Filled with airtime and a wicked helix, Steel Force is an oft-forgotten hypercoaster legend.
-The fantastic rides everybody forgets about, and why you should give everything a chance.-
(01-11-08) - Millennium Force. Tatsu. El Toro. Everyone’s heard those names a thousand times over. Some would probably bow down and worship their wood and steel superstructures if they didn’t think it would look weird. We all praise them as the greatest experiences to be had on the face of the earth. I agree, they are fantastic attractions (the one of those three I’ve been on, actually), but there’s more to life. We often forget about some of the other legends that never quite got the same attention, probably because they’re not at those mega-parks in Valencia, Sandusky, Jackson (not Mississippi), or in that little town in southern Indiana. These are the rides we’ve long since forgotten about, or perhaps acknowledge their possible greatness, but with no more than an offhand remark. I’d like to share my thoughts on some of the greatest rides, and later parks, you rarely talk about.
To lead off, we’ll go with Kumba. The oldest B&M at Busch Gardens Tampa, Kumba’s the sit-down looper most parks wish they could have. Its statistics are nothing out of the ordinary, though still respectable. However, it delivers one of the most out-of-control, and to quote Mike Thorp, complete, ride experiences to be had. Everything seems to be just the right size and shape to maximize intensity and keep the pacing high.
Another would be Steel Force at Dorney Park. A rather simple roller coaster in terms of layout, but an often-forgotten gem of a hypercoaster, Steel Force provides one of the most enjoyable experiences any coaster can deliver. Some of the ride’s highlights include a massive and thoroughly entertaining helix with a surprising level of intensity, and some quality floater airtime all the way back to the station.
Another is Titan, the Goliath spin-off that receives half the attention. Titan is everything a hyper coaster usually isn’t, trading most of the airtime for spine-compressing positive g’s delivered through a variety of maneuvers designed to keep you firmly in your seat. Yeah, that floater hill will give you some quality time with your restraint and not your seat, but Titan is usually about shoving your keister into the car, not out of it.
One of the most surprising rides in existence, Phantom's Revenge utilizes the terrain to disguise the sheer size of some of the ride's most impressive maneuvers.
A fourth and final example would be Phantom’s Revenge at Kennywood. Given that it’s quite possibly twice as intense as most of the rides out there, it’s surprising that it doesn’t get the same level of attention. The airtime gets borderline brutal, and the turnaround after the second (and noticeably longest) drop delivers some of the harshest positive g-forces ever delivered, and they’re sustained.
This list could go on forever with a bunch of rides people don’t think get anywhere near the attention they deserve, but I hope I’ve provided you with a mere sample of some of the finest rides you’ve never ridden. The intent here is to convince you that sometimes the landmark rides at the landmark parks are not the only rides worth riding. Sometimes heading out to that smaller Six Flags, Cedar Fair, or non-chain park may prove to be just as, if not more, entertaining than only heading to the two or three juggernauts. You may be pleasantly surprised, as I have been, numerous times...
Justin Surguine can be reached with questions, comments, or just telling him how much he sucks here. RCPro, it's staff, and affiliates, are not responsible for the comments made in any user submitted article. RCPro does not necessarily support or endorse the views and comments made by the user.
