Wisconsin Dells, WI
August 31 and September 1, 2007
We decided we had our fair share of Mt, Olympus rides, and besides we had prepurchased tickets to Timber Falls, so wanted to make sure we got our money's worth there. Timber Falls was scheduled to be open till 10pm, but you never know if the crowd is light.
While researching ticket deals, we found a package on Timber Falls website, for $24.95 you could get a POP wristband, and one ticket to ride Skyscrpaper. This same package would run you $29.95 in the park. That was deal enough for us, but then they had a "Buy 3 tickets, and get the 4th free" promotion. Doing the math of that deal that meant that each of us could have a morning wake up call at Timber Falls tommorow for only $12.50 each, including a Skyscraper ride that runs $20 by itself. ($10 with a valid POP armband) We bought the 4 ticket package and planned to drop by for a few hours tonight, then an hour or so in the morning for a wake up.
We pull into the small but ample Timber Falls parking lot to find an open, yet sparsely populated park. We go to the ticket booth in the center of the park, head to the line for e-Ticket redemption, and get a clerk who clearly has no idea how to handle the e-tickets. She looks them over, puts them in the cash drawer without scanning and issues wristbands. We ask about our Skyscraper rides, and she seemed puzzled and even after seeing the e-tickets I don't think she was all that sure about it. She was nice enough however, shrugged and tore two Skyscraper tickets off the roll and handed them to us.
We head right up the stairs and ramp to the Avalanche station. Avalanche is a triangular shaped coaster that basically runs around the perimeter of the park. We arrive at the station, and head for the back car, a train pulls in, and the riders in the back car move to different seats, the queue gates open and we board the 3 car 2-bench PTC train. Bars checked, we pull out of the station, left turn to the lift, up the lift, first drop, up into the second turn to the left, then a few speed hills. The third turn is a signature element, its a turn that is just so wrong that it feels so right. You pull into an underbanked curve that tries to manhandle the train through a 270 degree turn. Did I mention the apex of the turn is the top of a hill, so you go into this curve, and it slams you to the right side of the train, then you come over the hill, get lifted out of your seat by the airtime, then the train finishes the curve and it slams you back to the left, as it puts you back down in your seat. It's a great element, and if you didn't like that, you'll love the next speed hill with ejector air that slams you up into the lap bar, holds you there for a seond or two, then slams you back down into the seat. You do another left turn as you fly by the station, for the second trip around the park, you ride closer to the ground with a series of speed hills for the first two sides, each one with nice airtime. "Attack of the Airtime Monster" indeed. The third side on the second lap around is mostly concerned with a final dip and rise up into the brake run. It's the kind of coaster that doesn't look like much from the road, but once you ride it, it will hook you in one ride. I also have to officially dispell the rumor that a trim brake was added to this ride, that's not true. The grapevine has it that the park though tthey bit off more than they could chew with the upkeep of this ride, but at least they are still running it.
We basically spent the next hour just riding Avalanche over and over and over and over again. During this time, we got a demonstration that Timber Falls knows they can't compete with Mt. Olympus with rides, but they can compete by having much friendlier staff, and more customer friendly policies. For example, you can ride as long as no one wants your seat, and if someone does want your seat, you can either find a new seat, or exit back to the load side. Did i mention we had tons of rides, like an hour straight.
After about an hour we looked around, and after having better than ERT conditions on the coaster, as in just the two of us riding for several rides. we took most of the rides in the back car, then moved up to the front car. Jerry said, "It's not as intense up here", well thats a relative statement, as due to the short trains, I don't think there is that much differance in the front and back cars.
After another hour we exited the coaster and took a look around. In the front center of the park is the clubhouse with tickets, merchandise, snack bar, arcade, restrooms and a second floor observation deck. Behind the clubhouse there are 2 mini golf courses, wrapped through and around the mini golf courses is the parks log flume ride. The Avalanche coaster runs around the perimeter of this area, and just outside the bounds created by the coaster are some bumper boats, and sitting out in the parking lot is a Skyscraper. Accross the street from the park are two more mini golf courses they own, and then the river. On the other side of the park is a competing mini golf operation.
We wanted to be sure to get to the Skyscraper before they closed down early due to small attendance. We first stowed everything in the car, then walked over to the Skyscraper where there was a single rider on the ride, and the rest of his group on the bleachers setup for spectators. Since we had tickets, we got to sit in the riders lounge area at the bottom of the stairs up to the ride. After his ride ended, we were invited up to the ride deck.
