RCjunkie

Driving up the peninsula to Cedar Point is hard to beat.

Valleyfair finally changed their construction cam for Route 76 to an angle that we can now actually see the construction progress. They also tweeted this morning, "Northern Lights track pieces are heading to Valleyfair. Updates and photos coming soon." With the last week of temperatures not being below zero they have really started to get this project moving. The new construction cam angle.

Renames and repaint are nice and all, but nothing to the extent of a B&M coaster that people are discussing here. I don't think that the anniversary year is the reason that VF will get a new coaster. I am just saying it will be a nice marketing tie that CF will use because the timing is right. The reason I think VF will get a new coaster in 2016 is that the last major coaster or thrill ride was Renegade in 2007 and from the opening of the park through that time the park added a coaster or thrill ride every 5 years and now it has been a span of nine 9 years since a major coaster or thrill ride has been added. The park is over due. I would say 2015 but it's obvious with the demolition of IMAX it will be a year for a much needed water park expansion I am also taking Brian Witherow (Cedar Fair's CFO) on his word when he presented at the recent UBS Global Media & Communications Conference in 2013 and said, "...the chain sees three parks as having room for significant growth, Carowinds, Valleyfair, and California's Great America..."

^ VF Definitely needs a water park upgrade, it is the worst in the CF chain and with the removal of the IMAX theater last year it just screams that 2015 is the year for the water park expansion. With 2016 being the park's 40th anniversary year it is the year the park will probably get a new coaster to celebrate this milestone. With Camp Snoopy, Route 76 and probably the water park expansion in 2015 you can show off and have people check out all these new recent additions with a big draw like a new coaster. Patience is the key with all the moves VF has made in the last 2 years to prepare for these additions.

As long as it's in decent designated area's and enforced I am fine with it. With legalized marijuana in Colorado I wonder how parks will deal with that? Will they allow it in the designated smoking areas?

Maverick is my favorite for overall twists but one of my other favorite twists is the often overlooked unique 'S' twist on Renegade's lift/drop hill. When you get to the bottom of the hill with the twist at the bottom 'yanking' you to the left so quickly it is crazy compared to most first drops on wooden or even steel coasters. And it being so unique in the GCI lineup of coasters doesn't hurt either. Twisty view form the top. Thanks Robb! Another angle of the twisty drop hill.

That is definitely the station for the AA's based on the location and the artwork they use for Route 76 on their site. I wish they would move the webcam back to the original spot so we could see the the construction from a better angle. Cedar Point already has the track on site for their Disk-O-Coaster. I wonder when VF has their's scheduled to arrive?

Please? Pretty please with sugar on top? Does that help? I totally agree, just start over. Thanks for all the winter off season pictures! Especially for after the park at the Thirsty Pony. Also thanks the information on the Disk-O-Coaster construction and that they can put it up in a day. Valleyfair is behind on construction (at least compared to CP) due to the harsh winter this year in building their Disk-O-Coaster and I was starting to wonder if they may not be ready for opening day but probably not an issue if they can get it going in a day after the loading station is built. That should allow plenty of time for testing.

If you really are a big baseball fan then you will not want to miss the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum.

Someone posted this on the Valleyfair Facebook account in a topic related to the new Disk-O-Coaster for Route 76 at the park. "Paige Marie Westrum: It looks like a bigger version of the Fairly Oddparents Coaster at Nickleodeon Universe" 13 hours ago A Disk-O-Coaster looks like the Fairly Odd Coaster at NU? Really?!? Only the GP.

Valleyfair posted the picture below on Twiiter It may be for the Antique Auto's but I'm not sure. I will have to check the construction webcam tomorrow.

