We drove straight from New Orleans to Arlington, Texas overnight by switching off with the driving and singing loudly to local band tapes that we had brought along. Again, we didn't do badly on the timing since we arrived in the Lone Star state early enough to see the "Don't Mess With Texas" signs illuminated by a fiery orange sunset. After our confused clerks checked us into someone else's room, we settled in and prepared for our day to the park, which would be heated up to a bacon-crispy 107 degrees amidst a "stage red air quality alert". Joy. We got to the original Six Flags park early, around 9:30 a.m. The front gates opened up and since the bulk of the park didn't open until 10:00 a.m., holding areas were set up blocking the flightpath to some of the resident star coasters. Shockwave, Judge Roy Scream, The Texas Giant but a few of the legendary creations that lay scattered over the landscape. But our date was with a coaster that was supposed to be featured during the 1997 Coast-2-Coast Coaster Tour. That year, Mr. Freeze was slated to break the record books and the preconceptions of ride enthusiasts with its 224 linear induction motors and insanity-inspired track design. However, the new thrill machine experienced high-tech problems and the opening was delayed. Trying to stall the tour at our then-current stop which was Phoenix, Arizona seemed too great a task and we sadly packed it up and called a wrap. But not this year, no sir and no ma'am. The jubilant expression on my face and askewed dreads in the picture to the right are evidence of a breathtaking coaster that was well worth waiting for. Set up in a gothic-looking ice cream factory, the ride features two loading cradles on either side of the ominous tunnel that leads to the outside. Mr. Freeze conducts the operation from a control booth located above the queue, his icy gaze steady as he manipulates the two loading cradles, moving them sideways to line-up with the launch track. This is a strange little surprise in itself, having a coaster train jog sideways on you, but that action is followed by a high-powered firing of electromagnets that rocket the twenty-passenger cars forward to a top speed of 70 m.p.h. in just 3.78 seconds. The roar of road wheels tears through the tunnel as the trains explode out into the hot Texas daylight and begin to climb straight up. Here's where it gets really weird. The trains then twist a quarter-turn to the left and negotiate a tight inversion, somersaulting upside down and then twisting right, aiming 90 degrees towards the rapidly approaching earth. It's a surprisingly smooth move--it's even more interesting on the return trip. Resuming speed, the trains soar up and through a delicious 180 degree overbanked turn that sucks the cars in and slingshots them out and down again, approaching the imposing middle spire of the ride. It's all arranged very nicely, Mr. Freeze has to be one of the most symmetrical scream machines of all time; aesthetic fright can be quite nice. As you hit the tower, still cooking at great velocity, you might notice with some clarity the two racks of LIM-motors that bookend the track about halfway up. They're there to give you a lift. Your upward motion has just begun to slow when the huge metallic fins on either side of the train come in contact with those electromagnets. Suddenly, there's a revitalized boost of energy and the cars climb even higher, scooting past the motors and reaching for the top of the 236 foot peak. Then, the blissful moment of zero-G airtime kicks in as the silver bullet falls backwards, getting a mighty "take that" boost from the LIM's. Yes, the trip back is going to be verry interesting. Depending on where you sit, the sensations will be different in both directions. Personally, the sweet spot seems to be the last car, due to the incredible reverse point-of-view that you get as you soar backwards up and through the inversion curve--it's like being abducted by aliens, not that I would know. By the time you've zoomed back into the station, it's only been 45 seconds and you're still reeling from the launch. Short but sweet, Mr. Freeze turned out to be a ten-gallon head trip and thanks to short lines, we tripped many times after the first ride.

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