February 2010
26 February 2010 - 7:42pm
New method of crowd control at Raven
When do you think we should schedule one last snowfall for this memorable and seemingly endless 2009/2010 winter season?
Quoth The Raven ... Nevermore!

23 February 2010 - 10:40am
Snowy Safari
We keep hearing from folks who think the water park would be loads of fun in the snow.
A Facebook Fan even recommended we host the next Winter Olympics.
This particular ride would certainly start off fun, but the new decelerators on Jungle Racer might have a chilling effect.

22 February 2010 - 7:23pm
"Don't track in any snow..."
The recent winter storm gave a whole new meaning to that oft-heard phrase:
"Honey, when you come back in, be sure that you don't track in any snow..."

22 February 2010 - 2:12pm
Special delivery
It's nice to have The Gravity Group offices just three hours away, in Cincinnati.
So when Tony, our maintenance director, asked for sample bogies and a chassis to be delivered early, Chad hopped in the van Friday and headed our way.
Searching for a "hanging Chads" joke ... sadly, none comes to mind. But that's Gravity Group's Chad on the far left and Holiday World's Chad with the hood up.
I guess they're hanging...sort of.

I'm told that's a chassis they're carrying. Basically, that's the framework -- or skeleton -- of the train.

Poor Bryan. I think Chad just told him he has to carry the chassis to the top of the 173-foot lifthill all by himself.
Just kidding, Bryan. That Chad's a joker.

That's Tony with Chad in the foreground, over in The Voyage's transfer track area. Lots of snow in the background. (Mostly gone now, due to warmer temps and even a bit of rain over the weekend.)
If the chassis is the skeleton, then are these things the feet?

Chad tells us these metatarsals (anyone else got a young-un studying up on naming all the bones in the body?)...er, feet, are actually called bogies.
Since golf has been in the news all too often lately, I checked the dictionary to make sure Chad's nomenclature was accurate. Indeed, among the golf notations, nickname for Humphrey Bogart, cartoon character, and a gross nasal reference, there it was. Back in mommy-mode, I'll ask you to look it up if you want the full bogie explanation. Wouldn't want to plagiarize or anything.
Bottom line, our coaster maintenance technicians are ready to make any minor adjustments to the existing Voyage setup to make sure the new Timberliner trains are a perfect fit.
Or, if you will, up to par.
13 February 2010 - 6:22pm
Bigfoot in the park?
Since the sun finally came out on Thursday, I took a walk in the park.
Apparently someone ... or should I say something ... went for a walk before me.
What in the world do these footprints belong to?
This photo was take over by Udderly Blue Ice Cream in our 4th of July section.
Too bad I don't carry a ruler in my pocket, because I would have liked to have measured these footprints. They were huge! Six, eight inches easily. And one right in front of the other.
So what kind of critter or extraterrestrial is roaming the park?

Take a closer look at the above photo and you'll see that the extra toe (on the right) seems to disappear after three steps. What does that mean?
Here's a closer look.
(Sort of reminds me of that famous painting "The Scream." Sort of makes me want to scream.)

So does anyone recognize these huge prints? If so, post a comment please. Or I'm not heading out in the park again until spring!