The ride deck consists of the loose article bins, operator console, and the access way to the ride itself. We step off the wood deck onto the metal platform and then hop into the chairs provided. It takes some time to get ready to ride Skycraper thanks to the complex harness arrangement. After the operator makes sure you are sitting all the way back in the chair, no slouching, he proceeds to strap you in. The harness system on Skyscraper is similar to but not totally like having two 3 point automotive harnesses, one located on either side of you. They key difference being the belts are not on retractors and are manually adjusted. So I sit down and the operator pulls two thick pieces of black padding out from the sides of the seat and ask me to hold them over my lap. He then reaches over my right shoulder and proceeds to cross that strap across my chest so that it fastens into to a clip/buckle mounted on the left side of the seat, this is also connected to a lap belt. He proceeds to tighten this until it is snug but not tight. He then reaches above the left shoulder and pulls out a similar looking belt that runs diagonally across your chest and fastens to a clip located on the right side of the seat. This means the two shoulder belts form a large "X" across your chest, and you effectively have double lap belts for added redundant protection. The operator proceeds to pull these belts snug but not tight. He then takes a moment to make sure everything looks to be correct with the safety harness, and then goes in and yanks on all the adjustors with all of his might to get all the belts as skin tight as he can get them. You then realize those two big black pads sit directly under the buckles and adjustors and they protect your legs from any nasty gashes from the buckles. This would also be a good reason to make sure your pockets are empty to make sure the thick straps don't crush any hard objects into your legs. The last step is to take the anti sub strap and to affix it to the front center of the lap straps. Men are thankful this belt is not tightened. He proceeded to step next chair and harness Jerry to his seat in the same manner. After all the harnessing the operator takes a step back to make one final visual inspection while thinking "Now I have you two right where I want you, you guys aren't getting out of those chairs until I let you, so for the next few minutes you belong to me and whatever I can dish out"
While he was strapping us in, for small talk he asked if we have ever done one of these before and we both enthusiastically said we had, and then Jerry mentioned how many times he has been on a Skyscraper, thanks mostly to the fact he bought a season pass upgrade at Valleyfair that includes their Skyscraper. I let the operator live with the impression I was also very experienced. He had this big grin on his face that said, "I'm gonna have so much fun!"
He started the ride, and instead of going right into doing the usual loops on this giant propeller ride, he starts by rocking us back and forth, not unlike how a looping ship ride starts. We ecnouraged those watching us to come over and get in line themselves. Eventually we start making complete loops, but still not much action. A few loops later, and he starts to play with the speed control, and we find ourselves flipping almost continuously. We do this for several rotations, we then stop at the top of the ride, and pause for a breather while the ride starts shaking left and right, huh? Then it was time to do it all in reverse, lots more flips, and as we came into the loading dock he started jogging the main arm back and forth. We then come into the station and he lets us off the ride, clearly quite pleased with himself.
After Skyscraper we take about another half an hour worth of Avalanche rides. At this point we had to exit the ride, and we then decided that since Jerry had driven 4 hours this morning, and had another 4 hours tomorrow, tht we would just call it a night. It was 9PM at this point anyway, and we had been at coasters for nearly 10 hours. We did stop at Arby's on the way to the hotel for shakes (love that Jamocha), then we headed to the Best Western Ambassador Inn.
A check of the website revealed the park was set to open at 9AM, but we had our doubts that the rides would be ready that early. Accordingly, we did not check out of the hotel until 9:30. After checking out, we took a ride around the Dells scooping out the best gas bargain. As it turns out the best gas bargain was at a little independent station near Timber Falls. You may recall we were staying by Timber Falls, so most likely any money saved by finding the best gas deal was burned away driving around town. But it gave us an excuse to see the town. There was a big college football game going on somewhere nearby today, and driving down the strip we saw more than a few over excited, and maybe drunk, college age people hanging out car windows hooting and hollering as they drove down the strip.
