Shavethewhales Posted July 10, 2012 Share Posted July 10, 2012 ^^Well, sort of. They want the image of the old Rattler to die so that after the rebuild it has the proper effect of being a new ride. This is all they've said officially: “All I can say is, it will be going away on Aug. 5,” park spokeswoman Sydne Purvis said. “That's all I can tell you.” "Going away" doesn't mean they're tearing the entire thing down permanently. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olsor Posted July 10, 2012 Share Posted July 10, 2012 Its too bad so many illiterate wusses (read the WARNING signs Y'all) couldnt handle a REAL ride. You own a pair of Trucknutz, don't you? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SharkTums Posted July 10, 2012 Share Posted July 10, 2012 ^Doesn't everyone in Texas?!? I thought it was a state requirement! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Me007gold Posted July 10, 2012 Share Posted July 10, 2012 According to this article, it's a permanent closure: Fiesta Texas' famed Rattler is going silent The Rattler won't be rolling any more after Aug. 5. Six Flags Fiesta Texas announced Monday that its landmark wooden roller coaster — once billed as the fastest and tallest wooden coaster in the world — will carry its last rider that day. What, if anything, will replace the 20-year-old ride was not something Fiesta Texas officials would discuss Monday. “All I can say is, it will be going away on Aug. 5,” park spokeswoman Sydne Purvis said. “That's all I can tell you.” The ride, a nearly mile-long, 180-foot-high structure of Douglas fir tracks and southern yellow pine supports, is one of Fiesta Texas' signature features. It was the park's only adult roller coaster when it opened in March 1992. So highly anticipated was the ride when the park opened that visitors waited in line for as many as three hours to take their seats and then got back in line for another turn. It has won thousands of fans over the years. “It's one of the few coasters that literally scared me,” said David Lipnicky, public relations director for American Coaster Enthusiasts and a Grand Prairie resident who was there when the ride began and has come back for more thrills every year since. “That original, first drop was the single best (coaster) element I've ever experienced.” But the Rattler's bite was a bit too hard, according to some of the park's guests. The 166-foot drop after the ride started and the curves that pulled riders with up to 3.5 G's of gravitational force were blamed for a variety of neck, back and shoulder injuries that led to lawsuits by dozens of riders. Park signs warned riders that the Rattler was “an aggressive, high-speed, physically demanding” attraction that might not be best for pregnant women and people with heart, spine or back problems. By the 1994 season, the ride was toned down. Its top speed went from 73 mph to 65 mph, and its first drop was shortened. At the time, Fiesta Texas officials denied that the changes were the result of allegations in the lawsuits. In 1998, the park reached settlements worth $3.54 million in lawsuits representing 27 plaintiffs. Purvis said the lawsuits have long been resolved and had no bearing on the closing of the ride. She said the park wanted the Rattler's many fans to know when it would be closing so they had time to ride it one more time. “It's kind of the end of an era,” she said. Howard Gillooly, the preservation director for the coaster enthusiasts organization, said it's always sad to see a wooden coaster close, and he predicted that fans would make a trip to San Antonio to take one last ride on the Rattler before it's gone. Wooden coasters are being replaced by steel coasters in the amusement park industry but have not disappeared altogether, industry officials said. Richard Munch, a member of the National Roller Coaster Museum and Archives board and a founder of the coaster enthusiasts organization, said wooden coasters have not been easy to maintain in the Texas heat. But they continue to be built in Northern states and in other parts of the world, including China, he said. The most recent census by the Roller Coaster DataBase showed that the United States had 113 wooden coasters and 509 steel coasters. Munch was surprised by Monday's announcement because he believed the Rattler was in line for refurbishment. He and Lipnicky said they hope Six Flags replaces the ride with another coaster or something that provides the same kind of thrills the Rattler did. Even after the Rattler was toned down, fans still thought it was an exciting ride. “It was a wooden coaster, and it was a pretty long ride — one of the longest coasters I've ever been on,” said Andrew Cobb, a Texas State University student who grew up in San Antonio. “I'll miss it.” Source All it says is "it's going away" It says nothing about being permently closed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scbt Posted July 10, 2012 Share Posted July 10, 2012 ^Doesn't everyone in Texas?!? I thought it was a state requirement! There and some parts of South Jersey, depending where you are, you might mistake yourself from being in the deep south. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed Farmer Posted July 11, 2012 Share Posted July 11, 2012 Its too bad so many illiterate wusses (read the WARNING signs Y'all) couldnt handle a REAL ride. Prime. I'm just going to incorporate this into my signature going forward. