here to see my home park get appropriately roasted

When this is your home park

if you think this is unsafe you clearly havent been in lakeside

Elitches "Worst park I've ever been to" Lakeside *shivering in fear*

The best experience I had at Elitch Gardens was getting engaged. We're divorced now.

Alright basically, Elitch Gardens is a ghost of its former self. They closed the classic park, move it, turn it into a thrill park like Cedar Point or Six Flags, no picnics allowed, a waterpark, then Six Flags buys the park and it becomes the least attended Six Flags ever, causing them to sell it off, and it is what you see today. Had they left it alone in the 90's, it probably would still be alright, but basically it's now just a typical used to be Six Flags park.

Here looking for fellow Coloradoans roasting Lakeside.

Me seeing my childhood home park while the title says "worst park in America"

The swaying from Twister II literally made my jaw hit the floor. Sweet Jeebus.

Imagine participating in the running of the bulls for a Vekoma SLC

I risked my life willingly as a child at LAKESIDE riding the cyclone

Cyclone at Lakeside is probably the most thrilling coaster I've ever been on, not because it's a good coaster, but because you're actually risking your life when you ride it

Because of this park I grew up thinking that every roller coaster should leave you with a massive headache

LOL, Denver is “Home” so here’s some commentary. That sign is NEVER updated. Ever. The fact that you compared anything to SDC is by far way to much honor for elitch. Yes, Twister 2 is terrifying and for ALL the wrong reasons. That old arrow valleyed at one point in 2019, and blew the return launch motor twice in the season. Halfpipe is by far the best ride in the park. I used to run in, eat lunch, ride halfpipe and the sea dragon, then dip out.

Denver wouldn't be so expensive if people stopped moving out here LMAO

Maybee it's because it's really the only theme park I've ever been to, or because I grew up at this park but I love it. the water rides are great and brain drain is one of my favorites if you ever go back definitely go on brain drain.

The swaying on Twister II is an accident waiting to happen unless they fix it.

As a native Coloradan, this has been my home park for years. I’ve had a lot of fun here! Yes it’s sketchy, expensive, and run-down, but it’ll always have a special place in my heart!

Elitches is actually really damn safe compared to lakeside and heritage square

The best part about Elitche's is the car ride home.

Imagine getting trampled trying to get to a SLC

"It was overpriced and nothing was open!" Me, a denver native "well yeah... duh" ARE NOT ALL AMUSEMENT PARKS LIKE THAT?

me watching this as someone who spent his childhood at elitches even worse younger brother, lakeside: 👀👀👀

me: man I miss going to amusement parks. Maybe I'll get a season pass to Elitch Gardens again. Airtime Thrills: WORST PARK IN AMERICA

Watching Twister II sway is more exhilarating than the ride.

Me: review my home park! Airtime: WORST PARK EVER Me: F

elitches is actually fun y’all just went on a bad day.

They were probably short staffed because a bunch of them called in “sick” when they were hungover after the 4th of July

....I live in Colorado and this is the only theme park I have ever experienced and I thought it was a fun and amazing place... I've been living a lie...

Colorado deserves a much better home park.

As a denver native, I can personally say all of this is true.

Worst thing I ever experienced there was last summer. 17 years old and with 3 friends the same age. We went on some rides, and waited in line a lot, the usual. We decided after a few hours to go and get some food outside of the park and come back afterwards to hit some of the other coasters. Basically we got back at about 6 o clock and we get to the entrance and we were told we could not go back in because “minors were not aloud in after 5 o clock without a guardian because of adults getting drunk” most ridiculous rule I had ever heard in my life. We ended up spending all of that money just to ride a couple rides and then be prohibited from entering again.

Not gonna lie, everything you said is pretty much true. But when you live in Colorado you take what you can get when it comes to amusement parks.

The amount of sway on that coaster is TERRIFYING! I can’t imagine seeing that AFTER you have already ridden- it makes my stomach drop

People saying the Twister II is very boring* Me at the Cyclone at Lakeside: 👁👄👁

While Elitches is indeed pretty lame, there’s honestly no better place to spark up a joint than on the Ferris Wheel at this park. Nothing like getting stoned while being above the mile high city.

