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[shavethewhales]

I think that clearing is simply a backstage service road. It connects the back of the park to some of the key backstage areas and the main road. It's massive due to the amount of grading required to make it passable for large trucks. Guessing this will become a primary haul route for the park for many back of house things. I also originally thought it was too huge to just be BOH, but the satellite view makes it clearer.

I'm wondering what they needed the flat area for to the west of PK, but that is probably also a new back of house area for things like landscaping greenhouses, storage, or whatever. If this is going to be a coaster, it looks like it will be sandwiched between PK and wildfire. Since they are now clear cutting all the trees around coasters, this is probably a good thing.

I don't think they will expand the park much more beyond the area they have now. It's already as large as most parks. You can't get too big or it's burdensome on guests to get around to everything, especially with the hills.

[Wildfire]

I completely disagree about them not expanding much beyond the current area.  They have announced $500 million over the next 10 years, of which only $100 million is for the resort.  Also SDC is one of the smaller parks by acreage.  It is roughly only 35% of the size of Dollywood, 15% the size of Cedar Point or Kings Island, and much smaller than most of the Orlando Parks

[legoerosion]

Correct... I wasn't meaning that you could see them in the photo. But if this photo was taken after they were placed, what general area would they be in?

I see, my bad for misunderstanding what you were asking.



I as to the speculation about the next expansion, I can see them moving M&C to the clearing near OR and using that spot next to FiTH/Mystic river as a decent expansion. But I personally think that the next project after this project will be where the original FiTH was and that back area.

[ColaSDC]

[/quote]And with a whole new area they would need to move some employees or up the pay to hire some more workers.
[/quote]
It's never bad to pay employees more

[jericho]

It's never bad to pay employees more

[/quote]

It may never be bad, but it doesn't happen for nothing. You either have to bring more people to the park or charge more for tickets.

[ColaSDC]

True.
Also, I would worry about the social media rollout. They've been teasing something for a while, and come August I'm confident we'll know what.

[shavethewhales]

I think if they were going to announce it this year, the teaser campaign would be more intense than it has been. There's been a few bits here and there since they can't hide that work is happening, but not like a big build up to a big new ride.

Most likely, we'll see the pathway connector open up next year, but the new ride is coming in 27. Unless there's more than one "thing".

[BackInTime]

I as to the speculation about the next expansion, I can see them moving M&C to the clearing near OR and using that spot next to FiTH/Mystic river as a decent expansion. But I personally think that the next project after this project will be where the original FiTH was and that back area.

With speculation surrounding the old FITH building/site, and a possible future replacement for FM, I'm wondering if there would be any possibility that they would eventually level FM and repurpose that area for expanded retail/demos, as well as a larger and improved loading station for the train? At the same time, leveling the original FITH building to build a larger and more advanced Flooded Mine replacement or indoor dark ride.

As the park seemingly stretches westward, I think it will be critical to retain an indoor ride option that offers much needed refuge from the elements on that side of the park. With the closing of the original FITH, the park is absent of that from a ride perspective right now.

[Jesus4me]

I as to the speculation about the next expansion, I can see them moving M&C to the clearing near OR and using that spot next to FiTH/Mystic river as a decent expansion. But I personally think that the next project after this project will be where the original FiTH was and that back area.

With speculation surrounding the old FITH building/site, and a possible future replacement for FM, I'm wondering if there would be any possibility that they would eventually level FM and repurpose that area for expanded retail/demos, as well as a larger and improved loading station for the train? At the same time, leveling the original FITH building to build a larger and more advanced Flooded Mine replacement or indoor dark ride.

As the park seemingly stretches westward, I think it will be critical to retain an indoor ride option that offers much needed refuge from the elements on that side of the park. With the closing of the original FITH, the park is absent of that from a ride perspective right now.

What is M & C and FM???

[tmstephe]

What is M & C and FM???

M&C = maintenance and construction
FM = Flooded Mine

[shavethewhales]

I as to the speculation about the next expansion, I can see them moving M&C to the clearing near OR and using that spot next to FiTH/Mystic river as a decent expansion. But I personally think that the next project after this project will be where the original FiTH was and that back area.

With speculation surrounding the old FITH building/site, and a possible future replacement for FM, I'm wondering if there would be any possibility that they would eventually level FM and repurpose that area for expanded retail/demos, as well as a larger and improved loading station for the train? At the same time, leveling the original FITH building to build a larger and more advanced Flooded Mine replacement or indoor dark ride.

As the park seemingly stretches westward, I think it will be critical to retain an indoor ride option that offers much needed refuge from the elements on that side of the park. With the closing of the original FITH, the park is absent of that from a ride perspective right now.

There's been speculation about FM being leveled for a long time now. It seemed like they would retire it on it's 50th season, but that was over ten years ago. There was speculation at one point that we'd get our version of mystery mine to replace it. Then eventually we got Time Traveler instead.

I still think it's days are numbered, but there are too many higher priority things for them to do first. I think that's the only reason it has remained in place for the last decade.

[Duelist]

^ Like you've said previously though FM is low maintenance.  And since they just replaced the guns with newer better versions it shouldn't be going anywhere for awhile.  And if they do replace it they need to put in a modernized version with better animatronics.  It's still one of the best family rides and needs to remain that way.

[BackInTime]

Agree with all, although, my main motivation for bringing it up actually centers more on what might be planned for the old FITH site. That is valuable real estate just sitting there unused in an extremely high traffic area of the park. And as I mentioned, the absence of an indoor ride attraction on that side of the property really creates a void at the moment. With them having re-located FITH to the opposite side of its original location, it just got me to wondering and very inquisitive about whether or not a possible new FM could eventually live on the former FITH site, and what the PTB will ultimately do with that space.   

[Swoosh]

Photos from today on my X account @Midwest_Info

Will get them on my blog tomorrow

[Swoosh]

New M&C is already under construction behind the hotel.  Frame is already up.  That whole area (where M&C and other BOH buildings are located) is (rumored) to become an expansion plot