Retrospect…

I got a chance to go to Cedar Point last Wednesday (July, 24th 2013) and the drive to the Point was exciting as ever, I felt as if I was 21 again. I was wondering how I would feel seeing Gatekeeper in this famous corner. Gone was Disaster Transport and the Cedar Point Needle changing the skyline forever. Would I be sick to my stomach thinking how old I had become since the 1st time I rode the Jumbo Jet in 1974? I thought about standing in line to ride the brand new Avalanche Run and waiting for hours for that ride. As I turned left onto the causeway the excitement really started to build. I caught glimpse of the Gatekeeper and then the entire ride with the 2 majestic keyholes. I could not wait to park the car and get in line. Cedar Point did a really nice job with the new entrance to the park. I felt as if I wanted to run, perhaps to beat the others that arrived at the same time, so I could get inline ahead of them. Did I just transform back into that geeky kid from 1974? Our line wait started next to Max Air and continued toward Gatekeeper, then a sharp left toward Wicked Twister and then a sharp turn to the right back towards Gatekeeper. Finally I reached cue lines next to the Gatekeeper. At one point I got this eerie feeling as if I was standing dead center where Jumbo Jet once stood. It took forever to reach the platform, but once we did I knew I must ride the front seat. It took about 1 hour and 10 minutes and finally I was strapping myself in for my 1st ride on Gatekeeper. I must have felt the same way back in 1974 taking my seat on the Jumbo Jet. As we started up the lift hill I thought hang on tight, before I knew it we were heading towards the keyholes. I knew we would make it through the keyholes as riders before me had, none the less the ride was exciting. It was almost over before it started and we arrived back to the platform and I thought Cedar Point had done a good job with Gatekeeper. As I walked away I thought of all of those coasters that came before the Gatekeeper. I saw Jumbo Jet, Wildcat, Avalanche Run and finally Disaster Transport as they stood in this corner made famous, at least in my mind, by the Jumbo Jet. Could todays memory of Gatekeeper be that of some other geeky 14 year old kid who looks back at 50 thinking this is the ride that made them love roller coasters, like the Jumbo Jet did for me?

Lost Jet Star 2?

It’ll be a sad day if this is true… I got some bad news on thelostcoaster Facebook page… regarding this Jet Star 2
Gordonas Kruminas writes “Another one bites the dust. Jet Star 2, a Schwarzkopf coaster at Vaiku Pasaulis is SBNO and will be demolished soon.” Gordonas went on to say “I asked the park owner if they would sell the coaster or demolish it? They said they would demolish the ride as its unlikely someone would want to buy it in this state. If someone is interested then maybe they should talk to the owners as there is a good chance they may consider giving it away.” I hope someone can save this Jet Star 2 from being a lost coaster… A very sad day…

Tornado Jet Star 3 Front Seat POV

This video was posted on 04/08/2013 by ThemeParkReviewTPR on YouTube and is one of the best video’s of a Jumbo Jet / Jet Star 3. It’s been many years since I rode Cedar Point’s Jumbo Jet and I forgot how fast this coaster is…

I just wish a Jumbo Jet was closer… The more I see videos like this, makes me want to go to Minsk Belarus to ride the Jumbo Jet! Let’s ride!