Still Alive!

Summer is here!

First and foremost I do apologize for the long delay between episodes. But I am here now, new computer and everything, to bring you the all important Thrill Holder: Episode 3 (Revenge of the Sith). OK sorry, that was the Star Wars nerd in me coming out. I do have a number of subjects to go over, so lets go ahead and get right on that, shall we?

Hard Rock Park...Mics Are Hot!

Last month I had the opportunity to check out the brand new Hard Rock Park in Myrtle Beach, SC. Clint Novak and myself were down there for the parks Media Preview Days. After spending two days in the new park, I left feeling like we had a winner on our hands. Now I like pretty much all kinds of music. But perhaps my favorite genre of music is Rock. Everything from the classic days of Chuck Berry and Elvis Presley, to the modern era of artist like Nickelback and Disturbed....and everything in between. So when I found out a few years ago that a brand new theme park was to be built in Myrtle Beach, SC with a branding of the Hard Rock franchise, I was pretty excited. For one, these days it is very rare for a new park to be built from the ground up. Plus to build a park with a theme like Rock had never really been done before. So now fast forward some two and a half years after that announcement and here we are. After spending two days at the park, I realized that this was definitely above a Cedar Fair and Six Flags, but just below a Disney or Universal in terms of quality. Now I know that this park in a few years can change. Whether it wants to be a Universal or a Six Flags remains to be seen. But the potential for this park is huge regardless.

The park is very family oriented, but it features a lot of jokes and visuals that adults would get, while flying right over the heads of the younger crowd. The food is actually very good as well. A very important factor to consider when visiting a park. Places like Busch Gardens Europe and EPCOT might now have some competition in that category. Another thing within the park that I feel has been overlooked by people who have made a visit so far is the shows. Now besides being a ride junkie, I also have been known to catch a good amusement park show here and there. Hard Rock Park's shows are very well produced and have jokes that both the younger crowd will get a laugh at and jokes that the older crowd will enjoy as well. Now visually the park looks good. Keep in mind the park is brand new and it does take some time for things to grown in, or up, or out, etc. But it does look nice and has your pretty standard park layout of a big giant circle. But now lets talk about the rides themselves. Hard Rock Park might not have the biggest selection of rides right now. But the rides that they do have are very good. Now I won't sit here and tell you about every single ride. What I will do is talk about two of those attractions.

The first one is the ride that everybody is curious about and that is Led Zeppelin - The Ride. Led Zeppelin as you may or may not be aware of, is a Rock group that was mostly famous in the late 60's and throughout the 70's. Any fan of Classic Rock will more than likely tell you that Led Zeppelin was one of the greatest bands of it's time. Any fellow coaster enthusiast will probably tell you that B&M is one of the greatest manufactures of it's time. So here we are combing the two to make Led Zeppelin - The Ride. Zeppelin to me was a very fun rollercoaster. The whole experience starts with a queue area filled with Zeppelin pictures, posters with band facts and even monitors showing off classic Zeppelin performances. Then you get to the main loading area where they line you up into your row. From there you enter a room with your fellow train riders where you watch a 4 or 5 min video about Led Zeppelin. Now I can't tell you exactly what the video is about, because when I was there, they were testing out a couple different videos. But the whole idea of preparing you for the ride with a video presentation is very Disney like. Think Soarin' or Mission: Space. Now the ride itself isn't the smoothest B&M coaster, but compared to everything else, is still pretty smooth. The on board audio of "Whole Lotta Love" really adds to the experience. Instead of simply throwing hands up like I normally do on a ride, I now find myself rocking out on air guitar or air drums, or simply rocking out as if I was in the audience for a Zeppelin concert. Led Zeppelin - The Ride is definitely the main attraction of Hard Rock Park and I believe coaster enthusiast will enjoy it as well.

The other attraction I want to talk a bout is actually my favorite at the park. That would be The Moody Blues: Knights In White Satin - The Trip. Moody Blues is a dark ride done by Sally, who themselves are one of the industry standards for doing dark rides. This ride though is nothing like anything Sally has done before. Basically I'm going to lay it out all on the line for you. The purpose of this ride is to make you feel like your on the illegal substance known as LSD, or as today young lads like to call it....Acid. Now I have never done any of that stuff. Never have and never will, nor do I condone the use of illegal drugs. Now after having done the ride and talking to a few people who have done that kind of stuff, they told me that the ride is as real as it gets in terms of simulating an Acid Trip. If I had a list of illegal drugs and I crossed of the ones that I have done, nothing would be crossed out. But the ride was so real that I think I could cross LSD off the list. The song "Knights In White Satin" plays throughout the ride and really gives you that mellow, laid back feeling. Now the effects Sally uses on this ride are some of the most simple effects you could use in a dark ride. We are not talking Spider-Man here. Some things on the other hand I have never seen before. But they all work and work for this theme. That is why I now have The Moody Blues ride as my favorite(Non-Disney) dark ride. Also real quick, be on the lookout for a few "sexy" images in the ride. These are no hidden Mickey's that's for sure.

