What coaster should get the next Rocky Mountain treatment?

[pkgdel5]

Yesterday I was able to meet and have conversation with the park manager of SFSTL. The likelihood of the Boss being re-tracked is very, very slim. He and the Six Flags Corp. would rather take the money (what would be around $14-$15 million) to actually get new cars for the Boss (as well as raising the lift) and adding another new coaster to the park....giving the park 10 coasters. He did not discuss a time line but seemed "hopeful" that the park will expand and adamant about the park keeping current coasters.

So no RMC treatment for the boss....but maybe we will get a new RMC coaster...have to wait and see....

[IntaminLove]

My number one choice would be Mean Streak. The phrase "don't judge a book by it's cover" definitely applies here. It's a shame that this beautiful ride is pretty crappy. I had my best ride ever this year thanks to a lot of track work, but Mean Streak is still boring. I would like to see a Texas Giant type of transformation, but with topper track. We have seen what RMC can do with topper track so I think this is possible. I'm against iron horsing Mean Streak because I think it's important to preserve the character of wooden coasters. Also the iron horse treatment would leave Blue Streak as the only wooden coaster in the line up.

 

My second choice would be the Boss. I rode it for the first time this year and I think it has the potential to be an awesome coaster. I think the Boss has a good layout, but topper track would do wonders. As much as I like the layout I can't help but think what crazy changes RMC could make.

 

My third choice would be Wildcat at Hersheypark. I rode this coaster once two years ago and I hated it. Wildcat beat the hell out of me and the layout didn't do much for me. A little RMC love could turn this into at least a decent ride.

[CoasterGeek13]

To me, I think that it would be awesome to see Boardwalk Bullet, at Kemah Boardwalk, to get the RMC treatment.Since I live in Houston, Texas, I visit Kemah a lot and I'll go to this ride and while i'm in the queue line waiting to ride, I see that the ride is getting a little wobbly everytime a train runs by and the track seems to be getting a little old. I mean just think about it. This ride has been there since 2007, now its 2015. I would love to see this thing get revamped !!!

[bill_s]

^^-- that contrasts with every other coaster on this list in that it is brand new. They should get Millenium Flyer trains on it ASAP before the track is damaged by what appears to be PTC trains. Any shaking of the track you're seeing is normal, wood coasters flex so they don't break. I also see on Wikipedia this cost a mere $3M !?! at which price other parks ought to be adding them left and right, that's less the price of most flat rides, and a third to a fourth the cost of a full "RMC treament".

 

Interesting:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boardwalk_Bullet

www.kemahboardwalk.com/boardwalk-bullet.asp

[PixelRush]

I think that they should redesign old rides that were taken down for their dangerous record, like the "terrible trio" by Harry Traver!

 

 

This is pure potential!

[DoinItForTheFame]

^ That's first drop looks amazing!!

[Ed Farmer]

After a visit to Elitch Gardens this past season, Twister II gets my vote. Halfway down the first drop, my thoughts went from How do I defend myself from this? to Rmcrmcrmc.

The layout actually seems like it would lend itself nicely to a Rocky Mountaining. I could see a Mexican Medusa/Storm Chaser-esque first drop.

 

They might even use the opportunity to do something about that unintentional Batman The Ride theming that the coaster is situated amongst.

[canadianparkfan]

Wonder if we'll see as many coasters being RMCed in the future now that they've come out with the new TREX track style.

 

Can't wait to see their booth tomorrow at IAAPA... Let's hope Robb brings us some great coverage!

[boldikus]

Mean Streak

Wildcat (Hershey)

Roar (SFA)

[VegasBaby]

Mean Streak

Wildcat (Hershey)

Roar (SFA)

 

I'm on board with all three of these picks, especially Roar and Wildcat. Roar would seem like a no brainer for Six Flags since its twin is already getting the RMC treatment. You would think SF would be able to save a bunch of money by using The Joker's design for SFA's Roar. Wildcat seems unnecessary at Hershey since they have 2 other great woodies in Comet (classic out & back) and Lightning Racer (racing coaster). Wildcat is just rough and not very fun, so it's a prime RMC candidate to me.

[Superbatboy]

The Hurlers at KD and Carowinds please

[Intimidated305]

Mean Streak

Wildcat (Hershey)

Roar (SFA)

 

I'm on board with all three of these picks, especially Roar and Wildcat. Roar would seem like a no brainer for Six Flags since its twin is already getting the RMC treatment. You would think SF would be able to save a bunch of money by using The Joker's design for SFA's Roar. Wildcat seems unnecessary at Hershey since they have 2 other great woodies in Comet (classic out & back) and Lightning Racer (racing coaster). Wildcat is just rough and not very fun, so it's a prime RMC candidate to me.

I beg to differ about Wildcat. I rode it once, was expecting the worst ride of my life. I was extremely shocked with how it turned out. I even found it to be (yes, you WILL read this correctly) SMOOTHER than Lightning Racers. Experience wise, there are more thrilling elements on Lightning Racer, so I would choose that over Wildcat ANY DAY. If you think Wildcat is rough (which yes, I agree, it could use some retracking), I am going to just assume that you haven't ridden Kings Dominion's Hurler yet. That gets my pick for what should get RMC'd next. I'm surprised I haven't seen that on here often, because THAT is an absolutely BRUTAL ride with tons of potential.

[coasterkid124]

Conversely to the post above, when I rode Wildcat this summer, it was rough. Not as rough as some woodies I've been on, but not too comfortable. Lightning Racer was really smooth and enjoyable. With two other solid woodies already at Hershey, I wouldn't mind at all if they changed Wildcat. After seeing the airtime filled, crazy layout that Schilke pulled off with Roar, Wildcat could turn into the same.

