The Coaster101 Podcast

It's Thanksgiving Week, so what better time to talk about Food? As part of the Six Flags & Cedar Fair merger, a trend typically reserved for the Cedar Fair side of the aisle is making its way to Six Flags parks - the addition of an executive chef - including Chef Priscilla Hamilton, who joined Six Flags Over Georgia earlier this year.This week on the podcast, not only are we joined by Chef Priscilla, but we're also joined by Angel Salgado, the park's Food & Beverage manager, to talk about the culinary transformation that has taken place this season at Six Flags Over Georgia. With food becoming a more integral part of the theme park experience, we talk menu favorites, restaurant re-designs, and what it's like managing 39 dining outlets and more than 400 associates - all in the name of bettering Six Flags Over Georgia's culinary reputation! You can connect with the show by hitting us up on social media @Coaster101: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram. We also have a website, if you're into that sort of thing: www.coaster101.comAlso, be sure to subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss an episode! And please give us a rating and review wherever you listen, it helps new listeners find us!Find the latest and greatest Coaster101 and theme park-inspired merch at coaster101.com/merchThanks to JMMD Entertainment for providing our theme song. For more on them, check out jmmusicdesign.com.

Yes, we know. It's been a while. (You try having any free time with a 3 month old puppy.) But we are back with a vengeance with an INCREDIBLE guest - the perfect person to bring us out of our hiatus. If you've been following Coaster101.com's website, you'll know that we just celebrated our 20th birthday, and have been chronicling a number of notable coasters that opened in 2005, and like Coaster101, are also celebrating two decades. One of - well, two of those coasters are the former Italian Job Stunt Tracks, now known as Backlot Stunt Coaster at Canada's Wonderland or Queen City Stunt Coaster at Kings Island. The Kings Dominion version opened the following year. One of the creative minds behind the ideation of this attraction was industry veteran and past Coaster101 podcast guest, Dave Cobb. Dave joins Andrew to talk all things Italian Job, from budget constraints, to the original ride concept (it's not what you think it is!), to what it felt like to bring a little bit of "movie magic" to the regional park level. Buckle up folks, because this is going to be a fun one. You can connect with the show by hitting us up on social media @Coaster101: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram. We also have a website, if you're into that sort of thing: www.coaster101.comYou can head to Dave's website at www.davecobb.com, and check out his YouTube channel for more great theme park content. Videos Referenced: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmXYjBmBI78&list=PLp9PErz-ReBhumyu-4WQADmsDPp1OyEyo&index=1&pp=iAQBhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4Gq9Rcv76M&list=PLp9PErz-ReBhumyu-4WQADmsDPp1OyEyo&index=7&pp=iAQB0gcJCc0JAYcqIYzvhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_i1F0zb5a4&list=PLp9PErz-ReBhumyu-4WQADmsDPp1OyEyo&index=8&pp=iAQBhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RiGLs_30pfo&list=PLp9PErz-ReBhumyu-4WQADmsDPp1OyEyo&index=18&pp=iAQB0gcJCc0JAYcqIYzvAlso, be sure to subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss an episode! And please give us a rating and review wherever you listen, it helps new listeners find us!Find the latest and greatest Coaster101 and theme park-inspired merch at coaster101.com/merchThanks to JMMD Entertainment for providing our theme song. For more on them, check out jmmusicdesign.com.

Several years ago, we interviewed Broadway actor Nik Walker on our podcast, and talked all things theme parks. Many people claim to be theme park "nerds." Nik, who played Aaron Burr in Hamilton, Otis Williams in Ain't Too Proud, and Sir Galahad in Spamalot, not only "walks the walk," when it comes to being a theme park fan - he can "talk the talk." Folks, this man literally told People Magazine how big of a theme park fan he is.Nik rejoins the Coaster101 podcast to chat about finding fellow theme park fans in the wild (including his Spamalot co-star Taran Killam), his Halcyon voyage onboard the Star Wars Galactic StarCruiser, his on-going rivalry with James Monroe Iglehart, and how he's hoping to have it written into the contract of his next acting gig that he'll be allowed to miss a technical rehearsal in order to attend the Grand Opening of Universal's Epic Universe. (We're manifesting it, anyway.)Two nerds, nerding out about decidely nerdy things. It's honestly a delightful listen! You can connect with the show by hitting us up on social media @Coaster101: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram. We also have a website, if you're into that sort of thing: www.coaster101.comAlso, be sure to subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss an episode! And please give us a rating and review wherever you listen, it helps new listeners find us!Find the latest and greatest Coaster101 and theme park-inspired merch at c101.co/teepublic!Thanks to JMMD Entertainment for providing our theme song. For more on them, check out jmmusicdesign.com.

