Robert Forto

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The Big Dipper at Camden Park Review | Coaster Geeks Podcast

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The Big Dipper at Camden Park Review

This is the coaster that started it all for me. I rode this for the first time when I was probably seven or eight years old. Located in West Virginia’s only amusement park, Camden Park, the Big Dipper is a lesser-known but classic wooden roller coaster which can deliver a fun ride if you’re willing to trust it. Built back in 1958 by the National Amusement Devices Company, it is still standing as an ACE roller coaster landmark while sporting some stylish trains as well.

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Camden Park was my home park when I was I kid. I grew up in Huntington and Camden Park was only about eight or nine miles away. What was even cooler is every summer Ashland Oil, where my grandfather was a big wig, would have what they called family days. They would close the park down just for the Ashland Oil employees and their families and we would have a picnic, they would make boring speeches, and on and on. This is the first time I even learned about exclusive ride time, or ERT as it is known in the coaster community and we could ride the rides as much as we could handle, it is worth mentioning that in the 1970s the pronto pup (what you guys call corn dogs) stand was right next to The Big Dipper. These were not your ordinary corn dogs, these were foot long and I would slather these bad boys with a gallon of mustard.

The Big Dipper is a lesser-known but classic wooden roller coaster which can deliver a fun ride! Click To Tweet

On our second annual rock n roller coaster tour, Michele and I went about as big as you could go. We flew down from Alaska to Denver and started driving east in a rented Ford F150. By the time it was all said and done we had ridden more than 100 coasters and visited parks from the Rockies to New England, to Texas, and everywhere in between. When It was all said and done we put more than 7500 miles on the brand new truck and started an annual tradition.

This trip included a trip to Camden Park. I had not been there since those days when I was a little kid. The last time had to be back in the late 70s. I know right?!

Anyhow, we were here and there was the Big Dipper!

Right off the bat, the “Big Dipper” gave off some sketchy vibes. When I visited, the first thing you could see was the sign, nearly covered by hedge overgrowth, conspicuously missing a letter. Hopefully, this wasn’t a sign of things to come…

Unfortunately, though, it kind of was. Once you enter the station and take a look around, you realize there is only one worker operating the ride. One! Talk about old school, sheesh. Obviously, this led to less than stellar capacity, but the wait wasn’t bad enough to where it seemed egregious. It’s quite the sight, though–a one-man-ride-op-crew. For one cycle, he had to cross over the track & unlock the single-entry gate, not a row of gates like at most parks, check every row’s lap bar, walk back over and dispatch the train using a manual handbrake, sit there and wait until the train came back, walk over to the exit area and manually unlock every lap bar and finally, unlock the exit gate. And that’s right, I said manual handbrake.

This handbrake had a little, uh, extra assistance, holding it together. Seeing the device that controlled the train’s stopping and started being held in place by a rope is not the most reassuring sight. And it’s funny because otherwise manual handbrakes are so cool and even rarer than they are cool. On the Dipper, the handbrake actually operates the ride.

Speaking of lovable vintage coaster accessories, this coaster is still running its original NAD Century Flyer train. These babies are hot stuff in the coaster community, due to the nostalgic aesthetic and rarity, as they are only used by two other rides: the Thunderbolt at Kennywood and The Cyclone at Lakeside in Denver. Though the Century Flyers on the Thunderbolt look great, the Flyers here on the Big Dipper are showing their age. Overall, it’s not terrible, but it’s still kind of sad to see one of the famous front lights knocked out.

We were practically the only people in the park. It was later in the evening when we arrived, and it was raining pretty good. Robert pulled up and had me jump out and run up and ask the girl in the ticket booth if the Big Dipper was even open. They assured me it was and we bought our tickets.

We were the only ones to ride the coaster that day and Robert sat in the front car. I quietly asked the ride attendant if I could film the whole thing. He said sure. In most parks, this is a big no-no. You can get thrown out of most parks if they catch you with your phone out, much less recording. I settled in the seat behind Robert and started to record.

