COASTER SEASON

Good evening fellow coaster nerds!

Well, March is fast approaching...and that means for those of us in many parts of the country, COASTER SEASON IS HERE! YAY! To kick it off, Seaworld's offer (thankfully) got delcined by Cedar Fair. Now Winter Chill Out 2022 and IAAPA 2022 kicked off the coaster season.

Coaster season means a lot of things to a lot of people. For me it means the sights, sounds, and smells of summer (yes, the chlorine, sunscreen, and greasy chains). Also, it means great times and memories with family and friends. It is the Great Pumpkin Coaster, or as it was called on my first ever coaster ride, Top Cat. It was riding Barnstormer in Disney until my dad was green in the face (yes, I was that kid). Or the first time I rode a launched coaster, Rock N' Rollercoaster. The time I got my chidlhood bestie to get on Vortex after a fear of coasters. But it is so much more than that. Coasters are a community, a shared love that bring people together. The clicking of the antirollbacks onto the lift chains, the roaring of the coaster trains across its domain of the track. It is about the way you see others light up after their first time. Or overhearing the general public saying how much they love coasters. It is about the laughter, the love, the community it brings. It is so much more than just pricey food, souvenirs, and tickets. It is the joy of seeing a child's face light up when they enter the gates for the first time. I will never forget the way my goddaughter's eyes lit up the first time she saw past the gates. It is the home away from home. It brings back a sense of youth, and just spending the day forgetting all worries and cares and just having fun. Coasters are about community and fun. What do they mean to you?