Solid Gold

Maybe Impossible is way too harsh, but looking at the case against its reopening... 5 of these coasters have closed this decade (3 in Japan, Astroworld, and Great America). The one in Texas has been rotting in a field for 5 years. Turbine at Walibi has also been SBNO this season (Noise concerns I think though?). That makes 5/12 of these gone or in critical condition, 2 more SBNO. There are also three more operating that have been moved from their original location, for whatever reason (Probably just becase they're cheap to move). While I would take one Shwartz Shuttle loop for 50 Vekoma Boomerangs, they are 30 year old rides and I am under the impression no one is creating cheap parts to keep these open. For a park that is planning on keeping whole sections of the complex closed in order to save money, the chances they keep the ride really don't look good from the outside.

Finally, fully confirmed Intamin track. Can't wait to see the press release and associated artwork.

Sooooooo many directions to go with this park. And I think Hart is hitting it RIGHT on. Doubling the waterpark is a fantastic addition (as long as that doesn't happen in just one or two years). That's the one area I think competing with the other regional parks is an absolute must. I completely agree that the waterpark at KK should be a little bigger than Boomerang Bay but maybe not as big as Splashing Safari. They should NOT try to compete with Holiday World in Waterpark size or Kings Island for coaster wars, those parks are simply going to win those battles in the early future. Carving a space with a waterpark that can keep the locals home is just perfect. A waterpark expansion, T2, Thunder Run (absolutely spend money on both of these to keep them in top form), the Kiddie coaster and the other rides is going to work for that market. TT and Greezed Lightning do look from the outside like losses (keep in mind Greezed Lightning is basically impossible at this point to maintain). I'm sure Ed will come up with a great solution for the two dead areas of the park, something none of us could predict at this point. I'd go really really big on one main coaster next (as soon as possible, year 2,3 or 4). Really big. I think this is essential. The coaster line up is doable, but would desperately need an anchor attraction. Time Machine wouldn't cut it. Huracan or Evel Knievel wouldn't cut it. I'm thinking some sort of S&S creation, or the largest Maurer-Sohne launcher ever(or anything else that can truly compete with an Intamin for maybe half or 3/5 of the cost), or a humongous Wooden twister of some type. I really think the park would have the best outcome splurging for one big (150 ft+) coaster that the general public would consider on par with Voyage or Diamondback. Even if they sit on that for 3 years before anything else comes in, if the ride is powerful enough it will generate buzz, get national attention, and put a tremendous foothold into the Nashville, Indianapolis, and Cincinnati markets. I think the way the market here treats this park is really a bonus. From everything that has transpired it looks like Louisville can sustain a park in itself as well as wants a theme park. As long as they don't overreach on things (like, say, a total rehab of the whole park plus 2 new waterslide towers in year one) then they can make this work.

I definitely count Winjas Force and Winjas Fear as two seperate coasters, and they're certainly both better than B. Mamba and Michael Jackson. Best 1-2 punch in Europe has got to be Balder/Lisebergbahn or Katun/ISpeed, though I have none of those under my belt.

I know complaining about new additions to parks is slowly being disallowed and all, but really, this one is the pits. SFNE is probably the Six Flags park (of the parks without mice coasters) that could use this coaster the least, and I definitely DO believe the general public won't be happy with it.

I rate this addition at an A-. Which is very very high! The park wanted clearly wanted a small coaster to fit in freefall's spot, with little money spent on theming. They definitely picked the right company in that category. If they actually did make a choice to upgrade from the spinner to the Eurofighter, then that was a GREAT decision. Park already has four non-inverting family (I count the woodies) coasters, didn't need another one. Listen to the enthusiast reaction: Overwhelmingly positive so far. In forum terms, that means it's a REALLY good addition. My two small negatives: Could have been the park's first launcher, and the name is umm...already taken in the park. Anyone getting the vibe that this coaster is actually an upgrade from original plans? Smaller coaster announced 1st of September but won't open until Memorial Day, Media package is a little weak, ride name is already in the company's portfolio...maybe the turnover going on at Six Flags corporate is making this seem a little off?

