Messages

3421

Construction/Rumors / Possible Huss Ride Coming

« on: July 28, 2007, 10:27:48 PM »

This is a little far-fetched, at least for the near future, but I thought I'd throw it in to the mix of possibilities.

It's been speculated that another major flat is on it's way to SDC in the next 5 years, and that it will be most likely furnished by Huss. Huss has already supplied at least one ride for the Herschends with Timberrrr Tower, the infamous topple tower at DW, and was almost chosen to supply a similar model at SDC in 2007. Since the recent major problems of the Timberrr Tower at DW, the Herschends have likely turned their backs to Huss, but there aren't that many manufacturers to go to for large flats. Huss has a good following generally, but Timberrrr Tower had been a rare blemish on their name.

During the 2007 new ride survey, a Huss Frisbee concept was featured alongside a topple tower similar to TT and the Screamin Swing which ended up as the chosen ride for 2007. Here's how the Frisbee was described:

Silver Dollar City’s new Grand Exposition has just gotten bigger. Standing behind the Red Gold Exposition Hall is the Exposition’s newest ride, one of the most exciting rides ever built at Silver Dollar City, The Amazing Pendulum Swing. This new ride is the featured attraction at the Grand Exposition of 1882, standing nearly 75 feet tall, with a giant pendulum arm that swings riders back in forth while rotating over 110 degrees. This unique attraction is not for the faint-of-heart as it reaches speeds of nearly 60 miles per hour as it swings back and forth, high above the grounds of Silver Dollar City’s new Grand Exposition. The ride soars out over cascading water and shooting fountains that spray bursts of water onto some of the riders, adding yet another element of thrill and suspense to the attraction.

So it seems like it could be a strong possibility that SDC will go back to this concept, as it was definitely an attractive one. I personally hope they do, as Huss Frisbees are excellent rides, and are usually regarded as favorites among enthusiasts. The only problem standing in the way of such a ride would be the Herschends distrust of Huss. If it came down to it, the Herschends could always go to Intamin for a similar ride, but they don't make frisbees as well as Huss. Really, Huss has only ever had major problems with their topple towers, and they do have a good reputation, especially for their frisbees, but will the Herschends see this?

3422

General Silver Dollar City Talk / Re: Silver Dollars and Simple Prayers

« on: July 26, 2007, 11:25:12 AM »

^Yeah, but that stems more from strict training and hiring standards, coupled with good pay and motivation. The Herschends have all of that as well, but even if they didn't, I don't think there would be a whole lot of difference.

3423

General Silver Dollar City Talk / Re: CC Fall Family FUNFest Announced

« on: July 26, 2007, 09:18:01 AM »

^If you're in to amusement parks, CC is worth a night. Seriously, it may be smallish, but it's really well done, and Ozark Wildcat is absolutely kick-ass.

I like how they're still running after the young families, but it seems to me that CC has lost it's original face as a 'night theme park'.

3424

General Silver Dollar City Talk / Re: Silver Dollars and Simple Prayers

« on: July 26, 2007, 09:15:58 AM »

Yeah, I've always been blown away by the Herschends and their spot. Very few places on this earth will you find people such as these, whom really know what it is to be a great entertainer and host. They really care about the guests themselves, and everything else that they do so well springs from that.

You know they're doing something right when over half their employees have been there for over 15 years.

3425

General Silver Dollar City Talk / CC Fall Family FUNFest Announced

« on: July 25, 2007, 04:10:07 PM »

Celebration City will debut their answer to the usual Halloween horrorfests for the first time this year with the new 'Fall Family FUNFest'. Included in this festival are hay rides, a maze, games, and loads of free candy, all set in a warm, family-friendly environment.

It sounds cheesy, but hey, if the candy's free, I'm in. Besides, who here hasn't had the fantasy of riding roller coasters in a giant dinosaur costume? It'll be fun.

