The Alex

There's no way it's opening. Especially after this. Arnie Fielkow wants to build a WDW-esque sports complex in its place.

Tatum is correct. SFI does not own the rides that were intact before their management of the park. This includes everything but Jester, BTR, and the three flats built for the Gotham City area. So when they removed MegaZeph's Gerstlauer trains, moved them to SFSTL, stripped them of spare parts and left them to rot in the park's boneyard, you can safely deduce that it wasn't really supposed to happen. That is, unless SFI purchased their own brand new Gtrains for Zephy. Which they wouldn't have done. The park wasn't great, but it was something. I personally know a LOT of people who wanted the park back. I did rallying to support Danny Rogers the first time he tried to get it going, and it got a pretty strong following from teenagers in New Orleans. Nonetheless, it's a poorly-designed park built in the worst possible location in a city that can't support it 100%. In the words of Kurt Vonnegut, "so it goes".

I emailed BB/DL a few months ago inquiring about the new stuff, and they emailed me back with a nice little snippet of park lingo. The expansion is going to happen over a couple of years. At this point, they're just doing "preliminary site work, for future expansions with the Army Corps of Engineers." So it's going to happen, but not yet. There is nothing new for 2009. I wouldn't get my hopes up for the new coaster. Either a small M&V woodie, or maybe something S&S.... El Loco?

Heartline-rolled lift FTW! Now we need the proposed Aquatrax section to be built.

So, they basically just asked themselves how to epically fail for a second time...right? Belated April Fool's? Good God.

Yeti, Megazeph got a rehab over the 2004 off-season. That thing was flying around the course up until closing week before the storm...SFI also retracked the double-up, which took some punch out of it. Ohwell, now it's just a huge lawn ornament.

Agreeing with SharkTums, it was good. The Gerstlauer trains are probably what did her wrong in the long run. If CCI had used PTCs.......hmmm.... Nice pictures!

Not to bud in, but that was kind of rude..no? He tries something different, and he did just that. This is different. Coastb2, this was very creative! How do you do invisible tracks?

I checked the SFNO forums today and Mr. Rogers gave everybody an...interesting...and insightful update on what's going on. I added spaces to the post just to organize it's appearance, but this is the exact post. I'm going to believe that he's trying, but I'm going to seriously doubt that he'll get far with it. This just isn't the time that New Orleans is going to buy into this. As if they would in any other circumstance...but the park is there, which means they believed it once. In my heart, I want this to happen. From an economic standpoint, no can do. Thoughts?

That is REALLY interesting. Thanks for sharing. I hope somebody can clear this up/add to the conversation.

WOOO. It's so beautiful. I wish I could go to Germany.

The sharing of Stengel's designing skill is only one possible reason. Schwarzkopf also created this track type due to it's strength (compared to the sandard bi-rail track type). Only two Schwarzkopfs use this: Mindbender @ SFOG and Shockwave @ SFOT. They were designed as PERMANENT installations. The stronger track allowed for fewer supports spread out over greater distances, which is exactly what Intamin does with Kingda Ka, TTD, or any other launch with a tophat. Basically, it's because he wanted it that way.

Hopefully they'll have better opperations than what Thorpe has done for Saw.

Downloading tonight! This looks fun :]

Well, that's awesome. Now let's get the thing built! Does anybody know the manufacturer yet? I think it's either B&M or Vekoma..

MegaZeph. OHWAIT, nevermind. Starliner. Ozarka Wildcat. Twisted Twins. I'm bad at this.

This things gets more and more awesome everytime I see it. Germany, I'm coming for you. So nobody knows the real speed of this thing?

Jeff Johnson, you have convinced me. The more I look back, the less I believe this. Whatevs, I'll post whatever happens for the review of the board. Have a good one! Alex

^ True, but SFI wants out of this deal entirely. New Orleans is holding the 75-year lease of their head, so SFI really can't do anything unless it benefits the park. They're supposed to use insurance money and reopen it to pre-storm condition. They won't. As for SFA#1fan, how'd you know?

Yeah, it's pretty bad grammar. And the whole plan is pretty much impossible. But he has heart for it. Although he could spend his money and energy on better things at this point. But I'll support it if he'll do it, unless it's ludicrous.

Just found this earlier, and I'm very interested. I'll warn you, it's long and dense. But very, very informative. I'll keep you posted with new updates. Have a good one, Alex

I saw this earlier this morning and thought I'd post it, but you beat me. I think SFI is probably safe for 2009, and possibly '10. But I'm not going to try and predict their moves. Here's to a good season.

QueerRudie has this thing down. No questions asked. I don't think Cedar Fair would pick the park up. Maybe, just maybe under the right circumstances. But if this goes up for sale, I don't see anybody taking it with this economy. I put my vote on PARC.

I'm surprised this park wasn't given a Tony Hawk's Big Spin or a Dark Knight. Seriously, it needs more flats for starters. It'd be nice to have a B&M anything at the park. But that's WISHFUL THINKING and WILL NOT happen under the current SFI management, unless they find something used that they can transport (HINT: It won't be Led Zeppelin). Is it safe to call this park the runt of the SFI family? Not being harsh, just trying to find a metaphor. Why didn't SFI sell this off?

My homepark was SFNO--RIP, I guess--but now it's the Carousel Gardens at City Park. It's a nifty little place :]