SbSteveZ

A new ride(s) is all but confirmed already... It will be pretty much made official next Thursday if that article was true. Which I understand there’s a chance it’s false but the writing on the wall is pointing to a rather large addition for the park - relatively speaking While I’m at it, we have a new article today that Chris Thorpe was interviewed for. http://www.thedailynewsonline.com/bdn01/darien-lake-keeps-next-ride-a-secret-for-now-20171005

According to RCDB and a quick google search, Kanonen was about 6.2 million to build in 2005. I’d assume as a used attraction (not counting transportation) it would run for a little less. Maybe 4.5 is right in that sweet spot. But then again, there’s transportation costs and demolition if applicable. I wonder how the size of that coaster compares to the plot of land currently occupied by Thunder Rapids.

I hope you don't gamble. Same concept. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gambler%27s_fallacy Guilty as charged! EDIT: “Besides the O-AT-KA request, the Genesee County Economic Development Center’s directors will consider an application from Darien Lake Theme Park for tax breaks that will help finance a $4.5 million investment in a new ride, set to debut next year. Darien Lake’s request for tax breaks will be the subject of a formal board vote in November, if they accept the application on Thursday. In the past few years, Darien Lake has invested more than $15 million in new rides and attractions.” https://www.bizjournals.com/buffalo/news/2017/10/03/o-at-ka-darien-lake-proposing-expansion-plans-in.html Not sure how reliable the source is but 4.5 million does seem to be a large chunk of change compared to the past few additions to the park. For reference, motocoaster cost 3.4 million back in 2008.

The majority of the boats were out along the side of the queue house. they were visible from the Mind Eraser Bridge. I didn’t check by the “marina” with the lift but I don’t remember there being more than 6 or 7 boats in service. So I doubt there was anything in there

I did notice the conveyor belt missing from the lift hill, and I also noticed that on the concrete hill between the large drop and the station, there are a few pink markings, but I don’t know if it has anything to do with removal. I noticed those pink markings too. They were all around the ride. I at first only saw be one right by the turn around but after spending a little time checking out the area I found many many more! Unfortunately because of their placement I could only get pictures of two of them. I think it’s safe to say that something is happening to thunder rapids. Though I wouldn’t jump to conclusions just yet, it is interesting to see. EDIT: it should also be worth noting that it was the only in-park water attraction to be completely drained.

Not necessarily... Motocoaster was announced in January, although it didnt need much site prep obciously. ROS was announced in December 1998, but again, no demolition required. I hunt out near the park, so if I notice it disappearing during the offseason ill obviously post it. You are correct, but site prep and footers need to be poured so construction can start. Motocoaster did not require footers as it is a portable model and was placed on a slab of existing concrete and stone fill. ROS was announced in December, but those footers and site prep were done well before that announcement. Footers for Valravn weren’t in place until October if I remember correctly, and odds are if there is any sort of new coaster at Darien Lake, it’s not gonna be some 223’ tall megacoaster, with that being said I’d imagine it could be possible that they’re waiting for the season to end before they do anything. Darien Lake has a tendency to quietly do things. Like quietly removing raging seas, UFO, and ranger. They also like to withhold their announcements until past the new year minus the boardwalk announcement which I believe was right around the last month of operation in 2012. That being said, maybe it’s possible.I just hope if it is a possibility that the rest of the park updates that need to happen aren’t neglected again (mind eraser should really have a finished paint job...)

The only thing that makes me think that the removal of thunder rapids is even a possibility is that the (I believe) smaller loft hill was stripped of its conveyor belt lift system. I’m not sure how common that is, but that was really the only thing about it that I noticed. We already have the screamscape rumor of the multi inversion coaster. But if it were even somewhat legitimate, wouldn’t it make sense to put it somewhere else? I hate to jump on the speculation Band wagon but maybe Darien Lake will surprise us in 2018. After all, it will officially be 10 years since their last coaster addition... EDIT: with no relation to my post, here’s some Darien Lake pictures from today!

I didn't know they had a lazor show. I would've stayed had I known. They sure do! “Ignite the Night: Colorblast” as they call it now. It runs nightly when the park closes at 10:00 and then during harvest fest they have it on Saturdays at 8, even though the park closes at 7. I’m not sure how that works but I’ll be finding out this weekend!

^ im glad you guys enjoyed your visit! It’s really too bad you weren’t able to stay for the laser show, but you did get on moose on the loose - which some would argue is more important

In my first two ever visits to the park, on August 20th and August 21, there was a line even for the Arrow, Viper, at 11 AM. Park opened at 10 AM Monday morning and there was about a 45 minute wait for the Motocoaster as well.. I was surprised after seeing this park get slammed on this forum so much that the park was packed in very late August. Never trust this thread when it comes to the quality or popularity of Darien Lake. I’ve defended this park countless times to no avail. It’s got potential and it has some great features! I’ve been lucky enough to visit on the calmer days but busy days are just as fun if you play your cards right! Of course, it all depends on the crowd unfortunately. Sometimes concerts attract a rowdy bunch. But that’s the good thing. When the concert starts, the rowdy bunches leave to the PAC!

