Totally understand that, Shave. Just thought the multiple parallels were an interesting coincidence and there might be something there in terms of the inspiration behind our new coaster, based on work RMC has already been involved with in some capacity.
I know the concept descriptions don't give justice to detailing what the ultimate ride name and experience will actually be, but I wonder how the concept description for PK and WF read. It would be interesting to look back at that wording and see how well they describe the actual experiences we enjoy on both of those coasters today.
Regardless, I would love to ultimately see a coaster that flirts with, or breaks that 200 ft. mark. On a somewhat separate note, in looking at the Top 25 ranking for wooden coasters last night, I thought it was very interesting to see that The Voyage (ranked #1 in the world) was built at a cost of just $6 million. Sure, that was six years ago, but I wouldn't have dreamed you could construct any type of coaster on that scale for under $10 million.
Here's the press release for Powder Keg:
Contact: Silver Dollar City Publicity
(417) 338-8207/338-8210
SILVER DOLLAR CITY ADDS NEW
$10 MILLION, EXPLOSIVE-LAUNCH
ROLLER COASTER,
POWDER KEG
NEW RIDE FOR 2005 BLASTS RIDERS
FROM 0-53 MPH IN 2.8 SECONDS
(Branson, Mo. 11/04) Silver Dollar City’s newest attraction shoots riders into a
thrill zone within seconds of climbing aboard, launching riders from 0 to 53 miles per
hour in just 2.8 seconds. Powder Keg, a thrill ride unlike any other in the history of the
theme park, combines the shocking speed of the launch with spiraling turns, negative
gravitational or “G” forces, and “floater” hills for a truly wild ride experience, billed as a
“blast in the wilderness.”
A $10 million project, Powder Keg takes riders from the big blast of the compressed airlaunch
up a lift to a 110-foot drop, into spiraling and dragonfly banked turns, through a
wave of floater hills and into a bunny hop brake run. Negative G forces give riders the
experience of weightlessness as the cars soar through the trees at speeds up to 64 miles
per hour.
“Powder Keg takes family fun to the next level, with a breath-taking ride experience,
major special effects and theming that takes our guests back to the historic mining days
of our own Marvel Cave,” says Brad Thomas, Silver Dollar City General Manager.
Powder Keg is themed in the history of the miners who mined tons of nitrogen-rich bat
guano out of then-Marble Cave in the 1880s. The guano was taken by stagecoach and
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railroads to powder mills where it was made into black powder, valuable in the post-Civil
War era. The Powder Keg ride begins in a powder mill as the cars move onto the launch
area, amid jars of nitroglycerine that rock and tip. As the nitro “explodes,” the cars blast
out of the building and special effects of fire and smoke shoot through the roof of the
powder mill load station.
A trip on Powder Keg lasts nearly three minutes and spirals around six acres on 3,500
feet of track. The ride carries more than 1,000 people per hour with 16 passengers per
train. Powder Keg is designed and manufactured by the world’s leading manufacturer of
compressed-air rides, S & S Power of Logan, Utah. Silver Dollar City’s Corporate
Development team and the Maintenance & Construction Division are handling theming
and construction. It is scheduled to open in Spring 2005.
Silver Dollar City, an 1880s theme park located in Branson, Missouri, brings to life the
history and heritage of the Ozark region. The park offers rides, entertainment, signature
foods, and five world-class festivals during its operating season, April through December.
For tickets and information, call 1-800-831-4FUN, or visit the web site at
www.silverdollarcity.com. An animated ride on Powder Keg is available at the web site.