chadster

If I was a betting man, I'd say Silver Dollar City

huh..... Keep checking back throughout the weekend to find out what's to be unveiled....

Hmmmmm..... Check back throughout the weekend to see what's uncovered...

"No smoking or drinking during the game" Ride translates to 'game' in Chinese. The more you know.

Doh!

Tomorrow (Thursday Oct 25) Worlds of Fun will open at 6pm. If you want a shot at being on next year's Travel Channel Halloween special, head straight to Mamba where they will select riders to be featured!! The park will be busy, so get there early! Good Luck, and Good Haunting.

Officially it went back to Larson for 'storage' as they still owed money on it, but we all know how that ended up. I had thought the one at Lakeside was the old one from Bell's but I was assured it was brand new when installed. edit: a quick look at my photos show the one at lakeside is not the model in question.

I hope you all purchased your fright lane passes!

Thanks guys, glad you all love the pics!

When I was there for Holiwood nights I got the impression from the operating hours on Plunge that it might one day join the water park. The name change is slightly shocking. Makes total sense really.

^I'm afraid if I asked, they'd put me to work! (But would that really be a bad thing?)

Howdy Folks! Citizen Chadster back with some beautiful fall photos from Silver Dollar City. Fall has always been my favorite time of year and when the park posted that the leaves had turned I couldn't resist. It's also been about a month since my last update on Outlaw Run, and holy crap, what a difference a month makes! Not only do the fall colors compliment the ride well but they have gotten a ton of work done! Electrical is in, plumbing is in, the outside queue is going in, sensors are going in, and the running steel is going in at a rapid pace! I had a chance to talk with the train conductors (train was in the round house for repairs most of the day, but don't worry, they got me on for one trip!) and they too are extremely excited for Outlaw Run, especially having seen it from start to finish. The energy surrounding this ride couldn't be better! Anyway, if you want to see the park at all in it's fall colors this will most likely be the last week before the leaves, well, leave! Have a love and passion to see fall photos of SDC? Clicky Welcome to a beautiful fall Sunday at the park! We've been cleared for departure to wander around and take in the sights, sounds, and smells. You really couldn't ask for a much better setting. I wonder if they park could re-create this year round? Can you guess where this photo was taken? (Hint) Anyway, so continuing our journey we look out in to the distance. And gazed in wide wonder... At the joy I had found. Yes indeed fall is here, and everything just seems right with the world. Of course it helps that I was able to ride this beauty a dozen times. Hey, like I said, I'm a fall weather fanboy. 78 degrees is perfect weather for floating the channel. Something's going on by the BBQ restaurant, looks like they are adding a roof. I mean I guess it could be the start of a new movie theater, they do have similarities. Even Thunderation is getting in on all the action. Om nom nom nom nom After lunch it was off to peek through the fence. And check out the queue construction, tons of work going on, tons of work left to do. But the end is a ton closer than it was a year ago! Mr. Lift Hill is looking good. Is it ready yet? If you recognize this then you know what time it is! (Note: It's NOT tool time) (CLUE) That's right folks, for the 50th time this year (and only once today, sorry it was beyond my control)...It's TRAIN TIME! Over the river and through the woods to Outlaw Run we go Drum roll please Ta Da! Concession Stand! The ticketing area is coming along quite nicely. Did I mention how the colors throughout the park compliment the rides and attractions? I didn't think so. So I am mentioning it. And still practicing safety, the poles have their hard hats on. I should issue the poles a safety award. I love fall. I see you! Don't try to hide from us! WhooHoo! Looks like all the running steal is in place! Just look at that element. Still baffles my mind every time I see it. Simply amazing. But all good things must come to end as this train is speeding off. and off.... ...and yet further off. But we ended up in Pottersville, Mo, Population 4. Make that 3, I ran off to hug Outlaw Run. So since I couldn't shoot from the other side today I came up with this artistic photo to give you a sense of what it's like to ride the train? Can you feel the steam powered motion? But seriously, the folks on the train line are great people. I joked with them that I should get a part time job as I would need little training. Afterall I've gotten all of their scripts memorized. The switch over to Christmas is really going to throw me off with the reading of a Christmas tale instead of a train robbery. But no worries, I'll live She'll be coming round the mountain when she comes, she'll be coming round the mountain when she comes... Hey look, people are working on it today, cool! Lots of electrical and air lines/tanks are in place on the brake run. The transfer table also looks near completion. No trains were home yet. NERD SHOT!!! (I bet you were wondering when it was coming ) Hey look, it's a giant wooden wall!! Bye Outlaw Run...I can't wait to, um, ride you!! And now it's time for me to get back in my row boat. That's all I wrote folks, come back next time for more excitement!!

