TriboElectric

According to the RideSales site http://irmpri.com/current.htm as posted on a previous thread, FreeFall has been sold so I am assuming it will soon be removed (since the sales site listed the end of the 2006 season as the ride availability date) I am thinking that FreeFall fans should unite and say goodbye to FreeFall with multiple rides for 'ol time sakes! If there are any SixFlags ride ops or anyone "in the know" who might know what days freefall will still be open for rides, please post! Since there are only 11 days left in 2006 that gives us 11 days to get together and share some fun times!

At the end of the day the General Manager is responsible for the park, That is who needs to be held responsible and take some accountability for the staffing issues and problems. If I were Snyder, I would have replaced the current GM and attempted to fix a park with a very high yearly (3million plus) attendance and closest to the one of the U.S's largest population Centers (LA) . There is so much potential we just need a good leader and a smart strategy. While I respect peoples opinions regarding them wanting to see this park closed down, I disagree with it. Magic Mountain is a great coaster park, it is one of the best in the US. For a majority of people who cannot afford to travel around the country or world in search of a decent park it would be a real shame to lose Magic Mountain. The park has major problems but it also has some very great potential and has some fantastic coasters. I hope the powers that be recognize this and replace the current GM with someone with the knowhow to make the park successfull in all departments. It will require a real leader to make it happen though.

Is there just a big wait and see attitude happening out there? We are dealing with some of the biggest news in (NorthAmerican) modern rollercoaster theme park history. The possible shutting down of many parks, all is quiet here. Has anyone heard anything from TPR staff regarding there opinions on the matter? I am hoping they have some words of wisdom that will make everything ok again.

Doubtfull although perhaps Snyder wanted to buy some cheap stock. Though I do not think he would buy the shares if he did not think the company would rebound. So he has to make it rebound although he knows he can always sell off parks to pay the debts as a fallback. Credit:http://http://online.barrons.com/google_login.html?url=http%3A%2F%2Fonline.barrons.com%2Farticle%2FSB115133540183490798.html%3Fmod%3Dgooglenews_barrons

Sorry about that Matt

Junkie: Not soo fast, they have lots of properties they can unload for cash. Hence all these discussions about the parks being sold to housing developers.

today.reuters.com/investing/financeArticle.aspx?type=bondsNews&storyID=2006-06-26T165700Z_01_N26281718_RTRIDST_0_LEISURE-SIXFLAGS-FITCH.XML Interesting regarding the company having to pay 643.5 million by Dec 31 2008.

From Press release

Doug: While Magic Mountain is not the best park in the world, it does have lots of coasters and is the only serious rollercoaster park on the West Coast. Revolution- one of Schwarzkopf’s incredible creations. Riddlers Revenge is the biggest standup coaster in the world. Goliath is still in the top 5 tallest coasters list. X is a one (two now) of a kind coaster that regardless of what some people say is a amazing experience that can be found in currently only one place in the world (soon Japan as well) Tatsu is an incredible flyer! While Magic Mountain certainly has its shares of problems (as do many parks) Losing Magic Mountain would be a terrible loss for Roller Coaster fans all over. Here's to hoping someone steps up to the plate and buys the park and keeps it running as one of the world’s great coaster parks.

Put it this way if your home town was Sandusky and they were talking about closing Cedar point and building houses, you would be crapping your pants as well. I sure hope they never close Cedar Point because that's where I am going to be going now at least once a year maybe more. Heck I might even have to move there for the season. I like roller coasters and frankly Magic Mountain is pretty much the only real deal park in California (if not the west coast) for serious coasters. By the way dismantling the coasters would probably be paid for by the park purchasing them or the scrap metal company melting down the steel. 1 Million an acre is still worth it regardless of the cleanup costs. Of course if Exon does own the land as someone stated, perhaps developers might be afraid to learn about all the toxic chemicals under the soil which would lower the property value (not that there is or anything but you never know)

It is just sad to see one of the worlds biggest and best roller coaster parks run into the ground, sold to Snyder and then pretty much given up on. He has not even owned the place over a year yet. He was making positive changes things were starting to look better and brighter and then this announcement. With every property developer in Cailfornia and there mothers now putting up bids is there anyway to turn back the tide? With some adjustments into the dynamics of park operations as well as the introduction of more family freindly flair, MM has lots of potential being near one of the largest metro area in the world not to mention the biggest property development in the history of California (Newhall Ranch, 25,000 homes) there is some serious opportunity here to make a kick butt family and teenage/adult friendly park! Some ideas to help achieve MM's status as a more all around freindly park for all ages. The introduction of more flat rides, dark rides, family shows, Instituting a 18year and younger with adult or guardian only policy (to keep some of the riffraff in check) A zero tollerance for criminal behavior policy (fighting,cursing, abusive behavior, spitting etc.. More CCTV and security central monitoring. Keeping pay at par with local buisnesses to attract and retrain employees, better guest relations. Leaving families and guests with a good taste in there mouths when the leave the park instead of feeling they have been ripped off waiting in 4 hour lines due to one train operations and slow load's. I say the Six Flags board should give Magic mountain three years to turn itself around. Not to mention all the ad's they have been running for MM are strictly geared towards the segment he speaks about not wanting! Strange, especially if he feels they do not bring in any money. I think MM and the other parks listed are just the scapegoat for the companies poor preformance.

