Six Flags Darien Lake (SFDL) Discussion Thread

[coasterkid124]

Some more details of this year's Fright Fest (Outbreak) have been released. It will only be run for two weekends this year and only on Fridays and Saturdays.

 

 

http://www.darienlake.com/halloween.php

 

There are no big attractions this year like the field trip or proposed boat ride like last year. But the haunted house is free, and there is a new attraction, Grim Lizzies. It doesn't seem like the park is opening up the area behind RoS plaza either. They may just move the haunted house into the Galaxy Theater now that Nik Wallenda left. It would make sense, as all of the attractions are close to each other.

 

Hopefully this is a smaller version of Fright Fest because the park is focusing on construction for next year early. This of course is assuming that we get a new flat package like earlier mentioned.

[Sk610]

That area behind ROS plaza would make agreat spot for a small expansion, and would make sense for not using it for fright fest. On the other hand, there is plenty of room inside the existing park to put three flat rides. Also, i dont expect it to be three flats. I expect it to be one thrilling flat, one family flat and one waterslide

[DarienLaker]

I expect it to be one thrilling flat, one family flat and one waterslide

 

That's what I thought about Darien Lake getting three new ride in 2015 with a water slide (complex) and two flats!

[coasterkid124]

I'm not too sure about a water slide complex, but it has been 5 years since the Splashtown investment. It would make sense to make an upgrade, but at the same time there are a lot of holes that need to be filled in-park.

[Geauga Dog]

Is it even worth the effort to have Fright Fest for two weekends even though it seems scaled back from previous years?

 

I have always liked Road Rage Cage. I don't normally ride Bear Valley Bumper Buggies if I go during the regular season but if I postpone my trip to later in the year and they have RRC I always make a point of riding it.

[coasterkid124]

I think that the park would have rather skipped it this year, but there was too much of an outcry to have it. There would really be no point to have the park open at all in October if it weren't for Fright Fest.

 

Road Rage is a cool addition but Twister Possessed literally was the same ride with the no flipping cycle and one speaker that played music. Plus they don't open those rides until later in the day.

[SaraAB87]

I think that the park would have rather skipped it this year, but there was too much of an outcry to have it. There would really be no point to have the park open at all in October if it weren't for Fright Fest.

 

Road Rage is a cool addition but Twister Possessed literally was the same ride with the no flipping cycle and one speaker that played music. Plus they don't open those rides until later in the day.

 

Last time I went to the Halloween event it was really packed so I am guessing they make enough money on it since they are the only park in the area doing a Halloween event and there is nothing to do in WNY now that summer has ended. If it stops being profitable they will stop having it. But they can open half the park, decorate a few rides and call it a Halloween event and people will come so they will have it.

[Mr.Peabody]

I went to the park yesterday for a few hours and had a great time. Light crowds and decent weather for the first time this season. I snapped a few pictures outside the Galaxy Theater, where they're preparing for the Halloween event. I should be going for that as well. Anyway, here are the pictures.

Teaser sign outside the Galaxy Theater.

Looks like a zombie themed walk-through.

Marquis on the main walkway leading up to the theater.

[DarienLaker]

So let me guess the only rides that are going to be during Halloween event are going to be just Twister, Tin Lizzy's, and the bumper cars, no coasters?

[Golddisk]

So let me guess the only rides that are going to be during Halloween event are going to be just Twister, Tin Lizzy's, and the bumper cars, no coasters?

No. Other rides will still be open but the ones you listed are the only ones that will be Halloween themed.

[DarienLaker]

So let me guess the only rides that are going to be during Halloween event are going to be just Twister, Tin Lizzy's, and the bumper cars, no coasters?

No. Other rides will still be open but the ones you listed are the only ones that will be Halloween themed.

 

Oh, thought just the ones that are Halloween theme would be the only ones open, they could have at least one "haunted" coaster like "The Snake Pit" (Viper), "Boo-Merang" (Boomerang), "Predator: The Final Terror" (Predator), or "Zombie Lake" (Ride of Steel).

[SbSteveZ]

So let me guess the only rides that are going to be during Halloween event are going to be just Twister, Tin Lizzy's, and the bumper cars, no coasters?

No. Other rides will still be open but the ones you listed are the only ones that will be Halloween themed.

 

Oh, thought just the ones that are Halloween theme would be the only ones open, they could have at least one "haunted" coaster like "The Snake Pit" (Viper), "Boo-Merang" (Boomerang), "Predator: The Final Terror" (Predator), or "Zombie Lake" (Ride of Steel).

 

heh heh... Boo-merang... its punny.

[DarienLaker]

So let me guess the only rides that are going to be during Halloween event are going to be just Twister, Tin Lizzy's, and the bumper cars, no coasters?

No. Other rides will still be open but the ones you listed are the only ones that will be Halloween themed.

 

Oh, thought just the ones that are Halloween theme would be the only ones open, they could have at least one "haunted" coaster like "The Snake Pit" (Viper), "Boo-Merang" (Boomerang), "Predator: The Final Terror" (Predator), or "Zombie Lake" (Ride of Steel).

 

heh heh... Boo-merang... its punny.