Speaking of hidden Mickeys, when walking around Hard Rock Park be sure to be on the lookout at all times. The park features what they like to call "Hidden Treasures". One good hint I can give you, check out every available men's bathroom.. Well that does it for my long review of the Hard Rock Park. One more thing though. Be sure to make a trip to Myrtle Beach this October. Hard Rock Park has something very special planned for Halloween. Just you watch.

East Coast Wrap vs. West Coast Wrap!

My last two visits to the beautiful SoCal area have prompted me to make a visit. No not just my mandatory visit to my favorite park in the whole world Disneyland. But rather a visit to a burger joint known as In-N-Out Burger. Former California residents now living east-side have told me to go there, best burgers I'll ever eat. Current California residents told me to go there, best burgers I'll ever eat. California visitors who came back have told me to go there, best burgers I'll ever eat. So I did go and the first time I went, I was the dumb tourist who ordered something simple, because he never knew there was this super secret hidden menu. Now what pleased me with In-N-Out Burger the first time was that it was the only place in SoCal where I could find Dr. Pepper. Other than that, the food was good, but nothing super amazing. The next time I came back, I asked for a 4x4. For all you east-coasters, that's secret In-N-Out slang for four meat patties and four pieces of cheese. Again it was good, don't get me wrong. But it was after that I knew that In-N-Out Burger had nothing on D.C.'s very own Five Guys Burgers. Now I know you west-sider riders are saying I'm showing favoritism to my homegrown burger joint. Truth is I had In-N-Out first. I didn't have those juicy, delicious Five Guys Burgers in the back of my mind when I ate at In-N-Out. The reason I got the 4x4 the next time was because I wanted a very close comparison to the regular burgers that Five Guys offers. I was being fair and In-N-Out lost out.

Five Guys Burgers began in Arlington, Virginia back in 1986 with one single location. In 2002 there were only five locations in the Northern VA area and that was it. Now some six years later there are over 200 locations along the east coast from Florida to Connecticut. A few states along the Midwest have a location here and there as well. Now you can talk about all the different East vs. West feuds going on. *Biggie vs. 2Pac *Disney World vs. Disneyland* *NYC vs. LA* *Celtics vs. Lakers* It doesn't matter because a new feud has been born. You see In-N-Out was too chicken to bring the fight to the east coast. So Five Guys took matters into their own hands. Because on May 26, 2008.....Five Guys opened it's first location in California. The war is now on and for all you west-siders, I strongly suggest you give Five Guys a visit. If you hit up any parks on the east side, don't let your trip be without a visit to Five Guys. Because it will be "In-N-Never Want To Leave".

Dominator.............DAMN!!!

Of course I am going to talk about this. So get over it Pat McCabe and Erik Yates. The death of Geauga Lake and their loss was ultimately Kings Dominion's gain. The former Batman: Knight Flight from Six Flags Ohio later turn Geauga Lake's Dominator packed it's bags...and steel, and headed to Doswell, Virginia last fall. What began as a rumor that I of course...as usual....did not believe, turned out to be true. I show up to the park for a Friday evening Halloween Haunt to find yellow steel track laying in the parking lot. I was excited, no doubt about it. In my mind, at the very least...Kings Dominion was storing yellow B&M track. Of course the press release came out soon thereafter announcing the ride was going to be built.

Over the next couple weeks, the plan was laid out by Kings Dominion and In the Loop to cover the construction progress during the offseason. It was a winning partnership on both ends. Kings Dominion, who was in the process of looking for a new PR Rep and didn't really have the means to deal with the various "fan" media, had one simple source to cover the progress and then allow other sites, shows, etc to then come to us for any updates. We at In the Loop had our first real longterm project planned with an amusement park. It wasn't just a simple..."OK here we are, lets shoot our show...thanks you very much...see you next time". The offseason was a lot of fun and I'm glad to say it built a close relationship that will allow both of our parties to work closely on future projects.

