robbalvey Posted September 26, 2008 Share Posted September 26, 2008 Word on the street is that Speed: The Ride at the Sahara in Las Vegas has just "Closed for the season" for the first time ever and currently there is no scheduled re-opening. Anyone know more about this? --Robb I've re-posted the photo that John posted on page 2...just in case some of you don't make it that far! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scaparri Posted September 26, 2008 Share Posted September 26, 2008 Yeah, I remember back in August, screamscape posted a link to the expansion plans with the artwork for the proposed expansion/makeover to the Sahara. As you can see, Speed is nowhere to be found. Apparently they are trying to shed the gimmicks of amusement rides and align themselves with the classier, modern casinos that have become so popular. It doesn't sound good for the ride. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny Upsidedown Posted September 26, 2008 Share Posted September 26, 2008 I would have to wonder if this ride is going to be removed. The Sahara website has a small blip about it. http://www.saharavegas.com/NASCAR/SPEED-facts/ Speed - The Ride will be closed for the season. Speed - The Ride is a state-of-the-art roller coaster and the hottest thrill ride in Las Vegas! Seasoned roller coaster lovers and adventurous first-timers will love every thrill, turn, and hair-raising chill. Get your ticket and discover why Speed ─ The Ride was named Las Vegas' best attraction by Vegas.com and the Las Vegas-Review Journal. The need for speed begins inside the NASCAR Cafe, where an extraordinary electromagnetic force slingshots the coaster out of its launch site and over the first hill at breathtaking speeds. A steep drop follows as passengers plummet 25 feet below the surface through a misty underground tunnel before catapulting back above the ground and through a breathtaking loop. The coaster then accelerates from 35 mph to 70 mph in just two seconds as it whips through the Sahara's 192-foot-tall marquee. Then, just before curving around the porte-cochere and up a dramatically steep incline, it stops 224 feet above the ground, carrying passengers back through the same exhilarating path, only this time in reverse. Get ready to scream! And don't forget to check out your souvenir photo once the ride is over. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ECZenith Posted September 26, 2008 Share Posted September 26, 2008 Awee, I hope it isn't going to be removed, it's my favorite coaster in Vegas and one of the last survivor's from Vegas' coaster genocide. Noooo! Not my baby! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shockwave Posted September 26, 2008 Share Posted September 26, 2008 So if this goes, that means the best coaster in Vegas is now at the Mini Grand Prix. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HEADCHEEZ Posted September 26, 2008 Share Posted September 26, 2008 I hope it doesn't go. Its the best coaster in a 5 hour radius! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ECZenith Posted September 26, 2008 Share Posted September 26, 2008 Don't forget Canyon Blaster! There is a rumor that Circus Circus will be getting a spinning coaster, with all these removals and now this possible closure it's good to know at least the Adventuredome is doing decent business with their rides. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cgodsey Posted September 26, 2008 Share Posted September 26, 2008 Speed is asta la vista baby... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AllenA07 Posted September 26, 2008 Share Posted September 26, 2008 Speed was a decent ride, in my opinion the best one in Vegas. However with that said I personally wouldn't really miss it, I cannot remember the last time I went on a coaster while in Vegas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coasterdude5 Posted September 26, 2008 Share Posted September 26, 2008 I'm not really familiar with the design - could it possibly be relocated to another park? Hey Hard Rock Park... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Stratosphere Posted September 26, 2008 Share Posted September 26, 2008 Hey everyone I was there today and I grabbed a picture of the sign at the entrance. They even ripped out all of the cash registers, it was really sad. I hope it doesn't go anywhere, but if it does, I hope they could re-locate it somewhere. None of the employees at the Sahara had any information about it either. John Speed: The Ride closure sign. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
downunder Posted September 27, 2008 Share Posted September 27, 2008 Best coaster in Vegas for sure but it was just ok as far as I was concerned, I'm sure it would loan itself well to relocation, Michigan's Adventure maybe (someone has to say that)? I've always wondered how a full park with tons of rides would go in Vegas, any opinions? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
