T-Rex

I wonder now if they will keep the Ranger? Rolling Thunder is the same ride as I said before, but maybe the Ranger is on the chopping block.

Not sure if this is completely true. Yes, the ride is tire driven, but the tires are enclosed in a compartment under the ride. The track of the ride is protected from the outer structure, so it would be pretty hard for water to seep in. Maybe under a torrential downpour hydroplane would become a problem. This ride is unlike the ferris wheel because the rim on that is exposed to the elements, and the tires cannot pull through that. well the warnings did come from Larsons own website. If it were some other web site I would be skeptical too.

I did some research in Larson's website. It turns out Larson does have a large 72 foot tall Super Loop which is a Park model. However the unit does have down sides. It can't be operated in even a light rain due to hydroplane since it is tire driven. Unlike the Huss Ranger which is Hydraulic, and gear driven. I still am not impressed with the ride.

I was being sarcastic. However I did not know Larson offered a Park model. That must be new.

First off I do agree with you on some of what you said. Darien has defintly lost luster. When Snyder owned the park it was an excellent ride line up of Huss park model rides, and the Arrow Huss coater (Viper). In the early 80's they were State of the art. After that, and The Giant Wheel the park kinda hovered until 1990 the park added The Preditor which was a decent Wooden coaster until it's lack of maintaince. The Addition of the Six Flags name brought many new editions. A Huss Top Spin, Superman (ros), Mind Eraser, and Boomerang. Since the CNL era. I know you will disagree with me. I call the Motocoster a overgrown kiddy coaster. I don't like it. I rode it once, and never care to go on it again. It to me was a boring ride. I do like Blast Off how ever (1) I think it should be taller, and (2) It should be multi S&S towers for higher capacity. Blast Off only seats 12. This year Rolling Thunder. Up until very recently a carnival ride. It is a very similar ride to The Ranger. Darien losses money hand over fist to parks like Cedar Point because parks like Darien Lake can't diversify, and utalize Space. How many kiddy areas does a park Dariens size need? I think it has 3 now. It also has over 1000 Camp sites. They let a Roller Coaster spoil in plain view. Park relations, and upkeep at DL are a joke. I only went once last season. I never seen such a busy day there. All coasters were running only 1 train. I didn't even bother to ride any of them. Screw that I'm not waiting 1 hour to ride a coaster that is running 1 train. Darien is dissapointing under CNL.

It shouldn't take long to have Rolling Thunder up. Carnivals workers have a Super Loop up in a night. It's probably still racked / in trailer mode.

You guys are right. The season is shorter by 2 weekends. They are usually open till mid October. This year till the end of September. I really think CNL will sell. God I hope so. They are not a Theme park company.

DarienLaker "I personally think that there is some hope for Darien Lake's future in trying to "beat" Cedar Point, Six Flags Great Adventure, and/or Six Flags Magic Mountain in the ways of roller coaster line ups" [

Well I see what your saying on the Breakdance Coaster guy. Of corse I would want Darien to invest in the brand new Vortex, or a new ride. With the exception of a Super Loop. I mis worded myself. I should have said they might as well have gotten a used Breakdance, but I will say I am more impressed with Technical Park, and Huss than Larson. I mean the UFO they just removed was the only of it's kind in America. Tons of carnivals have a Super loops, and now tons of parks. (Can't argue with me on that right?) The root of the matter that concerns me about Darien is that the owners are getting cheap on thrills. I mean how much is a new Super Loop? To us the price tag would seem astounding, but to a corporation like CNL it is a drop in the bucket. Even more so to them it's an investment if they can get more people to come to the park, and spend more money. You might get a few locals excited about it, but that's not going to draw bigger attendance numbers. Think about this. what fun is it if you go park to park, and they all have the same rides? The same rides they have at your local carnival. I really think they need to think outside the box, and make the park unique again. If not I fear for Darien's future.

I would have rather Darien put a Technical Park Vortex, or even just a used Huss BreakDance in place of the U.F.O. I really don't understand why so many parks are going to Super Loops. This is yesterdays technology. I mean are these parks (including D.L.) that hard up for the money? You have to spend money to make money. No one is gonna travel miles, and spend tons of money to see, and ride a Super Loop. I am also really disappointed that they are not re lighting the Giant Wheel. I think it is disrespectful to a park Icon not to relight it. This is why so many people bypass D.L. to go 6hrs to Cedar Point. The park is cleaner, more well maintained, and they keep up on cutting edge technology. Again the larson Super Loop is a big waste of time D.L..

To me I would have thought a Technical Park Vortex would have been a fitting replacement for the Huss UFO. I don't see many people traveling miles to ride a Super Loop/ Ring of fire. A ride most carnivals carry on hand. Then again most wouldn't travel for a flat ride. I know I was a bit rash, but I think the management quit trying at Darien Lake. I admit they are adding something new, but the WHAT is just as important as the fact. They could try to sell a Tilt-A-Whirl off as a big improvement. I am afraid to say it, but yet another season of bypassing Darien Lake in search of fun.

Okay so I take it back. You guys were right "They didn't call it a coaster" It still is a stupid idea, and what I said before still stands. Too close to the Ranger which does the same thing. I get the idea of adding a new flat right, but I think it was not thought trough very well. Tons of flat rides to chose from. They just jumped on the wagon, and got what everyone els is getting. A whole bunch of parks getting same portable carnival ride.

This Larson Fireball/ Super Loop is a really stupid idea, and They are dumb enough to try to pass it off as a Coaster? IT IS A FLAT RIDE!! It does pretty much the same thing as the Huss Ranger, and if they put it where the UFO was it will be close to where the Ranger is. CNL Just sell the damn park!!!

I would really like CNL to sell off Darien. Although personally I would Rather see it go to Cedar Fair Than HFE only due to the fact that they have a poor relationship with Huss rides, and already removed the rare UFO.

I hear that CNL may indeed sell Darien Lake and other owned amusement parks. I'm new to this group. I am from the Buffalo area. I have been to 10 Parks. My all time favorite Steel are !) Milenium Force Cedar point 2) Hydra Dorney Park 3) Gate Keeper Cedar Point My wooden Favorites are (1) Mean Streak Cedar Point (2) Ravine Flyer 2 Waldameer Park (3) The Beast Kings Island.