What park should have an Intamin Mega-Lite?

[Montuman99]

What about Lake Compounce?!

There is very limited space because of the Lake. If they had more room for one, Lake Compounce would be the best park in New England!

[SharkTums]

^Are they allowed to build over the lake?

 

Kawasemi is built almost entirely on the lake and looks beautiful!

 

[cooksta77]

Build one at Six Flags Magic Mountain and start the Intamin frenzy for Elissa!

Andrew "No but seriously SFMM!" Iorio

[pkdcoaster]

I cannot believe Nobody has mentioned Adventureland in Iowa

I visited in 1998 and thought it was a very nice park with 2 very good woodies but they have not built a coaster in 14 years.

They have a good amount of space and are due for a new coaster. I think it would be a great fit for this park.

http://www.rcdb.com/4576.htm

 

JEFF

[sixflagsguy5]

^Most people go to Okoboji in the summer (Arnold's Park) or go to Worlds of Fun. People near the quad cities go to SFGAM. I've never had anyone show interest in going to Adventureland and if I bring up going to an amusement park usually WOF is where people would want to go. I've only been there once and it was dead. I would love to have an intamin mega-lite 30 minutes away from me though.

[itsasamccormick]

Holiday World will never get a big steel coaster. I remember watching an interview where the reporter asked Will about building steel coaster and, if i remember correctly, his response was something along the lines of "There is really no way to make a steel coaster unique, and that the park was going to say with wooden coasters." Don't quote me, i may be mistaken

[angryemobeaver]

I still think Holiday World does need a thrilling steel coaster. I don't see why Holiday World doesn't want to get one, they built Pilgrim's Plunge which is huge and steel. And the steel coaster doesn't even need to be big, I actually think a launched low to the ground Intamin would be the best steel coaster for the park.

[tiger01]

I agree with robb. All parks should have an intamin mega light! Especially pleasurewood hills! a spark of intamin goodness shinning over the flat lake

[DBru]

Asa, I remember hearing a similar quote, but...things change.

[ECZenith]

Knott's Berry Farm would be perfect IMO, you couldn't really fit in a big hypercoaster but a megalite could be shoehorned in somewhere.

[Oreos]

While I haven't been to many parks in the states, I'd have to say Knoebels. While they probably wouldn't add one any time soon, I'd have to say I agree with what Elissa said.

 

We can all dream, can't we?

[Electerik]

Hershey, because everyone always says they have no space, yet they constantly keep fitting big coasters in there, proving people wrong. Indiana Beach would be another interesting candidate for similar reasons

 

The more I hear people say that such-and-such park is running out of room, the more convinced I become that any park can add anything.

[everyavenue]

I agree that Hershey could pull of a Mega-Lite, since they're planning on trying to re-route Park Blvd and expand over to where the old golf course/country club is. But honestly, I'd rather see Hershey try something "bigger", if you catch my drift. I honestly could only really see a park with a lower amount of coasters getting these, compared to a park like Cedar Point or any of the larger Six Flags parks. I think Dollywood could pull one off, and I think Magic Springs or Wild Adventures could too. It seems like it's a type of coaster that could easily fit in a park like one of those.

[Josh Linn]

I agree that Hershey could pull of a Mega-Lite, since they're planning on trying to re-route Park Blvd and expand over to where the old golf course/country club is. But honestly, I'd rather see Hershey try something "bigger", if you catch my drift. I honestly could only really see a park with a lower amount of coasters getting these, compared to a park like Cedar Point or any of the larger Six Flags parks. I think Dollywood could pull one off, and I think Magic Springs or Wild Adventures could too. It seems like it's a type of coaster that could easily fit in a park like one of those.

 

 

The problem is while they seem to be a "economy version" of an Intamin hyper, the price tag is still pretty much the same.

[OldJJman]

After being on 3 of the 4 "Mega-Lites" (missing Piraten), I think I'll have to quote the wise Dave Thomas -

 

"You'll never see a "Mega-Lite" in the USA!"

 

I kind of have to agree. Though I have yet to ride Intimidator 305, (and probably won't for another year, and really wonder how the airtime compares), they have way too much airtime for the GP at large, despite it's much smaller size.

 

You have to remember, in the industry, marketing is everything!! If it's not bigger, taller, faster, etc... it will not get anyone really excited about it, except enthusiasts. Also, I have heard MANY times (from GP) that a coaster was defective, because people came out of their seat (i.e. "airtime") and they'd never ride xxxx coaster again, because that made them feel unsafe!

