Six Flags over Georgia - Oct 7, 2006

On October 7, Best Friends and Next Door Neighbors all visited Six Flags over Georgia. A week before we found out that we had a chance to do this (I had not expected to visit Six Flags at all this year!) thanks to Madison and Taylor's Mom. (Marie stayed at home)

We had a great time. Now that the girls have ridden Roller Coasters, there is much more to do at a Six Flags park.

Madison, Mary, and Julia in front. Taylor, Louisa and Janét looking at coaster in back

A glimpse of the park from the parking lot. Julia in the cap. Janét calling the other car to figure out how we were going to meet up.

Six Flags over Georgia - Oct 7, 2006 - entering the park

The obligatory pic of our group.

Janét and her Mom, Me, Taylor and Madison's Mom and Dad, Taylor, Louisa, Julia, Mary, and at the bottom - Madison.

 

Six Flags over Georgia - Oct 7, 2006 - Goliath

First hill

Lift hill coming out of station

Goliath Station

Six of us (Janét and her Mom, Taylor and her Dad, Louisa and me) split off and got in line for this year's new ride - Goliath. It is a HyperCoaster, but surprisingly not very much taller than the HyperCoaster I rode back in 93 at Cedar Point - Magnum - XL-200 (links are to the Roller Coaster Data Base)


Two views of the Helix

Bunny (Were-Rabbit?) hops back into the station.

Video (not mine) of the ride

Six Flags over Georgia - Oct 7, 2006 - Batman the Ride

We stood in line for an hour to ride Batman. My camera was in the backpack, so there are no pics.

I had never ridden a floorless suspended coaster, so I was looking forward to this one. Since I had never been in the queue before, I was unprepared for a detailed, themed queue. I have to admit being impressed by the theming. It was almost Disney quality.

The ride itself was cool. Louisa chickened out at the last minute, which surprised me. Later in the day she rode the Enterprise ride, which to me is much worse than a simple looping coaster. I made a note while riding Batman to see how the G forces stacked up on the loops. Positive G forces every time. No big deal.

The following video is not mine but shows off Batman.

Six Flags over Georgia - Oct 7, 2006 - Marvin the Martian

Janét, Taylor, and Louisa with Marvin the Martian

 

Six Flags over Georgia - Oct 7, 2006 - Posing in front of Ninja

I could not get anyone to ride Ninja, but I could get them to pose in front of it. I saw virtually no line all day, but I never was able to ride. Looks cool!

Louisa, Taylor, Julia, Janét, and Mary

The video below is obviously not mine, but is a ride on Ninja taken from the front seat

Six Flags over Georgia - Oct 7, 2006 - Wheelie (Enterprise)

Julia (yellow shirt), Taylor, and Louisa waiting to ride the "Wheelie", Six Flags' completely unthemed Enterprise ride.

I did like this shot of the train passing by the Wheelie. Unfortunately the trains at Six Flags over Georgia are no longer Steam Trains.

I can no longer "stomach" this ride, so I sat it out on the sidelines with Mary and Madison (too short!).

Here is a video of everyone's ride (taken from the sidelines of course). The main screaming you hear is Louisa (and you can hear her laugh while screaming as the ride is about to end). At the end, Julia can be seen getting out after riding with Taylor and Madison's mom.

Six Flags over Georgia - Oct 7, 2006 - Riverview Carousel

The 1908 Riverview Carousel. (That's "Riverview" as in the famous Chicago Amusement Park "Riverview Park", where this Carousel used to stand)

Julia

Louisa

Video of our Ride



The famous "Lover's Chariot"

Six Flags over Georgia - Oct 7, 2006 - Up, Up, and Away (Zamperla Balloon Ride)

Everybody rode the Balloon Ride.
Madison and Mary ham it up

Video here of our ride.

Six Flags over Georgia - Oct 7, 2006 - Hanson Cars

The Hanson Cars now circle the Riverview Carousel. When I was a kid they were down by the front entrance on the piece of land the Georgia Cyclone roller coaster is now on.

Madison watches as Mary drives

Julia follows with Taylor and Madison's Mom

Julia

Mary, Madison and Me.

 

Six Flags over Georgia - Oct 7, 2006 - Fooling around

A couple of shots of fooling around in the queue for the dark ride, Monster Plantation.

That's Monster Plantation to the left. Very lame dark ride. I tried to take video, but it did not come out very well. Marie and I rode it in 86 and were impressed for some reason (probably because we had not seen Disney dark rides)

Janét and Mary

Janét and Louisa

Six Flags over Georgia - Oct 7, 2006 - Angus G. Wynne Tribute

In the garden just across from the entrance to the Dahlonega Mine Train is this small tribute to the history of Six Flags over Georgia. When I first went to the park in the early 70's, it still paid attention to the original Six Flags concept of adding some history (The 6 Flags that had flown over the state - a concept that was followed for the first 3 Six Flags parks) and an attempt to appeal to families.

Click here for the Wikipedia entry on Angus G. Wynne.

 

Six Flags over Georgia - Oct 7, 2006 - Shake, Rattle, and Roll (Scrambler)

We all rode "Shake, Rattle, and Roll", which is a standard Scrambler set up inside the old "Chevy Show" dome. (I remember watching the Chevy Show in this building in the 70's. It was a movie projected on the dome of car racing and other high speed hijinks).

For Shake, Rattle and Roll, they run the Scrambler at about 1.5 times the standard speed. The entire ride is exactly one minute long. They start in complete darkness with clips of 50's Rock and Roll playing loudly. Then a slowly spinning picture of Elvis appears on one wall, followed by a picture of Marilyn Monroe. Spotlights shine on several Disco balls and the ride is over.

Janét and Julia

Six Flags over Georgia - Oct 7, 2006 - Fright Night

Six Flags was having "Fright Night" and as the evening progressed, actors would come out to interact with the guests. Some of us thought they were great. Louisa was fascinated by them. Taylor and Mary were scared out of their skulls by them.

Six Flags over Georgia - Oct 7, 2006 - Kitty!

Mary was amazed at the merchandise available with her favorite Warner Brothers character, Kitty. Kitty was the kitten adopted by the Bulldog Marc Anthony in the classic 1952 "Feed the Kitty" (click on the title for the Internet Movie Data Base entry).

She ended up getting a stuffed Kitty. We did not buy the hat!

 

Six Flags over Georgia - Oct 7, 2006 - returning home

Janét took these pics of the girls as we are on our way home from Six Flags.

Louisa and Julia

Mary and Kitty

Julia, Taylor, and Madison

Six Flags over Georgia - Oct 7, 2006 - Bartlett-Sloan Ride Count

My count is as follows (coasters in italics)

Goliath
Batman
Rockin' Tug
Riverview Carousel
Hanson Cars
Up up and away (balloon ride)
Monster Plantation
Bumper Cars
Scream Machine
Sky Buckets
Dahlonega Mine Train
Shake Rattle and Roll
Dahlonega Mine Train (3 times in a row. Once without getting off)

(add 7 coaster rides to my total. One of these days I will go through my notes to get my total!)

Julia and Mary had an earlier Dahlonega ride and Canyon Blaster and kiddie rides
Louisa skipped Batman and Scream Machine
Juweesa did Wheelie (Enterprise) (I can't do extreme puke rides anymore)

I have to include two more videos here

The Great American Scream Machine was my first Wooden Roller Coaster, way back in 1973. (link is to the Roller Coaster Data Base)



This music video is from the early 80's and a TV show called "Wild Rides" that was on Nick. The music is different from the one I have buried somewhere in my videotape collection. My copy uses the Rolling Stones' "Paint it Black". This copy does not. Probably some rights issue.