The opening weekend of Nitro at Six Flags Great Adventure was when it hit me that riding roller coasters was going to be a full-time hobby.
Photos Courtesy of Thrill Maxx
Back in 2020, when I launched We Were Inverted, I learned of a Facebook group called Thrill Maxx. It was Chris who mentioned the group knowing I’d like the down to earth discussions and content as it is similar to what can be found on a group be both moderate called, Coaster Appreciation Society (CAS). He was 100 percent correct.
Over the next year I got to know the owner/operator of Thrill Maxx, Steveo Supremo, and we became friends. I found him to be an all around good guy, especially when he reached out to the coaster community to help out a friend suffering from Leukemia. Wanting to send her and her son to Six Flags St. Louis (SFSL), he looked to his group as well as others and the generosity was amazing. You can see how appreciative they were in the video, “Random Act of Kindness.”
Steveo keep in contact on a regular basis these days, especially whenever we’re headed out on park trips. We both collect park merchandise and are always mailing one another items. You know I love my pins. Steveo’s weakness is magnets. We both admittedly have a problem!
I always enjoy learning about people’s stories in this hobby and it brings me joy to be able to share Steveo’s here on We Were Inverted. Be sure to check out Thrill Maxx and tell him you saw his interview here.
Becoming an Enthusiast
The Early Days
Q. Do you know how old you were the first time you went to an amusement park and what park did you visit?
A. I have pictures of me when I was about 1 year old on the Dumbo ride at Disney World in Florida.
Q. What are some of the parks you got to visit in your early years?
A. I was lucky to travel to several parks at a younger age, including: Six Flags Astroworld (SFAW), Six Flags Fiesta Texas (SFFT) and before Six Flags owned it too, Six Flags Over Texas (SFOT), Six Flags Great Adventure (SFGAdv), SFSL, Sea World San Antonio (SWSA), Disney World, and many more.
Q. Who did you visit those parks with?
A. My grandfather, in Missouri, was a senior executive for Drury Hotels. He would take us on vacations every summer to different parks. My mom, also in Missouri, carried on that tradition and planned at least one vacation each summer. It was my dad, In New York, that really cemented my love for roller coasters with our trips to SFGAdv.
Q. Not all kids love amusement parks or rides early on. Did you fall in love with amusement parks right from the start, or was it something that grew over time?
A. I was absolutely terrified of roller coasters until I was about 10 or 11 years old. I remember one trip to SFGAdv with my dad when I really started loving them. We were coming off Great American Scream Machine and I said, “Let’s go again!”
Q. What was it about parks that caused you to fall in love? Was it the rides? Atmosphere? Spending time with friends/family?
A. It was the memories I was making with family. Oh, and the funnel cakes!
Q. Do you remember your first coaster, or some of the first ones you rode growing up?
A. My first roller coaster was the former kiddie coaster, Rockin’ Roller at SFSL. It has since been removed.
Enthusiast Status
Q. When did it hit you that you love roller coasters enough to consider yourself an enthusiast? What made you realize this was a full-fledged hobby?
A. The opening weekend of Nitro at SFGAdv was when it hit me that riding rollercoasters was going to be a full-time hobby. After that, I would binge watch shows like “Thrills, Chills, and Spills” on the Travel Channel with my dad. From there, we started planning and dreaming of what rides we would try to go to.
Q. Do you track your credits? If so, where do you currently stand?
A. 331.
Q. How do you go keep track of your credits?
A. Started with Pen and paper. Now I just keep the totals in my head.
Q. Do you have any preference for steel or wooden coasters? If so, what do you prefer about one over the other?
A. No preference. Roller coasters are like Pokémon to me. “Gotta catch them all!”
Q. Do you have a favorite steel coaster? What makes it your favorite?
A. I-305 at Kings Dominion. It’s super intense, with high speed, great laterals, and superb first drop.
Q. What are some other steel coasters you love that you’d suggest other enthusiasts experience?
A. Maverick and Steel Vengeance at Cedar Point, Fury 325 at Carowinds, and Kingda Ka at SFGAdv.
Q. How about wooden coasters? What’s your favorite and why?
A. The Voyage at Holiday World. It’s honestly perfect. Voyage is a long ride that packs twister sections, airtime, speed, and intensity all the way through. It is relentless.