 

I know people that think Colossus at SFMM is better than Terminator: Salvation or Ghostrider (OK-it IS better than GR nowadays, but...) ONLY because it is taller!! Most think the best coaster at SFMM is either X2 or Goliath. X2, because it is unique. Goliath, only because it has a 255' foot drop.

 

Like Robb has said before, I've know quite a few people who have gone up to SFMM and skipped Terminator, just because they thought was just a re-theme of Psyclone, despite whatever I've told them. Besides, it's "too small" to be any fun.

 

And... $15 million is quite a chunk of change for ANY park!! No matter what park would put one in, it would take several years to recoup the money spent.

 

After all that being said - My vote would be for IOA.

 

Move the kiddie Vekoma, and built another box to put it in (or in the existing JP Discovery Center). It could be like that scene where there had broom races, with great changes of direction (at least I think that was in a Harry Potter movie) and have visuals following you along the walls (like Space Mountain during Halloween).

 

I know. Stupid idea. But, that's how I would currently do it.

 

JJ - Who absolutely LOVES the "Mega-Lites"!!!

[downunder]

An indoor megalite in complete darkness at IOA, I'd be on the next plane to Orlando if that had just opened. Not going to happen but I can dream.

Edited May 3, 2010 by downunder

[the ghost]

After being on 3 of the 4 "Mega-Lites" (missing Piraten), I think I'll have to quote the wise Dave Thomas -

 

"You'll never see a "Mega-Lite" in the USA!"

 

I kind of have to agree. Though I have yet to ride Intimidator 305, (and probably won't for another year, and really wonder how the airtime compares), they have way too much airtime for the GP at large, despite it's much smaller size.

 

You have to remember, in the industry, marketing is everything!! If it's not bigger, taller, faster, etc... it will not get anyone really excited about it, except enthusiasts. Also, I have heard MANY times (from GP) that a coaster was defective, because people came out of their seat (i.e. "airtime") and they'd never ride xxxx coaster again, because that made them feel unsafe!

 

I know people that think Colossus at SFMM is better than Terminator: Salvation or Ghostrider (OK-it IS better than GR nowadays, but...) ONLY because it is taller!! Most think the best coaster at SFMM is either X2 or Goliath. X2, because it is unique. Goliath, only because it has a 255' foot drop.

 

Like Robb has said before, I've know quite a few people who have gone up to SFMM and skipped Terminator, just because they thought was just a re-theme of Psyclone, despite whatever I've told them. Besides, it's "too small" to be any fun.

 

And... $15 million is quite a chunk of change for ANY park!! No matter what park would put one in, it would take several years to recoup the money spent.

 

After all that being said - My vote would be for IOA.

 

Move the kiddie Vekoma, and built another box to put it in (or in the existing JP Discovery Center). It could be like that scene where there had broom races, with great changes of direction (at least I think that was in a Harry Potter movie) and have visuals following you along the walls (like Space Mountain during Halloween).

 

I know. Stupid idea. But, that's how I would currently do it.

 

JJ - Who absolutely LOVES the "Mega-Lites"!!!

 

QFT.

[Tmcdllr]

California's Great America. It's the one type of coaster they're sorely lacking - a long one! Come to think of it - ANY new coaster for that park would be good news.

 

It would be a perfect fit in the spot where the woodie was supposed to go and with this type of coaster I don't think the bitchy neighbors could complain about the noise.

[Noxegon]

I think a better question might be...

 

What park *shouldn't* have an Intamin Mega-LIte?

 

I can't think of one. Mega-Lites FTW.

[larrygator]

Holiday World will never get a big steel coaster. I remember watching an interview where the reporter asked Will about building steel coaster and, if i remember correctly, his response was something along the lines of "There is really no way to make a steel coaster unique, and that the park was going to say with wooden coasters." Don't quote me, i may be mistaken

 

If that's what Will Koch said, then he is mistaken.

[cal1br3tto]

^I've also heard that they believe a major steel coaster wouldn't fit their family-friendly image. Not sure if that's two interpretations of the same quote, or two different quotes.

 

About Pilgrim's also being tall and steel, I think that's different because I would imagine flumes and shoot-the-chutes probably seem more "approachable" to the average family than many steel coasters would, regardless of the fact that Pilgrim's is larger and more "extreme".

[DOCTOR DOOM!!!]

^ I also believe that as long as the steel coaster didn't have inversions and wasn't "too" tall, it can be considered just as family friendly as Voyage if not more so. Mega-Lites aren't as big as Voyage or Legend. I would go to the next step up from mega lite (Goliath at Wabli World or Expedition GeForce for example) only for capacity reasons but disregarding that, a mega-lite seems very approachable for families.

 

Obviously, this is disregarding capital and 15 million is a lot for only a mega-lite.

