for theme park goers, not the neandrethals some people made them out to be!
I did find it a bit strange that the entrance to their rides area was covered in the same blue concrete that you'd use to create a zero-entry swimming pool area.
Cha-ching. Nuff said.
Now it's time for Zoomerang, the pleasant Boomerang.
Zoomerang was probably the best Boomerang I've been on, but I was very disoriented when the ride was over!
Emily and her sandbag friends are excited to ride Rampage.
Rampage's brakes are weird. The brake run is quite far from the station. Then after the brakes, there is this bobble in the track that makes you pick up a lot of speed, and finally you hit these "downhill brakes." It was kinda strange!
Mmmm...Rampage...
One last shot of the entry plaza, with the jumping fountains. Right after I took this, and employee walked straight through the fountains!
Hands down, the best souvenir ever!!! It's a Manduck...it's a duck, but it looks like a man...and the best part is that they are holding their boobs! And it comes complete with lounge pool!
"They're so weird...but really awesome...but kinda distrubing...but the coolest thing ever..."
Finally, we ended off the night like every red-blooded American should...we ate at Whataburger!