Now for the ride itself. I want to make it very clear to all you fanboys that I NEVER had the chance to ride Dominator in the past. So for me, it was a brand new ride, just like everybody else in this region. Dominator is an excellent ride. Very smooth like your typical B&M and in my personal opinion, the best B&M Floorless design that I have ever ridden. Granted it's not a lot, but Floorless that I have been on has been good. This was the best. Kings Dominion had it's first rollercoaster, that was a chainlift and go over 100feet, since Anaconda made it's debut at the park back in 1991. That's 17 years.....you could have had a child and now it would almost be an adult. For Kings Dominion it was long overdue. Plus now the park has the high capacity ride it has always needed.

So yes Dominator has opened and I'm glad to have it. Now if you fanboys will lay off the talk of a Hyper that Kings Dominion DOES NOT need, then I will truly be happy. You want a Hyper....go ride Apollo's Chariot or Superman: The Ride you jabroni's. DAMN!!!

Kalahari Resort: Wisconsin Dells, Sandusky and......Fredericksburg???

So yes not really breaking news, but my current city of residence....Fredericksburg, will be home to a big and beautiful Kalahari Indoor Waterpark and Resort. I mean Godfrey Daniels!!! (My nice way of saying God Damn) Who would have thought that this would cause such an uproar in the city of Fredericksburg? The complaints were everywhere. "It will make the already bad traffic (Which actually isn't really that bad) even worse". "It will cause a water shortage". "It will tarnish the historical presence of our city". "Who needs a waterpark when our kids can go swim in the river?" All of these complaints were heard by the citizens of this city. Talk about wanting to put earplugs in your ears.

What people failed to realize was a couple of things. Kalahari will bring more people to the city. Tourism in this place sucks. They say there is a lot Civil War history that needs to be preserved. To me, all I see are a couple of plaques and a few buildings that look like they might be haunted. Traffic will not get any worse. I saw that first hand in Sandusky. Water will not be an issue, a town hall meeting revealed our water system is more then ready to handle the resort. Our kids can just swim in the river? You know what.....FUCK you and your white trash, gap-tooth redneck looking, hillbilly acting kids. I say good, let them swim in that nasty Rappahannock River. That to me is less smelly people to get in my way in the wavepool. I'm sorry but I like my water nice and clean. Now put that in your "Confederate Flag sticker in the window of your pick-up truck" and stick it straight up your ass.

One last thing about the future Kalahari coming to Fredericksburg. The city approved this project because they saw the prospect in the most important matter......tax money going into the city budget. Kalahari will bring that and to you city council people that voted yes, I applaud you. To the one person who always voted against Kalahari in all matter.....Go suck an egg. Last but not least, the most important matter to me....Kalahari will bring lots and lots of job opportunities to the city of Fredericksburg. I rest my case.

Random Thoughts!

I'm a little worried about the attendance numbers I'm hearing so far for Geauga Lake's Wildwater Kingdom. I want nothing more then to see this waterpark be financially successful for Cedar Fair. Maybe people thought that everything closed last fall, not just the ride side?

So Kings Island is building something big for next year apparently. Normally I would shoot down this rumor but our good buddy Robbie Knievel spoiled that fun. I will say though, don't be too surprised if a Millennium Force part 2 arrives in Southern Ohio.

Forget soaring gas prices and a piss poor economy. I still think obesity is our nations biggest concern. Hopefully Clint Novak, Erik Yates and everybody participating in the Coaster Crews Biggest Loser Competition can be a source of motivation for all ride lovers who want to be able to fit on their favorite ride, and more importantly then that....be healthy.

Speaking of a crappy Amercan economy. Anheuser-Busch possibly selling off to European company InBev is one of the worst things we need to hear right now in our time of financial despair. What's next? Disney selling it's company to Russians?


After the Dark Knight hits movie theaters, I think a lot of people will realize just how much it sucks that Heath Ledger had to die. Whether it was his choice or not....we will never know.

Harrison Ford.....aka Dr. Jones. You still have it my friend.

Final Thoughts!

Well there you have it ladies and gentlemen. That does it for this week. Again I am sorry for the wait, but I hope that this made up for the delay. Just remember to visit Hard Rock Park this summer if your in the Myrtle Beach area. Five Guys Burgers are very delicious. Dominator is awesome and no Pat McCabe, I don't care about the bolt diameter. Citizens of Fredericksburg, Virginia need to remember that the Confederacy died a long time ago, stop flying those flags, stay out of the river and go take a bath.

Now finally I have one thing left to address. I can't go a blog without calling out Clint Novak in someway, shape or form. I figured I won't let words do it this time. I'll just let this picture speak for itself. Enjoy!!

DAMN!!!!!!!