Coaster Redux

Kennywood, located just outside Pittsburgh, PA is one of America's finest traditional amusement parks.  I last visited in 1998 as a budding coaster enthusiast when Steel Phantom had loops.  That ride has since been reimagined into Phantom's Revenge, and the park's added the Sky Rocket launched coaster, and Steel Curtain, an innovative multi-looping monster to stand alongside their historic trio of wood coasters.  Plus, I have family in Pittsburgh, and it was great to catch up with them in addition to returning to this timeless gem.

Join me for my first-time reactions to Steel Curtain and Phantom's Revenge, as...

My brother Karl returns to the podcast bringing us the story of his latest international layover!  He's an airline pilot who regularly flies overseas and he recently found himself with a weekend off in Osaka, home to Universal Studios Japan.  He gives us an in-depth look at the Japanese Super Nintendo World, the Hollywood Dream B&M mini-hyper, the awesome park food, and of course the legendary Flying Dinosaur, which many consider the best B&M Flyer in the world!  

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After a long first day battling nasty weather and heavy crowds at the brand new Universal Epic Universe, I finally got my first rides on their marquee roller coaster, Stardust Racers.  Repeated announcements led me to believe that somehow, keeping one's shoes on was counter-intuitive on this ride, yet somehow, I successfully enjoyed this stellar attraction with my shoes on.

Day two at Epic began with my longest line ever, three and a half hours for Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry.  I then finished out my experience with Mario Kart: Bowser's Challenge followed by fr...

It's not every day a brand-new theme park opens, especially on this level.  Known for immersive theming, cutting-edge attractions, and world-class roller coasters, Universal Orlando Resort debuted Epic Universe in May, and I visited shortly after opening.  The park is home to five themed worlds: Celestial Park, Super Nintendo World, Dark Universe, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter: Ministry of Magic, and How to Train Your Dragon: Isle of Berk.  

On my first of two days at Epic Universe, I focused on riding the four outdoor roller coasters because heavy rain was forecast for day two.  Join me f...

Sometimes theme park road trips don't go perfectly to plan, but a good trip is what you make it.  It's all about being flexible, and above all, don't forget to enjoy the ride.  My first expedition of 2025 brought me to Kings Dominion looking forward to riding their brand-new B&M launched wing coaster Rapterra.  While in the neighborhood, I planned visits to Busch Gardens Williamsburg and Carowinds.  I had the pleasure to spend my day at Kings Dominion with my new friend Mike from Fun Time Coasters, and he joins me on the podcast to talk about our experience.  It wa...

Welcome to the first episode of Redux Rundown!  Coaster Redux is all about in-depth storytelling from my visits to new theme parks, and I'm going to continue bringing you that type of content.  Redux Rundown episodes will now join full Coaster Redux episodes on this same feed, giving me the ability to step outside the story timeline and talk about the news, what's going on with the podcast, tell a quick story that doesn't warrant a full episode, or interview a fellow enthusiast.  I can't wait to bring you more interesting and up-to-date theme park and roller coaster content wit...

Between my two big trips last year, I had a last-minute long weekend pop up, so I headed north Busch Gardens Tampa Bay and SeaWorld Orlando to check out their new B&M family coasters, Phoenix Rising and Penguin Trek, respectively.  This Sunday would also be the final day of operation for Scorpion, a classic Schwarzkopf looping coaster at Busch Gardens.  While I've talked about Busch Gardens several times on this podcast, I've never done a full episode on it.  So join me for my first impressions of two new Florida roller coasters, a full audio-vlog on Busch Gardens Tam...

My third and final stop on my northwestern trip was Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo, CA.  With the future of California's Great America very much in doubt, this just may be the only major theme park in NorCal within the next five years.  The park experienced staggering growth during the Coaster Wars with a whopping seven roller coasters installed between 1998 and 2001.  The headlining attractions are the massive custom B&M floorless Medusa, and the Joker, the first GCI coaster converted to IBOX by RMC.  Join me for my first visit to Discovery Kingdom where I ride my 250th roll...

Stop number two on my northwestern trip was California's Great America in Santa Clara, CA.  This park has an interesting history of ownership changes, and despite its sister park, Six Flags Great America being one of the darlings of the legacy Six Flags chain, this park's future is uncertain.  Cedar Fair sold the land beneath the park to a development company post-pandemic with a lease set to expire in 2028.  Join me for my first, and quite possibly last rides on coasters like Flight Deck, RailBlazer, and Gold Striker at this awesome NorCal amusement park.  

