The Coaster Critic's Blog

The Coaster Critic's Blog
Popular Posts
    • Afterburn @ Carowinds | Roller Coaster Reviews
    • Thirteen Announced as Alton Towers' 2010 Psychoaster
    • Kentucky Kingdom's Chang Is Being Removed
    • Coolest 2010 Roller Coasters May Not Be in the U.S.
    • Big Bad Wolf: A Legend Reaches Its Expiration Date
    • Superman Ride of Steel Goes Bizarro at Six Flags New England
Featured Video
The Countdown is Over!
Presenting The Roller Coaster Wiki
Roller Coaster Wiki
Subscribe
Want it delivered? Subscribe to the RSS feed and my latest posts immediately.

Subscribe Via Email
Subscribe Via RSS
About
The Coaster Critic's Blog is your source for opinionated roller coaster reviews, theme park reviews and a coaster enthusiast's take on all the latest theme park news. Read more...
Social Sites
Facebook  Flickr  Last.fm  MySpace  Technorati  Twitter  YouTube  
Become a Fan!
The Coaster Critic on Facebook
In the News…
Featured on FOX Charlotte

Quoted by the New York Times



» gravity group

  • Gravity Group’s Timberliner Trains Could Be a Game Changer

    Written by The Coaster Critic 21 Comments
    Last Updated: February 28, 2010
    Gravity Group’s Timberliner Trains Could Be a Game Changer
    I’ll start by admitting that this is not a breaking story, but it does deserve a post. The Gravity Group is a wooden roller coaster design company. They’re a fairly young company, but they’ve churned out some amazing coasters in the past five years including Hades, Ravine Flyer II, Fireball (China’s first wooden coaster, and the top rated wooden roller coaster in the World,...
    • Busch Gardens to Close Big Bad Wolf in September

      Written by The Coaster Critic 31 Comments
      Last Updated: July 25, 2009
      Busch Gardens to Close Big Bad Wolf in September
      Busch Gardens Williamsburg submitted a press release today stating what many coaster enthusiasts had feared. Big Bad Wolf will be no more after this season. In fact, they gave Monday, September 7th (Labor Day) as the last day of operation for the classic coaster. ‘Wolf is arguably, the most popular suspended roller coaster in the World and it will be missed. I imagine that quite a few enthus...
      • Top 3 New International Coasters for 2009

        Written by The Coaster Critic 2 Comments
        Last Updated: May 7, 2009
        Top 3 New International Coasters for 2009
        There are some really cool roller coasters opening around the World this year. I’ve already written about the new speed champ Ring°Racer and Great Britain’s horrifically steep Saw – The Ride so this week I’m counting down three more International Coasters opening in 2009. El Toro at Freizeitpark Plohn – Germany This El Toro, not to be confused with Great Adventure...
        • New Transformers Ride, Terminator Coaster & More

          Written by The Coaster Critic No Comments
          Last Updated: October 21, 2008
          New Transformers Ride, Terminator Coaster & More
          Recent Theme Park News Stories – Transformers, Terminator, & MoreSince I’ve been busy working on Coaster Portal, I’ve missed a few news stories. Here’s a recap of the biggest stories from the past month or so: Gravity Group Launches Blog & Podcast – GravitycastThe Gravity Group, acclaimed wooden roller coaster designers, recently launched their blog and podcas...
          • Hurricane Ike Blasts Kemah Boardwalk

            Written by The Coaster Critic 1 Comment
            Last Updated: September 15, 2008
            Hurricane Ike Blasts Kemah Boardwalk
            Hurricane Ike’s Storm Surge Floods Kemah BoardwalkObviously the safety of the people of Texas and their homes comes to mind first when you see the devastation on that Hurricane Ike left on the Texas coastline. Hurricane Ike also destroyed countless businesses. The Kemah Boardwalk is located on the Galveston Bay between Galveston and Houston. Kemah was hit with a devastating 17 foot storm su...
            • Ravine Flyer II @ Waldameer Park | Coaster Reviews

