Magic Springs Trip Report

[aztecgoods]

I wasn't sure if it was ok to put this here but oh well. Just thought I would report to all about my trip to a little amusement park in Hot Springs Arkansas called Magic Springs. It was a little weird, it is off-season and there probably wasn't 100 people there. First time I ever really felt like I had a theme park to myself, really strange. I would be curious to know how many parks there are around the country like this. It is a very small amusement park, kind of like the small illigitimate younger brother of the smallest 6-Flags park.

All in all it was a fun time, but by Universal/Dis standards it would be like comparing Mike Tyson to a little 90 year old lady (using a boxing analogy). It has about 4 roller coasters. One 100ft tall woody ("The Arkansas Twister"), one ski-lift style (about 100ft "The Guantlet"), one shooter that has a circular track that's kinda different (about 175 ft."The X-Coaster") and a small mine train.

The X-Coaster to their credit was different, and actually I should not have characterized it as a shooter. But it slowly cranks you straight up the lift (90 degrees striaght up) you go slowly over the top, completely upside down, a slow twist then down. It's kind of weird cause I have never gone upside down like that before (slowly) it has always been in a fast loop or something. It was different, but nothing life changing at all.

The Guantlet was trying to be the equivalent of a Bat Man coaster (Feet hanger) it was the best ride at the park, very smooth, fairly fast, not very tall however only about 100ft.

The woody was your typical medium sized woody (100ft). Very shaky, bumpy and violent, I felt like I just got mugged and beat up after I got off of it.

All in all it was a pretty sad little park. I don't even know how they are manageing to stay in business with that small of a crowd, although I know it was the off-season. There was your typical fair type rides like bumper cars etc., My girlfriends little girl liked it, I will say that.

There was really no themeing, other than your typical. They had a small pond that everything circled around, similar to U, but on a much smaller/low budget scale. Would I recommend you going? Well if you are kidnapped and wake up in a bag in Arkansas, and it is close by, sure why not. Special trip just to go to the park? Not unless you have someone that you really want to disappoint. Can't wait to go back to the real parks in Orlando!!

 

[Minniespal]

Thanx for posting.

 

[t-and-a]

We live about 70 miles from Hot Springs and visited Magic Springs a couple months ago. The park was quite full that day. The log ride there had a wait of over an hour!!! And it was not worth the wait!!! I know what you mean about no theming and it being a sad little park!!! It doesn't compare with Universal or Disney!!!
I agree about the Gauntlet being the best ride there, it's pretty close to a tie though with a mine train type coaster that they have called Big Bad John. I didn't like the X-Coaster at all! There were no shoulder restraints, just something that went around your mid section and I kept feeling like I was going to fall out!!! I was digging my feet up under my seat as far as I could! There was also an accident there the day that we visited. It was on a little coaster called Twist and Shout. It had been in a theme park in New Jersey where a mother and her young daughter were thrown from it and killed. Something similar happened the day that we were there. I have heard reports that the woman lived and that she died, we aren't sure, but we know that she was thrown from the ride.

 

[aztecgoods]

We live about 70 miles from Hot Springs and visited Magic Springs a couple months ago. The park was quite full that day. The log ride there had a wait of over an hour!!! And it was not worth the wait!!! I know what you mean about no theming and it being a sad little park!!! It doesn't compare with Universal or Disney!!!
I agree about the Gauntlet being the best ride there, it's pretty close to a tie though with a mine train type coaster that they have called Big Bad John. I didn't like the X-Coaster at all! There were no shoulder restraints, just something that went around your mid section and I kept feeling like I was going to fall out!!! I was digging my feet up under my seat as far as I could! There was also an accident there the day that we visited. It was on a little coaster called Twist and Shout. It had been in a theme park in New Jersey where a mother and her young daughter were thrown from it and killed. Something similar happened the day that we were there. I have heard reports that the woman lived and that she died, we aren't sure, but we know that she was thrown from the ride.

Wow, thanks for the info, I haven't heard that and I live in Little Rock. They must have managed to keep that a secret. I may not go back now because of that. Which one are you talking about I am drawing a blank what the twist and shout was? That park is kind of like, your glad someone made an effort to do a theme park, but its kind of like going to watch a garage band compared to watching Van Halen or something, (comparing to Universal) I just don't see how they even make money, but I hope they do stay in business.

 

[highlander447]

thanks for sharing

 

[t-and-a]

Wow, thanks for the info, I haven't heard that and I live in Little Rock. They must have managed to keep that a secret. I may not go back now because of that. Which one are you talking about I am drawing a blank what the twist and shout was? That park is kind of like, your glad someone made an effort to do a theme park, but its kind of like going to watch a garage band compared to watching Van Halen or something, (comparing to Universal) I just don't see how they even make money, but I hope they do stay in business.

Sorry it took me so long to respond! I didn't realize there was a reply to my post on this thread! I must have missed the e-mail.

The Twist N Shout is a "mouse trap" type coaster with lots of 90 degree turns. I found a link to the story on the accident: http://www.todaysthv.com/news/news.aspx?storyid=32933
It appears that the woman did live and that the accident was due to the ride operator letting an exceptionally large person ride sideways in a car taking up 2 seats.

 

[Disney owl]

Thanks for a different report