331 feet Giga Coaster coming to Heide-Park ?

[BDG]

Our German friends at Freizeitparkweb have a new forum thread with tons of information regarding the building permission of Desert Race (their new-for-2007 Accelerator), which contains loads of yada-yada regarding the noise levels in the entire park.

Quite interesting, since there's talk of the infamous Giga Coaster the park has been planning since 2002.

 

The project was long rumoured to have been cancelled, or seriously delayed, because of budgetary reasons as well as the lack of a building permission.

 

According to the documents discovered, it seems the ride has a new location, the area behind the bobsled and free-fall tower. There's a race track there, for those who visited and/or know the park.

This location is better than the original planned location (where Desert Race is being built), because it's the furthest away from the nearby villages and it's shaped like a little valley, further blocking the sound of the ride and the noise of screaming passenger.

 

In fact, the location is so perfect, the park already has the building permit for the Giga Coaster ! Since the end of 2005 !

We now even know the (temporary ?) stats:

 

height: 101m (331.36 feet)

length: 2250m (7381.89 feet)

82 degrees steep first drop

top speed: 155 kph (96.31 mph)

 

Adding to the excitement is the fact that land clearing is going on at this new location.

The park has the building permit and with the new investors from Dubai, I don't think money is a problem...

 

To be continued...

 

http://freizeitparkweb.de/cgi-bin/dcf/dcboard.cgi?az=show_thread&om=567&forum=DCForumID31&viewmode=all

(Giga stuff starts at reply 25)

[Carnage]

Interesting. Hopefully that ends up getting built.

 

I've always wondered why no giga coasters have been built since Millenium Force.

[thomas2]

I can't imagine them building a new giga coaster now that they are building Desert Race, but boy it would be sweet if this ever happens.

 

I have my doubts, but there's nothing wrong with dreaming

[Gutterflower]

well its still possible then

 

is there anything else the ground work could be for?

 

We can only hope...

[Dark Vampire]

It would be so cool, our own Millennium Force in Europe.

[Shockwave]

Interesting. Hopefully that ends up getting built.

 

I've always wondered why no giga coasters have been built since Millenium Force.

 

The simple answer would be that they don't come cheap. I'd love to see what Cedar Point's tab to Intamin is looking like.

[Jeezus Juice]

This park is totally the sleeper hit of Europe. For all of the attention that Europa, Phantasia, Alton, DLP get ect. Heide seems relatively forgotten way out there in the corner of Germany.

 

I don't think that Desert Race would impact a giga at all. Especially considering the park has 2 of everything as it is. Also don't forget they have a new hotel this year too. Nothing like a $25 million Intamin to fill hotel rooms!

[coastermaniac1]

I wont believe it until I see it being built.

 

Whats the point of a park building something that big if it wont have any records.

 

And that would cost a fortune.

 

It would be great if it got built but I highly doubt it will.

[SpartanTS]

 

And that would cost a fortune.

 

At least $25 Million. That's a lot of $$$.

[thomas2]

^^Europe's highest and fastest coaster with Europe's biggest drop.

 

The tallest and fastest traditional coaster in the world.

 

They can do alot of different advertising for this coaster. And this coaster will look very impressive so they should have no problem with that.

[rburrahm]

Here is what RCDB shows.

 

rcdb.com/id3617.htm

[Gnome]

I wont believe it until I see it being built.

 

Whats the point of a park building something that big if it wont have any records.

Well 331 feet is pretty tall, and I'm sure a lot of people would make their way out for it. And along with the european records, it would be the worlds tallest roller coaster that uses a lift.[]

[Jeezus Juice]

Whats the point of a park building something that big if it wont have any records.

 

Because it will be a kick ass ride. Records are solely for marketing purposes, and they're usually exaggerated anyway.

 

A giga would definately get me back to the park, and I think that's the real point. Their drop ride alone is reason enough to get me back though!

 

^^ That's for this years coaster Desert Race, not the rumored 331 footer.

[downunder]

I hope it gets more airtime than Millennium Force, which certainly could have used some more bunny hops. Germany just keeps getting better on the coaster front.

[CycloneMan]

hmmm, I remember somebody posting about something like this, and getting the topic locked.

 

-Dainan "Maybe it'll be true" Rafferty

[Carnage]

Because it will be a kick a$$ ride. Records are solely for marketing purposes, and they're usually exaggerated anyway.

