Dihedral D.
Yelp
Frustrating! Have been to parks around the world, and have always wanted to visit Elitch Gardens, which has an interesting history, and questionable future last I read, so I wanted to check it off my list. Arrived in the early afternoon on a partly cloudy May weekday and saw only 3 rides listed would not be operating. So, I opted to pay $59 after "convenience fees" to enter. At first glance, this is a beautiful park. Clean, welcoming, pretty landscaping, seems safe with a security check and all. However am afraid it went south from there.
Wanted to get my credit on Twister III, so headed straight for that coaster first. Waited 1 hour 15 minutes in a line that was jumped by groups of individuals on no less than 7 instances. It was insane and infuriating. Never have I seen such bold line-cutting. On 3 occasions, groups of teenagers behind me were smoking pot in line. It is Colorado after all, but not something I prefer to smell or be around. They meter the number of guests in the station, so the line completely stops at times. As for the coaster, it's a one-and-done, trip to the chiropractor may be required afterwards. Ouch! But I still love classic wooden coasters, Sadly, Sidewinder (another classic coaster) was closed. Boomerang, also closed (although not posted on the sign out front). Next was Mind Eraser. After about 35 minutes in a queue (also with several instances of people cutting the line to join others ahead), sadly as I neared the station, the operators emptied the trains and left. One was kind enough to let us know it was "due to weather", but the others seemingly ran off. Break time perhaps? No official announcement in the queue or anything. I opted to wait as long as I could, but looking at the radar with some isolated storms in the area and not knowing their idea of "weather in the area," I left, but not before stopping by Guest Services to politely share my dissatisfaction with the product they seem to offer.
I currently am waiting for a reply from be park, but as I live on the east coast, can't imagine I'd be back, possibly ever. I wish this park could be like Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen - a gem within a city, but sadly I left having spent $59 to ride 1 coaster and walk through a "weed" garden.