wyskraker

I hate to say it, but the IMAX will never be an IMAX again, let alone a theatre again. The ventilation in that building is shot beyond repair (underground) from years of being abandoned. They added about 200 yards of concrete to the bottom 10 rows of seating when they converted it for Haunt. The only use I could see for it aside from tearing it down and building a hypercoaster down the length of the outer maintenance road there is possibly a dark ride conversion. (Hey! Anyone want to lobby for a Disaster Transport???....lol) This announcement is really great news for that park. I always saw such potential in it.

I don't know that I agree that the city is going to side with Prudential based on the property taxes. Doesn't Great America pay something like $5mil in rent to the city every year? As well as the half-million in taxable revenue the park makes each day they're open. I would imagine the city would rather just keep both businesses happy and not severe either vein of income.

...hmm, I'm not sure that's the reason those were removed. I'd be willing to bet money they were getting quite a bit of theft coming from those things. Think about leaving your goods there for 5-10 minutes while dozens of people walk by your stuff just sitting there on display. As I remember, they tried to do the on board storage bags on the rafts at RRRapids.

Ya...I agree 100%. Look at how long it took to get rid of that lemon, Avalanche Run/Disaster Transport. The only reason they removed it was for space reasons and to put something better in it's place. ...I think people who only know Cedar Fair from their experience with CGA judge it because they removed Invertigo. We all know 2 things led to that ride's removal; the aftermath of the nationally publicized ride being stuck incident left the ride unmarketable here, and the impending sale pushed by Dick Kinzel where they felt it was the one ride they should keep for themselves at another park. Cedar Fair didn't remove anything for Goldstriker, Firefall, or any the wave pool expansion. Paramount and Kings are the bastard companies guilty of removing everything cool; Stealth, the train, the trolley, triple wheel, the edge (okay, that one I don't miss), triple play, whizzer, yankee clipper, the lobster, skyhawk, the tidal wave (and not to mention every ounce of theming that existed at the park.) They had a weird concept that you had to operate with minimal attractions to keep costs down...no "you built it, they will come" initiative like you see at Cedar Fair Parks.

Well an exact clone of Maverick would not fit but a custom Intamin Blitz coaster would definitely be a neat addition, or a Mack megacoaster like Blue Fire or Helix...definitely need a gimmick that can too the launched coasters up north...with a little more length of course. Hey, long time TPR stalker here - I see that ^ posted all the time on this site. Everyone always says Great America doesn't have room for this or for that... Cedar Point builds coasters through each other, on top of buildings. over parking lots, picnic areas. You've got to have an imagination for space maximization. Believe me, that little park has a lot of unused space for anything they want to build (aside from the height restrictions...even that, with a little political pull could be worked around) (How tall are the buildings in DT San Jose that are in the flight path?) Did you know Great America has the exact same acreage as the Disneyland park? When Cedar Point built Maverick, they demo'd both their raft ride and their last flume ride. (the other one was demo'd for the B&M Raptor) They used the flume station and built Maverick inside of it's raft ride's troughs. (Hmmmmm, I wonder if Great America has an aging flume ride and raft ride that are near each other?) Not saying I believe they want to remove more rides, but the "Point" is (get it?) anything is possible with Cedar Fair.

I *believe*, and someone can correct me if I'm wrong, that they're there to remove static from the trains after each run. All GCIs have them, I'm not positive about other manufacturers though. I suppose the last thing you'd want riding around on your favorite wooden coaster is a spark! I asked them the same question. I was told they are there as a gentle reminder to riders to keep their hands in the train before hitting the not-so-gentle reminder wood platform.

That's definitely a more accurate representation of the ride than the "first train" video. It's much quicker here (trains got a chance to break in), and does a much better job of conveying the intensity of the ride. I will also take this opportunity to thank the park management for putting on this event. Free admission, free refreshments, and ride as much as you like. Definitely much appreciated, CGA! I've never done an event like this before, and I really enjoyed myself. It was also great to see everyone, as well as make some new friends. Good times... GCI also posted a great under-chassis perspective on their FB page How did we as coaster nuts ever survive before Go-Pro cameras?? lol

Caution - Bold statements ahead: For me, this coaster is the most intense wood coaster I have ever experienced. Having rode the likes of KI's The Beast and the older GCI coaster Gwazi, and some great classics like Geauga's Big Dipper and SC Boardwalk's oldie...this is nothing like any wood coaster I've ever ridden. Most STEEL coasters don't have the smoothness and G-forces you experience on this thing. I was talking to someone about it, and found myself comparing it to the feeling to get after you step off Maverick...that "WTF just happened?" feeling. (If only it had a stop and launch in the middle, eh?) For me, I'm ranking this coaster as my solid number 3 coaster I've ever ridden, behind Maverick and Millenium. It is incredible and it's about time this little CGA park has a coaster that they can tout as one of the best in the nation. (See, told ya...bold statements)