Is Gwazi the biggest "Roller Coaster Fail" since SoB?

[robbalvey]

So.... When Gwazi gets demolished next year. (Keep hearing more and more rumors) Will it be the biggest "roller coaster fail" since Son of Beast?

 

Thinking about it today, I can't think of another, bigger ride that opened since SoB or Gwazi that was such a big project, given so much hype, so much money put into it both when it first opened and then later to fix it, and then ultimately have to close it and remove it.

 

The only really major "roller coaster fails" in the last 20 years that come to mind are:

 

1. Son of Beast

2. Gwazi

3. Drachen Fire

4. *maybe* Hercules

 

Any others?

[Koasterking48]

Hypersonic XLC is another I can think of that was very overhyped, and it turned out to be lame and constantly down. But yes Gwazi was considered a "fail" in my book compared to the other world-class coasters GCI produced (granted Gwazi was one if their first coasters, but still...). And I would also call Ring Racer a fail because it was supposed to be much faster than it really turned out to be. Plus it was delayed for so long.

Edited September 29, 2013 by Koasterking48

[Ape]

The sad part is I enjoyed both gwazi and the original son of beast layout. I was but a kid then though and could handle the punishment.

[SharkTums]

^^Ooo yeah, Hypersonic is another good one. And I think you're right that we'll see Ring Racer go that way as well soon.

[John Peck]

You could say that Windseeker at Knotts could be one (though not a coaster, and being moved), or Tomb Raider (again, not a coaster) or Windjammer... even Steel Phantom.

 

Some in the industry say that a ride holds most of its value for 13 years, and after that, if ridership has declined enough, or maintenance headaches have caused a strain on the park, early removal/replacement is necessary. Gwazi is a 1999, so it would be a bit past that.

 

I would say that Hypersonic and Son of Beast have been the biggest flops, though, at least stateside.

[bottom_feeder_13]

Definitely agree about Hypersonic, but I'd also add Zonga, not because the ride itself failed but because Six Flags and the sue-happy US culture killed it, and Psyclone only lasted 15 years and went to hell really quickly, albeit that may have been largely the fault of SFMM, as well as SFGAdv's Viper.

[jarmor]

I dunno...it seemed as if SOB was a lost cause and only lasted 8 seasons. Gwazi is still sorta going and has never had to have a major section removed or an entire season of down time. I think Busch just doesnt want to invest more money to get the coaster back to its prime and look at it being more feasible to tear it down. It seemed KI tried all it can to save it...even leaving it SBNO for several years. I had a change to ride gwazi back in april. I didnt think it was that bad neither did my 9 year old god son but he likes jumping out of trees haha. I personally think gwazi can be saved with a little love from RMC. Are they any recorded major injuries on gwazi?

[montezooma]

Kings Island had another huge failure before Son of Beast. Anyone remember the Bat?

Edited September 29, 2013 by montezooma

[TheDarkMaxim]

Windjammer Surf Racers was a fairly big failure as well. Vertigo at Walibi Belgium was a pretty big ride that also failed.

[bkwjjm]

I only rode Gwazi once back in 2003, but I found it to be a fun, fast and fairly comfortable ride. It must have deteriorated quickly because it was still a fun ride back then.

[_koppen]

I would also say Vertigo at Walibi World.

[BigBomer]

I still think Drachen Fire is ahead of Gwazi due to the fact that it only operated 7 seasons as where Gwazi is in its 15th season. Also they had to modify the ride once, where all that's been done to Gwazi is new trains being added. I can see where you could say that because Gwazi cost more, it was more of a fail, but I don't see it that way.

[robbalvey]

I would also say Vertigo at Walibi World.

I'm not sure I'd put Vertigo in the same category as SoB, Gwazi, or Drachen Fire. I'm not sure most people that visit the park even knew the ride existed.

 

There have been a lot of ride "fails", but not many MAJOR fails.

 

I'd most certainly put Hypersonic on that list, though. And if you're gonna go back that far, I'd put the The Bat on it, too.

[cfc]

At least Drachen Fire was a nice, safe nest for a bald eagle for a season, which goes with Busch's conservation activities

 

I think Hypersonic is a good example, but not quite SOB bad. If I had to pick a noncoaster ride, I'd go with Superstar Limo (Disney's worst dark ride).

[MayTheGForceBeWithYou]

^^Imagine if they actually decided to put the corkscrew in on the Bat...

[Hercules]

The really sad thing is that Gwazi is such an interesting ride, and it really is kind of beautiful.