Well, having this as your home park would be better than having no park as your home park. *cough cough* Natives of Montana

"This sign is fake news" 😂😂

man does he realize how spoiled this sounds. elitches is literally my summer home

A few things to add to your knowledge if you want to know and it’ll likely explain a lot. Six Flags actually bought out Elitches for awhile. The Boomerang is Joker themed. I dunno what they call the lift wing ride now but it used to be the Batwing. If you look inside “Kiddie World” you can still find remnants of Loonie Toons. When Six Flags bought out the park they upped the entrance fee which the new owner kept in tact. Also, Twister 2 used to have a sign, a rather large one outside of it. When Elitch Park moved properties Mister Twister was dismantled then “rebuilt”. They claimed they couldn’t rebuild the exact Mister Twister. However the original wooden beams and parts are still there in cases. They do get replaced with new ones if damage becomes “detrimental” but if the old parts are declared good they’re still there. Likely the reason for the coaster shake. Six Flags really ruined Elitch Gardens. There’s also two reasons the observation tower is literally never operable, one fact and one rumor. The tower was not maintained and could potentially blow over one day. On a windy day even two decades ago the tower would sway with high winds. Then rumor is they’re using it for a storage area. Last time I was up there the elevator was closed and you had to take the stairs. Which most people won’t.

I feel bad for the unfortunate souls that have this as their home park.

IMO, the real Elitch Gardens died in 1994, when the original park closed to relocate, and left their old Mr. Twister coaster abandoned (till it met the wrecking ball years later). Six Flags did more harm to this park than good during their run of it. A shame, since the original Elitch could have been like a smaller version of Kennywood or Knoebels: An old park with a lot of charm. Instead, the post-1994 Elitch lacks any charm (or a good coaster for that matter). Colorado deserves a better amusement park.

The reason they charge 20 for parking ls because people who buy a season pass get to park for free all season. So they need to charge more for out of towners

I live in denver and bro I went there a few years ago and we didn't get to do ANYTHING. We sat in line for hours and as soon as we got to the front, someone threw up on the ride and ut was closed

That was the most polite rant ever

I grew up in Denver and often frequented this park and lemme tell you, I have never in my life ever seen the observation tower be open. Ever. It just doesn't happen.

In 1999/2000 this place was fucking LIT. Best memories of my childhood, so sad to see it fall so far from grace

$20 has EVERYTHING TO DO WITH THE PARK BEING LOCATED IN DOWNTOWN DENVER

I actually liked Elitch Gardens, it's got a good atmosphere in some parts of the park, has good food, a good waterpark, and friendly staff. You probably got there on a bad day, the closed coasters are pretty good. Your day just sucked, and I feel bad you had that experience. (Not my home park btw)

Man I wasted a ton of my teenage years coming here. Used to get the annual pass and hang out with my two brothers all summer at Elitch. While I can definitely agree in retrospect that this place is kind of a piece I can't shake the sense of nostalgia looking at all these rides again. I sure miss CO.

I was born and raised in Denver, and I am DYING!

I feel like this park was better when I was a kid, but maybe that's because I was a kid. When I take the train past the park nowadays, it looks like that wooden roller coaster is falling apart! I've seen some of its boards on the ground. I remember it being rickety when I was a kid, but not falling apart like it is now.... 😞 It would be cheaper to park the car in a neighborhood near the light rail and take the E, C, or W train to the park. All-day RTD tickets are $6 dollars for 2 zones and $10 for all 3 zones + airport. Those 3 trains have a stop at Eliches. 😊 That said, this video is like watching what the "good ol' days" were like pre-covid.... hopefully things will get better soon.

HAHAHAHAH, OH NO, THIS IS MY HOME PARK. After watching this channel for a good while I knew it wouldn't get a positive review but I still think it's great fun, definitely nostalgia has some to do with that. In my experience (and I've not been there in a number of years), Half Pipe is closed all the time, Sidewinder definitely a surprise to see closed, so for sure a below-average day but not an outlier.

The Denver-Colorado Springs area is such an untapped market for coasters. Six Flags or Cedar Fair should look at this market as a prime expansion opportunity (once the economy rebuilds itself from this plague).