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scbt Posted July 11, 2012 Share Posted July 11, 2012 Yes, the original Rattler is permanently closed, but not the "New Rattler" I think they should borrow the sign from Hershey and call it Rattler's Revenge haha Pretty sure you're thinking of Kennywood Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devious Posted July 11, 2012 Share Posted July 11, 2012 Repost... this is going to have an inversion I am just feeling it! I died laughing when i first saw this, but now, thinking about it's location on the cliff? This would actually be fairly amazing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bert425 Posted July 11, 2012 Share Posted July 11, 2012 ^Doesn't everyone in Texas?!? I thought it was a state requirement! wrong end of the car. this is the requirement in Texas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cal1br3tto Posted July 11, 2012 Share Posted July 11, 2012 ^I approve...wait, no, I think I just like the car. To each their own, but I just can't help but be a little surprised that people are wanting to get last rides in. No, I didn't hate it, but it is decidedly...not good...at the very least. I do hope they'll either incorporate aspects of the ride's former glory, or design something that will make us forget all about both the early days and the current suckiness. Not sure when I'll return, but looking forward to this new reason! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArizonaGuy Posted July 11, 2012 Share Posted July 11, 2012 Here's some good footage from Shane's Amusement Attic. It's the park opening from 1992 and has some really good Rattler off ride footage. It's crazy to see how even the fan curve after the first drop has changed a lot over the last 20 years as well. Don't know how to embed so here's the link Foward to 1:18. That's where the Rattler footage starts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jps294 Posted July 11, 2012 Share Posted July 11, 2012 Visited Fiesta Texas yesterday July 10, and rode Rattler 3 times and I am going to miss it alot!!! They have tons of signs stating that the ride will be slithering away after Aug 5!! For more pictures of the park go to Amusement Park Authority.com! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
youngforever Posted July 14, 2012 Share Posted July 14, 2012 Do any of you think they'll retheme the ride instead of just "New Rattler"? Like a brand new name and theme to fit the area. Almost like a Bizzaro type thing you know? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bert425 Posted July 14, 2012 Share Posted July 14, 2012 Do any of you think they'll retheme the ride instead of just "New Rattler"? Like a brand new name and theme to fit the area. Almost like a Bizzaro type thing you know? considering the area it's in, is the Western area? prolly will come back with something very, very similar in name. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
youngforever Posted July 14, 2012 Share Posted July 14, 2012 Do any of you think they'll retheme the ride instead of just "New Rattler"? Like a brand new name and theme to fit the area. Almost like a Bizzaro type thing you know? considering the area it's in, is the Western area? prolly will come back with something very, very similar in name. I meant like a retheming, NOT a Bizarro. Bizarro-esque I meant, like new station with new theme or something. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alpengeist04 Posted July 14, 2012 Share Posted July 14, 2012 Do any of you think they'll retheme the ride instead of just "New Rattler"? Like a brand new name and theme to fit the area. Almost like a Bizzaro type thing you know? What, don't you want to be able to call it NRAT? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SharkTums Posted July 14, 2012 Share Posted July 14, 2012 NRAT it is! It has been decided! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jps294 Posted July 14, 2012 Share Posted July 14, 2012 One thing they need to do is fix the queue line when your going up to the station. It is not made for fat folks. I hate when I see people walking up sideways to the top! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bottom_feeder_13 Posted July 14, 2012 Share Posted July 14, 2012 ^ Nah, it's meant to be like a test seat, if you can't walk normally through the queue then you can't ride the coaster. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArizonaGuy Posted July 14, 2012 Share Posted July 14, 2012 ^^ Yup, that's exactly why the queue was made that way. Can't fit through the aisle then you're probably not gonna fit on the train. But of course there are people who go all the way up sideways then get all pissed off when they can't ride. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cal1br3tto Posted July 15, 2012 Share Posted July 15, 2012 Oh, I'd forgotten all about the semi-annoying (but somewhat attractive, as I recall) queue. I'm sure last year I saw someone climbing between levels, or maybe they just looked like they were trying to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArizonaGuy Posted July 16, 2012 Share Posted July 16, 2012 So when NTAG was redone, was the whole station and queue redone or was it just cleaned up? I really couldn't see them taking the whole station down to redo it again unless it gets moved as part of the redesign. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meteornotes Posted July 16, 2012 Share Posted July 16, 2012 Loving the name NRAT. This must happen. dt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coasterfreak101 Posted July 16, 2012 Share Posted July 16, 2012 Yeah, regardless of the future name for this thing I'm on board for NRAT. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cstrfrk67 Posted July 21, 2012 Share Posted July 21, 2012 Though I doubt it would happen, it would be cool if they did a near-vertical drop similar to NTAG which lead into a double up into the first turn. However instead of turning back around, it went along to the right, diving and rising off and on the cliff, until it got to the other side of the park. From there it could do an intense helix/some other element, then make its way back. Probable never going to happen, but hey, at least SFFT is finally receiving a signature ride that (hopefully) will have tons of airtime. I dont know why folks keep sayin SFFT has no signature ride when Superman, has long had the tallest loop. and has been ranked "fastest stand-up coaster" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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