As 2021 draws to a close, I asked some of the We Were Inverted Flight Crew to take part mini-interviews to share some of their experiences from throughout the year. On the final day of 2021, I decided to answer those same questions.
New Coaster Credits
Q. How many new credits did you gain in 2021?
A. I picked up a grand total of 25 new credits this year, putting me at 403.
Q. Of those credits, what was your favorite steel coaster?
A. Copperhead Strike. I know, hot take, right? There was just something so damn fun about the coaster. I was in awe of the theming through the queue, all the way up to the station. Greg and I were laughing our butts off the entire time in the back row. When walking off the ride, both Sam and Stephanie were echoing all of our feelings of what we just experienced.
Orion also holds some meaning to me since I was able to make it my 400th credit. I loved every minute of that ride, especially that outer banked turned. Wow! I can’t wait to visit Kings Island on a less crowded day so I can get in more rides on that beauty.
Q. How about wooden coaster? Which was your favorite of the year?
A. Oscar’s Wacky Taxi, although if I had only had my first ride on Swamp Fox, then it would have taken this distinction. More on that in a bit. Let’s talk about the Taxi.
Even though Oscar’s is a small-sized family woodie, the airtime is amazing. I knew it would be worth riding having experienced Quassy’s Wooden Warrior in 2018. It’s been on my bucket list for a while now. I got a front row and back row ride which both impressed me. The same can’t be said about riding Swamp Fox in the front and “almost” back.
The first ride on Swamp Fox was epic. Sam and I rode the front and we had standing airtime and laterals galore. After hitting up the park’s other rides, we circled back for a ride in the default back row. I said both “almost” and “default” because the entire last car was blocked off from entry. The staff members claimed it was due to “extreme roughness.” Sam and I called bull crap after our phenomenal ride earlier, but took our seat in the back of the second to last train. All I have to say is “ouch!” I have never experienced such a vast difference in ride experience going from front to back before. I can’t imagine what the rows in the last train feel like. I hope whatever the reason is that Swamp Fox rides so vastly different can be addressed.
New Parks Visited
Q. Did you get to visit any new parks in 2021? If so, which one(s) did you enjoy the most?
A. Did I ever! My new parks were as follows: Family Kingdom Amusement Park, Fantasy Island, Fun Fore All Family Fun Park, Funplex: Mount Laurel, Funplex: Myrtle Beach, iPlay America, Jenkinson’s Boardwalk, Keansburg Amusement Park, Pavilion Park, Scene75: Columbus, and Sesame Place.
Family Kingdom would be my pick for the favorite out of the bunch. I’ve always loved beach parks ever since I was a kid. I spent many hours on the piers of Wildwood, N.J. as a child. The oceanside location and mix of coasters, flat rides, the log flume, and dark rides has always been something of which I am fond. Family Kingdom has all of those.
Now, here’s a weird mention. If, and that is a big if from everything I hear from others… if Keansburg Amusement Park had been up and running, that same atmosphere I just spoke of would have been present there as well. Even with everything closed during my quick stop, all I could think about was wanting to see the park in its glory. If I ever get a chance to experience that, I’m sure I’m going to love that little park as well.
2021 Memories & 2022 Hopes
Q. What are some of your favorite memories from your trips in 2021?
A. The day when Sam, Greg, Renee and I visited several parks in Ocean City and Wildwood, N.J. was amazing. Sam got her 100th credit on GaleForce and all in all, it was just a great, relaxing day with some amazing people. Be sure to read their interviews as they make mention of this day too.
One thing that made our stop in Wildwood just a little bit better for me was visiting the Wildwood Historical Society. Getting to see all those old boardwalk and amusement park artifacts I remember from when I was a kid hit me in the heartstrings. I also was able to get photos of Golden Nugget from their archives to include in, “Influential Coasters of My Childhood – Golden Nugget.”
I also want to mention my birthday trip to Kennywood in June. I got to spend the day with Sam, Greg, Kaylee, Chance, and Aaron. We got in so many rides, including everyone’s first rides on Steel Curtain. It was another great day with great company. Then afterward, I got to be there when Greg grabbed his 100th credit on Fiesta Express during a quick stop at Fun Fore All.
Q. What are some of your hopes/goals for trips in 2022?
A. I’ve long wanted to do a park swing through Six Flags St. Louis, Worlds of Fun, and Silver Dollar City. I’ve never been to those parks and I feel like getting in all three in a single trip wouldn’t be too hard. I’d certainly wrack up some new credits in the process.
Lastly, although I’ve been to both Dollywood and Cedar Point numerous times, reading how so many of the crew made mention of those two parks for their hopes and goals, it makes me want to be there with them. That’s been something I’ve loved these last two years – being there to see my friends experience coasters I know they’re going to love. With both those parks being so vastly different, but equally memorable, I know they’ll all come away with memories they’ll cherish.
A lot of great memories at various amusement parks on numerous roller coasters were experienced throughout 2021. It was great getting to relive these experiences and we hope that you enjoyed reading about each and every one of them as they happened here on We Were Inverted. We can’t wait to share more with you in 2022 and beyond.