^Last I saw, it was still sitting in the lot across from the Mandalay Bay/Luxor.

Hopefully they will fix the mechanicals on it as well. In recent memory I don't think I've been at the park when they have not had to evac due to breakdown. Of course it never happens when I'm on it

Screamscape posted this article, which is quite lengthy, detailing the possible corruption (ya think?) by the Tourism board after receiving e-mail communication as a result of an open records request. Everything makes since, well it does but it doesn't. It seems the failed 'Ark' themed park still has not broken ground and needs an additional 44 million to even start phase 1 but yet had their tax rebate approved within 60 days, Bluegrass sailed through as well, despite neither having funding secured which was required of Hart. But, as the article pointed out, the Tourism board put off Hart's request to speak at a meeting because the Ark Encounter was speaking that weekend and they wouldn't have enough time. I'm sorry, but the boards we have in my little government organization make time and are not afraid to go over unless it interferes with another already scheduled public meeting. Hart's application for the rebate was then tossed in the trash because they thought "he was no longer interested". 4 revisions and months go by with not action and a catch 22. They required him to have a lease, the fair board required financing. The kicker, the same joker on the tourism board is on the fair board. With the Governor now saying maybe they should be out of the park business, I smell a Bell's Amusement park getting ready to happen.

Received a bounty of press releases this evening from the park on their wildly popular Christmas Event

The rumor is that you should be able to see the front car at a certain show coming up in a few weeks.

Well I guess since the cat's out of the bag...be on the look out for a Dinosaur sighting at the park, perhaps before the end of the season. Oh, and got this in the mail if anyone doesn't have a season pass and plans to go

Mack Wild Mouse = 7.5million New Prowler = 10million Refurbished Hurricane = 10million Something.Does.Not.Compute.

Bravo Megan, Bravo.

^Shockwave is about 65-70% complete. The station building is painted, but not the rails. About 1/2 of the lift is painted, transfer track is hit and miss. Track section from the drop after the MCBR and around the station also needs painted. The Intamin thingy is a long ways from being complete paint wise but is mostly blasted and ready for it with a small section having received a fresh coat. Seems they are not going over the sections with the same colors as before, i.e black is red, red is yellow, yellow is black or something like that. More very random and possibly non-interesting Six Flags foto's here. Train 2 was finally put on the rails around 2 on Sunday. "I can't believe it's that big!"

Yeah, I'm not really sure why Shark was acting up, the drop was smooth but after the immelmann it started to skid and bounce. Our resident Gerstlauer/Schwarz expert suggests salt buildup on the rails as possible reasoning as the entire ride isn't like that. I kinda wish I had ridden it when it was newer but I was waiting for the entire Pier opened up before visiting. Don't get me wrong, I'm not suggesting the ride is bad in the least, it's exciting from start to end, and the lap bars added to the experience, especially on the drop, just something was running afoul. Being as they currently offer a Fri-Sun pass for three attractions (Aquarium, Kemah, and PP) for $40, it shows they are trying to get the local crowd in, but IMHO even that price model is geared towards tourists. If they want to be open on Thursday evenings, which they could, perhaps a 17.95 entry fee couple with a local band or activity geared towards the tween market would bring them in. And by local I mean Galveston and Southern Houston area locals as coming from Northern Houston one would need to plan on an hour plus drive, even coming from Hobby took 50 minutes, and I was not exactly driving under the speed limit.

Any guesses as to what the new show will be?

But random kiddie credits are fun!