Now that you’re in the station, you also can look out into the coaster structure… where you see semi-rotten wood mixed with re-tracked sections. Some of the support bents got quite the shakedown as the coaster traversed the layout. Again, not the best sight for oncoming riders.

Once you board the trains, if you’re at all tall you might find the seats a bit of a squeeze, as for me and Robert found out–both of us having to angle our legs sideways to even fit inside! After all this buildup of uncertainty, the one-man-band ride op releases the handbrake and you begin to roll out of the station, looking up at a crooked lift hill.

Ride Experience

After a short climb, the train disengages from the chain lift and you go down a modest dip before rising back up to about the same height as the lift. A wide panoramic turnaround follows, and then you drop down the “Big Dip” of the ride. Going down that actually can provide some ejector air because of the Dipper’s lack of seat belts. That’s right, it’s lap bars only here, ala the Phoenix at Knoebels, and that does add a lot to the ride. You certainly don’t bounce up and down to the extreme that you do on Phoenix, but it does give the Big Dipper a little of the throwback, out-of-control sensation that wooden coaster enthusiasts crave.

After that main drop, you take another wide, slow turnaround before a second larger dip into an enclosed turnaround. This elongated tunnel section is kinda cool–again, another feature that adds to the ride experience. Following this, you hop over one more bunny hill and then coast into the brakes. That’s it from this relatively short, figure-8 layout coaster.

My Take

Because of the apparent state of the structure and the operations (of the ride and the park), I can’t say I really let myself go on the Big Dipper–aka I couldn’t trust the technology and enjoy the ride as I do on most roller coasters. Once on the ride, the lack of seat belts and old rumbly wooden feel was fun, as long as I kept the visions of the support structure out of my mind. I do believe the park has continued to re-track more sections of the coaster since my 2016 visit, so maybe it looks more solid now. I don’t recall it being rough, just appearing as if it could use some TLC. I know a lot of people have praised this ride for having a classic, old-timey feel, but when I visited, I got more of a negative run-down vibe than positive nostalgic enthusiasm. That’s too bad. I know Robert felt the same way, right? Yes….

Because we were only there for a brief time before moving westward on a big coaster road trip to come, and because of our experience on the first ride, it was my only one. This rating is based on that, but if the park does continue its upkeep maybe I’ll have to give it another shot sometime. It wasn’t a bad experience; it just was one of the few coasters to make me uneasy. The Big Dipper scared me more than Valravn at Cedar Point ever could. In a positive way though

Robert, what are you giving this coaster on a scale of 1 to 10 with one being the worst ever, say an old concussion ride like an Arrow clone at any number of parks or a ten being, say Banshee or the Voyage?

I am going to give it a four. While it was my first coaster and one that started it all. I am surprised it is still standing, and I am glad we got to experience it, especially all these years later. It sure did bring back a lot of memories.

Ok, guys, that’s the show for today! We hope to be back on the road later this summer in 2021 if all goes well with the COVID vaccine and we have plans to visit Dollywood, Holiday World, Kings Island, Kentucky Kingdom, Sea World San Diego, and maybe a few more. If we do, we plan on doing a live show and of course a full podcast after our visit. Please be sure to follow us on social media. Just search for Coaster Geeks pod.


 

The Beast at Kings Island Review | Coaster Geeks Podcast

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The Beast at Kings Island in Mason, Ohio, is one of the world’s best roller coasters.

Even after all these years, it is one heck of a ride, especially at night. On today’s show, we will talk about the Beast and why it should be on your coaster bucket list. But first, if you haven’t been here before, be sure to take a moment to hit that subscribe button. I am Robert, and I am Michele, and we are the coaster geeks! On this podcast, we tell stories about how we travel the country each summer on our quest to ride some fantastic roller coasters and hit up music festivals along the way. Well, at least before COVID. Let’s get started!

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Did you know that the beast was the first big coaster that I rode when I was a kid? I was eight or nine, and we lived in Huntington, West Virginia? While I cut my teeth on the Big Dipper at Camden Park, it wasn’t until I went to Kings Island that I became a true coaster geek. I remember that first trip in the late 1970s like it was yesterday.

