Intimidator305

Agreed - You shouldn't have a problem at all with I-64 (unless there's an accident) or I-295. However, I-95 might be a little stop-and-go, but that's the normal between Richmond and DC, and probably still faster than Route 30. Welcome to Virginia!

I decided to do a very quick, rough mock up Shockwave replacement based on the heaviest rumors - a new enterprise, SlingShot, and a Disk'O coaster. All of the rides are to scale in this and could easily all fit. I'm still thinking with them removing Shockwave, a new medium sized coaster could be coming - the footprint is much larger than people realize. I didn't include a HUSS Frisbee as that has been a KD fanboy rumor for about a decade now and seems like that's about all the credibility it still has now.

One thing I must give Shockwave credit for is its reliability. Back when John Pagel was at Kings Dominion (former PR Manager), he said multiple times that it was known as one of the most reliable rides in the park. And to be honest, like Chuck has said, the first part of the ride isn't bad as it has a nice drop, loop, and airtime. Actually, the ride itself isn't bad in my opinion (has some strong forces to it), I've just always hated the concept of a standup - even on the big and small B&M's. I slightly liked Shockwave more than Mantis - but of course preferred the seating on Mantis as it didn't look and feel like a death trap.

^ I have a strong feeling like this guy was reading this exact forum while doing the voiceover for that video, hahah.

There probably needs to be an Elsa in every section of the park. Might as well re-theme this park to Frozen during the renovations - at least then it could have a solid park icon once again! Thanks for sharing, Robb!

^ I looked it up just to make sure - according to close sources with the park it cost $54 million total. It's an outrageous number, but I definitely believe it if you think of the site excavation that had to be done for the event building, the warehouse for the event building, the theming, and the design and engineering for the 'drop'.

^ I believe if Kings Dominion had the choice they would get rid of the racing theme and tie it into Safari Village somehow when and if they change the name. I do believe Carowinds would choose to keep the racing theme. However, it all depends on what Cedar Fair wants to do from a financial standpoint. If Cedar Fair is not willing to put the money forward for a decent re-theme, expect a generic racing theme which wouldn't be bad and would be a lot easier to get used to. I expect if they're not willing to pay for licensing, they might not be interested in paying for lots of new theming. If the rides were to get a good new theme though, I'd imagine merchandise sales would go up once again. It would take quite a bit of work and money on both Intimidators if they were to go with a whole different theme. The concrete tunnels, gift shops themed to garages, station style, race car train paint jobs, and plaza checked flag pavers come to mind. Everyone please keep in mind though none of this could happen! Just enthusiasts getting excited over a 40% off sale in gift-shops currently.

Since 2010 SOME entertainment, food quality, general park upkeep, Summer/Halloween events, and investments have not been up to the BGW expectations that they set in the 2000's. Much of this can be blamed for the company's financial struggles, but much are just head scratchers to me. Entertainment - Entwined, London Rocks, London Rocks Version 2, the slutty nurse show outcry, need I say more? I'm not even much of a Broadway critique and often find cheesy Cedar Fair shows okay to sit through but some of BGW's latest attempts have been way below their par. Food Quality - Keep Food & Wine around all summer because that's the diverse type of food the park should have. The park's food selection year-round is still better than your typical amusement park food, but it has slowly diminished in my opinion. Granted, I haven't tried every dish or even place in the park, but I haven't been very impressed by the changes I have seen the past several years. General park upkeep - Festa Italia is looking rough, Apollo's Chariot has needed paint for years, and just out of place additions happen all the time (that London Rocks facade is hideous). The park gets voted "Most Beautiful Park in the World" year after year (yes, we all know these are rigged by now though), but live up to the name and continue investing in upkeep, landscaping, ect. I'd love to see competition for KD's Spring Bloom something along the lines of Epcot's Flower and Garden Festival mixed in with Food & Wine. Summer Events - Illuminights made the park look like a high school homecoming parade for 2 months during peak season and made one of the most beautiful park's in the country look straight up trashy in some parts. Not all, but most of the shows were laughable but seemed like they were popular enough the first few years. Now with Star-Spangled Nights - it is an American themed event for a European themed park. Not only does it not make too much sense, but I could go with it if it was done nicely (same with Illuminights). Rather than putting up a Statue of Liberty, Christmas garland, cheap stands that look like shady Firework vendors in Italy find a happy alternative. I get the point of wanting a summer event to market, but maybe going with something more generic like Summer Nights at BGT is a better idea. Finally, they end these events even before saying they'll end as the park looks 100% Howl-O-Scream by Labor Day weekend anyways. Howl-O-Scream - Rarely money invested in new mazes. BGT's Haunt is one of the best in the country and BGW's is slowly getting to the point where it is less scary than your local corn maze. I get that the park went through a family-friendly phase, but now that they're back going for the scares, do it well this year! As I said a page back, it seems like Bitten, Catacombs, ect. have been at the park forever - if you're going to keep them at least give them an upgrade. It hurts me to see this event weaken and Halloween Haunt at Kings Dominion gets better (and foggier) every season under Cedar Fair. I have high hopes this year that it will get the two new mazes this season to replace 13 and ROAE. With the capacity struggles they have though, why not add mazes rather than have the same amount or one less than 2014? Investments - Mach Tower... mechanical nightmare and has brakes halfway up the tower. Might as well be converted into an observation tower if the drop parts are what keeping this ride from being open. It's down more than Volcano at Kings Dominion - that's when you know. Verbolten was nearly 50 million dollars apparently? With a company that saw financial struggles in the beginning why on earth add a 50 million FAMILY coaster? Cheetah Hunt was just over 20 million and is a heck of a lot better family ride in my opinion - especially aesthetically. Finally, Tempesto - but everyone knows everyone's feelings towards that Six Flags clone. Okay, mini-rant over. Please keep in mind I still love the park, have season-passes, and hope the company rebounds from the financial struggles it has been having. They have been doing plenty right too I might add with Christmas Town and Food & Wine. With many changes in the big-wig departments of the park, I expect this season and next season to be a time of transition, but I believe BGW will be just fine in the long run. These aren't all major problems I might add, their attendance is still great and all of these problems are just from a nitpicky enthusiast standpoint.

