Trip Report: Americana Amusement Park
Lesourdsville Lake, OH
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Date: August 8, 1999
Weather: Warm, some rain
Crowds: Light to medium
Admission: I had a complimentary ticket, and I'm glad I got rid of it, it kept telling me how great I was............(Yes, that was a recycled DAJr joke)
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Ok, as usual I awoke to the sound of a buzzing alarm clock and as soon as I gave it a whack, I heard an even more distressing noise. Heavy rain on the window. Since today was to be my first time coastering since June 25, I said "Oh @#$%" and proceeded to snatch the remote off my nightstand and turn the TV to the Weather Radar. Oh Cincinnati is COVERED, but wait everything above I-275 is clear as a bell. YES, the party is still on!
Of course, grandma and I were getting a ride, at 10:00, and again being my first shot at coasterdom in over a monthm I was ready by 9:10 (!), and they were late. Anyway, we then loaded up the SUV and headed out to Americana arriving right after park opening. Since grandma has a handicap parking card, we got to park in the close in parking, for free even.
Then we wait outside the gate for the whole family to arrive, so that 10 seconds after I get in the gate, my cousin Rick and I can split off. Yes, we were the two youngins in the crowd in the morning.
So I proceed to take Ricky, who has lived in Cinncinnti for 18 years and had not been to Americana since he was real little, into the park.
I point out the Serpent and mention that it usually has the longest slowest line in the park, and noting that we should ride it when only about 20 people are in line. He says he wants to go to the BIG coaster.
Ok, forget Serpent, it is off to Screechin Eagle.
And a walk-on it was, this is a grand old John Miller out and back, which in selected seats is an airtime extravaganza. And not gentle air, slam you up against the underside of the labbar air.
So we get in line, and Rick says he wants to ride in the back, I am more than happy to oblige. Rick made a comment about how the seatbelts and traditional lap bar "Isn't how PKI does it" (Note he has been to very few parks outside PKI). I say, "Yes, they do it right here" This started off the trend for the day, and I got to listen to a medley of "PKI is better this" and "PKI is better that" I take it that even though I tried my best to point out the small traditional park charm, all was lost.
Ok, so we get in the back seat, and we get dispatched, and got an airtime extravaganza. We get off and get right back on, front seat is taken so lets go in 1.3. Ok, the back is definetly where it is at on this coaster this year. After my two morning rides, I notice the sky turn bad so we head down the midway so I can try to show rick the whole park. Besides he was not real enthused about riding the Screechin Eagle again. "It's not as good as the Beast" "No, it's way better" What did I do to get stuck with this???? So we go on the Magels Whip and I think about SuccessJW while I ride it. By now everybody has heard about the Jetsons cars, and the fact it is only an 8 car model. Fun ride not thrilling but fun. I pointed out to Rick that it was a rare ride, that I have only been on two myself, and it is the only one in Oho.
Ok, we go down the midway and note the rest of the family in line for the Speedway (Sports Car U-Drive-Um) we fall into place behind them. And wait for them to notice, hehe! Hey anytime I see a U-Drive-Um allow single riders with a short line..... plus this one has the redeaming quality of going UNDER the Screechin Eagle TWICE and alongside it a few more times. Ok, so we finish the Speedway, and with the family we head down to the Calypso. They want to see it operate first, so I go ahead and ride on it by myself. Ok, get seated int he car, lower the bar, fasten the seatbelt. Ride starts, then a few seconds later I am startled as the small cluster of four cars begins to rotate BACKWARDS! A rather long yet tame ride was given, and when I got off they were lining up, RERIDE!
Then we passed the Lakeside Arcade, now it is no secret I like arcade games (Shut Up Jerry!) but when you see my family you'll know where I got it from. We walk into the arcade. Ok, alongside the left wall is the Skeeball and Redemption Center, along the right wall is a row of "Classic Video Games" Moldy Oldies like Pac Man, Donkey Kong, Kangaroo, Centidpede and several others, then front center are two islands of newer games, the back two islands and along the back right wall were redpemtion games, with the pinball, fortune tellers, and jukebox along the back wall. I noticed how much less floor space the older games took, and they were still getting play.
