Six Flags Darien Lake (SFDL) Discussion Thread

[DarienLaker]

I was thinking that Darien Lake should put in a Gerstlauer spinning coaster in Galaxy Theater next year and call it "Nightmare: Return to Phantom Cave". It would be all pitch black and the cars could look like coffins and the only place the lights would always be on is in the que line and the station. It would have the same layout as the former Tony Hawk coaster from Six Flags Discovery Kingdom because that particular spinning coaster model would be easy to fit in Galaxy Theater.

[Aceattack52]

Those spinning coasters and fun and all, but I'm really not a big fan of them. I would much rather see Time Machine relocated there.

[DarienLaker]

The only way that Time Machine is going to Darien Lake is if the owners of the former Freestyle park can figure out a way to get rid of whatever rides are left there!

 

If Darien Lake does get a spinning coaster they should put it in Galaxy Theater or maybe they can put a Premier launch coaster in the style of SFDK's Superman coaster in where the Go Karts are!

[Coaster Cow]

Darien Lake launches meeting and conference center

 

A new meeting and conference center at Darien Lake Theme & Water Park Resort is aimed at promoting the venue as a work-and-play getaway.

 

The Genesee County-based Darien Lake recently opened a 2,000-square-foot facility in its Darien Square area that will allow people who do business there to have access to the amusement and water park entertainment.

 

“It’s really exciting,” said Dennis Kohl, director of accommodations for the park.

 

Darien Lake previously had a 20-person meeting room at its hotel, but the park did little to market it, he said.

 

Kohl said the idea for the larger conference center came about from customer comments. The venue plays host to some 400 company picnics and group outings annually and many of those attending had asked how they could better use the property.

 

“We were listening to their requests and made it happen,” Kohl said.

 

The conference and meeting center is targeted to hold 30 to 50 people during a business meeting, although the space could be reconfigured to hold as many as 70 people for events, such as wedding receptions and family reunions.

 

It is similar to a mid- to top-level meeting room, Kohl said, with conference-room furniture, audio visual equipment, speakers and new lighting.

 

He did not say how much of an investment Darien Lake made in renovating the space, but said it was included in the park’s capital expenditure plan this year.

 

The center has contracts pending in May, Kohl said. There has been interest from an undisclosed Rochester firm and another company that does business in both Rochester and Buffalo.

 

Darien Lake began marketing the conference center roughly four weeks ago and is targeting its core market: from Southern Ontario, Canada, to Syracuse. The target area is roughly a 90-minute to two-hour drive time from the resort.

 

For those using the facility, overnight packages are available. From January to May 10, when the park is closed, conference center and hotel rates start at $79 a person each night for a two-night stay, and the in-season pricing, from May 11 through October, starts at $175 a person each night for a two-night stay.

 

Packages can be individualized and can include team-building activities, such as a fudge-making class, ropes course and campfires at the on-site cabins.

 

The move is similar to effort to mix work and play at Holiday Valley ski resort in Ellicottville, Cattaraugus County. That resort—roughly two hours southwest of Rochester—unveiled in December a $12 million, 64,000-square-foot ski lodge that includes a year-round conference center.

 

Darien Lake, which opens its season May 11, is New York’s largest theme and water park resort. It is owned by the Herschend Family Entertainment Corp. The park employs more than 2,000 seasonal workers, as well as some 200 people year-round.

 

Roughly 1 million people visit the park each year, not including concert-goers.

 

In addition to the meeting and conference center, Darien Lake this season is introducing an upgrade to its Laser Blast show, a new tower thrill ride called Blast Off, which simulates a NASA launch, and more dining options.

Source: Rochester Business Journal http://www.rbj.net/article.asp?aID=194602

 

Good to hear the park is really looking to improve and listening to the public.

[jedimaster1227]

I see this as a smart move for Darien Lake (and most other parks). People don't realize just how much of a perk for conventions and meetings it is to have a "fun" location attached to their work space. It is a great selling point for the location, but also a much easier way to attract participants to join an event that an organization is hosting. Looks like a win-win for everyone, considering the extra business it will bring in for the park.

[DougMJr]

^Agreed!

 

And I can't imagine that renting the space out would be cost prohibitive since Darien Lake is pretty budget friendly as it is. I know of a few companies that rent out the pavilions annually for fun-days but they lacked a meeting space. I can only dream that my employer will have a meeting there.