It would appear as though the carload sale is back! Maybe I’m just oblivious but I don’t remember them doing a carload sale since 2008. Who knows. Maybe I’m wrong. Either way, they’ve had quite a few sales for tickets this year. I wonder if any of them have helped boost attendance enough to warrant any sort of “larger” investments in the eyes of the new owners...

So yesterday I officially made the jump and purchased a Platinum Pass, because with what Cedar Fair has to offer next year I’d be crazy not to get one, but I have a question in relation to it. The website said you get one visit during 2017 but I wasn’t sure, is that including Halloweekends? Or is that offer officially over and the website just needs to be updated? I don’t want to drive all the way out to the park (it’s only 4 hours away but still) to discover that the ticket I thought I had doesn’t exist. Also, just to confirm, you do have to go to the physical season pass office to register for your card, right? They made me upload a picture upon purchasing which made me think maybe they send it to me, but at the same time when I get passes for DL they make me go in to get it. Of course I’m comparing apples to oranges but I’d rather be safe than sorry. thanks!

I almost wonder if they’re gonna keep it a Halloween thing or if it’s successful enough, maybe make it permanent? Also, thank you all for the new avatar idea. I’m pretty proud of it

^ Nice edits! Im a big fan of artsy fartsy Darien Lake pictures. The park for the most part is really beautiful (of course I’m probably just being bias but Viper to me is one of the most beautiful rides out there).

What downtime? 98% of the time, the ride sits in the station because no one wants to ride it. Most rides at Darien Lake are fairly reliable and not known for being fitty except for Ride of Steel, Silver Bullet and Rolling Thunder. Sure Boomerang was having hydraulic issues but for the most part last season they kept it open. The reverse lift was awfully slow but they had it open and that’s what matters. This year, they fixed the issue and it was running fine until the chain broke. Which is pretty common unfortunately. You ever hear the saying “you’re only as strong as your weakest link”? Guess where it comes from. Chains! And they can’t do stress testing on each link for each coaster every day. It’s not feesable. Also, before anyone pulls the “obviously this would happen at Darien Lake, they don’t maintain their rides” card: Cedar Point had issues with Gatekeeper’s chain a couple times, as well as dragster’s launch cable. It happens everywhere at parks of all shapes and sizes. I’m sure Boomerang will get the repairs it needs in due time. And I’m sure no one is gonna miss it if the coaster needs a little extra down time and doesn’t open for the rest of 2017. But as I stress ALL THE TIME here, just because it’s down for a while, say it with me, does not mean it’s destined to be removed.

^ Bommerang indeed has had issues in the past, the most recent one being the hydraulic leak that the coaster suffered last season and the season prior. They seemed to fix it this year and it is now pretty unfortunate that it is now facing a totally different but still major issue. Fun fact: Boomerang turns 20 next year!

It would appear as though our Boomerang has run into another issue. It’s chain has snapped. Update via Reddit and the Amusement Parkrats (because it’s important to cite your sources ladies and gents). Who knows when it will be fixed, but there you have it!