You may recall Timber Falls is located next door to Pirate’s Cove mini golf. We managed to pull into the wrong driveway, and although the Pirate Cove golf looked well landscaped, they just don’t have a wood coaster. So we drove through their lot, I noted the Jolly Roger pirate flags with a red background instead of the traditional black background, and we pulled out the other exit, and drove around next door to Timber Falls. If the park was having a slow night last night, it was absolutely deserted this morning. The only cars pulling in were either staff coming to work, or being dropped off for work. We waited in the car till about 9:50, then we decided to go up to the front counter and see what is going on. I mean, if the rides don’t open till noon, we would have to figure out a Plan B.
We walked up to the counter and met some guy who looked like he might be the manager. From him we learned that the mini golf does, in fact, open at 9AM, ad the rides open at 10AM. Perfect timing, and the Skyscraper will open at 11AM. The manager scanned our tickets and gave us our wristbands, but even he seemed a little surprised when we pointed out to him that our tickets included the Skyscraper ride. Must not be a common option that people select online. While we waited for the rides to open, he offered to get us set up for a game of mini golf, and Jerry was fast to respond he had no interest in mini golf. Instead, we used the 10 minutes until park opening to take photographs.
Right at 10AM, we head right up the stairs and ramp to the Avalanche station. We basically spent the next hour just riding Avalanche over and over and over and over again. We had near ERT conditions all morning. Occasionally a family would come up to the station, hand in some ride tickets ($6 each), take a ride and then leave, but for the most part we had the ride all to ourselves.
Shortly after 11AM, after we had confirmed we saw life over at Skyscraper, we exited Avalanche and headed back to the clubhouse. Instead of going directly to the Skyscraper, we headed through the arcade, and out the back door. This leads you to the Timber Falls Log Ride. We walk up to and get in a waiting boat. I admit, I was a bit surprised when Jerry came in after me, last time we were here, he sat the log ride out. He did, however, make sure I sat up front.
We got into the log, and you leave the station and make a slight jog to the left, and go up the first lift. After going up the first life you immediately go down the first drop which helps gives speed to the log. The second part of the ride concerns itself with the fake volcano in the middle of the park. (It even erupts occasionally). The log first goes through a cave inside the volcano, then goes around the outside of the volcano. After it has wrapped itself around the outside of the volcano, you start up the much taller second lift that runs along the back of the park. A turn to face the front of the park, and you go up one more slight rise, past the operator’s booth then down the big drop. It’s a very well themed log ride for such a small park, and its actually a nice long fun ride. Water damage was minimal. At the end of the ride, they offered to send us around again, but we declined that offer, and decided to exit the ride. I had offered to switch places in the log with Jerry, but Jerry wasn’t interested in that either. So we exited the log to the infield side, and then climbed across the bridge that takes you over the trough. That done, it was time for the spin dryer, otherwise known as the Skyscraper. He was still getting the Skyscraper ready, but was willing to take us for a ride. Wait a minute, it’s the same guy as last night, and he remembers us. When he commented that we were back so soon, I explained the great ticket offer we had.
We first stowed everything in the car, then walked over to the Skyscraper where there was immediate seating available, and we were escorted directly to the ride deck. While he was strapping us in, he had this big grin on his face that said, "I'm gonna have so much fun!" In, fact he looked even more excited than last night.
He started the ride, and instead of going right into doing the usual loops on this giant propeller ride, he starts by rocking us back and forth, not unlike how a looping ship ride starts. Eventually we start making complete loops, but still not much action. A few loops later, and he starts to play with the speed control, and we find ourselves flipping almost continuously. We do this for several rotations, we then stop at the top of the ride, and pause for a breather while the ride starts shaking left and right, huh? Then it was time to do it all in reverse, lots more flips, and as we came into the loading dock he started jogging the main arm back and forth. We then come into the station and he lets us off the ride, clearly quite pleased with himself. The difference was the time he let the ride go much longer, which meant a lot more flips. It was also different in that instead of staying skin tight, my harness loosened up significantly, not dangerously loose, mind you but loose enough to slide around a bit in the chair which adds to the excitement of the ride.
After Skyscraper, we go back up to Avalanche to say bye, and had a short 15 minute mini session on Avalanche. At around 11:30, we decided to head back to Minneapolis, but not before taking a little ride over to Mt. Olympus’ parking lot to take photos of Hades, Zeus, Top Secret, Riverview Park, and both the Original and Army DUCKS. Leaving Mt. Olympus, Jerry knew better than to try to make a left turn onto the main drag, sowe rode to the other end of the strip, and looped back around using a different freeway entrance.