 

I kinda wish that Darien Lake was more active with their social media and facebook. I imagine that they have most of Blast Off completed, but we haven't had an update since January!

[DarienLaker]

Do you think a spinning coaster with a compact layout like this would fit in the Galaxy Theater building?

[scbt]

^well, according to the specs from Gerstlauer, the demesions are 177ft by 78ft . According to my measurements, the full height part of the building is only ~165 ft. by ~110 ft. so they probably wouldn't put that model in there, but they probably could have a custom one made to fit.

 

Source for measurements - http://www.daftlogic.com/projects-google-maps-distance-calculator.htm and http://www.gerstlauer-rides.de/products/roller-coasters/spinning-coaster/

[DarienLaker]

^Gerstlauer could make a slightly smaller version (165ft. by 78ft.) of the Big Spin/Joker coaster that was originally made for SFDK as oppose to the standard size ( 177ft by 78ft) of that particular model or they can expand the building to reach the full height of the coaster model.

[DougMJr]

Well, Seabreeze has the model you first posted so I don't really think Darien Lake will invest in something a close competitor already has.

[linearinduction]

^ Seabreeze has a Maurer Söhne SC-2000.

[DarienLaker]

Well, Seabreeze has the model you first posted so I don't really think Darien Lake will invest in something a close competitor already has.

 

The model in the picture that I've posted before was the Gerstlauer 380/4 model which has a similar layout to the Maurer Söhne SC-2000.

 

Maurer Söhne SC-2000

 

 

Gerstlauer spinning coaster model 380/4

[DougMJr]

^Ah, I am corrected. At first glance I thought they were the same.

[DarienLaker]

The Maurer Söhne SC-2000 model would be too big to fit in Galaxy Theater and plus Seabreeze in Rochester has the model coaster. With a few modification to the building the Gerstlauer spinning coaster 380/4 model would be a better fit with the limited space in that area of Darien Lake between Viper and the go karts.

[DarienLaker]

Darien Lake should get an Intamin spinning coaster with the same layout as the Gerstlauer 380/4 model!

[jedimaster1227]

^I'd love for one of those Intamin spinners to show up in the States, but I have a feeling we'll never see something quite as intense as Tornado on this side of the globe.

[DarienLaker]

^You never know, Darien Lake got the first Intamin hyper/mega coaster (Ride of Steel) and the first Zamperla Motocoaster. The next thing that Darien Lake should in the way a coasters is a spinning coaster made by Intamin, Gerstlauer, or Mack with the same layout as Gerstlauer's 380/4 model!

[Geauga Dog]

I wouldn't mind seeing a Gerstlauer spinning coaster at Darien Lake as it would be a good addition for the family, I wouldn't want to put it inside a building, in fact, I think the Galaxy Theater has served its purpose and should be demolished, thus opening the area that lacks any major attraction (I don't consider the go-carts a major attraction).

[DarienLaker]

^I've never thought of Darien Lake getting a Gerstlauer 380/4 spinning coaster to be put outside and have the old building demolish or least be used for part of it like the station. But on the other hand,I really want to see the go karts and batting cages go and be replaced with a compact coaster like the Gerstlauer 380/4 spinning coaster and have them put Scrambler in Galaxy Theater (if it's not already in there).

[DarienLaker]

Or maybe they could put something like SFDK's Superman coaster (same layout with a different name) in where the go karts are!

[JRHcoasterki]

^

[DarienLaker]

O.K. maybe I was being a little too far fetched about it, but a coaster with a compact layout like SFDK's Superman coaster or Gerstlauer's 380/4 spinning coaster model would be great to put in where Galaxy Theater was or even in it if they remodel the building to accommodate the new coaster. As for the go karts replacement, if they still have Scrambler in storage they should put it where the go kart track was!

[ViperLover]

Well, I just went on DL's website, and the UFO is nowhere listed anymore. I wonder if it will not e operating this season.

[Geauga Dog]

Hmmm, doesn't sound good if it's not listed. Another one of my favorites there. However if they ever intend to bring back the Scrambler that would not be a bad location to put it.

[DougMJr]

Well, I just went on DL's website, and the UFO is nowhere listed anymore. I wonder if it will not e operating this season.

 

I really hope this isn't true. Even among the GP that ride is pretty popular.