Predator — Attraction in Town of Darien

As an avid wooden roller coaster lover, to me Predator is the sleeper hit of Darien Lake. For my ride it had everything going for it. I recommend rows near the front of the train for a smoother experience.

Predator has great turns that offer good lateral g forces. It has lots of airtime hills of varying height, speed, and intensity for a varied experience. The ride is well paced, and it's long. It's just rough enough in the front to feel wooden but not uncomfortable at all. And finally, the setting near the water is a cherry on top, as well as the very comfy wooden coaster seats and lap bars.

I hear a lot of people saying this ride should be torn down or turned into a steel coaster, and I say:

No!!

Having a wooden coaster is a must have for any good amusement park, and while some parks are stuck with a ride that's old or not well designed, Darien Lake is lucky to have Predator which is already the base for an excellent ride. The park just needs to take better care of it. It doesn't need new trains, but I recommend sections of track be given new wood each year to keep a smooth profile, or perhaps even retrack it all in one year in a big refurbishment.

I have a big soft spot for Predator and I really hope this park preserves what little history it has by keeping it around as it's an awesome ride held back by lazy...

The rest of my family doesn't care for this ride so much, but I really like it. I love the front myself - it IS a rougher ride, but that's the point of these classic wooden coasters. You don't find them much around anymore - most are smooth as butter, but this one you for sure feel it, and to me, I enjoy that part of the ride! It was closed for maintenance a lot the weekend we just spent at the park, but I'm glad I got a few chances to ride it,...

I haven't rode this ride in quite awhile but good lord. It IS rough, ruined my whole day, messed up my neck and back pretty good. I know this is the feel you get from wooden coasters but this is most definitely the roughest of them all. I blacked out from how shaky and rough it was about 5 times. If you wanna ride it, do it last for your own good. I give it 2 stars from the adrenaline rushes you get and that overall the coaster is a pretty...