While driving back from my work in California to back home in Ohio for the summer, I had to spend a night in Oklahoma City. The next morning, I had a 14 hour drive ahead of me, and as I was checking out saw a brochure in the hotel lobby for Frontier City. I remembered the park had a couple coasters, but was the better man and said that I should instead focus on making good time instead of upping the coaster credit.
Yet as I began driving through the city, I passed directly by Frontier City. I took this as a sign from God, and within 5 minutes was inside the park. :roll:
But remember, I still had the 14 hour drive, so figured I'd only allow myself a max of one hour in the park. So please bear with the photos, I pretty much started holding down the shutter the second I entered the park and didn't let go until the exit.
So, here we go!
Park entrance, complete with random animatronic buffalo head!
Which leads directly to...
Giftshop!
Can you tell former Six Flags execs currently own the park? :lol:
Anyways, first up, Diamondback, one of only two Arrow Shuttles left in the U.S.
This ride was absolutely fantastic! I rode it in the very back, which provided tons of airtime on the initial drop, and great speed through the loop. It is a real shame we do not have more of these in the world, but with so many moving parts for the double launch and lower capacity, it does have its operational set backs. I'm just glad I was finally able to catch up with one.
As we continue through the park, its charm is able to start to show. This is definitely a small park wedged in right next to the highway, but still manages to pull of a certain small time Knott's Berry Farm ascetic with Dollywood hospitality and Kennywood still ride layout. Oh, and let's not forget a quirky feeling of Waldameer peppered in on top. :razz:
Bottomline, this park was pretty legit.
But we're not here for that flim flap. We're here for the coasters. All 4 of them!
Steel Lasso is the newest coaster, a family Vekoma invert. Similar to others, but a bit more charming when it isn't located directly in the kiddie section of a park.
Moving right next door, we hit Silver Bullet - which unlike its counterpart actually reflects its name in paintwork!
There is nothing like a good Schwarzkompf in the roller coaster world, and this is no exception. Massive circular loop and a good german carnie feel all round.
Continuing to the corner of the park lands us at Wildcat, a relocated wooden hybrid coaster of former ACE Coaster Classic fame. (Damn you PTC trains!)
This roller coaster has some recent additions that really steps up its game; I'll elaborate.
First, the station is absolutely gorgeous. Not apart of the original coaster, it creates such a beautiful space.
Now inside of the station, there is a rolling history of roller coasters from across the midwest for the queue, complete with stats and pictures.
A fun feature to the station - a "Chicken Exit" for those who can't find the cajoles to ride.
There is also a plaque commemorating Wildcat's name, as proposed by a 5th grade class for a naming competition held when Frontier City first received the coaster.
As for the actual ride... it's not so hot. Zero airtime and loads of hang time. The layout was altered from the original to help offer a more expansive layout, which weaves very well throughout loads of overgrowth and trees, but still isn't a wild one.
Yet this roller coaster isn't necessarily about the ride - it really feels as more a roller coaster for roller coasters; commemorating other coasters from the Golden Age. It is situated in a fantastic space of the park that really showcases the station and first drop, and really gives you that "feel good" feeling as you walk away.
Anyways, more random photos from around the park.
Oh! I almost forgot - the park signs are rather well done. Loads of detail is put into each design, and they are pretty cleverly named. Really upstages the name repeats and redundant concepts we see with larger amusement and theme parks.
Anyways, that's it! After 45 minutes, I had ridden the four major coasters to the park (there is a small herschel kiddie coaster, but comeon!), and I was back on the rode to Ohio!
A very cute little park worth a quick 30 minutes if you are ever passing through OKC. Hope you enjoyed!
Yet as I began driving through the city, I passed directly by Frontier City. I took this as a sign from God, and within 5 minutes was inside the park. :roll:
But remember, I still had the 14 hour drive, so figured I'd only allow myself a max of one hour in the park. So please bear with the photos, I pretty much started holding down the shutter the second I entered the park and didn't let go until the exit.
So, here we go!
Park entrance, complete with random animatronic buffalo head!
Which leads directly to...
Giftshop!
Can you tell former Six Flags execs currently own the park? :lol:
Anyways, first up, Diamondback, one of only two Arrow Shuttles left in the U.S.
This ride was absolutely fantastic! I rode it in the very back, which provided tons of airtime on the initial drop, and great speed through the loop. It is a real shame we do not have more of these in the world, but with so many moving parts for the double launch and lower capacity, it does have its operational set backs. I'm just glad I was finally able to catch up with one.
As we continue through the park, its charm is able to start to show. This is definitely a small park wedged in right next to the highway, but still manages to pull of a certain small time Knott's Berry Farm ascetic with Dollywood hospitality and Kennywood still ride layout. Oh, and let's not forget a quirky feeling of Waldameer peppered in on top. :razz:
Bottomline, this park was pretty legit.
But we're not here for that flim flap. We're here for the coasters. All 4 of them!
Steel Lasso is the newest coaster, a family Vekoma invert. Similar to others, but a bit more charming when it isn't located directly in the kiddie section of a park.
Moving right next door, we hit Silver Bullet - which unlike its counterpart actually reflects its name in paintwork!
There is nothing like a good Schwarzkompf in the roller coaster world, and this is no exception. Massive circular loop and a good german carnie feel all round.
Continuing to the corner of the park lands us at Wildcat, a relocated wooden hybrid coaster of former ACE Coaster Classic fame. (Damn you PTC trains!)
This roller coaster has some recent additions that really steps up its game; I'll elaborate.
First, the station is absolutely gorgeous. Not apart of the original coaster, it creates such a beautiful space.
Now inside of the station, there is a rolling history of roller coasters from across the midwest for the queue, complete with stats and pictures.
A fun feature to the station - a "Chicken Exit" for those who can't find the cajoles to ride.
There is also a plaque commemorating Wildcat's name, as proposed by a 5th grade class for a naming competition held when Frontier City first received the coaster.
As for the actual ride... it's not so hot. Zero airtime and loads of hang time. The layout was altered from the original to help offer a more expansive layout, which weaves very well throughout loads of overgrowth and trees, but still isn't a wild one.
Yet this roller coaster isn't necessarily about the ride - it really feels as more a roller coaster for roller coasters; commemorating other coasters from the Golden Age. It is situated in a fantastic space of the park that really showcases the station and first drop, and really gives you that "feel good" feeling as you walk away.
Anyways, more random photos from around the park.
Oh! I almost forgot - the park signs are rather well done. Loads of detail is put into each design, and they are pretty cleverly named. Really upstages the name repeats and redundant concepts we see with larger amusement and theme parks.
Anyways, that's it! After 45 minutes, I had ridden the four major coasters to the park (there is a small herschel kiddie coaster, but comeon!), and I was back on the rode to Ohio!
A very cute little park worth a quick 30 minutes if you are ever passing through OKC. Hope you enjoyed!
