Kemah Boardwalk and Bullet Discussion Thread

[robbalvey]

^ Doonga, please do not reply so many times in a row. You can easily edit your post if you've forgotten to say something or need to add more to it.

 

--Robb

[jamesdillaman]

Shaping up to be a good little ride, looks like. Too bad it's in Texas... I'm boycotting the state at least for another year (until November 2008), so it'll have to wait.

 

-James Dillaman

[snuggles]

The hills on this look like they will give tons of airtime. anything after the giant elevated 180* turn, is going to be SEX.

[willski]

Shaping up to be a good little ride, looks like. Too bad it's in Texas... I'm boycotting the state at least for another year (until November 2008), so it'll have to wait.

 

-James Dillaman

 

 

Ohhhh...what a rebel!

 

You must think you're sooooo witty.

 

 

Looks awesome, but I can't help wondering if there is going to be much air with all the turns. I'm sure GG will do a fine job though.

[restoca]

Shaping up to be a good little ride, looks like. Too bad it's in Texas... I'm boycotting the state at least for another year (until November 2008), so it'll have to wait.

 

-James Dillaman

 

If that's a reference to the TX governor, he's in office until 2010. If that's a reference to the president, I think he's president of Ohio as well...

 

In any case, more room in the queue for me!

[metrock]

I still can't get over how compact this coaster is going to be. I look at the lift hill, and then the amount of land there is to build the remaining portion of the ride; it just does not match up. I wonder to myself where the rest of the open land is. Something tells me that people will soon forget about the demolition of the Texas Cyclone

[jmccalip]

Something tells me that people will soon forget about the demolition of the Texas Cyclone

 

Maybe you will, but then again you didn't grow up with it. You didn't have the memories, and I sure bet it wasn't your first coaster.

[lorddoonga]

Something tells me that people will soon forget about the demolition of the Texas Cyclone

 

Maybe you will, but then again you didn't grow up with it. You didn't have the memories, and I sure bet it wasn't your first coaster.

 

Amen jmccalip... I don't think they were old or tall enough to ride Texas Cyclone in the glory days with its original trains and before track modification. William Cobb made Houston proud and will always be #1 in my books. As for Bullet... gee can't wait.

[metrock]

Oh I don't doubt it used to be a great ride. I rode it back in 2004 and still thought it was a fun roller coaster. I forget how many times I rode, but it was the only coaster really worth riding at the park (since a lot was closed). Good times.

 

I can think of quite a few wooden coasters that I would have rather seen torn down 1st (Colossus, Psyclone, Rattler). It is a shame that they tore it down. I was looking forward to riding it again in the future. ::sigh::

 

I was just saying that something on a grand stature such as the Boardwalk Bullet sure does help relieve the area of a missing wooden coaster.

[lorddoonga]

Oh I don't doubt it used to be a great ride. I rode it back in 2004 and still thought it was a fun roller coaster. I forget how many times I rode, but it was the only coaster really worth riding at the park (since a lot was closed). Good times.

 

I can think of quite a few wooden coasters that I would have rather seen torn down 1st (Colossus, Psyclone, Rattler). It is a shame that they tore it down. I was looking forward to riding it again in the future. ::sigh::

 

I was just saying that something on a grand stature such as the Boardwalk Bullet sure does help relieve the area of a missing wooden coaster.

 

I would've liked to have ridden PSYCLONE. It seemed to have potential but many complained about its shaky rough ride.

[metrock]

^ It had about as much potential as President Bush.

[lorddoonga]

The first drop seemed pretty decent.

[restoca]

I went to the construction area today to check things out. It was a beautiful day for coaster riding, but anyway...

 

From the parking lot it's really looking massive, relative to its surroundings. And the second tallest section hasn't even begun to be built. Great views to be had from the observation tower.

 

I can't recall if anyone has made the following predictions, but if they have, I agree:

 

I spotted three hills within the structure that have a small radius given the speed I assume the train will be traveling. Has me thinking of the airtime on a certain small S&S woodie...