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A few months after my summer road trip, I continued my quest to ride new roller coasters by flying northwest to visit three parks for the first time.  Stop number one was Lagoon in Farmington, UT.  It's a family-owned amusement park known for doing things differently.  They've built their last three roller coasters completely in-house, and they're unlike anything else out there.  Join me for my first-time reactions to Cannibal, Wicked, Primordial, and so many more unique attractions at Utah's only amusement park!

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The final stop on my summer road trip was Holiday World in Santa Claus, IN.  This family-owned park is home to quite possibly the greatest collection of wooden roller coasters on the planet, the Raven, the Legend, and the Voyage.  They're also home to Thunderbird, the world's first B&M launched wing coaster, and the new for 2024 Good Gravy! Vekoma Family Boomerang.  Join me for my ravin' review of this legend of a park as I conclude my summer voyage in this episode.

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The seventh stop on my summer road trip was Kentucky Kingdom.  Located in Louisville, this park's had a roller coaster of a history, being operated by local businessman Ed Hart, Six Flags, then Ed Hart again, and now Herschend Family Entertainment.  Rides have come and gone from this state-owned property, but it's now home to a triple-threat of small roller coasters that deliver big on thrills!  Join me for my first visit to this unique park for my opinions on Storm Chaser, Kentucky Flyer, Lightning Run, and more!

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Kings Island was a perfect stopping point on my drive from Cedar Point to Kentucky Kingdom and I spent an afternoon enjoying one of my all-time favorite amusement parks.  I got my first ride on the Bat Arrow suspended coaster, the refurbished Adventure Express, and the new-for-2024 Snoopy's Soapbox Racers Vekoma Family Boomerang.  And of course, I got back on old favorites like Mystic Timbers, Orion, Diamondback, and more!  Join me as I go in-depth on this audiovlog trip report.

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The southbound run on my summer road trip began with two full days at Cedar Point, home to many of the greatest thrill rides ever, and that's even with their new for 2024 Top Thrill 2 being closed!  I was joined by my dad, an Ohio native, who hadn't been to America's Rockin' Roller Coast since 1999 when he brought my family and I for the first time.  Join me for two full days at A Place Like No Other riding top tier rides like Millennium Force, Steel Vengeance, Maverick, and more!  We also take a ferry ride to Put-in-Bay on South Bas...

The halfway point on my two-week summer road trip was Six Flags Great America.  One of the biggest legacy parks in the Six Flags chain, Great America boasts 15 total roller coasters.  Top on my hype list were Maxx Force, an S&S compressed air launch coaster with America's fastest acceleration, Raging Bull, B&M's only hyper with a twister layout, and Goliath, a punchy yet short RMC topper track wood coaster.  Join me for my first-time reaction to the best attractions at Chicagoland's home theme park. 

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My third stop on my 2024 road trip brought me to Kansas City, MO for my first ever visit to Worlds of Fun.  They opened Zambezi Zinger last year, their first new roller coaster since 2009.  It's a GCI family thrill coaster that sits right next door to Prowler, a highly praised out and back terrain coaster also from GCI.  The Mamba hyper coaster from Morgan also got reprogrammed a short time ago, and the mid-course brake run barely kisses the train leading to some great airtime.  Join me for my in-depth reactions to everything I experienced during my trip around the...

Stop number two on my 2024 road trip was Silver Dollar City in Branson, MO.  Dollywood's sister park is one I've wanted to visit for years!  It's got a gorgeous setting in the Ozark mountains, and some super unique roller coasters.  Powder Keg is a mash-up Premier water ride and S&S launched coaster, Outlaw Run was the first RMC wood coaster with multiple inversions, and Time Traveler was the first extreme spinning coaster from Mach Rides.  I'll also ride the new-for-2024 Fire in the Hole indoor family coaster.  Join me for my in-depth reactions during my first visit to this...

Season 3 begins with the first of eight stops on my 2024 summer road trip, Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, TN.  This is my second visit to this beautiful park, and since I was here two years ago, they've added Big Bear Mountain, a Vekoma launched family coaster, replaced the launch on Lightning Rod with a high-speed chain lift, and completed more trackwork on the Thunderhead wood coaster.  Join me for my in-depth reactions to new experiences at one of my all-time favorite theme parks.       

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It was a delight to share my 2023 theme park adventures with you, and it was my best year ever as a coaster enthusiast!  I'm currently knocking on the door of my 200th credit and preparing for my 2024 road trip.  I wanted to wrap up this season with my current Top 25 roller coaster list, and spill the beans on my plans for the first part of the next season of the podcast.  Thank you all for listening, and I can't wait to start Season 3!

