Six Flags Great America (SFGAm) Discussion Thread

[rcjp]

^So far none of the older ones (with the four across trains) have had them added. But you never know, so I'm not sure.

[ilrider]

Random question, but are they going to be adding seatbelts to Raging Bull? I heard a few B&M hyper's are getting them installed like at Diamondback at King's Island.

 

None so far, so I doubt it.

[coasterfansince1999]

Thank you for letting me know. Good to know they aren't putting seatbelts on EVERYthing

[glouthan]

^^^^ It could go either way. Mainly now, only Cedar Fair parks are installing seatbelts, but that could change - Six Flags has installed them on other rides where they were not designed to have them (Goliath, Full Throttle).

[Goooose]

The sign is standig alone like a monument in the midway, and there arent any construction fences aeound it (that im aware of). I was wondering if they would build a second set of switchbacks, possibly behind the sogn so people need to pass through it to enter the ride. But since theres no fences around it blocking it off, im not so confident that will happen.

 

P.s. Favorite overflow queue/reuse of existig infrastructure at great america is tye boardwalk connecting yankee harbor and yukon territory becoming V2's line. very good scenery, placemaking, and views of the coaster.

[glouthan]

^I hope so too. A sign just feels out of place if it isn't the start to a line.

[SFGAmFan1976]

^In this case I have to agree, though signs like the ones at Gatekeeper, Banshee, and Leviathan are more fitting away from the line. Goliath's, however, has the traditional banner sign and is better off where the line starts. Then again, there probably wasn't any room if they were reusing Iron Wolf's queue.

[glouthan]

Is Iron Wolf's queue even long enough? I can only saw one set of switchbacks while I was at the park. I'm sure Goliath will have a longer line on an average day than Iron Wolf!

[Goooose]

Yea it is just one switchback... Im concerned. I thought they were going to add another switchback but a forum member at sfgamworld said he talked to Hank Salemi, park president today, and Hank told him they were leaving the queue as is. Lets hope he just meant they were reusing it, and not leaving it exactly as is. It is simply too small. Its pretty obvious though that what we see isnt what we will get because they will have a single rider line and maybe even a test seat out front. So we really have no idea how itll all be set up.

[yay101]

Not to mention, Iron Wolf was not a popular coaster, so its line was smaller, and Goliath is a roller coaster that is receiving international recognition...I hope they build a second switchback or at least consider it

[glouthan]

If they don't build a second switchback set, the line will probably lead to Southwest Territory on opening day.

[impala101]

I'm wondering about the queue as well. Iron Wolf was already gone by the time I returned to the park in 2012; my last visit before that was 1999. I really don't even remember what the IW queue was like then. I recall the bigger (square) house, but that's it. But looking at Google Earth from 2010 there's this:

 

 

That is extra queue isn't it? It seems that space is still there from the pics I've seen, with the rails having been removed. Were those fixed rails, or were they temporary chain-type dividers like in the Z-Force days?

 

 

In any case, it'll be interesting to see what they do with the limited space. That one queue house isn't going to cut it LOL. There's also the single rider line and flash pass entrance/path to accommodate too.

[kossdude1]

There's also the single rider line and flash pass entrance/path to accommodate too.

From what I've heard, the Flash Pass entrance will be where it always was on the other side of the information sign and water fountains. As for the single rider line, it sounds like it will be inside the station. If this configuration just mentioned is accurate, reinstalling the former queue line is no problem. The only problem is.......not enough regular queue line to accommodate an average day at the park.

[anewman35]

 

That is extra queue isn't it? It seems that space is still there from the pics I've seen, with the rails having been removed. Were those fixed rails, or were they temporary chain-type dividers like in the Z-Force days?

 

 

In any case, it'll be interesting to see what they do with the limited space. That one queue house isn't going to cut it LOL. There's also the single rider line and flash pass entrance/path to accommodate too.

 

They were fixed rails when Iron Wolf was there:

 

It seems like it'll be a problem, though, because Iron Wolf wasn't very popular but even that went outside the queue on busy days. I guess maybe they want to discourage people from getting in line or to encourage Flash Pass?

 

On a semi-related note, does anybody remember any details about the old Batman overflow queue that (IIRC) ran from Orleans Place behind the East River Crawler? I remember it existing when I was a kid, but I would love to see pictures or know when they stopped using it.

[_koppen]

 

Damn, that is one good looking vehicle!

[Goooose]

In my perfect world, the queue entrance would be logger run's and a switchback would be on top of te first drop "tunnel." Hopefully they build a second switchback, perhaps a long rectangular one, alongside the length of tebride beside the existing set of switchbacks.

 

The batman overflow was really cool. If stretched behind eat river crawler and had the right side of the bridge entering yankee harbor dedicated/roped off for it. They couldnt let the Goliath queue rope off forever like that because it would block the entrance to Camp Cartoon.

[thefatman22]

I went to Six flags today I got to ride X-flight, American Eagle, Viper, Demon and batman the ride by 2.The longest line today was about 45 min and I actually went an walked right on to American eagle and X-flight. Went to see the Goliath construction site they were doing the electrical and the brake run was half completed they were also wielding. I don't know what happened but there was an ambulance at the sight today. I think that goliath will not open until late June early July.

Entrance Sign is pretty awesome when you see it

You can see in this picture some of the Brake run is done

[AndrewRnR]

^While I was slightly skeptical of the late May opening, the photos showing the train on the track and brakes/electrical work being done seems to me they would be ready to test as soon as track is complete. If that is the case a late May opening could still be possible.

[LiMiT]

I hope it's on schedule, because I'm thinking about making a pilgrimage from Atlanta to Chicago just to ride it....just kidding, I'll also be attending my cousin's graduation and hanging out with my aunts and uncles while I'm there too.

[thefatman22]

Don't get me wrong I wont it to open to but I don't think it will be done in less than 3 weeks unless they really switch it into high gear next week. I'm not saying they are working slow but today it seemed like they didn't do much accept some wielding the brake run and some wiring but I couldn't see under or in the station so I could be wrong.

[Goooose]

Hopefully it opens on time! They still have to track the exit if the zero g stall, the stall itself, drop, finish the lift. I assume lift is being build already, and im trying not to freak out when I dont see progress from the webcam. Only so much of what they do is cosmetic/visible.

[ZeroGravity55]

They have two pieces to add and the lift will be topped off. This is basically plug and play track, so it won't take them that long to get it installed. They've already started the grout work for the track. Installing the lift chain is the hardest thing they're going to have to do. It wouldn't be too far fetched to say that the RMC will be done with construction a week before media day. Give or take a few days. They can do round the clock testing to break the ride in and have it pass the state inspection in time for media day.

[Goooose]

Shocking update, Goliath fans!!

 

It is 7:30 am on SUNDAY, and not just any Sunday, but MOTHER'S DAY, and the construction crew is hard at work right now to keep this coaster on schedule!!! Perhaps they made the call to get work done this morning, goven that tomorrow there might be thunderstorms. Thank you RMC and Great America! Any doubt about opening or their seriousness about this may 29th media day date can be squandered by this serious gesture to its dedication. Share your gratitude for their Sunday and Holiday sacrifice here on the forum!

 

[ilrider]

There is a chance of storms later today, too, so they will probably get a half day of work in today. I hope the whiners about any construction delays can now appreciate that this crew has moved from working six days a week to seven days a week to get this coaster done for us to enjoy!

[glouthan]

I am actually really surprised they are working on Sunday! Kudos Goliath crew! If the date does get pushed back, no one can say they didn't try to get it open for us.