Joncars05

I visited the park for the second time this year this past Sunday and man I almost felt like I was at a SIX park with the advertisements. I can't wait until next year when we have signs like Diamondback brought to you by Kit Kats... or Banshee brought to you by Geico, Its scary to go without insurance! I truly hope this will not be the case next year. But who knows Fast Lane was brought to us by a car dealership...

I honestly didn't see any advertising in Indianapolis or the surrounding area. I can tell you I live on 67 in Indianapolis (South west side) and for the entire season we had two billboards touting Holiday World within 5 miles heading north to 465. They also were heavy with radio, tv, and restaurant deals (The typical: ask your server for discount tickets to HW, etc). The way KK ran their advertising this year I would've never known they were open, if I weren't an enthusiast. They dropped the ball with flooding the market within 6 hours of the "Grand Opening/Brand New Amusement Park" advertising campaign.

http://www.blooloop.com/features/holiday-world-small-park-atmosphere-big-park-vis/30162#.VDbM1qV4huY A unique article about HW and their past, present, and future plans for the park. I think this is a good read.

I was thinking the same thing this could be used as a prop to sell more Fast Lane passes. I can see your stated example happening often. I mean how often are the wait time signs that are placed out in front accurate?

Random question: Have we figured what part of Thunderbird was released in the shredded blueprints that HW gave away in their teaser kits? From the looks of it, the carousel seems to be the featured element in that shredded paper clue.

Terp your words ring so true for me, especially this year! My wife and I have not been to a CF park this year due to her being pregnant! We bought platinum passes during the fall last year and because of the baby news we have only been to one park together (Holiday World for Holiwood nights only because the wife enjoys herself there just with the atmosphere alone). We are rolling our platinum passes over to next year and maybe we will make it to Coastermania and CF parks next year. I doubt I will want to leave the little one for too long. But we are renewing just in case we are able to get out to Coastermania!

I voted yes. Its such an awkward position to ride a roller coaster for me. I didn't like how you could hurt you man region as well if you rode it the wrong way. I feel like fads come and go when it comes to roller coaster (stand ups, swinging, etc) and this is just one type of coaster that has completed it run.

2015 the year of the mega loops... hahaha

How could we not be sure.... See, that's the type of attitude that gets people into trouble. I don't like making concrete, definitive statements about which park is getting what until the park itself confirms it, because if I'm wrong I look like a fool and if I'm right, everybody's going to be too excited about the new attraction to care. He who never makes predictions is never wrong. Tell that to the kid who just predicted on this forum what coaster KI will get in 2019...

You are making predictions for a new coaster 5 years from now... Do you realize how silly that is? Just stop...

I honestly do not see the appeal of this type of coaster (4D). It just seems so gimmicky to me.

Holiday World will be hosting their annual Holiwood Nights event for coaster enthusiasts on May 29th and 30th, 2015. Dates and event logo can be found here on the Holiwood Nights Group Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/325861871036/ Event details are still in the works. I am sure crowds will be a little bit larger than the past two years with the addition of Thunderbird. But this is a wonderful event and it is always a blast. If you have never been to this event, mark your calendars and make your way to Santa Claus, IN this year for this awesome event!

I have met a kid at Holiwood Nights that is autistic. He is probably 12 or 13 and his mom brings him one night and dad brings him the second night. Neither his mom or dad ride, they wait at the exit for him whenever he decides to get off the ride. He is a funny kid and loves coasters. Just kind of awkward while having a conversation with him. But I have ridden with him a couple of times each year, while my wife sits out some laps on Voyage, and he has always been enjoyable to sit next to.

I finally was able to get some laps on Banshee since media day and holy cow what a ride! Today was the perfect crowd for getting in many, many laps on Banshee. The longest wait time was 5 minutes. The average length of the line was at the middle of the stairs into the station. I think the front row is the best seat. The zero-g roll actually lifts you out of your seat! I rode with my buddy up front for 4 laps and the view is spectacular. Both roll inversions have a uniqueness to them that is just awesome, especially from the front row. The back row was almost as good as the front. The forces pulling on you as you enter most inversions puts you right into your seat. The positive g's are just fantastic. I have to give KI ,CF, and B&M credit for creating such a great addition to the park. Also kudos to the crew for upping Banshee's capacity they have been kicking butt and taking names. I hope this continues years from now.