For now on I'm going to blame my dislike of coasters on the color schemes... Loch Ness Monster - brown and yellow? Gross! Anaconda - red, forest green, and yellow rails? Eww! Hurler - natural wood? Disgusting! And to touch on the Intimidator 305 color scheme... Although it doesn't necessarily fit the theme perfectly, I feel like it did just what the park wanted it to do by 'popping' in the park's skyline. Being in the very back corner of the park I feel like the yellow does a good job catching the eye compared to a gray, white, neutral color would. For being the park's signature coaster I like how the yellow pops out and is quite bold in comparison to I232's bland gray. With that said I just hope they keep it painted and don't let it go 12+ seasons like TTD at Cedar Point because its yellow and red looks awful currently.

If you liked the park that much now, you should have visited back in 2009 before 'weird' things started happening! I'm excited to hear your full trip reports on the parks - it sounds like you had a pretty good time! PS: Sorry you had to witness the beautiful Italy/San Marco areas decked out in cheesy Walmart 4th of July decorations.

Kings Dominion is in a new era now with Matt Ouimet - just look at all the attention to detail they have done with 2013's addition of Planet Snoopy, 2014's appreciation of the past with the 40th Anniversary, and 2015's spectacular looking Soak City. With that said, theming seems to be more important to the park now and I doubt will see another theming disaster. Intimidator 305 could easily be renamed and re-themed. All it takes is Cedar Fair and/or Dale Earnhardt Inc not wanting to resign the contact. It has been a rumor since 2010 that the initial contract ends at the end of the 2015 season - so maybe one or both parties did not want to sign another one? Remember, it is costing Cedar Fair money to have that name and maybe they don't see it worth it - especially now that merchandise isn't as hot 6 seasons later and Intimidator at Carowinds isn't the headliner anymore (cough cough Fury). And if they are to bring back an old name to the Candy Apple Grove for a coaster in Shockwave's spot I'd imagine it being 'Galaxie', the coaster that was in that location before Shockwave although I doubt they would ever do that.

^ Very doubtful that they would go with the name King Cobra in the middle of Candy Apple Grove. It is definitely a name fit for Safari Village. Also, it appears that both Intimidator 305 and Intimidator 232's gift shops have 40% off most of the merchandise. Could we be seeing a rename of the two coasters? You might remember Nickelodeon merchandise went 40% off in 2009 right about this time of the year too as the parks prepared for Planet Snoopys. If I recall correctly, the rumor was that the 'Intimidator' Dale Earnhardt original contract was through 2015 so maybe they're not resigning the contract. If we are in fact looking at a rename and possible re-theme I believe the two rides will get the separate identities that they deserve. Although I'm not a big fan of renaming signature roller coasters, I've liked what I have seen recently from Cedar Fair theming wise (especially the Banshee/Fury additions), so it could work in our favor in the long run. Although it would be fairly pricey to re-theme the entire Intimidator plazas, it would be quite something if the park were to bring back the King Cobra name for Kings Dominion and White Lightnin' name for Carowinds. However, if the names are changed I'd imagine the themes would still be racing considering the amount of theming both rides have.