Cedar Point for two days in May, Then *Toverland *Heide Park *Walibi World *Europa Park (Not Holiday Park) *Phantasialand Karlsruhe Frujarsmess (approx spelling, and Test Trecke) *Six Flags America Six Flags over GA And hopefully, *Carowinds * Denotes a new park, and hopefully this list size will triple in 2011.

^Now this thread is wacky.

Freaking Orbiter at Lake Winnie. Double the ride cycle and I literally might have a brain hemorrhage.

Anyone want to write a movie called "Attack of the Windseekers" ? If I had to guess now, on announcement day, I'd say these things end up being a large fail in enthusiast circles (multiple installations of the same ride, experience almost exactly the same, short ride time, limited reridability, could've had a GCI coaster for the same cost), and a mild success for the general public.

Phoenix Phoenix Phoenix Phoenix Phoenix Phoenix Phoenix Phoenix. Easy Question. Largest MSA without anything resembling a theme park. Castles and Coasters is an overgrown FEC. Operating season? Try year round. Land? Reasonable, easy to build on. Competition? Very little. And people already come there for the golfing. Other than that, India STILL doesn't have any major parks.

Nice shots of Heide. This makes me want to finish my Germany trip report. Did you get uber-stapled on Collossus? The ops on that ride were shoving their weight into it in May.

Looks like a bunch of transfer track to me, like, 4 pieces. Dual station? Can anyone throw out a flying coaster?

I live 35 minutes away from Pigeon Forge, how have I partaken in a grand total of zero of the things TPR went to do? What can I say, I'm a mini golf/arcade kind of guy.

I already won this thread (Maverick+the Heartline roll), but I thought I'd add another to it. It's the number one coaster on my list of "I most want to ride," and it's a lot more off the beaten path than many of the other North American coasters in this thread. Mindbender at Galaxyland. Well known coaster, but RCDB only lists three parks within 500 miles, meaning any enthusiast that gets this credit is usually up near Edmonton for other reasons. Other than that, any coaster in South America, Africa or the Middle East for anyone who doesn't live in those areas normally is a pretty rare credit.

How much for the Drachen Fire cup? Seriously.

Great contest, would love to see this one grow a lot bigger, would be really cool if it was as important as Mitch's poll to the community. I had the winners of the edited and humor categories pegged, that cedar point pic is AMAZING.

Well, I officially have a "closest call" to a Big Mike sighting now: I was at the park Friday for my nephew's first park experience. Did your kids get to the Playground/Sprayground? Best addition LW's ever made.

Why does this only seem to happen in the UK...

So does team Alvey think it's a top ten coaster? Or are they just bluffing?

Go to Fiesta Texas. Texas Giant is currently closed, Rattler might be the next time you want to visit. Plus, you're going on a Saturday, so less credits to grab.

Vegas much?

Someone disprove my math here, but as long as our figures are accurate and 16 mil is the annual expense: 900,000 people x $30(unlimited rides, as well as a good standard figure)=27,000,000 Out of that 900,000, at least 33 percent are getting discounts for being in-county, or twilight admission, or Kiddie admission only, or any number of season pass options. But then you add some for parking, games, food, merchandise (you know, where parks actually make money). There's a LOT of unaccountables in that basic figure, but at 16 mil expenses the park should break even at about $18 per guest, and able to afford ample new rides for 4 more dollars (I.E, I'm fully confident we don't know the real story) 1. We don't have enough info for my analysis to matter 2. We don't even know if the figures we have are credible. But, I think it's pretty clear that if our numbers are good the potential is there for this park to hold its own.

My last coaster was #149, L'Il Renegade at Southern Adventures in Huntsville, Alabama. It was supposed to be #150, but the small rollercoaster at Sir Gooney's in Chattanooga, TN is currently SBNO due to the same flooding Nashville got. As for the coaster: CHA-CHING!

Two things: One, this is the most informative and interesting thread about a TPR trip I've ever read. Really gives a look at how these trips actually go down and what happens away from the parks themselves (I actually like the planning of trips, so there's another bonus in this). Two, for all of you mentioning that Blue Fire "crawls," I visited a month earlier and though the same thing. If you added some more juice to this coaster, it would be great, but for now it doesn't compare to even the best Intamin launchers. Doesn't affect the park's quality a bit. Best place I've been to.