 

The ideas for the Halloween themed ride names should be

 

Done (The ideas that I've already Mentioned)

.Boo-Merang (a play on the word "Boomerang")

.Zombie Lake (Since Ride of Steel goes over Elk Lake, but frankly RoS needs a new name anyways)

.Predator: Final Terror (I have gave my hopes for Darien Lake to remodel Predator as "Lake Monster")

.The Snake Pit (This one was easy, Vipers are a kind of snake!)

 

Ideas

.MotorGhoster (Motocoaster)

.Wind Howler (Lasso)

.Grave Carousel (Grand Carousel)

.Giant Wheel of Doom (Giant Wheel)

.Scrambler Possessed (Scrambler)

.Haunted Sleigh Ride (Sleigh Ride)

.Ghost Tower (Blast Off)

.Mind Control Coaster (Mind Eraser)

[tarheel1231]

So what's up with Batman: The Ride from Astroland? Was Six Flags planning on rebuilding it at Darien Lake before they sold it?

[coasterkid124]

^I think you're best off searching the thread for the answer because it has been discussed many times in the past and isn't really relevant to the park anymore.

 

But if you want the quick answer no it was damaged during deconstruction and is nearly impossible to reassemble. It is just being saved to raise the parks value.

[Sk610]

I really hope that if HFE evertakes full control of the park that they sell that coaster off as scrap metal. It would definately stop people from asking what it is all about. I can also imagine that the GP also probably sees coaster track sitting there when the drive in on rte 77 and thinks DL is putting in a new coaster next year as well. It just needs to disappear to stop any questions.

[TheDarkMaxim]

Ive mentioned this before, but CNL will not own the park much longer. This is just a letter to the CNL stock holders, about their DRP, but the important part is how they plan to liquidate the REIT, or create a public company.

[DarienLaker]

Could this mean that Darien Lake is going to get sold again?

[Golddisk]

Could this mean that Darien Lake is going to get sold again?

 

It indicates that it likely will, albeit likely a lot more low-profile than its last sale.

 

My understanding of the statement is that CNL reached its investment goal and will now start the process of liquidating its assets to repay the investors. The question now is will CNL be willing to sell its properties piecemeal or as a group (which currently, sounds like they prefer the 2nd way - since they sold the golf course portfolio in a package).

[DarienLaker]

I wonder if Heschend has an interest of buying Darien Lake since they operate it?

[coasterkid124]

If Herschend wasn't interested, they would have pulled out like they have done with Elitch Gardens. I'm sure that there are a decent amount of companies interested due to the large profit that could be made.

 

You have the concerts which get admission prices, merchandise, and refreshments (where beers can go for $10 a can). Then you have the accommodations with the campground and hotel, and finally the park itself.

 

I really hope that Herschend will pull through, which I think that they will. Joel Manby wouldn't let such a gold mine slip through his fingers.

[DarienLaker]

O.K. this may sound kind of farfected, but I still think that Cedar Fair should buy Darien Lake and keep it running as a theme and water park instead of buying Darien Lake and pulling a Geagua Lake on it.

 

Or maybe CNL and Herschend would sell Darien Lake back to Six Flags!

Edited September 26, 2014 by DarienLaker

[Geauga Dog]

^Let me get this straight even though it is farfetched - you'd rather have Cedar Fair run Darien Lake, and they would probably run it similar to Michigan's Adventure, instead of Herschend, who has done some great things for the park despite CNL having the purse strings. Having CF run the park would not promise you're going to see major investments like some of their other parks in the chain have received especially since their most attended seasonal park is only a few short hours away in Vaughn.

[Sk610]

I really think you will see HFE purchase this park from CNL when it comes up for sale. If they didn't have that interest, as stated above, they would have pulled out like they did at Elitch Gardens.

 

I also think that HFE is the best option for DL's overall future. Just look at what they did with Rowdy's Ridge and Boardwalk. Show me to places in a CF park that look that good that was not there before CF took over. CF would add coasters, yes. They probably would not invest in the oveall good of the park as much though. SF will not purchase the park either. They sold it for a reason, and i am pretty sure that they are trying to focus on the major markets like NYC, chicago, LA, Dallas, Atlanta etc. Buffaol/Rochester does not fit into that category.

 

The other problem I see with SF or CF owning the park is that it would be at the bottom of the pecking order in each of the chains. Most of us remember the SF days when we went years with little or no additions to the park. With HFE DL would be middle of the pack for size and attendance and have a much greater opportunity to get a better addition. HFE may not add major coasters like SF or CF would, but under HFE ownership, the overall park experience will be much better. Just picture an entire park that looks like Rowdy's Ridge and tell met that isnt a great thing.

[DarienLaker]

^Well, I much rather see both a new major coaster and have the all of the park look like Rowdy's Ridge with a boardwalk midway. So my point is that Darien Lake needs ownership that would satisfy both needs and make more of a major player in the northeastern US of theme parks!

 

But, i'm not sure what owner would do such a thing? For one thing it's not going to be Cedar Fair (they'll just end turning it into another "Geagua Lake") or Six Flags (they added Ride of Steel, but kind of left Darien Lake in the dust).

Edited September 26, 2014 by DarienLaker