I've been wondering though, where will the hay ride go? They say it'll wind through some woods, but I didn't think CC owned any woods, at least not any that are accessible.

3426

Dollywood Discussion / Re: Dollywood Annouces New Splash Battle Ride

« on: July 25, 2007, 12:22:04 PM »

^Yes, and arguably, that's the better of the two additions (and I'm not putting the splash battle down or anything).

I'm sure having to go all the way down one valley, only to have to go all the way back up it so you can go up and down another one was ridiculous, so this path is a necessity.

3427

Construction/Rumors / Re: The next coaster (SDC)

« on: July 25, 2007, 12:19:33 PM »

Eh, no one really makes coasters like Vekoma anymore, and even if someone did, they'd still be a very unlikely possibility.

Heres an idea though: maybe S&S submitted a crazy new proposal to SDC that resembles something like a Vekoma Thrill Lift. It's a stretch, especially when S&S is wrapped up with other projects right now, but it could theoretically happen.

S&S, if you aren't aware, is the firm responsible for the Giant Swing and Powderkeg. They also own what's left of Arrow Dynamics, the firm responsible for ThuNderaTion and Tennessee Tornado. While it's very unlikely that S&S would ever try anything resembling a thrill lift, it's not completely out of the question, at least if you really want to daydream about it. After all, they went out of their way to do something new when they built Powderkeg... but that was more of a standard coaster.

3428

Dollywood Discussion / Re: Dollywood Annouces New Splash Battle Ride

« on: July 24, 2007, 10:20:03 PM »

^That makes two of us.

Yeah, thinking about it more, I've decided that this really is the kind of ride that will really help DW all around. Not only is it plainly a great family attraction, but I believe it will severely help queues around the park, without drawing in too many newcomers to make up for it.

3429

Construction/Rumors / Re: The next coaster (SDC)

« on: July 24, 2007, 10:17:25 PM »

^I'm going to go ahead and be really skeptical about the thought of SDC getting a Vekoma of any type, much less a tilting lift model. Talk to a few enthusiasts like myself, and you'll find in a jiffy that Vekoma's name is mud, and SDC wouldn't go for a company with that type of reputation. Their rides are almost always painful, and not in a 'rough fun' kind of way.

Besides, SDC doesn't have the land available for such a ride, although that RCT model could hardly be less accurate...

Even if it were possible for them to go with Vekoma, there are just too many other manufacturers out there that are better and have good relations with the Herschends. B&M, S&S, and GCII are all on very good terms with SDC, so why would they go with a foreign company with terrible ratings?

Btw, the Herschends don't exactly have designers, they outsource almost all of that. 

3430

Dollywood Discussion / Dollywood Annouces New Splash Battle Ride

« on: July 19, 2007, 04:13:35 PM »

From SuperSteve's -

DW Announces New River Battle Ride

Always the early announcers, DW decided now was a good enough time to let everyone in on what's coming in 2008, and boy are we in for a treat. Besides that highly demanded bit of asphalt connecting the two valleys, a new $5 million ride will appear at the park for the 2008 season. The new ride, apparently dubbed Beaver Battle from what can be seen on the concept art, looks like a Mack Blaster boat ride, similar to the many splash battles that have been popping up around the world. If the ride turns out anything like the concept art, it will be quite short, but every single part is packed with excitement. Targets, pedestrians, and other riders are waiting around every bend, not to mention the talking animatronic animals.

Though it's not the swing that I'm still expecting, this ride is quite a worthy addition to DW, and is sure to take the edge off of MM's queue for my visit next year. I like splash battles, though I don't overly appreciate them. With all the soaking and intense action, this ride is really more for those overly-hyped up kiddies and their unwilling parents. I think after a ride or two I'll just stick to the side lines so I can smack a few of the more annoying kids in the face with one of the water cannons on the pathways.

So, will we see one of these at SDC soon? Quite probably, but I'd rather CC get one... By the way, I still say that DW will end up with a swing soon, probably next year.