One would expect that with each new season you go in expecting improvements that should or could be addressed as far as in operations and aesthetics but yet again seems to have taken a turn in the wrong direction. Lack of new paint and cracked pavement may just seem cosmetic to some but to others it conveys an image of the owners not taking care of the park. Nothing quite like seeing rust develop on coaster track. Sad to hear the operations have continued to be lackluster this year. It doesn't help that the park has been run by at least three different operators in a ten year span. I take the new owners are just as tight with the wallet at CNL was. Rust on the track? I’m assuming you’re referring to Mind Eraser. Let’s put it this way. Mind Eraser isn’t showing rust because it’s been neglected for 20 years. It’s showing rust because they sprayed the track to prepare it for repainting a couple years ago. And they were in the process of repainting the Coaster (as you can see for yourself) until CNL deemed other projects more pertinent and pulled funding from that project. That’s why the ride looks the way it does. It’s not the best case scenario for the Coaster but again, it was in the process of getting the care it needed before a company that now no loner operates the park decided to pull funding, stopping the project dead in its tracks. Keep in mind since 2010 they have repainted Boomerang AND Viper. The reasoning for not painting ROS is pretty simple, that ride isn’t as easily seen by the GP from inside the park. It can afford to fade a little more before it’s in “desperate” need of a fresh coat. Keeping in mind the crazy large price tag on a project like that, it’s not really surprising that it hasn’t been done yet. Also. They invested in a new train for the Ride of Steel. A great thing to do- but it came with a hefty price. They also refurbished both of the operable Viper trains in time for its anniversary this year. Sure, the station could use some work, but at the end of the day does it really make or break the coaster? No. No it does not. As for two train operations. Be honest. The park doesn’t need them. Sure I’d also love them, and lines would fly there if we had them again, but most of the time, the park can run just fine with one train on all of its coasters. Considering they’d have to fork out another MILLION dollars for a second ROS train, and however much more for a new Motocoaster train and mind Eraser train, that’s a large sum of cash. A large sum this park just doesn’t have right now. Plus. What do we think the guests would rather have? Two train operations or steady investments to the rest of the park? Rip curl Racer, Brain Drain, Rolling Thunder, Rowdy’s Ridge, The Boardwalk, plus the new lasershow revamp in 2013 and 2016, these are things that the GP can and will see as a new fun reason to come to Darien Lake. Not a second train on an SLC. You know? This year the park made several upgrades. The new games, Darien Lake Photos, as well as the addition of Day/Season Photopasses similar to Cedar Fair’s FunPix, and the DareDevil Pass add on. These along with the Play Like a Kid / Play Like a Kid promotion are pretty great enhancements for the park to make, especially during a year of transition. It’s not like they left the park to die this year. They’re doing what they can. Plus, we already saw that EPR is willing to spend the money and take the time to try and fix these rides and get them moving again. Twister was SBNO for what, 3 years? It opened again to the public this year! Plus they have been working on Silver Bullet and Thunder Rapids as much as they could have to get the rides going. Just because it isn’t running when you’re there, by no means implies that it’s done for. These are mechanical creations. A lot of them are prototypes or installments from companies that don’t exist anymore. They’re becoming more and more expensive to maintain. Yet, the park is still trying. And that to me says something in a much more optimistic light than what people here have been making it out to be all season. In the end, I understand that Darien Lake is not the best park in the world, but looking at what they’re doing, and how they’re trying as best they can (in my opinion) to get back on their feet, especially with the throws of having yet another new owner. I’d say they’re doing a fine job. Sincerely, Steve “Will You Just Give The Park a Break Already” Zehler

Me too

Historically - at least over the past few years - they haven’t gone to the planning board until January or so. Granted, the past handful of additions have all been small.

If they showed the full POV then personally I wouldn't say they trolled people at all. I agree about Iron Dragon. I hate VR, but they have a great system of doing it (with plenty of time to ride Iron Dragon normally throughout the day without having to deal with the lines) and the VR itself is pretty awesome. Plus, doesn’t it seem like a massive waste of time to go through over 200 contest entries, invite 50 of them to the park, put together a fake POV after making everyone of those 50 guests (though I believe there were only 35 or so of us there) go through a security check restricting all electronic devices... just to troll people? What good would that do for the park, you know? sure. Anyone can make a POV. But this one was as you’d expect, was professionally done and HQ. why would they pay someone to make a fake POV? My experience with the sneak peek was really fun. Everyone was very sociable by where I was sitting (second row on the stage left side) and super excited to be there. Tony was awesome as always, and the POV was really cool to see especially knowing that only the people in the room were the ones who had the ability to do so before the actual announcement. I really appreciated the ability to be there and I’m very honored I was chosen, as I’m sure at least most of the other winners also felt. With that being said, I again don’t think Cedar Point would fake it to announce something totally different three days later. (And since I know you read these from time to time, Tony - thanks for the opportunity! I loved it!)

^ ditto As I mentioned before on this thread, it seems that people see a ride with occasional down time at the park, and they interpret it as a ride that’s certainly going to be removed and replaced by a new rollercoaster (we’ve seen this for a few years now with Twister. This year it’s been Twister, Silver Bullet, Thunder Rapids, etc.). I don’t understand why this is happening but at the same time I’ve stopped questioning it because at the end of the day, all will play out for the park eventually

I’m also happy to say that I’ll be at the sneak peek, as well as the actual announcement a few days later! As macman mentioned, we aren’t allowed to share event details until after the fact but regardless it’s incredibly exciting! If it works, I’ll post my submission too - I’m pretty proud of it!

^ it would appear that you and I have had very different experiences with Twister this season. Every time I’ve been there this year (minus the first two visits) twister has been up and running without a problem! The funny thing is the only issue I encountered was one of the ride ops didn’t actually know they had to press a certain button to clear the ride and they called maintenance for it. Otherwise it’s been fine! The fountain in front of it on the other hand? Not so much. Which is a shame because it looks nice when it’s working! Let’s just hope that Twister, Motocoaster, TR and any other ride that has been closed a couple times this season won’t be scrapped like a lot of people here have been suggesting recently... in my humble opinion, why not just give Darien a chance to get rides open? I know Twister and TR arent the most cooperative attractions this year but that doesn’t mean they’re gonna be ripped out, you know? (And this isn’t a jab at anyone in particular, I promise)