O,we got snagged in the arcade for some time, and as soon as we walked out, the rest of the family arrived, so more games, then out to sit, until I was finally like "I'm gonna ride something!"
So with Ricky in tow, we proceed on down the way. Next is the Ferris Wheel, nah two guys do not ride a Ferris Wheel, I'm sorry, ain't gonna happen. Then past the Tilt-A-Whirl, I knew Ricky got sick last time I got him on a Tilt-A-Whirl, so I knew better, we walked past. Sky got uglier, we walked faster, past the mini-golf then we got to the Electric Rainbow, and of course Ricky did not ride that, so we got on the Liberty Train. to Logger's Run. While we were on the train the rain started sprinkling. No problem. We get to Logger's Run, and we both agree it is too cool fot "Raging Thunder: The Rapids Ride Cleverly Disguissed as a Log Flume" so we go on back past the Scrambler No takers, On to the back to the Rock-O-Plane. He does not wanna ride, but I do. I proceed to put on a performance the ride operator called "Insane, could you possibly flip that car any more?" I was merely demonstrating the ride for Ricky :) BTW, the Eltich Wood Coaster Cars still sit behind the fence next to the Rock-O, but the trarps have blown off so now water is starting to pour into the cars. I wonder how much more the uphoulestry can take. We head back out of Loggers Run, and we decide on a cold drink. Now the Loggers Run Cafe must not want much business because the doors were closed lights dim. I knew there used to be a snack bar there, so I open the door slowly and yes it's open. Of course no one else in there since it looked closed. In fact Loggers Run used to be a row of shops, now all closed up. The Outlaws Den Arcade is now the Aquarium, which also looks closed, but is really open. The arcade games were moved to the back of the saloon, which is now a LaRosa's. It is more or less that the big storm hit, so we ran into the saloon for pizza, and got there just in time to sample some live entertainment. (Yes a Country and Western show, Jerry!) The rain let up before the show ended, but we sat through the whole show eating pizza. Then we headed out and again Ricky watched while I spun on the Tempest. I still like this ride. We then start to walk down the picnic grove trail and I comment on what a pain in the butt it is. Little did I know that I would be walkig the trail a few more times this day.
We get back to the main park and I take a quick tour of Kids World before heading past the Carousel to the Serpent. Okay, Ricky did not really wanna ride, but he finally agrreed to. (It's a little kiddie coaster" "No, rick we past that, that was the Little Dipper, and there are some parks who would be THRILLED to get one of these" (Shoot there is one right in Cincinnati......). We wait in the slow line, watch the operators treat the brake calipers as a balance beam. Watch the ride ops goof off, and not be anywhere near the controls until train starts its final pass. Then we get in the one train they have, and we get split up since the seatbelts accomodate 1.5 riders and the seat is meant for 2. A common problem at Americana.
After getting off the Serpent, we ride the Sky Ride, then head back around to the Screechin Eagle. Time for a ride in seat 1.1 Good, not great. Ricky comments that "Its painful how the ride slams you up against the lap bar" Sounds like an endorsement to me :) So we head down the midway, and look at the Peddleboat ride (FREE peddleboats). Got their just as the last boat went out. On a 20 minute ride. And they do not let you wait around for the next cycle. EVEN though they have a queue area. Darn,
Noted the Giant Slide had still not opened but concluded that after the storm, I can forget about it. did note that the former queue for the Cinema 180 (now totally gone, building and all) is now the Giant Slide queue. Head down the midway, restroom break, run into the family again. We go back and I pay my tribute to Traver one quarter at a time. Then the family goes off to watch some show, so we head back off down the midway, and decide on a round of minigolf (also FREE) I lost by 2 strokes. We then head back towards the front since Ricky did have to leave early, and I run into a RRC lurker (I think the name was Watkins, but not sure) We talked coasters while making our way towards the front gate so she could go do the Stricker's Family Day. I then decided to head back the picnin Grove trail. Ran into the family. Swap stories, explain that Rick had left. Then we proceed to eat out way through the park. Hawaiian Shave Ice (in that upside down Sombrero. Great and reasonable at $2.25 considering the obnoxiously large portion). Then frnech fries, then a Cheeseburger, then funnel cakes. But somewhere in there I paid another $5.00 tribute to Traver one quarter at a time, and got another Screechin Eagle Front Seat Ride. (Back was taken). Then I won a Blues Clues dog playing Bowler Roller. Is it me or is that game gotten a lot easier? (Is it possible to adjust the difficulty) Well family said they were gonna watch one more show, and then leave. Ok, speed round!
