http://coasterlovers.tribe.net/thread/5e1d1290-1b9f-4791-b23a-4556eaabd2d2?format=rss Tribe.net. Local Connections http://coasterlovers.tribe.net/thread/5e1d1290-1b9f-4791-b23a-4556eaabd2d2#9923b810-fc25-4c2a-8829-8a8e3f40f32d I picked a gorgeous day to fly out from lovely San Jose, CA to the closest roller coaster that I hadn't been on: the New Mexico Rattler at Cliff's Amusement Park in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Cliff's is a modest park just off the Interstate a few miles north of downtown Albuquerque. It's definitely a "mosey" park. On the warm-but-not-hot cheery Saturday afternoon, I found the park, the employees, and the patrons all quite laid-back and friendly. Scattered throughout the park are more-or-less a very recognizable set of well-run and well-maintained flat rides with the New Mexico Rattler squeezed and stitched into the middle of the park, making for some beautiful external visuals. Starting with the Raven at Holiday World and continuing on to The New Mexico Rattler, CCI managed to construct a portfolio of absolutely brilliant roller coasters. The New Mexico Rattler certainly holds up to its lineage and actually demonstrates a complete command of both the science and art of wooden roller coaster rides. Cliff's, even through the hardship of having to deal with CCI's demise halfway through construction, should be proud of this stellar ride. If you've been on Tremors and Cornball Express, you'll feel some familiarity with this middle-cousin that splits the difference in size between these two other excellent rides. The NM Rattler starts off with a excellent Traver-style first drop and then delivers floaters, poppers, a couple of great Fine del Capos, a great curve through a tunnel, and some wonderful head-fakes through its 2700+ foot course. CCI & Cliff's did another perfect job at getting the timing of every moment of this coaster just so. There is hardly a moment when I wasn't surprised by it. Even better, the NM Rattler, running on steel-supported wood tracks, is infinitely re-ridable. There was enough there to keep me interested through 12 rides with neither roughness nor staleness in repeat rides. Aside from the NM Ratter, I enjoyed their pleasant log flume. There's nothing remarkable about this ride other than it was a great cool down from coaster riding. It's important to repeat at this point that Cliff's is a mosey park. The loading procedures for the single train on the NM Rattler occur at a measured pace: first the seat belts are checked, then the ratchets lowered, then the ratchets checked, and then a careful dispatch. Don't go expecting Cedar Point throughput: do go to this off-the-beaten path park expecting a fantastic ride. Eric Wed, 08 Jun 2005 00:37:41 GMT http://coasterlovers.tribe.net/thread/5e1d1290-1b9f-4791-b23a-4556eaabd2d2#9923b810-fc25-4c2a-8829-8a8e3f40f32d Eric 2005-06-08T00:37:41Z http://coasterlovers.tribe.net/thread/5e1d1290-1b9f-4791-b23a-4556eaabd2d2#2f3db0f7-8781-47f5-8fb8-0499cf7b35e9 I just booked a trip in early June out to Cliff's Amusement Park in Albequerque, home of the New Mexico Rattler; the last CCI coaster. Even though Gravity Group and GCI seem to be taking up the slack, I've been a big CCI fanboy during the big coaster boom in the '90s. I'm expecting a mighty fine ride. I'll post remarks when I get back. Tue, 17 May 2005 19:03:03 GMT http://coasterlovers.tribe.net/thread/5e1d1290-1b9f-4791-b23a-4556eaabd2d2#2f3db0f7-8781-47f5-8fb8-0499cf7b35e9 Eric 2005-05-17T19:03:03Z