Sunfire Posted January 3, 2009 Share Posted January 3, 2009 ^The "Scream Zone" at the end of the name Drop Tower is used as a caption. It's just like in the Paramount days when it was called Drop Zone, and had the caption "Stunt Tower" below it on the ever awesome neon sign. I'm wondering what will be new for 2009. I'm guessing this season will be more of a time for aesthetic improvements. If a wood coaster comes in 2010 (which I don't really expect, but then again, who does?), perhaps CGA will be put back on the map of thrill parks. Only time will tell what happens in the coming months. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tmcdllr Posted January 3, 2009 Share Posted January 3, 2009 I don't think Vortex is going as it is still listed under thrill rides but who knows, this could be it's last season. Actually I would be surprised if that went before Grizzly. The blog did mention there is "quite a lot to be excited for in the next few years." Also mentioned is they expect to make a formal announcement early in January about what's new for 2009. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dpxtreme Posted January 3, 2009 Share Posted January 3, 2009 Maybe the announcement will come on Monday because that's when most people go back to school and work. If any coaster were to be removed, IMO, Vortex would be it. It hardly had a line at all during the 2008 season. The longest line was when they had the Switchfoot concert in the spring where the entire overflow queue was used. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sunfire Posted January 3, 2009 Share Posted January 3, 2009 ^Yeah, plus Vortex is way too rough. I guess we could call it Iron Wolf of the West. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thrillgeek Posted January 3, 2009 Share Posted January 3, 2009 I must like pain or something becuase I don't hate Vortex. Anyway...I'm expecting a new bathroom for 2009. Woohoo can't wait. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goliath513 Posted January 3, 2009 Share Posted January 3, 2009 Anyway...I'm expecting a new bathroom for 2009. Woohoo can't wait. Featuring urinals brought over from Geauga Lake. Despite Vortex being a terrible ride, I don't think we'll see it go before Grizzly. Although Grizzly actually draws a considerable line and Vortex is always empty, removing it could possibly please the bitchy neighbors (since it's a louder coaster) and maybe they will vote in favor of allowing the new GCI for 2010/2011. Assuming the economy doesn't bring them down... Actually, that would be nice to see happen - this recession might not be all bad if it could rid CGA of its pesky neighbors! If not, and this park does get paved over, I won't be sad to see it go. My visit there back in mid July was downright depressing to see what it has become since my previous visit in 2002. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sfmmrules! Posted January 3, 2009 Share Posted January 3, 2009 Yeah I agree it sure is depressing. After 2003 did it. Sept 2003 was when we lost Stealth & after the 2002 season Greased Lightnin. Why, why, why does it take so long for CGA to get coasters? It's the last park anyone would want to put a coaster. Who cares about those stupid office buildings. Those should get lost so CGA can turn into a SFMM. CGA was there way before those stupid office buildings! CF should show whose boss! We deserve a park as superior as SFMM! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tmcdllr Posted January 4, 2009 Share Posted January 4, 2009 - this recession might not be all bad if it could rid CGA of its pesky neighbors! Now that would be awesome! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KDCOASTERFAN Posted January 4, 2009 Share Posted January 4, 2009 Maybe the announcement will come on Monday because that's when most people go back to school and work. If any coaster were to be removed, IMO, Vortex would be it. It hardly had a line at all during the 2008 season. The longest line was when they had the Switchfoot concert in the spring where the entire overflow queue was used. Don't expect a park to remove a ride based soley on the average queue line waits,if they did things that way then both Hurler north & south would've been yanked a long time ago. I'm not sure wether or not Vortex has the new or older stand up trains on it.If it's the older models like Carowinds version has then I'd definitely expect it to be a painful ride,not because of the tracking but more due to the higher center of gravity effecting the ride when going through the curves.....especially at higher speeds. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angry_Gumball Posted January 4, 2009 Share Posted January 4, 2009 I actually find Vortex (I think it has newer trains on it, look more sleek) smoother if I'm not sitting..I mean, standing on the outer seats. The sides tend to be the edges of the paddle bouncing you around where towards the center, you're doing more of just rocking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sticky Nicky Posted January 4, 2009 Share Posted January 4, 2009 It's the old Intamin trains that run on Vortex. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dpxtreme Posted January 4, 2009 Share Posted January 4, 2009 They're not old Intamin trains; they're the first generation B&M trains. The different is thet the older models have a rounded front, while newer models have three "horns" like the trains on Mantis or Riddler's Revenge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ebl Posted January 4, 2009 Share Posted January 4, 2009 ^ The first-generation B&M standup trains did resemble the Intamin ones, though, so I can understand the confusion. I believe that B&M only built three standups with those trains (Iron Wolf, SFGAm, 1990; Vortex, PGA, 1991; and Vortex, Carowinds, 1992). After a few years off, they built the last four (Mantis, Chang, Riddler's Revenge, and Georgia Scorcher) with the newer design. Eric Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dpxtreme Posted January 4, 2009 Share Posted January 4, 2009 Really, really random, but with the mention of Vortex never having a line, I found some pretty good pictures showing off one of CGA's rare busy days of the 2008 season. It's nice seeing pictures with queue lines full, at least for CGA. picasaweb.google.com/filly.ho/05102008GreatAmerica#5199026785058467042 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
