After biding my beloved Skull Mountain farewell in June of 2011, I watched online with sadness as pictures surfaced showing the destruction of the 6 minute boat ride’s trough and themed tunnels. Sure, they kept the Skull, but that really does nothing to cement Apocalypse as a worthy addition to the pirate themed “Skull Island” section of the park. (Then again, I305 makes no sense in the Congo themed section of Kings Dominion either)

I knew that I had to ride Apocalypse at least once to say I did it; and to say I had ridden the successor to my all time favorite ride at the park. So in May of 2012, I found myself and a few friends in line for what was to be the first stand up coaster any of us had ever been on. You know the stories. “Every man should fear the stand up coaster” they say. The dramatic music playing in the elaborate themed queue made the act of getting on this 20 year old hand-me-down seem all the more epic. I though to myself while waiting that this could very well be the last time I stand up right with my manhood in-tact; and the music made that idea all the more dramatic, yet noble. You had to hear the music, and be there to really get it. Anyhow, boarding wasn’t as intimidating as I thought it would be. We got in the third row of the train; that much I know. On the way up the lift hill, speakers on either side played the main guitar rift from Metallica’s “Enter Sandman” making the ride ahead seem like it could be something incredibly awesome. The drop wasn’t as intense as I though it would be standing up, nor was the loop. It was all fine until we reached the section that was clearly built with a mid-course break run in mind.

That straight section of track jostles your head against the restraints no matter where you are in the train. The rest wasn’t to terrible, but not as smooth as the first act. As the train came to a halt in the break run while waiting for the train ahead to load, I though to myself, “I did it, and my manhood is still in-tact!” the stop provides a nice breather before unloading.

Later on that summer, we made the mistake of choosing a row that wasn’t the third row. Let me make this clear: standing anywhere but the third row will result in a ride where the restraints play head hockey for the entire duration of the ride once the train comes off the lift hill. Normally, a ride in the front seat of any coaster is one most people would enjoy. I will never again make the mistake of standing in the front row on Apocalypse. It was an utter disaster. Ouch! Ouch! Ouch! I will not even consider trying the back row. I can only imagine how bad it must be. I’ll stick with the third row. Even the fourth row provides a painful ride, and it’s only a row back from the third! I don’t know what it is about the third row, but if you want to have any chance of enjoying your first ride on Apocalypse, I suggest you make sure that it is the row you stand in… no sitting on this one.

Overall, I’d give it a 7.0, and that’s a very generous rating. It’s the third row rides that make me fell like this could have been a worthy replacement for my all time favorite attraction at the park. The themeing is a step above what Six Flags America is used to receiving, although it’s only on par with Skull Mountain IMHO. It can be enjoyable, but that’s only if you pick the proper row, and know where and when to brace yourself. Also, it’s the park’s only B&M, so it’s special for us who call SFA our home town park. Sadly, Straight-Away Superman takes the crown for the best ride in the park now that Skull Mountain is gone. Only a Stand-Up B&M could have failed to conquer the King of Kryptonite Creek.

Six Flags America is great, but I wish they could get a sit down or inverted B&M instead.

Back seat was much rougher and the view sucks.

Great theming and a fun little ride. Ride it threw times. A little head banging seems positively unavoidable but besides that I liked this ride a lot from the front seat. Nice addition to this park.