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The second stop on my SoCal trip was Knott's Berry Farm.  I'd briefly visited this park back in 2006 when I was in town for a wedding, and I wanted to get a better feel for it.  The Xcelerator Intamin hydraulic launch coaster had just re-opened after being closed for over a year, the Hangtime Gerstlauer Infinity Coaster had opened since my last visit, and I couldn't wait to ride Ghostrider since its major refurbishment by GCI.  

Join me for my reactions to these great attractions and more as I return to this beautiful historic theme park.

I...

My final coaster trip of 2023 brought me to Southern California to check out the next park on my must-visit list after Cedar Point and Hersheypark: Six Flags Magic Mountain.   It's home to 20 roller coasters, more than any park in the world, including X2, Twisted Colossus, Tatsu, and Full Throttle.  Join me for two full days at one of the world's greatest amusement parks during Holiday in the Park for my first-time experiences on their record-breaking coasters.

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My second theme park road trip concludes with two full days at Hersheypark joined by my brother Karl and his husband Marcus.  After visiting Cedar Point last year, this was next on my list of must-visit parks owing to its top-heavy coaster line up.  Join us for our first-time reactions to their three Intamins, Fahrenheit, Storm Runner, and Skyrush, as well as the new Candymonium B&M hyper and Wildcat's Revenge RMC.  Karl returns to the podcast at the end of the episode, and we rank our top five rides in the park.

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The fifth stop on my August roller coaster road trip was Knoebels Amusement Resort, a quirky family-operated traditional amusement park in Elysburg, PA.  It's home to the one-two punch of Phoenix and Twister, two world-class wood coasters, an unbelievable collection of antique flat rides, and excellent food.

Join me for my first-time experience at this gem of a classic amusement park where I ride their legendary attractions, and soak up the atmosphere at this one-of-a-kind destination.

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My fourth stop on my summer road trip was my former home park, Six Flags New England.  I grew up visiting this place, and when Riverside Park became a Six Flags in 2000, my first rides on the brand-new Superman: Ride of Steel catapulted my teenage coaster enthusiasm into the stratosphere.  This would be my first time returning to the park since 2005, and a lot has been added.  The Cyclone wood coaster got RMC'd and Superman underwent a number of changes to its trains and restraints.  Were these changes really that bad?  Because it seems nobody considers Superman to be elite...

My third stop on my summer road trip was Six Flags Great Adventure.  I last visited in 2014 and loved the El Toro Intamin pre-fab wood coaster.  Unfortunately, Kingda Ka, the world's tallest roller coaster was closed that day, and I badly wanted to ride one of these Intamin hydraulic-launched stratacoasters.  The park has since added the Jersey Devil Coaster, the first custom-designed Raptor single rail coaster from Rocky Mountain Construction.

Join me for my first time reactions to Kingda Ka and Jersey Devil, as well as my first rides on El Toro in nine years.  

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My second stop on this year's summer road trip was Six Flags America.  It was a perfect midway stopping point between Busch Gardens Williamsburg and Six Flags Great Adventure.  I was particularly excited for Superman: Ride of Steel, their Intamin hyper, and the Wild One, a classic wood coaster that was moved to Maryland from its original location mere minutes from where I grew up.  Join me for my first ever visit to the closest park to our nation's capitol.

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My second road trip begins with my return to Busch Gardens Williamsburg.  Since my last visit in 2018, they've added the new Intamin multi-launch Pantheon roller coaster, and the new-for-2023 DarKoaster, an enclosed Intamin family attraction.  Of course I was excited to ride old favorites like Griffon, Apollo's Chariot, Alpengeist, etc.  Join me for an in-depth look at this beautiful theme park and its outstanding roller coaster collection.

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Shortly after dropping the Phantasialand episode, my brother told me he had another layover coming up.  This time he visited Seoul, South Korea and headed to Everland, home of T Express, the newest and longest Intamin pre-fab wood coaster.   With El Toro at Six Flags Great Adventure being his #1 ride, he and I were psyched that he got the chance to ride another of only four of this ride type in the world!

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My brother has always been my coaster riding partner in crime.  As a pilot, he recently had a layover in Cologne, Germany, and got to visit a park that ranks near the top of my international bucket list, Phantasialand.  Join my brother and I as he tells us all about Taron, Black Mamba, F.L.Y. and his impressions of one of Europe's best theme parks. 