 

From the steps of the Saltgrass restaurant next door it's easy to see the footings currently under construction for the remaining section. The bottom of the first drop will nearly be touching the wall of the Starbucks building. I wonder if that section will be tunneled. It's going to be awfully close to a pedestrian area not to be enclosed.

 

If anyone has any ideas on how the passengers will reach the station, please share. I've studied the various photos of the model and I can't find an area that doesn't have ground-level track between the perimeter and the station. Hey, maybe a chair-lift will be involved...

 

It looks like the tallest vertical sections of timber for the station are in place. Also in place is the pulley/wheel for the chain at the top of the lift. Looking forward to Jason's next photo installment.

[lorddoonga]

Enjoyed that update. I think gaining entry to Bullet will be some sort of maze and when you reach it you say "Here it is!"

[coasterphotos]

I'm glad I'm not the only one that is confused as how we'll get to the station to ride this thing!

 

Here are a couple photos from today, more at my site as usual.

View showing the turnaround structure before the first drop

View showing the lift with the top chain gear now in place and ground work being done for the remainder of the ride

[BiCoastal Kid]

It could quite easily find it's way under the lift and two other tracks, they appear to be a good 15-feet ish off the ground.

 

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c352/matt515o/06IAAPAModel-StationTurn.jpg

[coasterphotos]

Hmm...yeah...looking at the model it looks like the entrance would be on the side opposite of the current walkway that runs near Saltgrass. Will be interesting to see how they connect the entrance of the ride to the current areas.

 

Edit:

 

Actually...on second thought...that side of the ride is right up against the yard for that white house next door...and there is a pretty low section of track that runs under the higher sections...so I think that is out.

You can see what I'm talking about in this photo:

http://www.coasterphotos.com/maingallery/v/Kemah/2006/042007/Kemah-Construction-042007-29.jpg.html

[BiCoastal Kid]

Well it's going to need to wind around somewhere. Just looking at the model, unless there's going to be a really intricate stair system, it would most likely go out under somewhere over there, and then wind around the drop structure.

[lorddoonga]

You think the boarding station will be raised above the ground? Based on pictures and model it doesnt seem like it.

[restoca]

You think the boarding station will be raised above the ground? Based on pictures and model it doesnt seem like it.

 

Doesn't part of the track pass underneath the station?

[lorddoonga]

You think the boarding station will be raised above the ground? Based on pictures and model it doesnt seem like it.

 

Doesn't part of the track pass underneath the station?

 

I need a second look at the models. I wish all the models could be in one place just one click away... : (

[restoca]

You think the boarding station will be raised above the ground? Based on pictures and model it doesnt seem like it.

 

Doesn't part of the track pass underneath the station?

 

I need a second look at the models. I wish all the models could be in one place just one click away... : (

 

You can sort of see it in the link BiCoastal Kid provided on the previous page.

[lorddoonga]

You think the boarding station will be raised above the ground? Based on pictures and model it doesnt seem like it.

 

Doesn't part of the track pass underneath the station?

 

I need a second look at the models. I wish all the models could be in one place just one click away... : (

 

You can sort of see it in the link BiCoastal Kid provided on the previous page.

 

youre right. its the cue line, then a fly thru under the station, then a 2nd flyby right after the first drop, then a flyby crossover on the outside edge

[restoca]

Another beautiful day lured me to Kemah. This time I talked with an employee (adult-type/non-teen) of the Boardwalk who was standing near the entrance of the construction site.

 

He didn't have any info in regards to the path to the station, but he did say they'll consider themselves lucky if the coaster is operating by July 4th. That's unfortunate, since June typically has severe thunderstorms on an almost daily basis. Maybe the crew can get "ahead of schedule" now while the weather is so good.

 

So, there's a bit of info for all of you in far-flung places who need to make vacation plans several weeks in advance...

no views of the bay to be had on these three turns

this shop should be selling BB merchandise already, I say

showing how close to the ground those turns will be

tracks that will hug the base of the lift turn structure

"bottleneck" almost complete

[Jive]

Holly Cow!