USCoaster Posted January 4, 2009 Share Posted January 4, 2009 Based on all of the problems CGA has had in the past with complaints from neighbors over noise issues, I don't see Grizzly going anywhere in the near future. Given its location, CGA won't be able to get a replacement coaster approved by the city for that location due to the adjacent offices. I think Vortex would be removed before Grizzly because it would be a lot easier for them to put a new coaster in Vortex's spot due to it being further from the edge of the park. I was a bit shocked when CGA announced the GCI coaster they wanted to build this year because of how close it was to all of the new office buildings by the front of the park. If Cedar Fair wants to "replace" Grizzly, maybe they should call in GCI to give it a complete overhaul. Leave the lift hill and first half of the turn around as they are the highest parts next to the office buildings and then either demolish or just reprofile the rest of the ride and put new trains on it. The neighbors couldn't complain too much about this and CGA would get a new coaster and get rid of one of the most boring coasters on the planet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tmcdllr Posted January 4, 2009 Share Posted January 4, 2009 The seats on Vortex have a lot of side to side slop where they are attatched to the rails that allow up and down adjustment before they are locked. Riddler's on the other hand has absolutely none and has almost no head banging. If it wasn't for this slop it would be much less painfull. This has the effect of throwing you into the restraints when there is a direction change. I would guess all the older B&M standup trains are like this. This is also exaggerated because of it's tight/compact track layout. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angry_Gumball Posted January 5, 2009 Share Posted January 5, 2009 There's some up/down slop as well. I've moved the restraint/upper portion of the seats up and down about a good inch or so while waiting in the brake run for the second train to dispatch. I've never tried to see if there was any side-to-side slop. During the ride, you can kinda hear the clicks/whatever from the play the upper region of the trains. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ebl Posted January 5, 2009 Share Posted January 5, 2009 I've wondered a few times whether parks with older B&M standups would ever upgrade to the newer design B&M trains. Of course, I don't know what that would entail with respect to chain/anti-rollback dogs, brakes, restraints, etc. Perhaps parks with them might consider it? Eric Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sfmmrules! Posted January 7, 2009 Share Posted January 7, 2009 It's not just Vortex. All the coasters at CGA need to be taken out!!! Top Gun er Flight Deck(yucko name) is halfway decent but it would be kick ass if it were a Batman/Dueling Dragons/Montu! & a nice long ride instead of being over in a split second. It's also real sad how long we have to wait for a new roller coaster. If we have to keep waiting years for the park to turn around then why not just sell it to the 49ers or let those stupid office buildings take over. Take the new woodie for example which we were supposed to get this year. Now we have to wait for two more years! If CF really cares then they would have ruled over those stupid office buildings & we would have gotten it this year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tmcdllr Posted January 7, 2009 Share Posted January 7, 2009 I don't think CF would give up so easily unless things couldn't be worked out with the bitchy neighbors, etc. Since the '09 coaster fell through it will be interesting to see what they come up with now for '09 & '10. It's possible plans have already been made that we don't know about. Remember... ..."there's quite a lot to be excited about in the next few years." There's other spots in that park where a coaster could fit and if they really wanted to they could make one fit anywhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goliath513 Posted January 7, 2009 Share Posted January 7, 2009 Remember......"there's quite a lot to be excited about in the next few years." A new bathroom is a lot to be excited about! We were all so thrilled to get a new one at SFDK last year in addition to THBS! Whatever it is, I hardly believe Cedar Fair would put in something remotely expensive. Possibly some new trash cans or planters? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tmcdllr Posted January 7, 2009 Share Posted January 7, 2009 A new bathroom is a lot to be excited about! Yes it is! Where could they possibly put one? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thrillgeek Posted January 7, 2009 Share Posted January 7, 2009 Just take Vortex out and install a HUGE toilet complex and name it Flush "The Ride". The GP wouldn't know the difference! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goliath513 Posted January 7, 2009 Share Posted January 7, 2009 ^ That would actually be an improvement over Vortex - even if it never actually opened. Trash Can: The Ride would also be good for the park. They could use a good dark ride. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seasonpass_Doug Posted January 7, 2009 Share Posted January 7, 2009 Interesting conversation on the removal of Vortex. My only question is with the foot print for Vortex being miniscule, would it be worth the cost to dismantle and replace it with something new? The new coaster replacing it would still be on the "smaller" side (which is the main complaint of all the coasters there)... would Cedar Fair see potential profit after all the work? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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