On May 5, Elitch Gardens officially opened for the 2012 summer season. Whether you’re a long-time fan of Elitch Gardens or new to Denver’s biggest and most accessible downtown theme park, a trip down to Elitch Gardens before the school year ends is the perfect opportunity to relieve stress and have fun with a couple of good friends.
There’s plenty to do in the amusement park, with an assortment of tantalizing roller coasters for thrill-seekers. But, as any roller coaster veteran knows, the lines for these ever-popular attractions take a long time to traverse – so which rides are worth the wait?
RIDE IT: The Twister II, a “world-class wooden coaster,” modeled after the original 1964 “Mister Twister,” offers a 10-story adventure with an exhilarating 90-foot drop and a terrifying tunnel that delights both the timid and the brave. The Twister II gives off a nostalgic vibe with its old-school coaster style and the thrill to match it. The line tends not to be as long for this coaster and the length of the ride itself makes it worth the wait.
NOT WORTH IT: The Half-Pipe claims to be “Colorado’s most thrilling snowboard ride,” with riders spinning while swinging back and forth – however, the wait doesn’t justify the relative lack of thrill factor and very short length.
RIDE IT: The Mind Eraser is the roller coaster closest to the highway and visible from the entrance to Elitch Gardens. Though notorious for long wait times, this no-floor coaster is definitely worth the wait, with double corkscrew spins and speeds of more than 50 mph.
NOT WORTH IT: The Tower of Doom is a free fall ride in which riders strap themselves in to be lifted to the top of a tall tower, then dropped to the bottom. Sounds like fun, but the line tends to be rather long for such a short thrill. Quite often only one or two of the three lifts is operational, and it is often closed due to weather conditions. The thrill of free falling is only worth it if the wait is extremely short.
RIDE IT: The “Big Wheel” Ferris Wheel towers over park-goers, one of the first rides visible upon entering Elitch’s. Admittedly, the line for this ferris wheel can be a little frustrating, with the operators not filling the wheel to full capacity, but the view from the top makes all frustrations worth it, especially during sunsets or at night. It’s a perfect ending to a thrilling day.
NOT WORTH IT: At Shipwreck Falls a boat drops down, splashing water all over a bridge passersby can stand on. However, the 50-foot waterfall drop is more of a show for the audience and the brown water makes this ride definitely not worth the hype.
If you’re a fan of water parks, general admission to Elitch’s includes free admission to their Island Kingdom Water Park. Elitch Gardens has installed a brand new ride this season called the Tube Top – a spiraling clover-leaf tube slide. Other notable rides at the Water Park include the Edge and Splashdown, both tube/raft rides.
Daily tickets are pricey – $43.99 per person over 48 inches tall, but if you are planning on going to Elitch’s more than once between May and October, it’s worth it to buy a season pass for $69.99.
You get free admission to Elitch’s and the Island Kingdom Water Park on any day that the park is open, which pays for itself in two visits, early access to the water park, in-park coupons, and three free tickets for friends.
Of course, if you’re willing to drop the cash to ride all the rides, Elitch’s has Rapid Ride passes available. An additional $15 gets you to the front of the line for five out of 10 of their most popular rides, and an additional $30 allows you unlimited front of the line access for all 10 rides.
Information regarding hours, tickets, parking and more can be accessed online at http://elitchgardens.com/.
