ThrillRide! Special Features

After we finished the train ride, we got a quick peek at the Buccaneer Cove water play area. Had we planned for this sort of wet fun, bringing swimwear and all that along, we'd have likely hung out for a bit. Looks neat with all the pirates and skulls and stuff. Another time.

As I understand, the arcade and miniature golf courses are among the original features of Castle Park; the four 18-hole courses are sprawling. We agreed to hit the mini-golf after dark.

We didn't linger too long in the arcade, but I was gladdened to see the ample Skee-Ball lanes.

We were NOT gladdened to see that the Ghost Blasters ride was closed. Tantalizingly, the track drops down out of the last set of bang doors, indicating that this is a multi-level ride. MUST come back again to check out this custom installation.

Parked outside the castle is this "Authentic Gypsy Wagon."

Could this be a left-over relic of Knott's Berry Farm's misbegotten Gypsy Camp? If so, that is way cool.

After leaving the Castle, we discovered that the Log Ride had opened after all. With the sun and air temperature going down, and the line fairly long, none of us were all that keen to wait for a soaking. But there is just enough Timber Mountain DNA in this attraction that it was hard to pass up.

The park's web site claims this is one of the "steepest and largest log rides ever built" and while that may be a bit hyperbolic, its last drop delivered the goods.

Even the first teaser plunge looked pretty sklooshy.

Some more of that Timber Mountain DNA... yeah, there are several reasons for me to get back to this park soon.