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It's no secret that Florida is home to some of the world's best theme parks, so there's always a new roller coaster to look forward to.  The most recent to open was Pipeline: The Surf Coaster at SeaWorld Orlando, a re-imagined stand-up from B&M.   While this new attraction was far from my most anticipated for 2023, I was curious to try it out.  Meanwhile, I still hadn't ridden Ice Breaker at SeaWorld, and had only gotten two rides on Iron Gwazi at Busch Gardens Tampa thus far, so I headed up to Central Florida to ride some new roller coas...

I headed north to the Peach State Easter weekend for my first visit to Six Flags Over Georgia, and to ride the brand new ArieForce One at Fun Spot America Atlanta.  Weather forced me to visit both parks on Easter Sunday, and I had a blast!  Join me for my in-depth first-time reactions to Georgia Scorcher, Goliath, Twisted Cyclone, and of course ArieForce One.

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Season 2 kicks off the weekend after New Years when I flew into San Antonio, Texas to visit SeaWorld San Antonio and Six Flags Fiesta Texas.  It was a perfect off-season long weekend trip filled with outstanding roller coasters and thrill rides.  Join me for my in-depth reactions to my first rides on Texas Stingray, Tidal Surge, Iron Rattler, Wonder Woman Golden Lasso Coaster, and the new for 2022 Dr. Diabolical's Cliffhanger.

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The final stop on my road trip brought me to the Great Smoky Mountains to visit Dollywood.  This beautiful park is home to one of the most unique roller coaster collections in the country.  Join me for my first time reactions to Lightning Rod, Thunderhead, Wild Eagle, Tennessee Tornado, and more! 

Lightning Rod sounds credit: Gotcha Thrills - YouTube
Thunderhead sounds credit:  Coaster Thrills - YouTube

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My third stop on my week-long roller coaster road trip was another beloved Ohio amusement park, Kings Island.  Join me as I share my first time experience in this beautiful park where I rode the Beast, Mystic Timbers, Orion, Diamondback, and more!

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My second stop on my week-long road trip was Cedar Point, America's Roller Coast, and what I call the coaster enthusiast's Holy Grail.  I visited this park way back in 1999, but so many roller coaster superlatives had been added since then, it would almost be like a brand-new park for me.  Join me for my first-time reactions to five new-to-me roller coasters at one of the best amusement parks in the world.

Millennium Force theme music credit Cedar Point
Magnum sound effect credit: Coaster Legend - YouTube 

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In June 2022, I embarked on my first week-long road trip to visit four bucket list parks and see how some of the most elite roller coasters in the United States compare to Florida's latest additions.  Join me for my reactions to the likes of Copperhead Strike, Afterburn, Intimidator, and my 100th roller coaster, Fury 325 on my first visit to Carowinds. 

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With the pandemic on the decline, many anticipated new rides finally opened in Florida, and I needed to escape the daily grind and ride some new roller coasters.  I made a trip to Orlando in fall 2021 to visit SeaWorld for the first time, and also returned to Universal to ride Velocicoaster and Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure.   I also went back to Busch Gardens Tampa in spring of 2022, and finally rode Iron Gwazi. 

In this episode, I give you my in-depth reactions to all these new rides, and lay out my plan for the road trip I wou...

This episode documents the time when I was a seriously lazy coaster enthusiast.  From 2005 to 2014, I only made a handful of visits to my local Florida parks including Busch Gardens Tampa and Universal Orlando.  My brother and I went to Six Flags Great Adventure in 2014, and then four years later, we did a two-day roller coaster trip to Kings Dominion and Busch Gardens Williamsburg in 2018.  That trip got me back into following the amusement industry through podcasts and social media and would put me on the path to rekindling my coaster-riding flame and putting that road trip together.

Welcome to the first episode of Coaster Redux.  My name is Erik and I'm a life-long roller coaster enthusiast, but up until lately, I've been kind of a lazy one.  Through high school and college in the late 90's and early 2000's, I was a full-on coaster nerd, then I entered the working world and went on a lengthy hiatus, only visiting parks every few years.  During the pandemic, I got back into following the theme park industry, and I'm about to head out on a week-long road trip to experience some of the most elite roller coasters in Ame...

Welcome to my new podcast, Coaster Redux.  My name is Erik and I'm a life-long roller coaster enthusiast, but up until lately, I've been kind of a lazy one.  Through high school and college in the late 90's and early 2000's I was a full-on coaster nerd, then life got in the way and I fell out of the hobby.  I have recently gotten back into my theme park obsession, and want to share my story with you, so here's a preview of what is coming up on Coaster Redux.