What happens when it doesn't work?

[Laurence]

I got to thinking today about rides that were built but, for one reason or another, weren't successful.

 

Examples would be rides such as:

 

Ring Racer, Vertigo (Belgium), Shoot the Rapids, Pilgrims Plunge, Windjammer, Dollywoods Topple Tower, Son of Beast...

 

All rides that had a very short lsifespan and represented a large investment by the park.

 

What happens in situations like this? Do parks just have to write it off and chalk it up to experience? Once the ride is handed over to the park, the manufacturer just walks away and that's it or is there some sort of 'guarantee'?

 

Are there any other examples I've missed?

 

Thanks

[DoinItForTheFame]

What happens in situations like this? Do parks just have to write it off and chalk it up to experience? Once the ride is handed over to the park, the manufacturer just walks away and that's it or is there some sort of 'guarantee'?

 

I’m sure the manufacturer offers some sort of warranty on their rides... But I doubt it covers the type of failure you’re talking about. I’m sure the park just gets to the point they consider it a loss, and move on. If they decide to go with the same manufacturer to build a replacement ride I’m betting that manufacturer will offer some type of “discount” to the park.

[SoCalJasonland]

It really depends on the situation and any of the following can happen:

 

1. If the ride manufacturer broke a term of the contract then they can be sued and possibly be forced to file bankruptcy if they lose and have insufficient assets to pay the judgment.

 

2. parties could negotiate and settle out of court.

 

3. the ride manufacturer can go out of business before anyone has a chance to sue them.

 

4. the park and manufacturer could settle on a price reduction on a future attraction.

 

5. the park may just have to eat the loss because the contract was written in favor of the manufacturer.

[Intamin_coyote]

The original Bat at Kings Island would be another example. It has been rumored that Vortex was sort of a 'replacement coaster' offered by Arrow.

 

Per KIExtreme:

 

After The Bat was removed, Arrow Dynamics returned to design and construct Vortex, the world's first six-inversion roller coaster, on the same site previously occupied by The Bat. Exact terms of the deal are not available, but apparently Arrow installed Vortex at almost no cost to the park, due to the problems with The Bat.

https://kiextreme.com/history_bat.php

[Nrthwnd]

Make sure it gets a nice burial.

[Too Fast For Comfort]

It really depends on the situation and any of the following can happen:

 

1. If the ride manufacturer broke a term of the contract then they can be sued and possibly be forced to file bankruptcy if they lose and have insufficient assets to pay the judgment.

 

2. parties could negotiate and settle out of court.

 

3. the ride manufacturer can go out of business before anyone has a chance to sue them.

 

4. the park and manufacturer could settle on a price reduction on a future attraction.

 

5. the park may just have to eat the loss because the contract was written in favor of the manufacturer.

 

Interesting solutions and insight, but I feel like that might be a remedy is the ride lasted something like two years or less. I think that for SoB, as it lasted for 9 years or so, that's well beyond the warranty that was promised. I'm sure the park wanted it to be around a lot longer than that, but realistically, at a certain point, the park absorbs the responsibility. I'd also imagine that the park abandoned it because it was just never that success or as popular as they were hoping it would be.

[ryder]

According to a video online, when Windjammer was a flop, Knott's sued Togo, which caused them to go bankrupt and essentially put an end to the company.

 

I also heard that when Knott's also had it's problem with Windseeker, Mondial gave them a good deal on the Sol Spin replacement.

 

Maybe Knott's should stop making rides with the word "Wind" in their name?