texcoaster Posted September 27, 2008 Share Posted September 27, 2008 I've always wondered how a full park with tons of rides would go in Vegas, any opinions? It would go like SFNO did, because it has the same two basic problems that New Orleans has in terms of hosting a theme park: [1] Nobody goes to that city for a theme park. It's not exactly a "family" destination and the adults go there for more "adult" entertainment. [2] It's too damn HOT most of the time for you to really enjoy a day of it. A couple of hours or so and you're ready to get indoors. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robbalvey Posted September 27, 2008 Author Share Posted September 27, 2008 A couple of hours or so and you're ready to get indoors. Which is exactly why the only park that has really thrived at all is the indoor park.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
itnotfair Posted September 27, 2008 Share Posted September 27, 2008 no more high roller, no more speed...that makes desperado, canyon blaster, and manhattan express...3 credits still available near vegas. any i'm missing? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manic Monte Posted September 27, 2008 Share Posted September 27, 2008 I was told by an employee a few months ago that the ride would close right after peak season, and that a decision would be made this winter about whether to go foward or not with the ride. That is sad, this ride was cool. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chemical_echo Posted September 27, 2008 Share Posted September 27, 2008 Dear sweet god, no! I was just in Vegas and was going to go ride it but my step-dad was in a pretty bad mood on the night I was going, I didn't want to make it worse. I regret that now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kenshinmac Posted September 27, 2008 Share Posted September 27, 2008 Is anyone else amazed how Vegas seems determined to remove any sort of character from the casinos right now? Honestly who is going to want to go to a specific Casino when all of them look exactly the same and offer exactly the same entertainment? Is this the death of the Vegas that was built up over the last several decades? I mean Star Trek is gone. Luxor is going generic. TI... Nothing else needs to be said there. I know there are tons of other examples but what is there going to be to attract people? People can gamble anywhere in Nevada... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chemical_echo Posted September 27, 2008 Share Posted September 27, 2008 I know there are tons of other examples but what is there going to be to attract people? Hookers and cheap Margaritas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeemerBoy Posted September 27, 2008 Share Posted September 27, 2008 Is anyone else amazed how Vegas seems determined to remove any sort of character from the casinos right now? Honestly who is going to want to go to a specific Casino when all of them look exactly the same and offer exactly the same entertainment? Is this the death of the Vegas that was built up over the last several decades? I mean Star Trek is gone. Luxor is going generic. TI... Nothing else needs to be said there. I know there are tons of other examples but what is there going to be to attract people? People can gamble anywhere in Nevada... Yeah, poor Vegas. What will they ever do to keep that solid 30+ million visitors a year? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wes Posted September 27, 2008 Share Posted September 27, 2008 ^ You don't understand man. Without all the roller coasters and pirate themed hotels, it's just a crappy place like Reno or Laughlin. There's absolutely nothing to see in Vegas now. Their tourism industry is so dead. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robbalvey Posted September 27, 2008 Author Share Posted September 27, 2008 There is always this place.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Stratosphere Posted September 27, 2008 Share Posted September 27, 2008 ^ HA! Another funny thing for a Friday it was incredibly slow at the Adventuredome. I went there with a friend today, the original plan was the ride Speed and go out for lunch, so we opted for Adventuredome. Rim Runner looked to be undergoing maintainance, no water and workers painting and repairing certain parts of the ride. Makes me wonder about the new coaster?? Why rehab a ride if it may be closing? But as far as attendance, there were only a couple of people on any of the rides. Lines were no where to be found. The longest wait was to buy wristbands! John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kenshinmac Posted September 27, 2008 Share Posted September 27, 2008 ^Hasn't Rim Runner been rumored to be going for years now? It didn't seem to be running terribly well when I went there a few years ago. Wouldn't it be kind of pointless to remove Rim Runner due to the scenery it runs through? I mean does it really take up much room other than the splash pool? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spacemtfan Posted September 27, 2008 Share Posted September 27, 2008 ^ You don't understand man. Without all the roller coasters and pirate themed hotels, it's just a crappy place like Reno or Laughlin. There's absolutely nothing to see in Vegas now. Their tourism industry is so dead. Wes, I don't think Laughlin is all that bad. My family goes there on weekends and we have a blast (then again, we have a boat for the river). Oh no, not another coaster! If this is gone, then we'll only have two coasters left, Canyon Blaster at the AdventureDome and...that Togo death matchine at the New York, New York. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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