^ I'm sure VF and CF figured the possibility of a harsh winter into their completion timeline for Route 76, it is Minnesota after all. If they did not see this as a possibility then they were clueless which I highly doubt. I'm pretty sure they know VF is their most northern amusement park and that construction could be affected by winter. The Scrambler and the Tilt-O-Whirl are being redone as I type and VF has shown us the Antique Auto's are already being assembled too. The AA track was area was already plowed before fall and just needs cement poured. Plus all of the cement footings for Northern Lights were done before winter so they can just build the loading station and drop the track on them come spring. It is a little harsher winter than normal so it is possible they may be delayed in getting this done for sure but with 12 weeks until opening I think they should be OK. If not they can always do the cosmetic stuff like landscaping later and just focus on getting the rides open. With it finally getting above freezing next week and some melting I am sure we will see some work done in the area. Below is a picture of the redo of the Gemini Midway at CP today and they don't look much further along than Route 76 for comparison.

Suzuka Circuit had me thinking Japan and that they were going to the event on the poster below but that does not happen until May this year. Have to start over now and compile the clues left overnight.

VF has now confirmed via their Facebook page that the Ferris Wheel this year will be receiving an all new lighting package. They also wrote that the Ferris Wheel is unique in the US because it features six-person gondolas which I never knew before. This lighting package should go well with the new lighting packages on the Tilt-O-Whirl and Scrambler that they are receiving due to being refreshed for Route 76. The park should look a lot better at night now.

Takara Tomy Arts is Japanese anime art so your heading someplace in Japan. Wish I could 'show' my work but I am still guessing.

My first thought was Minneapolis, because Target is headquartered there. None of the other hints helped confirm that, though... Me too but none of the other clues lead to that conclusion. The only Super Target's I have seen with palm trees are in Phoenix and the southern California area. Both of those area's have mountain ranges also.

Excalibur. A lift hill, a banked turn and then a figure eight and right back to the station. With only 2400 feet of track they wasted half of it on the figure eight when it could/should have been used more wisely. With this layout and the old school boxed trains going through the figure eight it gives you that jerky ride everyone is looking for as a bonus.

^ Exactly. A prime example is VF replacing the up-charge Go Carts by bringing back the Antique Auto's in it's place for Route 76 which I am sure will attract more riders than the Go Carts ever did.

Like I said it's still a solid ride, I rode 50 plus laps last year and it's still my favorite ride in the park. But it started riding rougher than past years in 2013 and this may be one of the reasons GCI's fall in the poll after a few years. That and RMC keeps making new coasters.

Unfortunately this seems to be true. Renegade was starting to ride rough in it's 7th year of operation last year. Still a solid ride but not as good as it was even 2 years ago. I am curious to see how it rides this year, maybe it will get some love in the off season.

VF updated their Facebook page today with pictures of the new auto's to be used in Route 76. Unlike the old cars these have no roofs. They are based on old Cadillac's. Picture one. Picture 2.

^ No way does VF need another wood coaster with Renegade and High Roller already there. They have not had a new steel coaster with inversions since 1980's corkscrew. VF needs an exciting steel coaster they can market to the public to increase attendance. And if you were for some reason going to add another wooden coaster you should go RMC over Gravity Group for sure.

I have to agree until I see a different investment philosophy towards VF by Cedar Fair. VF just does not have the attendance for a $25 million dollar attraction like Banshee. (Do you know if that $25 million included removal/disposal of SOB?). Brian Witherow (Cedar Fair's CFO) presented at the recent UBS Global Media & Communications Conference in 2013 and said, "...the chain sees three parks as having room for significant growth, Carowinds, Valleyfair, and California's Great America..." If he means it maybe they would spend more than $15 million but I still doubt it unfortunately.

Thanks for the visual confirmation, I have not been by the park since the last day of operation this year. It had been rumored that it would be removed but now we know it's for sure. Just another sign of a water park expansion next year. With Hydroblaster removed, IMAX demolished and possible relocation of the Looping Starship they have a lot of land to work with now which is great. Tilter will of course be moved up front to Route 76.

It takes much more than just coasters to make a park work. VF as a park has a few needs before a coaster. Families spend more money than coaster geeks so making an area like Route 76 with favorite classic flat rides and the popular antique cars makes sense. Same goes for the expected water park expansion due the IMAX demolition. Both of these areas are smart moves to try and increase attendance to support getting that new coaster you want and that the park is probably over due for. Also, Banshee started pouring concrete footers back in August so it took more than weeks to get where they are now.