mike robinson Posted September 4, 2007 Share Posted September 4, 2007 Its Interesting, the last 2 Wooden Coasters I have ridden before getting on the Bullet were El Toro and the Ozark Wildcat at Celebration City. (No Voyage or Hades yet for me, yet) So thats really 3 top 5 coasters for me that all have very different rides. El Toro is so smooth it doesn't even feel like a wooden coaster and the restraints are so tight that it really takes away from the ride. The Wildcat is so graceful with such smooth flowing elements, anybody can enjoy it. The Bullet is just sheer power despite its small size. Its not too rough, but it gives a ride that is barely contained. The pacing is frantic and much of the ride is unexpected. So if I had to rate these 3 in order, it would be 1. Bullet 2. Ozark Wildcat 3. El Toro (El Toro would be a number one with different restraints.) These are all excellent rides but very different rides. I really need to find the time to ride Hades, The Voyage and The Kentucky Rumbler to give me a different perspective. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ErinBrookeTX Posted September 4, 2007 Share Posted September 4, 2007 Well it looks like the coaster made news around the US...but I wished it had been more about the coaster than its neighbor:( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bgwfreak Posted September 4, 2007 Share Posted September 4, 2007 Yeah, the owners tried to buy them out, now *shock* they are so shocked by how loud a wooden coaster runs! What idiots. I have no pity for them. http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/tx/5103836.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
almightyfire Posted September 4, 2007 Share Posted September 4, 2007 You have no pity for who? The owners of the house or the owners of the coaster? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike robinson Posted September 4, 2007 Share Posted September 4, 2007 I do feel kind of bad for the people living next door, but I think they are really milking it to make $$$$$ out of the deal. Problem is, this kind of thing happens all the time in the Houston area. Long time home owners are all of a sudden living next door to a bunch of yuppie stack condo's or a toll road or freeway. So this situation is not unique. Its been going on for a long time and until Houston and the surrounding communities start zoning, it will keep happening. These people are getting a ton of press because its because of a Roller coaster. I bet there are hundreds of similar stories around town that get no press because a cheap condo is not nearly as newsworthy. After being out there, I think the boats on the bay make more noise than the coaster and I would probably feel a lot worse if they hadn't been outside BBQ'ing on Saturday. To be honest the house is close enough to see the knick-knacks in the windows as you go up the lift. I expect Woody Allen to be making a sequel there soon. Nobody should be forced to give up a home (even if its a weekend home) but I would bet that all the businesses in the area are thrilled. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
verticalzero Posted September 4, 2007 Share Posted September 4, 2007 The owners of the house got shown the coaster details by the Park, they could of sold up and moved house, but they choose to stay so they have to live with the noise. I bet their house price goes up loads within the next couple of years. Anyone know some good double or Triple glazing specialist firms for their windows Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike robinson Posted September 4, 2007 Share Posted September 4, 2007 Yep, they should have made plans once the inevitable started. I honestly feel its more about money then sentiment. Pretty obvious from the interview they did that this is more of a personal dislike for Fertida (Owner of Landry's and the Kemah Boardwalk) I think it should be obvious that the coaster is not going anywhere and the local politicians are backing the Boardwalk so I think it is these people's best interest to learn to live with it or make other arrangements. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ErinBrookeTX Posted September 4, 2007 Share Posted September 4, 2007 Yes I agree Mike. Yes I do feel sorry for them and it's a shame it happen to them but again...you can't fight a lost cause. Atlease at this point.... I think most people feel sorry for them but kindof feel like they now have to deal with reality. They need to cut their losses if they choose to get out. Unfortunately some people do not like change...but life is full of changes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ginzo Posted September 4, 2007 Share Posted September 4, 2007 I'm struggling to want to feel badly for the owners, but I can't bring myself to do so. The people who run Kemah didn't do anything shady like run bogus blight studies in order to use eminent domain to steal people's houses. And the town apparently has no zoning. When you buy a house in a town with no zoning