Yesterday, for the first time since I launched We Were Inverted, I visited a park with James. If you’ve been following the site since the beginning, you know that James has been sitting at the rank of Admiral since Day 1. We’ve visited 21 different parks to date, going all over the country in the process. I fully expected that to continue once the site went online. That, however, wasn’t the case.
Between the pandemic, the birth of his son, being in a relationship, and working, things never lined up for us. We talked about going to Hersheypark last winter for Christmas Candylane, but that didn’t come to pass. On Sunday, November 13, 2022, however, I finally sat side-by-side with James on several coasters for the first time in three years. Well, when we weren’t sitting one in front of the other on Jersey Devil, that is.
How Busy Would the Park Be?
We found ourselves at Six Flags Great Adventure (SFGAdv) on Sunday, for Veterans Day Weekend, with the park open 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. Usually this late in the year I wouldn’t expect much of a crowd. However, the park was running a deal for free admission for veterans with food/drink, some goodies, and $19.99 entry for their family members. There was also rain in the forecast from the remnants of Hurricane Nicole. With all these things in play, we had no idea what to expect.
When we arrived at the park at 11:45 a.m., we found a mostly empty parking lot. I could tell walking to the gate, we’d have little to no lines once inside. And I turned out to be 100 percent right. Every ride was a walk on, even with five of the park’s coasters closed. Yeah, sadly Medusa, El Toro, Kingda Ka, Skull Mountain, and Runaway Mine Train were all closed. I was hoping to at least be able to see Medusa with its new paint scheme and signage for new photos in the gallery, but gates didn’t allow you to get anywhere near that portion of the park.
Jersey Devil Coaster
Back in 2019, when SFGAdv teased the 2020 debut of Jersey Devil Coaster, James was pumped and so was I. We all know the coaster, like most in the amusement park industry, was delayed during the pandemic. Jersey Devil wouldn’t open until 2021 and finally, a little over a year later, James was finally getting the chance to ride it for himself. This would be his first single rail coaster and I was eager to hear his thoughts on the ride.
We did two back-to-back rides on the coaster to begin our day. I got the back row on our first ride and James was in position to get the front seat on the car behind me. Sadly, however, they weren’t seating anyone in Row 1 on that train and he had to sit in Row 2. Still, not a bad seat and he had no one in front of him for a great view.
On our next ride, we took the back two rows. I let him get take the rear to get the full experience of the coaster from both ends. It’s truly a night and day ride experience and he noticed it too. He loved the extra whip going over the first drop and through some of the other ride elements. For anyone riding this coaster for the first time, if you’re able to grab a back row seat, do it!
Nitro
Immediately following our rides on Jersey Devil, we made our way over to Nitro. This is a coaster the two of us have ridden many times over the years. Both of us love it and were looking forward to riding it again.
We hoped for ride in Row 9, Nitro’s back row, but there were three people already waiting when we entered the station. Row 8 was empty so we just made our way there since the gates were opening.
Other than needing a paint job, Nitro was amazing. It gave its typical awesome ride, even though some of the airtime was weaker than normal. It’s to be expected, however, being in the mid-40’s and with a half-empty train.
I was hoping the station would be empty when we returned to see if we could get in a quick re-ride. Sadly, there were people in every row waiting when we came back. Instead of going back around, we decided to go ahead and ride Batman the Ride and Dark Knight before moving to the other side of the park. Speaking of Batman, rest in peace Kevin Conroy – the voice of Batman in Batman The Animated Series and many animated movies over the years.
Green Lantern
The only two coasters open on the opposite side of the park were Superman Ultimate Flight and Green Lantern. After a walk on front row ride on Superman, James wanted to ride Green Lantern. I was shocked. I didn’t think he liked stand ups, but because he couldn’t remember ever riding Green Lantern, he wanted to do it. Okie dokie, even though I’m almost certain he rode it years ago during one of the annual workplace trips I arranged. I could be wrong though.
We had another front row ride on Green Lantern. While James enjoyed our ride on Superman, walking off Green Lantern, James said the coaster is a one and done. He wasn’t a fan and I told him most people aren’t. I’ve always considered it one of the better stand ups, along with Georgia Scorcher. I won’t say it’s comfortable or that I don’t get some head banging, but I’ve always liked its unique course and elements. Location isn’t much to adore either.
Final Ride Counts
Batman the Ride (1)
Dark Knight (1)
Green Lantern (1)
Jersey Devil Coaster (2)
Nitro (1)
Superman Ultimate Flight (1)
We Didn't Stay Too Long
Although it had been years since James and I last visited an amusement park together, we didn’t stay until the park closed. We also didn’t ride Joker, even though that’s one I know James hasn’t done. He wasn’t feeling too good after Green Lantern, so there was no way that was in the cards. He isn’t missing much.
After grabbing some photos on the way back towards the park entrance, we decided to head out early and get some dinner. We threw around the idea to eat and come back for some night rides, but that never ended up happening. Instead we sat down at GianMarco’s, an Italian restaurant down the street that the crew and I always visit, and hung out there for a few hours. We always get great food and service there and make it a must stop if they’re open when we leave the park. Give them a try.
The trips James and I have done over the years inspired so much of this site’s identity, including the name and lingo I use – like wingman and all the crew member ranks. I was glad the two of us got out to a park again after all these years. I hope to do so again soon, especially with Sam, Greg, and some of the site’s other crew members.
Thanks for hanging out Sunday, James. It was way overdue and much needed after our tough weeks. Until next time, which I hope comes in December at Hersheypark. We have to get you on Candymonium still. What do you say?
Six Flags Great Adventure Photo Gallery - November 13, 2022
If you would like to use any of the images in the gallery above for your commercial and/or non-commercial projects, feel free to do so. I ask that you credit We Were Inverted whenever they’re used. I also ask that you do not alter the image or remove the watermarks. If you need any images/video resized or without the watermarks, please contact me directly.
CREW MANIFEST
The following flight crew members attended this park, & earned the respective credits below:
Patrick
CAG
New Credit(s): n/a
James
Admiral
New Credit(s): Dark Knight, Green Lantern, Jersey Devil Coaster
