Browntggrr

^ I really don't like to bring up other sites too much. It gives some people a big head. From RideMan (aka Dave Altoff Jr.)

I also find it intresting that no other media outlet picked up this story. RFII is HUGE news for the Erie area (you have to remember, Erie is not that big). Why would only one TV station out of 4, and the Erie Daily Times not investigate this story? Or is it perhaps that they did investigate it, and found nothing to report except a disgruntled park patron.

According to some really good sources, it is possible that the cars were not installed correctly after the winter break thus making the anti-rollbacks useless.

I can see why you would feel that way. I initially thought the same. I can also see a decision being made to not allow him to go on other rides, not because he was blind, but because he broke park rules by not exiting the ride when he was supposed to. Waldameer is not a traditional gated park. It is open to the public. You need to purchase tickets or a Ride-A-Rama wristband to enjoy the rides. This teen had tickets for his first ride on the coaster, but not for any additional trips on the coaster or any other rides. He did recieve 2 additional rides at no cost. It seems to me that his disability of being blind was not an issue, until he made it an issue. Sure, Waldameer could have handled it differently, but we only saw what WJET-TV wanted us to see after they edited the material. Mr. Nelson could have said many things during the interview that we never saw.

http://www.wwj.com/Riders-Get-Unexpected-J...r-Point/2228089

Apparently there is more to this story. Now I heard this through the grapevine, so take it for what it's worth, but those that I have talked to were present when it happened. The teenager was allowed to ride the coaster, but when the coaster returned to the station he refused to get out of the train, even with assistance of the ride ops. He had no other friends with him to help him. It was causing quite a scene, so the ride ops just allowed him to stay on the ride for two more cycles until Paul Nelson came to the ride. Which is when the comments were made that he was blind. Now here is the kicker: the teen did not wait in line to ride due to his disability. He came up the exit ramp and immediately went on the ride with ride ops assistance. When Mr. Nelson arrived to the scene and asked the teen to exit the ride, that is when the teen asked why he could not ride the coaster and Mr. Nelson made the comment that he was blind.

This made me sick to my stomach. This kid knew what happened, yet they forced him to sit on the ride while this girl was recieving medical attention? I am surprised that SF still has not settled to quiet down all these stories. It can't be good for business.

If you are planning on coming up to Erie, let me know if I can help you guys out in any way.

Those old pony rides are rather intresting. There is another at Waldameer in Erie. Nice trip report.

This is probably not the popular choice, but after thinking about this for awhile, I would have to go with the owner of the park. I think it is really a difficult decision to not allow a person on a ride. But not allowing a blind person on the coaster due to manufactorer's specifications is just like CP not allowing a larger person on some of their Intamin rides. There have been fatalities in the last couple years dealing with disabilities. And only after the fatality occured, it was mentioned why the victim was actually allowed to ride. And the park was sued. It appears that parks are now adopting the attitude that if the rider cannot get on the ride and secure themselves without assistance, they cannot ride. It really is sad, but the parks have to protect themselves too.

TV interview: http://yourerie.com/media_player.php?media_id=8851

http://yourerie.com/content/fulltext/?cid=8423 I watched the story on this last night, and I'm still on the hedge as to which way to go. What this article does not mention is that Paul Nelson (owner of Waldameer) mentions new guidelines for the amusement industry and that in past years, this condition was not a problem, but that it is an issue now. He also mentions if a ride would get stuck in the air, that a blind person being rescued poses a bigger risk to themselves and to the rescuers.

^ What do you expect? It's a good discussion. One that not only effects all of us, but KI. Political bashing back and forth is one thing, bringing up points in a race that will effect us all is another.

^ I am not too sure about that. Even though FH existed at another park, you can't move footers, electric, station etc. All those things were new to KI. Aside from the design, it would be just like installing a cookie-cutter coaster (i.e. Everything installed as new equipment.).

$25 Special effects topping- $5

This should be a lesson to all going to CP. You can't get higher than the rides. Badda Boom tchee.

^ Yes.

^ FH was originally at GL, a CF park and moved to KI in 2007. Paramount had nothing to do with FH.

Of course SoB improved. It couldn't get any worse than it was.

Exactly, and Brown as I said in my post I believe PP had planned them then put them on hold when they split between Viacom and CBS. The most Paramount had to do with this coaster was accepting the meeting to discuss the idea. And that might be a stretch because for any type of planning beyond the initial meeting would have included land surveys around swan lake and behind Crypt. There has not been anything indicating Paramount was involved in any type of planning stages.

Well if you actually stood at the end of the line to see every person, everyday, and get their review of how the ride was, that is complicated. If you did not do that, you are just giving information of what you wanted to see. And the accident is talking about the ride in general. How can anyone form an opinion, but not have all the facts? Yes, it is the tallest wooden roller coaster. Yes, it is the fastest wooden roller coaster. Yes, it caused multiple injuries due to a design flaw.

He's going with the glass is half full theory. But he could be correct. Only because, people/ families could be inclined to spend their money closer to home as opposed to traveling a great distance. Most of the CF parks are rather close to larger cities.

Yes I do expect you to have a solution since you mentioned that there are better ways of maintaining a population: So what are the better ways?

So marathoning a ride 4-5 times and cheering makes a ride popular with the majority of the public? And the majority of the public doesn't even go to KI? Can you explain that idea in greater detail? So the attention gained from numerous injuries and a major renovation was a good thing? Your factual statements are rather confusing...

I do not use the entire deer. But I do bring the deer to a local Amish processor that processes the meat for me, and uses the rest of the deer for themselves. It is about 1/2 the cost of a normal processor, I get more meat, and the Amish don't like to waste anything.