Hersheypark (HP) Discussion Thread

[coasterlover420]

^^Yeah, that was the point of our comments. The perspective I'm sure makes the coaster look smaller than it really is.

[jarmor]

Im looking at the footers...they are pretty high off the ground. Will the water level get that high for those huge footers? I think I may actually travel to ride this coaster. That Stengel Diving Turn looks sweet!

[QueerRudie]

Im looking at the footers...they are pretty high off the ground. Will the water level get that high for those huge footers? I think I may actually travel to ride this coaster. That Stengel Diving Turn looks sweet!

 

That's been something there's been discussion on for a while now: The creek that runs through there floods regularly (See also: this fall and winter) and it's not inconceivable that water could go that high up... Once the creek does fill again, there will be a hefty amount of concrete exposed- but not as much as you'd think!

[-Edge of Beast-]

This beast is looking great! That Stengel Dive Turn looks really nice!

[Skycoastin Steve]

^^So we could end up with the world's first combination Stengel Dive/splashdown. I think that's a good thing. And it could even turn out to be an Aquatrax!

[Ccron10]

Here's a new update showing the Stengel Dive finished:

http://keystonethrills.wordpress.com/2011/12/19/hersheypark-skyrush-construction-update-63-12-19-11/

I want to thank Walter, Harry, and Matt on the Project 2012 group for helping to get the photos for this update.

Photo taken by Matt.

[QueerRudie]

^^So we could end up with the world's first combination Stengel Dive/splashdown. I think that's a good thing. And it could even turn out to be an Aquatrax!

 

DON'T SAY THAT WORD!!!!! (Aquatrax... NO more aquatrax!)

[DougMJr]

Even if the water level comes halfway up the concrete footers it will look normal. Ride of Steel at Darien lake has similar tall footers in the area that goes over the pond/swamp thing. It's good that they have a little extra concrete in the event of another flood.

[djw44]

I'm concerned about the integrity of those footers. They have been flooded out numerous times while they were being constructed and it is in swamp land.

[UnderCoverDrummer1]

I'm concerned about the integrity of those footers. They have been flooded out numerous times while they were being constructed and it is in swamp land.

 

Do you really think Hershey would spend all this time money and effort on building a ride and not take into account the fact that the area floods so often? I'm sure the footers are fine and if any of them weren't you bet they would have taken a jack hammer to it and started over.

[djw44]

I'm sure of it too. I just wonder how much of a continual beating these footers can take from these high waters. I wonder how much, if any, continual work will need to be done to preserve the integrity of the ride. I think along the lines of the continual welding necessary to be done on the Impulse coasters or of that type of nature.

[ernierocker]

 

I think we can all look at the pretty pictures of the new coaster without arguing what an exact element is called. Let's move on please.

 

Last warning guys. We will start deleting posts if you guys can't move on. It doesn't matter what you call it on paper, it's how it rides in person!

 

And I've had to delete a couple of posts now. Seriously, STOP ARGUING ABOUT WHAT THE STUPID TURN IS CALLED! Call it a stengel, reverse stengel, barrel, overturn, dog tongue, doggie style, reverse missionary postion, flipadoo, I don't care! Just move on! We may have to start banning some accounts if this nonsense continues.

[robbalvey]

^ I have just had to delete two more comments about this.

 

Seriously, guys, please LISTEN to our moderators. If they ask you to stop talking about something, there is a reason for it.

 

Eric, feel free to ban the next person that posts on this subject.

[QueerRudie]

I'm sure of it too. I just wonder how much of a continual beating these footers can take from these high waters. I wonder how much, if any, continual work will need to be done to preserve the integrity of the ride. I think along the lines of the continual welding necessary to be done on the Impulse coasters or of that type of nature.

 

Concrete, when exposed to water doesn't normally face the types of strain that you're thinking of. Think of it this way:

 

The structures are much (if not identical to) like a bridge for a highway: A highway bridge faces lots of constant and repeated weight, as well as heavy traffic crossing over many rivers around the world. Their footers, albeit on a much larger scale, face the same sort of impact that a coaster does- and often with the coaster having less direct impact on the footers themselves.

 

Also, look at coasters that have had water-immersed footers for years now: Anaconda, at KD, or Raven at Holiday World (Was waiting for when I could slide a reference in for that one!) where the footers are not only exposed to water, but also freezing water/tempertures for long durations of time. To my knowledge, they have yet to replace any of Anaconda's footers- and If my aged memory is correct, HW hasn't had to alter or replace footers on the lake turn for Raven.

 

HP with the previous 'creekside' coasters has ended up building bridges for the rides (Comet's crossing, sdL's lift and trimbrakes, the funky supports for Great Bear) but with SkyRush took the initiative to not only put the footers in the creek, but also put flood containment and control systems into the creek at the same time- which will not only benefit the park during the heavy rains, but also to control the creek downstream.

[alilstronger]

WOW!! Looking good. I can not wait to ride this next year!! It is going to suck going there for Springtime in the Park and it sitting there waiting to be rode since Hershey rarely opens any new rides for this occasion.

[djw44]

Is there an example of a coaster that has footers placed into an area with flowing water on this scale? Anaconda and Raven are in still water areas.

[chickenbowl]

^Big Bad Wolf's footers have been in the Rhine River since 1984, and will continue to be used on Verbolten.

[SharkTums]

^^Doesn't Nemesis have footers in a man made river?

[theflamingbrick]

^ on nemesis, the footers are actually tied into the side embankment at an angle, encased in a steel box. I believe the man made river flows underneath them.

 

On another note, concrete in water is not a problem. On my site we poured concrete in torrential rain and freezing conditions. Obviously it's not a river, but it can be done in water with no major structural problems. The footings would have been designed to withstand lateral forces, like those by moving water, especially since the coaster car will be exerting this force as it moves over the support anyway.

[coasterfreak101]

Is there an example of a coaster that has footers placed into an area with flowing water on this scale? Anaconda and Raven are in still water areas.

 

It's called a bridge. It holds a LOT more load, static and dynamic, and it's not like they're running out there to reinforce their underwater footers every night. Are you still really doubting the integrity of the footers? Come on now.

[eddie200330]

Is there an example of a coaster that has footers placed into an area with flowing water on this scale? Anaconda and Raven are in still water areas.

 

I don't think Spring Creek is all that deep or fast flowing. It just kinda meanders through the middle of the park. I really don't see a problem as others have stated.

[Synshine]

There's also a pretty good bed of rock not that deep under the soil. It isn't as if they are simply sunk into mud.

[A.J.]

No offense, but I'd bet that this whole "Hersheypark doesn't know what they're doing" conversation could quite possibly meet the same fate as the previous one...

[Bryce232]

^

[Skycoastin Steve]

^Big Bad Wolf's footers have been in the Rhine River since 1984, and will continue to be used on Verbolten.

If you want to get technical, the Rhine River is a man-made lake, not a river. There really isn't any flow to it.