Waldameer Discussion Thread

What's the maximum angle someone would climb on a wooden coaster? I imagine nobody will climb El Toro's drop.

I doubt there's an actual limit, if you think about it when the train traverses a steep incline it doesn't exert much force on the track, therefore not needing extensive inspection. The lack of 80 degree drops on traditional wooden coasters is most likely attributed to lack of demand.

^However, on cases like el toro's drop, I imagine the trains (especially the back cars) do exert some force on the track, just on the opposite direction of what it's common.

What's the maximum angle someone would climb on a wooden coaster? I imagine nobody will climb El Toro's drop.

 

I doubt there's an actual limit, if you think about it when the train traverses a steep incline it doesn't exert much force on the track, therefore not needing extensive inspection. The lack of 80 degree drops on traditional wooden coasters is most likely attributed to lack of demand.

I wouldn't say lack of demand but rather a company feeling comfortable doing something that steep. The drops we've seen so far on woodies beyond, say 70 degrees have been done with specialized track and not regular track yet. I'm pretty sure the more specialized rides from Intamin and RMC are more expensive as well which is why we see less of them.

^However, on cases like el toro's drop, I imagine the trains (especially the back cars) do exert some force on the track, just on the opposite direction of what it's common.

Oh the trains on El Toro most definitely exert force on the track during the first drop. For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. The force the lap bar exerts against you from flying across the park is the same force the track and entire structure exerts on the train from doing the same.

^Well, it's in the same direction, but muuuuchhh higher

Well, "normal woodies" like Hades 360 have been designed with 65 degree drops and steep turns. Hades 360 is a piece of crap, I know, but I guess it could be something great. Even Cedar Fair, who has issues with taking care of normal large wooden coasters, could probably manage Mt. O's woodies better. Which reminds me... I'd love to see CF buy out Mount Olympus. Somewhere else to go with my Platinum Pass! Although they do have Valleyfair not super far away, and what would Mt. O do with their precious hotels?

Now we have more than just words and rough sketches of our planned wave pool expansion. Check out this rendering posted to Waldameer's Facebook page. One detail I must make note of is that the children's area will be added in 2016, and the bowl slide will be added down the road. But enjoy the largest wave pool in the tri-state area for your viewing pleasure!

Source: Waldameer Facebook

Nice...very, very nice. I didn't get to make it out to the park this year but this is going to be great for Waldameer. A few questions.

1. That new entry off Peninsula Road - is that going to lead to parking areas in the back behind Steel Dragon?

2. The new kids area coming in 2016 - will this replace the current kids area next to Ravine Flyer III and open up that space for a new dry ride?

3. It looks like the wave pool has two areas where the waves will come out. Will one side be a like a surfing wave and the other being a more family wave?

It also looks like the L. Ruth Express might be rerouted to make room for this.

Any hope that Waldameer could stay open an extra weekend after Labor Day?

1. That new entry off Peninsula Road - is that going to lead to parking areas in the back behind Steel Dragon?

The entrance off Peninsula Drive will be in the same location as it has always been. PennDOT would not be too pleased if we attempted to relocate that traffic light we helped pay for a few years back. The Peninsula Drive parking lot will be expanded onto the current, and soon to be former, site of The Inn at Presque Isle. A future bonus is a plan to pave most of the Peninsula Drive parking lot. We will be using the overflow across the street by the Ravine Flyer II turnaround more frequently. The parking lot by Steel Dragon will remain unchanged with the exception of a small portion being modified for new ticket booths next to Dodgem.

2. The new kids area coming in 2016 - will this replace the current kids area next to Ravine Flyer III and open up that space for a new dry ride?

Most of this area will be home to some new major slides down the road. We are working closely with ProSlide, so speculate all you want for this portion of the expansion. I have a few ideas of what has been discussed, but nothing is confirmed so I do not want to raise false hopes. However, we want to add some visually impressive water slides to this portion of Water World. The "offshoot" of the current children's area called Cookie Pool is likely to be home to a small Kiddieland expansion of the dry park down the road.

3. It looks like the wave pool has two areas where the waves will come out. Will one side be a like a surfing wave and the other being a more family wave?

Both sides will produce similar waves. We got the idea from Splashin' Safari to divide the wave pool in two so we can save on staffing and energy resources when Water World is less busy on those random, yet expected, 60 degree days in May and June. Also, Splashin' Safari is the inspiration for our new children's area that will be built adjacent to the wave pool in 2016.

It also looks like the L. Ruth Express might be rerouted to make room for this.

The image around the wave pool complex isn't the most clear, but there are no current plans to reroute L. Ruth Express. Ramps will navigate guests over the railroad tracks. Will make for a more scenic train ride in my opinion as riders get to see the wave pool up close and go underneath water slides.

Any hope that Waldameer could stay open an extra weekend after Labor Day?

Maybe not for 2015, but this topic is becoming a reoccurring theme around the park. Perhaps in the not so far off future. I sure hope we can dive into September sooner rather than later. However, starting mid-June of 2015 Waldameer will graduate to 7-days a week operation.

Sad to see the last part of The Inn go, but it looks like the space is needed.

I had a question. Will the Wave Pool be heated? If so, are they looking at heating any other parts of Water World?

Most of this area will be home to some new major slides down the road. We are working closely with ProSlide, so speculate all you want for this portion of the expansion.