Considering Root of All Evil and 13: Your Numbers Up aren't listed on the HOS website I definitely believe we'll be seeing one or even both of them replaced. I doubt we'll see a new Terror-tory this season as they got Wendigo Woods last year and all of them are listed on the website as if they're coming back. It sure seems like Catacombs and Bitten have been at the park forever... I hope they get freshened up or a new twist to them this season as they've really been lacking the past several seasons. Even though Root of All Evil lacked in scares I did appreciate the unique theme for a park haunt.

So. Many. Colors. Looks like a bag of Skittles in that part of the park! And the line will always be long for Tempesto because loading/unloading takes forever. Has anyone heard anymore rumors about Howl-O-Scream this season? - besides the park's teasers.

Excellent point - I tend to forget about SkyTower since I haven't seen it open in years. I have very bad luck with that ride. So that makes the park icon, 3 coasters, 3 (soon to be 4) areas of the park with the name 'Carolina'.

http://tmsearch.uspto.gov/bin/showfield?f=doc&state=4802:l9oijr.2.1

2016 "Big Splash" news - "Carolina Harbor" trademark was just filed so that pretty much confirms a water park retheme. Carowinds is the home of... Carolina Showplace Carolina Boardwalk Carolina RFD Carolina Cyclone Carolina Cobra And now Carolina Harbor I like the name don't get me wrong, but 'Carolina' is smacked onto 3 areas of the park and 2 coasters already.

I couldn't disagree more... In 2013 Kings Dominion spent 8-9 million renovating and adding to their kids area with 8 new rides. It is one of the nicest Planet Snoopys in the chain now. With the park not getting a thrill ride since Windseeker in 2012 (Intimidator 305 in 2010 if you want to call Windseeker a family ride) and losing a thrill ride now I'm almost certain this will be a family/thrill ride(s) replacement and nothing as far as kiddie rides go. Also, if the rumors hold true expect a SlingShot somewhere in the park next season.

This should be a perfect fit for this park - I'm all down for parks of this size adding these. As far as I know, there have been no troubles on Superman at SFDK yet and I hope these continue to be reliable rides years down the road since so many parks are investing in them!

Oh, I totally understand why the comfort collars are there, but it doesn't change my opinion on them. With this making the news, it only makes them seem worse. I can't believe it took this long to make the news actually (even though this isn't news). Before these news headlines broke, while at the park I have heard multiple people saying that their "restraint came undone during the ride" around the park, have seen a train come in the station where someone's was completely undone, and one of my friends' has also come undone. Not only that, but I had seen a few Facebook posts about it. Now that the headlines have broke through the local news outlets, dozens of people are saying it has happened to them in the comments sections and other forums. If the whole purpose of these comfort collars are to 'comfort' riders, then they should at least 'comfort' riders and not come undone. I know they're the most pointless restraints ever, but if mine ever came undone on the ride I'd even find it rather uncomfortable that the restraints were flying into my face. If the park is going to keep them, they need to be fixed. With this happening to who knows how many riders, I'm sure the park knows about the issue and is working with Premier for a solution. At the current moment with word getting around, I bet these restraints are actually keeping more people away from riding the ride rather than convincing them to ride the ride...

I'd love any of these options! All better than what Shockwave is. Not so sure a dining hall would do well though and I doubt KD would ever replace a coaster with a dining hall - they'd never hear the end of that. Not sure I agree with this - KD has been ahead of BGW since 2008 with Dominator and if there was any doubt then they've definitely been more thrilling since Intimidator. Heck, even Windseeker is more thrilling than Mach Tower. Sorry, not trying to start another BGW vs. KD war. From my standpoint though, yes BGW has added Verbolten and Tempesto since Intimidator 305. With Tempesto being a cheap ride, I guarantee BGW already has their next coaster in the works for a few years down the road so KD needs to add a coaster soon to show that they're still catering to thrill-seekers and to hold the Virginia thrill park crown.

I went on Flying Ace without kids not too long ago and saw tons of adults riding it when I was there a 2 weeks ago? Edit: The park's website says...

Rumor has it Cedar Point opened up a plot of land where the Good Time Theater/Dodgem were for Shockwave due to their lack of stand-up coaster now. Edit - http://www.richmond.com/business/local/article_751d0234-a8bc-584c-b043-728a992a2502.html According the Richmond Times-Dispatch So 2 things to take from this quote: 1.) August announcement 2.) The site will be used for 2016 and not sit empty until 2017

If a coaster isn't replacing ShockWave, I believe we could definitely see a Disk'O coaster. To be honest though, with it being removed so early in the season it is only because of one of these reasons: 1) New coaster OR 2) Sold and moved to another chain/park by a certain date.

To be fair, ANYTHING can happen with it closing this early! Remember dismantling of Disaster Transport didn't begin until August 6th for GateKeeper. I'm not saying expect a GateKeeper sized coaster, but with the August 9th removal date it definitely seems like they're making way for something of significant value in 2016.