jray21 Posted November 18, 2014 Share Posted November 18, 2014 (edited) Just announced! "Switchback" wooden shuttle coaster from The Gravity Group going to ZDT's amusement park in Texas! [fbvideo] [/fbvideo] ZDT's The Gravity Group shuttle woodie will feature a locomotive themed Timberliner train! Edited October 15, 2015 by robbalvey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markysharky17 Posted November 18, 2014 Share Posted November 18, 2014 Any ideas on how the layout will be? And is this considered a family thrill ride? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZeroGravity55 Posted November 18, 2014 Share Posted November 18, 2014 ^ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coasterchitchat Posted November 18, 2014 Share Posted November 18, 2014 Better than your Vekoma Boomerang!! Attendance for ZDT will sky rocket next year!! AWESOME!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrlittle Posted November 18, 2014 Share Posted November 18, 2014 Yessh, now I have a reason to stop on my way to SFFT. This looks so unique. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A.J. Posted November 18, 2014 Share Posted November 18, 2014 This one looks...interesting. I'm guessing that the long straight bit will have brakes on it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MayTheGForceBeWithYou Posted November 18, 2014 Share Posted November 18, 2014 ^My guess is that section will be braked, and then a switch track will allow the train to reenter the station. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rcjp Posted November 18, 2014 Share Posted November 18, 2014 ^That would also be my guess (which could allow two trains to operate) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GwaziBSRider1 Posted November 18, 2014 Share Posted November 18, 2014 Very exciting concept! It's nice to see a new coaster concept be built first at a park that's lesser known. I'll definitely have to check this out when I visit San Antonio! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vacoaster09 Posted November 18, 2014 Share Posted November 18, 2014 ^My guess is that section will be braked, and then a switch track will allow the train to reenter the station. THIS! The brakes (not shown in the video) on the straight portion will likely engage as the train passes backwards though them (similar to how they to on vekoma boomerangs) and then the track will switch, brakes release and the train re-enters the station, blocks reset, Ready to go! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DBJ Posted November 18, 2014 Share Posted November 18, 2014 I love this ride concept for a wood coaster. Hope it gets built somewhere nearby. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonGeorge Posted November 18, 2014 Share Posted November 18, 2014 *Plans Texas trip* Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hey...hey Posted November 18, 2014 Share Posted November 18, 2014 Cool looking train. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woolandmammoth Posted November 18, 2014 Share Posted November 18, 2014 I believe that this concept was shown at the last IAPPA with several switchbacks throughout the ride. My memory is a little hazy on the details though. Looks like a great addition for a small park and an interesting experiment for bigger rides in the future. Kind of reminds me of how Silver Dollar City got a custom RMC before anyone else. When small parks get new tech early, it gives us new rides, puts new ideas into practice, advances the overall industry, and gives me an excuse to go to smaller parks that I couldn't justify before Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrlittle Posted November 18, 2014 Share Posted November 18, 2014 ZDT's has a small amount of rides. I wouldn't even say its a small park but more of an FEC. This ride will definitely put them on the map. Here are some stats. Two trains Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tanthonyam Posted November 19, 2014 Share Posted November 19, 2014 Never heard of this park. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SFSTLMO Posted November 19, 2014 Share Posted November 19, 2014 I think this sort of looks gimmicky. I mean, the only thing that looks great to me is the switchback and the over bank turn. Maybe when it comes out and I can actually see it from a non NL1 viewpoint, I might have a different opinion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tatsu_dude Posted November 19, 2014 Share Posted November 19, 2014 I really love the look of this! It's much longer than most shuttle coasters, and has an overbank, but still manages to be very family friendly looking. I hope this catches on and puts the Vekoma Boomerang out of the market! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shavethewhales Posted November 19, 2014 Share Posted November 19, 2014 Definitely an odd little attraction in a weird area, but I love it when an attraction like this throws down a wooden coaster. There's a small waterpark/FEC in Florida that has a classic out-and-back, plus Boomer's old Dania Beach Hurricane, and of course Fun Spot is the ultimate example of how to take an FEC to the next level. I think the switchback was implemented here more due to space concerns more than as a gimmick. They could have done a straight circuit, but the ride would have felt shorter and been even more awkward. And yeah, TGG is totally taking over GCII's techniques. Happens a lot in this industry, but it's always kinda unfortunate to watch as an enthusiast. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodie Warrior Posted November 19, 2014 Share Posted November 19, 2014 ^Other than the fact that it's a wooden shuttle coaster, there is really nothing in common with this ride and GCI's proposed shuttle coaster. GCI's has two lift hills and no switch track, while this one has a lift hill, a vertical spike, and a switch track to get riders back to the station. Not to mention the elements are completely different. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GayCoasterGuy Posted November 19, 2014 Share Posted November 19, 2014 And yeah, TGG is totally taking over GCII's techniques. Happens a lot in this industry, but it's always kinda unfortunate to watch as an enthusiast. It's been hard to watch GCI slowly neuter a historic landmark (Coney/Luna Cyclone; I'm speaking to the track re-profile, not the smoothness of the track). I'm glad GG is coming through with this one, their rides are so much better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodie Warrior Posted November 19, 2014 Share Posted November 19, 2014 ^I love GCI coasters, but I have to agree that Switchback looks a lot better than GCI's wooden shuttle concept. It seems like the amusement industry gets bigger and bigger each year. Sure, giant parks aren't being built really anymore, but we've entered an era where small parks are starting to get bigger and bigger. I mean, Holiday World is getting a $22 million dollar wing coaster and now a FEC that nobody has ever heard of before is getting the world's first wooden shuttle coaster. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JRice92 Posted November 19, 2014 Share Posted November 19, 2014 ^Agreed. I've never heard of ZDT's amusement park until today. But now that this coaster is going up, whenever I make it out to Texas in the future I'll make sure to stop by and ride this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shavethewhales Posted November 19, 2014 Share Posted November 19, 2014 Notice I was careful to say that TGG was taking over GCII's techniques, I wasn't implying that this a copy of their concept. ^^After watching the industry over the last 10 years, I'd actually say this development helps point to a broader industry re-bound. I became an enthusiast just in time to see something like a dozen parks around the U.S. fold, including a lot of classic small parks. I'm hoping projects like these are part of a new wave that will bring small ride-based attractions (ie, not necessarily traditional small parks) back to smaller communities. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZeroGravity55 Posted November 19, 2014 Share Posted November 19, 2014 Actually, ZDT came to The Gravity Group with the shuttle coaster idea, so there was no stealing really going on. This really is completely different than any other shuttle coaster out there and quite simple as well. Now what's telling is the fact that GCI has announced/advertised these concepts, yet the park went to the another design firm to buy one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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