I LEFT MY HEART IN GEORGIA

People in the South are funny.

It is now 1:30 a.m. We pull off I-20 onto Fulton Industrial Blvd. This was a last minute change - we had planned to stay at the La Quinta Inn in Marietta, but I just received my Super 8 V.I.P. card and wanted to take advantage of the savings so we found a Super 8 two miles from the park. We turn onto the street for our motel and there are bums and winos walking up and down both sides of the street. The first sign I see is "Totally Nude Dancers." Another one next door is for "Buxom Babes." "Beautiful Naked Ladies." "Lap Dancing." "Open 24 hours a day." "Super 8."

Oh. My. God.

Susan turns to me and says "Thanks for taking me to work, see ya later."

We didn't get to the park until 11:00 the next morning. There are *very* tall trees lining the entire park. There are some trees in Georgia that are EVERYWHERE - they are called Magnolias and they are absolutely beautiful!!! Now I have never been to SFOG and this will be Susan's first Six Flags park anywhere, so neither of us knows what to expect, other than it's supposed to be a pretty park and have 7 good coasters. After the day is over Six Flags Over Georgia will be my very favorite theme park.

Photo courtesy of Coasting America

You walk into the entrance and you can immediately tell that this is a very special park. It is *immaculate* in its design and landscape, with large pillars and a fountain at the back that fronts an absolutely gorgeous change in landscape elevation. The buildings that line the entrance are very unique - one of them is a looney tunes store and inside the entire design, even the lighting, feels like a cartoon.

The wide open plaza is very inviting, in fact one of the things that left such a great impression on me was the number of people who, long after the park had closed, chose to hang out in the plaza, some standing around chatting, others sitting down and eating. I can't think of another entrance that accomplishes the feeling of "Take your shoes off and sit a spell" better than SFOG's.

Look up, look down. Everywhere you go there's a change in elevation, with absolutely beautiful landscaping that *demands* to be noticed. I've been inside this park for 10 minutes and it's already the prettiest park I've ever been to. We walked DOWN into this thing - I forget what it's called, it's a lushly covered canopy that covers the sidewalk in a giant sweeping arc. There are benches on either side for people to relax as they get out of the sun. I saw one like this at Adventureland last week, but it wasn't as pretty as this. I'll see at least one more of these, even more beautiful, before the day is over. I am falling in love with Georgia!

We decided to do Batman. This would be our first Batman ever! We walked past the USA area, went under the railroad tracks and DOWN into Gotham city.

This is absolutely fantastic! I can't even describe how totally cool this is, it's just incredible head to toe. The UltraZone is ultra industrial, very blue-grey steely looking with some fascinating sculptures. The whole plaza area is very complicated looking, almost non-inviting, like it's warning you to "KEEP OUT" and there are very tall posts that I later learned were used for shows. Every building has it's own color and design but maintains that creepy, apocalyptic feeling. The Batmobile is very cool looking but surpringsly doesn't feel like a big attraction. The *entire area* is the attraction and the Batmobile just fits right in. I found out later that every SF park has a different Gotham City, but I can't imagine anyone doing it better than this one here. What an absolutely brilliant design!!!

Photo courtesy of Theme Park Review

Photo courtesy of Joyrides

The line for Batman wasn't too long, maybe 30-40 minutes. The whole queue is a trip, and there's something interesting to discover everywhere - in some cases you really have to look! Every effect was working, from the smoke and steam, the green river of toxic waste, the dog and cat howls, the air hisses, the busted radiator on the wrecked police car, the sirens, everything. When you finally reach the top of the steps, turn to your right and enter the Bat Cave, *WOW* is all you can say. Steam quickly covers the floor as the riders enter the station. We chose the back seat. Batman is just the best. It never let up - it was relentless!!! In my book it beats Raptor for intensity and pacing and just the total overall ride. I was completely disoriented by the time the ride ended. From start to finish, Batman is brilliant.

Now it was time to head on over to the Georgia Cyclone, where we were to meet Robert and Sam, and two other RRCers, Tom Kelly and Curt Hassinger. Tom and Curt were first to arrive, and it was obvious within moments after meeting that we would like these guys. Tom is a very chatty guy who can talk about absolutely anything! And like me, he likes to give you the details! He is also a runner and impressed the hell out of me when I found out he ran the NYC Marathon 3 times! Curt is a super friendly guy who smiles ALL THE TIME and there is something about him that makes you feel like you've known him before.

