LogBur

^I believe Formula Rossa is the current longest launched coaster at over 6,500ft. Word is that Helix ran around $36 million USD with a full 2,000ft less track. I know they are different manufacturers and all of that but do the math. I don't like to unequivocally rule things out, but I really can't see a length record happening. I do agree though that the park likes to make a splash (oof) with its additions and I would not be surprised if they break some kind of record with the attraction.

I haven't been up to Muskegon in a few years but this looks like it's tracking incredibly well! I also love that Cedar Fair has not butchered the PTCs with foam headrests and the like. This POV has me thinking road trip...

I threw together a quick composite based on the directional marking being accurate and took the liberty of extrapolating potential blueprint size/ride area based on the shredded piece being the upper-left most 1/16th chunk of the ride layout. I feel this lines up better with the Voyage crossover near the "pit" clearing and the path in the upper right of the shredded bit could just be new maintenance access off of the existing path. This ride area would obviously be large enough to include the reuse of Giraffica's station as well. This is all very much "eyeballed" and I'm frankly just taking a stab in the dark based on the information at hand. Now that we're dorking it up pretty hard, I imagine the shredded blueprint is a complete misdirection.

After attending HoliWood Nights (awesome as ever) and the Voyage walk back I'm starting to get a better picture in mind as to the path of the presumed new coaster. Here's my aerial rendition of what we can see thus far: Below, I am looking out through "clearing 2" and you can see the "pit" from the Hard Hat Chronicles video in the background. Based on the position of the survey markers along Hyena Falls, I would be really surprised if they're not reusing the Giraffica station. If this ends up being a steel launcher, I can envision the launch straight away roughly following the gravel service path behind Hyena Falls, entering an element or elements in the "pit" area, crossing Voyage first at "clearing 2" and then making its way back to the station through "clearing 1." Throw in a little pre lift/launch section out of the Giraffica station in addition to the area covered above and we might be looking at a decently lengthy ride.

$13.5 million was the total capital expenditure in the year Voyage was built. All we know for next year is that the improvements will be in excess of that prior $13.5 million high water mark. It will be the largest total investment in park history. It will be > $13.5 million.

Stengel dives are family-friendly, right? Hopefully it launches into a 100ft version of this: courtesy of www.maenen.com/Goliath/Over-banked%20hill.jpg Would be a very cool post-launch element.

^^Yeah, forgot that was the actual number of passengers. Perhaps the wording "one hundred plus two" is a playful way of hinting at a 100ft coaster while remaining historically accurate. ^This would also be clever.

"Day 15 We count one hundred plus two passengers on board." I'm thinking this is alluding to the ride's highest point - 102ft - either first hill or tophat/inversion after launch.

Raptor - Cedar Point - 1997 I believe. I got off on a good foot. Still one of the very best 20 years after its construction.

I'm always skeptical that this type of transaction takes place in the industry but who knows. Perhaps the prototypical nature of that ride gave Holiday World some leverage and, hell, it might have still been under some kind of warranty as it was only installed in 2009. I wonder if ride manufacturers include uptime guarantees as part of their total value proposition.

Nope. If you look closely behind the moving ship the dashed line definitely starts in England. Presumably Plymouth, England. Yup. Nothing on the map points to that and Intamin delivered a trainwreck of a ride in the form of Pilgrim's Plunge/Giraffica but never say never.

Agreed. If they are, in fact, building a steel coaster it will probably be medium-sized and at least somewhat family friendly (read: 48" height requirement). The press release detailed that the "expansion" will be the largest in park history (>$13.5 million). In year-2000 dollars, Legend only cost $3 million. A wooden coaster its size built today would probably come in around $6 million. The size of the capital expenditure points towards a steel coaster unless they are adding multiple rides.

^Since that doesn't exist, I would have to guess no. Haha. But seriously, I think the park has had its fill of prototype technology between the Timberliners and Pilgrim's Plunge/Giraffica.

I don't really get the appeal of floorless coasters outside of the front-row. In the unlikely scenario that the park opted for a B&M sitdown multilooper I guess it might as well be floorless but I just don't see it happening. More bang for the buck can be found with other manufacturers.

Probably not (yet), but I think the park needs an inverting steel coaster to round out its collection. We all know how good their wood coasters are, but a potential launched coaster with inversions is arguably more marketable and will make the park even more of a destination.

I always have the best laps in the very front seat of any car. 1-3 is called the "ejector seat" by CP diehards, with what many consider the most pronounced airtime. Problem is, Magnum has crazy airtime in every seat so I argue that heightening the effect is to the detriment of your thighs as you described. Additionally, the third row of every car has the wheel cover panels that extend into the tub causing those of moderate to significant height to be squeezed in even tighter (=more thigh bashing). The overbearing intensity of the triangle bunny hops is minimized for me in 1-1 or 2-1.

Given the investment size (greater than $13.5MM) and the below quote from the press release I can't imagine what else this would be other than a coaster. "Our announcement will coincide with the start of a construction phase that would undoubtedly give away any part of the secret that still existed." I think this quote subtly hints towards a steel coaster as well. My guess is that steel will be going up with track potentially on site. Wooden coaster bents being erected are a bit tougher to decipher a project from.

I was thinking along similar lines when I read the quote. Given his passion for the industry, Will Koch probably had very specific and detailed plans mapped out in his head as to how Holiday World would be expanded. This may well be an addition that actualizes one of his visions.

I second both the fried oreos and all of the fare at Plymouth Rock Cafe. You can get fried oreos at most carnivals and such but there is something about the ones at Holiday World - soooo delicious. Also, the pizza at Kringle's Kafe is much, much better than the pie I've had at other parks. If the pizza mood strikes, you get 2 huge slices, breadsticks and a cookie for under $10.

Does anyone have a beat on discounted tickets to the park? Gonna visit the Sunday after HoliWood Nights and $39.95 seems just a bit steep as I'll be skipping the water park. I'll scour the web but figured some here have already looked.

Not really getting the comparisons to old arrow designs aside from maybe the basic track shape. This looks like a well-engineered modern coaster with quick, yet smooth transitions.

^^^Despite the 5/19/14 *wooden* blocks, I'm gonna lock my final guess in on a Mack launcher with two crossovers of the Voyage and cool terrain interactions out in the woods. Since you asked for crazy, I'll oblige and say the coaster will be a mix of Alpina Blitz (mega-lite clone) and Helix. Lift hill followed by Alpina-like airtime hills/dives and then a midcourse launch with the focus shifting to inversions and ground hugging high speed changes of direction. Height: 115ft Drop: 108ft @ 80degrees Speed: 55mph (achieved during launch) Length: 3600ft Inversions: 2 Cost: $20MM *The guess is real, the specifics are fanboy fantasy.

Maybe I'm late in musing this, but what if Holiday World commissioned RMC to build a custom Iron Horse coaster? It would tick the steel box in impressive fashion and a wooden support structure would mesh well with the park's aesthetic. RMC wood or steel in the woods by Voyage = incredibly amazing. Pretty much any coaster in the woods by Voyage = still amazing.

Is anyone placing any stock in the wood 5/19/14 swag pieces representing another wood coaster? I guess I kind of assumed steel was on-deck but I'm all for more wood. The park has established a tradition of excellent additions so I'm sure most of us will be happy come Monday.

The airtime hill is the second-coming of Magnum's third hill in terms of proportion to lift height and assured sustained airtime. Albeit this time engineered on computers instead of a drafting table... This is most definitely a good thing as Magnum's third hill is one of the most OMGWTFBBQ airtime moments in existence. Doesn't get mentioned nearly enough. Looks stunning.