Shavethewhales

I have a bad memory for these kinds of details, but I'd swear I have seen them working as recently as last summer. I think they simply don't turn them on all the time, or perhaps they don't always work like most things. For some reason I really doubt the effect is gone entirely.

This is fairly similar to the original Arrow methods of construction before precise CAD was available, right? I'm pretty sure they did the same thing with connections and even had to build track pieces too long so they could be cut to fit. I'm pretty sure that was only for the earliest designs though. To see this in 2017 means they are ultra cheap and don't care about the actual ride itself or rider's comfort. Labor costs are far cheaper than engineering, so let the field guys figure it out. I'd be very interested to see how this one is received by the public compared to the Mega-Lite. Will the PTB care?

^LOL, read the concept closely. It's not literally themed to Rome... The idea is that riders get duped by a conman into riding a fake time machine. It's supposed to be whimsical. It would still be set in the 1880's, in the same way that Wildfire is supposed to be a whimsical creation of a supposed Dr. Horatio Harris. Your reaction though is what I suspect most people would have. Hence why I think they'll go with the mining theme as usual. Edit: ah, ytterbiumanalyst beat me to it

I'm 99% sure the story about TT being shortened due to the tunnel is off. By the time the tunnel would be experiencing cost overruns, the entire layout would have been engineered and manufactured, so the only savings would be a small decrease in construction hours. Even with that though, you'd have to pay for more engineering to stamp the final design, and engineering is expensive (even more so back then). There may have been another element planned that was axed before the manufacturing/construction phase. I also feel like I heard a story about that at one point, but it is probably just enthusiast fodder. By the time Tennessee Tornado was built, both SDC and DW were pretty popular, profitable parks. SDC was building Buzzsaw and about to plop down $14 million for a new B&M a couple years later. DW was also getting ready for an investment explosion. I'm pretty sure they got the length they wanted. A lot of customers seem to want just enough coaster to entice guests and anything more is just unnecessary expense. Thunderation at SDC, also a custom Arrow, was also built to be pretty short.

So Dollywood is getting a new drop tower for this season, but what if I told you that you could also ride a brand new drop tower in Branson this year? The "Bigfoot" tower project is currently under construction on the 76 strip where the old dollar store used to be. You can actually see it under construction on street view: https://www.google.com/maps/@36.6464822,-93.2879443,3a,75y,251.96h,85.47t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1soVUMcKahLejT1HwQa8M9mg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656 The complex will apparently include an arcade and potentially some other rides. So that's something to look forward to this year while we watch the coaster get constructed. As for the concepts, I was thinking #1 or #2, with #3 being a red-herring just so they can have a real list. I'm guessing they went with #2 but played with #1 to push the boundaries a bit. It just makes too much sense to stick with the mine theme with all the other mine stuff on that side of the park, plus I think the family would push for it. I'll be the marketing department in Atlanta wanted to go with the time machine bit. Of course the final concept will be a bit more fleshed out and specific. I'm sure it will involve a mine though.

There is one piece of official information straight from Brad Thomas: "Like. No. Other." That's what he told the coaster enthusiasts at Coaster Christmas. I think that's the root of everyone assuming it will be one of the recently unveiled extreme launched spinning coasters from Mack. There's not much else out there that coasters can physically do... We could still be surprised though, and I'd love it if that happens.

I don't know much either, but the word from people in the area who can drive past is that they are hauling on construction now and there's been even more earthwork going on. They are really changing the landscape on that side of the park... Some parts seem to be onsite, but they don't look like coaster parts. Perhaps they are getting some of the station done first so they don't reveal what is going on to the GP too soon. Even if we do speculate the correct type of coaster, there is plenty to watch out for and get excited about for this project. Who knows what they'll throw in there when it's all said and done to make it blend into this awkward spot.

The problem with some concepts of modern customer service is that it trains consumers to be bigger and bigger babies. Like dstephe9 points out, complaints are usually budgeted for and always get fed. We all know there's a certain kind of patron that expects *everything* to go exactly their way, and when it doesn't they go straight to customer service and blast them on every review site. Their numbers are growing, and businesses have to walk the line eventually of coddling them so they go away or sticking up for themselves. I'm tired of complaint worries too. We need a better industry response to that because it's been a pain in operator's asses for awhile now. At one point I believe there was a manufacturer putting lights in front of the seats that turned green when the restraint was closed so the rider would *feel* safe. Just like tugging on the restraint became a safety theater standard, it's something fairly easy to implement that could shut a few of them up.

^Perhaps, but I've worked as a structural EIT before, and it seems like simple metal structures are so easy to order and throw together these days. Fireproofing and scaling for routine work shouldn't be terribly difficult either. For SDC there would be lots of theming involved which might be the cost breaker, but the building itself should in theory be pretty easy and save/generate money in other ways. But then again I know nothing about business, and there's definitely some missing link that makes the whole idea unpalatable otherwise everyone would be doing it. Still, FITH and Flooded Mine have been at it for 50 seasons now... I think it's one of those things where there will be that first park that breaks the ice by going through the process of figuring out all the hurdles and getting it done. Then all the parks will jump on the fad again.

I love how those two are the oldest rides in the park of which nothing similar has been built since. I still wonder, why not add more enclosed rides? And not just at SDC, why not every park? It surely doesn't add on that much cost to the initial expense for some of these big rides, and it saves money on wear and tear while also making them more popular and the park more marketable for questionable weather days. But anyway, as for the new coaster it seems like nothing has really been done in the last month. They have been going in short spurts since August. I wonder what next year's schedule will look like construction wise? Get it all done early or drag it out? probably the latter.