              Written by The Coaster Critic 5 Comments
              Last Updated: August 3, 2008
              Ravine Flyer II @ Waldameer Park | Coaster Reviews
              Ravine Flyer II: An Impressive World-Class Wooden CoasterI’d been excited for Ravine Flyer II since I learned about it last winter. It’s the product of 15 years of work, planning, and local politics. The Gravity Group designed hybrid woodie was my top pick for the new coasters opening in 2008. The New York Times even quoted me when I dubbed it the “Sleeper Hit of 2008″. So...
              • Darien Lake & Waldameer Park Trip

                Written by The Coaster Critic 2 Comments
                Last Updated: July 16, 2008
                Darien Lake & Waldameer Park Trip
                Darien Lake & Waldameer Park Trip I'll be visiting Darien Lake this Thursday and Waldameer Park on Sunday. I'm looking forward to re-visiting Darien Lake now that PARC Management runs the park. I've heard good things and I'm anxious to see how different it is post-Six Flags. I'll also get to ride the coasters that I missed last time as well as the new Orange County Choppers...
                • 2009 Roller Coaster News & Rumors

                  Written by The Coaster Critic No Comments
                  Last Updated: July 1, 2008
                  2009 Roller Coaster News & Rumors
                  UPDATE - For the most up-to-date 2009 coaster news check out Top Ten Coasters for 2009 List. Confirmed Roller Coasters & Rumors for 2009 Kings Island will be getting a B&M hyper coaster for 2009. Construction has been pretty apparent even though no official announcement has been made. The layout which first appeared in First Drop magazine last November looks great. It will ride off into th...
                  • Voyage’s Triple Down in the Dark

                    Written by The Coaster Critic 2 Comments
                    Last Updated: June 2, 2008
                    Voyage’s Triple Down in the Dark
                    The Voyage’s Triple Down in the Dark | Coaster Moments After a rapid fire opening featuring hills, airtime, tunnels and a twisted turnaround, The Voyage like Happy Gilmore, has only just begun. The train slows considerably at the mid-course brake run and typically after brake runs most roller coasters can’t live up to the intensity of their first halves. That’s not the case with ...
                    • Waldameer’s Ravine Flyer II Video

                      Written by The Coaster Critic 2 Comments
                      Last Updated: May 14, 2008
                      Waldameer’s Ravine Flyer II Video
                      Ravine Flyer II @ Waldameer Park | On Ride VideoWaldameer’ Park’s Ravine Flyer II is my pick for the sleeper hit of 2008. It was designed by the Gravity Group. They’ve produced the 2007 Golden Ticket winner Voyage as well as the greatly underrated Hades at Mount Olympus. Ravine Flyer II will feature a 120 foot first drop, 10 moments of air time, 6 tunnels, 10 cross overs, a 90 de...
                      • The Hades Tunnel | Coaster Moments

                        Written by The Coaster Critic No Comments
                        Last Updated: April 4, 2008
                        The Hades Tunnel | Coaster Moments
                        Hades’ Subterranean Masterpiece | Memorable Coaster MomentsHades is a vastly underrated wooden coaster at Mt. Olympus Park in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin. The park boasts 7 Greek themed roller coasters, with Hades as the park’s signature ride. Hades definitely lives up to its namesake as the god of the underworld and its #4 on the my top 10 wooden coasters list. Hades starts with one of...
                        • Ravine Flyer II Construction Photos

                          Written by The Coaster Critic 1 Comment
                          Last Updated: February 17, 2008
                          Ravine Flyer II Construction Photos
                          Waldameer’s Ravine Flyer II Taking ShapeLoyal reader, Judy sent in these great photos of Ravine Flyer II at Waldameer Park in Erie, PA. Among other things, the wooden roller coaster designed by Gravity Group will have a 165 foot bridge over a four lane highway. Check out this slideshow of construction photos of Ravine Flyer II: Also, for more on Ravine Flyer including a video click here.Wha...
                          • World’s Best Wooden Roller Coasters

                            Written by The Coaster Critic No Comments
                            Last Updated: December 8, 2007
                            World’s Best Wooden Roller Coasters
                            Mitch Hawker’s Wooden Coaster Poll ResultsThe best wooden roller coasters of 2007 look a lot like the best from 2006. Mitch Hawker’s Internet Coaster Poll is arguably the most accurate coaster poll around. The ballots take into account votes based on mutual rides. On the ballots riders must rank the coasters they have ridden and then their ballot is put up against someone else that has...
                            • Ravine Flyer II @ Waldameer Park | 2008 Coasters