In the autumn of 2018, Michele and I traveled down to the Lower 48 for the Rock n Roller tour’s fall leg to go to the Louder Than Life Festival in Louisville, Kentucky. Right before we were supposed to go, they canceled the music festival because of the remnants of a hurricane, but since we already had plane tickets, a rental car, and hotels, we decided to go anyway.

It was Michele’s first time going to Kings Island and my first time back in many years and we wanted to go. While this is not a podcast, about our trip to Kings Island, we will do that another time, we wanted to tell our fans about our impression of The Beast.

Before we jump in, we had to stop at the local Skyline Chili. I HATED it! Well, that sums that up!

Now, for a review of the much hyped woodie. It’s been the longest wooden roller coaster in the world for nearly four decades. I’ve been looking forward to riding it for years. Between expensive Cincinnati airfare from Alaska and our decision to go to Cedar Point first on our inaugural rock n roller tour in 2016, it’s taken me years to make it to Kings Island and the Beast.

The Pre-Ride Experience

As we neared the section of the park where the Beast lurked, we found a pretty cool sign and a coaster landmark from the American Coaster Enthusiasts. The sign also helps people find the Beast as the station is tucked away in the park’s corner, and only parts of the ride’s track can be seen from other lift hills. Part of the Beast’s mystique is its location on 35 wooded acres in the back of Kings Island. The station was a lightly themed sawmill. We were pleased to find an exciting station with a gaggle of ride operators with the gift of gab. They kept the station abuzz with excitement as trains filled with happy riders entered and exited. We have found that a lively station is a trademark of a world-class roller coaster through our travels, and the Beast is no different. This is especially true during our trip because it was right in the middle of their Halloween spooky fest.

An Unforgettable Night Ride

After hearing, “Enjoy your 4 minute and 50-second ride,” we were off. The train took a smooth right turn out of the station, and we approached the lift hill. As always, the lift hill built the anticipation of the drop to come, but on this particular ride, there was an additional treat. A large full moon hung over the dark wilderness. It lightly illuminated the forest below. Riders were awe-stricken by the beautiful sight, and now we were about to be treated to an unforgettable night ride on the Beast, and we were in the front car!

The Beast has been the longest wooden roller coaster in the world for nearly four decades. Click To Tweet

We plunged down the opening 135-foot drop and immediately into the rocky mouth of an underground tunnel. The train flew out of the tunnel and banked to the left, and our journey through the Ohio wilderness had officially begun. The second drop was a memorable airtime hill that hugged the rolling terrain. At night the trees and the track are barely visible. This was one of the most remarkable sights we have ever experienced on a coaster. The cool air in the woods was a welcomed relief from the humid stickiness of the packed station. Remember, we are from Alaska, and even in September, it feels like we are on the equator!

Next, the train banked to the right and stormed through the long, flat covered section. After a right turn and a small dip, the train charged into the second tunnel. This tunnel was much longer than the first and, at times was pitch black, especially at night. After exiting the second tunnel, a few more turns set us up for the second lift hill. The first half of the ride’s real strength was the speed, just a touch of airtime on hill #2, and the sheer distance covered in an unusual atmosphere. For the second act, the Beast really lived up to his name.

On coasters like the Big Bad Wolf, when it was still around at Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, the second lift hill really steals the momentum of the ride. Because most coasters would be over by this point, we didn’t mind the break in the action. We had already been given a satisfying ride; the rest was like a bonus. Atop the lift, the train turned to the left and began a long (141 feet) but very gradual 18-degree drop. It couldn’t look tamer in pictures, but we had heard such great things about the mighty Beast’s helix. And we weren’t disappointed.