Robert and Sam showed up next and we quickly dashed off to Guest Relations to meet his lovely wife, Peggy! Then it was off to the Georgia Cyclone. Robert, Tom and Curt insisted we take the back seat (they would repeat this generosity consistently on every coaster). Susan took the left, which Tom said was the only coaster he's been on that has a noticeable difference between left and right seats. We climbed the lift hill, and I have to tell you I was a little bit scared. I was scared because I didn't know what to expect.

Photo courtesy of Joyrides

Photo courtesy of American Midway

We crested the hill and plunged down the first drop, getting tossed up and around in the process. I put my arms down, then put them back up. Both of us were screaming but Susan was SCREAMING!! Then the twist and second drop and my hands came down again. Then the third drop which VAULTED us from our seat, threatened to impale Susan on the seat divider and left me thinking "We're doomed!" Then the fourth drop and on and on and oh my god I LOVE THE GEORGIA CYCLONE!!!!! This is one fast, mean mutha, and when we rode it at night I could NOT believe it. I still can't believe it. One time during our night rides my lap bar was left up very high and after that first drop and nearly having my entire left buttock sheered off I spent the rest of the ride frantically trying to push the lap bar further down, something I never thought I'd do. Robert, Tom and Curt all agreed the ride was running great. And I couldn't help but notice that Sam took the left side every time! This kid is just too cool. Susan thought it was great and one time she even rode it "Sam's way" - eyes closed, hands raised. She is absolutely insane. The Georgia Cyclone is definitely in my Top 5.

Next we rode the Dahlonega Mine Train. It wasn't as bad as the guys said it was, and we even had the possibility of getting splashed by the Shoot the Chutes next door. Didn't happen though.

We walked up, up, up to the Monster Plantation, a boat ride that is just too cool and as Robert put it, very un-Six Flags! Robert and Sam sang the song for us as we went through the ride, which is long and very very cute ("Keep away from the Swamp!").

Down, down, down into Lickskillet. I totally love this name. Robert said it was made up because it sounds southern. All three guys braced Susan and I for what would surely be an unpleasant ride on the Ninja. But it was fun!!! There were only two big banging spots, and even they weren't that bad. As Robert put it, though, everybody there had grown up on the ultra smooth Mindbender. Ninja is very compact and overlooks the most beautiful coaster I have ever seen.

The Great American Scream Machine is just so so pretty. Not since another John Allen beauty, The Screamin' Eagle, have I ever seen such a gorgeous coaster. And this one is set over a lake. It became my favorite at night, when it is absolutely BREATHTAKING, with tracer lights covering the entire coaster (a rarity in parks but SFOG has two of them) and reflecting the ride off the lake. The GASM is no kiddie coaster either - I don't know how in the world those folks managed to marathon for over 60 days. There's great airtime on GASM and the final return sent all of us into ecstasy every single time, particularly at night! The GASM is right up there in my list, too. Man, SFOG has got some AWESOME coasters!

Photo courtesy of Theme Park Review

Photo courtesy of Theme Park Review

Now it was time to lose our shuttle virginity on........ VIPER. Neither Susan nor I had ever been on one. First of all the theming took me by surprise - it's very good! And it's nestled in a remote area of the park so there's not alot of traffic. We took the front seat first. No shoulder restraints. Our first launch. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA UPSIDE DOWN HEAD GOES FORWARD AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA UP THE SPIKE AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!! WE'RE GONNA BREAK THROUGH!!! AAAAAAAAAAA BACK DOWN BACKWARDS AAAAAAA OH MY GAAAAAAA UPSIDE DOWN OH MY GOD!!!!!!!!!!! HELP ME!!!!!!!!!!!!! UP THE REAR SPIKE AND Back into the station!!! I don't think I've ever pumped my fists during a ride before, but I did on Viper. We then rode the back seat which is even more intense and the absolute best for the sensations it gives, including up the back spike!!! We rode Viper more than any other coaster that day, in fact proper vulture behavior.

SFOG doesn't really have alot of flat rides but besides the Monster Plantation we rode some really fun rides, including the Wheelie, The Great Gasp, and my very first Shoot the Chutes, Splashwater Falls (however Curt and I both panicked at the last second and ducked our heads).