                              Written by The Coaster Critic 1 Comment
                              Last Updated: December 6, 2007
                              Ravine Flyer II @ Waldameer Park | 2008 Coasters
                              Ravine Flyer II Could Be the Sleeper Hit of 2008I have to admit I’ve been sleepin’ on Waldameer’s 2008 addition. While it’s not breaking news, it is definitely newsworthy. Waldameer Park, located in Erie, Pennsylvania, is building a Gravity Group wooden terrain roller coaster called Ravine Flyer II. Gravity Group is my favorite wooden coaster company. They’ve produced...
                              • Top Wooden Roller Coasters of 2007

                                Written by The Coaster Critic 3 Comments
                                Last Updated: September 7, 2007
                                Top Wooden Roller Coasters of 2007
                                Voyage Takes Top Wooden Coaster at 2007 Golden Ticket Awards At the 2007 Golden Ticket Awards, Holiday World’s Voyage has over taken Dollywood’s Thunderhead in its second year in existence. This isn’t too surprising and is well deserved. Check out my full review of the insane and intense marathon that is The Voyage including an onride video. While I have my own Top 10 Wooden Coas...
                                • Boardwalk Bullet Aimed at Kemah Boardwalk

                                  Written by The Coaster Critic 6 Comments
                                  Last Updated: February 20, 2007
                                  Boardwalk Bullet Aimed at Kemah Boardwalk
                                  New Wooden Coaster Coming to Houston AreaThe Gravity Group will be bringing their magic to the Kemah Boardwalk (south east of Houston, TX). The Boardwalk Bullet will be one of the few wooden coasters joining the Class of 2007. While this will only be the Gravity Group’s third roller coaster their first two, Hades and Voyage, have made quite an impact in the industry. Voyage and Hades placed ...
                                  • World’s Best Roller Coasters Announced

                                    Written by The Coaster Critic No Comments
                                    Last Updated: February 12, 2007
                                    World’s Best Roller Coasters Announced
                                    Mitch Hawker’s Internet Roller Coaster Poll ResultsThe results for Mitch Hawker’s Roller Coaster Poll have been posted. Information about how Mitch’s poll works can be found here. Basically on the ballot you indicate all of the roller coasters that you’ve ridden and then you rank them. The results are based on which coasters were ranked higher than other coasters by riders ...
                                    • Hades Coaster Review | Mt. Olympus Theme Park

                                      Written by The Coaster Critic 18 Comments
                                      Last Updated: October 18, 2006
                                      Hades Coaster Review | Mt. Olympus Theme Park
                                      Hades: A Trip to Hell and Back In Greek mythology, Hades was the god of the underworld. Hades, the roller coaster, more than lives up to it’s name. It boasts the single most impressive tunnel section I’ve ever experienced. The tunnel’s not only long, it’s a white knuckle journey through a terrifying pitch black abyss. Mt. Olympus, located in Wisconsin Dells, WI, is a smalle...
                                      • Top Wooden Coasters of 2006

                                        Written by The Coaster Critic 3 Comments
                                        Last Updated: September 8, 2006
                                        Top Wooden Coasters of 2006
                                        Thunderhead Edges Out The Voyage for Second Straight GTA TitleThunderhead won top honors at Amusement Today’s Golden Ticket Awards for the second year in a row. But the real surprise, to me at least, is that The Voyage shot all the way to the second spot nearly taking first in its very first year in existence. That’s impressive, and it must mean that a lot of those well-traveled enthus...
                                        • Voyage @ Holiday World | Coaster Reviews

                                          Written by The Coaster Critic 13 Comments
                                          Last Updated: August 5, 2006
                                          Voyage @ Holiday World | Coaster Reviews
                                          Voyage Lives Up to the Hype Another trip and another extremely hyped coaster. This time I traveled more than 700 miles for two parks, but mainly for one new beast of a wooden coaster, Voyage. Luckily, I wasn’t let down. It rained on and off all day at Holiday World which must have helped with the lines. At times, Voyage was nearly a walk-on! The Trip Out (Hills, Air, & Tunnels) My first...
                                        • Advertisement