Off season tour and 2014 season details

 
I attended a back stage tour of CGA on March 1. First off, huge thanks to CGA's Roger, Ryan, Tyler, Clayton and everyone else who made this event possible. We all really appreciated it, and got even more excited for the season to start!

This season won't feature a new ride, but CGA is improving nearly every aspect of the park instead. Cedar Fair continues to invest heavily in the park, and the results are everywhere.

Picnic Pavilion getting upgrade

The Picnic Pavilion near Flight Deck will be seeing an expansion and other improvements. Two permits filed by the park shows that the building in the pavilion will be getting a 4,000-square-foot addition, as well as a new roof.

Flight Deck's paint job progressing; Haunt expanding?

A reader of Screamscape submitted this photo of Flight Deck's new paint job:

Via Screamscape.

On Feb. 7, CGA applied for a permit to build a new building, specifically for Halloween Haunt and storage. Where the structure is being built is unknown right now.

Flight Deck is turning red, plus new name in the works?

Flight Deck is receiving a new red and silver paint job, as shown in a photo posted on CGA's Facebook:

Via Facebook.

According to PureCoaster, CGA may also change the coaster's name to something more football-related (i.e. "Touchdown") in reference to the park's newest neighbors, the 49ers.

Happy Holidays from CGA, plus 2014 season opening date

Great America posted a holiday-themed video, which also announces the opening date of the 2014 season as March 29, 2014.

All Haunt songs now available for streaming

Thomas Tissot posted all of the Haunt songs (even from past attractions) on Bandcamp.

Halloween Haunt 2013 opening night review

 
Many thanks to CGA for inviting me to the Media/VIP event for Halloween Haunt's opening night. The food was great, and Madame Marie's interaction with us was hilarious!

In addition to the dinner, being VIPs we were given a one-time use front of the line pass (which we later used for Dia de los Muertos), two pairs of 3D glasses and Gold Striker ERT.

After my brother and I checked in and entered the park, we ran into CGA's Roger and Ryan, who told us that Gold Striker was open. It was truly a walk on, no line whatsoever, and I was told to sit wherever I wanted. I chose row 12, which gives great airtime going down the first drop. With the exception of a few people riding in the front, the entire train was empty, a pretty surreal experience.

Using our VIP passes, the security guard let us into the area that was blocked off to the public. We headed over to Madame Marie's Voodoo Chophouse.