jeffhensley Posted October 23, 2010 Share Posted October 23, 2010 Hi all, this is Jeff Hensley, the guy that is starting up the Theme Park in South Louisiana, anyways... When it comes to wooden coasters, is there anything specific that you think that wooden coasters are missing today? Maybe some element you really want to see? And let me also ask, Is there a particular element to an existing wooden coaster that has made the ride the most exciting for you? I ask because we are currently in the design process for our wooden coaster and I respect the members here to give me honest feedback as to you like to ride. We want this coaster to be the best! Thanks again for your time, Jeff Hensley Owner / President Bon Temps Family Theme Park Inc. jeff@louisianathemepark.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jcoaster Posted October 23, 2010 Share Posted October 23, 2010 Personally for me, a good wooden coaster includes lots of airtime in the first half of the ride with plenty of twisty parts toward the end. A good example of this would be El Toro. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yamez Posted October 23, 2010 Share Posted October 23, 2010 I don't think there is anything necessarily missing from wooden coasters. The best ones are exactly as advertised: tons of fun. They don't have to have special elements or unique features to be great. Just make it fun, stick to the basics. Gravity Group and GCI both have this down to a science. Besides, adding new elements to a coaster can have...unexpected results (see Son of Beast). My personal favorite wooden coaster would be The Voyage, so much airtime and constant speed, not to mention the use of terrain just make it a terrific coaster. Good luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saldek Posted October 23, 2010 Share Posted October 23, 2010 As far as "missing" goes there really isn't much that is given what GCI and Gravity Group have been putting out. The Voyage at HW is the most complete wood coaster experience as it has the most variety of elements in one. The Intamin Pre-fabs seem to produce the best airtime unfortunately there aren't enough of them around. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DiveMachine Posted October 23, 2010 Share Posted October 23, 2010 Well, when it comes to a wooden coaster, Intamin seems to do the job right. I'm a Gadv fanboy and I have El Toro to ride whenever I want. Its always #2 in t he world for woodies and most people complain that the ride is way to short. The lift, the drop , A few airtime hills, and a twisty part and the ride is done. Ejector Airtime always pays off and will get great reactions. IMO, an El Toro type Intamin Prefab is the way to go Something I think would be cool is a Hammerhead element found on B&M hypers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geauga Dog Posted October 23, 2010 Share Posted October 23, 2010 If you're thinking of a more compact, twisty layout that delivers you might be inspired by GCI's Evel Knievel at Six Flags St. Louis. It's not a big coaster but it's everything a great twister coaster should be. As for an out and back nothing, to me, beats the Voyage but if you want something that is not as intense or as long then a ride like Ravine Flyer II at Waldameer would be up your alley. It literally put Waldameer on the map and is the best wood coaster in my neck of the woods. From the top of the lift to the final brake there isn't a dead spot on the ride. It's like a mini-Voyage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skycoastin Steve Posted October 23, 2010 Share Posted October 23, 2010 Just call Gravity Group and they'll build you a nice coaster with some 90 degree turns. The world needs more Gravity Group. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Airtime&Gravity Posted October 23, 2010 Share Posted October 23, 2010 (edited) For those saying Intamin, a new park like this wouldn't have $20 million for a single new ride. For that cost, a park could buy many flat rides as well as a few off the shelf coasters. I second the Evel Knievel/Thunderbird clone as it is a great ride. It is a lot of fun, and it is great for thrill seekers and families. Gravity Group is also good as they offer great designs at fairly low prices. However, where Great Coaster International's rides have a pretty good reputation for being smooth(minus Gwazi), Gravity Group's coasters(well Hades, Voyage, and Boardwalk Bullet) can be aggressive and rough. Although, if your park has a good maintenance department, this might not become a problem. Edit: The $20 million figure isn't true, so I say if you can afford it for the park, you should definitely buy one. Edited October 23, 2010 by Airtime&Gravity Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atem122 Posted October 23, 2010 Share Posted October 23, 2010 Gravity Group does have those trains that are apparently "launch capable," so if you wanted to be ballsy, you could create the world's first wooden launched coaster. If it actually worked, it'd probably be a huge draw, but even though I have no industry experience, going with an untested prototype when starting up a park just sounds like a bad idea (see: that Premier coaster with the ferris wheel lift at Freestyle Music Park). Personally, I think a good choice would be a Gravity Group woodie along the lines of Ravine Flyer II or Fireball, where it's not totally spread out, but it also contains a bunch of airtime and fun parts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DiveMachine Posted October 23, 2010 Share Posted October 23, 2010 For those saying Intamin, a new park like this wouldn't have $20 million for a single new ride. El Toro is an Intamin Plug n' Play, and that only costed $12 million. To out that into perspective, terminator only cost $2 million less Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atem122 Posted October 23, 2010 Share Posted October 23, 2010 ^Keep in mind, the 10 million also factors in the theming and everything that they put on it. I know the Voyage cost only like 8.5 million, and a GCI that opened the same year as Terminator, Prowler, only cost 8 million. