I wonder if it's a nostalgia for what DF nearly was, and in some ways actually was.
I have a lot of nostalgia for DF myself, even though I think I would find it unrideable today due to the same roughness I easily tolerated as a teenager. The whole effort had that extra-mile feel to it. I believe my nostalgia stems from (1) the rose coloring that tints memories of imperfect experiences past; and (2) a feeling that the park really nailed the concept, only to be let down by the manufacturer. It could have been a huge success "if only..."
- It was a marvel to approach and walk around/beneath/into. DF's placement made it superbly interactive.
- The color choices of electric blue and straight-up silver, with fiery red light-up trains, were just outstanding. They made neither compromises nor apologies in pursuit of those colors. So badass.
- The site prep and landscaping, despite DF basically standing in an open field, were beautiful.
- DF did a bunch of then-new things. The ride really did represent an adventure in stylistic and engineering envelope-pushing from Arrow, which was unprecedented at that time -- save for some nigh-unknown firm called B&M who had opened a grand total of ONE tiny stand-up coaster when DF's steel started rising.
I have a lot of nostalgia for DF myself, even though I think I would find it unrideable today due to the same roughness I easily tolerated as a teenager. The whole effort had that extra-mile feel to it. I believe my nostalgia stems from (1) the rose coloring that tints memories of imperfect experiences past; and (2) a feeling that the park really nailed the concept, only to be let down by the manufacturer. It could have been a huge success "if only..."
