Yeti762 Posted January 27, 2009 Share Posted January 27, 2009 Glad to see this is finally confirmed!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Electerik Posted January 27, 2009 Share Posted January 27, 2009 Imagine if Knott's Calico Mine Ride was gravity powered and not driven by a locomotive. Â Since you've stumbled upon one of the very few areas of my expertise, let me just point out that Mine Ride is mostly gravity powered. Yes, the trains are electric, but for the vast majority of the ride, they coast (powerlessly) downhill. Â It's just kind of hard to tell when you're on it. Â /Not that I count it, mind you. I'm just saying. //Okay, really I just like to talk about Mine Ride. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robbalvey Posted January 27, 2009 Author Share Posted January 27, 2009 ^ Funny! When I wrote that I was actually thinking "Maybe Erik can chime in and elaborate!" Ahh, I like that I have these kind of super powers! Â Seriously though, that's kind of what it reminded me like. Take Calico Mine Train, delete driver, add all gravity powered track and throw in some cheesy dinosaurs. Â That was pretty much the experience! Â --Robb Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DenDen Posted January 27, 2009 Share Posted January 27, 2009 I love Knoebels to death, but I gotta wonder what they're thinking with this one. Â I love to see it when parks like Knoebel's and Kennywood make attempts to preserve amusement park history like this. (More so now-a-days Knoebel's is taking the lead on this.) To me, they're doing this to make their park even more a "one of a kind" tourist attraction that you can't find anywhere else in the country. I think it's a great idea that suits their park well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wood Dragon 1988 Posted January 27, 2009 Share Posted January 27, 2009 In Knoebels defense, it seems like it is more of a problem with the state why Flying Turns isn't running yet. Â I don't know what to make of the move, but I'll be looking forward to going to Knoebels every year no matter what they add/don't add! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robaroo723 Posted January 27, 2009 Share Posted January 27, 2009 I am so happy about this news! Golden Nugget was one of my first rides ever, so I'm VERY glad Knoebels has decided to save the ride. Â I'm sure they'll get Flying Turns up and running before they decide to do anything with the Golden Nugget. I agree that it was probably a "take it or it's going to be demolished" type of situation, where Knoebels had to act now in order to save the ride. Â GREAT NEWS! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
niiicolaaah Posted January 27, 2009 Share Posted January 27, 2009 In Knoebels defense, it seems like it is more of a problem with the state why Flying Turns isn't running yet. Â I don't know what to make of the move, but I'll be looking forward to going to Knoebels every year no matter what they add/don't add! Â Huh? Pennsylvania screwed over Flying Turns? Or the state of Knoebel's? What?! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wood Dragon 1988 Posted January 27, 2009 Share Posted January 27, 2009 I thought the problem with Flying Turns was that Pennsylvania safety regulations won't allow it to run....or something like that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SharkTums Posted January 27, 2009 Share Posted January 27, 2009 ^I don't think that's it at all. They told us on the tour that they felt it was too rough themselves as the cars weren't working quite right on the track. I don't think they've even tried to get permits yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thrillrider92 Posted January 27, 2009 Share Posted January 27, 2009 Well since my other topic similar to this was locked, I'll just ask my question here, what kind of themeing would you guys and girls like Knoebels to give the ride and where do you believe the ride would be placed? Anyone else want to comment on my question? Â -Mine old classic themeing of tricks/ gags Praying for old tracy stunts and possibly place the ride near the Phoenix, toward the Wipeout and Fandango. Only problem is the road there. Knoebels is great at adding the new but adding and keeping the old. Prime example on how to run a great and successful amusement park. ONE OF THE BEST PARKS AROUND Hooray for Knoebels Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kennyweird Posted January 27, 2009 Share Posted January 27, 2009 ^Dick mentions in the article that the ride will be restored in a way that best reflects its past and its future at Knoebels, which I take as meaning they'll retain the mine theme and add some sort of Pennsylvanian twist to it. Besides, the trains are already modeled to look like mine cars, why waste money changing them? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thrillrider92 Posted January 27, 2009 Share Posted January 27, 2009 That's true about the trains. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
niiicolaaah Posted January 27, 2009 Share Posted January 27, 2009 I want them to put it over by Twister somewhere, because it's kind of a dead area and might draw more people over to ride Twister.  I think a really cool theme for it would be Centralia. It's a real-life town only about half an hour away from Knoebel's.  Centralia is a borough in Columbia County, Pennsylvania. Its population has dwindled from over 1,000 residents in 1981 to 9 in 2007, as a result of a mine fire burning beneath the borough since 1962. Centralia is now the least-populous municipality in Pennsylvania. Centralia was incorporated as a borough in 1866. The anthracite coal industry was the principal employer in the community. Coal mining continued in Centralia until the 1960s, when most of the companies went out of business.  One theory asserts that in May 1962, Centralia Borough Council hired five members of the volunteer fire company to clean up the town landfill. The firefighters, as they had in the past, set the dump on fire, and let it burn for a time. Unlike in previous years, however, the fire was not extinguished.  Moreover, other evidence supports that one of two trash haulers dumped hot ash from coal burners into the open trash pit. The borough, by law, was responsible for installing a fire-resistant clay barrier between each layer but had not done so. Because of this, the fire eventually spread into the abandoned coal mines beneath Centralia. Attempts to extinguish the fire were unsuccessful, and it continued to burn throughout the 1960s and 1970s.  In 1979, locals became aware of the scale of the problem when a gas-station owner inserted a stick into one of his underground tanks to check the fuel level. When he withdrew it, it seemed hot, so he lowered a thermometer down on a string and was shocked to discover that the temperature of the gasoline in the tank was 172 °F. Statewide attention to the fire began to increase, culminating in 1981 when 12-year-old resident Todd Domboski fell into a subsidence four feet wide by 150 feet deep that suddenly opened beneath his feet in a backyard.  