 

Predator at Darien Lake was rumored to be getting an RMC treatment, and would be a really good choice for a renovation. Schilke said that he likes to work with compact coasters, and that's a reason why Cyclone turned out as good as it did. Predator actually has a really good layout too, it just has become rough from age.

 

Of course I would love to see something done with Mean Streak as well. That could actually even be preserved as a traditional woodie with Topper Track. It would probably look like something along the lines of Goliath at SFGAm

[chickenbowl]

There's too many wooden coasters to count that I think should get retracked by RMC. So maybe I will try to be more predictive/hopeful with my picks!

 

Le Monstre, La Ronde - 2017 - This is a coaster that I find to have a severely under-utilized layout. The first drops on each side only go down about half of the total height. That height is 130', which would be moderately tall for a steel RMC (The only taller ones would be Iron Rattler [179'] and New Texas Giant [153']). Each side is currently around 4000' long so there's potential for a full layout, even if they wanted to keep it as two sides. This coaster just looks like it has a ton of potential.

 

Boss, Six Flags St. Louis - 2018 - This coaster also has an insane amount of potential, a 150' drop? 5000' long? I can only dream! The layout is similar to the old Medusa at SFM, so if it was like Steel Medusa, but larger? Count me in. I think this would be the perfect coaster for SFStl.

 

Mean Streak, Cedar Point - 2018 - Simply, I am picturing New Texas Giant but better with this one!

[boldikus]

Mean Streak

Wildcat (Hershey)

Roar (SFA)

 

I'm on board with all three of these picks, especially Roar and Wildcat. Roar would seem like a no brainer for Six Flags since its twin is already getting the RMC treatment. You would think SF would be able to save a bunch of money by using The Joker's design for SFA's Roar. Wildcat seems unnecessary at Hershey since they have 2 other great woodies in Comet (classic out & back) and Lightning Racer (racing coaster). Wildcat is just rough and not very fun, so it's a prime RMC candidate to me.

I beg to differ about Wildcat. I rode it once, was expecting the worst ride of my life. I was extremely shocked with how it turned out. I even found it to be (yes, you WILL read this correctly) SMOOTHER than Lightning Racers. Experience wise, there are more thrilling elements on Lightning Racer, so I would choose that over Wildcat ANY DAY. If you think Wildcat is rough (which yes, I agree, it could use some retracking), I am going to just assume that you haven't ridden Kings Dominion's Hurler yet. That gets my pick for what should get RMC'd next. I'm surprised I haven't seen that on here often, because THAT is an absolutely BRUTAL ride with tons of potential.

 

I don't think Wildcat is as bad as people say, it's rough the way a good classic woodie should be. Mostly why I think Wildcat should get RMC'd is because Hershey has an almost perfect line-up already, I think an RMC would be a perfect addition and of the three woodies, Wildcat is the best candidate. Comet is too classic and Lightning Racer is flat out awesome. RMC Wildcat, add nice drop tower, another adult flat and maybe replace Sidewinder with something (by Intamin) and voila! best park ever.

[Ed Farmer]

I don't think Wildcat is as bad as people say, it's rough the way a good classic woodie should be. Mostly why I think Wildcat should get RMC'd is because Hershey has an almost perfect line-up already, I think an RMC would be a perfect addition and of the three woodies, Wildcat is the best candidate. Comet is too classic and Lightning Racer is flat out awesome. RMC Wildcat, add nice drop tower, another adult flat and maybe replace Sidewinder with something (by Intamin) and voila! best park ever.

Myself and the group I was with this past July actually thought Wildcat was better than Lightning Racer(s). It felt like Wildcat just had better pacing and delivered until it hit the brakes, while Lightning Racer(s) dragged on and lost a lot of steam in the back end of the layout. Of course, these are wooden coasters we're talking about- we may well have caught Wildcat on a good day and Lightning Racer on a bad day.

[bill_s]

^^-- It's been 4 years since I was at Hershey, but at the time Lightning Racer seemed still new, plus it has a totally inventive take on racing coasters. Any weakness at the end wasn't really significant compared to those superiorities. The layout is so complex I can't see a redesign, although some day Topper track may be almost a must to maintain that beast.

 

RMC treatment? Anaconda .. wait yeah it's steel. But they apparently have some way of getting wood coasters into the computer and therefore could also do it with steel. Not really a real suggestion because this ride still can't be made to last that much longer etc. but if they did want to fix "the spot" that would be the first step. 2-4 new track sections would be a lot less than the reprofile of I305 for sure though.

[DoinItForTheFame]

My vote is for Gwazi to get the next RMC treatment.

[fraroc]

I think that they should redesign old rides that were taken down for their dangerous record, like the "terrible trio" by Harry Traver!

 

 

This is pure potential!

 

I've been thinking for years that one day, GCI needs to do a remake of the Crystal Beach Cyclone, but now that you mention it, with those snappy and twisty transitions, RMC would also be a perfect candidate for it.

[Ed Farmer]

^^-- It's been 4 years since I was at Hershey, but at the time Lightning Racer seemed still new, plus it has a totally inventive take on racing coasters. Any weakness at the end wasn't really significant compared to those superiorities. The layout is so complex I can't see a redesign, although some day Topper track may be almost a must to maintain that beast.

 

Oh, I wasn't suggesting Lightning Racer as a candidate for Rocky Mountaining- just that Wildcat was the better of the two (three?) when I visited. I think the wooden coaster situation at Hershey is just fine as it is. Maybe they can put Intamin to work on a follow-up to El Toro, if anything.