Good topic! My experience is limited due to only being on about 45 coasters but I will give it a shot! My list is as below. 7. Sheikra- Front Row, Left edge. The slow creap around the top to the hold position is great. First drop with the wind and view. Its a blast. 6. Steel Hawg- front row. Drop angle beyond 90 degrees? What more do I need to say?!?! 5. The Legend- Back Row, Right Side. The curved drop gives good laterals near the bottom and the head chopper going into the tunnel at the base is fun. 4. Vortex- Back Row, Right side. This drop to me feels like a RCT drop. Just a completely straight drop with the "maximum angle allowed" at the time. Getting lifted off your seat on a ride you we preparing for the loops and inversions is still a pleasant surprise. 3. Gatekeeper- front row, either side. I couldn't pick a better side for the drop. The right side the floor drops from underneath and you are flipped upside down. The left side drags you ever so slowly over the track and inverts you for the drop. Both sides are awesome and exciting. 2. Millennium Force- Back Row. The first time I rode this thing I heard about the first drop. I was told that you just have to experience it. Well I have and the floater air that you get in the back row starting down that hill.... you can't help but to enjoy it! 1. Diamondback- Back Row. That sensation of getting pulled down before you actually crest the hill is just fantastic. I love the way you just pop out of your seat and don't hit it again until you are at the bottom of the hill. The view is outstanding and the speed is great. This is my favorite first drop on a roller coaster.

True. To be honest I hope they add on to that last shed. The right side is really missing that headchopper effect. I think the left side looks to be the best side as of now. I can't wait to ride this thing!!!

That is what happens when you don't have a lift hill! Banshee's ride time from first drop to brake run is only 58 second.

If they only get a one year attendance boost, then this is going to be a financial loss. The park cannot afford to return to their normal attendance figures. It was only a few years ago that the park had a "management" change. I'm not sure that many of their past business decisions were made with this future coaster in mind. A B&M coaster really surprised me. If it wasn't for all the hints, I really would have expected a ride similar in cost and design to Lightning Run. You are correct. I didn't really explain my thought well. I just don't see this ride having a 50% or more increase on attendance. Many people still view this as a family park catered towards families. At least that's what most of my friends think when I talk with them about HW. Don't get me wrong this is a flat out awesome ride (I know I will be riding that thing all night during our annual Holiwood Nights trip), and it made a huge splash here on the news here in Indy. So maybe I am wrong in the fact that this may change the perception of HW to the GP here. I will always love my home park, I consider it the perfect park for families and thrill seekers. I think maybe I was being a little pessimistic this morning.

Oops forgot about PP and hyena falls. I just calculated Mammoth and Wildebeest because I figured the cabanas have already paid for themselves and possibly the parking lot as well. I think this will be a great addition to the park and maybe will set them up for another addition of this size 8 years from now.

That is true but you have to assume they are prepared for this. HW is a very smart park. They have been planning for this for years. I think next year's attendance will most definitely increase but they have the capital and room to make infrastructure improvements if need be. I would predict that the attendance will spike and return to the normal 1.1 million attendees after the first year. They would need 3 additions of this size to start truly drawing from KI, CP, and SIX parks. The only problem is those parks will out spend HW because they make these additions every 3-5 years not 8 years plus like HW.

I'm not trying to single you out on this but,I'm not sure why people think HW would be unwise in making this capital decision. Think about their last large additions... since 2007 or 7 years ago they have spent only 14.5 million dollars or just over $2 million per year. They have been saving capital for the longest time. They have had 7 years of saving money with smaller additions. Add on the fact they have a huge water park thus people needing lockers to tore their item at $10 a piece. Then add the 31 cabanas that are rented at $125 per day (every time I have gone I have seen everyone of them sold out to a group or family). Plus tickets are near $40 a piece. I mean during the legal battles over the park it was released that Dan Koch nearly quadrupled his position's salary to over $1 million per year.You can see where they could easily afford this move.

I wouldn't generalize dive coasters that way. Everyone has their opinions. Some people think TTD is a gimmick, some people love it. Some people hate Arrows, some people love them. Its all in how YOU like them. Jonathan is right though, YMMV. I like the speed and train styling of Dive coasters, but after the first drop they do kind of fall flat. But I also have never ridden a ride that I absolutely hated. Again YMMV.

Haha tiresome! I see what you did there!

It looks as if they replaced that section of track.

There have been reports of the footers having similar shape as Banshee's footer. I have yet to see any pictures of it but I was think maybe we could be seeing a speed/launch coaster or a coaster similar to Shambala or Diamondback with a splash down. B&M have 6 coasters with a splash down. I am not saying it will be a 200ft+ coaster just thinking of the similarities with a splash down. I feel as if some of the clues point towards a splash down. Day 39- The boat had a sodden deck, Day 21- The ocean spray on the deck. and the many other days including storms and rain I feel like they are going to use the splashdown that Pilgrim's Plunge during the ride. I can see a 102 ft B&M using the splash down. Maybe something similar to Insane Speed built in Taiwan. Idk I think the concrete "pond" from PP will be used. They haven't drained the pool yet. It just seems like a waste to have it sit around. That is what I have been seeing the last week or so.