The coaster was still calling me, so we headed to the fun entrance of the Starliner.  It has an awesome entrance.  The line started just beyond said entryway and unfortunately they were only running one train.  On our way up I noticed a nice little P.T.C. plaque on the side that talked about P.T.C. building/designing the coaster, but no credit was given to John Allen at all.  In his book Rollercoaster David Bennett said that P.T.C. had a company-centric mentality and I guess this helps reinforce that belief.  The coaster was built in 1963 and opened with the park for its first season, but did not look half that old.  The only thing I did not like about the coaster was the fact that there were queue gates…but you still could not choose your own seat as they let a trainload of people in at a time.  Aarrrgghh!  The station is curved (ala Canobie Lake) and looks nice without appearing dated.  The cars are three P.T.C. three-bench with seat dividers, no headrests, seat belts and single locking lap bars.  The cars are stopped and started by handbrakes and the electric release and locking mechanism for the lapbar is found on two of the brake handles.  I managed a backseat ride with a stranger for my first trip. 

[NOTE: This paragraph talks about a surprise or two along the coaster’s course…so if you want to be surprised when you visit skip it.]  The handle was lowered and we eased out of the station picking up a nice bit of speed into the lift hill (which could explain the trim brake right in front of the lift).  We headed up the 70-foot lift hill, slowly pulling away from the park.  Around us a clear night air hung around, the beach crashed behind us and stars hung lazily in the sky.  My view was quickly averted to the 65-foot drop as we cruised down the first hill.  After that it was a smaller second hill (kind of a scaled-down version of the Screamin’ Eagle’s number 2) and a nice third hill which dropped us into the retro tunnel that looked like a Dragon’s Mouth.  I got a surprise here as there is a bunny hop inside the tunnel which caught me off guard and gave great airtime.  A nice little turn-around changed our direction and it is here that you can definitely tell Allen cut his teeth under Herb Schmeck.  The transitions here are banked at very unique angles (reminiscent of Schmeck’s Coaster [Thunderhawk] at Dorney).  On the way back to the station riders are treated to several good bunny hops (about four) before the bell rings and the light goes in the station, telling the operator to slow you down on the brake run.  The ride gets good care and is in great shape for a seaside coaster.  This coaster was part of the growth Allen experienced as a designer in the 60’s and is representative of his work in the period as he transitioned from junior coasters to full-sized rides (1960- Skyliner, Lakemont Park, 1963- Starliner, Miracle Strip, 1964- Blue Streak, Cedar Point, 1966- Swamp Fox, Family Kingdom Amusement Park, 1967- Cannonball, Lake Winnepesaukah) and before he helped re-ignite the coaster arms race of the seventies.

After an enjoyable trip on the Starliner we rode the park’s Music Express (another long cycle at good speeds) and the Paratrooper.  This version is a good example of the ride as the hydraulics are well-kept so the ‘trooper has some great side to side and up and down motion to the cars.  This ride tied with Knoebels for my favorite Paratrooper.  My friends went on the Snowman again while I got some pics of the rides and then we headed over to the Eyerly Loop-O-Plane.  This was my first experience with one of these rides (I did a Roll-O-Plane last summer) and if I learned anything from that experience, it was that Eyerly’s rides pack a very nice punch for their size.  My trip was fun and full of some great g’s as we flew around the bottom.  I would take this over the Skymaster in terms of thrills and comfort any day.  My only complaint with the park in general was one I had with Knoebels- permanence.  I have no problem with a park buying a portable ride.  But, if they choose to do that I think they should be willing to put a little money in and add permanent queues and landscaping around a ride to help the park look better.  The feelings of security and comfort can never be underestimated as important feelings for customers to have in a park & I think that when a park works to make a ride a “part of the park” it only helps itself. 

          We headed back towards the other end of the park, passing the carousel and Big Eli wheel, getting a ride on the Sea Dragon (Chance?) and one more on the Zierer Wave Swinger.  This one was spectacular, easily a five minute ride cycle...my longest swing ride ever.  Few things are more enjoyable than a swing ride at good speed while sitting back, breathing in that salty sea air and watching the world pass by.

          My last ride of the night was on the Starliner.  I go to ride in my favorite airtime seat…last bench in the first car.  Boy did this thing deliver.  I got much more air than in the back seat.  The tunnel was heaven, the turn around had some nice g’s and the bunny hops were how John Allen intended them.  What a great way to end a great day at the park.  On our way out we got some pizza (very cheap price for the quality) and Cokes.  As we walked back up the strip where underage people tried to master the art of drinking and t-shirt shops hawked s***, I wondered how a nice little place like Miracle Strip has managed to stay such a fixed point in a changing place.  I think it has something to do with the low prices, friendly employees and LONG ride cycles…but that could just be the sentimentalist in me talking.

II.  If you are in the area during late Spring/Summer, visit Shipwreck Island Water Park.  It is across the street, very well-kept and owned by the folks at Miracle Strip.

Goofy Golf is one of the oldest miniature golf courses in existence.

III.  If you are in the area be sure to visit Goofy Golf, only a block west of Miracle Strip.  It was built in 1959 and is one of the oldest courses out there.  It is very cool with a dinosaur, sphinx and an replica of a statue from Easter Island.  The Easter Island statue is easily 25-feet tall and you can go up in it for a nice view of the area.  The other course has a great grotto with black lighting straight out of dark rides.  If you like classic dark rides, you will appreciate this place.

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Adam Sandy, Copyright 2001.