First up was Electric Rainbow, I still think thers goes a lot higher than most. I noted they blocked off the unload side. A common conversion. BTW, Mr. Blues Clues, enjoyed the ride, just sat on my stomach without me holding on to it.
Then down to Tilt-A-Whirl. I learned my lesson. Just sit in the center and let the ride whirl you at its will. A lot more spinney action that way! Then I went down and decided WTF I'm gonna ride the Screechin Eagle again. I noted a single rider in back seat and joined them. A GREAT airtime laden ride! And even better a new attraction, upon hitting the brake run, I hear "DAVID!" No no the family telling me to get my butt in gear, but Mr. Dave Althoff, Amusement Ride Fan Extrodinaire! I got off the ride, mentioned to family who WAS pacing down miudway after my butt, that I wanted to talk with Mr. Althoff, and that he was a best friend. Well talking took place int he queue line, and led to another Screechin Eagle ride. This time the surprise came at the turnaround. A water gun toting clown. I didn't know the Eagle has a water effect!!!! Well, I asked Dave for a ride home, so we walked up to the gate where family was waiting, so I announced a slight change in plans then I stayed the rest of the night with Dave and "Sorry-I-Forgot-Your-Name"
Well, we started out on a photo tour of the park, Dave did a search for a Cyclone Pinball, never found one. Then we proceeded to get in line for the train. 40 minutes and 2 trains later, we were the next to board and told "Sorry Full" Can we split up? No all seats are full.
We bail out of line and spot a WHOLE EMPTY CAR! We are now highly pissed. Americana is currently running a TV spot where they tell a clown holding a 45 minute wait sign that his services are no longer required since "We don't make people wait" That clown should have been working the train ride.
Ok, take a spin of the Electric Rainbow, then make the dash around the long way to Loggers Run. Walked back to the Rock-O-Plane, which was DDM. It was amusing since a volunteer was working it, and when Dave Althoff started examining what was wrong, the volunteer mistook Dave for being the ride mechanic. Quite amusing to watch, we kept trying to pull Dave back before the real mechanic arrived. Too late. The real mechanic closed the ride for the night. We had to pull Dave off of it.
So we rode the Scrambler instead. Some hand slapping "Dave, that sounded like that hurt!" A very well running Scrambler.
Then off to the Tempest. Where after being shown a car we had to play "Seat Belt Roulette" since all the belts are different lengths. some are about 1/2 a rider long. No I am NOT joking. Well Dave's friend get bumped off for lack of being able to get a fitting seatbelt. So Dave^2 ride. Its starting to feel wild. Thenwe get off and the operators ask up to fasten the seatbelts, so the oncoming riders can unfasten them. A strange practice. Then with no line, and Daves Friend wanting to ride we got back in the cage, played more "Seat Belt Roulette" Watched Dave change seats clean cross the tub without anyone else having to move. And rode. The kid next to the door was about to loose it, and to be honest Dave^2 were not feeling all that great oursevles. We exit, and proceed to the Flying Skooters. It was a flying Skooters ride, then we dash back to the Screechin Eagle to find it closed early. HMMMMM......