3431

Other Parks / Cedar Point's Choas For Sale

« on: July 16, 2007, 06:24:01 PM »

Cedar Point's Chance Chaos is up for sale on IRM (http://www.irmpri.com/product.htm), along with several other Cedar Fair Chaoses from the looks of it. The Chance Chaos is a dying breed, as most were destroyed just in the last few years due to severe structural flaws, the only surviving models had to have major repairs, but now new parts are scarce.

The Chaos consists of a bunch of 2-person gondolas situated on a wheel. The wheel props up vertically and spins around, with the gondolas flipping around it. It's a kind of an uncomfortable ride, but pretty fun.

Celebration City had a Chance Chaos for about half of 2006, and it was something of a hit; wouldn't it be nice if they bought one of these modified versions? Of course, it wouldn't last long as making parts for it would be hard...

I can think of a few other parks who would benefit from one of these as well.

3432

General Silver Dollar City Talk / Crowd Levels?

« on: July 16, 2007, 06:16:40 PM »

So I've been hearing conflicting reports about how well SDC is doing this season. Some say that this is the busiest season ever, and that parking lot L (the one way out in the field miles from the park) is consistently used. Others say that the crowds have been average, and most rides have short waits. I know crowd levels vary radically, but does anyone know how the park has been doing on average?

Also, is CC making money yet? I notice they canned the $20 deal, and now the price is back up close to $30.

3433

SDC Memories/ Park History / Rube Dugin's Diving Bell

« on: July 16, 2007, 06:11:31 PM »

Rube Dugin's Diving Bell, the ride that was decades ahead of it's time. For those of you that never saw it, it was a state of the art motion/picture simulator, that provided an experience so real that many got sick or dizzy on the ride. This concept was first introduced to Disney World, but being as new an adventure as such a simulator was, they didn't see the true value of such an attraction, and SDC picked it up.
For more information and photos, go here -> http://geysergulch.tripod.com/divingbell.html

Sadly, due somewhat to the particular spot it was built in, SDC decided to destroy the diving bell to make way for the new Lost River, but the thought of bringing the ride back has been persistent. In fact, to this day many people have asked that SDC consider resurrecting the ride, so maybe one day we'll see it again.

Does anyone have any memories of this ride? I was too young at the time to remember much, so I was hoping someone here could tell us what a ride cycle consisted of.

3434

General Silver Dollar City Talk / Geyser Gulch Fix Ups?

« on: July 15, 2007, 08:41:02 PM »

I don't know whether or not this is true, or the full extent of it, but I've been hearing that Geyser Gulch has been getting some TLC and improvements lately. Indeed, last I was there in May, it appeared that they were half-way through painting it, but it was hard to tell.

It doesn't look all that bad yet, but I've heard a few people complain about the paint being faded, plus there are a few areas inside where stuff has been worn down by the relentless thunder of hundreds of over-hyped kids, so it could probably use something.

Anyone know more?

3435

Construction/Rumors / How long will the Jack Rabbit last?

« on: July 15, 2007, 08:36:53 PM »

Of all the things I expected to pop up when CC was built, the Jack Rabbit was no where near the list. This has to be one of the funkiest, yet funnest coasters in the world. Huge dips, tiny cars, insane break-neck curves, and whipping bunny hops, all built with what looks like an erector set. This coaster pretty much embodies everything that the roller coaster was originally intended to be, and god I love every bit of it.

Still though, I may be one of the only fans of this coaster, as most people are scared away by it's ferociousness, or whine about it being rough. The Herschends can't be loving it either, even thought they built it, due to it's low capacity and ridership. Yes, it holds lines, but only because only 6 people can fit on one train at max. For the space it takes up, so many 'better' things could fit, which makes me think that this will be the first ride to go at CC.

So many good flats, or even a basic Euro-fighter could do well here...

Any thoughts?