Bdd127

How is The Bat rough? I find it to be one of the smoothest coasters out there. I've said it before, as long as the older clone (Vortex CW) keeps going, I think The Bat will too.

Great Adventure would like a word with you

Something similar to steel curtain would be perfect.

Just think though, Vortex at Canada's Wonderland is essentially a clone of The Bat and it's older (1987). So while I can't be certain, as long as it is around I'd say The Bat is safe.

At least in losing debatably the best drop in the park this year, we will gain a new best drop.

So a small attraction in California, that up until this point had no issues with the name "mystic" wants to file a complaint now? Ridiculous. There's no way this is gonna get anywhere.

I feel like they could go to Anaconda to support its final years

I believe the larger wheels were added when Shockwave came around in 88 and they were used after that. Around that time also came the larger headrests. It is interesting though that Shockwave used the larger headrests along with Viper, while the Great American Scream Machine did not. I find them rather ugly with the extended headrest and I wish they had been kept off the new train bodies on LNM. So in a sense there were 2 body styles for the trains. The first ran til around I believe 82ish maybe a few years off. After that the bodies remained the same til the end. The larger wheels were designated for the bigger, faster loopers and came about in 88. The extended headrests made their debut in 88 with Shockwave too. Rides like Anaconda built in the 90s were unique in that they still used the small wheels and no extended headrests, most likely due to the smaller size.

I'd really love to see s&s or rmc ressurect the old arrow track. Considering what was done with Tennessee Tornado and the technology advancements in the past 20 years it would be awesome to see what could be done with the classic Arrow trains and track. I know it's a pipe dream, but one can dream.

See though corkscrew and Iron Dragon occupy awkward plots of land that aren't really suitable for a big coaster. If any ride should be hiding its Gemini

A little late to reply, but that was a beautiful post and I think an amazing trip report/tribute to Vortex. I too was there all that last day and it was really bittersweet. The community really came together for Vortex.

I'm really big on the pins. I have a whole bunch for Kings Island, Kings Dominion, and Cedar Point. I've been waiting for that Vortex pin to pop up on ebay it's the one I really wanted that I never got.

I'm really hoping with Vortex being such an iconic coaster that Kings Island does something special for the diehard fans like they did for Son of Beast with the Son of Beast Plaque.

After losing the mountain at Kings Dominion I don't think I can bare to lose anymore iconic structures.

God I really wish they would have just referbished Vortex. The arrow looper is a dying breed and she was the best of the bunch. I look forward to the future, but nothing is quite like an Arrow Looper.

I did hear this rumor also and it does make a lot of sense whether what Don told me was true or not who knows. It really stinks though because Vortex is much superior to Anaconda and I would much rather have gotten a few more years out of it than Anaconda.

Yeah, he actually mentioned that. Between the fact that it was one of the biggest arrow loopers so it had more strain and the weather conditions it makes sense. He said they started thinking the end was near in 2012, but kept getting lucky until now. It could have gone at any time, even at the same time as Firehawk. And they really didn't know Vortex was going to close until after labor day. Otherwise everyone would have been given a more advanced notice.

I was able to talk to Don last night right around closing time, and while there was no definitive answer, it sounds like metal fatigue is what did the old gal in.

I'm really trying to figure out what time they are gonna cut the line off tonight so I can shoot for one of the last trains

So sorry for the dumb question but how do you get funpix? Because I'd really like to get my pictures from the final rides this weekend

I can only imagine what it's gonna be like next week I'll be there Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. I'm hoping to make it on one of the last Vortex rides, but idk how to plan that.

I wish there was some special merchandise for Vortex since it's closing

I'd honestly love to see Hershey take a swing at another park, I know they aren't really an amusement park centered company, but I love the park. It is so well maintained and the atmosphere is great. Not only this, but Hershey really seems devoted to keeping its classic rides in tip top shape. We've seen Comet getting its crooked lift hill fixed (although I kinda liked it). Sidewinder got new trains. Sooperdooperlooper got new trains and kept with the lapbars. Wildcat got new trains. If you look at then as a whole they haven't removed a coaster in decades. I love that dedication. I hate going to a park with all new rides I love having a wide variety of classics and new rides it enhances the experience. This is part of the reason why I used to love Great Adventure, but in the past decade I have lost faith in the park.

I wish one of these parks would take the initiative to try and convert an arrow looper to lap bars or at the very least try and smooth things out a bit. These arrow loopers are a dying breed and they provide a unique experience that will never be replicated due to the ever advancing technology. It's something I'll really miss when it's gone.

I just don't see the park investing to change a ride that is already 33 years old, even if it is not actually at the end of its service life, who knows how much time the track/structure has left