I grew up going to Elitchs. As a kid and teenager it was awesome. My childhood definitely was better for it. As an adult I've been there a couple times. There's a reason for that. I'd rather sit at home then overpay for a way below average amusement park. There's a reason 6 flags dropped it.

I have never even stepped foot in that observation tower. It’s always closed

If you ever come back just go to waterworld it’s much better than elitch’s

I'm actually from Colorado, so I'll throw in my two cents: I agree completely. I used to go to the park every summer with my parents back when I was in late elementary school and middle school, around 2007 through 2011. We went back again in 2018, like you guys, because they had season passes available for both 2018 and 2019. Suffice to say, it wasn't impressive. The park didn't look like it had changed much at all in the 7 year span between going there my last day of middle school and my senior year of college. Like your experience, there was so many rides closed for non-obvious reasons (I'm guessing the staff shortage you mentioned), and the rides that were open weren't as fun as I remember. The biggest hurt for me was Twister II. When I was younger, that was one of my favorite roller coasters (though at that point, my coaster experience was very limited). When my Dad and I _finally_ got to ride it last year, it felt like the ride was going to collapse at any point with how rough and bumpy it was. I didn't ride the Mind Eraser, but considering how much I hated that ride as a kid, I was in no mood to try it again as an adult. I don't know if I just grew up and realized the park sucked or if the park has aged like milk, but there's a reason why my Dad was adamant our family wouldn't be going back in 2020. And when the only "new" ride they have is a reskin of an old ride, I don't think there's going to be many people going back to it when the park opens back up. I don't think you guys hit it on a bad day; just an average day.

do you have a playlist of all your videos from this road trip in order?

I worked at the old Elitch Gardens Park in north Denver, in the 1970s. The summer I was there, the old wooden roller coaster had a derailment and crash twice. One person killed. They immediately locked the gates, and forbid the employees to talk to the press. The accident never appeared in the newspapers, and the police did not come. Apparently Elitch's was bribing the Denver police for years to keep such accidents , that seemed to happen on average once a year, quiet. Some old history... Interesting.

If i were you i would have went to lagoon instead of elitch gardens

Elitches is definitely more of a park you go to when you want to hang out with friends but don’t feel like going bowling or mini golfing for the millionth time.

I'm a Colorado native and I have to say that when Elitches was at the original site, it was an awesome park.

I've lived in Denver my entire life and I haven't been to Elitch Gardens for a number of years (the half pipe didn't exist last time I spent a full day here). Now that my kid is almost 10 and season passes for the remainder of '22 and through '23 are under $60 (parking included), I said what the hell. I'll take a bad SLC some other mediocre rides to at least be on some rides. Covid was brutal for me and I hadn't been on a coaster since '19 until I finally got to go to Busch Gardens in VA this past summer. I kept telling my family I wish Elitch was that good when we were at BGV, Ha!

The original Elitch's Gardens was incredible, on the north-west side

Observation tower is condemned actually. Talked to an employee for a while years ago. He said it was so unsafe that they had no choice but to tear it down or rebuild. Neither has happened. The twister 2 is also unsafe. Park is dead. It always sucks there.

I used to love Elitch Gardens, but that was back in the early ‘90s. It was fantastic back then!

Since this used to be my home park it does have a nostalgic place in my heart, but yeah, it's awful. The employees who work there seem miserable which could point to an explanation for the severe understaffing. Everything you experienced like the closed rides are very common occurrences. They also have weird and inconsistent operating hours (sometimes the park closes for the day at 4pm), every single line takes forever to move (the lines in the food court are often 30+ minutes), the food is awful (except for the deserts and old fassioned treats in the main entrace), and rides break down constantly or are closing down due to weather. The park is not laid out well, is dirty, and has an overall cheap, unkempt, sketchy, and an overall "off" feeling.

I’m laughing my ass off because THIS was my childhood. THIS PARK pretty much single handedly got me into coasters and I don’t have a clue why!!!

This park seriously needs to be relocated and re-profiled, it just looks like a bunch of rides dropped into a rundown industrial area.