Oh, I want to. I really really do.

^^^Thanks for answering my questions.

I'm surprised to hear the Inn at Presque Isle is coming down. When it was first purchased I thought it was odd that Waldameer was going to keep it going as a hotel but I guess it didn't work out well for them. I'm also happy to hear that the park will be open all week now. There have been some Mondays this past summer I contemplated driving out there for some night rides but quickly realized they weren't open.

At this rate Waldameer as we know it will be totally unrecognizable by 2020. The growth of this park has been amazing.

Wow...this is great news! I was wondering how Waldameer was going to pull off the wave pool expansion, but to throw in some Pro-Slides in coming years sounds equally nice too.

I second the question about the heated wave pool. Perhaps we hit the park at an odd time last year, but we went into the Lazy River last August and the water was freezing and I came out with hives. Not sure why the hives, but damn that water was soooo cold! I didn't recall any of the slides pools being that cold, so perhaps it is only the river that isn't heated?

You know, I would suggest that the park add a bonus weekend or two in September sooner than later. I was at kennywood the past two years this past weekend and I couldn't believe of how busy it was. But then again, i don't own a park, so don't take my word as gospel.

I don't really get why parks are closed on Mondays (and it seems like a lot are), seems like it would make more sense to close on Tuesdays or wednesday if they need a maintenance day or a day off. Closing on Monday makes it difficult for the weekenders like me who will get a hotel for one night and come to erie (and any area with a park really). With all the attractions and shopping in erie it's the perfect weekend destination. We stay over Sunday night and then shop on Monday but it would be nice to have the park open on Monday so that we could do the park on Monday if needed.

I was really surprised at how early this place closed for the season. I would think they could build a Halloween maze somewhere (maybe in the waterpark) and draw big crowds in the fall.

When we were there on Labor Day the place was mobbed. The park seems to have a lot of local support... I don't know why they don't stay open later in the year.

Best park within reasonable driving distance of WNY, no strange restrictions on food or drink in the park and no restrictions on glasses on rides like a certain other park in the area. I wear a strap but I didn't see anyone else in the park with one and no one had any problems .No admission fee for non riders or anyone else, neither of the other 2 parks here offer this.

I am sure they make a lot of money off parents who bring their kids and just go on a few rides since kids tire out quickly and no other park allows this.

Carnivals are super expensive here at $4-5 per ride even for kiddie rides. Waldameer is more like $3 per ride even if you are buying single credits with nothing over 4.50 per ride.

Well this really isn't a "rumor" as the Park President is directly saying it, but I wanted to throw some fuel into the speculation fire. At 3:50 in the video, it appears that once the bulk of the Water World expansion/overhaul is complete, a new roller coaster is in the works a few years down the road. This video gives you just enough information to say its a coaster, but vague enough for our imaginations to run wild. Also, you get a great overview on the most ambitious off-season in park history.

As for location of the bulk of future ride additions, recent construction has opened up a view of the Lakefront Property which has been untouched since the Great Depression. Behold the future of Waldameer.

Waldameer, who's slogan should be "Here we grow again."

Whereabouts was that photo taken? Is that next to or behind Rainbow Gardens?

Two ideas for a future coaster - A Euro-fighter with lap bars since there isn't one in this part of the country plus it would be nice to have a coaster with a few inversions or a Chance Hyper GT-X since I'm sure Lightning Run must have drawn some interest from the park.

^^Thanks for sharing...that was really cool of them to share a video showing the expansion and progress - lots of great things coming for this park! It is also nice to know that they are actively working with GG to retain the quality & smoothness of RFII as well as rehabbing some of their rides like Sea Dragon.

^ If I were a betting man, I would say that you are correct in that area in the photo being behind or very near the Rainbow Gardens. I am actually hoping that they either remove that or rehab it as to me, that is one of the very few eyesores in the park....very dated and run down.

It's amazing how they're expanding the park. I'd love to see a Lightning Run type coaster at the park. I was thinking about a Waldameer Season Pass for 2015 and the video got me excited enough to seal the deal.

Interesting, can't wait to hear the future plans

I'd expect something like a Eurofighter or an El Loco.

In response to the posts above about the location of the picture taken, it was somewhat near Rainbow Gardens. The perspective is from about the furthest northwest corner of the property at the top of the slope. So between the point where the picture was taken and Rainbow Gardens, there is the employee parking area, the maintenance building, and West Lakeview Picnic Shelter. I can't speak to the future of Rainbow Gardens at this time, but it still gets periodic use through several Fall weekends and most weekends from mid-January through April for dances, gun raffles, casino nights, art shows, charity events, and model train shows. There are a few company outings that use Rainbow Gardens as their meal place during the summer and the ballroom does serve as the park's catering headquarters. No doubt the building is dated, but it gets a fair amount of use based on the demand for it.

Some more authorized food for thought in terms of future attractions besides the proposed coaster is a giant flume that will use the terrain on the hillside and have a stunning drop facing Lake Erie. It should be a neat placement for this kind of ride that has been pretty commonplace in parks.

I remember hearing something a few years ago about Waldameer wanting a Maurer SkyLoop after RFII was paid off. Maybe this is it?

Is ravine flyer aging well enough that it doesn't need new trains/topper-track any time soon?