 

Besides, outside of enthusiast communities not many people know what the records are. If they built it, not many people in Germany would know or care that there was taller rides in the US.

[DATman]

^Actually, that's not true. Look at TTD. I'd say most people who went to the park when it first opened (and everyone in the Sandusky/Cleveland area, if not all of Ohio) knew that it was the tallest and fastest. It's one of the more marketable things for a coaster, as it is easily marketed to the GP.

[Corkscrewed]

"The tallest and fastest roller coaster east of the Prime Meridian?"

[Janster]

I've always said that a world record holder would come to Europe, sooner or later.

 

Hope this rumor is true. It's only a three hour drive from my place to Heide-Park.

[kitsch transporter]

Don´t be too happy too soon! If you read all the pdf-files, you will understand that due to noise pollution the park had difficulties to get permission for anything lately.

 

Sadly there are only very few people living near the park, but it just takes a few to complain and bring things to a halt.

 

Apparantly Colossos is very loud and it stands close to a small village.

To clear the situation with the neighbours, the city and the county-council the whole park had to be tested for noise emission.

As a result of this, the park had to replace the lift motor for Big Loop (Vekoma double-loop-screw) which sits in the middle of the park (go figure!)

 

Now, a few years ago the park planned to build an Intamin Aqua Trax. When plans for this appeared on some fan sites on the net, the whole noise and permission debate started.

So, it was illegally posted plans that led to the Aqua trax not being built.

 

After the (very expensive) noise emission examination proofed to be quite positive for the park, they decided to get permission for future plans in one go. This however does not mean that the park intends to really build those rides!

 

I understand that the neighbors are now doubting the loyality of the noise examination, and maybe the whole process can start all over again.

 

As much as i would like to have the Giga (especially after the sad Rita-clone) I don´t think this is what the park really needs to boost its attendance in the long run.

[aflack]

Any idea what that massive area of land is being cleared for then if not for the Giga coaster?

[Carnage]

^Actually, that's not true. Look at TTD. I'd say most people who went to the park when it first opened (and everyone in the Sandusky/Cleveland area, if not all of Ohio) knew that it was the tallest and fastest. It's one of the more marketable things for a coaster, as it is easily marketed to the GP.

 

Well, that's Ohio for you.

 

Though I bet those people you're talking about still think TTD is the tallest in the world.

 

If you build a 331 foot roller coaster in Germany, no locals are going to know or care that there is a taller one somewhere else in the world. They're still going to go to the park to ride the new big roller coaster.

 

Only snobby coaster enthusiests will think lesser of a ride because it doesn't hold any records.

[aflack]

I don't undertstand what you are saying, are you saying that if Heide build the tallest traditional coaster in the world there is no point in them marketing it as that because people won't care?

 

Of course they will, if I said to my non coaster enthusiats friends do you want to ride the tallest traditional coaster in the world they would def make the trip from the UK.

[Movieguy]

A Giga would be a good move for Heide, I think. Like others have said, Heide has always been kind of a sleeper park compared to other bigger names in terms of European parks. A high profile coaster for them would mean a chance to truly distinguish themselves, and establish their park among the big boys.

[verticalzero]

I first heard of this Giga Coaster when it was posted in the news section of the European Coaster Club magazine called "First Drop" a few years back.

 

Why should it matter if the coaster does not break any records, if it has a fast and exciting layout the punters will come to the park.

 

The park needs to have another top coaster to help "Colossos" draw the crowds. Yes it is a shame they decided to do a "Rita" clone for 2007, when it could of been a unique design for a "rocket" coaster.

 

Heide-Park is one of my fav places, lovely theaming, clean, tidy and most ops speak "english".

 

I hope the Park can over come the noise tests/problems and this coaster can be built in the next few seasons. If it does I will be back to ride this and the lovely woodie "Colossos".

 

------------------------------------------------------

 

Regarding "Colossos" being loud - I can vote for that, the lift hill groans when the train is at the top and the "up-stop" wheels sing their hearts out when going over the 1st 3 hills.

 

This is one of the problems with designs of hills if the next one is smaller than the last. What would you rather have...

 

1) a loud woodie

2) Lots of

 

Has "El Toro" become loud with it's "up-stop" wheels singing while going over the hills"..?