RailRider

One of the saddest days was the day OpryLand USA was closed to make way for a mall. I have posted on here that Gaylord Entertainment has recently copyrighted OpryLand USA and OpryLand and that they have acquired adjoining lands with the OpryLand Hotel. Well here is some more fuel that OpryLand USA might be coming back to opperation. News Report The link above goes to an article in the Tennesian that Gaylord Entertainment has requested for a commerical zoning for a tourist attraction with their 105 acre property they now own situated next to the hotel. Fingers are crossed folks. Lets see what happens.

With no visable signs of the coaster being dismantled and no visible signs or reports of preperation at either KI or MiA I would assume that assembly of the ride may not happen until after the winter months. So that is basically 2 months till general opperations to have the land ready, coaster constructed, and testing done. Seems like a very tight schedule so maybe the goal is to have it up and running by the busy Summer months.

Great pictures and I too miss the way Kings Island use to look. I love some of the new attractions and additions, but I still dont understand why landscaping, cleanliness, and atmosphere has been sacraficed over the years. Oh wait, because of who ran the park and the fact it costs money to upkeep those things. I also hope that KI will return to its glory under Cedar Fair. Awesome Pictures Thanks

Seeing as how this topic has cooled off I was doing some looking around to see if X-Flight has been or started to be dismantled yet. According to GeaugaLakeToday there has been no site of construction or equipment around X-Flight. They have also taken pictures to show it is still standing. The update is from December 2nd so construction may have started by now, but they speculate that the ride will not start to be dismantled until after the new year, just like with Mr. Hyde. How interesting...

Judging by comparisson of the pictures Im going to venture to say that the loop cannot be seen from over by Great Wolf. The loop is somewhat in a valley which makes it hard to see from most vantage points in the park and outside the park. I would imagine there would still be cranes on site or atleast they would have been on site for a week or so. I honestly dont think the loop could be removed in just 1 or 2 days. We should know something for sure soon.

Anyone up for roasting some marshmallows over the pre treated lumber remains that are soon to be from SoB

Agree to Disagree

Hmmm Irony is a funny thing. Couldn't have happend at a nicer park. Never thought that knocking over a toll booth would be profitable, but with astronomical parking prices it makes sense. Just feel bad for the employees working the booth.

Never said they were the best at balancing it, but they have attempted to add attractions for everyone. Also a major thrill ride is much more expensive to install than a resturant or a show. So if they had spent $40 million on major thrills and $40 million on resturants, family attractions, and shows I would be the first to say they over spent on their family attractions because the cost difference between the 2 is major. During this time Cedar Point has stayed profitable and continued to enjoy a very enjoyable family experience along with a very thrilling expereince for more thrill seeking guests. Unlike SFMM who tried the same approach as CP. So I think now that Cedar Point is starting to focus away from groundbreaking coasters and move in to more family friendly attractions like MaXair, SkyHawk, and Maverick (considered family rides because of height requirements). Something the entire family can enjoy, if they choose.

I think the big change is that SoB is sinking. Cedar Fair has great experience with rides sinking and being able to prevent them sinking all the way to China. See Magnum at Cedar Point.

As you would notice in my previous post I said Cedar Point has continued to add attraction for the thrill seeker, MF, TTD, WT etc... at the same time they have added great restraunts, Coasters, Daves Famous BBQ, Johny Rockets just to name a few. While parks like Kings Island has added fast food choices like Chic Fila. Also Cedar Point has added Camp Snoopy for the youg ones that before Nick Universe was one of the nicest childrens areas around. Also they have added the Snoopy Night Time Spectacular as a great night show for the entire family. Cedar Point has done the best job of any park out there to add a mix of Thrill and Family attractions. More so than any other park. Now they are starting to focus more on family thrills with Maverick, which will be intense for the whole family.

Agreed about Maverick, it is going to be intense with the head choppers, inversions, over 90 degree drop, and the speed. My nephew road IJ:ST and loved it but I gurantee he will not ride Maverick next year. No chance. Back to the SixFlags fiasco. It is possible to add a $20 million coaster and still attract the familes. Look at the Cedar Point model, they have been adding enormous attractions for thrill seekers, but at the same time have been adding attractions for the family and non diehard coaster fans. Resturants, new shows, indoor water park resort, new flat rides and still they have managed to add some major non family friendly coasters during this time frame. Given it takes a lot of money to accomplish what Cedar Point has with additions of rides and attractions, but it is possible. My whole point just goes back to the fact that SFMM wanted to keep up with Jones, but completely neglected the infastructure of the park. SFMM is a very similar situation for SF as is Geauga Lake for CF. Instead of scaling SFMM back SF has decided just to kill the cancer off while CF has decided to salvage their park. Then again SFMM is just a bit more of a problem than GL. Time for Shapiro to actually earn that bonus.