I've lived about an hour away from Elitches for 20 years and completely agree that the park sucks. I've gone once or twice every summer and it's always just so boring. There's only a few rides worth riding so the lines are always insane. Also out of the 20-30 times I've gone, the Half Pipe has never been open for the full day. I'd say 80% of the time it's just closed for the whole day and the other 20% of the time it has been open for a few hours and then breaks down. I've never had a chance to ride it which is insane. The Sidewinder and Boomerang are fun and I enjoy the Mind Eraser (though I don't have much to compare it to) but pretty much everything else isn't great. Another issue is that for kids around 10-12, there's almost no rides for them. There are the kiddy rides which are just lame at that age but the Rollercoaster's at Elitches are too intimidating for someone that age (at least for me and my friends). I remember going several times when I was that age and I didn't have much to ride. My older sisters went on Rollercoaster's while me and my parents were bored on the kid rides. I mean I still had fun but like you said, they need rides to bridge the gap between kid and adult rides. I basically only rode the swings, the scrambler, and other non roller coaster rides. It took me a few years to build up the courage to go on the Minderaser (my first real Rollercoaster) so for several years I just felt like I was a baby. I think you went on a worse day than usual but it's usually not that much better when I've gone. I live literally 5 minutes away now and have had almost no desire to go despite it being within walking distance from my apartment. I think they need to relocate the park to somewhere off of I-25 closer to Thornton, Brighton, or Longmont. There's a ton of empty fields right off of I-25 there so they could make a huge park with a ton of variety. Whoever manages the park now and thinks not adding rides for over 15 years is okay, needs to go. Bring in someone who cares about the park and will hire a great staff that makes the park fresh. The downtown location is pretty cool but before I moved to Denver, driving to it just for a few hours didn't seem worth it to me. Moving it closer to Boulder, Longmont, and Greeley would probably get them a ton of customers who think Denver is too far to do more than once a season and it's still only like 30 minutes from Denver so they'd still get most of those customers too.

this is so sad to see. i've never visited the current elitch gardens but i visited the original park (located at 38th and tennyson) in the 70's and remember it as one of the nicest, most beautiful amusement parks i ever experienced. we visited lagoon the following year and i thought both parks were very similar. i never knew the real story why they moved downtown (space??) but if they were able to stay, they certainly should have. and for you coaster buffs, the original (Mr.) Twister was one of the most intense coasters i ever rode, not to mention striking looking as well. so happy knoebel's built a nice tribute to it.

It could have been worse, when I went there I rode Flying Coaster, a Zamperla Volare that everyone hates.

The second someone told you everyone rushes to the SLC at rope drop, you should've known you were in for a rough day

You are spot on. Lived in Denver area many years. I grew up with a six flags near by so Elitches has always been a disappointment. It was a garden when first opened. It was turned into an amusement park little by little. When they where looking for places to move to I think the best place would have been the recently closed Stapleton Airport. It had a covered parking garage. A terminal ready made for shops and restaurants. Then there was the tarmac. All there with just a small amount of renovations needed. The plus was it was so easy to get to. Right off the I-70 and a very short distance from I-25. There were hotels there for multiple day guests to stay at and lots of room to grow. They could have added a first class water park. Since the area was a tarmac it could withstand about any weight that rides would need to help stabilize them. Instead they chose an area downtown where they could not expand. Where parking for all the sport complexes is almost nil and work parking lots are no better. A lot of the parking areas are privately owned. At Stapleton the parking would have been owned by the park and I felt would of been cheaper. Plus it would have been covered. Most amusement parks don't have parking garages. You have to walk forever to get to the gates or if you were lucky they might have trolley type cars to take you to and from the gates once you get to one of their on/off stops.

As a Colorado native, I’ve only been on sidewinder once! It’s always closed! Love twister 2 because of the memories. And boomerang is by far the best. The first year the mind eraser ran was fantastic and then it’s became way to bumpy. It’s hard to enjoy it. My biggest complaint is the parking price but that is Denver. Everything is at least 15-30 bucks for full day parking in that area. I know it’s not a roller coaster park but check out water world next time! Free parking! Always a great time.

I would never go to a park after a holiday. Staff probably all called in sick being drunk/high/all the above.

I grew up in Denver going to the original location for most of my childhood. It was total garbage once they moved it.