I do not believe a protest will help in this situation, but who knows maybe it will. I think our only real hope is if A: another company wants to buy MM or B: Valencia will not allow permiting for additional housing in that area. Otherwise the mighty dollar always seem to prevail. The short term cash infusion to the company will help them out of the red enough to sell the whole thing again while keeping the major shareholders rich. Pehaps Mark has had enough of the amusement park buisness and those pesky teenagers causing problems. Hey Disneyland is a family park and they still have that darn teenager problem. Oh well.

I wonder if they timed this announcement to occur while Robb was away on vacation! One thing that could possibly be the saving grace for MM is the fact that with the Newhall Development perhaps Valencia will not allow any more than the 25,000 homes being authorized! That might help us out here! Because if developers cannot develop more homes on MM property then it would not be worth it for them. Of course they could always just pay off the city hall and then it would be a moot point anyways. Well let's hope for the best here.

Ok, did some research, most people probably already know about the biggest housing project in LA county history occuring right next door to Magic Mountain. The Newhall Ranch project with over 25,000 homes being built, it has all been approved. If you look at the website of the developer and then click on the "Living Here" and then "Location Map" you will see this huge new development lies right next door to MM. For Snyders corporation and for the developers at Newhall this might just be the end. Click on Http://www.newhallranch.net/index.asp I wish I could be more positive but with the urban sprawl model and with money being a factor I just seem to be really negative right now. I know this is probably not what we need but I have to be honest withmyself and others. Once again the link for the developer of Newhall ranch the 25,000 home community being built right next door to magic mountain. http://www.newhallranch.net/index.asp go to Living here and then Location map for an idea of what I am talking about.

How do we find out who owns the land in valencia? Is there a property title database that we can access?

Wow another very seriously depressing article. Crap! This is not looking good at the moment. Not good at all. I wonder how much we could buy X for, I would hate to see the world lose the one of the only two 4-d's. This could turn out to be a great great day for Cedar Faire and Disney losing a major competitor in LA. If I were them I would ditch Knotts and take MM. Or purchase some of the rides and take them to Knotts, (Batman, Goliath, X, Riddlers, Tatsu(due to terrain considerations I do not think that will be possible though) , throw in FreeFall (does not need much space and could purchase it for cheap

Good info. Well I guess Bill wants whats best for his money which doesnt bode to well for my hopes that he buys the park for his son Oh well. Hmm I am looking forward to what Robb thinks about this matter.

Let's all just stop ragging on each other, obviously this is big big news and we need to determine just what the ramifications are going to be. Let's pool together our resources and determine who owns the land. With a bit of Google searching public records I am sure we can figure it out. Let's work together to get all the facts on the table here.

Well if Bill Gates kids likes coasters perhaps we can get his daddy to buy it! Either way I sure as hell hope it gets bought and not turned into more track housing. I think if Shapiro was playing his cards right he would not throw away a potential huge revenue stream for a short term cash infusion. Los Angeles county and surrounding areas has a HUGE population. One of the biggest and best roller coaster amusement parks is already built up, they just need to tap into the market properly, while fixing up the park and treating there guests and employees properly. Perhaps Cedar Fair should sell Knotts to Disney, let Disney have a 3rd gate+water park. Then have CF buy MM. Just do anything to keep MM alive!

Gosh I hope that Cedar Fair picks up magic mountain! I know they have just spent a boatload of cash for Great Amercia, but for the Coaster Community especially the Los Angeles and West coast community to lose Magic Mountain, that would be a very sad day. I hope it does not happen! (even if this is just a consideration it is a bit spooky!) Robb, tell us something happy!

Hi everyone, Just wondering if we can get a overview from anyone in the know about what the future of Magic Mountain holds as an "Extreme Park" Of course we are all very happy about Tatsu and all the refurbishments going on at the park. I am curious to know from those who have heard all the new CEO's talks regarding the future of the park. Do we believe that all the family freindly fair will really be a sell with the general public? It would be sad to lose Magic Mountain as a roller coaster capital of the world, do we really believe this might happen in the future in regards to much less capital for new coasters? P.S I cannot view the Mark S video on my computer and I have not been able to find a transcript, just incase you were going to tell me to watch the video. Thanks,

Thanks very much for the explanations! If you would break down each element of X in order what would it be? (I am trying to determine in my mind where the HalfHalf is; Is there a way they could design a element for a 4-d that would have the first drop basically do a front flip as it currently does and then continue to rotate 360 a couple times through the raven turn or would that just be ridiculous?

Hello Coaster guru's, I am trying to figure out the 4-D coaster terminology. I hear people talk about X and the new 4-D in regards to RavenTurns and Full Fulls, I cannot understand what on earth they are talking about. Can someone please define for a layman the terms used to describe the moves on a 4-d coaster? Thanks very much for your help!

Ok, please pardon my ignorance I did a quick search and did not find the answer I was looking for. I need some help with the 4-D Coaster Lingo. What is a Full Full(what does it do)? What exactly are the differences between the new 4-D coaster and X? Perhaps one of the 4-D experts here can post a 4-D lingo dictionary for those of us who are not as well versed in the 4-D coaster lingo. Thanks everyone for your patience and understanding!

The roller coaster is designed and operated as "unmanned" Amazing class project! Read the full article here http://www.sgvtribune.com/news/ci_3606933 I wish I went to a school like that in 8th grade!