USA Trip 2014 Park #5
3 & 5 Dec 2014
We had at last come to the final destination in the adventures of Terror and Bubbles. After the flight from LAX to Dallas, we checked in at the Omni Dallas Hotel. We had to drag ourselves away from the weird TV that played on the bathroom mirror, and got in to a taxi for our final park of the trip.
We argued with the cab driver a bit to get him to turn the meter on, because he wanted to charge us a flat rate under the table. It was quite an expensive taxi fare out to Six Flags Over Texas, but with very limited opening hours over the winter season it was our best option to get on as many rides as possible. We arrived late afternoon and rode most of the attractions in the dark.
The park was themed around Mexico, Spain, Texas, USA, the Old South and France. Being a stupid tourist, I couldn’t work out how these places were connected. I later found out that Texas has been governed by six different nations (i.e.. under six flags), which are reflected in the areas of the park. Being the first park in the company, I now understand where the brand ‘Six Flags’ comes from. Hooray for learning!
With no time to worry about my ongoing issues with whiplash from yesterday’s skating accident, Terror and I went straight to the big rides. We were gutted to see that Titan was having technically difficulties, and did not reopen that evening. Bugger! We hurried off to the New Texas Giant instead, another coaster that had been changed from a wooden to a wood-steel combo a few years earlier. Sadly, a woman had fallen out of the coaster and died in 2013, so we figured the hills must be intense. We felt really safe throughout the ride, and that first drop at a close to 90 degree angle was breath taking! With the steel track component, the ride was a lot smoother than the traditional wooden set ups.
We ticked off an indoor coaster called Runaway Mountain, which was a step up from the Scooby Doo coaster in Australia, as the banked turns were a lot more fun. We then followed our usual clockwise path ending up at Shockwave. This was a fairly run of the mill steel set up with a couple of loops. In Australia it would be considered excellent, but after somewhat overdosing on coasters it seemed a bit tame. The Runaway Mine Train in Boomtown was also uneventful, but we were very excited to see Pandemonium – a spinning coaster that we first fell in love with on the Sierra Sidewinder at Knott’s Berry. On our first go we had to share the ride with some kiddies, who were less amused with the surprise intensity than us.
After getting our fill of being thrown around while flying over a coaster track, we made our way to Gotham City. We went on Batman the Ride, a suspended coaster which is the same model as the ones as Six Flags Magic Mountain and Great America. I have no issues with the same models popping up everywhere when they are a fun ride!
Mr Freeze: Reverse blast was also closed. Six Flags Over Texas you are killing me! Fast launches are my favourite, so I think this was more of a loss for me than the Titan. It looked like Dreamworld’s Tower of Terror II, except that you actually get to go up and over a hill twice, and then repeat the whole thing forwards. It seems that a lot of the fast launch rides close as the weather gets cooler. I wonder if they just get all hormonal and have a bit of a meltdown. Either way, I am still sulking about missing this one…
Things really didn’t get much better when Terror made me go on the SkyScreamer, the world’s tallest swing/chair-o-plane ride. My hatred of these is second only to drop towers. They just don’t feel safe or fun, and the wind chill factor on a cool Texan evening at 400 feet in the air wasn’t pleasant. Once I had ripped my frozen hands off the metal bars upon landing, I was keep to get my backside back to the safety of another coaster.
Judge Roy Scream was the last coaster of the evening. It was a true wooden coaster, and although there were no massive drops or turns, it was a very long track and did enough to get me back to my happy place. This coaster was named after Judge Roy Bean. Hope I get to name a coaster one day!
Before we knew it the park was closing, and so we didn’t get to try out many of the smaller rides. We did however get to enjoy waiting a really long time for a taxi home, but entertained ourselves with about 50 selfies that will never see the light of day.
Over the next few days, Terror and I enjoyed the Roller Derby World Cup, which was our main motivation for heading to the states. We attended some restaurant theatre action at Medieval Times, visited the Book Depository building/museum and the grassy knoll (RIP John F Kennedy,) and I got to see my first street parade filled with giant inflatable things that were falling over drunk. We cheered and danced for Team Australia, and visited a couple of great bars complete with bull riding.
I was still lamenting the loss of both Mr Freeze and Titan, so I skipped out on a few games and went for a second attempt a couple of days later. I had success with Titan, which was pretty much the same as Goliath at Magic Mountain, so was really bloody excellent. The return trip (and subsequent battering to my bank balance) was worth it for this alone.
I also managed to get on La Vibora, which seemed to be a fun mix between a giant twisted slide and a bob sled. I re-rode most of the coasters I had been on the previous trip, and then made a cranky face at the (still) closed Mr Freeze before departing.
Six Flags is pretty much a guarantee of a most excellent day. The variety and quantity of coasters never disappoints, staff are friendly, and the holiday entertainment is very well done. I suspect I will be back to visit Texas and Mr Freeze one day, especially as Six Flags Fiesta was not opened at all during the time we were in Texas. I have been seriously contemplating making a bucket list where I visit every Six Flags park in the world. I’m just not sure I can keep up with the rate of development!
It had been a really long trip, but there were so many good times and Terror was the most amazing travel buddy. Patience, humour, a thirst for adventure, and caring for the drunk idiot (me) – she had it all! It took many years to find a person who loved rides as much as me and was willing to plan an entire holiday around them. Good thing her partner is supportive – thanks Ben!
Roller Coaster Ramble 