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beatle11 Posted October 23, 2010 Share Posted October 23, 2010 (edited) I haven't ridden El Toro, or any Intamin pre-fabs, but from what I understand, they are very smooth, even to the point of not feeling like a wooden coaster. To me, a wooden coaster needs to feel bumpy or rough, but not so much so that its very painful. Great Coasters and The Gravity Group do a good job. Edit: I should add, Intamin does do a good job though as El Toro is ranked #2 wooden coaster even though it may not feel so much like a wooden ride. It definitely depends on what your looking for. Edited October 23, 2010 by beatle11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SharkTums Posted October 23, 2010 Share Posted October 23, 2010 Maybe they should go with an Intamin Woodie as that would certainly stand out more and be much more one of a kind (not to mention rate VERY highly) in the US than a GCI or GG Woodie. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robbalvey Posted October 23, 2010 Share Posted October 23, 2010 I haven't ridden El Toro, or any Intamin pre-fabs, but from what I understand, they are very smooth, even to the point of not feeling like a wooden coaster. To me, a wooden coaster needs to feel bumpy or rough, but not so much so that its very painful. Great Coasters and The Gravity Group do a good job. Did you ride The Voyage or Hades this year? I kind of get the feeling that while GCI's seem to hold up over time better then TGG's Woodies, if the parks don't take good care of them they'll go to crap. Hades was basically unrideable this year and The Voyage was pretty close. And oddly enough Dollywood's Thunderhead seems like it's in serious need of a re-tracking! I know the Intamin pre-fab woodies are much more expensive but don't they pride themselves on needing a lot less re-tracking and maintenance work over time? --Robb Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skycoastin Steve Posted October 23, 2010 Share Posted October 23, 2010 ^Thunderhead was getting kinda rough last year when I rode it. El Toro was actually not as glass smooth as it used to be when I rode it this year. Definitely felt a lot of bumps sitting on the wheel seats. No wooden coaster stays perfectly smooth forever (unless they are at Kennywood, whose coasters seem to defy the laws of aging). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BaMiTsPaT Posted October 23, 2010 Share Posted October 23, 2010 I don't know your plot of land, but if you have any interesting terrain you may want to go with Gravity Group because their terrain coasters are incredible. If you are looking for something to plop down on a flat piece of land I would suggest GCI or Intamin because they both make outstanding coasters as well! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cal1br3tto Posted October 23, 2010 Share Posted October 23, 2010 Overall, I judge coasters by how fun they are. Airtime and intensity factor highly into this. If a coaster has notable levels of either or both, I'm likely to find it fun. "Intensity" to me includes surprise drops, unpredictable changes of direction, extreme angles, ejector airtime, headchoppers, sensation of speed, and plenty of other factors. I like twisters with lots of airtime. Evel Knievel is a perfect example of this. It's also very "approachable" and rerideable. Length isn't necessarily all that important, but one reason I love Voyage is that it goes on and on...and on, with a thrilling mixture of elements. I'll leave the criticism to others as I love this ride despite its problems. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thrillrideseeker Posted October 23, 2010 Share Posted October 23, 2010 I will agree with most of the others on here, El Toro is my number one wooden coaster. I love the speed, the smoothness, the airtime, and all the twist towards the end. If your park can fit an Intamin Woodie, IE: El Toro type coaster in their budget then I would say go for it, and you would have a sure winner. ~Matthew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mechanic Posted October 23, 2010 Share Posted October 23, 2010 Is there a particular element to an existing wooden coaster that has made the ride the most exciting for you? The small drop into a pitch black tunnel with some unexpected laterals on the Giant Dipper at Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is a real key to setting up the riders for a fun time. I wish more wooden coasters had that feature. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoCalCoasters Posted October 23, 2010 Share Posted October 23, 2010 I have ridden GCIs only, but one of the coolest elements you can put in a coaster is a station fly-through, which creates an eye popping effect that adds to the anticipation of waiting In line. GCI's seem to age well, and have an exciting yet compact layout. The world needs more CGI! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hayzle Posted October 23, 2010 Share Posted October 23, 2010 What about an inline roll (if possible)? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoasterKidKyle Posted October 23, 2010 Share Posted October 23, 2010 GCI's seem to age well, and have an exciting yet compact layout. The world needs more CGI! I know its was GCI's first, and being 14 I cannot vouch for the roughness the first few years, but I am assuming that Wildcat hasn't aged as well as its counter-parts (Lightning Racer) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skycoastin Steve Posted October 23, 2010 Share Posted October 23, 2010 ^That's because Wildcat opened with PTC trains and only recently was given Millennium Flyers. PTC trains are notoriously bad on wooden coaster track and make it very difficult to maintain a track's smoothness over time. Just look at Voyage and Hades for prime examples. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robbalvey Posted October 23, 2010 Share Posted October 23, 2010 What about an inline roll (if possible)? No. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the ghost Posted October 23, 2010 Share Posted October 23, 2010 How about a clone of Balder? It is many of its rider's #1 position or at least in their top 5 favorite roller coasters. It is not nearly as intimidating to look at as El Toro, and is only 20 to thirty feet taller than the average GCI. It is quite compact for the awesome ride that it gives. Last but not least, based entirely off RCDB(so it may not be entirely reliable) Balder only cost around 9 to 10 million dollars, which is not bad considering it is VERY highly rated and not too expensive, considering its two million more than the average GCI. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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