GAcoaster

I'm beginning to think they're just going to send a piece of it to each park in the chain!

Uhh, Zonga is at SFMW, not Astroworld... Chances are, its Viper, because the park already has a shuttle coaster (Flashback), unless the park wanted a launched ride, then it would be Greezed Lightnin'. I never claimed it was from MW, just that it was a Schwarzkopf coaster. I have heard rumors that it's Zonga coming form MW, and that it's Viper coming from AW. Also note I mentioned my sources are "generally reliable". With Six Flags, there is no such thing as a definite plan. Last minute changes occur constantly in their planning process. It's not like Disney where things are planned 5 or 10 years in advance. The article stated that he would sue to stop them if they tried to sell any other assets and that he was opposed to the sale. He implied that Cedar Fair was interested, but by all accounts he simply extrapolated that idea from their conference called when they made the blanket statement they were "always looking to make strategic purchases". They never expressed a specific interest in AW. Also, I'm sure the price they would be willing to pay is probably much less than the land the park sits on is worth.

Astroworld's closing is a done deal Snyder or not.

If it's Madonna, I will buy it the day it comes out no matter what. If it's GOOD Madonna, I'll play it to death! Madonna can do no wrong IMO. She has good stuff and great stuff, and hopefully this will be great. 8)

I've heard (from several generally reliable sources), that SWAT is going to SFGAdv, and that one of the Schwarzkopf coasters (either Viper or Zonga) is going to SFNE.

I think my next car will be the Sky too. After seeing it at the Auto Show, I decided I have to get one! One sweet car!

And now to further thwart Snyder's takeover attempt, SF has called for bids on the company by November: Read the whole story here!

Astroworld's closing is a done deal at this point.

I laughed through the whole story simply because the reporter's name is "Nipps", but maybe I'm just stuck in the gutter.

I have to believe they wouldn't be removing a water ride without replacing it (they always get the longest lines). Seeing a huge INTAMIN Aqua Trax for the 2007 season would seem kind of a logical move. A water coaster (especially a huge one) would be a great way for Kinzel to go out with a "splash" in '07.

On top of all those practical reasons, they add to the sense of speed as all those uprights pass by the moving train.

Awesome pics. Great to see these two parks that I keep thinking about visiting one day.

Questions for all the experts on INTAMIN cable lifts (I've only seen the one on Millennium Force). Do they all start directly out of the station? Can they only engage a train from a complete stop? There is great debate from people who attended the unveiling of El Toro of whether or not it will have a cable lift system, some people insisting they heard it will and some hearing it won't. My personal thought is chain lift since that's what was in the generally reliable animation of the ride, and the trains make a U-turn out of the station before engaging the lift. On top of that, I'm pretty sure the marketing department would be bragging about it as a "first of it's kind" feature if it were the case. For it to have a cable lift (assuming my understanding of the cable lift mechanism is right), the train would have to roll out, come to a dead stop at the bottom of the lift, then engage the catch car. That just seems overly complicated and unrealistic. I love the idea of a cable lift on El Toro, but I just don't see it as practical.

After seeing the plans posted in the park's Preview Center last night, it defintely looks like SWAT is on its way (sorry for the size): More pics of the plans over on my site: http://amusementpics.com/Summer%2005%20Notes.htm

Rolling Thunder's station has a Spanish (barrel tile) roof already. The fix-up they did to the area was part of preparing to build the new ride. They simply removed the overgrowth and brush along the lake, and planted grass and annual flowers. The grass will stay along the lake, and the annuals would have to be replaced next season anyway (they only last through the Summer). The few new bushes they planted in the area are easily moved. As for the coaster "ruining" the view from Frontier Adventures along the lake, I don't see why you would think that. A wooden coaster along a lake shore looks great.

As of the last SF corporate conference call, SFGAdv's attendance was up 240,000 over ly (even while Kingda Ka was down for 6 weeks), so I'd say the strategy is definitely paying off. I really think they will try a similar treatment (thrills+families+themeing) at SFMM.

I thank you for the compliment, and I apologize. I was misinformed by my informant, and El Toro WILL have a chain lift. Sorry, my cell phone was breaking up when I got the call...

I just got word from someone at the press conference that El Toro will utilize a cable lift (which will be very fast) and magnetic brakes. This just keeps getting better and better!!! Add to that SWAT is supposed to be coming from SFAW as part of the re-theme to the section and SFGAdv is gonna be an even more amazing park next year.

http://www.prnewswire.com/mnr/sixflags/22808/ Here are some stats for you all to chew over: Click here to download the video: http://streams.sixflags.com/video/eltorohs.wmv Wow! Could this be the ride of the year for 2006??? Start booking your trip to Six Flags Great Adventure! Wow! Kind of looks like a cross between Colossos and Balder!

I just came across this article which in essence say Six Flags is obligated to rebuild SFNO under their lease agreement with the city of New Orleans. Click to read the whole thing In a side note, there was an odd picture caption today with the submerged SFNO identified as Six Flags Great Adventure: Click to see Someone at Reuters should do some fact checking...

Cool, an excuse to eat at Carrabba's!

I just posted a construction update over at my site Check out that sexy track!

No such thing as a height exclusive. Parks may make exclusive deals for types or styles of rides, but no height deals. Parks would simply go to another manufacturer if that was the case. And, in this case SOB was built by RCCA and this is being built by INTAMIN. Obviously after they built Kingda Ka they have no qualms about or agreements not to, break their own records, let alone those of another manufacturer!

I can't wait to see it all again. I got to HOS every year at BGW and it is my favorite non-upcharge theme park Halloween event of them all. The shows are always great, and the walkthroughs are a bunch of fun too. I'm glad they brought back the pass to get to the head of the line...well worth the $20!

In land area, it's the second largest park in North America (maybe the world) with over 1300 acres. The only park I know for sure is bigger is the Disney Orlando property.