Theres good reason for this coaster to top the most respected coaster lists on the Internet and in the industry. Sub-titled "the mountain coaster", this ride is a wildly paced romp through a deliciously deceptive track packing all the punches of the best out and backs around. The coaster lift hill goes straight up and over the mountain, cutting through a narrow swath of clearing in the forest. Trees and boulders hugging closely on either side. The train levels at the top and turns right before diving into a highly banked, very steep first drop that sends the trains screaming by the station. Although officially listed as a 60-mph ride, the operators were clocking the ride at 68-mph the afternoon of our visit. Past the station, the ride hugged the mountain rising and falling, seemingly without warning or anticipation. Most coasters have a superstructure through which riders can see the layout and track of a coaster - therefore, anticipating the moves of the train. Boulder Dash rides inches from the ground and offers no sight line of what is coming next. The ride "out" is harrowing, wild and impossibly long. Riders are catapulted toward tree tops and dropped back into ravines as the train careens fast as a bullet and smoother than any woodie out there toward the turn around. The ride back is furiously paced with speed, dips, hills, and airtime. This ride is a true thrill and is deserving of the highest praise for the park owners and designers. Having recently ridden the Texas Giant, I can say the whole of Boulder Dash emulates the best of Texas Giant - namely the last screaming third of that ride as it relentlessly hurls back toward the station.
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