Hey everyone, I was just wondering what happens to the rides and signs when they are retired or closed? Rube Dugans diving bell, for instance. Was is simply disassembled? Or is there a "graveyard" of sorts where these things can be found? I'm just curious. Y'all have a great day.
The building housing the diving bell was gutted over the winter of 1984, and was remodeled into The Lost River. From what I have been told, most everything was thrown out in a trash dumpster. The Jim Owens' Float Trip ride was remodeled in the winter of 1980 to The American Plunge. Some old float trip scenes were freshened up and used with the AP, some were left to rot in the woods, some were pulled out and trashed. In general, the company does not have a great record of clinging to it's past...it uses its facilities, and when it's time to change things out, most things get trashed, some get recycled. Some things go into storage until they can be used again somewhere else. Buzzsaw Falls was an attraction that broke down alot. Part of it was torn out and trashed, some portions recycled and turned into Powderkeg. They do what they can to cut costs, but will do all they can to build attractions that will pull more people into the park, so often they are not sentimental. They tend to think of what's happening today, and what they can do to generate bigger crowds and more income.
I guess I can see that. It's a little bit unfortunate for us hopelessly nostalgic fans. It would be nice if they had an eBay store or something and would auction off some of those items. I think that would be a win-win.
I love talking about Buzzsaw falls whiile in line for Powderkeg. People that have never known about the old ride love to hear these things.
Well, they used part of some foamy stuff from the Diving Bell for their limited edition pins. I've got one of them.
There actually is an area near the park where a lot of discontinued/abandoned stuff is taken for storage or just to get it off park. It's called The Lagoon, and it's located between the City and the SDC campground. Seven or eleven years ago they built a large storage building down there for stuff that they do bring out for re-use, but most of the stuff just sits out in the open.
Tinaalsgirl: WARNING, whatever you do...don't lick the foamy stuff on that pin...it is radioactive, and came from deep within the basement of the diving bell!!!
Zephon: First time I've ever heard of "the lagoon." If you are serious...THAT is the behind the scenes tour I would like to take!
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Ummmm...Tinaalsgirl...just kidding!
Do you have a photo of this elusive pin?
Junior,
The lagoon is actually SDC's sewage treatment pond and may or may not still be in use as such. It's not one of the more picturesque areas of SDC property. The road to it runs down through a small valley and that's where the "stuff" has accumulated. I haven't been down there for some time. Back when the Red Gold Nativity show set consisted of the whole city of Bethlehem, with the stage in the center of the building, we would store that set down there in that storage building.
Here is a picture of the Diving Bell pin from sdc's pin trading pages.
http://www.bransonsilverdollarcity.com/specialty-shops/pin-trading/default.aspx?id=330
Quote from: Junior on July 07, 2010, 08:48:14 AM
The building housing the diving bell was gutted over the winter of 1984, and was remodeled into The Lost River. From what I have been told, most everything was thrown out in a trash dumpster. The Jim Owens' Float Trip ride was remodeled in the winter of 1980 to The American Plunge. Some old float trip scenes were freshened up and used with the AP, some were left to rot in the woods, some were pulled out and trashed. In general, the company does not have a great record of clinging to it's past...it uses its facilities, and when it's time to change things out, most things get trashed, some get recycled. Some things go into storage until they can be used again somewhere else. Buzzsaw Falls was an attraction that broke down alot. Part of it was torn out and trashed, some portions recycled and turned into Powderkeg. They do what they can to cut costs, but will do all they can to build attractions that will pull more people into the park, so often they are not sentimental. They tend to think of what's happening today, and what they can do to generate bigger crowds and more income.
Somewhat off topic, but the wooden fence around part of Powderkeg still has some of the old tools hanging on it that was put there at the same time as Buzzsaw Falls. You can see it when riding on the train.
In my opinion, SDC did a great job of keeping Buzz Saw Fall's history alive with Powderkeg. For example, all the tools you mentioned on the fence and the boat "crash landed" on the queue building.
I wish they had done more of this with the diving bell and possibly the Riverblast. It really does add great detail to Powderkeg.
QuoteThe lagoon is actually SDC's sewage treatment pond and may or may not still be in use as such.
I was referring to Google Earth for the placement of a new Hotel or improving (enhancing) park supplied transportation by crossing the valley behind the campground and not 265.
I can plainly see the treatment area and possibly a building and the road that leads to them. I thought this plant/ treatment center would cause a problem using the area for transportation. But they sure can get crafty to hide things if they need to, not so sure about hiding any possible smells.
I agree with Coaster! I really like that they used one of the old BuzzSaw Falls boats to look as though it crashed on top of the building. ;D
Quote from: rubedugans on July 07, 2010, 10:35:29 AM
I love talking about Buzzsaw falls while in line for Powderkeg. People that have never known about the old ride love to hear these things.
Rube's note reminded me that when I was returning to the station on PK a couple of weeks ago I looked down at what's left of the stream from Buzzsaw Falls, and thought "Why did they leave that there?" It amazed me that they keep pumping water through that thing apparently just for aesthetic purposes!
By the way, does anybody know why they did away with the water splash feature on PK? I think I felt a small sprinkle once or twice while going between those tanks, but it certainly wasn't a "splash".
The water they pump through that channel makes no sense to me. I love water features and have always thought they could just shut that off and spend those funds to improve something else, like the splash. I would prefer the mist screens insted of the " wet" splash. Like on the river battle.
^^I've never seen the water feature activated.
I have felt a sprinkle once or twice now that you mention it. I think there might have been a bit of water at the top of the final hill a few summers ago.
When they first built Powderkeg those tanks on either side of the dip were painted a swimming pool blue like they were going to fill them with water and have a big time SPLASH, but now they're painted tan and, like I said, I got a kind of "squirt gun" spritz as we went through a couple of times. We wondered if, at those speeds, a big splash might actually be painful! :D
I've been spritzed on PK a few times but from what I've noticed, they barely turn it on.
Quote from: PastorDon on July 09, 2010, 09:05:51 AM
Quote from: rubedugans on July 07, 2010, 10:35:29 AM
I love talking about Buzzsaw falls while in line for Powderkeg. People that have never known about the old ride love to hear these things.
By the way, does anybody know why they did away with the water splash feature on PK? I think I felt a small sprinkle once or twice while going between those tanks, but it certainly wasn't a "splash".
I don't think they took it out, they just never finished it. I've seen a few different fountains placed in there from time to time, but I think they did away with the splash-down because of how finicky PK's sensors are to water droplets. From what I've heard, they have to go around the track and wipe off each sensor after every rain so the system doesn't trip out and lock everything down. It'd be great if they just added an actual tunnel instead.
It seems like PK is the first SDC coaster to be ran on more "today-technology". You can tell when when you look inside PK's tracks, and in the trains with those little roller deals on the bottom and everything. (yes, yes, I know. Pardon my scientific vocabulary ;))
So what happens if a sensor gets tripped while people are riding on PK? Does the lock down just prevent people from getting on?