At first, the train gradually gained speed, but before we knew it, we were barreling towards what appeared to be a black dead end in the mouth of the first helix tunnel. Somehow the train stayed on the track, and we experienced some vicious lateral g-forces. It’s complete mayhem in the helix tunnels, but for some reason, even after all these years, it’s not a rough or painful experience. After surviving the first covered helix, the train marches around the downward helix and plows through another covered helix. Then, finally, the Beast released his grip on us. We coasted for a while back to the station, where we passed over a dispatching train set to embark on the same 4 minute and 50-second adventure we had just experienced. The Beast gave us three amazing rides and it lands at number 2 on our experience of woodies in the United States, the top spot going to The Voyage at Holiday World.

What do you think, Coaster Geeks, is The Beast on your Top Five list? Let us know in the comments. And while we still have your attention, would you do us a favor and give us a review? And if you really like us, tell your friends about our show and follow us on our social channels, just search Coaster Geeks pod.

See you next time.


ACE Preservation Conference: Indiana Beach

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It has been quite the summer! The Rock n Roller Coaster Tour across America has taken me from Orlando to the Northeast to middle America and I find myself at my second American Coaster Enthusiasts Preservation Conference. This year we are at Indiana Beach in Monticello, Indiana and Michigan’s Adventure on the Great Lakes.

Michele and I parted ways in Boston. She had to fly home to attend our business and I flew to Chicago for this leg of the tour. It was a slow slog down I-65 to the middle of nowhere Indiana. I checked into my motel at the Pine View Resort that was in the middle of a corn field. I arrived a day and a half early and didn’t venture too far from the motel. I worked on my Master’s courses by the pool and enjoyed leisurely dinners at the local family restaurant. The first night I had a huge three course chicken dinner that only cost $8.95 and could have easily cost 40 bucks back home.

Friday morning was the first day of the conference at Indiana Beach. Who would have known that all of this fun was only 0.6 miles from my little motel! It changes your perspective a little bit when you don’t venture too far from where you are. Its like driving down the interstate and puling off and setting for a Big Mac when at the next exit is the most amazing burger shop in the world that you missed out on.

I checked in and grabbed my name tags and tickets and headed into the park. It is a cool little spot where a lot of it is built on piers that jut out into the lake. We had the day to ourselves with the first formal event being a walk through of one of the rides later in the day. I walked the boardwalk and grabbed a Pronto Pup. Its a corn dog for those of you who don’t know…

I jumped on a cool coaster called Steel hog first. It was fun! It sort of a mash up of a mouse and a corkscrew. It was the first time I have ever ridden one like that. The restraints were interesting. The sort of squish you in like a vise.

Next up was a couple woodies. The premier coaster in the park is the Hoosier Hurricane which is by far the longest and juts out over the lake in a few spots. It is fast but a bit rough. Next was the Cornball Express. It was a lot of fun too.

I didn’t know what to expect when I was in line for an older steel coaster called, Tiger. By the looks on the peoples faces that went ahead of me and the warning by the ride attendant to hold on and brace for the sharp right turns, I knew I was in for a treat. That first right turn caused a cracked rib on the same spot as always. It is never going to heal if I keep this crap up!

The rest of the afternoon I spent people watching along the boardwalk and riding things like the dark ride, the sky ride, the scrambler the little train, and more. I was surprised at how fun Frankenstein’s Castle was! I haven’t been in a walk through haunted house in a long time and this was a good one. It was huge!

The last coaster I rode before we met up for dinner as a group was the Lost Coaster of Superstition Mountain. It was a fun one! It has this little elevator that takes you up to the top and then is a mess of twists and turns through a “mountain”. The cars are a super tight fit for four people but it was a quick coaster and everyone was laughing in our car.

Dinner was late. They forgot to make the burgers and by the sounds of it from the grumblings of my fellow coaster geeks, we were hungry! We finished off the meal with a cake commemorating the 40th anniversary of ACE and we got ready for our night runs durning ERT.

It was a fun first day of the conference. I met up with several friends that I met last year at the conference in Alabama/Georgia. It was cool to see them again.

Tomorrow we finish up here and drive north to our next stop at Michigan’s Adventure!

Up Next: Michigan’s Adventure 

Coasters to date on the tour: 24

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