I have seen beautiful weather in TN during the month of December and I have also experienced heavy freezing ice. I would say you have a 50/50 chance of good weather. Good Luck and enjoy...

Well Cedar Fair does have an affinity for CampGrounds. Anyone ever been to LightHouse point. Love the cabins on the lake. Very nice to spend a weekend there with friends or family in a comfy cabin on the lake next door to Americas RollerCoast.

I find it very interesting how people have so many different favorites. Just shows how one ride might be hated by one person and loved by another.

I think the name SixFlagsMasta says it all. I wouldnt go telling a lot of folks your a fan, especially here because then we might flame you.

^ Your opinion, I disagree and will be the first in line to ride SoB when it opens.

Ok so we are in the dead of the offseasson, boredom has set in for some, others have found different hobbies during this non coaster ridding time. Myself I have been working on my tan on Survivor Island and thinking about the best coaster element I have ever experienced. Here are just a few of the runners up. The Loop on SoB -> A truly graceful element during the beating of your life, the world goes calm The Launch on Incredible Hulk -> Ever been in an F-15 at takeoff, this is pretty close The Near Miss Loops on Duelling Dragons -> Geesh that other train sure does get close. I lost a foot. The Launch of Dragster -> Mind numbing, bug splattering, pedal to the metal. The Scarabs and Launch on Mummy -> Dead ends and bugs then the turntable, very cool yet not... The Upward Spike Launch on Mr. Freeze -> Seriously gravity should have kicked in by now... So whats my favorite element? The Winner The Centerfuge on Texas Titan at Six Flags Over Texas This element is a high speed upward spiral that pulls insane g's, rips the tears from your eyes, and pins you to the seat the entire trip. This is the most intense element I have ever experienced and no wonder there are stories of riders blacking out on Titan. I have experienced tunnel vision on this element many a time and only on this element. Sheer Intensity and nothing more. Im curious as to what everyone elses favortie coaster element is.

Just my opinion on most rides. The opperation and staff are what truely effect the capcity of the ride. If you have a staff that is on top of the ride and are moving at a great pace the line will move quickly, you can have the same ride with either a short staff or one that just doesnt care and the line will move at a snails pace. I think the best example is Magic Mountain. I have waited in line forever for some of their coasters (Goliath, Batman, etc) which have very good capacities when there was not a very big crowd and all trains running. The reasson for the wait was the lack luster staff and the fact they just didnt care. Opperations of the ride would be my comparison of Dellirium and MaXair

Thank you Paramount Parks errr... CBS for dropping the ball once again. Glad that reign is over...

^ Which has a lot of $20 million coasters.

I have heard reports from the IAAPA convention that mention Gravity Group has been involved in numerous retracking and repair projects this off seasson. That would lead to the theroy that they are the ones who are performing the repairs to SoB. Should be interesting to see what the remainder of the offseasson brings.

You Beat me Great Coasters International, an excelent wood coaster builder Heres a quick list ThunderHead Gwazi Lightning Racer The upcoming Renegade just to name a few. Also they have a great wooden coaster train design in the Millenium Flyer Heres a link to their site Great Coasters

Hmm GCI makes sense, because thats why PKIPunk would know yet cant say anything. Thank you Maureen for the update. Always good to know the SoB will be back next year. I missed ridding it during FearFest. The cold helps numb you for the beating Seriously very excited SoB will be open next year.

I heard a rumor that Mr. Shapiro is the new host of the Mr. Obvious show. No wonder this guy got a bonus this year, he is a freaking genius. Good job on getting out of the way of the train barreling down on you and your company. I think he is really going to turn it around for Six Flags with great decisions like this one. Mr. Shapiro I hope you like sarcasim because thats all you will get from me. So far he has managed to sell some parks and make some rah rah speechs. Other than that he hasnt accomplished anything and I cant wait to see him and this company try and change their daily opperations. Good Luck...