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Ghostrider at Knott's Berry Farm by Nick H. a.k.a. XceleratorScreamin
Basic Overview Type / Model: Wood - Sit Down Top Speed: 56 mph Height: 118 ft Drop Height: 108 ft Inversions: 0 Elements: 14 hills, 10 crossovers, 3 bridges Length: 4,533 ft Built by: Custom Coasters International, Inc.
Average Wait Time: 45 minutes (varies)
The first coaster you see when you enter Knott's Berry Farm's parking lot is the mighty wooden behemoth called Ghostrider. If you don't go on this crazy exhilarating ride, you're missing the best wooden coaster on the West Coast, or possibly the best one in the world!
You enter Ghostrider’s queue in a crevice in some man-made rocks into a short tunnel. After coming out of the tunnel, you walk (or run, if you want to) through the wooden fenced line towards the log-cabin like station. On either side of you are rocks with desert-like features, adding to the theme of a wooden coaster. Soon, you reach the station and find the first story of the cabin with plenty of zigzagging rails to get to your destination. Most of the time, the line is down stairs, unless you go on a non-crowded day. You walk up the stairs to the second story where the loading station is located. There are windows in the log cabin, again showing Ghostrider’s heavy theming. After waiting in line, you get to the trains, or “mine carts” as they are called by Knott’s employees. You sit down in the seats with orange lap bars and seatbelts. Soon, the ride operator will check your seats and you will be on your way through Ghostrider. The trains start moving as you move down a very small dip, into the turn-around to the lift hill. There is a short pause as the chain grabs onto the train, and you look to the left to see Soak City and to the right to see the mass of Knott’s Berry Farm. Soon, you crest the lift hill, and if you sit in the back you feel the front of the train pulling you down the 108 feet drop. You get plenty of airtime, and suddenly the train veers to the left and down a short bunny hop, into another turn-around. There is another right-drop, and you are pulled to the top of a hill and around again by cables and you head down another drop filled with airtime. There is a small banked turn where you then fly down and up over two airtime bunny hills. Next you go through a short helix and finally reach the brakes and into the station. Make sure to smile for the camera, you have just ridden the best wooden roller coaster of all time.
Pros: Airtime, Many Hills, Very Intense Cons: First drop could be higher By far, this is the best wooden coaster I have ever ridden. So I give it a 9/10. Whenever you come over to Knott's, ride it and be amazed! Overall rating: 9/10 -Nick H. a.k.a. XceleratorScreamin