Man the pictures make it look really nice - I barely remember what it was like as a kid. I really hope someone scoops this up and opens it back up to the public - at least more so than it was. A retreat center/youth camp is still probably the best business model, but some public weekend festivals would be nice at least. $13.6 million isn't that much, but I'm not sure how many churches are still around that would jump on this kind of thing... I could see GUTS trying something though.

Is there a story I missed? I've been wondering for awhile now if the "golden age" of coaster groups will slip away... Some parks still bend over backwards to cater to enthusiasts during events, but how much do they get back from that? Some of us leave them good reviews and give them some minor publicity, but I know its a hassle, and there's always something or someone that makes the group look bad somehow.

It was too hard to do it from my tablet last night, but here's some updated photos from Fri/Sat. Sorry about the quality. The new wall I'm thinking this path will be the new entrance? Unless they rebuild the little dining/skillet area somehow. Those are the new bathrooms for the ampitheatre. The road going into SDC is so exposed now. Cold temps + wet drizzly weather = we basically had the park to ourselves. At least what was still open.

So it turns out that the wall doesnt really block the views at all. The porch of the culinary school has a brilliant overview of everything is still open. Its amazing seeing how much has actually been done. I am fully on the hype train now. Ill try to post some photos tonight.

FYI, I'm told a large wall has been erected blocking views of the new coaster construction. Sucks for taking pictures, but now it's a true SDC project and they are really moving quickly towards vertical construction.

I don't know why you guys are trying to force this into a religious debate. The "magic" show is a let-down even for kids, religious message or not. It could easily be done ten times better with the same message. It's just kinda sloppy and over-forced most of the time. It's just something they could improve one of these days when they get around to it. Not that anyone cares. It's not exactly a major production or anything, and is really just something they do on the side to promote the tiny magic trip shop. Like I said, it's Branson and people eat it up either way, but for visitors from farther away it's pretty weird to experience without warning.

So Hillbilly Golf was also only partially damaged and not completely destroyed. I'm sure it won't be quite as pretty with all the trees burnt up for awhile though. And Arrowmont only lost two of the more-modern dorm buildings as opposed to the historical structures. Still really sucks, but as far as a cultural hit it's not as bad as I feared. The loss of all those cabins will be a huge hit for the area though. That will affect everyone even if their businesses are still standing. Obviously they will rebuild, but it will take time. I'm impressed that the firefighters were able to keep the town from completely burning. I mean the fire was literally nipping at all edges of the town. Must have been hell for awhile, and what would have happened without the rain?

I agree that the Magic show is not that well presented. It's not that it has a spiritual message, it's just that it's done so awkwardly. Definitely feels like they are trying to check off too many boxes by preaching and selling products at the same time, and trying too hard at both. It's been the same show for a long time now though, and there's always a crowd... I guess that's Branson for you. Everything else seems to hit a good balance. btw, if you ever want to experience SDC ERT without having to go to an ACE event, just come during the Christmas festival for the last couple of hours or so. Even Outlaw Run was a ghost town, and this was on a fairly crowded day. Hard to believe they keep adding coasters when so many people are there for everything else. Gonna be cold for much of next month though...

After all the back and forth (mis)information today I just have to ask: there was an actual fire, right? /s If the Mansion is indeed safe I will be very happy. Still some horrible losses today, but that's a ray of hope right there. I can't wait to be back soon.

Now I'm praying that the Arrowmont and Mystery Mansion news isn't true either... Those are huge, irreplaceable losses. God I wish I had spent more time in Gatlinburg when I was last there. I don't even want to think about how many cabins have been lost if the fires have gotten so close that those places are potentially gone though... This is a catastrophe.

God this ####ing sucks. Could this year please stop ####ing dumping on us? Ober Gatlinburg is a huge loss, and even smaller things like Hillbilly Golf are a huge deal to lose. Hillbilly Golf actually looked amazing, and was very unique. That is something that can't be rebuilt. As always with a lot of this stuff, it can be "rebuilt" but it will never be quite the same. They were already dealing with conflicting visions for the town and architectural clashes. Losing Arrowmont is a huge blow to the "old" Gatlinburg.

That freaking sucks. I can't believe this isn't getting media attention. Driving through the Smokies after DW was a big highlight of my last trip there. It sucks that it will be scarred for awhile. Hope it doesn't hurt the tourism too badly, though the trails should still be pretty awesome and it will green up again quickly.

This is a huge project. I know it's tough to get excited when it's not even for next season, but when the track arrives there should start tp be some serious hype around this ride.

Whoa, so Pinfari is still technically around? This is crazy news to me. Didn't you guys just get rid of a similar wildcat coaster right after building it? Was there an issue with the previous ride that couldn't be fixed?

I really could see this being a good fit at Silver Dollar City. I can only imagine how amazing of theming the park could do with, and on it!! #WeCanOnlyHope Why would you say that? Because the concept is shown with some interesting (though very unrealistic in terms of actually building it) theming? I'm huge on themed coasters, but I think they can do better with most any other coaster system. I've never heard of RES before but their concepts look like bad rip-offs of other companies more out-there designs. Wasn't Hersheypark going to build something exactly like the "Rollerball" at one point? It was a pretty stupid concept then too, and now we have a much better design in the S&S version. Pretty sure S&S also has something very similar to the suspended coaster concept. In this pitch it looks like they took those Gerstauler flat ride seats and just put them on a little powered coaster though. The flat ride version is probably a very similar experience for less space and money. And I still don't get Mauer's powered coaster car thing either. Maybe I'm just getting old. Just give me a classic wooden coaster and I'll be happy.