But ever since we entered Lickskillet I kept noticing a carousel on top of the hill. This hilltop that the carousel sits on is the highest point in the park. It's also the most beautiful part of the park and what a wonderful journey it is up to the top, with tall pines shading the entire area and benches placed strategically for people to rest if they get too tired. A fantastically restored version of the original Riverside Carousel's building houses the ride, complete with stain glass windows all around the top, and there are rocking chairs all along the ouside of the ride. If I were an old man and I lived in Atlanta I would spend all my days up there, rocking away until I died.

Photo courtesy of PlayRides

The carousel itself is classic classic classic - Sam got the best horse which has a sword and hatchet and he played like a swordfighter during the ride. I looked back at Susan and I could tell she was a very happy lady. This is the moment I'll always remember from SFOG.

The ride took *forever* to come to a stop (no brakes!) and I hated to leave. We walked back down that wonderful hill and slowly made our way back to Gotham. Along the way though we stopped by the Coca-Cola Cool Zone. Another first. Another great moment of ecstasy. We spent a long time in Cool Zone while Susan made another unsuccessful attempt at getting corn-on-the-cob. Actually I needed the time because I just was NOT used to the heat in Georgia! The Cool Zone is the best invention in amusement parks since the inverted coaster.

Photo courtesy of American Midway

Finally we made our way back to Gotham and the Mindbender. I didn't want to ride it when we first got to the park - I wanted to wait and ride with Robert, who told me this is his very favorite ride on the whole planet. And I believe him! The Mindbender is SOOOOOOO cool! It defines the word cool, with that gorgeous boxwork tracking, the great green paint job, the *stunning* green tracer lights that cover the entire ride, the great trains, no shoulder restraints (but Robert, I can't go upside down with just a lap bar - I think we're gonna die!) And oh my God, the ride. WHAT A SWEET RIDE!!!

I'm telling you right now I would NOT want to get stuck on the lift hill sitting in a right side seat!!! I looked down as we went up the lift and I couldn't believe it, there's nothing there!!! That boxwork just makes everything seem so precarious. Before we got on I asked Robert if he thought this was a 2 or 3 loop coaster and he said "it's got 3 loops but 1 of them is not an inversion!" Huh? "Just get on and you'll see, you tell me." Well, after our ride the first thing I said was "What the hell WAS that thing???" and he just started laughing. It *is* an inversion but it's definitely NOT a loop! Like Robert said, just ride it and you'll see.

Photo courtesy of Joyrides

We got multiple rides on the top 5 coasters (Cyclone, Mindbender, Batman, GASM and Viper) before the night ended. Sam showed me the "Interstate Highway for the Ants" (I can't believe he found that!). We also did our first ever First Generation Freefall and did the penny trick. I bought a wonderful figurine with all the Looney Tunes characters riding a roller coaster. We ate dinner at Dee Jay's Diner (mmmm). But I left my heart in Georgia when a man walked by with a tray full of sno cones. This is my very favorite theme park. Thank you Six Flags!!!

Susan and I spent Monday by ourselves touring Atlanta. We went to Turner Field and saw the stadium and Olympic cauldron, drove downtown and went to Centennial Olympic Park where I danced my jig on top of the commemorative wall. We also went to Underground Atlanta, then we toured the World of Coca-Cola.

I have one thing to say. Beverly is THE NASTIEST, MOST VILE, BITTER, EVIL THING I HAVE EVER PUT IN MY MOUTH! I cannot *believe* Dave Bowers would offer me a glass on Monday night's IRC chat. Beverly is pure and utter evil, and I can't imagine any self-respecting human being ever consuming it. Of course that makes it the perfect official soft drink for RRC. Thankfully we ended our vacation on a high note, with an absolutely perfect Southern meal at a restaurant called Sylvia's. I had catfish, collard greens and sassy rice. FAN-tastic!!!!

Thanks to John Frederick, VP of Finance at SFOG, for going *way* beyond the call of duty in getting me a good deal on my season pass. And thanks to Peggy Ulrich for being a coaster widow for one extra day. Sam, you are an awesome kid - we were total strangers and you were so nice to both of us, thank you. Finally, thanks Robert, Sam, Tom and Curt for being so nice to Susan. You never even communicated with her before but you treated her like a lady and a friend, thank you. You guys showed us what southern hospitality is really all about.

Thanks again everybody. We'll never forget this trip.

Mark