Stone Mountain Park
A disappointing trip report.
From David L.
Posted June 21, 2010 at 2:37 PM
Recently i went to Stone Mountain in Atlanta. I've gone in recent years and have had a great time. Recently they added one of the best mini golf courses ever. THey also added Sky Hike,a ropes course (similar to the adventure mountain at Dollywood). THis park is owned by Hershand. The past two years i have been, the park has been decreasing in quality.
Attractions:
-Sky Hike: this attraction has almost no theme. YOu go on a ropes course that ranges from about 15-36 feet high. They also have a climbing wall and a few low ropes course things. I enjoyed it but it isn't suited well for a theme park.
-Candle Shop: 3 years ago this was a charming shop where you could see people dressed in early american type clothing make candles. Now, the ripped out the costumes and theme to make a generic stone mountain shop.
-Glass Blowing shop: this was a charming shop where you can watch people make unique pieces of glass and buy some. While they kept the blowing the place has also been stonemountainfied.
-Other stores and restaurants: all have been stonemountainfied without the older theme.
-4D theater: they used to have a great southern scary swamp movie here with great special effects. Sadly, they scraped it and replaced it with a 8minute version of Journey to the Center of the Earth. JTTCOTE doesn't have great effects and pretty much follows the movie.
-Mini Golf:2 years ago, this was my favorite mini golf place. The theme of robbers capturing a sheriff and taking him away was great. Alas, all the billboards with the story throughout the course have been damaged, wrote on, or are unable to read. Many of the effects on the course have also disappeared. The course is still very well themed but it does not live up to what it once was.
That was all i had time for. but i imagine that some of the attractions like the Museum, SKyride, and Great Barn, and train have not changed. I will no longer call Stone Mountain a great mini theme park. At Christmas it is still great. I think that it is still worth the ticket to go but don't expect a good Hershand park.
From Pyra Dong
Posted June 22, 2010 at 2:29 PM
I have to differ a bit... i visited Stone Mountain last summer for my first and only time and I actually enjoyed myself immensely. Perhaps it's because I'm so used to typical steel, carnival, roller coaster theme parks that this was a welcome change.
I LOVED how my entire family could do everything together without dummy-fying our enjoyment. Each attraction required a bit of legwork or brain cells. GREAT PHOTO-OPS everywhere. I went on a real crowded day... but in the last four hours we were able to do most everything. True, I've heard many patrons were frustrated that Stone Mountain is trying to appeal more to the Six Flags crowd... but I don't think that's why I enjoyed myself there. I would have actually liked it better if it was more rustic... or the way you described.
but this is still a GREAT THEME PARK for people to visit. GO GO GO GO GO
I went for the beautiful mountain. It's a great view up there. Stone Mountain wasn't really designed as a theme park in my view.
From David L.
Posted June 22, 2010 at 6:41 PM
Pyra, i still enjoy it but yes, it is seeming to go more towards the sixflags crowd. And yes, the mountain is beautiful. YOu don't even have to do the attractions, (it's an extra $27 bucks) because there is enough free stuff,(like climbing the mountain, walking around, the mini science museum, quarry exhibit, laser show, bird trails, nature trails, grist mill, indian island, and much more) to take up 2 days. It is very much a more family/kiddie oriented park. I recommend going at least going if you're near to at least see the mountain but don't expect a good THEME park.
From David L.
Posted June 22, 2010 at 6:47 PM
Andy, yes it wasn't designed for a theme park.
This discussion has been archived, and is not accepting additional responses.
