North America 06/25 – Six Flags America + Kings Dominion
Six Flags America is gone. Or at least it will be at the end of 2025. It was for this reason that we deemed it worthy of a farewell visit.
Plus it had a +1.
Plus it was free.
After the trip we had been having I had rather been rooting for it to bring a bit of an underdog arc, a fitting closing to its career, a good day out.
It wasn’t to be.
Day 13 – Six Flags America
Things started fine after a long drive, some merciful clouds in the sky, minimum crowds and the B&M that was closed for conversion last time we visited was in operation.
Thus we began on #1 Firebird. Front row. Floorless. It was ok.
Fair play to it really, generally these ex-stand-up things kinda suck, but the layout manages to still be mildly interesting and it rides pretty well for the sheer age of it. Once was enough though.
Joker’s Jinx e-stopped itself on the launch, which must have been a pleasant experience for all involved. Don’t care, clone.
Superman – Ride of Steel rode like ass, Darien Lake was infinitely better. Once was enough.
Roar rode like ass, GCI have come a long way, on and off. Once was enough.
Batwing was closed. Best ride here, RIP.
Wild One was closed. Best ride here, RIP.
Ragin Cajun wasn’t closed. Probably see you around.
Insert caption here.
Didn’t photograph the SLC.
Not great then, I used to like this place but the ride availability was pretty abysmal on this occasion and it was a little sad to see it out this way ourselves.
I’ve seen and heard of other visits that were fine though and I hope they can hold it together for at least a decent final, final day.
Better than Cedar Point, but shan’t be missed.
Kings Dominion
Down the road and hoping to steal the footfall is old mate Kings D. Happy 50th.
Feels like we’ve been here a lot, and we have, they’re always cooking up a cred or two in conjunction with our visits.
And this time was no exception, with #2 Rapterra mooching around. The new area felt very Merlin in implementation, there’s an illusion of effort in presentation sprinkled around, but something just feels off about it.
Wasn’t impressed with the ride at all. Shakes quite badly throughout, has no particularly interesting forces to speak of, then ends on the classically uncomfortable roll for extra vest bite into your collarbone on the brakes. Once was enough.
Which meant that the better new cred of the park was the #3 Great Pumpkin Coaster because they let adults on now.
Then it was time for Twisted Timbers to kick our ass repeatedly. I’ve gushed about this one enough before, along with the fact that it’s better than Steel Vengeance. The fact that it was walk on and we weren’t dying from heat stroke also brought the trip full circle and back into my good books with some mid-sized RMC-based destruction.
Rode Grizzly but didn’t take a picture. It’s vastly improved with the retracking work and was actually pretty fun, not least for the station banter about it actually being Shockwave in disguise. Better than Rapterra.
Rode Racer 75 but didn’t take a picture. Happy 50th.
Great woodie. Old, smooth, straight, full of airtime and with a bonus bit of racing fun. Felt like they’d added the Yoy-style poorly tuned lift hills that try and catch up with each other but always overshoot, which added to the charm. Better than Rapterra.
305 was closed but I was kinda glad because it’s an ugly colour and has a stupid name now. It will never be the same without being told to start my engines.
Eiffel Tower was closed as it seemingly always has been and always will be.
But they have this and Cedar Point doesn’t. Better than Rapterra.
Overall a great time at a great park and I’ve clearly run out of things to say.