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My Favorite Amusement Park Ride #RockYourBlog

June 3, 2013 by Jay Crawford

Amusement Park Rides~

Stinger at Dorney Park amusement park rides

Before I launch into this spill about my favorite amusement park rides, let me first tell you a little about my experience with amusement parks. Growing up I was scared to death to ride a roller coaster. It wasn’t until I was 16 that I conquered this fear and rode my first roller coaster. I am pretty sure that it was the Carolina Cyclone at Carowinds in Charlotte, North Carolina (well, technically this park sits on the border of both North and South Carolina, so I guess it could have been either one). Since that time I have become a roller coaster enthusiast!

Amusement Park Rides: Drachen Fire

I have ridden many rides at many different parks, including Carowinds, Six Flags over Georgia in Atlanta, Emerald Pointe in Greensboro, NC, and Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. However, my favorite ride of all time was at Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, Virginia. Yes, I did enjoy The Loch Ness Monster, which is their signature coaster and has been for several years, but my favorite was Drachen Fire. At the time that I rode it, it was the newest attraction at Busch Gardens and had 6 total inversions! It was super fast and wonderfully scary! Apparently, however, very few people agreed with me. It was torn down and scrapped after just six years of operation ๐Ÿ™ . I can still remember having to lean my head to the side to keep my hat from blowing off my head! I finally got my arm up to hold it, but then my arm had to remain trapped between the shoulder harness and the side of the car until the ride was over! I got off the ride laughing hysterically about almost losing my hat. Yes this was without a doubt my favorite amusement park ride of all-time!


Little Dipper Roller Coaster

Other Really Cool Amusement Park Rides

I would also like to make honorable mentions to a couple of other rides that I enjoy immensely. First there is After Burn (formerly known as Top Gun) at Carowinds, also Ninja at Six Flags over Georgia, and Mystery Mine at Dollywood (super scary!) Hope you get the chance to check out some of these super rides as well as some of the other great ones around the world!

What Are Your Favorite Amusement Park Rides?

Filed Under: Travel Tagged With: #RockYourBlog, After Burn, amusement parks, Busch Gardens, Carowinds, Dollywood, Drachen Fire, Emerald Pointe, Loch Ness Monster, Mystery Mine, Ninja, roller coaster, Six Flags over Georgia, theme parks, Top Gun, writing prompts

About Jay Crawford

Jay is a die hard sports fan {football and college basketball being his favorites}. His favorite teams are the Carolina Panthers and Tarheels and, of course, his alma mater, the Appalachian Mountaineers. He spends his free time listening to music, especially KISS, Def Leppard, the Eagles and a lot of the newer country music, and watching comic book and action movies. The more special effects - the better.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Melinda Dunne says

    June 3, 2013 at 9:25 pm

    I think it is great that you conquered your fear and now love roller coasters. I also love roller coasters they are certainly my favorite ride.

    • Jay Crawford says

      June 10, 2013 at 5:34 am

      Thanks! I have to admit I was shaking (literally) while waiting to get on! But I did it!

  2. Gena says

    June 5, 2013 at 11:30 am

    My hubby would love that roller coaster. Me, I haven’t conquered my fear so it’s a no go for me. ha!

    • Dawn McAlexander says

      June 6, 2013 at 12:10 am

      I used to love roller coasters but have rediscovered a fear of them as I have gotten older, lol.

  3. natalie parvis says

    June 7, 2013 at 3:08 pm

    I loved riding coasters at Paramounts Kings Dominion when I was growing up.

    • Jay Crawford says

      June 10, 2013 at 5:35 am

      That’s one park I have always wanted to go to but never have made it there.

  4. Kate F. says

    July 4, 2013 at 11:32 pm

    My favorite amusement park rides are Pirates of the Caribbean and Space Mountain.

  5. Allen Smith says

    May 23, 2017 at 9:24 pm

    I am willing to have a ride on the large roller coaster, but I am a little afraid. So till now, I just riding on the smaller amusement park rides.

  6. Catherine says

    June 21, 2017 at 8:54 pm

    Great post!
    Thanks for introducing these amusement park rides you like and your riding experience, Jay Crawford!
    And I like different types of rides, including kiddie rides and thrill rides! ๐Ÿ™‚

  7. Nancy says

    December 7, 2017 at 1:38 am

    I am sorry to admit I have never been a large amusement park yet. Such a pity! I tempt to try one!

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