Back on Sept 27th I embarked on a crazy multi city by air tour that started in Houston. Arriving early in the morning I visited the Houston Zoo, stopped by It'z only to find out they recently(two weeks prior) removed their kiddie mouse coaster in lieu of about a dozen bowling lanes, and made my way to Galveston. Staying at the Holiday Inn Resort (25th and Seawall, not the one nearest the Pier) I had a nice view of the ocean (and pool, yay!) and a decent view of the Pier. Armed with my $2 discounted tickets purchased at the hotel I drove the short 2.5 miles and parked along the sea wall. Getting out I discovered the nice stench in the air that smelt like an indoor Alligator exhibit that had not had it's water changed in weeks. Later I would find that the smell is caused by seaweed and was told that it's much much worse during the middle of summer. Even though I had brought my swimsuit with me, I elected not to go for a swim as I didn't want to smell like bath water. Despite the foul odor I pushed on arriving to the ticket counter only to be met by a ticket agent who had no idea what to do with the pre-purchased ticket that is basically a gift card. After playing 20 questions on where I got the card a friendly girl stepped in and provided me with my wristband. The pier itself was dead with less than 30 paying customers peaking at what seemed to be 50 customers. Food and beverage prices were extremely high with only one location open (afterall, it's all they needed!) Talking with staff, who were incidentally very friendly and begging people to get on their respective rides, I found that the summer didn't yield the large crowds they were expecting. And while they tried being open Thur-Sun, this would be the final Thursday they were going to try to be open as they were losing money. A quick check of the calendar shows they are now closed mid month on Thursday's but open the 1st and last weeks of the month. Gotta give them credit for continuing to try! Overall the Pier is small, we all know that, and they crammed a ton of rides into a small space. So one can't complain that they don't have much to ride, for adults, maybe 10 rides. The price is rather steep and I feel they would fare better at a 22.95 or 21.95 admission price. Hotel staff suggested the Pier perhaps wasn't listening to patrons and hoped they would eventually adjust their pricing to attract more visitors as business for the hotel that I was in hadn't really seen much impact with the Pier's opening. I give them an A for effort, but overall the Pier gets a C+, and I love seaside parks, I just can't get much behind this one. So I'm sure you are tired of reading, so onward with foto's! The Pier was open on this day 4-10pm. Arriving just before sunset I found the pictures to be rather stunning. Bird and Shark collide! The beach is really nothing to write home about, though the surfers seemed to like it. It certainly wouldn't be a proper trip report without getting a view from the other side. A bar and restaurant a block up had more business than Bubba Gumps. Perhaps word got out about their 'fresh' fish. The Pier is colorful and has a warm welcoming entry. Tickets are sold separately for the wave swinger for those not wanting Pier admission and could be purchased from the restaurant. Walk under the grand entry and you are immediately greeted with the double horses in circles. On of the 4 food outlets on the pier...this one was closed. Pricing. I found most of the food items were available at each of the food outlets (judging by the signage of course) Another food outlet. Personally I would have not put in one of the outlets in place of additional rides, but that's just me. Don't quote me, but I believe they have around 8 kiddie rides. This, would be one of them. This gives you an idea of how crammed in everything is. And an idea of how dead it is. A Huss knock off, it looks small but packs a punch. Revolution sits to the right and I have to admit, is one of the best rides on the pier running a really nice and varying ride program. And then we come to the Shark. Good things come in small packages. The ride has just about every element you would want. The 'beyond 90 degree drop' was OMFG amazing. But much like the one at Canobie Lake, I found the front row to be rather rough. The back, middle two seats is where it's at. How did I come to this conclusion you ask? Well, let's just say I had the chance to ride in each seat. Multiple times over. NERD SHOT! The person manning the photo booth kept track of my rides but then lost count after 50. They are pretty sure that's the record as most people can't ride more than 3 or 4 times. The main reason is this section of track. Right about here the car shimmies and shakes and in the transition rattles. It really isn't a pleasurable point. Alas how I found out the back row is much better. The ride ops agree. Don't get me wrong, the ride grew on me but the transitions were not near as smooth as they look they should be. The LED light package is also quite nice. NOTED! No waiting. The ride towers 230 feet into the air. Winds were hitting 25mph at the top. The Pier shuts the ride at 30, the ride shuts itself at 35mph. Sitting one to a seat the chairs whip around quite a lot but does provide for a nice odor free view. Wheel of fortune. Not my favorite ride type, but it was ok. Oh yeah, not an acceptable amount of wetness. Again, standard model. I think I snapped about 200 fotos to get the color schemes in sync. The Rock n Roll gets an A Why? Because it runs both directions! And they weren't afraid to run it full speed either! So I spent about 3 hours there, which, was, well, 2 hours longer than necessary, hence all of the rides on Iron Shark which resulted in a nasty headache. The Pier has a long way to go in marketing and pricing in order for it to be successful. They've spent a ton of money on it to not be successful. But overall, save for Iron Shark, it was open up the Chance ride catalog and pick and choose standard rides and themes. Would I go out of my way to hit the place, probably not. It's just lacking that Pier feel and atmosphere that you find elsewhere. Could they create that feel, sure, but the pricing is preventing that. If they cut pricing across the board by 20% it will still be too high, but it would be closer to what it should be. The target market of this pier certainly isn't the tourist, it's the locals, and the sooner they realize this, the sooner they will be better off.