Hurler at Carowinds is getting RMC’d. Pause for gasp. But not quite in the way you’re thinking those letters typically represent, where Rocky Mountain Construction is involved. Instead, Hurler is receiving Routine Maintenance by Carowinds. This week on the podcast, we’re joined by Steve Jackson, Carowinds’ Director of Maintenance and Construction, for a first-hand look at Hurler’s reconstruction, which Carowinds is doing in-house – and according to Steve, one of the few parks out there with an in-house team capable of re-construction and re-profiling of a wooden coaster like Hurler. We learn a little history about the land itself, the process of reconstruction and reprofiling, the importance of having a classic wooden roller coaster, and generally just nerd out for about 20 minutes with Steve. You can connect with the show by hitting us up on social media @Coaster101: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram. We also have a website, if you're into that sort of thing: www.coaster101.comArticles Mentioned In The Show:Hurler's 25th Anniversary on the Carowinds BlogInterview with GCIAlso, be sure to subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss an episode! And please give us a rating and review wherever you listen, it helps new listeners find us!Find the latest and greatest Coaster101 and theme park-inspired merch at c101.co/teepublic!Our podcast is created on Zencastr. Visit https://zen.ai/_9ik4a95vlEomVaMwgRjTY5uTY166mUmml21q79pzhM for 30% off your first month of Zencastr services!Thanks to JMMD Entertainment for providing our theme song. For more on them, check out jmmusicdesign.com.

Longtime listeners will remember when we interviewed author Evan Ponstingle about his book: Kings Island: A Ride Through Time. After that book was released, publisher Barry Hill of Rivershore Creative felt that the only thing missing was a visual accompaniment. This week on the podcast, Andrew interviews Barry about his new book "Kings Island: A Photographic Journey" - a 200-page coffee table book featuring hundreds of color photos, documents, blueprints, concept art and more, all centered around the history of Kings Island. It's available now at Kings Island's Online Shop, and purchasers can get 10% off if they buy before January 1, 2023. You can connect with the show by hitting us up on social media @Coaster101: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram. We also have a website, if you're into that sort of thing: www.coaster101.comAlso, be sure to subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss an episode! And please give us a rating and review wherever you listen, it helps new listeners find us!Get your 2023 Coaster101 Calendar, where 100% of net proceeds benefit Give Kids The World at http://c101.co/23calendar!Find the latest and greatest Coaster101 and theme park-inspired merch at c101.co/teepublic!Thanks to JM Music Design for providing our theme song. For more on them, check out jmmusicdesign.com.

Happy New Year! For our first show of 2022, we cover a bit of everything, from Disney's Magic Express, Figment Popcorn Buckets, and the new-for-2022 coasters we're most excited to ride. It's a wild ride. Strap in! Nick, Eric and Shane join Andrew to talk about the end of travel convenience from Orlando International Airport to Walt Disney World, the end of sanity when it comes to dragon-shaped popcorn buckets, One Little Spork, Pantheon, Tumbili, Ice Breaker, Fireball, Lost Island, Wonder Woman and more! You can connect with the show by hitting us up on social media @Coaster101: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram. We also have a website, if you're into that sort of thing: www.coaster101.comAlso, be sure to subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss an episode! And please give us a rating and review wherever you listen, it helps new listeners find us!Thanks to JM Music Design for providing our theme song. For more on them, check out jmmusicdesign.com.

It's the most wonderful time of the year at Carowinds, right in the middle of SCarowinds, WinterFest around the corner, with a full season of live entertainment coming up in 2022. The man behind a lot of that entertainment is Carowinds' Live Entertainment Manager Ryan Allen. This week, Ryan joins Andrew in an on-site interview at Carowinds where they talk behind-the-scenes and the inspirations for SCarowinds' newest mazes, what to expect at WinterFest, and how live shows are created! You definitely don't want to miss this! Read Andrew's review of SCarowinds here: https://www.coaster101.com/2021/10/11/sunday-scaries-scarowinds-2021-reviewed/ You can connect with the show by emailing us at podcast@coaster101.com or hitting us up on social media @Coaster101: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram. We also have a website, if you're into that sort of thing: www.coaster101.comWe also have our own line of Coaster101 and coaster-inspired merchandise at http://c101.co/shirts! We've recently announced that 25% of the proceeds from all Teepublic shop purchases will go to Give Kids The World! Also, be sure to subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss an episode! And please give us a rating and review wherever you listen, it helps new listeners find us!Thanks to JM Music Design for providing our theme song. For more on them, check out jmmusicdesign.com.

Happy National Roller Coaster Day! This week on the podcast, we're joined by Valleyfair Vice President/General Manger Raul Rehnborg. Raul is a 35-year theme park veteran, whose career has included stops at Knott's Berry Farm, Knott's Soak City (in Buena Park & San Diego), and California's Great America, before joining Valleyfair as VP/GM in 2018. We talk about Raul's history in the industry, his Valleyfair favorites, the upcoming fall season and everything that makes Valleyfair one of the hidden gems in the Cedar Fair family. You can connect with the show by emailing us at podcast@coaster101.com or hitting us up on social media @Coaster101: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram. We also have a website, if you're into that sort of thing: www.coaster101.comFor more information about Valleyfair, be sure to visit their website, and follow them on social media: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram! We also have our own line of Coaster101 and coaster-inspired merchandise at http://c101.co/shirts! We've recently announced that 25% of the proceeds from all Teepublic shop purchases will go to Give Kids The World! Also, be sure to subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss an episode! And please give us a rating and review wherever you listen, it helps new listeners find us!Thanks to JM Music Design for providing our theme song. For more on them, check out jmmusicdesign.com.