restrictions you have to be prepared for a McDonalds to pop up in your back yard. The boardwalk owners even tried to buy them out. Populations grow. Cities expand. Development happens. Deal with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rastuso Posted September 4, 2007 Share Posted September 4, 2007 I think the folks in those houses really got hosed. You can't make a judgement on them without really knowing what Landry's offered them. If they were offered 50-75% over market value, then, yeah, they should shut up. That doesn't always happen. ANd seeing that there are multiple houses there, I really doubt 4 families all decided to not sell their houses at a very high value. It's not like they have ANY other options now. Who would really buy those houses to live in at this point? As for Bullet's ranking, I feel there is a LOT of new coaster and hometown bias. Houston hasn't gotten a new coaster in almost a decade. Locals are going crazy over it. I would rank it maybe # 10 for just woodies, but I'd have to think about it. Top 10 coaster in general, it's not even close. Of course, I'm not huge fan of Voyage either. Bullet does not flow, and I foresee it being brutally rough very soon. It will suffer the same fate as Voyage. Difference is, Holiday World has a top notch wood coaster maintenance staff, and a big budget. Kemah, I assume, does not. If Voyage is already needing 1/3 new track and is tearing itself up this year, Bullet will suffer the same fate, as I think it rides very similarly, just not for as long. I hope I'm wrong, but I think this ride will be almost unrideable in a year without TONS of TLC. Texas woodies have a history of this. -r Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RussellHammondnholt Posted September 4, 2007 Share Posted September 4, 2007 The smaller footprint made for a better ride in my opinion. Had the homeowners sold and left Kemah and the designers with acres to work with, the Bullet may have ended up as a run of the mill woodie. My favorite part though is the second drop. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike robinson Posted September 4, 2007 Share Posted September 4, 2007 I was led to believe they have been made some very generous offers for several years. I would have to think with the money that Fertita has, and the location of that property, that the Boardwalk folks would have been very aggressive to purchase that land. Like I said in a previous post, I think its personal. Just read the statement the owner made "I would never sell to that man!" As far as rankings, well sure being local probably has a lot to do with it. Not like I can just hop in my car to compare it to other coasters. I think I have only 3 new wooden coaster credits in the past 3 years so that really influences my picks. Without throwing numbers I will just say that it is a terrific ride. Time will tell if your right about the track. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bgwfreak Posted September 4, 2007 Share Posted September 4, 2007 You have no pity for who? The owners of the house or the owners of the coaster? Owners of the house. I also have a hard time believing that they never were bothered by the general noise of the park before this. I know that flat rides and people screaming on those and such aren't as loud as a coaster, but come on. Sounds like they just want to stir up something. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ginzo Posted September 4, 2007 Share Posted September 4, 2007 They should have built a Balder. There goes the neighborhood! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GuruGuys Posted September 4, 2007 Share Posted September 4, 2007 I do feel kind of bad for the people living next door. I wish people would quit saying this. The news made you think this, but nobody lives there. It is a weekend getaway and I've only seen them there this weekend throughout the past few months. It is not a live in home. -GG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rastuso Posted September 4, 2007 Share Posted September 4, 2007 Who the hell cares if it's a weekend getaway home. They now hear the constant roar of a coaster train and screams 10 feet from their house. How can you say it's not a big deal for them. I hope a concrete factory opens up 10 feet from your house. Maybe you'll understand then. Regardless of if they have an axe to grind with Fertida, few people in the world have ever had a 100 foot tall coaster built 10 feet from their house. And I'd assume they all complained about it. -r Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canadmos Posted September 4, 2007 Share Posted September 4, 2007 If a concrete factory were built next to my house, I wouldn't sit there like a duck frozen in ice until it is completly built and operating to start to complain. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rastuso Posted September 4, 2007 Share Posted September 4, 2007 What would you do then? Try and sell it to someone who didn't notice the construction? AS I said, maybe Landry's offered lots of extra cash for it, but we don't know that. And, more importantly, would the cash Landry's offered for that house be enough to purchase any other Gulf-side property in that area? Moving to a new house is no small task. -r Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guppyman Posted September 4, 2007 Share Posted September 4, 2007 Had a similiar situation - a large container port is being built right down the street from Kemah - I lived in a house that would eventually have railroad tracks across the front yard. I bitched and moaned and tried to fight the Bayport expansion before they built anything - then, when it was apparent they would build it anyway, I moved. Complaining to the media does what at this point? It's there. It will stay. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
almightyfire Posted September 4, 2007 Share Posted September 4, 2007 I thoroghly understand their beef about noise. I said the same thing when I saw how close this thing was to the homes when construction started earlier this year, but all of those few homes that are left on that shore area are few and they do not only have to contend with the noise of the coaster but the boardwalk itself. There are lots of restaurants, clubs, shops, rides, and a marina directly in front of them and next door, so that noise period on the weekends is atrocious. It has been a losing battle from day one when the boardwalk first came into existence years ago. if you just drive around that little area and see it is all commerical now and their tenacity isnt understood anymore, it is just plain stupid. They are just going to have to just move. This is no differant than a neighborhood being rejuvinated by buying of old houses and tearing them down and building new ones and one little old lady refusing to sell. Guess what they always do end up selling. Houston is one of the most modern cities in the United States. Here if the roof needs repairing, the wood is rotten, and the hot water heater is gone, we tear it down and build new. We dont give a flip about historical monuments here. That is just the way it is in the Houston area. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lorddoonga Posted September 4, 2007 Share Posted September 4, 2007 I rode Bullet today approx 8-10 times... lost count. Today, Kemah was rather quiet and non-busy for a usual weekday. My overall rating is still up in the air..and I wont rank it until it hopefully smooths itself out. I must say it was very jerky. First time I got on was the last seat. 1st drop was great. But the right turn leading into the S-curve around towards the bay was painful. Know what whip-lash is?? Well, I got gut-lashed, every single time I rode it. First seat was okay. You can still get a decent ride on seat #7 and #8. After several rides I finally stopped bracing myself with my legs and feet against the car. I just let them rest comfortably right out in front of me and held on tight . That was the trick for me not to get gut-lashed! Your gonna need some serious upper body strength to keep from being knocked around. I hope whoever is 48" inches doesn't get hurt ! LOL .... enjoy ?!?!? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike robinson Posted September 4, 2007 Share Posted September 4, 2007 I just saw a story about The Bullet on CNN. Kemah is getting lots of free publicity out of all this... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lorddoonga Posted September 4, 2007 Share Posted September 4, 2007 Work out or do exercises for your neck before riding. LOL It's gonna test it to the limits. I wished it wouldve sprinkled enough to get the tracks wet and wild when I rode today. Hey, I forgot I bought the all-day/all-rides pass (including Bullet) ... maybe I'll go back out there tonite ... hehe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ErinBrookeTX Posted September 4, 2007 Share Posted September 4, 2007 Also I thought it should be noted to people who are not familar with Kemah...it's not a permament carnival exibihit (which normally comes with little maintenance). It's actually a really classy entertainment/dinning experience. I believe that kemah will keep this ride running well. This place is kept very tidy. I know alot of large businesses in houston take their clients here. It's very beautiful (minus the ugly color of the bay). It's a tourist attraction. So I do think this ride will be maintaned well...I could be wrong though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coasterphotos Posted September 4, 2007 Share Posted September 4, 2007 Work out or do exercises for your neck before riding. LOL It's gonna test it to the limits. I wished it wouldve sprinkled enough to get the tracks wet and wild when I rode today. Hey, I forgot I bought the all-day/all-rides pass (including Bullet) ... maybe I'll go back out there tonite ... hehe If you were complaining about the roughness with it dry...you probably don't want to ride it wet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now