[coasterbilly]

alright I've read through this whole thread and this has been a great discussion! I honestly think mega-lites WILL find there way to the states, and maybe even sooner then we think. Yes the GP is important, but we all know Amusement Parks read forums just like these to keep in mind what's hot with enthusiasts these days, over seas is getting all of the Mega-Lite love and if any park read this thread finding out that most of us would book the next flight if a Mega-Lite was built somewhere, I'm sure they'd consider it.

 

With that being said and based on COASTERS the park has, not space (come on, Hershey is one of my home parks. You can't tell me with Great Bear and Storm Runner's unique designs, fitting in Fahrenheit where they put it, and squeezing a very decent waterpark in the middle of Wildcat and Lightning Racer, that they can't do that for anything else? You're all retarded lol), I feel that Lake Compounce, Holiday World, Knoebels or Dorney Park would be near perfect for one.

 

Lake Compounce has been advertising Boulder Dash forever (it's well deserved, not taking that away from one of the best woodies anywhere) and they only have another mediocre woodie and a Boomerang, so a Mega-Lite would fit because it's a small footprint. One other thing to note: who is their competition? SFNE. What ridiculously amazing coaster do they have there? BIZARRO. So if LC was to put in something of there own that could potentially kick as much ass as Bizarro, I think they would consider it.

 

Holiday World, which has been said before, is the land of woodie heaven. They put in the very unique and awesome Pilgrim's Plunge and now Wildebeest, both solid and different rides. I love the place for woodies (as does everyone else), but I think they need to play the steel card soon, they could really open up a HUGE can on the industry with putting in something like this. Mega-Lites can range in height and size (I305 proves this), so they can cater it to whoever they want if they are that worried about keeping the family atmosphere. Lastly, they own 3 woodies in the top 20 of Golden Ticket, if they had a chance to stamp a top ride in the steel category the park would boost visits like crazy.

 

Dorney Park. Someone said it earlier, if their is a park that deserves something new it's this place. We got a medium sized B&M floorless and got leftovers from Gueaga Lake with Voodoo/Possessed over the last couple of years, not to mention we lost Laser. I had been hearing for a while GCI was rumored to be on the bill for us next which I was stoked about, but they all went to VF, WoF, and CP next year, so that's out the tube. A Mega-Lite would be amazing here using Lasers old footprint and bringing the ride up to that open field by Steel Force's station, so they definitely could do something there. Not to mention we have 2 Beemers, a Morgan, an old woodie, and now an Intamin Impulse, a 2nd Intamin of this stature would be awesome, plus with how unique Hydra and Talon are, we could see some more uniqueness with a Mega-Lite installed.

 

Then finally, Knoebels. This one goes hand in hand with Holiday World, but this place has more tradition. It's another woodie haven and a very hot vacation spot with the camping sites. I love what Elissa said, this place could dominate a Mega-Lite with it's location in the woods, leaving as many trees as possible, making night rides also out of control. Sure the place is old and traditional, but bringing out the latest technology could be something this park considers in keeping up with the industry.

 

So, these are all of my opinions and what I see. Mega-Lites really can benefit anyone, but for those that are saying CP, SFGAdv, SFMM, etc, definitely not, I also saying definitely not to Hershey simply because our last 2 were Intamins and we need to move forward I think. They all have there skylines that are dominated by bigger coasters, someone talked about SFMM with Terminator earlier, a Mega-Lite would honestly be lost in parks like those. Smaller parks like these that have a nice array of coasters that would put them on the map for sure if they were to make an investment like this!

[Montuman99]

Build one at Six Flags Magic Mountain and start the Intamin frenzy for Elissa!

Andrew "No but seriously SFMM!" Iorio

I there is no space and they are going to have 17 roller coasters by 2011. They would not drop $15,000,000 just to beat Cedar Point for the most roller coasters, they need to work on their kiddie coasters more.

[Geauga Dog]

A Mega-Lite may get lost in a park crowded with coasters but how does one explain Maverick? For over a decade CP was breaking height and speed records and then they build a ride that's only 120 feet high. Should Maverick be considered lost among the giants in Sandusky? It seems to be a pretty popular ride.

 

I believe these Mega-Lites are more or less marketed towards the small to medium sized parks and sort of fit the "we can't afford a hyper but this is the next best thing" mode. Many mention Holiday World and I agree with the need for at least one steelie there.

 

What about Dollywood or Silver Dollar City? I don't recall anyone mentioning them (or I just completely missed it). Having never been to either one it seems they are pretty smart with their ride installations and it seems everyone likes what they are doing at those parks.