 

I would put a Top 5 at something like this:

 

1. Son of Beast

2. Drachen Fire

3. Hypersonic XLC

4. Gwazi

5. Flying Turns

[rctexas]

This may not be as relevant, but what about round about at Freestyle Park (Hard Rock Park)? Did they ever get the ferris-wheel lift hill running?

[Ed Farmer]

Deja Vu/Vekoma GIB probably wouldn't qualify as a beacon of success. I think I'd consider these much more of a swing and miss than Gwazi. Neither of the three Six Flags parks that were launch customers of the type operate them anymore. The first of those three Six Flags parks to open it (SFMM) did so in late August (SFOG and SFGAm opened theirs on 9/1/01 and 10/7/01). Reliability and Capacity of all three installations reached funbad territory. Parque Warner Madrid got one in 2002, and (at least) early on, wasn't too reliable either. The Atlanta and Chicago Deja Vu made it to 2007 before they were sent off, and SFMM had theirs all the way to 2011.

 

I hear Silverwood has managed to get theirs (SFGAm's) to run somewhat reliably, the SFOG GIB gathers rust somewhere in Brazil, and SFNE got SFMM's GIB- not sure whether or not it's been operating reliably for them. Ridewise, I thought the GIBs were great; good enough at least to justify enduring the recockulous wait times that came as a result of the aforementioned awful capacity, peppered with inevitable breakdowns. It's too bad that it took as long as it did to iron out the kinks.

[Ape]

Any idea what the final cost son of beast was? I'm talking initial build price plus all of the work done through the years.

[rcdude]

I wouldn't necessarily consider Gwazi a ride fail as to my knowledge the problems were primarily due to the park not taking proper care of the attraction. As far as I know, the ride has operated fairly consistently since 1999, so it's hard for me to say it was a major roller coaster fail unless the ride has always been as bad as it currently is (I've never been on it, so I wouldn't know). A fail by BGT, yes, but not a fail by GCI in my opinion.

 

When I think of a ride fail, I think of something that was an issue from day one, never operated consistently, never lived up to the hype, and was retired far sooner than it should have been. Rides like Hypersonic XLC, Son of Beast, Drachen Fire, Windjammer Surf Racers, etc. are what I would consider huge failures. Even the Deja Vu trio was a failure to some degree as they all had serious operational issues, although they all still exist somewhere and were prototypes.

[UrbanLegend]

5. Flying Turns

 

As in Knoebels' Flying Turns? As in not-even-open-yet Flying Turns? Yeah it's taken a long time to construct, but I wouldn't call it a fail.

[larrygator]

Was there much hype outside the NYC area for Batman and Robin: The Chiller. At least it was enjoyable, when it ran, but such a maintenance nightmare.

[boardwalkbullet91507]

Yeah, I wouldn't put flying turns on the list just yet. So close to opening, yet so far.

 

I wouldn't say that Gwazi is as much as a major fail as SOB. Gwazi is rough, but to my knowledge (correct me if I'm wrong) hasn't had anywhere near the plethora of problems SOB had. Gwazi in a way is like the original Rattler, it worked but would beat you to death. SOB was like 'nope, that didn't work. Try this, and this, and this.' It had more downtime than time spent operating. (Again, correct me if I'm wrong, I'm a Texan.) If we are going to continue with the 'major fail' theme here, every coaster (especially prototypes) have their flaws. I would put the Bat high up on the list.

[robbalvey]

I wouldn't necessarily consider Gwazi a ride fail as to my knowledge the problems were primarily due to the park not taking proper care of the attraction. As far as I know, the ride has operated fairly consistently since 1999, so it's hard for me to say it was a major roller coaster fail unless the ride has always been as bad as it currently is (I've never been on it, so I wouldn't know). A fail by BGT, yes, but not a fail by GCI in my opinion.

I don't think its fair to be putting all the blame on the park! Remember, GCI did sell them four new trains not that long ago that was supposed to help "fix" Gwazi, and the last time I rode it, the ride was worse!

 

Sure, they park may have had more challenges with this ride operating year round, but that ride was down a LOT for maintenance, and it wasn't many years after it opened that it started getting unrideable.

 

So I'd say there is some blame on both parties.

Edited September 30, 2013 by robbalvey

[robbalvey]

I wouldn't say that Gwazi is as much as a major fail as SOB.

Nobody said it was. The thread is asking if Gwazi was the biggest fail SINCE SoB.

 

Can you name another one?

 

--Robb "A little reading comprehension can go a long way!" Alvey