In 1992, Pennsylvania claimed eminent domain on all properties in the borough, condemning all the buildings within. In 2002, the United States Postal Service revoked Centralia's ZIP Code, 17927.  The only indications of the fire, which underlies some 400 acres, are low round metal steam vents in the south of the borough, and several signs warning of underground fire, unstable ground, and carbon monoxide. Additional smoke and steam can be seen coming from various cracks in the ground scattered about the area. The underground fire is still burning and will continue to do so for the indefinite future. There are no current plans to extinguish the fire, which is consuming an eight-mile seam containing enough coal to fuel it for 250 years.  A ghost town over a coal mine that has been on fire for 40 years? How cool would that theme be! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kennyweird Posted January 27, 2009 Share Posted January 27, 2009 ^Interesting idea, but how would Knoebels theme a dark ride around that? I'm not convinced they can. Â I say they should just loosely theme it to an abandoned coal mine and leave it at that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
niiicolaaah Posted January 27, 2009 Share Posted January 27, 2009 ^I guess that's pretty much what I meant. I was giving background information for those who had never heard of Centralia. Â I think it would be cool if they could layer the ride - like the very top would be the abandoned town with steam coming out of random places, the middle indoors part could be the coal mine, and the bottom part inside the ride could be "on fire". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ccron10 Posted January 28, 2009 Share Posted January 28, 2009 ^I guess that's pretty much what I meant. I was giving background information for those who had never heard of Centralia. I think it would be cool if they could layer the ride - like the very top would be the abandoned town with steam coming out of random places, the middle indoors part could be the coal mine, and the bottom part inside the ride could be "on fire".  I don't really think there is room by the Twister. To the left is the pool, to the right is the road leading over to the campground and a few campsites, and any spot along the road before you get to the bridge wouldn't work because those are cottages for where the workers live. As far as around the park, over by kiddieland wouldn't work since there is the creek and the entrance road. Next to the Phoenix wouldn't work because the lumber yard is behind it. Like I said, the only area I see for where this can be built is near the Skloosh by taking out a few picnic pavilions.  Theming it to Centrailia would be a great idea because just imagine what the park can do now with dark rides since Knoebels opened their famous one in 1973. To give you guys an understanding of what Centrailia looks like, here are a few pics from a trip I took 2 years ago. This is the center of Centrailia. Today the population is only 4 or 5 people. This could be a great topic to base a dark ride off of. This is Main Street of what used to be Centrailia. Most of the streets go to nowhere. There is some of the smoke from the fire. This used to be where a few houses stood. This is just outside of town. Route 61 used to go straight, but because of the fire, the road was detoured. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr.Wood Posted January 28, 2009 Share Posted January 28, 2009 That would a good place for it to go. It will get all the TLC it needs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
palmerleeberry Posted January 28, 2009 Share Posted January 28, 2009 It's always a great day when a ride that was closed down in one park will be moved to another park. I didn't get to ride the Golden Nugget last time I was at Morey's Piers and I won't get to ride it this year when I revisit Knoebels later this year. But I hope things will work out for the better for Knoebels and their newest purchase. Â Still, I do hope I get a turn or two on the Flying Turns. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
downunder Posted January 28, 2009 Share Posted January 28, 2009 I'm thinking Knoebels could make this into a really fun ride. Â Would it fit in the High speed Thrill Coaster site? Though there are plenty of other places to put it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kidcoaster 2 Posted January 28, 2009 Share Posted January 28, 2009 I am 99% sure that Flying Turns will finally run this summer. The flyer for the Preservation Conference it makes it seem that the park will definitely have the Flying Turns open for ERT. And Dick was very confident during PPP. Along with the construction crew I talked to who said "looks like we will finally have it for next year" Â Really looking forward to the Golden Nugget and what ever replaces HSTC. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josh Linn Posted January 29, 2009 Share Posted January 29, 2009 I am 99% sure that Flying Turns will finally run this summer. The flyer for the Preservation Conference it makes it seem that the park will definitely have the Flying Turns open for ERT. And Dick was very confident during PPP. Along with the construction crew I talked to who said "looks like we will finally have it for next year"Â Really looking forward to the Golden Nugget and what ever replaces HSTC. Â I hope so. It's not a big deal because I can drive there whenever, but I've been anticipating that ride for awhile. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobafett Posted January 29, 2009 Share Posted January 29, 2009 The owner of Knoebels said that when they are ready to rehab the ride, he would like it to be a new Golden Nugget mine ride with new tricks and to incorporate some the the old tricks into the ride. I'm curious to see how this plays out. I'll be at the ceremony this weekend and will have a trip report and photos to follow when I get back home. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coastersrule85 Posted March 3, 2009 Share Posted March 3, 2009 Does anyone have news about progress on Flying Turns and its status for this summer? I'm heading up in late June and really have my hopes up! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robbalvey Posted March 3, 2009 Author Share Posted March 3, 2009 ^ While I have heard nothing "official" if the website is telling at all, then you'll see that all the "New for 2009" attractions have a description and a height restriction (if applicable) but Flying Turns is still labeled as "Coming Soon." Â So my guess would be don't expect it to be open! Â --Robb Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coastersrule85 Posted March 3, 2009 Share Posted March 3, 2009 That's true...well, it's a great park anyway, so I can't wait to go back. Maybe when nobody's looking I'll just jump onto the track and run through it making rumbly-wooden-bobsled noises mixed in with the occasional "weee!" thrown in just for my own personal experience. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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