Q. Same thing. What are some wooden coasters you’d recommend to fellow enthusiasts to go and ride if they can?
A. The Voyage, Mystic Timbers at Kings Island, Wild One at Six Flags America (SFA), and Outlaw Run at Silver Dollar City.
Q. What is your home park? Or if you’ve moved, what have some of your home parks been over the years?
A. During my life they’d be Six Flags Great America (SFGAm), SFSL, SFGAdv, Great Escape, and Dorney Park.
Q. What are some of the things you love the most about those parks?
A. Family memories, especially at SFSL and SFGAdv. I can look in any direction and have them play back like old movies in my head.
Q. What other parks have you visited that you absolutely love, and you wish were closer to where you live? What is it about them that you hold in high regard?
A. Cedar Point is the Coaster Mecca. Dollywood has such a great atmosphere. And Adventureland has The Monster!
Q. Since you do a bit of traveling and enjoy doing things outside of amusement parks, have you ever tried a mountain coaster? If so, which ones and what are your thoughts on them?
A. I have been on every mountain coaster in Branson, Mo. and Pigeon Forge, Tenn. I love them all. My favorite thing about them is the sense that you’re going way faster than you are and that the cars feel like they’re about to derail. They still scare me a bit.
Q. Do you have any coaster credits that are defunct that you’re glad you were able to experience before the ride met its demise?
A. Yes. XLR-8 at SFAW, Viper, Great American Scream Machine, and Batman and Robin: The Chiller all at SFGAdv, the original Texas Giant at SFOT, and the original Rattler at SFFT.
Q. Any coasters that went defunct during your lifetime that you wish you had gotten a chance to ride?
A. Drachen Fire at Busch Gardens Williamsburg (BGW).
Q. There are some unique coasters out there. Do you have any among your credits that stick out to you for being oddballs or feature bizarre/rare elements?
A. Viper at SFGAdv for its heartline rolls, and Rattler for the sway of the track!
Q. How about a fun one? Are there any coasters you are fond of that most enthusiasts seem to dislike or even outright hate? What is it about the coaster that you enjoy?
A. Super Flight at Rye Playland. It was the last coaster I rode with my dad before he passed away. I will always ride those type of coasters and cherish every minute of them. Every time I look over to my right, I see him there smiling with me.
Q. Why not? Hot take. Any coasters other enthusiasts rave about that you’re just not into? Any reasons why?
A. Steel Vengeance. It is too aggressive and bruises my thighs. It makes it impossible for me to marathon.
Future Enthusiast Goals
Q. In 2021 you did a few road trips. During your stop to Kings Dominion, we were able to meet in person for the first time. Do you have any road trip or travel plans on the horizon for 2022? Any new rides or parks you’re aiming to experience?
A. I’m really looking forward to going to Valleyfair, Nickelodeon Universe at the Mall of America, and the new Lost Island Theme Park (site currently under construction) in Iowa for the first time this summer.
Q. Do you have any bucket list parks, either home or abroad, that you hope to some day visit? If so, what are they and what intrigues you most about visiting them?
A. My bucket list parks are: Alton Towers, Six Flags Magic Mountain (SFMM), Knott’s Berry Farm, Sea World San Diego (SWSD), Blackpool Pleasure Beach, and Energylandia. All are for the same reason too – the awesome coaster line ups!
Q. How about bucket list coasters? What coasters would you love to experience that aren’t yet on your credit list?
A. Every coaster at the parks I just mentioned.
Be sure to check back next week for Part 2, when Steveo shares how Thrill Maxx came to be, his journey since its launch, future plans, and even some advice for aspiring content creators.