Coming back to this reminds me of my day at Great Escape. I was unlucky with crowds, ride closures, and staff issues.

I work at an amusement park 5 years this year. I understand the frustration when the rides go down like that. But most of the time it’s out of their control, no one wants to work now a days. My park struggles with staff and the other factor is that it takes so so so long to get parts in, we had one that took 2 years to get a part since it was made in Switzerland and they had to make a motherboard that was struck by lightening. It was one of our older rides in the park “wooden roller coaster” so the person who made the past motherboard was dead.

The fact is there is too much other things to do in Colorado to be spending time at a theme park. You either have a big market such as Florida or a completely dreadful state like Ohio or Pennsylvania where the only escape is an amusement park. Colorado is niether, and of course any theme park will just not be good.

it makes sense that the day after the 4th people would be out. Everyone I know takes the day off after a Holliday. I do agree that is the park is shit, tho. XD

This is my home park and got to be honest you went there on a pretty bad day 😂. And if you think this place is run bad or sketchy you should try Lakeside, now that is one sketchy place.

As a Coloradan, I can vouch for this. xD! The Sidewinder and Observation Tower are literally always closed. I've only seen them open like twice, and I've been there a couple dozen times in my life. And I hate the Mind Eraser. That thing rattles my brain waaaaay too much. And it's always fun to watch how much the Twister 2 sways and hope it doesn't fall apart while you ride it! That's the whole fun of Elitches right there!

The consistent stickiness under your feet while waiting in line 😊🤢🤮

Sidewinder usually opens around 4-5 PM on most days. Half pipe most likely didn't open that day. Also this is my home park, and I'm very sadden to say that. But yeah, sidewinder is a lot of fun, because the restraints are loose, and you fly, best ride there.

If I have to be honest I love this amusement park it’s so fun.I grew up in Colorado and this was one of my first ever roller coaster experiences I love going with my family and have so much fun it’s breaks my heart to see so many people especially from Colorado to hate so much😢

Elitch gardens is owned by a parent company that operates a slew of parks. It was a 6 flags park for years and they are who built most of the rides. Daily parking is expensive as hell in downtown.

you definitely came on a bad day, though half the days are bad. Halfpipe and sidewinder are always closed. Halfpipe has an intense rattle, and a really bad restraint design. Sidewinder has some sweet ejector airtime, and back row, or front row is the best. Aim for the front on mind eraser, and twister ii is bad all around.

Imagine running to ride a Vekoma SLC

Road trips are my favorite thing ever! And I'm glad the more "boring" coasters such as Grizzly exist for those of us who can't handle the "real" ones. Hope the rest of your trip was better.

I grew up only a couple blocks from Elitch Gardens in its original location (W 38th Ave and Tennyson St) back in the ‘80s and I still miss that park today, it was almost like my second home during the summers of my childhood. It’s such a damn shame that the friendly neighborhood charm of the original has been replaced by the impersonal, corporate theme park we have today. I’m sure many enjoy the place, but me, can’t ever get the original out of my head. By default, I’ll forever stack other parks against that high standard.

I’ve ridden Sidewinder and Half Pipe. They’re the best rides in the park.

This is my home park, yay! I went on opening day last year and I have to agree that their operations are awful. I blame Premier parks for that. I wish Lagoon wasn't 6 hours from me

As a Colorado Native, 100% was that a bad day mixed with staffing problems. Every time I have gone, all rides have been open besides the observation tower. I’m going back next week as a finally good bye day to two of my friends leaving the state. I have to say, I wasn’t alive for the first Elitches but I would definitely be down for seeing my hometown park be moved somewhere bigger and getting more attractions. Also, the moving of twister II is what makes the ride more exciting to be on!

Love everyone bringing up lakeside.

I live near Eliches, and while I have fond memories of it from my childhood, I can't enjoy myself there now because of how bad it is. Whenever people ask what they should do if they take a trip to Denver, I always tell them to steer clear of Elich Gardens.

An SLC being the most popular ride in a park is why we joke on GP

The sway of the wooden coaster made me audibly gasp. I have seen wooden coasters move but never ever to that extent.

Bro you think Elitches is bad, try Lakeside