VegasBaby Posted August 29, 2018 Share Posted August 29, 2018 (edited) I still think the best roller coaster ride ever in Vegas was Speed at Nascar Cafe. I'm still a little bummed that the ride closed and I think it's still wasting away in some abandoned lot. Agreed, Speed was such a fun little coaster. And if I remember correctly, they ran two cycles for each ride purchased. It's a shame that another casino or park didn't buy it from the Sahara. I would've loved to see it wedged into the Adventuredome somehow. Edited August 29, 2018 by VegasBaby Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KBrylczyk Posted August 29, 2018 Share Posted August 29, 2018 That Romulan Ale does things to you... I found out the next day! I don't know about you, but I sure ended up praying to the porcelain god for a while. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thedlr Posted August 29, 2018 Share Posted August 29, 2018 That Romulan Ale does things to you... I found out the next day! I don't know about you, but I sure ended up praying to the porcelain god for a while. I didn't want to get graphic, but for me, I did my business as usual the next morning and stood up to find the water had turned blue. Otherwise I felt totally fine. On another note, Speed — The Ride is still the best coaster we've ever had here. A group of us made sure to get our last rides right before it closed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryder Posted August 29, 2018 Share Posted August 29, 2018 New member here! I remember the boat ride at Luxor. Never did get to go on it, but I wanted to. Also loved Speed the Ride. And anyone remember the High Roller that used to be atop Stratosphere (that many people still mistakenly think is still there)? Of current attractions, while it's more of a tour, I did love Zac Braff's Haunted Museum. Even if not a believer (I'm personally not), the collection of artifacts are amazing! And while I obviously had low expectations, Fear: The Walking Dead attraction downtown was actually better than I thought. Too much time is spent "scanning", and the maze portion is woefully short, but the shooting portion is pretty fun. Imagine Iron Reef with desert zombies, and you get the idea. Again, go in with low expectations (and try to find a discount... it wouldn't be worth full price). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coasterlvr Posted September 7, 2018 Share Posted September 7, 2018 was looking through some old photos and found a bunch of Desperado. back when it was smooth. or, at least i thought it was. looking back over 20 years, was i just able to take it, or was it smooth? anyway, here's some pics, probably from the first or second year of operation. the second hotel tower wasn't built yet at Buffalo Bills. oh, i also came across a few onride photos as well. too funny, i used to take an SLR camera on ride and no one cared. how times have changed, and for good reason. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SharkTums Posted September 7, 2018 Share Posted September 7, 2018 ^It was never *smooth*, but in the early years it didn't make you pee blood like in the later years! I mean, just look at this transition from your picture...there was no smooth there! Coat Hanger! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jarmor Posted September 7, 2018 Share Posted September 7, 2018 It seems Pink's hot dogs at Planet Hollywood is no more. Caesars replaced it with a place called Haute Doggery in the Linq Promenade. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canobie Coaster Posted September 7, 2018 Share Posted September 7, 2018 ^^ I love how they took a car from the blue train and attached it to the yellow one. Six Flags is the only other park I've seen do that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Samuel Posted September 7, 2018 Share Posted September 7, 2018 ^It was never *smooth*, but in the early years it didn't make you pee blood like in the later years! I mean, just look at this transition from your picture...there was no smooth there! LOL, this description will have me giggling well into next week. I've heard plenty of nostalgic remarks that rough Arrows "didn't use to have track like that/they changed it somehow," when said coasters were always awkward -- smooth or not. For example, Steel Phantom had a few deplorable transitions, but people at first overlooked them because the drops and speed were so impressive, and also because comfort standards were just lower. Gift shop merch would have a lot of "I survived" messages. I even remember finding a "Can You Tolerate It?" shirt from Six Flags that showed generic Arrow loops and wonky transitions. I'd like to see Desperado hang in there, but it's been dated for some time. Hooray for better engineering! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Stratosphere Posted September 8, 2018 Author Share Posted September 8, 2018 OMG John! You have photos of a butchered train where they used parts of other trains to make one complete, look at the back car! It's a different color! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ElvisLuv Posted September 8, 2018 Share Posted September 8, 2018 Maybe the Margaritaville Casino folks get their hands on Buffalo Bill's. Add a large indoor and outdoor waterpark and make it more of a family destination. Redo the coaster and call it Land Shark. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coasterlvr Posted September 10, 2018 Share Posted September 10, 2018 OMG John! You have photos of a butchered train where they used parts of other trains to make one complete, look at the back car! It's a different color! that's so weird i didn't even remember that until i found those photos. those were from i think the first year. they had 3 trains for it too. i know i went to an event in 1995 where they ran at least two trains. but yeah, i don't know what's up with that mish mash of parts. lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Stratosphere Posted September 11, 2018 Author Share Posted September 11, 2018 So a neat little fact. Yes the High Roller at the Stratosphere is gone, but you can go and see the train, its sitting on top of the Hammargren Home. The home actually consists of 3 homes at the intersection of Sandhill and Flamingo, about 5 miles East of the Las Vegas Strip. The home is owned by Dr. Lonnie Hammargren, Lieutenant Governor of Nevada from 1995-1999. More information about the home at a later date, but it has a ton of memorabilia from Las Vegas' past. But the house is normally only open to visit on Nevada Day (End of October). If it's open this year, I will be sure to visit and take photos! The actual train from The High Roller Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bert425 Posted September 11, 2018 Share Posted September 11, 2018 ^ I saw a TV show about that house, and Gentleman! it could have been on Hoarders? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hendrixmarshalljames Posted September 11, 2018 Share Posted September 11, 2018 Desperado was my first Hyper. Love it or hate it, I'll always remember it as the one that hooked me. Drove like a mad man to get there before it closed! There was MGM's stab at a theme park, too. I remember riding a mild woodie. But I can't remember the names. Too lazy to look it up as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Stratosphere Posted September 11, 2018 Author Share Posted September 11, 2018 it could have been on Hoarders? YES! It was on an episode of Hoarders Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Stratosphere Posted September 11, 2018 Author Share Posted September 11, 2018 There was MGM's stab at a theme park, too. I remember riding a mild woodie. But I can't remember the names. Too lazy to look it up as well. Never had a wooden coaster in Vegas (except the faux one at The Boardwalk), it was Lightning Bolt at MGM Grand Adventures Theme Park, an Intamin Jr. Coaster that was first built as an indoor coaster then moved outside when they closed half of the park to build the MGM Grand Conference Center and new pool complex. I have some cool stuff from MGM Grand Adventures that I will post in the future! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KBrylczyk Posted September 11, 2018 Share Posted September 11, 2018 it could have been on Hoarders? YES! It was on an episode of Hoarders I though Hoarders was supposed to highlight disgusting houses full of trash and poop, not awesome houses full of cool stuff. Guess they wanted to branch out, haha. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coasterlvr Posted September 11, 2018 Share Posted September 11, 2018 i know i've seen the house on tv before, but i don't think the one i saw was hoarders. more like some travel type show. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Stratosphere Posted September 30, 2018 Author Share Posted September 30, 2018 Been going through some photos lately, and found my photos from the final day of the High Roller's operation at The Stratosphere. This is from 12/30/2005 and the immediate dismantling that started on 1/2/2006. Enjoy the photos! High Roller's Control Panel Final day of operations Head Chopper! That skyline sure has changed in the last 13 years! Just after the final ride and the ride was powered down for the very last time. On 1/2/2006 , restraints were already removed. Parts in the lobby of 112 The front car sat in the lobby of 112 for a few weeks before being brought down. This ad always cracked me up, it was still in use when the ride closed, the original train's colors, no OTSR's and the train is traveling in the wrong direction! Rest in pieces. The entrance to the ride on the 112th floor The entrance to the ride on the 112th floor Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bert425 Posted September 30, 2018 Share Posted September 30, 2018 very cool to see those pics! thanks for sharing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoinItForTheFame Posted September 30, 2018 Share Posted September 30, 2018 ^ ^ Love the High Roller photos!!! However, maybe it's just me... But I think what "replaced it" was a GREAT upgrade!! One of the very few attractions that still scare the sh!t out of me!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Stratosphere Posted October 2, 2018 Author Share Posted October 2, 2018 Want an even more rare photo? This is the main stairwell of the Stratosphere Tower. This is the core, three solid legs and the middle is hallow, housing all facilities items, and the elevator shafts are behind the concrete walls. This is looking up from the 4th floor up about a third of the tower. There are two large platforms on the way up for rest and mechanical rooms, but note how the stairwell just hugs one side of the core. Once a year for charity they run the Scale the Strat Marathon for the American Lung Association. Scale the Strat will occur on 2/24/19 at 7AM You can register Here! Stratosphere has 1.644 stairs from the ground up to the Big Shot's loading platform. Scale the Strat is 1,455 stairs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ytterbiumanalyst Posted October 2, 2018 Share Posted October 2, 2018 Climbing that many stairs sounds terrible, but you know, it's not the stupidest decision you could make in Las Vegas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoCalJasonland Posted October 2, 2018 Share Posted October 2, 2018 Climbing that many stairs sounds terrible, but you know, it's not the stupidest decision you could make in Las Vegas. I am sure the stairs are there for people to escape the tower in the event of an emergency that knocks out the elevators. The fire dept may have to climb them but most people would be running down them if they were ever put to use. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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