A Quarry Of Good Rides Found At Fiesta Texas

TRIP REPORT
31 Oct 2004 :: The second day of my trip necessitated driving 3 hours due west. Ugh not a good proposition since I had to stop by Six Flags Astro World to take some photos of the rides from behind the park since it would prove too difficult to park and take them from within the park. After doing so, this put me later than I had anticipated and was off on my way to the famed Six Flags Fiesta Texas.

Entrance to SFFT

© Coastin' Carl D Ragan

SIX FLAGS FIESTA TEXAS
I pushed the little rental car as hard as I could to make up for lost time however in fueling on the outskirts of the town I realized I had been sitting way too long. A long story cut shorter involves staying on the interstate rather than making the turn northward - this would prove almost fatal in trying to locate the park. One would wonder how hard it could be to find SFFT since many of the roads and counties for that matter follow perpendicular lines. It was interesting never been here before I happened upon a roller coaster against the sky. It took a while to find the right road to even get close to it. Come to find out, it was Sea World San Antonio and wasn't the park I was looking for at all. I decided to drive around the back toward the guard shack at the employee entrance. Here is the funny part ... I asked Sea World if they could tell me how to get to Six Flags. I still wasn't entirely clear but made my way northward and saw the gigantic loop I had made previously. By this time light was waning!

Quarry Cliff Waterfall

© Coastin' Carl D Ragan

Driving into the quarry from the opposite side was extremely neat and a wonderful location for a park. I can see the way it was laid out how there was a golf course planned for here. You instantly see the waterfalls tumbling off the canyon walls once you enter the park.

Doritos Coaster

© Coastin' Carl D Ragan

BOOMERANG COAST TO COASTER
I decided to head over to the Boomerang and take some pictures of it. It sat perched atop a hill and surrounded in pastels. The name is a bit strange but the ride was about the same as others could have been smoother than the norm.

Then my attention was wildly grabbed by a hypnotic swinging contraption. It was a Huss Frisbee, swinging circular ride, commonly called Frisbee of all things. I spent several minutes filming this and also riding it. Next I jumped onto the Ferris Wheel to take some aerial shots while there still was daylight.

ROAD RUNNER EXPRESS
Road Runner Express was my next stop on the other side of the park. This was not like so many others of its namesake however, in the fact that it was really not a kidddie ride at all. The similarities stop with the name - this was a family ride and a large one at that. The theming was great and went quite a bit more faster than junior coasters - 40 mph more. With most if not all of Arrow mine train rides there are multiple lift hills. This one is no exception and when you learn it's also the last one made by that company it's that much more special.

RATTLER
Since the Rattler was close I hopped on it as well. It certainly impresses visually as its built somewhat on the cliff and actually tunnels through a portion of the quarry. It being Halloween on the day I arrive, there was a giant spider scaling the crossovers trying to get to riders as they ascend the lift hill. Although there is somewhat of a troubled past, it is definitely one unique ride.

At this point I entered the gift shop in Crackaxle Canyon near the exit of the ride and found that not only were they selling items up to 85% off with my american express and season pass, but this applied to ice cream as well and it was all melting. I did partake in a few ice cream sandwiches which were ridiculously discounted.

DER ROLLSCHUHCOASTER
Definitely one of the more unique names we've come across in our journeys. I do love those Vekoma rollerskater models shaped like shoes. Part of Rollschucoaster is built over a pond after the lift hill; It's always good to incorporate terrain or your surroundings whenever possible if you are not forced into it. I can't believe this ride is 12 years old!

Man of Steel

© Coastin' Carl

SUPERMAN KRYPTON COASTER
What can I say ... in taking photos with the last remaining light left I took some amazing shots at dusk and then experienced first hand why many say Superman Krypton Coaster is by far the best floorless around! There was a lot of energy going around as you bounce from cliff to quarry and back again, making carousels before you dive, and being thrown in and out of floodlights as you stare straight down.

POLTERGEIST
Scream! & Poltergeist round out the night of rides. Poltergeist even though the subject matter was less than holy was themed appropriately. The LIM takeoff was similar to others I had seen and rode. The tight curves and inversions within the spaghetti bowl did throw the train, as with other models, a bit off and was a little too herky jerky for my taste.

SCREAM!
This ride on the other hand delivered as do most S&S towers of this magnitude, right at 200 ft. It clocks in at a respectable 40 mph and gives you the best of both worlds in terms of accelerated free fall or vertical launch. Plus it looks good doing it, especially at night.

Nighttime Illumination of Waterfalls

© Coastin' Carl D Ragan

Dusk Falls

© Coastin' Carl D Ragan

I then headed over to the covered outdoor pavilion where the park is always winning awards for its shows it puts on. Many a Golden Ticket have been handed out to SFFT for its award winning shows. This one was no exception. Although the subject matter was not ideal there were several performers - at least 17 or so and it lasted quite long. Afterwards I'm not sure if there were fireworks or not, but listening to the music and watching the waterfalls being lit up in an eery blue against the now black canyon walls made for an enjoyable night.

In Training

© Coastin' Carl

Hoping to get some souvenirs at the gift shop closest to the entrance (they always stay open later and I always seem to be the last one to leave a park), it proved useful as I got a coaster racing crew t-shirt for my not quite 1 niece. She'll have to grow into it.

And this being Texas, Taco Bell had a new Chili Cheese Frito Wrap which I decide to try once I left the park. It was basically a Chilito with Fritos added to it ... it was good. Of course to better understand me you would know that vegetarian chili would have been better.

Chili Cheese Frito Wrap

© Coastin' Carl D Ragan

Thank you for visiting.

Rated 0 by other users. What do you think? [rate this article]