Sadly I didn't get to ride Greased Lightnin' while I was there. Anton Schwarzkopf was the best designer of all time, IMHO, and his creations need to be preserved forever. I was glad I got to ride Viper, but saddened that Thriller (Texas Tornado) was removed. Oh well, at least I still have my Whizzer here at Great America :D

Kev

Ah, but Thriller (Texas Tornado, now Zonga) has a home in a more temperate climate that may actually allow it to operate.

Schwarzkopf made some nice rides, sure, but I think the title of best designer of all time has to go to Herbert Schmeck.

I can tell you your comparason is really not fair.

Greased Lightning is an awsome piece of history, but I think Schwarzkopf's Montezuma's Revenge at Knotts has more of a kick to it. Still a great ride. The other Schwarzkopf ride in the park, Viper, was also a great ride, with awsome visuals and headchoppers. It just shows what you can do with a little creativity.

I did enjoy the chance to ride Ultra Twister. It's the first Togo I've ridden and actually enjoyed, and was by far my favorite ride in the park. I was disappointed that it was missing the vertical lift hill seen in other Inline Twist coasters, but is was still fun. The quick drop to vertical is the most intense I've ridden, and the twists were really cool. It's a shame more of these were never built in North America. It seems that Togo rides can be non-painful as long as there are no curves.

On the other hand, Mayan Mindbender was a mess. The line fed into a large loading room, and there was a cattle pen feeding each car (that held one person). There was no line, so every time a train arrived, there was a big argument over who was next to board. To make it worse, even though the ride lasted approximatly 30 seconds, they were only sending off a train once every five minutes, because it took them so long to check the restraints.

Batman: The Escape had the best queue I'd ever seen in a Six Flags park (although not up to Disney or Universal quality), although the back story was a bit weak ("Criminal activity detected in the area. An escape vehicle will be arriving shortly to take you away" -- so why did the escape vehicle return to its starting point?). It started out with the same layout I've come to expect from the B&M non-inverted batman rides, but I really missed the interlocking flatspins (corkscrews) finale that have become a staple of this genre. The end without it was a bit of a letdown.

Texas Cyclone was an awsome Cobb coaster, and just what I expected from a woodie of this era. Nothing special, but still an awsome ride.

Serial Thriller was a standard Vekoma SLC Heartbeater, but I have to say it was the smoothest one I've ever ridden. This is a Vekoma I could actually like! You should've seen the look of shock on my face when I got off.

Nothing else that I rode really stuck out in my mind. I was disappointed that I didn't get to ride the Sky Swatter (Swat), as I am a huge S&S fan, and wanted to try out their latest.

Why isn't it fair?

They're both owned by the same company, they're both setting out to entertain us, and yet, one is vastly inferior. I don't think that such a comparison is unfair at all. It should be expected.

Now, I can see where people might argue that the local audience that visits Astroworld doesn't have the knowledge of the other Six Flags, Inc., parks across the nation, and as such, they're satisfied with what they have. While it may make good business sense to capitalize on their ignorance, I don't think it makes any comparison unfair.

Besides, there are two other markedly better Six Flags parks within 6 hours of Astroworld - Fiesta Texas and Six Flags Over Texas. The people of Houston realize that what they're being given as entertainment doesn't compare to what other markets receive -- and they respond with comparably low attendance figures and revenue with regard to that park.

Of course but one is in a high traffic city area that will get people no matter what rides there are and the other is in a more laid back area that probably would not even get as many people if they even if they tried with new rides.

Well, that's not correct.

Despite being near the heart of Houston, Six Flags Astroworld's attendance falls far, far behind that of most other Six Flags parks; and particularly, both of its neighbors in the state of Texas. Sometimes, people actually demand quality over convenience.

Six Flags Astroworld receives used rides much of the time because that's all its attendance and revenue allow for, not because it takes less to satisfy its customers. The customers have responded by taking their patronage elsewhere.

Yeah well its differnt here in New York. Ive noticed people usually go for whats convenient in New York rather than go for quality. My grandparents live across the street from a water park. Its always crowed every day from people coming from the city.

I have pleged to some people that I will not complain, so I'll say this: I agree with all of the non-positive comments above.

But the coasters wern't half bad. Ok, they were only 1/4 good.

this is going directly to Sophey Chan . hehe. i was there when u asked that one guy for his EXPENSIVE shirt. lols. =P you asked me and some of my friends for a dry shirt. lols.

six flags were OKIE DOKIE. hehe. =P

Was that the one inside or outside of the food area. Cause the "50 dollar shirt" was before I actually got one in the food place. lol. You have to admit, it was odd to hear someone say that.

That Six Flags was horrible!
The only good ride they had was the Texas Cyclone which was one of the best wooden roller costers i've been on (it could have used to bank a little more)

Six Flags Great America is probably the best i've been to so far (ive been to about 10)

You need to get around more ;)

Viper at your own home park, Six Flags Great America, should surpass Texas Cyclone in every way. Try riding it in the first car, third set of seats.

Also, I suggest visiting Michigan's Adventure and riding Shivering Timbers.

Other amazing wooden coasters in your area include;

Raven - Holidayworld, Santa Claus, IN
Legend Holidayworld, Santa Claus, IN
Cyclops - Big Chiefs Karts and Coasters, Wisconsin Dells, WI
Blue Streak - Cedar Point, Sandusky, OH
Cornball Express - Indiana Beach, Monticello, IN

...all better than Texas Cyclone. I promise.

Tidal Wave
 

I have to say the best ride was tidal wave. Well, the ride itself was a little boring, but after is awesome. You get off the ride and you have to go over a bridge that takes you across the point where the car falls to. Well, me and my Gila Monster friends decided to stay there and watch. We saw a car from the top, and expected it to fall and splash a little water on us. Well, the car drops, its the water and all of our eyes widen as we watch the largest wall of water I have ever seen sweep over the bridge and onto us. The force of the wave pushed me back a few steps and when it was all over I was soaked! However, it was the coolest thing I have ever done!