Our beloved park has been closed for a week
as of today. Yes people of New Jersey and most of the East coast, the coaster
season is over for 2005. So as we all dwell on the loss of our summer, Fright
Fest, and those late nights standing in line for Kingda Ka long after the park
goes to sleep, I am here to remind you that all is not lost. That's right, don't
go into manic depression just yet. We have tons to look forward to New Jersey!
Unless you have been living under a rock since September
28th, than you may already know about our ginormous woodie coming to change the
face of the west as we know it. El Toro, or "The Bull" as we ECC kids have
decided to call it, will amaze its riders with the steepest wooden drop in the
world at 76 degrees. Take that whoever owned that record before us! Along with
El Toro, comes a re-facing of the long lost Mexico looking section of the park.
This Spanish theme has been hidden between Frontier Adventure and Bugs Bunny
Land for years, and I for one am glad to see it get a much-needed face-lift.
Not only has the park announced the bold new
wooden roller coaster, but a new children's section as well. This is wonderful
news for the under 48 inchers. Replacing the once Bugs Bunny Land will be a
brand spankin new Bugs Bunny National Park! Pint sized fun for, tiny people!
So far we know of the new hardware that Great Adventure will
boast in 2006. However lets not forget about the renovation project going on.
This year marked the second year of the renovations, and if you haven't noticed,
they did a hell of a job! Lets start off with the Golden kingdom.
This was the single biggest project in Great Adventure history. Once you walk
through those glistening jungle gates, you are no longer in Jackson, NJ.
The park did a brilliant job with the scenery throughout the entire new section,
and every time you walked through it, you noticed something new.
And of course, the tigers were always entertaining.
Last, there was that really big green coaster that everyone kept talking about.
That was a pretty nice addition too.
Along with the addition of the golden kingdom and Kingda Ka, you may have
noticed that the Great American Scream Machine had a shiny new coat of paint.
No, the doc did not transport you into 1980 with the Delorian. Six Flags really
did touch up this old thrill.
New things in the park each year is a wonderful luxury to have. However, a few questions still arise as I analyze the not so great parts of this season.
Batman the Chiller saw no riders this year. It was painful to just stare at it,
standing but not operating (SBNO)
Another burning question: Why are all of the
flat rides leaving the park? Word has it that Rodeo Stampede is gone to make
room for El Toro. Taz Tornado has left the park premises, and these are just 2
rides to add to the fallen. I love seeing new roller coasters, but their needs
to be a balance somewhere along the line. The last major flat ride expansion was
in 1999. There are less than 5 rides left from that year.
With the 2006 season roughly only 3,720 more hours away, one
is left to wonder, what will Six Flags do about the questions raised so far?
Will chiller be fixed? Will the closed off Kingda Ka line ever be put to use
again? Are we in store for another flat ride shipment? Will the hotel be done
for 2007? I as well as the rest of
you hope for the best next year, but only time will tell I suppose.
So before you go dormant for the winter, here is a reminder that ECC will
continue with as many updates as possible through the winter. Also, let me be
the first to tell you that if all goes well, January would be an exquisite time
to revisit this site, if you don't do so from now until then.